Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-06-27
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We saw alligators, like huge logs lyinl
| motionless. basking on the slopiui
bank. bat on our approach they womb
slide OF into the water and swim away
I had heard their peculiar below th'
night before and wondered as 10 it
origin We crashed through strip O
scrub and through meadow Of can'
grass that rose high above our heads q
We sat in the saddle. Then we came :,
lovely. high bank. on which grew
some giant gum trees. and underneath
| In the stream lay the ketch
After 4 few mutual congratulation
exchanged with the crew the boat wa
moored alongside the bank then. plac
ing substantial gangway to the shore
we began to unload Our intention wa
10 stack goods on good high ground
cover them with q few sheets Of gal
vanixed iron. leave some one in charge
then team the cargo up To the station
at our leisure We started 70 work II
good earnest. every one assisting. 20 It a
by midday we had landed several tom
Of general stores noticed that Dal,
seemed in remarkably good humor. HI
worked hard and was positively defer
entail In his manner 10 Jack and me.
We hsd dinner at o'clock. and aft
or il were enjoying . smoke. when
saw Snowfall start mp and listen. Sam
son also sat up. and pricking his ear
growled. This led Savils to remark:
"That dog always puts me in MIND
Of the British lion when some one''
treading on his tail There s something
80 noble and dignitied about him"
At this. Jack. who seemed 10 hav,
regained some Of his old spirit during
the mornings work. rose to his feet
placed one hand on his heart took Of
his hat. and bowed 10 Savile with tht
courtesy Of an embassador.
.'Sir." he said. "as one Of those WHIT
have the honor Of representing the Brit
ish lion asow me to-
.Don't mention It. sir. interrupted
the giant graciously. "You re perfectly
welcomc-but pray. keep on your ha'
tho SUMS strong and brains an
scarce"
Jack thanked him and resumed hil
seat
''Helloi' exclaimed Savils again
''Do you zee that dogf He says there
something coming"
As at that moment three mounted
troopers and . couple Of black police
rode right up and into the camp. thi'
prophetic statement Of Savile's would
have been difficult to refute.
Hooked ut DAILY. There was sickly,
ugly. sneering grin upon his face Al
for Jack. though outwardly cool could
see look Of apprehension in his eyes
The sergeant Of the police. q tall. blacl
bearded man. jumped of his horse and
handed his reins over 20 one Of tb'
trackers: then another trooper dis
mounted
GOOD day, mates. said the police
sergeant cheerily "Aye aye. thanks
That's what want He seized pan
nikin which Savile had handed him and
took . drink Of tea. Then be sat dowr
on his heels-as IL Is the fashion OF
many bushmen ~ do-and pulling out
his pipe began to smoke deliberately
noticed. however. that the other troop
ers would not sit down when asked. but
waited patiently around. and that theil
revolver pouches were unbuckled And
then the sergeant Of police began 4
talk about the discovery Of copper by
old Henry ON the Cloncurry. They had
inst got word old Henry had struck Il
rich. and would probably sell his find
to an English syndicate for matter Of
cl00. 600. I was chatting and curious
over this seeming waste Of worda The
tortures Of uncertainty were bad enough
without being needlessly prolonged. fol
intuitively knew there was trouble
brewing-for Jack. Idivined. That vii
lain DAILY had hstched some cunning
plot. and all this was part Of its out
come As IL was the sergeant Away:
talked about the Cloncurry region and
made remarks regarding IL rs II invit'
ing some Of us to put him right. II hs
were wrong. in regard to what he was
nying. To one ot us at least IL must
have been . transparent ruse. At last
the officer rose and. knocking the ashes
out Of his pipe against the bark OF .
tree. deliberately placed 1t in the band
Of his slouch hat Then sober express
sion came into his face, as II he had
some unpleasant duty to perform =
who's In chargef" he asked
indicated Gordon, as the modest or
esnny Scot seemed somewhat allow at
claiming that honor.
Then, Mr.. Gordon. said the SER
geant. "I'm very sorry to trouble you.
but which is Mr.. Tyndallf"
Jack took the pipe from his mouth
and quietly laid that he was
could see troubled. wearied look
In his syes-that sort Of look which you
"a