Year: 1865

taste Of companionship once more, when a
column of flame started up suddenly, and
displayed face that caused me to shrink
back again with muttered thanksgiving
that | was not discovered. The face that
the fire revealed was known to me at once,
! though | had never seen it before. The one
eye and hare lip of Red jim" had been
freely spoken about in every shepherds hut
on the surrounding stations. There was
no mistaking him. The bulldog forehead,
the heavy jaw, and the thick neck, were
| features that in themselves would have suf-
| ficiently pointed out the identity of this es-
capped convict. Recalling the man now, as
| saw him then, | think | never beheld So
| perfect an lmpCrsOnatlOn of a bad criminal
1t was well known that Red Jim had es-
capped from penal servitude, accompanied
! by three others, but had arrived in this col
ony alone. 1t was equally well known
that he could only have survived the in
credible journey by canibalism. Red Jim
had ruthessly murdered one or two settlers
against whom he entertained grudge, ,and
every effort was being made at that time
| to capture him. There was nothing re-
markable in the faces of his companions.
! They simply showed by word and feature





Of their class They had coarse long limbs
and heavy reckless faces, scared into re-
voting harshness by long series Of
| crimes. Two of them were armed with
guns.


These thoughts and observations passed
through my mind in much less time than it
takes to write them | was speedily re-
called from speculation by hearing the
word " Halleluiah used. Hallelujah was
| the only sobriquet given to my master be-
cause of his strictly adhering to the habit
of reading prayers in the family, morning
and evening. Mr.. Christmas was kind,
| benevolent man, respected by every hand
on the station and by none more than my
! self. He had been very considerate to me
in a late illness, and often thought by many
subsequent attentions to cheer the lone
lines Of my employment. One of Red Jim's
companions, in answer to something Red
Jim said, replied with an oath:


Yes, We'll see if his psalm singing will
save him now"


Then the other said: There are a couple
of women there, and we shall have to
give them taste of bush life, before morn
ing"


Look ye'ere," growIed the rufian,
we'll roast Hallelujah first. That's our
look out. Wen see if the old prayer-pat-
ter has nothing else to do but to help to
run us down. Give him taste Of fire be-
fore the devil gets him"


| had no fever, no lassitude, now; the
prostration of the last few weeks left me
as by magic, and in its stead l felt fierce,
delightful energy tingling through every
nerve. Down close amongst the dry tin
dering grass, away with suppressed breath,
and wild feeling closing round my heart,
| crept from the vicinity of the fire | pur-
sued my way on my hands and knees with
a slow determined care that has since sur
prised me, avoiding every branch or twig
that might crackle in my path. | hurried
on past the flock without so much as dis
turbing sheep.


Not till a long safe distance intervened
did | stand erect, and fresh for the events
of the night Whatever they might be,
God in his mercy alone knew.


l turned and saw the black forms of the
bush-rangers moving about the blaze, and
with run | started for the hut. Before a
quarter of an hour | saw it dimly against
the sky, and almost at the same instant a
frightened snort told me that the horse was
within a few yards of my course. Utter
ing hurried thanksgiving that had found
him so providentially near, | unfastened
the hobbies with quick steady hands, and
led him to the threshold.


| put on the patched saddle and bride,
and in another five minutes the fine old cob
was stretching himself to a swift free gal
| lop My mind was too full for thought !;
| but | can remember uttering repeatedly
the words, thank God !"


| What contrast to the still hot monoto-
nous days, and the enervated frame! What
testimony to the power Of mental excite
ment over bodily lassitude. The horse felt
my determination too, and sped along with
out pause or stumbling. 1t was seven
miles to the station, and the black belts of
timber rose, and passed, and came again,
| as | hurried on for dear life, over grabbed
| ground and abrupt hilIocks. The brave
old cob had as little thought Of rest as |
! had. Once, indeed, he paused at a rocky
crossing place, but Immediately resumed
! the swift pace at which he had started
Have horses intuition or presentment? |
don't know but have often wondered at
the long unurged gallop Of that brave gel
ding


There away beyond in the black dark
ness, l see something that is not a star, 1t
is moving, or is it the pace of hoIse. No,
there it is again Hurrah, it is a candle.
1t is the homestead, calm and peaceful
Again. thank God.


Strange to say, l never felt such a sense
of pleasure as | did when | learned that !
had found the house so quickly--the most
familiar point is not easily gained in the
trackless bush at night. A minute more,
and had dismounted to take down the
slip panels of the station fence another
minute, and | had galloped up to the front
entrance at a pace that lashed the gravel
from the trim-kept paths.


The door opened, and gush of light
streamed upon the darkness, cleaning on
the sides Of the reeking horse. Mr. Christ
mas hims self-old, but hale and vigorous as
many young man-peered out into the
night with an expression of surprise. In
beyond were the evidences of calm and re-
finement. A quiet comfort dwelt in the
glimpse had Of the room, and settled up
on me even then, rough bushman as was
with pleasing sense. | can recall my
self, bending below the withers of the pant
ing horse, to peer under the rather low We
randall, my dress wet with perspiratioI