Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-10-19
CHAPTER y.
TIE MAJESTY or TIE LAW.


When that early riser, the laughing
jackass, crashed into the tender spirit
of the dawn with its discordant cachiu-
nation, | sprang from my bed of dried
grass, over which my blanket had been
placed. and went down 10 the river
Then | found Barney and boiled my
quart pot under the leafy Moreton bay
ash that did service as my roOftree.
The air was as yet comparatively cool
and pleasant, September being only a
spring month. A ghostly, gauzelike
mist rose from the river and crept lin
geringly from tree to tree. The tawny
yellow in the east changed 10 azure,
and as the white quivering sun rose
above the tree tops the dew sparkled
on the grass as if a shower Of fine dia-
monds had fallen.
| had in a great measure shaken Oh
the effects uf the fever, and as a cunse-
quence my spirits were acquiring their
old buoyancy. Once more / was appre-
ciating the beauty, the freshness and
the freedom of life in the Australian
bush
Having finished breakfast. | went
over to the police barracks and saw
Jack He had recovered much of his
GOODNESS and self confidence by this
time There was look of quiet deter
mination ON his face refreshing TO see
after his apathy of yesterday. knew
now that he meant 70 fight
"I've been digesting what you spoke
of yesterday, he said. $50 if you want
to sup wi the dell get ont your long
est shanl1it spuin. You want 10 look
or. though, and not burn your tongue.
If you think you can stand the old chap
off with what you already know, you
can be master of ceremonies in my case,
but look out for your tongue. You un-
derstandf"
About 0 o'clock DAILY drove up In the
station wagon with Elsie. the rest ar
irving ON horseback We pitched a tent
for the women near the river by a group
OF acacias, within convenient reach OF
the courthouse. Gordon. | discovered,
knew much more than | had given him
credit for. Being quiet, cool, long
headed Scot, he had provided for GER
tain contingencies that made me in
dulge in considerable speculation
At 10 o'clock l began TO get little
nervous We were now all gathered to
gether in the large marquee tent, with
the sides looped mp, and alongside the
unfinished courthouse. which was not
yet available for use. There were two
women present the publican S wife and
her sister. They were accommodated
with chairs. A large table, behind and
around which were ranged several camp
stools. stood at one end Of the tent, and
occupying the body Of the court was
the truly noteworthy public. Contrasted
with the hilarious appearance some Of
the individuals composing il presented
ON the previous evening their present
staid demeanor bordered on the fu-
nereal A clear space was left between
the magistrates table and the apprecia-
tive little crowd of spectators. There
was not one coat in the company, and
no one dreamed of removing his hat.
Some of them had washed some had
postponed washing and others again,
Judging by appearances. had evidently
forgotten that there was such thing
In the world as water. or at least feared
that its use might interfere with the
liquor they were just then assimilatinC
into their systems. Several had well
defined halos of black and blue encir-
cling their eyes and suggested new
species of ro1L- OF these rings the hap
py possessors were doubtless proud, tes-
tifying as they did to their powers Of
endurance in another kind of ring.
The face Of one man resembled that
of a Maori chief. being Enthusiastically
tattooed with sticking plaster. Some
had comical, maudlin, bleary look
and blinked like owls in the sunlight.
Evidently they had been already allay-
ing the considerable thirst engendered
by the libations of the night before in