SHORT STORY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 710, 8 January 1910, Page 14

SHORT STORY.

AT THE FULL OFTHE MOON.

[By. C- C. HTJTBUSH.]

' The-big,' round !moon rode' high in: an unflecked sky, rlppking-down-with ,calm indifierehce on hill and gully, and painting the corrugated'iron roofe of -Warranyah: and : its puthpnses, with. gleamiiig sil-. ver.' It was not- a ] large homestead, the main building comprising'but four, rooms, .and,. separated from. these. byi a 'niirrow,' roofed passage, pperi at either, end, ■ were two], 'other' rooms; ■ ■ At the .front'; of. the house .was -a! flower garden; 'and. at - the rear an, orchard, almost- an-'-a'cre in/extent. "To the north were ; the.cow-yard, with'::'its: milking-shed,-: and ,the stable, and below these, onthe slope of-the hill,: stood .several , 'small, :dilapidated .etruc-. tures ostensibly , calves' "houses;, and pigsties.;; In fact, ,; the : of, the - whole place was one ■ of dilapidation.- Apparently, :at 'some - remote. time, somebody with capital: had built a:comfortable: home there, but its 'one-time glories had; long; departed.-'•:. The -posts, of' the orchard,.fence leaned at' all kinds of - angles, looking .not unlike the remnants ■ of 'a. broken army, and there were great: gaps whore the palings had' dropped off and never been replaced. The': spouting running/round the main building •'- sagged 'perilously Vearthward, and seemed to dumbly implore a , littlo fresh i support.-■• Even' in.'thevsoftening. : moonlight' it'-.lookedilike a' place; upon which • poverty. ha*d : long' since dropped his/hand, with the ■ vindictive , intention of/never again" raising it..;,.. .; ... ' From; tho small window of one' of the semi-detached ; rooms at the .rear,, Steve Barcomb looked out, not upon.the peaceful, Bcene,..but with a-.fixed, glinting stare af'the "white" lady throned'aloft;.- .' '■"': . ■ "I ..can't' sleep,-; he muttered savagejy; 'Jl-neyer can:when;you'are up-there,.witli your round,i sneering: face. 'I hateVyou— I've always hatod' you.'.' Hβ raised his clenched fist and shook.it.menacingly'at ! her placid ladyship,' and the.'big, muscles' on his arm stood up like knots under, his shirt. • His mood: changed-suddenly;, and when'he-.next; spoke .his , -..voice'. held""a .pleaoUng/ndtoVi'^TOy'dplyoujbririg.all^the:. .'wild 7 , thoHghts'iinto ''my.'mind .that^will.-nbtf 'let;me,'6leep?''.l know .it's-'you,"for;didn't.' I, "Keai-. Lucy; .telling 'Jim' ; Kansoin- when '■■!• .■w4s'hjdden''?anjong' ; things ■"are "I;' can't':; marry .'yet,' , ' Jim,'i.'s]iie'-: saii'.-'lf,:it'^ras .only father.,it',)wpuldn't : . uiatter;'solniuch';\bnt.you.;know;hbw- the', .-m'ocn'-affectsfSteve,-and:!what a'h'andful- : he :is\'at'.' times, , , and '.he's, 'grpwing ■ ■;Jim.',:JThAt/s:what;:6he : 'said,': [ and-it'm :be;,true, ;for.' Lucy never-'tells: L Hes.;like i;d,6.}:JWhyfdo;y.pu r 'n^e ; my.(i'oughts. : run{, 'alwajr's ■V.on.,iKjlfingf.-;-r- i !AJQdv-rj-prdmise.d': . Lucyvl ■ ;wbuldn't - any. ■ more~7-you,'reineni-j ber ithe: last^time;when^l!killedjthe> -calf. ia]jd:;.she--found' , .but?'; ~Now:;-: y ou'fe-;back; again,'_:. temptiag': me." -y ..'i.-V.v -UHejdrpppedsinto/Bilence, , and brievof,-his : ; .strohg,'. ;.brown /..hands; jested-."on j-.the'.-win-' ;dpw<ill, "the .'sinewy:: ,closing."abbut ; 'it''with., 'a' vice-like: gnp.'.'-: ':■ Presently.' , , a slight npise;'brbught:ihim back to'earthi'a: shadow; stalked.; round, the corner of.', the house,', and'eprang.' on? to ia,'• small < beneh."',It' : was"Tom, ,the ■discussing;'.a ; nx)nse :fpr "hisJlata'.enpper;-: and was consequently, at peace with 'nim-t self : and 'the world. In a ion* 1 he' seated himself: on: the', bench;- 'ex- , 'plored'-'biarjaws several -times-..with.,his! ,tongue, theniraised 'hisVheadvand. , ,'stared; 'unblinkingly. : in.the '.direction of'.the win'-' dow..'spVnear!.at' : h£uid.' -Ih^that! position,'. a, moon-beam : lit! , on! his .he!ad,-'andi:cpn-yferted'liis. eyes .into:, two gleaming: green! ':-•;- ; ,.V :■"•!•■'. when hisi , ey ; es , • me, too,' b:a'v'e-yoa?";he'grunted.-""We'll- Bee ; abont; ;V ~,-He; crept noiselessly, away from the -window, opened (he- door -leading,on.!to.the passage, , . andYwefit. to the tool-nouse which stood at.one end. From a heterogeneous collection' 1 of implements he, selected; , ■'•'a hoe with along nandlo, : . and,- armed' with this, , ' he stole,. round ;■ thef- 'corner.■',' of; the ■ building. -. "..- is'v> *"".:'..-! l .;'V'.'.' " - ; ":'''• . .-; ""We'D, see;ib\rvlong : .youijgrin'll,vlast : iowV":hP^mnmbled;:V;!; J ,i;Jf " .

■■■'iJEhe:'cat still studying'.the -glistening window panes; was afl: unconscious of the noiseless enemy,at his rear. He did not seo the long handle, shod ' with: iron death- poised'above him, rior. did'he Gee the lightning descending shadow on the •wall. Indeed, it is questionable, -if he felt anynain, £0 heavy: and 6ure. was the blow. He only dropped from .th« bench to the!ground, and,: save for.a spasmodic straightening of his : limbs,- lay-'stiU. / ' '.With-a 'satisfied leer, Steve surveyed his-handiwork for a moment, then, turned away.. Ho was aboutto retrace 'his steps when a thought seemed .to; strike him, and'a cunning,light:.came,into , hi 3 eyes. ■"It. won't do ;to leave.you: here. No, Lucy ,'ul bo-.bound- to-guess; and you mustn't 'tell tales, Tom. No,, no,'..you mustn't tell tales. . , ■ ■"....■'■ '\\ r .<../, Ho picked up.'.the dead "animal; carelessly,., and.made off.' down the orchard, his, : squat .ungainly figure- covering the ground!at .a surprisingly rapid ■ rale.'! Ho pushed .through'.a. gap in , the. fence, and entered a.rough, , partly-cleared paddock, overgrown.' with -bracken, ■ and-, heri} ..and there., clusters '.of wild blackberries ".matted about, the .'butts of long-fallen ,tre<|s., He advanced a hundred yards or bo in to. Uiis labyrinth,: and : swinging'"the cat I by:' the tail,, sent it whirling:'away into the rub-, bish.- ... -;'■ ■• . ,-• •- '■-...■ lyi: ' •"Lie there. You'll 'come;no more; .on moonlight ■ nights ■: to ■ laugh at me/'-?' he said grimly.- . ' -';■• :. '!''' : vMf: : " :'-'■ ' : ■' ' ''■:. *'•' "* : -':\ i ;*.' :.v»;'t\f! - !'\ ■.':, -. Some.months later,'- up 'at./ tlie't slip-! panels," Lucy Barcomb and. Jim Eonsom werq saying -their-last .'sorrowful ;i good- , byes. -I'Tom .the•.inception of their, love, obstacles had invariably arisen "to 'prevent; its ; van'd now l /' an-!:!insnr- ; 'mountable barrier was ;about tq~be>placed between them.. , ' :/,-..:■:;'. '-.■■■'■■■■:.:'M-k. .-■ "Have you "thought it ■ all 'oat', ciilmly,' Lucy?" /Jim.. said, dejectedly, with the air'of'one"knoTnng;the answer.befdrs,asking /the'question..'' "Have, you ,, ,thought ■what a'life' , with,' that man' must'mean to 'you— you who. are .as far:.above/, him '■■ as shej' up yonder, 'is ' above usP"':" .'■ -He pointed'to the mpori, almost full, thread- . ing" : her regal "passage.'. among; some white .billowy clouds. ' .'..,' ;;. :; ::' " !-"'v.' V '"I have thought of everytbing,"'slie replied.in a low tone, "and I ain convinced that-I am taking the proper .pathJ! Tomorrow, night Ernest 'Werner is -.coming for "my. answer.. V If ; . favourablei.-;he :re.turns.the" bills' to "father, on. the;, spot; if not,: he forecloses,, and we shall be hjrned .'out:)beggars\'' It>.doesn't-T-K:"'."'' " : 'r.i!S':;V ■ "W<sll,:let Mmi"''internipted, I .Jimi': im-. "Why. not. : all. come, l to;;me' ? Vnot'much (roomi'-butV'we'll.-.get:' along-.for a' time; '■ ilfll'be'^aVgood■ da^fori ■yonr.".^^^!.'-..^^!!.'^!^^.^^.^^^''^?;™)^. yah./forihe's,done;nothing but.lose-mpn'ey,. ■since' l he'-iDough't;Ht;,: ! ' : :J^t'.i^e''.,old..VsMnv ~flint',hayeit^he: - .WQh't.: g rpw',yery.-fapon'; hitstp'rofite,'^anyhow.''';,V':v' : ; '■γ-yi -^J; ■■■'.; !. |;Lucy. ; put; he,r-.hand/,:pn' , ;his.v : arm.'iTnth; | .'a;Bentte;elQ^ngf /: pj^sji^'..'v)f;//.'^i;-,^jM'..vj; ': ■ ;• "Big-hearted ■ old" Jim,", 'she; sajd,\;s'^fdy;.' a fwd-;ybu^iyMvet^;beJfrich^joni'! charify.'runs .away:• with.?your,:Eenso,';jand'. ;i.".'C&an(7.'ibe hanged! -l-iteU/yoTt-r^"!; , ; -.'.^Kbw'■ don't.' make: it; harder',:for ! : mev v Jim. , !:: You're young, !and, yon've, got your/ wayV;to', make- in life.'-,: TOiat: nop(), ;; br. chance : would ; you ,'havei' saddled" with" father, Steve, and .'me? '. Oh, I-loveiyoU' too ininoh: for' that,- Jim! : -Besides,:". in; tiinecyou >.will■.forget-^we. ,, a11.-.do.:, : i',Taerp' are'otber ■girls,--and- : -:"" .I'. -,.r 7 :' ".; "Don't," ■. he •: toka; in-', suddenly, -ji \ : > .; ■■' :- ■:TKey. Btoodyery'; ; closeSto ; each'v-'other,' and■.',"■ tor! a" .'long >:tiis'eV the-.SBilenceJwas. only-, broken by the impatienth'Stamjiing. of,'.Jim's" 'horee,. which V.-.stood-; near iiby,; w^th;the ! bridle-reins thrown.pyer:a post,,ah*i once;"Borne-'gooseberry■,;bushesr,wluch, edged ..the.fence' rustled/j uneasily; ,i but the: lovers; did-' not -notice-, it '■'. ''/■■: -a? yii;.; ■: • "Aiid the's;going , 'to.', wipe..:off ithe 'loans •bofotq- he,:makes'sure', of, yon',"., eaid ,: Jim at .'.last, :'.trying'-to'.'speak- unconcernedly;; "thafs; not/like:; Werner:"-. ,Jvj>- *■'£■}•;..:!; ■ '■■[ Lucy.. cave ■' a:' strained> laughs •:■ .''Ho :.6aid. hei'Would'j be'^Quite!" satißfiedv ifV'Li'.give ,, him-'.niy; word. , '-He .placos great'cotlfidence' inV'-'mr '■ 'stability; ■ : ;you c i.''seei"9i"'BhbH'added,' , averting-her. , face.'.'..-!?.(via-.V'' V.:i.e . ivuilj.ji '-■':■ "And 1 ride : oyoi' ; . l ,ito i mpri ; ow' night : 't6 • receive'-'it," 'wentjon , : Ransom'.-' "I ;wish'he , d'.ride. ! over:,the;;Cripple'B..)El-' bow and. breaks his '.neck;,; but she's , [too 1 cauijous'va;' hprseman ~;for- ■that.-'.jWprse. luck.'';-''- :: ;;:'::' ■~'. •':,'''•..-•■v-.;.!-.-:,,-J v-;, iv!^..-,-■i A: soft^hand;-pressed'' on his' hot lips, and smothered ■'•any; further,! garding" Wernirti'i'future.:. •.:.:i.ji'..j.,C■■.';'\?,o- - ■•;;.■■■■■■■■ ;'fri.;'-.'£?'oi .fijpsh* ;««r>;i;V :~ : li.,!\

"Hush, Jim I"-It is. getting late, '■■liet.ns say good.'.!."..night, look, I am waiting .to .Mss.you. I can. do so to-night: , with a clear .conscience;..after to-morrow I shall'have to ; be-loyal\to my ; word." ; , .He caught, her ,to him, , roughly, l 'and lassed her. twice almost, savagely. s?hen he:held her off, aad gazed hungrily'.into her deep, truthful .eyes.-'.':;, S;- ■ ■ ," Is there' no ,;hope;;',Lucy—no'' other chance?, His , voice .sounded harsh and unfamiliar': in : his 'own ears, in spite of his effort to.speak calmly. ','■ '■■■'■;. '-.■■ -Vai an 'instant', she , : waverei ~.■ ~P pe »' hrfore.'.Bhe;. looked bravely' .' /Ton .know .how.-unreasonably'"attached .father, is.-to . Warranyah,", she-said steadily. "I think', it. would : .Bir him to bo .turned.out,'•'.and , that' 'must never happen/so long. as.l-can;prevent,it.'' No, tnerfi,is ,no .other, chance, Jim;. 'Now say,good-night. "This.is—hurting me." ; - Again- Ransom ', strained..the girl .to him, h? -a v/ i, curi PUs X Ol ' W' his throat turned, blindly. unhitched ■ his . horse,., and, rode,-awayanto the moonlight';- and' the shadows.; Lucy, watched him "till, he was <>ut,-.of sight,' then' her-!'fortitude ;forsook Or;. her. : head,, dropped.' until', it rested ■ on the topipanel, , and-with a long quivering moan,she^broke , .into a , fit df,uncontrollable ; sobbing. .?. Again:; the . gooseberrybushes restled strangely ■ for such a calm night,iand again she did not hear. After a'timeshe dried her eyes; and: made'her way slowly, in.the, direction 'of .the ihpuse. She had barely,disappeared; when ' a squat figure emerged from'.the gooseberry' hedge,..and-,-.stood lpoking after -her. There/was a jumbled , mixture .of anger and-exnltation!,. in 'his -attitude, :. which .would-.havo been quaint, except, for tho' moonlight falling,, full, on his face, "em : - phasisiug the .fire.,in his , big, sEifbr, eyesi He turned quickly,.and shook his fist at t the. silent;; bush away in the' direction' of '■iWerner's.;■:';:.'. '{■;"'/:■ : :~'\? '-''". '■•' •". ; ; ;, -"- ■' 'Ton-;^made. our Lucy / pry, you ■ dog, Werner," he said';-, his'. lip'. , ' curling; and ' showing his prominent,; teeth. : '1 ■ ■ heard what, she ."said. : It- is -good to listen, eoine-. times—l.iearn.'.a .lot';that".'way.' ; Sttye's .'ftot a fool, thpugh' once you said 'he was.' 'Do .you remember;'' Werner?- , The day 'I was, helping- you with'.the' cattle,-'- and theygot away into.thebush'f"-.' -.'■■ ■"' "V His humonr/tobk'a twist, and'he'ldoked quizzically "up at his. old enemy.- '■' '--" :-.!.."Ha; old whits face i'f'.he : jibed, "you , are cunning/ - give other•- people 'besides, me bad thoughts, do you? I: wish he'd ride over" the: Cripple s Elbow , and.b'reak his'neck—thafs whatvyou , made' ■J,im', ; Eansom v '.say,'V : :didn't ,:'ybu?" .'He.' stretched'iup:"'one. arm-:andvflipped'■ h'isTmgers' , ', childishly,;, while'.his'iboay ■ shoob :withi hardly'.suppressed..merriment.- Preyintly-.: his -voice'-, took'' on < more,: threaten-, ;ing tone: "So' you're going_to iride'; over! to-morrow night, - are-, you, ■ Werner ? 'And; -you'll 'make. pur Lucy- cry.;again,-perhaps, 'eh?-' Arid you'd , take'her , away, frpni Jim and .us,,wouldn't you ? ■ But we'll see, Mr. ;Wetner;V6h,'yes,)well'see:by :the'.light of. : the;mopn!".v; : :^&'. f "'>yi ■• ■■ v".'^.^- , :;.,.'■!•"■■' r !He.rais?'d;;his:headi: : and againstre'tclied' lut 'his: long i disprpporßonat«j''to' , .his-.shortjibodyj'/V':;^'..•■;' -. '-y- 1 ■':-:■■ : .~ : l ■ ■■;"Eide' , .ihigh'; : -'and' 'bright:', torinp'rrow 1 : nigh t, ; old .gorele-eye";"-; he-, cried. gleefully,'; : ■', and'.j.we'll' , alTlaugh'.: tosether--rydu /aid' •me:<and''old;: , ,Werner,..the'•coward 'who' makes, vromea'cry." '. ; ■ ■'■-■'Ji..-.- ;■■ ■ •'■■;; ■- .-•■..' '. .'.- ;-::.•-• •/-.;;. -,>■; ■•.,j-,|; v li .i-l; -'.',■'.'•'.'•»'"■•■:'; "-'.--J ,--: Through ;the'white :sJeht; Steve-Barcomb-was.'driving- Ernest,>Wenier,. , home .alongthey tortuous "track. ', Weijier ■ 'had •• come,. as.:arranged,vhe'bid 'received-Lucy's: , promise;'. : and '< he.; had handed old'-Baroomb' -back.the papers which-freed Warranyai.. The. ,restvhad ; come ■ about very /easily— .naturally,, it appeared -to .Werner.' V- "■■ , ;,Ceitunly;.it;-was,unnsnal that ,hia.'ordk narily docile = animal should have' become. alarmed,'.broken: the.reins by. .which ;it' Was/hitched, made'off home-without hiin/ Still,, men '/as :weil' 'have' strange'.fanciesrat: thnttiV,Why, here was" ■he, < yeyel-headed, '-business-like..Ernest-.Werner, off; a cool. i500,i; just .-be:-' ■canse;-hie;,wanted'eichit;ofa".girli-with a. !pretty.'.-face.V -Be'-ismiled as.ithe".incongrn-W'-of-the'casevstruckvliim:'. ,Well;-<,well',i :«?««?' aiUs;required.:a l >mistress,:;arid- hecould, i'afford7it. ,: ■ : Besides, oldvßarcomV .wasftgetting.'.up , , , .intyears,. and, , ■ ;\yarraßyah;.would>come : ;to Luoy in , time.; He: : cast;;a:^surreptitious-glance the' ;youth-by.his.side,-who,;; apparently,-., wastop intent;npon'his:task-:to notice:it,Vand continued :.his.-.reasoning.:|There ;, was Steve,. of .course, but "then.-Sreve-was incapable" of- managing , the;,place.- , . : -:He\eould -workt

as a.horse or a.bullock works,.'but' the guiding, hand must be behind hiin. No. he did not think the old man would bequeath Warranyah to Steve. It, wasn't inuohof a plaoo; -still,' it would realise more.than £500 at any time. Yes, on the whole,' he \was : ; quite satisfied. ; with' his deal. '.'■:.■,.'..■ -j-j;,;.; , .:,-. :■:.<:';. ■■ ;-' : .;----;:-i ;.']';*> ' .He leaned contentedly back ii-'the gig-: stretched his: lean'legs,.and yawned;' •'■■■* "llomarkable"thing,. -my-horse making offr. like that/ .^Steve,"; he; said :• carelessly.-. "It was- very''gbqd'of J you- to. offer , 60 wil-' linjjly to drive nie'home." :-.'.; . ' : .'. ; eyes were- fixed ion : the white ribbon ahead, and he did not answer at once. • ■ ;;i; ; ;v;;;;:'.> : .. -.-■'> "' ■ :■.., ■' ~,\ . "It's a fine' ■ inoon,"■': b« said at' last,: irrelevantly; ,, ! ;••;, .'..'-;v : ",;;;-\.- •■.; ;"'Yes," admitted 'Werner/ a-spleri-V did-night 'for' a , -:'drive.-:'~-All !, .the' same it's a .bit rough : .to;keep you «it. of,:bed on .that account. ..It'll .be- late 'wli«n- you get , ; home." : : '.'■.: '■■';';v. ' • ■,-. ■■■ ■■ : -'.', i f ■'. : ."It'll be late''.when' you-; get home, too,", returned Steve shortly, flicking thehorse, lightly, with >the .whip; ~-. Werner shrugged' his shoulders: ,'Evi--dently- his companion'.'did nbt'»want 'to talk. -Well,; ho.f was' a-queer l stick! at the; best of times. ; ■'.-- ■■■! •■-. ■-• : ; : .'■■■.■•■■• ' / ■' Swiftly the flight', trap rattled on, ■ rais-' ing ■ a -: tiny cloud- of dust. that ■ hung, listjpssly, in the.lifelese air.' And-so they came to the', crest'of-the hill, from which 'the; road descended ..steeply- without'•:a curve.for d quarter of a mile. There it seemed to end in'.the dark smudge' of the bush, , :.but in' reality it took" a sharp bend—the-, Cripple's; Elbow. :- : ; ; : , Werner t shifted, on his seat ■: ■ ':- 1 ., - - "You'll" be careful going down here, Steve,": he. warned.. "The shire. shoiild put a;: fence ' or barrier; along by 'the bend,' and block off the gully. Imagine going, down here- on..a flighty iorse!" - •' Steve did'.not answer. ; One\;of.",his, hands- was- clenched-: tightly about- the handle of his whip, and the. fingers of■ his other were, twining in- an'd.;'ont about' the reins in a i cuTious.fashion.i'Thereiwasi a breathless silence,";' and then,'' before'' Werner had'.-,timeV to ,realise'. : ,what ; .ms happening, Steve'.sprang .to. his.'ftet'.'anci;: with, half a,-dozen; savage-cuts,','lashed, the. horse ijiio:. gallop.; He dropped .the whip .suddenly, ,and, : withla ! lightni^.-movement;'^pinned.:.:the .."older■ man to -the seat;' :with held' him---asvhelpless,-to; l a , '.oUldT-:a- : »V , ' : '-^>-V^.'. . "WrigglevJiway, W.erner,"i;he:'ehoutedi : ' 'TTou madeibur.- liucy^ory,-' didn't 'you?: But itfs-r-notV;Lucy you're, dealing;.with', now; . Ife Stero/'ithe-fool.,with^tte-long -\:^ti</.^°.: , : -;B;e 'turne<i ! ~onije 'mpre':ti);ihe.-'noW'xin- ■ controllableii.hoEse;.; ;andi,:iashed ? it; 'with ; ;.the, : elaek- of'the"'reins;;.aiidVtbe frail jumped andj,rocked'.'perildusly.;-;'/{ ;*--,; . • 'T?or;. God's isake/.i. .pull:• gasped; Werner,-: tugging :'-'at" "hfe : '"arin.' .".Well| never,SronnoHthe. corye,■'■•at : ithis!, :his shakln^-^'al^■;•7^■f"■i■■!'#^, , !••v, }.;■**.'■ ■■'■0.-y: :."Try;^(v;;^ottrsel£ff:ihe;':6neered;v;''iTiy- •.'■' He-watched'.the otherj'Bawiag" frantic-' ally, and; ineffectually; at;the-reins,-akd: ; he ; laughed.'inockittgly.;;'.-;f :-,::y ' "■■ ■■','■' ;.s ViEllww;' ie: ; The Aliniehft 'Hiinself pull "up,- i now,'f. /rhe" ,"orisd'-;.blasphemo*sly.i ; "Look, ;Werner:!?•Do 'ryouisee; the ?gnlly:?. "Yotf re going/down .there? among-: the ilogs and-, the ~6hadows;.ibut:l'm hot/going ;wifii: you—rm';going ' to; etayVnp , vhere\si r :'the ■• moonlighters: .5/v "o , ',-r-,'3- ; . 'if; 'C ■''-. Almost; at "the; , same '■•»■' instant. : , as ;!.the' ' horse and ',\ overshot,'; the; ■ bend,"? and ■' went the -side of* the 'gully^' ' Steve,- -with';; a '■: mightyv leap;' I- cleared ■' the: , liiid';;'de;, : Uayed.t just' a'; friction': tooV 10ng, ,: and, , --in-' steaol ;of ;.alighting.;pn. ; the road,--:he etirick 'the. protrutog,';-end;,T:bf:ra':logj. ; !;b6unced; off.'-rolled; 6pme .yarde away,-and.brought: up againstj ay -. stUl;;>s,|.Tfifl;.;only i ;.:sound.'.', thati broke.' the (h^a^^'6^eßce:-'vwas-'~" ) the; : ;'';agdnised 1 . Ecreecb.yof; ! \a?,;stak«<l"': horsey;: which Xciune.; the onlyji.witp'ees'tiwas,; the {round;'..unheed-'i ing mpdfiy"-'»nich-^'looked- ; etolidly' d'owiI from .'her throne: in,: the! far-away: bine;''S them:: the • following iinorn- ; ing-'. was' quite ■ dead—killed instantaneously,,: so"' , '- the ..doctor said;., but Steve lingered.-for :two days,:.and during that time .he gave a disjointed account of :muoh .that:would otherwise' have' always emainfed; a mystery, a r',liideedj; a large

portion of this narrative is compiled from his version of the affair. Old Barcomb etdi potters about hi« beloved Warranyah, but now a keeper and not Luck attends to Uβ requirements However, regularly twioe « week, Jim Eansom and bis wife drive o\er, and spend the evening with the old min —"The Australasian.*''