The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-07-09


eve stalled them Tom showed Slipper
and the BLACK his old lair Another
convict had succeeded him as groom.
and in a few moments young Brummy
was dragged forth by Peter Pindar,
So far from offering any resistance,
however the obliging youth AT once
put himself at the bushrangers' dis.
posal. His zeal and enthusiasm au.
Cured we'll for the other seventy IN
the huts Under his eager guidance
the Waterman, Roberts. was immed!.
ately captured IL his sleep beneath the
bell. whereupon that official Joined thu
enemy with no more demur than
Brummy Indeed. he went the length
OF shaking hands with the supposed
Italian and personally thanking him
for having come at last. .
Hockey on his horse cut this profess
sion short and drove both prisoners be-
fore him toward the overseer's hut.
which Tom had already pointed out
The latter was now left in charge OF
the bell rope. with last order not to
ring until the hut was well ablaze.
II thought he was gov'norf" Tom
heard Roberts remark. w
1.-THE less You think the better" re-
torted Hookey. But about this over
seer Of yours-a ticket Of leave. | I'M
derstand. True man. eh?' by which
term Hockey meant its opposite.
II doubt It," said Roberts.
"Then all the worse for himy'
Ginger's hut was but few yards
from the bell. Tom heard them enter
and held his breath. The door was
shut. and then he heard no more
] In the main building all was dark
and still. He watched II keenly. with
his ears. as II were. upon the hut be-
hind At last the door reopened. and
be heard the striking Of lucifers, &C
companied by another sound. as OF
something being dragged from the hut
He looked round. and II was Ginger's
bed. The oyerseer lay upon It bound
and gagged.
Tom drew a deep breath. He had
expected worse.
|, Brummy and Roberts were now dis
patched to the conyicts' huts TO tel. the
rest at. the right moment what was
happening and how they would all b.
lfree men within an hour II they alb
stained from interference. but dead
men II they did not. Then the BLACK
crept up close 10 the paiIsade. while
Hockey rode 70 one side aud the othe,
two hid behind trees Meanwhile th'
oyerseer's hut was beginning to erackie
and all at once Tom saw the shadow
OF his tree leap out toward the palisad'
upon q ground Of glaring red.
"Ringl Ringr' cried Hockey frou
bis horse.
Almost with bits words n terrif
clang. clang. clang. burst out frou
amid the red guns leaves. and almos
with the alarm couple Of white DC
ures Ieaped out Into the red glare BE-
hind the palisade.
J Tom stood and watched like an acto
who has forgotten be Is on the stag
himself.
He saw the white figures das
through the gate and a black one GID
10 front OF II next moment. He say
Nat Sullivan stop, running. seize hl
fathers arm aud point excltedly e
ward the burning hut He saw ther
| both about TO turn when the son wa
I. lifted of his legs as though he ha
! been an infant. and there were COS
? black arms entwined about his nigh
D shirt and snow white teeth GRIMM
E over his shoulder. Hockey simpso
{ galloped up. Slipper and wall-eye dar
ed from behind their trees. All ha
4 pistols In their hands and masks upo
/ their faces. and the masks reminde
D Tom that he was looking on throug
!. one himself and had no business to B
s q locker on at all.
He had vaguely wondered why n
bell was still ringing. Now be let 8
u the rope and ran q step or two 10
ward. but they were four TO two witt
" out him. and the four were armed. IN
y watch be must.
d The Snllivans were being dragged I
). driven backward upon the pallsad
- Tom could make little Of the swayin
struggling group. for Hockey simpsc
e brought up the rear on his horse. b
b through the animals legs be ha
glimpses Of fiuttering calico and spa
king spurs ne the glare grew mol
and more intense. IL was now as llgl
as day. Every board Of the ma
Il building stood out 10 abnormal deta
against the blackcned sky. while u
d shadows or the pallsude made q glo'
Ing gridIron Of the yard within.
y The scufiie was over. Something wi
happening that Tom could not q
IL when q fake OF redhot bark lIt up'
n. bis ear. lie was face about In time
le see the roof Of the burning hut tumb
b. In and a column OF clean hafng spv
4. high Into the night. And there VI
le the wretched Ginger writhing 10
lt bonds within reach Of the burnlI
y walls and with the flame Of a fall
ID brand licking the very camp bed |
IL which be lay.
a This time Tom did not forget !
II part. lie ignored II and had the ov'
"A -. ....N ....sz a.. ]. So -