The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-03-17
TROOPER THOMPSON.

Thirty years ago, when Australia was
not the camping ground it is now, 1 was
q trooper in the mounted police. l had
gone out to the goldfields like thousands
of other younger sons, expecting to mako
my fortune.
After toiling for months in q wornout
claim, often knee deep in water, my chum
bolted with our pitiful accumulation of
gold dust, and pick, cradle and tho
clothes stood in represented my worldly
all. Under these distressing circum-
stances was thankful to enlist in the
police. The reputation of being pretty
steady and good man on q horse were
my sole credentials.
The pay was small. 1 was long way
astray from the pleasant highroad which
leads to fortune, work was inCcssant and
promotion slow. had been nearly three
years III the force and was still Trooper
Thompson and began to fear that as Troop
er Thompson 1 should live and die when
that well known tide which intcrferes SO
potcntly in the affairs of man set my way
at last
We had been out for two days on the
track of party of notorious bushrangerS
ali returned empty handed to our head
quarters pretty well done up, to find when
all stragglers were assembled that Trooper
Martin was missing. Just before dark his
bay mare galloped in covered with dust
and sweat, but her accoutcrmcnts were
complete, and there was not spcck Of
blood on saddle or holsters or anything
about her to afford the faintest clew to
the fate or whereabouts of her rider.
A rigorous search was instituted at sun
rise-a search that was repeated for five
days. Not a perch of ground was left I'M
explored within radius of ten miles;
nevertheless this interchangeable quest
proved unavailing.
Look here, Thompson our chief seid
you have fairly good head on your
shoulders. Use your wits and find out
what has become of our man. If you sue
coed, promise you promotion. And mind
this-I shall expect to hear of Martin, dead
or alive, when 1 return this day week So
be up and doing"
Three of the precious days had gone by
had flown-and yet no trace of our miss
ing comrade, work, track as 1 would. At
length it camo to the eve Of the chiefs re-
turn, and, alas, l was no nearer promotion
than when he had started though l had
covered miles of country and lost whole
nights of sleep. was utterly worn out
with my fruitless quest that evening, and
after hasty meal threw myself Oh my cot
and slept the sleep of utter exhaustion. ]
cannot say how long this sleep may havo
lasted, but the moon was shining full into
the window when l was awakened by
some one in heavy boots entering my
room-a man-who came over and stood
at the foot of my bed, and 1 must confess
that 1 was n good deal startled when ]
recognized Martin.
"Hcllo" 1 shouted. Where the dick.
ems have you been? Why did you not re-
port YOURSELF"
No reply, but Ned Martin was provcrbi.
ally SLOW of speech.
"A pretty fright you have given us-a
nice search we have had"
/ sat up and stared hard ut my comrade,
and noticed that he looked white and
deathlike. His eyes as they met mine had
q strange lack luster expression. No
doubt the poor chap had been nearly
starved in the bush.
where have you been?" asked
After n pause he answered in q low,
husky voice that sounded as if it were fal
away:
"Tcn miles west-Laffan's run-shep.
herds hut-siX yards to the rear-six feet
Deep
Then he suddenly turned round and
made for the door. As jumped out Of
bed and hurried after him noticed by the
searching moonlight that there was
great black stain on the back of his coat
just below the left shoulder. He crossed
the kitchen and went out, l still follow.
ing him, calling after him to wait" tc
"hold hard" but even as l stood on the
threshold he was gonc-whero?
Gaze as I would, there was not n soul &c
be seen, not Il living thing-nothing but
the cold, weird moonlight illuminating IL
vast cxpanse of plain and few scraggy
blue gum trees. l closed and bolted the
door with palsied precipitation and ran
back to bed, and-ycs, truth is best-cov.
cred my head up with the clothes and lay
III Il cold sweat for what seemed to me
days, my heart humping like a stem
hammer. / had sccn-a ghost.
Compelled by some strange instigation,
l cruwlcd timidly out of bed, lighted
candle and wrote down, "Tcn miles west,
Laffans run, shepherds hut six yards to
rear, six feet deep, and then crcpt back
between the blankets, where lay swcltcr-
ing between fear and indccision. At ono
moment resolved to have nothing to do
with the vision, ut another | decided to
follow Martins direction and to stand
my chance. After hours of miserable hest
tation 1 reused the men, but l took no
one into my confidence. 1t was surely
another voice than mine which boldly I'D
dressed my amazed comrades.
Prepare to start for Lafran's run In
half an hour. Take u spare horSc-Mar
tins mare will do-a piece of rope, pair
of handouts and IL couple of SPADES
As a matter of course l was good deal
chnffed, but received all witticisms with
inilcxible composurc. "You seem very
sure of your bird, boss? Did you get the
lint by telegram? l suppose Martin is
expecting us to breakfast"
1t was barely o'clock when we sur
rounded the hut, the hEt had been de-
sired to seek Laffan's shepherd was II
ticket OF leave, who had been several years
ON the station. His name was Henderson.
A man with somewhat villainous ex-
preston, an impcdimcnt in his speech and
All unusually powerful frame. He was
stopping over the fire. ergrosscd in frying
u bit of mutton for his breakfast VIII, I
entered. followed by four troopers
"Hcllor he stammcrcd looking back
over his shoulder WHAT'S up? Sheep
stealing or blacks? What do You want