The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1916-12-14
Ballarat Sam
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.
pv M OItAD

pocket contained a dollar for every
year | had lived had exactly "a
TO begin life on In this colony, but was
healthy youngster, with no fear of
the future. Luck was with me from
the start. On the second day after
landing from the steamer | hired out
to sheep raiser, who had n ranch on
the Murray river, near It's junction
with the Darling, and on the third we
started or up the country.
one evening ! was building n fire 20
cook supper by. while Mccall, the over.
seer. went 10 secure lever with which
To raise wagon OF its wheels. |
was thus alone for few moments.
Suddenly n man burst out Of the thick.
ct aud came running up to me.
"For Gods sake, young fcllcr. give
me bite to cat!' he said MS he stood
/ before me Don't be afraid Of me.
/ I'm sheep berder who has been lost
In the bush FOR three days aud n half"
stepped to the wagon aud handed
/ him piece Of bacon, some hard
crackers aud handful OF tea. and
after he had placed them In his pock.
cts he continued:
young fcllcr. do me n greater IN.
vor still. Lend me your pistol and
knife until tomorrow, when you VIII
pass my station. and. furthermore, do
not mention 10 any one that was
here. DO this and you will never re-
grct IT," Then he hurried away.
Just as Mccall came back with the
lever there was n clatter OF hoofs, and
1 looked up to see five mounted men
ride into camp They were In the uni
form OF the patrol. and the appearance
or the men and horses showed that
they had had long ride Of H.
"wcll. Captain White. what II itT'
asked Mccall. who seemed 10 know
every one OF the i've.
Been after Ballarat Sam again"
was the reply as the captain dis
mounted.
"And lost him. ehf"
ayes. curse the luckl We struck his
trail near Dobncy's yesterday morning,
and he led MS chase OF nfty miles
during the day. We killed his horse
about dusk last night and had him sur
rounded IN the scrub. He got out. how.
ever. and we did not get his track un'
tii about noon today. We followed to
the creek two miles above and there
lost IT,
We continued on up the country and
nnaily arrived at the ranch. and for
the next six months ! was hard at
work as a sheep herder and neither
saw nor heard much OF the outside
world. Then one day I was called TO
report at headquarters and upon my
arrival found couple OF visitors there
two gentlemen who had lately arriv'
ed from England. They had come out
10 Australia 10 go into the sheep bust
ness. but would leave II In care OF an
agent They hired me and a number
OF others. and we began work with
them.
one evening we had finished supper
and were grouped about the campfire
when one OF the dogs barked and We
looked up TO hnd ourselves covered by
tlve rifles.
Hands up or you are dead men!
shouted n voice. and every one Of u'
quickly obeyed the command.
The five advanced. each keeplnl
his rife leveled. and when | coul'
see the man who had spoken ] a
once identified him as Ballarnt Sam
the man whom | had befriende'
months before. He recognized me al
most as quickly and, taking a step for
ward. he said:
"well. boy. you did me good turI
that day and I'll not forget H. Nov
over TO the left. Now, then. gents
who are your
All our arms were In the wagon, an'
we were helpless 10 offer any resist
ance. The first thing they did was Z
despoil their captlyes. After they ha'
robbed the two gentlemen OF every
thing they had OF value and helpe'
themselves literally 10 our st'res 4
the wagons Ballarat Sam shook land
| with me and said;
| $50 you didn't inform the police 20
had seen me that dayf"
| "No. SIR" saf
| "Well, you were mighty kind TO m'
and am going TO return the favo
Take this hundred pound note an
save 1t for a rainy day, and here's th
finest pistol and knife In Australii
J Probably some day you viii see m
: hanged, but whatever IL said OF me 20
can vouch for the fact that Ballar'
Sam never forgot a favor or failed
get even with an enemy"
Columns OF matter were printed
the Australian newspapers eoncerniI
Ballarat Sam and his crew OF OUTLAW
during the next year, and his pictul
was posted everywhere and large =
ward offered for his capture dead
alive. The authorities were bound
get him. but he seemed to bear
charmed life for awhile, and. althous
arrested several times. he always ma
aged to escape by some ruse or Othe
Finally he was surrounded by a Patr