LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2359, 25 October 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

SAVED BY THE DOOXOE. The episode I am going to relate ooonrred not far from the township of Horsham, Victoria, Australia. Where the exact locality la I have no Intention of divulging; but if any of my readers are acquainted with the part of the world referred to, they will remember that there exist one or two large streams within the wide radius I haved named. Beside one of these rivers there was standing, about twenty years ago, a hut, which was known at the Homestead as the Deep Water Station, and it was here my lot placed me a* a hutkeeper. I lived at the Deep Water Station for two years. I remember I was sitting at the hut (the Deep Water Hut) one summer afternoon, looking for the coming of ‘ Long Mat.’ The tun was passing away blood red behind a range of dim blue hills ; long shadows were fast opreading ; the deep water hole had lost the light; the hills behind the river were Just tipped with a crimson glory, and stars seemed dropping Jliko silver specks on the paling sky. Long Mat, the shepherd, was later than usual.

The darkness had not quite fallen before I recognised the bleating of the flock in the distance, and soon after the white fleeces of the sheep slowly appeared from ont the sombre shadows of the trees. I had Just walked inside the hut to prepare supper, when the quick, muffled fall of a horse’s feet became audible. I knew the canter well, and came to the door to await the arrival of Mr S He galloped up to the hut, with a cheerful JGood evening. Bill;’ and as [usual came inside to ask me If I wanted anything, and to light his pipe. * I can’t stay long with you this time. Bill,’ he said pleasantly, but with a little anxiety ; * the black fellows are about again, 1 hope your gun is la order. Do you want any powder or lead ?’

‘We have quite enough,’ I replied, ‘ both Mat and myself; but there’s no bullets ; I’ll run them to-morrow. Mat’s rather lato this evening j but the flocks not far off ; they’ll be home in a quarter of an honr s J g»w them paja the belt be/ojrs you came.*

At thir Instant the shadow of a man darkened tho door, and Mat entered. ‘Good evening, ’ he said qalotly to Mr S and myaolf. ‘The sheep’s feedin’ boms al right, sir, but there’s a few missin’ One of my marked ewes ia gone, and 1 can’t see two o£ the crawlers.’

‘ You’ll pick them up to morrow, Mat,’ replied the strong, pleasant voice of tho squatter. ‘ Bill says you’ve enough powder and lead. ■ho blacks are about ;do you know that ?’

Without waiting for an answer Mr 8 proceeded to undo hie horse and was about to mount when Mat (who was an American) said : ‘ I guess you had better stop to-ni^ht, sir ’

' Why ?’ ‘ Injuns ia close up. One of tho sheep I spoke of was -speared, ’ ‘ I heard there were black fellows about,’ s.dd Mr 8 , delaying to mount; ‘but the ride ia safe enough ; I’ve got my rifle with me.’

‘They’re too close,' responded the shepherd, after filling a pannikin of tea, and contrary to his custom, standing hia gun against tho table

We looked at him inqnlrlng’y. He kept hia eyes wandering over and around tho fl cks while he explained ’ ‘ Wall, you see, sir, after seem’ the spear wound on tho crawler, I looked about me pretty sharp, but couldn’t see nothin’ till I was leavin' tho belt there, when I sighted one of the var. mints wrigglin’ through the grass like a snake. I was goin’ to give him a pill, but I saw another wrigglin’ in his wake, and then another; and,’ continued the narrator, with something like a glow of expectation, ‘they ain't far off now, I reckon,’ Ho had scarcely uttered the words when he lifted both hands and struck Mr S full on tho cheat with enough force to drive him to tho extreme end of the hut. At the same Instant a spear whizzed through the open doorway, and quivering in the slabs behind.

‘ 1-y gum ’ More remarks were drowned by a loud quivering snort from the poor horse: a moment after, and he rolled heavily across the hut door, completely blocking up the entrance.

Mat muttered away; ‘ First rate for ub coons! Te’d better bar the door, Bill! Doctor ! Doctor! Doctor 1 Pst I Pst! Here lad.’ The dog leaped on the shepherd. “By gum,’ ho said, ‘ I thought he was outside.’

By this time Mr S was cooly reconnoitering through the loopholes. He had let down tho window, and was preparing for notion as unconcernedly as the shop herd.

Those quiet brave men inspired me with confidence, and I remember thinking, as I threw water on the fire so as to extinguish the light, that the black fellows bad met with their match, By this time the moon was up and the light was gradually growing on the landscape. At first we conld discern the outlines of the trees, and then, as the night gathe ed, the white seared grass between tho shadows. There was a long time of silence. Mat, Mr 8— and mysslf had our barrels through the loopholes and were closing watching for any movement outside. The convulsive shuddering of tho horse had ceased and there was a painful rilence. The squatter and Mat were like two |statuas, and notwithstandthe quiet breathing of the dog and the oroakings of the frogs along th§ river, there seemed to be a frightful significance in the silence that was brooding above these sounds. Every instant I was expecting a rush from the outside, but there was not a sign or sound to betray the presence of any enemy. The sheep were camping quietly round the hurdles. Silence the bright moon—the white fleeces mingling with the color of the grass—the still shadows of the trees—the far black forest—the spectral tracery of the branches in the moonlight. The ailtnoo was terrible. One of the outside wethers rose and walked forward a few yards, then commenced stamping quickly on the ground. ‘Darn my eyes,’ said Mat, for the first time breaking silence, ‘ if Da “ Ole Parson ” ain’t: sighted one of the niggers !’ The ‘ Ole Parson’ was a patriarch wether that was afflicted with the footrot, and usually fed on hia knees.

‘ So ha has, and by gum there’s a ’crowd ; the whole tribe hev come to visit. Not enough in shade, boss,” concluded Mat, after another interval, and in a hard, whispering tone The next moment tho first report rang out into mj riad echoes. A shrill death shout followed, as the dark figure of a man leaped with a sudden force from his ambush and fell prone, gurgling out blood and broken words.

‘Now, Boss,’ said Mat, looking out, but still charging ; ‘ fifty yards to the right of the hurdle.’

Boas (Mr S —-) changed the position of hia gun and fired. The human figure seemed to sink down so quickly, so calmly, so helplessly, that I felt a strange thrill of pity. ‘ He’s fixed, as safe as houses ; let’s physio another or two, and maybe they’ll make tracks,’ again muttered the shepherd, in a tone of suppressed glee. ‘Cook, why the devil don't you shoot ? Squint round that first block to tho right of the wattle. ’

Looking in tho direction indicated by Mat, whose eyes seemed everywhere, I saw the figure of a man partially visible against the ground. Ho was evidently sheltering himself from the other two guns, but, owing to my silence hitherto, he must have been of the opinion that the portion of tho hut where I stood was unoccupied. For an instant I could see nothing through the smoke, but it cleared almost instantly. Just as the shepherd said, ‘ Don’t shoot again—he’s fixed,’ I saw tho poor wretch staggering wildly towards the hut, and then falling with a dull sound. God f irgive me, it was very like murder. This was tho first life I had ever taken. The next thing I remember was Mr 8 asking me if I had run any bullets. ‘Not one.’ ‘ Have you any in the hut ?' ‘Not one.’ Mat informed ns that we were ‘tree’d,’ much in the same way as ho would tell the overseer that the rations were short. He quietly pulled his gnu from the loophole, saying, • I’ve only one more pill to keep onr eking whole. We’ll hev to trust to Doctor.’

Mat’s dog Doctor was partly a Smithfield and partly a Newfoundland. He had been trained by him to all sorts of trioks. Amongst others, he repeatedly took written messages to the station when attached to his collar, and I presume this was tho object Mat had in view when referring to him as capable of procuring relief. 1 Mister, d’ye think yon kin rite a missage in the dark, or by the moonlight, askin’ the hands of the Homestead to come this way? No time to lose; I see the darkies dodging round the hut. Bill, knock away the low part of the rotton slab behind your back. Here, Doctor.’ The message was scrawled and fastened to the dog’s collar in less than a minute, and the noble brute, who seemed to know the danger, stood anxiously trembling till the preparations were completed. As I before stated, the hut stood close to the stream, and from the rear the bank sloped abruptly towards tho water. The American for tho first time seemed affected, When the mon fell under our shots, there was not tho slightest change perceptible in his voice ; but the few words he spoke to his dog were broken and singularly soft. I’ll be sworn there were tears In the man’s eyes. Everything being at last prepared he spat upon the dog’s muzzle, held his head close to his cheek for a moment, and then pressed him quickly out of the hole and away down the shelving bank. We listened anxiously for a time, and then there arose a wild jabbering for a minute ; the next instant we detected a yelp of pain. ‘My God?’ said I, involuntarily, tho Doctor’s speared. ‘ No, he arn’t darn ye !’ snapped Ben. ‘ He’s jist touched, and no more. He’ll do it.’

• He must be quick, then. ’ said Mr 8— ; * the blaok devils have struck a light somewhere, and they’re going to burn us ont. Look !'

Our eyes were now intently scanning the movements of the savages through the little loopholes, and we saw a flaming brand whizzing through the air and scattering sparks in all directions. It fell on the stringy bark roof above our heads, Another and another came, but it did not appear to us that any of them had taken effect. By this time the black fellows had gathered courage. Believing that our am.

munition , was expended, many of them had left cover, and might be seen flitting about like spectres. They had kindled a fire some distance off, and across its glare shadows wo o constantly falling. The lirebrandi were thrown no longer ; some fresh mode of attack was preparing, ‘lur suspense continued for a long period (nearly half an hour), during which time not a woid was spoken by any of us. Our s ile dependence was the Doctor ; and if help did not soon arrive, it was certain wo could find no escape from the demons who were trying to compass our destruction.

* Now, look slick,’ whispered Mat. * I see their game ; they’re going to give us fits. How’s tho moon ? —well aback of the hut, I guess. Bill, *stlok your cabbage tree on a pillow, and hold it at the open window when I tell yon. I’ll just go out and bid them good evening. Don’t bar tho door after me, mister, but when I show them my heels open it. You sse we can’t spare ammnnition.’

While speaking Mat unbarred the door. He slipped out noiselessly as he concluded the sentence. Through the slabs ho said to mo—‘D’ye see that divil with tho blazin' log ? When he gets close to the wattle, open the window, and prop up the pillow. Take care of their soears yourself.' As soon as the black fellow came to the point indicated, I opened the long little shutter with some noise and held up tho dummy. In a moment a dozen spears passed through the aperture, and I let the window fall as though one of ns was mortally wounded. There was a wild shout without At this time the black fellow who carried the log was within a few yards of the hut, and I heard Mat preparing for his move outside. Looking out as quickly as I could, I had just time to see his tall figure emerge beyond the shade as tho butt of his gun fell crashing on the head of the fire bearer. The door was opened as Mat turned ; it required but one or two bounds to take him to the door, but the savages were two quick for him with their spaars. He staggered through the entrance and fell just as he cleared the threshold.

' Caught in the thigh, I guess,’ he exclaimed, as he slowly recovered himself, and painfully struggled to the window. ‘Don’t mind the spear,’ he remarked to mo as I approached him j * it’s better as it Is, till help'oomes.’ ‘lf it ever does,’ thought I. The American’s sortie, I believe, had rather a disastrous effect, for the black fellows seemed to conclude at once that our i mmunltion was all expended, and they thronged round the hut without caring to shelter themselves.

In a short time the crackling of flames on the roof put an end to our trouble. The hat was on fire, and there was nothing left for ns but an attempt to dash ont and clear the aborigines. I proposed this, but Mr S would not try without Mat, and underneath the blazing roof, with clnbbel gnns, we grimly awaited the final attack. The American’s rifle rested in the loop hole where he had first taken up his position.

‘ There’s the worst of them,’ Mat said, looking along his weapon; ‘ he's coming np with a log to stave the door. He’ll never do itand our last bullet brought down the ringleader. There was consternation and a hurried consultation. After a lapse of about five minutes, the whole force of the besiegers rushed shrieking on our little garrison. A moment’s surge outside, and the door fell back as Mr 8 'a gnn swung down on the crowding savages with terrific force, felling two of the foremost like oxen. I remember a wild struggle with our guns and fists. Mat and the eqnatter towered above their opponents like giants, fighting with terrible energy. The black fellows had forced me to the ground ; one was shortening his grasp of the spear to drive it through my body, when I felt a gash of blood spouting over my face and chest, just as the savage fell on me mortally wounded. Then I remember a hurrah outside and the cracking of rifles. 1 That was a good backhanded blow, boss,’ said Mat, faintly; * I guess the cook’s got another squeak. D’ye hear that? Hooray I Knowed the Doctor i’d do it,’ said he, with renewed energy; ‘take that s’ and I heard the dull sound of another blow, and a low moan of pain as the station hands rushed in. The Doctor soon recovered. So did Mat, who is now one of the richest men in the colonies, I—well I have a large scar across my breast.