(DONCLUDED.) CHAPTER IX.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1905, 20 September 1884, Page 5

(DONCLUDED.) CHAPTER IX.

As soon as it was rumored that the whites were approaching to make an attack on the Tillage of King Bonshaw'3 tribe, Triggs at onea deserted the camp. Tfhfle the nneten Struggle was going on at tha disputed gorge, lie was near at hand watching tae first symptoms of neakness or defeat on the part Si the natives. The Tiilain had forgot the kindness «!hewn towards him these many yea«. He forgot how they had protected him in former flmeß, and since then they had kept him in idleness and had given food to him when all «thers in the camo were famishing. He forgot all this, and with the heart of a coward he quaked with fear lesl any of the natives might detect him in bin hiding place, and fervently hoped that erei-j native would be exterminated. When the natives began to give way and had began ihat fatal retreat towards the scrub, Triggs emerged from his hiding place and, as if he had all along be?n taking an active part iv tha fight, rushed amongst the foremost of his countrymen. Some of them xecognised the squat figure and brutal features of the convict, and scowled upon the villain so that he wished for an opportunity to retreat into the scrub. A few had dismounted aiid were leaning over the prostrate form of Mr. Scanlan, who soon recovered consciousness. Triggs was standing uncomfortably outsida this circle, and heard Mr. Scanlan offer a iarge reward to anyone who would kill the king, or bring proof that he was killed. He resolved to gain this reward and the good opinion of his fellows by the murder of the redoubtable king. Thifl man. with all hi 3 brutality and vice, wished to gain the good opinion cf his fellows, and, if possible, to get lack into their society ; now oi- never was the time, he said to himself. As soon as the party left the gorge for the camp Triggs disappeared. His first concern was to find the whereabouts of Amoretta ; to know whereiahe was, was to discover where ho would basoon. He watched the party from a tree approach the camp ; saw them sever the bodies fiom the souls of two infirm old women. who3e hair had grown white, and who were basking in the sun, all unconscious of the fight that had been waged so near them, and then he saw the camp fired. Ho exulted in fihe fury of the fire, and in the idea of young Scanlan being barnt to death; but his malevolent disposition was soared when he saw Amoretta come out of the hut, and Scanlan carried out in time to escape from the flames. When the party reached Pine Station, Triggs had dogged their steps, and prowled round the house until long past the witohiiig houfc Tired and exhausted, ha trawled into the half-burnt trunk of a gigantic eucalyptus, and fell asleep. The night -was quiet and peaceful. The moon shed her bright beams over the surrounding country, and lit up the little hill on which tbs station house was built. The course of the creek was clearly marked by the dark shadow of trees that crept along its banks, and the mountain cast a deep shadow ofrer the surrounding country. The moon had travelled half her night's journey; a quiet stillness was over all. A figure that sent a shadow trailing behind was cautiously but rapidly threading his way £-om the mountains towards the creek. After cautiously observing the ground around he leapt lightly across the creek and landed on fh& opposite bank. Another pause and look round, and feeling satisfied that all was safe ha walked up to a large tree near the house and stood within its shadow. the cry of the flying fox floated gently on the air, and with eager expectant look the visitor watched the house. A second cry had hardly time to die away before a female figure emerged from the orange grove and came cautiously down.keeping in the shadow of the cockatoo fence. The visitor in the shadow of the tree at once left his position, and eagorly ran to meet the approaching figure. It was but the space of a moment for him to leap lightly over the fence and clasp the frail figure of a female in his arms. They had hardly met before a report like thunder broke the death-litte stillness of the aighfc. The barking of dogs and the noise of men suddenly starting to their feet and uttering .imprecations immediately followed ; the mountain above answered with a sharp, clear, teriffic shout, and seni the echo rolling round other mountains and over valleys unknown Jo the white man. The echoes had not ceased before all the people at tht station were out and crowding round a female who was kneeling oyer the prostrate body of a man. The light of the moon had become brighter.

The squat fignre of a man was seen struggling over the cockatoo fence. Ho approached the ftroup, gun in hand. "Stand, Triggs, or you're a dead man." " I'll stand if you wiph it, boas ; but I've done the right thing this time, as you'll soon SCO," "It will be the first time then." " Come here. Is your gun unloaded ? " " It is, boss." " Now don't yon move." Annie Scanlan came trembling down the garden. A glanoe showed her the situation, and with loving and sympathetic tenderness she wound her arm round Amoretta's waist. Those who had known him recognised in the prostrate body the renowned and once dreaded King Bonshaw. " Good heavens 1 who has done this ? Triggs, you villian 1 " cried Mr. Scanlan, No answer was made; but all eyes were turned on the scoundrel, who trembled not for the deed he had done, but for ita coneequoncps.