The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-21

tractors store much farther on the
way. where Mr.. Sullivan nudged Tom
and made him take note OF a portly
man in a magnificent waistcoat, who
sang song In the most charming BARI
tone while the travellers were having
their supper.
do you know who that was?' said
Toms master when they were once
more on their way. THAT was Hunt,
the accomplice of Thurtell. who muir.
dered a man called Weare. You re-
member il, do you? Well. that's the
man. and he just bears out what ! say
we don't care a kick what convict
has done in the old country so long as
he don't go doing II again out here.
But there. keep forgetting you're one
yourself. Somehow. or other you're not
like the rest, and you take my advice
aud go on like you've begun" AS he
paused the voice of Hunt was waited
TO their ears in new song that died
very sweetly on the soft night air.
The latter stages of the journey were
marked by looks OF recognition wher-
ever young Sullivan baited his horses.
but by never a single look Of welcome,
and an ominous climax was reached
when the little cavalcade passed a
stockade aud a chain gang within
twenty miles OF their destination.
Here was a long line of heavily ironed
men. some eighty In all. strung togeth-
er like beads on a rosary aud at work
with pick and shovel beneath the burn.
ing sun and the eyes aud muskets OF
the military. As the riders approach.
ed word seemed to go along the line.
and face after face was raised with a
curse anda howl as the horses passed.
Such faces as they were. Tom had
not seen the like In Newgate. nor
aboard the Seahorse. nor yet. 10 such
a number. IN Sydney itself Those. on
the whole. were only on the lower
slopes OF degradation. but these had
reached its lowest depths. and Tom
rode by them with an aching heart
and ayerted eyes.
His attention. indeed. became concen.
trated upon bis companion. who had
checked his horse instead OF urging II
forward and was walking instead OF
gaIlopIng this horrible gauntlet. Tom
could see but one sunburnt cheek and
one cold blue eye. but the 6Ht kept rs
color. the second never flnched, and
the gross lip that jutted out between
beard and mustache never. quivered
once all the way. Nor until be was
we'll past the gang did Mr. Nat put
spurs to his horse. but when be did Il
was not to draw rein until they reach
ed the next roadside inn. and there be
vanished. to reappear next day with
running eyes and shaking hands
Il wouldn't be assigned to him fol
something!" said the barman. with
whom Tom made friends. You might
as well 60 to Norfolk island straight n
TO Castle Sullivan. Tell you what
mate. I'd give him the go-by tonight
for you'li never have q better chance
And see here. I'll come with you. fol
I'm dead sick OF my job"
Tom shook bis head.
mo. no. my friend: be may be al
you say. but he's treated me vel
enough 50 FAR. and I mean to stick d
him"
"oh. the young cove's not the worst
It's the old cove I was thinking Of"
what old cover
Or Sullivan. this ones father
He had . father. them Mr. Nat bad
never mentioned him. And the OLE
man was worse 20 do with than th'
sonl
Tom put these questions 10 himself
and then another TO bis friend the bar
man. after shortly telling the latte
about the behavior OF the Iron gang
why was az thatY' said Tom.
"whyf Because half them crawler
have worked for the suIlivans In thei
time. They get you fogged and fog
ged and logged Ill all the works fos
gsd Que Of you; then they get you sil
months In the crawlers, and Ike n
not that's the end Of you"
-why doesn't somebody put a bulle'
through them bothT'
Because the coyes have got Oh,
pluck. That's their secret They dom
know what fear r.. So there's seventy
strong men up there and over hun
dred In harvest time. and the whoI'
boiling afraid Of them two!"
Tom said no more; neither did n
have much 10 say 20 Mr. Nat next da,
b their saddles. Neither did Mr.. Ma
have anything at all to say 20 bin
before nlghtfall, 30 severe bad beeI
bis latest "touch Of the sun" but 20
ward evening they left the road, ant
90 the moon was rising In q velvet SKI
lights also broke upon them througi
some trees. Dogs innumerable begaf
TO bark, and as young Sullivan stoopet
20 open gnte he pointed across II 4
the lights and said that there wa
Castle Sullivan at last.
and bark you here" he added saw
sgeIy. SELLING Toms bride on tb'
other side. a. though every redeemini
trait was now left behind upon th'
neutral ground that they had traverses
together. 'hark you 10 this and rccol
lect II WELT You've been right enougl
on the way. and you've the making
Of decent groom. but you won't fins
Il me a. eaeY nm here IA I cosld efYort