The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-03
PART III.

PART III.
1t all happened in a moment. / heard
the summons of the officer, 1 heard a
harsh laugh. and the words: "The devil
/ had!" There was the sharp report of
revolver, and the sergeant's horse
leaped forward and rolled over on his
side. With another harsh laugh the
man turned away and began to unfas-
ten his horse from the sapling. My
eyes followed him in a stupid helpless
way for a moment, still I was reused
by the sergeant's voice: Here, young
ster, why the devil don't you bring him
DOWN." For the first time remem-
bered then that l had pistol in my
hand, but even then seemed confused.
1 glanced at the sergeant who was
struggling to get clear of his horse, and
then at the man. who had just mount
ed. Then men seemed to notice me
then for the first time, for he shouted:
"Oh. it's you. is it? Then take that"
There was flash; a report; and felt
something sting my ear for a moment
he had fired at me.
Shoot him, you fool" exclaimed the
sergeant, cor if ye don't like to, shoot
the horse" 1 saw my way then. No,
couldn't shoot man. / raised my re-
volver and fired.
The bay horse reared and plunged,
and then, answering to the fierce
stroke of his riders spur, bounded off
and disappeared amongst the gum
trees. The sergeant struggled to his
feet, and turning angrily to me ex-
claimed: ''Why the devil didn't you
shoot him2"
Shoot him?" 1 answered, sulkily, I
dare say, for at the moment felt half
ashamed that 1 hadn't You can shoot
men If you llke-I don't like the job,
and I'm not used to it either"
well, young fellow, your friend isn't
so particular; another inch and he'd
have taken your head instead of an
ear"
put my hand and found that I
was bleeding where the bullet had car
ried away a piece of my ear. For the
first time remembered the sharp sting
that had followed the mans last shot.
didn't know it, eh?" he continued, OBJ
serving my look of surprise. "Well,
you'll know better another time It's
a case of you or me with fellows like
that, ! can tell you. You'd better bear
a hand now and let's see what can be
done--de ye think you hit the horse?"
"Sure of it," 1 said, shortly.
All. it all depends whereabouts. If
you were lucky, We'll have him yet.
Let's have a look at the hut first,
though" he added.
followed him across the open patch
TO the hut, the door of which he pushed
hastily open The place was a poor one,
and the few scraps of furniture of the
rudest kind. The floor was of earth,
and upon it,crouched in a heap near the
fire, was the figure of the woman we
had Seen. She sprang to her feet at our
entrance, and pushing back her hair
from her face confronted us like a lion
ess. For moment she seemed to gasp
for breath, and then the words came
brokenly: And did yez-did yez shoot
him., Did yez murder him entirely :?
Oh, Mike, Mike, and is it to this ye've
ccme at the ind ov it all?"
The sergeant looked at her for a mo-
ment. "Oh," he said, sit was Mike, was
1t? ] thought as much. No. We haven't
shot him--not yet, anyhow, though it's
about time"
"Glory be to God for that same" she
exclaimed in a very different tone.
"An' it's a fool was to behave that the
likes ov ye could do that same-nor l
wouldn't, nather. but for my dreams
the last night as iver was"
you dreamt he was killed, did We,
Biddy? Well it's likely enough yet"
he said, as he walked to the table on
which there were set out a damper loaf
and the greater part of a ham as if
ready for a meal not yet partaken of.
81 see we disturbed his breakfast" he
added, but Wen take it after him in
case he shonld want it,"
The woman glared at him and made
half motion as If she would have
thrown herself upon him. Then she
stopped suddenly, and l could see her
hands clench themselves with the
greatness of the effort. "'Tis yerslt
will make the hoighth ov a foine rob-
ber wan ov thin days, and tits the
lone wimen wild no one nigh to purtect
thin ven be hardest on, I'm thinkin'
But sure an yer wilcome, an ye can
ate 1t yersilf an the black nayguI
that's wild yez for it's little yer like
to see ov Mike for a day or two."
The sergeant looked keenly round