Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-06-07

replied the visitor. with the persis-
tence of a iackaroo and a growing
suspicion that he vas being made
butt IF by the misohievcus stockmen.
You see reflections. Il is true. but
those are not trees. aud tnat is not
water" said Mcintyre. That decep-
ton which You are looking at has
fooled many 4 new settler. and led
him on from hope 20 hope into drier
plains with no chance OF getting water
and finally 10 die of thirst. Old hands
like us now know better. What you
see before you IS what the books
would call land mirage. OF optical de-
fusion, and is peculiarly characteristic
Of Australia "
Torn McCurdy drew the crowd back
into its business mood by yelling:
"Coo-ee-eyi"
Hear m, TOM" asked Mcintyre.
Yes, at the corner
The call sounded again end the echo
came louder along the bluff.
Move down a stretch. ans soon's
Fishers line Toun's III point n line
on dash ~ the beggars out there with
yell: get EN- frightened. get 'em on
IN so. an keep EN- at it 'ntil they
cal, malt on us. Then, look OUT"
Carl Fishers squad cantered over
the wooden mound, down the rubble
slope at the gap and strung out along
the palisade of the abrupt face of the
mountain. and then swung out into the
prairie facing the miraged brumbys
at lively canter.
McCurdy's men loped leisurely out
TO line off from Fishers end. The
long cavalcade of horsemen then gal
Hoped abreast over 'he undulating
plain as quietly as the dull tilump of
the speeding animals would permit
them TO.
When the nearer beat of the gallop-
ing horses started the grazing brum-
bys and they threw up their heads,
McCurdy knew the time had come.
''Giv'm dash, whoop. an roun'-
up ford" he commanded, giving his
own steed more rein. With a terrific
yell the drivers dashed in upon the
aftrighted wild animals: the dogs
rounding the ends, and turning the
scattering ones to the center.
The startled horses punched. hud-
died IN undecided confusion. made a
| momentary stand, and then a spas
modic lunge against the whooping yell
lers. VINO beat against the circl!rg
maze OF agitated wild animals 10 break
| the corral. and head out leader for
drive forward.
Burnany never saw a livelier or a
roisier piece of work than this reck.
less charge and manipulation of an
untameG mob of bush horses by these
daring frontiersmen Men rode around
ana fought the swapping. paving
brutes. fencing hocfs and crashing
teeth with their stock butts as though
II were athletic play. Finally. Tom
MoCurdy and big Bill Lindsay wedged
into the mass. and knei1ed through to
the opposite side. when furious stall
lion gave them chase
This made an opening. With anoth
er showing wnoo?. and the lurry of
the big staliiCn's chase, and the dogs
ed bunch headed ont after Tom and
the pursuing steel The riders in the
rear kept Up a fearful din of yells,
which, with charges and clubbing.
soon stamrcced the lot toward the
creek
1t was now q pell-mell chase-fieet.
unnampered steeds of nature. against
The hardened weight-boaring hcrses of
industry.
Carl Fisher rode at the head of the
right wing. Tom McCurdy and Bill
Lindsay in the lead. while Mcintyre
guided ire left, riding wide, in kind
of a bow, SO that the extreme ends
wo,ild easily cover the tanks of the
pursued mob. The drive was held
well IN hard. until the creeks was
reached. Here they baked and made
trouble. McCurdy took one ford while
Lindsay took the other. The wild
horses divided also.
AS McCurdy leaped down the steep
emoankment, the stallion tore patch
! of hair from his half-brced's tail. and
! Slued around up the i-- line, turned az
bay with several others. and gave bat
! tie against the high banks. while the
! great bulk Of the mob pushed and
/ crowded themselves into the ravines of
the beaten trail and crossed.
Come On. lads" McCurdy called
back across the stream, there's no
/ tine Z divide or stop. Keep tn beg.
CARS r movir'."
Small punches were abandoned here
and there as they broke through. and
/ pursuit forced after the main body.
By good gcneralship. hard riding,
and with the aid of dogs the galloping
brumbys were rushed up the laps of
the muster yard. before they halted
in their eight-mile race across the
prairie into the friendly forest which
they fel, sure wculc shelter them.
So long as this delusion lasted it
lent speed 10 their hea,s. but when it
was dispelled Tho leaders. feeling the
strong panels Of the narrowing wings
CT the muster yard. showed disposition
10 lib and contest tho ground. The
forward ones being blocked by the in
creasing jam. the rear ones were left
10 battle. The stockmen pressed for
waro and preoipitated the fray by at
lacking the stubborn ones. which were
rapidly worked into mood for any
sort Of encounter