The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-12-19
CHAPTER XVII.

In the far distance doomed the Gray
Ranges about which little then was
known. save that they were popular
ly supposed to swarm with blacks
Tracks of wild cattle and horses pc
gan to be observed, and small herus
of kangaroos and fiocks OF emus neu
in dismay from the unexpected lnVa-
sion of their domain.
The country began to be more hlily
and better timbered. Large clumps OF
shea-oak and pine dotted about the
hills gave it that park-like appearance
so familiar to the traveller in civilized
Victoria.
Now they crossed a wide sandy
creek, lined with huge gum-trees,
where dead logs and powders spoke Oh
the wintry floods, which had washed
them down from the highlands above
to their present resting places.
Here the white cockatoos screamed
their shrill welcome, and the iguanas
stole stealthily away from the track
of the explorers, and yawned their dis
appreciation at a safe distance.
We'll" thought Mr.. Hall, IF this
escapade means nothing else, it means
one thing. If l get back safely over
those COMPOUNDED sand-hills my name
isn't Charles Hall if l don't take up
hundred square miles of this country
for a cattle-run."
Towards midday the party came
across a deserted native encampment,
and near it was a well.
Here they rested and refreshed their
horses and themselves. having first
taken the precaution of laying in full
supply Of the good drinking water for
their future needs.
After few hours rest another start
was made, but no sign of the fugitives
could be seen.
1t was drawing towards evening
when Jack Hall, who led the way, sud
denly cried
Halt"
the ground. Rain had fallen there re-
Gently, and in a "clap-pan" which he
was about to cross he had come upon
the tracks of large dog. Uncertain
whether this was the trail of wild
dingo or of a more domesticated ami
NAL he had at once decided upon fol-
lowing it up.
Skirting the edge of the moist clay,
he made his way carefully through a
mass of reedy grass and rushes, until
he came upon a second open space, a
"clay-pan" like the first.
These ''clay-pans" are bare shallow
patches of earth which hold the water
many weeks after the rain has fallen;
and in some of the dry districts of
Australia they are utilized by the set
tiers, who make tanks in their neigh
borhood, and run the water from them
by means of small drains into the arti-
! fetal rain-catcher.
! At the second clay-pan Jack Hall
paused and looked carefully around it,
and then with cry of delight he
shouted out to his companions
"All right We are on to them
steady-don't move! Stay where you
are. Here are tracks of mans boots
tracks not three days old"
Resting quietly in their saddles at
they were hidden, the men sat silently
expectant, while Jack followed up the
trail.
Some twenty yards or so from wher,
he first struck it, on the left of tn,
"clay-pan," he discovered in som,
thick scrub the remains of kangaroo
The feet, head and entrails lay upor
the ground. The other portions hac
been taken away
"Blacks?" inquired Mr.. Hall
mo" replied Jack-"not blacks
look there!"-and, holding up the ami
mails skull, he showed upon it tn
mark of bullet-wound
"They are armed then" said the ser
geant.
"Yes-they have weapons of som
sort, that's clear" replied Jack Hall
and, splitting open the head with hi
sheath-knife, he extracted a bullet
Revolver bullet" he remarked hold
ing it up for his fathers inspection.
How about the dog?" asked one r
the troopers. There are tracks aeros
both these clay-pans of a dog"
"Baynes had kangaroo-dog at th
station. l remember well his buvin
it from one of the men," said Jacl
land his being chaffed about going q,
hunting"
But, on the night of Bob LIKE
going up to the hut" interposed n
sergeant, "how was it that no on
heard the dog bark?"
'Baynes took it down with him
Sullivan's. remember seeing him fo
low Baynes down the creek. Yc
ought to know, Sullivan? Did You 81
dog with him when he came into Il
bar for the mail-bags?"
Yes" replied Sullivan: 81 remen
Der quite well seeing the dog with hi
that is, on the night he came dow
for the mails. l don't remember mott
ing it with him before, though. r.
dogs aren't such scarce animals abo
the Ranges as to call for particul
notice"
We'll, l remember his having do,
20 al