Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-08-07

and heard the rush OF Water. iG was u
creek, as we call them in those parts,
and as the horse made no pause rode
boldly on, and, by Gods mercy rather
than my good guidance, we stumbled
on place that was fordable and got
safely to the other side. TIE steep bank
was overgrown with bush, as I could
see by CLINT Of moonlight that flashed
out all of a Sudden, and was just tax
ing look round to see if I could make
out where was, when my ears were
pierced by the most awful cry think
ever heard. 1t was SO loud, and SO shrill,
and SO full of pain, that it fairly made
my blood run cold leaped out of the
saddle i'll sheer fright and looked around
me like man bewildered. The wide,
bare pastures and scrubby bush around
me were void of any human habitation,
and yet it was like the cry of some poor
human creature in the extremity of dis
tress 1t was SO CHASTITY, so unearthly,
that the horse I was riding, although
he was steady old brute. SHE'D and
swerved sharply round. He was in such
a panic that I could not help remember
ing mothers old world stories about
ghosts, although I tried to tell myself
that there was no such thing. However.
ghost or no ghost, was bound to go
on, so I set a stout heart to stey brae,
and when found that I could not force
the terrified brute up the bank l dis
mounted and tied him to young gum
tree.
81 had scarcely set my face to the
bank again when the same cry sounded
out once more. I tell you, mates, it
made the blood run cold round my heart,
it was SO shrilly wild, so unearthly, SO
despairing, and, to make it worse, the
black night came down On me again
mirk and heavy like the blackness of the
parish mortcloth I used to wonder at
when was boy. I had not the least
idea in what direction to turn and was
standing irresolute when heard the cry
again, and it sounded nearer and was SO
distinct that 1 thought I could go
straight to the very spot it came from.
The bank was so steep that l had to
scramble up on my hands and knees, Of
ten slipping back and stopping to listen,
but could hear nothing except the soft,
gurgling plash of the water down be-
meath me. was not sure which way to
turn when I heard the Cry again right
out of the scrub before me. was in the
right direction, that was one good thing,
but will never deny that was fright
ened bit, it was such terrible cry and
the spot was so lonely. had that spirit
in me, though, that would not go back,
and I crept forward on my hands and
knees toward the top of the bank, which
was covered with close, low BUSH. It
was bit of climb, and I had stopped
minute to get my breath when l
thought I heard low moaning noise
close to me. gripped my revolver, but
it was of little use in the darkness, SO
took out instead big bowie knife al
ways carried and held it ready i'll my
hand. The next moment there was sort
Of hurtling rush through the air above
me and something leaped right down
upon my shoulder. I gave yell and
then another, and then away down the
bank we rolled, irving and tearing at
each other in an agony Of mortal fright.
As soon as I could get my right hand
free I gave desperate thrust with the
knife, and with a yell Of rage and pain
the creature dropped off from me, and I
heard the thud of it's fall On some pro-
jecting rock or bush that had caught it
in its descent. -
81 was more frightened than hurt
and soon scrambled to my feet. As a
smoker is never without Matches I soon
had light, with which I groped my
way down to where the creature lay,
and what do you think I found?'
ga teeger maybe" said another old
school fellow.
eye silly gowk, there are no tigers in
Australia. found Bill but, my word,
he was not the comfortable, well fed
beast he is today. I don't think ever
saw such a dog as he looked then either
before or since He was gaunt, starved
skeleton, bleeding slowly from wound
in the side, which he had got in the
struggle with me. He made no attempt
to escape, but lifted his head and gave
me a look SO pathetic, so almost human
in its mute, reproachful appeal for help,
that it fairly went to my heart. I spoke
gently to him, and he looked up at me
as if he would fain have spoken and told
me his story. He let me stanch the
blood that was trickling from his side,
and bound up the wound as well as
could. He then staggered to his feet
and whined and caught my sleeve with
his teeth, and showed me as plainly as
if he had spoken that he wanted me to
follow him.
81 took up the lantern and he wagged
his tail and licked my hand, and we
scrambled up the bank together, and
then always whining and looking back
he led the way into the bush. The brush
wood was SO thick and dense that I was
almost beat. 1 could scarcely force my
way through, but whenever I stopped to
get mouthful of breath he whined and
fawned Oh me, and pulled at my sleeve,
and showed such an agony of distress
that could not but pity the poor dumb
beast and make all the haste l could to
follow. By this time the day was be-
ginning to break, and it was not so dark
as it had been. He had led me to sort
of cave formed by shelf of rock pro-
;ecting from the bank, and there, wrap
ped in tartan shawl, was sight that
brought my heart to my mouth. A girl,
hit lassie. so sorely wasted and spent
that I lifted her up in my arms like
child and carried her out to the OPEN
Her eyes were closed, and she seemed
too far gone for speech, but there was
life in her still, as I could see by the
Pickering of her eyelids when I stopped
down to look at her.
Gas for the dog, who had crawled
after US, he looked up in my face with
his pathetic eyes full Of dumb prayer
for help, and then, for be was fairly
beat and could not, believe, have
dragged his trembling limbs another
step, he stretched himself out on the
grass beside her and licked her little
wasted hand was in such state OF
excitement myself that 1 fairly trem-
bhd. scarcely knew what to do, but l
got some water and laved her face and
moistened her lips, and when she had
swallowed a few drops she came round
so Fo,, +bat cbo ocr7 III 11ttar a word Or fyvO