Five Cent Wide Awake Library (vol. 2) (1895 12 20)
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| Mole, adjusting deat with his comrades, had now reached the nk. With excellent aim—and it wasa dangerous eqperiment, considering how closely Mole was struggling with the animal—Jack leveled at the kangaroo’s head, and so well did the shot take effect, that in a moment the animal relaxed its hold on Mole, and rolled over dead in the water. The intrepid Isaac, breathless and exhausted, was soon lifted out of the water by Joe and Jim- aleng, and dragged up the bank. “You’ve had a narrow escape, my friend, I ean tell you,” said the stockman. ‘ Whatever made you get so close to the boomah like that? Why, you have got the courage of a giant, sir. I know I shouldn’t like to do it, for the critter’s a devil at close quarters.” “For Heayen’s sake a glass of rum,” gasped Mole; ‘I’m dying.” “Lucky I’ve not come unprovided,” said Joe. the stockman, taking a flask from his pocket and holding jit to the lips of Mr. Mole, which closed upon it, and for several seconds held it tight by the force of suction. \ ““Now land the game, boys, and let’s cut it up,” said the stockman. We've had fine sport, barring the loss of the dogs, who were worth more to me than a dozen boomahs.” Under the influence of his favorite remedy, combined with the geniality of the Australian sun, Mr. Mole was not very long in recovering from the effect of his ducking, his fright, and his «xhaustion. ; At all events, he was able to take part in the species of pienie which followed. It was a lovely and enjoyable scene, with the lofty forest trees towering above them, Flocks of parrots chattered overhead, or flew whistling to and fro, their magnificent plumage pees in the sunlight, and there was one ird, the organ magpie, that enlivened their pic- nic with a song as tuneful as that of the night- ingale. g This is delightful,” said Mr, Mole, who still kept the rum-bottle all to himself. He had mix- edit with water just to his own liking, though he drank out of the bottle. ‘ Delightful—perfect paradise. Here’s success to kangarooing.” ‘ “ And to the health of the mighty hunter, “Isaac Mole,” returned Jack and Harry. » * And his horse, Milk-and-Water,” added Joe, pointing to that animal, who was now tied up to a tree, and peacefully grazing. * Well, Idon’t eare what anybody says,” pro- tested the tutor. ‘I’ve done my duty as an En- lisman. I consider I’ve won the honors of the ~ Didn’t I ride in front of all of you, and mi in at the death first—didn’t I grapple with ke monster in a death struggle after he had kill- ed two dogs, and finish him off with a blow of my knife? ‘Am not I the hero of the fight?” he added, after a pause. “T rather fancy it was my shot that settled the kangaroo,” said young Jack, quietly; ‘ look, here’s the mark where the bullet went through r his head.” : “Yes, but observe how his throat is gashed about,” said the tutor. ‘‘I did that, at close quarters, and alone, my boy.” “More like where the dogs attacked him,” said Joe; “you couldn’t do much with your knife when we found you—much as you could do to keep your head above water—ha—ha!” -‘* Ab, well, for all you say, it was I that settled the kangaroo,” said Mole, decisively, ‘‘and con- ‘sidering the size of the animal, and the run he a7 5 us, that isn’t so bad for the first day’s sport ‘for a new chum.” ; «, 4 new chum!” exclaimed the stockman. I thought you were an old hand, mate. Didn't you tell us you were over in the colony before?” I! When?” asked Mole, in surprise. “Last night. You told us how you came over during the gold rush, and went to the diggings -and got a nugget, and got robbed of it, and then went and captured two convicts with your own hands; don’t you remember?” “‘Tmpossible!” exclaimed Isaac. Rone have nage any such statement.” ou certainly said so, though,” said youn, Jack. ‘‘ Didn’t he, Harry?” a il “Of course he did,” acquiesced) Harry Gird- wood. j “Yow're having a joke on me, I see,” said Mr. is spectacles. ‘Tf I said all that, I must have been suffering from deliriwn tremens, or—” Ng “Tea and brandy, alias robur,” supplied Jack. _ Hush, my boy, say no more, you hurt my feelings,” said the tutor. tea was a little too strong. But after all, the ad- -yentures I told you were all true, only they hap- “T never { HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. pened to a second cousin of mine, and not to myself.” “By that line of argumenting, friend,” ob- served the stockrider, “‘you might describe how you £won two great victories, and then say af- terwards—. All this is quite true, only it didn’t happen exactly to me, but the Duke of Welling- ton.” A laugh was raised by this application of Mr. Mole’s sophistry, and he felt he was rather get- ting the worst of the joke. “No matter,” said he, ‘‘a day will come, as they say on the stage, or rather, a day has come —a day of triumph for Mole—Mole, the great sy hunter. Behold, here is the ocular proof. And he swung around him the huge tail of the slaughtered animal. “Ask me not to part with it,” he exclaimed, rising excitedly in an upright posture. ‘I wish Thad full use of my legs, I’d get up and try a pas de joie, I feel so delighted, Isn’t_ it a mag- nificent one? six feet long at least! Dll keep it just as it is, so that nobody may doubt my state- ment as to the size of the quadruped it originally belonged to, I'll treasure it as my own life,” he added, again swinging the formidable append- age in such a manner that Jack and Harry nar- rowly escaped getting a blow from it. **T fancy now that the. From this condition of exhilaration Mr. Mole passed to the eae) extreme of quiescence— in other words, he began to feel drowsy, and at last went off into a sound doze, with his back resting i a tree, the rum bottle in one hand and the kangaroo’s tail in the other. The others continued their conversation, when they were suddenly interrupted by a fearful sound proceeding from the thick forest behind them; it resembled the war whoop of the Ameri- ean Indian tribe. Simultaneously, a long spear came whizzing into the midst of the seated circle, grazing the shoulder of Joe, but fortunately sliding on to the grass without injuring anyone. ** Natives!” exclaimed the stockman, start- ing to his feet: ‘look out, chums, they’re upon us! Sure enough acrowd of dark figures, tall, muscular, and nearly naked, with frizzy heads and negro features, burst from the dense forest upon the party. Armed with spears, boomerangs, clubs or waddies, these beats were evidently some of the most formidable and ferocious of their race. The whites were on their feet in a moment— of course, excepting Mr. Mole—and drawing their pistols and knives, prepared for a fray, and a desperate battle succeeded. The natives were recognized by the stockman as belonging to the Wurree-Wurree tribe, noted for being a scourge to the white settlers for their cattle-stealing propensities. Instigated partly by hatred to the white men, but still more by a desire to possess themselves of the kangaroo they had killed, and if possible, some of the horses (which they used not for rid- ing, but for cooking and eating), they had made this sudden attack on the unprepared party of picnickers. ithout firearms, it might be thought that the blacks stood no chance against the whites, but they so far outnumbered the attacked party, and were so dexterous with the spear, waddy, and boomerang, that the odds were nearly on their own side. Many shots were fired, and seven of the sav- ages fell dead or wounded, but Joe Freeman and his friends soon found that the game was against them. At first the natives appeared to be easily driven off, but no sooner were they out of sight, than, sheltered by the trees, they deluged the whites with such a shower of spears and boom- erangs, that it was only by a miracle they all escaped killing. Pistols seemed useless against these agile say- ages, who seemed able to dodge bullets as easily as spears. f Jimalong, the “tame black” stockman, evi- dently thinking “‘discretion the better part of valor,” made off at the beginning of the fray, though the two dogs, whoseemed to delight in the scene, remained to take part in it. At length, all the ammunition being exhausted, Joe Gale saw that further fight was useless, so | to’ he shouted to his companions to make for the horses before the natives could capture those an- imals. All were in the saddle in a moment, (always excepting our friend Mole), and to lighten weight, the remains of the kangaroo were left behind, and the natives pounced upon them with, a bowl of triumiite Hi / The whites ek, spurred on their horses, the natives giving chase, yelling, scream~ ing, leaping, and hurling their missiles after them until they were out of sight. i In this wild stampede—for which our friénds can scarcely be blamed, for to stay longer would have been certain death—the redoubted steed ee hs ania was, like his master, left be ind. The natives thought they had got a prize in this fine animal, but no sooner did they untie the rope that fastened him, than he gave a mighty plunge, sent two of his would-be possessors sprawling, and set off homeward through the Seley! at apace that rendered his capture hope- ess. The only remnant of the hunting party now left behind on the scene of action was the un- fortunate tutor, Isaac Mole. It is needless to say that Mr. Mole had been long ere this thoroughly aroused from his peace- Had slumbers by the tumult going on around For him to join in the fray was impossible; he could not then rise to his feet; all he could do was to baw] out loudly for assistance. Never in all his wanderings did he feel more terror than when, as he lay thus helpless under the tree, he saw the whole lot of them intoxi- cated with their triumph over the white fel- lows, and their gallant capture of the boomah and a half empty brandy bottle, come dancing around him. They yelled, the screeched, they made hideous grimaces, they joined in a savage chant, of which “ Yah-lah-roo!” was apparently the chorus, and seemed determined to do their utmost to fe" old Mole to death. his was not, however, the worst he antici- pated. for he had heard terrible stories of the cannibalism of the natives, and beheld with a shudder the formidable grinders of the chief and his followers. Not that we imagine that the spectacle of old Mole, with his wooden iegs; nis spectacles, and his scared and ghostly countenance, was par- ticularly appetizing even to the cannibal mind, but he feared the worst, and grasped his kanga- roo tail in one hand, and his rum bottle with the other, to defend himself with, it need were. The wooden legs seemed to astonish the natives a great deal; they had never seen any-~ thing like them before, and they/probably re- garded the tutor as some sort of white mon- strosity. j He endeavored by signs to make them under- stand his particular infirmity, and also to implore their pity, and to make himself better under- stood, he addressed them ina kind of broken or nigger English. ut this failed to make them ‘“ comprenny,” and heed f jabbered away in their own tongue at a considerable rate as they crowded around bim ase poked and prodded his wooden legs, and ried to account for the phenomenon in their own way. ; “Oh, Lor’,” exclaimed Isaac to himself; ‘““here’s a fix! I wish I had a wooden body as well as legs, for then Ishouldn’t be be able to feel the tortures I know they mean me to go eich and if they undertook to eat me, I should dis- agree with them. , “My good friends, niggers, men and brudders, please leab me alone. Ino good to chaw—chaw at all, and you can have my two timber Dn since you’ve taken such a fancy to ’em,if you’l only spare my life.” ie “ Kur-rur-wan-ran-kan!” was the chief’s only reply to this appeal, and the words seemed to mean ‘lift him up and carry him to our tents,” for that is what two natives, one taking Mr. Mole by the shoulders, the other ene up the wooden legs, immediately proceeded to do. One hungry-looking savage, with formidable teeth, made a sharp bite at one of poor Mole’s wooden legs, but did not seem to relish the flavor. It was no use to chal le; he was as helpless as an infant in their hands, and he could only ap- peal more loudly than before to their sense of compassion. | This, however, proved to be equally unayail- ing. ee was carried off into the woods by his cap- rs. The chief looking and gazing reflectively at the two new crutches Sitch Mr. Mole had left under the tree. The savage evidently thought they were some sort of weapons, but whether of the nature of a: gun, 4 a clib, or a spear he could not make up his min - , Poor Mr. Mole’s rum bottle, with all its del- - : ‘ oe oe a
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“hail : ly down his own throat icious contents, for he had not drunk half of it,fell asa trophy into the hands of the chief. The wp of tents, or ‘‘gunyahs” appertain- ing to te urree-Wurree tribe was situated in a very wild gully, or valley. It was a wild and picturesque spot, but Mr. Mole was in no position to appreciate its beau- ties, which came upon his vision more in an up- side-down view than otherwise. For his bearers carried him—especially down hill—with his head hanging much lower than his feet would have been if he had had any. A crowd of natives of all kinds, men, women, and children, surrounded the captive as soon as he arrived at the tents, and danced around him yelling, grinning, and altogether conducting themselves, in pa ng of Australia, but of Van Demon’s nd. : The joke was perpetrated by Mr. Mole in de- scribing the scene afterwards, for he was in no jesting mood at the time. His firm belief then was that they intended to have him for supper, and that their ‘* Yah-lah- roo!” was a chorus of delight at the prospect of eating a white man, and that his arrival was as ifhe were provisions brought into their camp. one the alacrity with which the natives began kindling a fire, evidently for cooking purposes, made him feel faint. “This is queer treatment for a man who has AR a at an English university,” moaned the utor, as helay thus. ‘‘ Strange beings; they have let me keep my kangaroo tail. Ishould have thought they would have wanted it for soup. But I'll only part with it with my life, un- less I can’t help myself. Bless me, what's that smell of cooking?’ By moving a little he was able to see through a hole in the tent, and then perceived in the open space the natives engaged at their feast. They had kindled alarge fire, and were squat- ting around it. he kangaroo haunch, cut up into huge steaks, ee being griddled, or rather burnt,over the em- rs. These children of nature were too impatient to wait until the meat was done aah. No sooner was it a little browned than they took it up, and wed some of it off as it was, and then put it back agein to cook a little more. This seemed to Mr. Mole: a new and original way of cintngs It was with a pang of deep re: et that Mr. Mole saw his favorite rum bottle being passed around from the chief to the warriors whom he most favored. As the natives were thus enjoying themselves, their jabbering tones were gradually stilled. This comparative stillness, combined with the heat of the day, was so lulling to Mr. Mole, that in a short time he actually went off into a doze, which imperceptibly became a deep slumber. CHAPTER IT. A LADY: FALLS IN LOVE WITH MOLE AND PRO- f POSES. He was at = awakened by strange voices close to him, and found by the position of the sun that it was late in the day. ' He still lay on a possum skin in the tent, and a group of natives were peering in at him grin- ning at the entrance. Then it was that he first experienced a sense of loss, and next, to his inexpressible grief, real- ized what he had lost. It was his kangaroo’s tail! “My tail, my kangaroo’s tail, my trophy of the chase, and only memento of this glorious day,” he exclaimed, sitting up; ‘‘ who has taken it?” ' The rif reply was a shout of “‘ Cobbon—cob- bon; good—good!” from the blacks outside, who seemed to regard these excited observations with just the same delight as a child would the first speech of a parrot he was teaching. /‘. Where's my kangaroo tail?’ shouted Mole; “do you understand? My kan-ga-roo tail.” Here the chief, for whom the other natives all made way, popped his woolly head, adorned with the cockatoo’s feathers, in at the entrance, and said with a wide grin: “ Burra—burra, wa goo, tee-lang.” | _ “Just so,” said Mr. ole; “T fully agree with _ your remark, only it don’t enlighten me as to what end my tail has come to.” And he called out again. “My kangaroo tail,” louder than ever. To which the chief oh pointing suggestive- * Kan-ga-roo tail soup.” ; So { if ole’s own words, as if they were | hi i 4 sth HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. “On, it’s made into soup, is it?’ said Mole. “Well, it’s a mean thing to come and take it from me when I was asleep; I ought to have had a voice in the matter. I should like to have some of it, at any rate. I’m getting rather hungry ape bring me some kangaroo tail, soup,” he added, with a gesture eloquently expressive of swallowing. ‘*Kan-ga-roo tail soup,” echoed the chief, now evidently understanding him; ‘‘ Yowi—Yowi.” And he gave order to his subordinates that the delicacy should be brought. Instantly a particularly ugly native, bearinga mighty cauldron, probably stolen from some settler’s hut, entered and approached Mole, the chief and several other warriors accompanying im, “ What's this?” cried Mole, looking in vain for the hot soup he expected. For he saw nothing but a sediment of dark brown gelatinous substance, sticking to the bot- tom and edges, inside the pot, in which the marks of fingers were plainly visible. It might have been humanly possible to scrape up a few mouthfuls of the horrid mess, but who was going to do it? ‘ “Take it away,” he cried, with a gesture of disgust. “The greedy savages, they’ye eaten it all, and licked and clawed the saucepan so dry, that there’s not much more than the smell left, and now they offer it toa white man. Ugh! perish the thought.” “Mor-ro-bung-keen!” observed the chief, grin- ning, and then he disappeared for.a moment, and brought in a little wiry black, whose appear- ance and actions reminded Mole forcibly of his friend Nero. “Tm Billygolong,” he remarked, ‘tame black fellow; spick white man’s lingo.” “Do you?” exclaimed Mole. ‘I’m glad of it; tions. © your tribe, yon black fellows—Wur- ree warriors—ahem—ever eat white man.” “Ole chief,” he said, ‘‘eat ’em up; other ole chief alive, he eat kangaroo.” “Well, that is an improvement, I must say,” observed Mole; ‘‘ to give up cannibalism is a de- cided step in the path of civilization. Won’t eh a let me go?” “We gib up white mans,” answered Billygo- long, i if other whité mans gib us sheep and bul- ocks. “Oh! I see, Iam to be kept as a sort of hostage perhaps you'll be able to answer me a few ques- | 5 till I am ransomed; just like those villanous brigands do in Greece. Who would have thought these black rascals had so much cunning? Do you always treat white men well?” he asked, doubtfully. “We kill some and eat’em,” answered the native, with a grin, ‘if we den’t get bullocks and ve) oe “The devil you do! I’m in danger of my life, after all, What can be done? I must say some- mate be frighten them. Look here, you black fellow, it won’t do for anything to happen to me here, Do you know who I am?” The savage shook his head. “Pm Lord Mole, chief medicine-man to the ae white Queen of England; legs cut off in’ attle by Russian boomerangs. If queen finds you kill her medicine-man, she’ll send hundreds —thousands white men, with thundersticks, and kill all black men; there!” ““Yowil” exclaimed the native, evidently im- pressed by this threat, which he immediately communicated to the chief, who had some time before entered the tent with a colored lady of the tribe. . The chief, fully believing the exalted rank to which his prisoner laid claim, was resolved to in- crease the ransom he had intended claiming, but at the same time to take care of their captive and use him well. It did not follow, however, that the means taken to do this were such as must please the ob- jectof their kindness. Mr. Mole soon found that their well-meant efforts were destined to place him in rather embarrassing positions. In the first place, the native lady, who was the chief’s sister, seemed inclined to pay him particular, though unwelcome attentions. , She could speak English about as well as Billy- golong, and by this means was enabled to make her sentiments known to the captive, and also to overwhelm him with L tpeacyen which he could not always understand, and generally found a difficulty in answering. ! “Me like white mans,” she observed, with a look of tenderness that made Mr. Mole feel nery- ous, ‘Me manry once to black chief, he ill-treat /me; beat me with waddy, till another black man speared him in forest, and he die dead.” ; x? \ f ; 4 in the opinion, of the native epicures, and eould 4 Wik te ‘* 4 widow, by Jove!” exclaimed Mole. ‘‘ This is worse than all. Good gracious, the idea of ny being at her mercy,” and he gazed with awe upon her. \ Truth to tell, the female aborigine is seldom very attractive in appearance, and if Kobba- wobba (that was her name) ever were so, it must have been a very—very long time ago. She was tall, gaunt, and hard-featured, with a ring through her nose, and a mouth capacious enough to aoe that she had lost half her teeth at least, and what remained were as black as ebony, while, as her attire consisted principally in a’possum skin cloak, which had seen consider- able service, she was not assisted much by the ad- vantages of the toilet. “Me like white mans better than black mans,” she repeated emphatically; ‘‘ black mans beat lubras with a waddy, white treat lubras kind, not beat them.” “Don’t they, though?” returned Mole. “TI rather doubt it; there’s plenty of wife-beating in some parts of England, by all accounts,” ? * * So,” proceed Kobba-wobba, with still greater emphasis, ‘‘me wish a good deal to be lubra of mee medicine man of great Queen of White- and. ‘¢ That’s rather cool for this hot elimate,” said Mole to himself, ‘Madame, I grieve to say that circumstances render it impossible that—bless me, what am I talking about—the fact is, Kobba- wobba, I couldn’t marry you, I have one, two, three lubras already.” ‘White lubras?” she asked, anxiously, “Black, nigger black, though they’re not natives here; butif they thought I even dream- ed of looking out for you, they’d murder me and you as well if they got the chance.” Kobba-wobba still asserted her preference for a white husband. Mr. Mole determined to humor this impres- ion. : “T think I know ofa white man that will suit youexactly, He is very young, pres warrior, wonderfully handsome, with whiskers of golden color, great chief of the white queen’s army— much money, red coat covered with gold.” “That good,” said Kobba-wobba, with much satisfaction, ‘‘ that very good; what him name?” “ General Walker,” replied Mole; “he’s a par. ticular friend of mine.” hae i al me remember dat; where he stop now “ Well, he’s some distance off; but if you'll do all you can to get me well treated by the chief while I’m here, and persuade him to let me go, TPll find him out as soon as ever I get free and send him to you.” The effect of this agreeable fiction upon the simple savage was very conciliating, and Mole was glad to find he had made a friend of _Kobba- wobba, as well as of her brother, the chief, who, by the way, rejoiced in the high-sounding epithet of Kul-la-ba-long-tee-boo. ; Mr. Mole’s appetite returning after a time, he wished very much that the natives would bring him something palatable. , 4 ; This desire he expressed to Billygolong, who’ fesponded: F ““Iss, gone to get some; see black chief eome, bringing something a good deal nicer for white man. And Mole saw the chief again entering the tent, carrying a tin dish containing somethin of strange shape and color, smoking hot, an slightly resembling small sausages, Thanks; but what is it?” asked Mole, raising himself into.a sitting posture, and with a look of distrust. ‘Heaven, why, it looks like “Nice fat young snakes, roasted,” explained Kobba-wobba, ‘chief got ’em from under big gum tree, beau’ful, nice as a kangaroo.” 7 Sure enough, Mr. Mole realized to his horror, that the contents of the tin dish were about half } adozen large sections of the juvenile serpent, _ browned over the fire, giving forth a savor n } unpleasant, but most repulsive in idea. i r. Mole actually fancied he saw them writh- ae about as if they were alive. \ them towards Mole, and turning them over wit So nice!” exclaimed Kobba-wobba, holding a Rnife. \ Rt te “Ugh! take it away,” cried he, scowlimg in va horror. ied The black looked surprised; he was rejecting what was considered a great delicacy by the Australian natives, and the chief had himself taken considerable trouble to catch and kill a or for the purpose of giving their guest a reat, He could not understand the objection to the delicious food which ‘goes down like eras ai aay Sh “ Man
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HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. only suppose that Mr. Mole was merely standing on ceremony, and wanted a little coaxing, which he rc to the feminine blandishments of Kobba- wobba. ‘Come, must eat it, white man,” said she, per- suasively, selecting the largest piece! ‘‘eat all up uick, nicer than ” ; or quail, or sheep- lesh; black fellow eat many—many.” “ Let ’em,” almost shrieked Mole, ‘but I can’t; Tll'die of hunger first; take the horrid thing away.” Not only ployed, for olong held firml Stole, while Kob him. On seeing the loathsome object so near him, Mr. Mole struggled, tried to push back the hand that held it, but the chief, seizing his arm, pre- vented this. Mole closed his eyes in horror, and opened his mouth to give vent to ejaculations of sptak, . This was the very worst thing he could do, for it}gave the chieftain an opportunity, s soon as he felt the hot meat touch his pa- late, he gave a complete shriek of horror. “Phew!” he spluttered out, ‘‘I won’t eat it. Murder! Help! I shall be choked, poisoned!” And with a violent effort he succeeded in rid- ding himself of the nauseous mouthful, just in time to prevent it slipping down his throat. “Oh, I’m so sick!” he cried, ‘‘ can’t eat snake, snake kill white man. If I eat it, I shall die at once.” Kobba-wobba’s compassion was now so far aroused, that she desisted in her efforts, and gave “ase ss but force, was now em- ythe direction of the chief, Billy- the head of the unfortunate -wobba proceeded to feed the dish of delicacies back to the chief, who re- } ceived it with evident reluctance. Billygolong, who seemed to be a recognized **snapper-up of unconsidered trifles,” pounced upon the rejected snake as it lay upon the ground, threw back his head and swollowed each piece at a gulp, much as a white man would an oyster. The chief now went out to find some other food that might better recommend itself to the taste of the white fellow. What could be more delicious and acceptable ,than a fine iguana, or eatable lizard? » They abounded in that neighborhood, and - ‘could be killed and cooked in a very short time. There was one crawling up one of the gum trees; down he must come. 'Kul-la-ba-long-tee-boo took aim, and threw his boomerang gently; it went about twenty feet into the air, whirled around, and descended, whizzing close to the tree, and bringing down the lizard with it. _, A sable warrior ran to pick it up, and handed it to the chief, who ended its dying agonies with his knife, prepared it for cooking, stuck a skew- er through it, and then gave directions for it to be grilled over the fire. . If was not long before this new delicacy was brought in whole to the hungry tutor; but, hun- gry as he was, he was not quite far gone enough to “tackle” the unpleasant object before him. He had heard of the delicacy before, and saw no reason but prejudice why it should not be really good eating; but when he saw this speci- men of the ugly reptile, looking for all the world like a young crocodile, his antipathy was so ‘great that he could no more touch it than he could the worm. 1 * Pah! away with it!” he eried. ‘ What will these savages be bringing me next, I wonder? Broiled nigger, I expect!” and then, looking around, and feeling the necessity of conciliating his sable friends, he said: “No—no; too-rich; too good for white man. ee rnan ill, stomach weak, die if he eat liz- ard. _ The chief murmured: he was beginning to be tired of this. is second refusal was too much. It was ‘‘ the Jast straw that broke the camel’s ' back” of his patience. e For the last half hour he had been trying to please a man who seemed determined not to be pleased. ; * The idea of anyone would not eat snake and _ who would not eat lizard. _ What would he eat? _ , Didn’t he deserve to be left to starve? _ _Kul-la-ba-long-tee-boo, however, resolved to _ give Mole one last chance for his life. Yes, Mole should have one more chance—one _ more dainty dish should be provided for the _ white man, and jf he could not eat that, he might starve. ° etting towards night, and the _ Tt was now _ denizens of the forest were beginning to think of Flocks of parrots, and other birds were re- Pat &. nay Vey Ee eae) turning homewards, flying over the trees close to the tents. ; The chief, scarcely moving from the entrance of his tent, stood watching a large body of these parrots, until they were close over his Bend: and en hurled his boomerang into the midst of them. The whole flock flew off, screaming in a deaf- ening manner, but one parrot came fluttering to ,the ground, struck by the sharp missile. A native boy picked up the fallen game, and brought it tothe chief, who, by way of recom- pense, handed the cooked lizard to the lad, who proceeded with one of his companions, delight- oly. to devour it. he bird was then plucked, drawn, and cook- ed, and Mr. Mole was at last gratified by a smoking dish of roasted ti. He contrived to enjoy it very much, and the natives took such a great interest in the affair, that a number of them crowded around him all the time, jabbering and gesticulating in a man- ner almost enough to frighten away a white man’s appetite altogether. But Mr. Mole was becoming hardened under such influences. By this time it was night, and the moon shone overhead, but it was often clouded. But the large fire of logs gave such a spreading and ruddy glow that all the gunyahs were more or less Puirereig ti its beams. By this light Mole was enabled to perceive that a considerable amount of bustleand prepar- ation was going on in the camp, and the sable warriors seemed particularly attentive to their weapons and their own personal adornment. “What is going to happen now, Billygolong?” asked the prisoner of that agile attendant. “Grand ecorroboree,” replied he; ‘ black fel- lows dance and fight, and do big jumps.” “ Ah! Ive often thought I should like to see a corroboree,” cried Mole; ‘‘I understand they paint themselves before they dance.” ‘“Iss—iss, paint very much,” replied the sav- age. Kul-la-ba-long-tee-boo just then entered the tent, carrying a species of palette, formed of the bottom of an old tin can, on which were a hia of mysterious pigments, and a’ sort of reed that served as a paint brush. The aboriginal warrior threw aside his opos- sum cloak, and aa sarees with his finely-propor- tioned and slightly-tattooed form uncovered, save by a broad girdle of kangaroo skin, In this condition he commenced besmearing himself with some of the paint first. He enlivened the proceeding with an ec- centric dance, perhaps in order to make the paint dry pastes and when the first coat was set, he touched it up with some dabs of a live- lier color. At this stage, Kobba: wobba was called in to ut the finishing touches with a delicate brush, ormed from the et of a kangaroo rat. Mr. Mole watched these operations with con- siderable interest, reflecting what an amount of trouble people, both savage and civilized, are apt to take in order to make themselves look hideous and unnatural. But all his cogitations were upset, when he perceived the object of his regard coming to- wards him, accompanied by Kobba-wobba, with the brush and palette in her hands. : ‘““Now white’s man’s turn,” she said, “paint all over, and look much pretty.” ‘“Heaven! you don’t intend to adorn mein that style, I hope!” exclaimed Mole. “Tss—iss,” said Billygolong; ‘‘ chief say white man must put on paint for grand corroboree.” ‘But I can’t take part in the corroboree,” pro- tested the tutor. ‘I’m not a native; ’m an out- 2 Ger, and, besides, how can I dance without any egs? All his objections, however, did not move his ae e ordered Billygolong to hold him, while he himself _Teady to assist with his mighty strength in bringing the prisoner to reason. But Kobba-wobba, as soon as Mole was seated, a to the waist, and securely held in the clutches of Billygolong, behaved in a manner that surprised her native friends. She thrust her painting materials into the hands of the chief, and fell on her knees at the feet of Mr. Mole—or rather where the feet of Mr. Mole should have been, for it was the strange absence of those extremities that excited. the admiration of Kobba-wobba. She lifted both wooden legs with such haste that poor Mole was nearly thrown backwards, and in great alarm shrieked out: ! se t are you doing, woman? Don’t kill me.” “No kill, much lub, How you get wood feet? |) You much berry big chief; much dance wid strong lez—not th tired.” “T am tired of this kind of life,” groaned Mole in bitterness of spirit, for while Kobba-wooba was admiring his legs, the chief had commenced pale a fresh coat of paint on the white man’s ¢ est. ‘*You lub Kobba-wobba?” asked the woman with a sigh. : oe No y? “You try—hab Kobba-wobba for lubra— what you call wife; den we hab pickaninnies wid stick legs all same as great white chief.” ““T won’t! I forbid the banns! I’ve been married a great deal to much in my lifetime, and I call you all to witness I'll never marry that woman.” ES mad you much beau’ful—den you lub me.” eve: “ “ teak ver!—and I won’t be painted,” cried Mr. ole. ; However, it was decided that Mr. Mole must be painted at all risks. bjections were useless, only serving to irri- tate his captors, and render them more violent. The chief went all over Mole’s chest, arms and back with his large brush, which he dipped in the glutinous kind of black paint. A He was obliged to submit to being daubed over with this material till his whole complexion seemed changed, Actors have assured us that nothing is more unpleasant than painting and gluing their faces preparatory for tomime or burlesque make- up; what must Mr. Mole, then, have felt when not only his face, but his body and arms, were thus encrusted with an offensive pigment? He narrowly escaped getting some in his eyes, and when the operation was completed and he was held up to dry, he experienced a sensation of mental and bodily anguish, which outdid all his previous experiences. The coat of paint did not take long to get dry, and then it felt as stiff and uncomfortable as a suit of armor, and Mole, the warrior, could hard- ly move. , 2 But his tortures had not ended yet; as soon as it was ascertained that the coating had set, that female artist, Kobba-wobba, stepped forward and commenced adorning Mr. Mole’s unfortunate carcass and countenance with a choice pattern of ome own invention, in no less than four bright colors. ; Isaac submitted to this operation with all the fortitude at his command, though his modesty was shocked. Kohba-wobba, on the contrary, seemed delight- ed with the task, and gave her client such a variety of elaborate embellishments, that he de- | clared, when it was done, he felt and looked ex- actly like a ee iwi wall paper. ; ‘All the time the sable lady was going into ex- clamations of delight at the beauty of her own work, and when completed, she was in such an ecstasy of delight and pride, that she finally threw down her implements and danced for joy, ex- Mareen *“Cobbon—cabbon! Good. |”? “T wish you felt like I do, ad girl,” said Mole, ‘fand you'd be more likely to say bad, very bad, Well, if this isn’t a world of suffering, Ah, what is coming now?” ; _ The chief entered, with an enormous head-dress in the form of a wig, evidently manufactured from the frizzly heads of some slain enemies, crested with a plume of parrot’s feathers. , This they fixed on Mr. Mole’s head, by tying it under his chin. } An opossum cloak was now thrown over him, and he was lifted on an old wooden chair, proba- bly stolen from some settler’s hut. | In this guise the tutor. now to all appearancea superannuated native, was carried out of doors and set down under the gum trees with the oth- er spectators who had assembled to witness the corroboree, Billygolong still by his side to guard him. y ‘ The tribe began with a series of shrill yells, ac- companied by violent gesticulations, beating of drums, the clatter of sticks together, and the whizzing in the air of pieces of wood fastened to a string. Y Fi aed This re the overture, and a very hideous and discordant one it was. ‘
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HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS, aa: tener than all, like lunatics, or the witches in Macbeth. Then the savages, after a short interval, began again, increased in numbers by another party, whom they soon engaged in a spirited sham-fight. With a yell of defiance and a loud clatter of ‘weapons, the two parties rushed together in close action. From the fierceness of their manner and speech, Mr. Mole supposed that they really had quar- reled, and intended to have it out to the death. At length one party of combatants had to give way; they were driven from the field, and their opponents pursued them with yells of triumph. Both soon disappeared in the darkness of the forest, but sounds of shrieks and groans, blows and clashing of weapons, convinced Mr. Mole that a fearful massacre was going on out of sight. “Good gracious!” he exclaimed, ‘is that the way you black fellows have a friendly dance, by ene into each other in this murderous vle? ; ** Yowt, iss, iss,” answered Bill golong, with a wide grin, ‘‘always so at corroboree; but don’t kill-kill, only make believe.” “T's too much like reality, though, for my taste,” mused Mole, ‘‘and I shouldn’t much care about being in the thick of the battle. Halloo, here they are again, and they don’t seem much damaged either. I wish I could run away.” “Great kangaroo-dance come nex’,” observed Billygolong, Tee was as good as a programme. e whole cons of warriors now reappeared, having apparent: ly made up their ar with- put bloodshed, and commenced some fresh gam- Is. The men threw aside their weapons, drew up their arms into the smallest compass, and com- ménced hopping like kangaroos. ‘ The imitation was wonderfully life-like, and the immense leaps given by each didn’t fall far short of those performed by the genuine animals. Mr. Mole was reminded of his recent hunting achievements. These personators of the kangaroo, to render the thing more natural, had tufts of grass in their mouths, on which they pretended to be quietly feeding when they were disturbed by the other warriors, armed, and hopped away in a manner wonderfully true to nature. Hitherto, not more than half of the force of the tribe had engaged in the revels, the remain- der being seated among the spectators under the trees, wrapped in their opossum cloaks. Suddenly, at a ie er signal on the drum, these started up, threw aside their cloaks, and with a wild ‘*‘ Whroo—whroo!” began a demoni- ac witches’ dance around the fire. ‘ Mr. Mole gave an exclamation of astonishment at their ghastly appearance, for they had paint- ed ribs and bones, in white, upon their bodies and limbs, which, by the darkness of the back- und, gave them just the aspect of a lot of an- imated skeletons. ; “Deadman’s dance,” explained Billygolong. ** Dat am splendid!” / ‘‘Bless my soul! what an idea,” exclaimed Mole. ‘‘ Puts me in mind of Holbein’s ‘ Dance of Death,’ in which, I remember——” But at this moment he felt himself seized be- hind, and ere he could object, he and his chair were lifted aloft on the shoulders of four stal- wart aborigines. ; “Here, Ll say,” cried Mole, “you'll break my neck; do please be careful.” The savages then carried him towards the fire. Not doubting that they intended to offer him up as a burnt sacrifice, Mole objected strongly bya series of passionate protestations, } ‘* My good-looking friends, what are you about, pray? Understand. I object to being burnt; let “me down; I'm a free-born Englishman; let me were drowned in the yells and shouts of barbarous triumph that rang out from all sides; his struggle was in vain, and as he was carried more than five feet from the ground—a distance to fall, which would seriously damage a geodon tee ed man—Isaac felt that the best thing he could do was to hold on to his seat. The natives underneath now commenced a wild dance, which had the effect of making Mr. Mole feel as if he were mounted on a kangaroo ‘or a giraffe, or out at sea in a washing-tub dur- arae storm. ow he managed to keep his seat was a mys- ge The music struck up louder than ever. vi sitting warrior arose, like a giant re- freshed, and commenced fresh gambols; the old chief, with the bound of a kangaroo, suddenly _ leaped into the circle of the dancers, brandishing a tg waddy, and shouting ‘“ Yal-lul-lu- . Mole was carried around-and around the vy f huge camp-fire till he felt quite giddy, and ex- pected, every moment, that they intended to tilt him into it, and burn him like an Australian Guy Fawkes. Itwas, at least, evident that this part of the performance was meant for his especial behoof, for the wild songs and yells were directed to- wards himself. : For a considerable time his bearers stood still, holding him as high up as they could, whilst all the others danced around. No one, ever acquainted with our old friend, Isaac, could possibly have recognized him as he looked on that memorable occasion. Black all over the face’ and body, with crescents, stars, and stripes in white and red ochre, and an enormous woolly wig crested with feathers, and an opossum cloak concealing his lower extremities, he sat, the center of attrac- tion to a group of yelling and dancing savages, in the red glare of the forest fire. Isaac Mole, indeed? Why, he looked far more like the great Panjandrum himself, with all his worshipers around him. ‘‘T do believe they take me for some white di- vinity,” he thought, ‘ andare chanting hymns of praise to their idol. Misguided beings!” His bearers now set into motion again, and re- commenced a rapid walk around the fire. It grew into a run, and then toa eee Every moment Mr. Mole expected to be pitch- ed out of his Seat, while the deafening discord and the rapidity of the jolting motion, almost drove him distracted. At length he felt he could endure it no longer. The chair jolte 1 till it was impossible to retain his hold, and with a ery of horror, out he fell on to the ground close to the fire. any In a moment he felt his woolly wig in a blaze. Poor Mole gave himself up for lost. But a black fellow promptly extinguished the flame of the burning head-dress, and then he was once more seated under the gum tree. That was Mr. Mole’s last ordeal that night, for in his ears, the wild scene before him, fright, All went well, and everybody looked happy, and hopefully regarded the future. Everybody but one man. Rook! He had weighty matters upon his conscience. Harkaway had given him a splendid chance of beginning life again and redeeming the past. ow had he profited by it? In a way that made him feel ready to put the muzzle of his rifle into his mouth and blow his brains out. He had acted as a fool as well as a traitor. ‘“When I think that I was idiot enough to listen to Morgan,” he muttered, as he walked along by the river’s bank, ‘‘when I refiect on the shallow Pasiss which I fell, I could put an end to my- self. ‘¢Yah—yah!” A low nigger chuckle came from the shrubs skirting the river, and out popped Tinker. é : Morning, Massa Rook,” said Tinker, nodding aily. 35 “Rather late for morning, Tinker,” returned Rook, giving him a sharp, scrutinising glance. ““Ves—yes,” said Tinker, looking down thought- fully. toad then, suddenly looking up, he faced Rook, and said: i “Nice man, Captain Morgan.” Rook started. “Morgan! How should I know?” Tinker chuckled. “You know bery well, I know bery well.” “What!” said Rook to himself, “is it pos- sible that this nigger is one of Morgan’s spies in the camp all this while?—oh, impossible.” “Massa Morgan coming Dt a he come to frighten old Mole—yah—yah!” i “T don’s know Morgan, nor anything about him,” returned Rook, coldly, ‘‘ and I don’t want to know him.” ‘“‘Oh, yes, sar, you do; you know all about him, you know well; him robber, bushranger.” And he nodded with such significance that = the savages were tired out with their exertions, and throwing themselves around the fire, soon fellasleep. — Mr. Mole aeeny. followed their example. How long he had slept he knew not, but he was awakened by a hand being placed firmly over his mouth. ‘‘Hush! not a word, if you value your life,” whispered the owner of the hand. ‘It’s Harry, who has come back with Jack and the stockman to save you.” Then a moment afterwards came the words: ' “Rise up and walk between us as quietly as a cat on velvet.” . Mole obeyed, and, luckily, was too bewildered to a ae or make any outery. e rubbed his eyes and looked. Yes, there sure enough were the two boys, and two paces off the stockman, witha brace of load- ed revolvers in his hands. Quietly as possible they walked till they were quite a hundred yards from the camp. There they found half a dozen other well- friends to rescue the white prisoner. They had even prepared a horse for Mr. Mole, armed men who had been collected by Jack’s | th with another pair of boots for his unlucky wooden legs to be inserted in. Mount and away was the word. But unluckily, before Mr. Mole could be pro- perly fixed in the saddle, one of the horses gave a loud neigh, The natives heard it, and with loud yells arted in pursuit. ‘“‘ Make haste, sir. Up with you.” The savages were in sight now, for the moon had arisen, and as soon as they saw the white party, they commenced to throw boomerangs and spears. But a few shots checked their advance, and Mole having been ‘‘ fixed,” away went the whites, soon leaving the savages behind. After a ride of three hours they reached a sta- tion, where, after a hearty laugh at Mole’s paint, he was cleansed and Sea tae with garments. They rested till daylight, and pes after a hearty breakfast, star for the Harkaway set- tlemenf. The relation of their adventures caused some excitement there, and the description of Mole in his war paint was a theme of mirth for many a day. CHAPTER III. ROOK’S TROUBLES—MORGAN AGAIN—A DESPER- ATE PLAN—TINKER VANISHES, LEAVING ROOK IN TROUBLE—HOW HILDA WAS CARRIED OFF, WE willnow look after our old friend Jack and his party in theirnew camp. Rook epee to feel uncomfortable. { He reflected awhile. | A hundred thoughts chased each other through his mind at once. A “Tl go to Mr. Harkaway and tell him every- thing,” he said; ‘‘he’ll forgive me again, Ed well. He'll help me to keep straight— e os “Oh, gol peu” cried Tinker, suddenly, and disappeared. ‘Two men had crept from behind the trees before Rook could perceive them, and stood be-° fore him. Their A aor was so sudden that he was considerably startled. ‘Yet not more so than when he recognized their voices. f ‘* Rook,” said the nearest to him. ‘Captain Morgan.” “Quite an unexpected meeting, is it not?* said the notorious bushranger, with a quiet smile. ‘‘ We have lost sight of you of late. What is the best news?” Rook hung his head, but made no answer to is. “Do you hear?” ‘Yes, I hear,” returned the ex-convict, cold- ly, ‘‘ but I have no news to give you.” \ ‘“‘TIndeed,” said Morgan;/ ‘‘what a precious slow place this must be for one of your sort.” _. Rook beat the ground impatiently with his foot for several minutes, wiitla he summoned up courage. < At length he burst out: ‘“You must not look to me for assistance any more,” hevsaid, violently. ‘These people have shown me all sorts of kindness, and I will not betray them,” Morgan frowned. j _ “Hold you mutinuous tongue, Rook!” he said, in a voice which made the ex-convict feel very uncomfortable. “If I see any signs of dis- affection amongst my people, I have a swift and. sure means at command for putting an end to ‘Rook glanced around. ; ) ‘ Morgan had got a revolver pointed at him. ; “T don’t know what you mean,” he said, faint- ‘ jly: “I owe you no allegiance.” The bushranger ave a hoarse laugh, “No allegiance!” “th he cried; ‘‘why, what do you mean, confound you? Why, i must: be growing patient in my old age. I’ve puf a bul- iy into many a man before now for less than’ that.” Rook made no inl The captain of the bushrangers had a trick of i ry manner about him which cowed the ex-con" /vict. And Morgan knew it, a
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HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. “ He knew well that he held the power over him which a strong mind’ always exercises over a weak. ‘* Look you here, Master Rook,” said he, after awhile, ‘‘ you are a simpleton, and you’re young in my service, so I overlook what you have said. But [ have this to tell you, and you will please look ig my words as orders, not to be lightly played with.” A retort rose to the ex-convict’s lips, but he repressed it. “*I haven’t depended upon your assistance | alone here; I have others in the settlement upom whom I rely for information,” “ ies?” be }? “Others!” said Rook, with a start; ‘‘ who can it be?” “That is my business; I have my spies, as you are rude enough to call them, ell, it pleases me to fancy the good looks of Mrs. Har- we Who?” “The beautiful Hilda. Well, within a few minutes, she will be in my power. Don’t look alarmed. You will ha 7e to render some assist- ance.” “ I ? “ You. ” “Not I; I swear——” ‘*Silence! make no remark, but listen. She has now set out with her daughter, and is walk- ing by the river-side. All you have to do in the matter, is to §0 to the girl—Emily, I believe she is called—and say that her father has sent for her; make some excuse, and that I leave to our fertile invention, for getting her away rom the others—from her mother. I will see to the rest with my men, who are waiting even now with the boat.” Pit shook from head to foot on hearing But he was silent. “ Now go,” said Morgan, sternly; ‘‘ that way— quick, and remember what you have to do.” a stared upon the ground, but said never a word. He paused irresolutely for a while, and then, without raising his eyes, he walked off sharply in the direction indicated by Morgan ‘*What shall I do first?” he gaid to himself; | M ‘“go to Mr. Harkaway or to Mr. Harvey, or shall I first warn them? While I am gone to Mr. Harkaway, the mischief may be done; no, I had far better seek them and——” _As he thus soliloquised, he came suddenly in eane of two ladies, strolling along the water- side, A thrill of terror shot through him as he re- cognized the people of whom Captain Morgan kad spoken. Mrs. Harvey and her daughter, little Emily. He did not wait an instant, but flew to them, pel bade them get back to the camp with all aste. His manner appeared wild, and his voice in- coherent; and at first they could scarce make out what he meant. “Be off,” he exclaimed, in an excited under- tone. ‘‘Run—fly for your lives. A moment more and it will be too late.” j “The poor man is mad,” said Mrs. Harvey to herself. Rook saw by her half timid look and shrink- ing manner, what was passing in her mind. *T am as sane as you are,” he cried; ‘‘ fly for ad lives, Isay. oneal the bushranger, and is men are hovering about.” _ of Morgan?” ejaculated Hilda, in terror. “Yes,” “Come, then, Emily—quick, dear,” said Mrs. Harvey; ‘‘fly back to the house as fast as your a will carry you.” mily ran off like the wind. But her mother, who was less nimble, had not got three yards, before Morgan and his men pounced upon her. : «Not so fast, my pretty one.” . Help—help!” she shrieked. Come—come, my lovely one,” said Morgan “don’t fear me.” I ion af hatin,” ai “ Felp—help!” ; Morgan now began to fear that her cries would be heard, I So he lifted the struggling Hilda in his arms, and hurried her away in spite of all her wild ef- farts to disengage herself. ‘Meanwhile Rook had made desperate attempts to raise the alarm in the camp. He ran on a little way, and blew loudly upon an alarm-whistle. 7 h Still no one appeared to respond. _ |Hilda’s shrieks for help were now piteous. _ So the ex-convict, Rook, casting off all con- 7 Vad “eee: siderations for himself, rushed to intercept the bushrangers. Morgan was making good progress with his strugé ing victim, while his men were following elose behind, to oppose anybody. Rook dashed after them. * Stop, villain!” Then he seized Morgan by the collar and sw him around, and Hilda was free. But, before she had got three steps, Morgan clutched her again. é At the same moment he whipped out a pistol and presented it at Rook. “Traitor!” he cried, ‘‘ take your death.” Click! a flash in the pan. ie persed angrily cried the bushranger chief. “ Help—help!” exclaimed Rook, wildly; for he now saw the hopelessness of attempting to cope with such odds. Beall he thought to detain them until assist- ance should come to him. : “Help—help! Harkaway to the rescue!” He rushed again at Morgan, but the latter met him with a blow from the butt end of his pistol, so well directed that it stretched Rook upon the ground. At this instant, shots were heard in rapid suc- cession, at no great distance from the spot. Rook heard them ere his senses forsook him— before he received that terrible blow—and he despaired. . He guessed that an, attack, real or feigned, had been made upon the other end of the settlement, in order to distract the attention from the scene of this present outrage. And with this dreadful, despairing thought upon his mind, all became a Blank He fainted from the pain of his wound. CHAPTER IV. MOLE MEETS HIGHWAYMEN AND IS ROBBED—THE BAGS OF GOLD—-WHAT FOLLOWED—THE USES OF GUNPOWDER TEA—TIT FOR TAT, PERHAPS an explanation of the shots which the unfortunate convict heard, would interest the reader. ed this, we must turn to our old friend, Isaac ole, - Mr. Mole, whose old weakness had completely got the better of him of late, had only just taken the pledge, previous to going on a journey to a neigt boring settlement. e object of his journey was to make a heavy purchase of specie for private specula- tion. He had been greatly struck by the tales he had heard of the marvelous finds of speculative diggers; and armed with a well-lined purse, he went off, mounted upon a stout cob, for he was becoming quite a skilful horseman. ; He succeeded wonderfully—beyond his hopes. Returning, he was so filled with satisfaction at his trading, that he was induced, injspite of his pledge-taking not being two days old, to accept melas of grog from one of the diggers with whom he had traded. ; Facilis descensus Averni. One drop led toanother. The result may be seen easily enough by the intelligent reader. ‘Poor Mole got-—— Hush! ‘ He jogged along upon his cob, his gold jing- ling in his pockets, as oblivious of anything wrong as you could wish, and singing blithely to himself, when suddenly from behind a clump S trees, two men started out and.confronted im, “ Halloo ” ** Halloo!” The exclamation was mutual. “Whither so fast, Mr. Mole?” said one of the new-somers. “Mr. Mole!” you know me.” “ Of course.” “Dear me!” said Mr. Mole, in a tipsy voice; “wonderful!” ‘““Who doesn’t know the great Mr. Mole?” ejaculated one of the strangers. quoth the worthy Isaac, “ then “Will you get down and take something to | drink with us, Mr. Mole?” said the other man, politely. Mr. Mole could never resist such an invitation. Down he roped on to his wooden legs with- out another word. The man who had invited him poured out some spirits from ae handed it to Mr. Mole. , “Your goodsh—I mean good healsh—health,” stuttered the old gentleman. j 6 age cket pistol into a horn cup, and | be * And yours,” said the others, feigning to drink xg , ig v0. When Mr. Mole had drained his cup, accord- ing to custom, for he always drank a cup, one of the men, without another word of warning, popped out a pistol, and made this unceremon- ious request: 4 “Just let us have a look at your nuggets, if you please, Mr. Mole.” Mr. Mole said nothing. The perspiration trickled down Mole’s back, but he simply took out his bag, and dropped it into the other’s hand. “That's not all you have got,” said the man, _ bry , placing his pistol close to Mole’s head. i at more?’ “One more. Hand it over.” “ Here it is,” said Mole, with a sigh; looking rather timid at the pistol the man still held. After all, he thought he had better get home with a whole skin, and minus his bags of gold, than with his riches, and riddled with bullets. So reasoned Mole. And he was right. ‘““A nice little haul,” said the man who had taken the two bags. “Very,” said the other. “What!” exclaimed Mole, wildly; ‘‘ what, do you mean to take all from me?” it The two men burst out ig ing at this. “You get home now, Mr. Mole,” said one, ‘as fast as you can, or you may find a bullet in some part of your body.’ “Yes, get home, and thank your lucky stars pied we don’t want the cob as well,” said the other. “Give me my bags,” cried poor Mole. ‘*Bah!” said one of the gentlemen, ‘‘ get along home.” “You're not going to rob me thus?” ‘*No—no; we have done it; we are not going” to do it.” “Goodness me!” exclaimed Mr. Mole; “what will my wife say?’ _ “Probably say you are an old coward,” said one of these amiable robbers. “*Or perhaps she’ll only unserew one of your wooden legs and whack you with it,” suggested ° the other. } “Oh!” cried Mole, “Good night.” And they started off. J “ Stop—stop!” cried Mole; * don’t go.” They pulled up short. ‘Have you got any more?” **No—no; but do come back.” “What on earth are you baphoring about?” “Just have a little pity,” implored Mole; “think what I shall have to suffer when I get back.” They laughed at this. a6 y, you discontented old fool,” said one of these amiable SEL ‘‘just compare your- self with that old man we stripped of his purse, or money-bag, for it was a money-bag——” “And well filled,” suggested his companion, “ Capitally—what pond he say to find we had let you off so easily, eh? That’s what I want to know.” ; “Can’t say, I’m sure,” replied Mole, ‘only I. know that you'll make it precious warm work, for my wife with me.” ‘““Ha—ha!” “Don’t laugh,” said Mole, imploringly, “don’t ng Do you really mean to take my money- “Of course we do.” kc “Well, then, in common. gratitude, help me out of this trouble.” \ / ‘‘How?? demanded one of the: robbers, much amused at the suggestion. “Put a bullet through my coat-tails,” said poor ole. ‘Oh, if that’s all, willingly,” was the reply. Mole held out the tail of his coat, and the rob- ber blazed away. ‘ Bang! went a bullet through it. “Now another, if.you please,” said Mole. He held out the other side,and the other knight of the road let fly at it. “Thank you. Now another.” ‘This was granted by the robber. “Now another, if you please, this side of my coat tail.” Prey A fourth report, and a fourth hole in his coat. was the result. “One more, if you will kindly oblige me.” “T haven't got any more,” said one of these — amiable robbers, examining his powder-flask. ‘But you have,” said Mole, to the second rob- r. ‘*No, not a shot.” siPer ‘ He looked at his ammunition before he replied. “ Are you sure, sir?” asked Mole. Ree: Ps ati je
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HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. . “Sure? Yes,” said the man, laughing at ole. “And you?” “No; I said so already.” “Very good,” said Mr. Mole. ‘Then, my very good young men, I have.” : And Mole produced a pair of pistols. He quietly presented. one at each of them. _ “Now,” said he, his #ipsy demeanor vanishing at once, “‘ just give up those hee eo : “Never!” cried the two rob looking at each other, surprised at Mole’s artful trick. “Then I shall put a bullet—not in your coat, but in your head,” said Mole. q ‘What, would you kilb us?’ cried the men, Jooking as though they would run. “Stop, or I fire!” Mr. Mole’s demeanor had something unpleas- ant about it now, and when he made a sort of jerky movement forward, down dropped a bag rom the hand of one of the robbers. “‘ Now the other, if you please.” “ Come, now, I say——” “There!” “Thank you. Now the rest.” “That's all.” “Come, I say,” quoth Mr. Mole, in awe-inspir- ing accents, “‘ don’t try on any foolery with me, for I have promised to take home some plunder, and I know what you have got, so down with it.’ The two knaves looked at each other for coun- sel. They had not a word and scarcely a look for themselves. ’ “You must be quick, or one of these pistols may go off,” cried Mole, holding them in a line with the robbers’ heads. One grumblingly ferked out a canvas bag of old. we Go on, my dear boys,” said Mole. * T’ve got no more.” * And you?” “Not a shurrick,” said the other, whatever a shurrick might be. © “Then off with you,” said Mole, “or I'll blow you into smithereens.” His look alarmed them. “Now, if you are not off by the time I count ten, I fire.” Off they ran. And when they were fairly out of sight, Mole icked up the Ma and fastened them about /“Ha—ha! that’sa stroke of business,” said he to himself. ‘‘ But they wouldn’t have parted with their treasure like that if they had only known that my pistols were loaded by Mrs. Mole with gunpowder—tea.” And chuckling thus, he rode on home on his cob. ‘When he came to count his gains, he found - himself not less than three hundred pounds in oF pocket over the transaction. “This is a real slice,” said he. : And forthwith he set himself to work to invent a plausible yarn by which he should appear even more heroic than he had yet shown himself. “ Oh—oh!” laughed Mole, looking at his coat- tails, “I shall turn this to some account. Ha! my courage is great.” \ Z CHAPTER V. THE PURSUIT OF HILDA—TINKER’S PROGRAMME —HOW HE THREW A LIGHT ON THE JOB, ‘ alarm of Hilda’s abduction soon spread ‘in the settlement. Harvey, as you may suppose, was in an awful | state of mind. A party of armed men was organized in the ace of afew minutes, and dispatched unde. fferent commanders in pursuit. Their object was to spread out, and cover thus the longest line of country possible, and then, at a certain distance, begin to advance at each ex- tremity of the line so as to form acircle. Inthis way the advance was made with great rapidity, when, as Harkaway wasabout to start, _ ‘tinker came bounding up to him. “Massa Harkaway—Massa Harkaway!” he eens putt’ to tell yar, Massa Harkaway,” he “Rook, sar; that ‘fernal, cantankerous, bad Rook. Nasty fellar, Rook, sar.” Harkaway grew uncomfortable at this. : - e Why, what do you know against Rook, Tin- er? “Rook am Cap’n Morgan’s man, sar,” replied the boy, with a significant leer. ‘‘ Cap’n Morgan gib him ounces ob de yallar gold for to do all sort bad work; immense, bery awful bad fellow, sar. Tinker’s extravagant adjectives worried old Jack in his present state of mind. “Just say what you mean, Tinker, and don’t beat about the bush, or I'll flay you alive.” | “T see Rook waitin’, sar, waitin’ for dat Cap’en Morgan, an’ dey do a big talk all about Mrs. Harvey.” ‘Harkaway bounded forward at this, caught Tinker by the throat, “Don’t you attempt to play any tricks with me, don’t tell any lies, or you'll wish you’d never been born.” “Tse tellin’ ob de troof, ebery word, sar, sel me golly, dere, sar. I know, sar, I watch Roo case I see Cap’en Morgan an’ de oders come up, an’ so I run away and pretend to be awful fear- ed an’ den I come back and I see——” “What?” “TLor’, Massa Harkaway, how you do jump down poor Tinker’s froat—an’ den I see Cap’en Morgan talking wid Rook.” “ee ah!” “ Yi sar. ” “What about?’ * All *bout taking Mrs. Harvey away.” : ‘¢ The villain,” groaned Harkaway, “after all Ihave done for him, the scoundrel.’ “ es, sar. ” ‘What did they say?” ‘He want Rook to help him, and Rook won't, | and an’ den dey say all sorts naughty words to- geder, and dey fight.” “Fight!” “Yes, sar,” “Tinker,” said Harkaway, looking him very straight in the face, ‘‘ you're telling me lies.” “No, sar,” pro fight awful, until Cap’en Morgan smack him head wid der pistol, and Rook lay down and go to sleep.” 2 “Go tosleep,” returned old Jack. ‘‘ Oh, I see, he fainted.” “Yes, sar; dat’s it.” Harkaway felt this a relief to\his mind. It was painful beyond measure to think Rook could have behaved like a traitor. ‘“Well—well, Tinker,” he said, ‘ having got over that, the next thing is to see about getting Mrs. Harvey back as fast as we can.” “Yes, sar,” exclaimed Tinker, with a sudden vivacity. Then he lapsed into sullen silence for awhile, from which he presently awoke, and with a grin he said to Harkaway, in tones indicative of won- derful self-confidence. ‘“Tinker do dat.” “Do what?” “Get back Missis Harvey awful double quick.” “You!” exclaimed Harkaway, with a smile. “Yes, sar.” * How?” ; ‘““Massa Harkaway doesn’t recollect dat Tin- ker was wid Cap’en “Hah!” ejaculated once at this notion, “ if you are a good boy and true to us, you shall have a better anda greater reward than anything you can dream of.” Tinker looked earnestly at his master at this. “Don’t want nuffin, Massa Harkaway, for dat; Missie Harvey awful partikler fond of Tinker; Tinker awful partikler fond of Missie Harvey. mae Harvey quite jealous of Tinker—yah— ah! P; Old Jack could not repress a smile. “No matter for that. I'll undertake to say that Mr. Harvey will get over his jealousy, if you are the means of restoring his wife to him.” organ,” he said, slily. arkaway, catching at Yes, sar. “ Now, tell me quickly, for the time is getting on, andI am growing impatient to be doing something more than gossip here; tell me how you propose to go to work.” ey Tinker began his reply by scratching his wool. “Tinker’ll, go back fust, and den he’ll see, and have a-talkee-talkee, and watch and whistle you all when tocome up! Bring all de niggers and all de gallopshus make-fires; and hab a can- Morgen." immense big blaze away at Cap’en Mo; 7 ; ery good, Tinker,” said Harkaway ; ‘I think T can /trust you now.” ; f : Be ae aes AY sisit : Pamela d the boy, earnestly; “dey | b , sar.” } 4p ' “Then let this be the signal between us; but” = first let me recommend the greatest caution, my good ‘Tinker.” Tinker winked. «Yes, sar, Tinker am sich a artful cuss—yah— yah : CHAPTER VI. HILDA AND THE BUSHRANGERS—FAMILIAR FACES —AN ALARM—TINKER, THE SPY—MORE NEWS. ben ee struggled vainly in the arms of her captor. he strength of the notorious bushranger was something prodigious, In spite of all her wildest efforts, she was borne aye ; Aiter a certain time her strength began to fail er. Her fright was piteous to behold. A deathly faintness stole over her, and her senses were fast deserting her. The sickly pallor of her cheek evidently alarm: ed the daring Morgan. ““Come—come, sweet one,” said he; “ let this revive pat bin And he pressed his lips to her cheek. Hilda was aroused at this indignity, and she fought her captor furiously. Seizing him by tho hair, she tore so viciously at him, that in sheer self-défense he let her fall. As soon as she was upon her feet, she fled. But her success was short-lived, for in the space of a minute or two, the bushranger was upon her again. ‘ “Tf yeu gef so rumbustical, my love,” said he, ing her to him inspite of herself, ‘“ we muet d some means of holding you down; don’t seratch, or I shall have to clip your claws.” * * * * * o _ They reached their destination after a weary journey, for Hilda would not walk. d Such a burthen to carry is all yery well for awhile, but even the most muscular man must necessarily tire under the load that he had to ear. Upon their arrival at the bushranger’s camp, they were met by two men, amongst other’s, whose appearance struck additional terror to her soul. _One was ape who had ever been asso- ciated with the troubles of herself and her friends, cea the Italian brigand and bully, was other. ‘*Halloo!” cried Hunston; “why, you have a prize, Captain Morgan.” ““Don’t you see who the prize is?” exclaimed A lady.” “Ay; but who?” Hunston stared again, | t “Ts it possible? Can I believe the evidence of i he eyes? Mrs. Harvey!” ilda aroused at this, and drawing herself up before Hunston, she exclaimed, in a voice of pas- sionate energy: “Tf you have a spark of manhood left, Mr. ia you will protect me from these ruf- ans. “ Gently—gently, fair one,” said Captain Mor- gan, ‘‘no names.” . “No one means any harm, Mrs. Harvey,” said Hunston, |“ and as you are Captain Morgan’s I do recolléct, Tinker; and | guest: “ Prisoner.” “Tf he likes to place vou under my care, I am sure we shall get on well together.” There was nothing much in the words, but the look that accompanied them made her shiver. “Why, really, Captain Morgan, I am an old acquaintance.” , f “Enough,” said Morgan, sharply; “there is nothing like an understanding. member that Tallow no familiarities with my guests. This lady must be treated with as much respect as myself. Let the least complaint come from her about 0M, or about any one of you, woe betide him. He will have to render me strict account. Do you hear?” ~ “You are too——” ‘*Silence!” shouted the bushranger. : Hunston was about to make some re- joinder, when the expression of the bushranger captain caused him to be prudent. organ was an unpleasant yack ‘ and Hunston felt an instinctive dread of him. Disagreeable forebodings were ever in in his” mind in the presence of the redoubtable bush- — f ¢ ¢ ranger. hen ae Were these forebodin, ings really justi ified? as ert Diss Ttetin . Cae x Tite aa ¥ the » AS to make, ~
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A —_ Time will show. Meanwhile, Hunston with difficulty swallow- ed his wrath, and walked away moodily. ‘“‘Come what may,” he muttered to himself, “T shall make a point of s paring, accounts with eur bully friend Morgan. ipaae is impudence!” * * * ba * * ‘Place the guard for the night,” said Morgan. One of his most reliable men proceeded to this task, when suddenly a black object tumbled into the open out from a cluster of thickly-grown shrubs and bushes. ‘** Halloo!” $ Shoot him down!” ‘The blacks areupon us,” cried Captain Mor- . “Up with every mother’s son of you. Took to your rifles.” . ‘‘Yah—yah!” said a familiar voice, ‘don’t be so catawampously immense big frightened, Cap- tain Morgan. *Taint de debil, only poor nigger cove, boy Tinker.” “Tinker?” “Yah—yah.” “ What brings you here?” “Got away from Massa Harkaway, sar,” re- lied Tinker, ‘“‘and P’se come to gib you warn- g. “Of what?” “Dey’s coming.” “What, here?” " “Dey no find out yet, but dey gota big lot of men from eberywhere; all got horsesand make- fires. We get off, sar, sharp, sar, or de debils eome up and make sassingers ob dis fair infant. Yah—yah!” Q Hilda heard. She A pare Tinker at once, and at first she had gained new hope. : But now, on hearing, as she thought, that he was in league with the bushrangers, despair seiz- ed her. “ , ‘“ Deceitful wretch!” she cried, Sar tegen at ave the black boy. ‘‘ After all the kindness we shown you.” . ae —yah!” grinned Tinker; ‘‘ you no lub me. : Hilda was violent, and in her indignation she quite forgot the terrors of her present situation. “Tf Lever get back you shallhave a sound pa a for this, you little fiend!” she exclaim- “Yah—yah!” j And “‘ yah—yah” being all she could get out of him, she said no more, but bit her lips in sheer mortification. Meanwhile, the bushrangers redoubled their Vigilance around their pany ot a precaution was neglected. Sentries were posted in all directions. 7 And now it was that Captain Morgan, showed now admirably-fitted he was for the post-of com- mander, ~ He was everywhete at once, and displayed the greatest energy and activity without making any Pein Pend fuss about it. y, you there, Tinker,” he said, turning around, before quitting the of his prisoner. “Yes, Captain Morgan. Tinker keep dam partik’lar watch over lubly gal, sar; yah—yah!” “That's right.” { And the captain of the Ms a ie perfectly at ease in his mind upon that score, turned around and resumed his duties. : Now when Morgan was yee Tinker’s demeanor changed wit! denness. v He dropped his aggravating laugh, and turned serious at once. : He shot a glance of meaning at Mrs. Harvey, and then he marched off to the clump of trees out of sight, strange sud- _ which sheltered the open spot at no great dis- "chaste stepped up to cba up tance, Ne He dodged in and out of these forest monarchs to ascertain that there were no interlopers on the watch, and then back he ran. _ But just as he was returning, a tall, dark figure made a aba ae ep pene upon the scene, and ilda. air Hilda,” said Toro, for it was the “you're looking now loyelier than "Bice ca lilda curled her lip haughtily, but was silent. “Come, Mrs. ey, beauteous signora, one salute—nay, domt refuse me. I have loved you from the first.” He would have seized her in his arms, but Hil- da was not _tg be thus rudely approached with im ity. ; sr isla herself away, and called loudly _ dn an instant Tinker came bounding up to the 5 aa sr HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS, * i “Be off, you imp ofSatan!” thundered Toro; “be off, or Pll slay you.” : “ No—no,” said Tinker, grinning, ‘‘ you no kill Tinker, but Tinker kill you gollopshus immense oe Grecks if you ain’t gone.” Toro, with a fierce oath, strode after the black boy. Now Tinker showed extreme artfulness, for he appeared to dodge him, and yet he allowed him- self to be caught. ‘“Now you shall have it!” muttered Toro, be- tween his teeth. a Hadine ye black boy with one hand, he made a slap at, him with the oflter. Down bobbed Tinker. “Vah—yah!” “Curse your yah—yah!” cried the Italian, furiously seizing him again. ‘*Take that!” Tinker was out of his arms in a jiffy. A precious awkward thing to hold was Tinker, for beyond one very small garment, he had no clothes whatever. i His skin was smooth and shining, and alto- gether he was as difficult to hold as an eel. Toro was about to fly after the boy again, when suddenly he felt a sharp, stinging sensation on his right leg, just above the knee, and looking down, found that it was bleeding. ff Why, what on earth——” e paused in utter amazement. ““Want any moraJike dat, bully man?’ asked Tinker, , ; ““Why, you have stabbed me!” _“Yes, bully man,” grinned the boy, ‘‘ only a lily bit; gib you immense cantankerous more next time. Don’t be greedy, yah—yah!” And then he took from his loin cloth a stumpy knife, with which hg had contrived to wound the Italian. ‘ But the latter had not felt the wound in the excitement of catching the eel-like black boy. “ll kill you for this,” said Toro, fiercely. “Oh, no,” returned Tinker, with irritating cheerfulness, ‘“‘you no catchee Tinker. Massa Morgan beat you, and you awful big ’fraid ob Massa Morgan; Mae ah!” Toro bandaged his around with his neck- cloth, and then made after the boy. But he might as well have tried to catch a rainbow or an electric shock. : Tinker was, as vulgar folks say, all over the ae at once. @ was a master in the art of aggravating, too, and he hadan endless lot of tricks caleula- ted to goad a man like Toro to desperation. He would wait until the Italian got close up to him, and then, after some insulting gesture, he would Pe him with a handful of mud or stones, and bound away like a rocket. In the course of this singular chase, Tinker ran around toward the spot where Hilda stood, | n his hands ‘oro, to ap- and here he pulled up short, holdin behind him while he waited for proach. The Italian came on. But he did not observe that Tinker had hand- ed Mrs. Harvey a piece of paper. A She opened it eagerly, and found, hurriedly written on it, these words: eae ‘‘Keep up your courage; we are near, and shall soon set you free. e bearer of this is a friend in whom you may implicitly rely. % “ Jack H,” The words danced before her eyes. For a moment she quite forgot her presente of mind, and she spoke her thoughts aloud. “How I wronged that brave: boy! Poor Tinker! They are here, perhaps perhaps even now about to rush in and drive these wretches and ruffians away.” s aa advanced, and Tinker dodged away as usual. But Toro caught sight of the open r in Hilda’s hand, and in an instant his shapieicit were aroused. Without one word or sign of warning, he made a stride forward and snatched the paper from her hand.’ “What is this? Hah! treason!” he cried. “By the fiends, the boy shall die!” The words: were barely uttered, when Tinker sprang upon him with the agility of a monkey, and snatched the paper pie His stumpy knife played its part again, for Toro received a hideous gash in thecheek that tars gave aralich wiwled a loro gave a of min agony and rage. “vou Rajathia fis 3 ak valle ,, holding his cheek, while the blood poured through his finger’s, a you shall die by slow torture for this!” ‘Big bully man; yah—yah!” was Tinker’s only reply, Pe ‘And threw in another sight, placing his fin- | di a gers to his nose, and wound up by pelting the wounded Toro with pebbles. va Just at this moment Captain Morgan came up with two of his followers. ‘* Halloo!” he cried; ‘‘ why, what is all this out- cry? I thought the Philistines were down upon us. - ‘Seize that boy!” cried the Italian, fiercely. They laid hands upon Tinker, who stood very/ placidly in custody. ‘ “T found him conniving with the prisoner; hé gave her a letter.” - t “Oh!” exclaimed the virtuous Tinker, ‘‘ what a naughty, great big lie!” ‘A letter!” exclaimed Captain Morgan. “ Yes,” “ Where is it?” F ““He has it now.” They searched the black boy. He not many corners to conceal bye pst you see; and they found nothing at upom im, “There are no signs of a letter,” said Morgan, sternly. “Then he has swallowed it,” persisted Toro. This was right. Tinker had. At the -first sign of danger, he scrambled it in- to his mouth, and bolted it as easily as if it had been a Cockle’s antibilious. The ingenious black boy, however, threw up * his hands, showed the whites of his eyes, and appeared otherwise greatly scandalized, - ‘Oh, my, what a great whacker, Cap’en Mor- _ gan, sar,” he said, in virtuous indignation, “Dis naughty, ugly feller wanted to kiss your gal— de imperant t—an’Ises: ‘ Cap’en Mor; left Tinker on guard, so you don’t,’ and ses he: ‘Yes, Ido,’ and ho went forme; but I gib him one in de leg and anoder in de cheek, and he no like my nicey-niceys, and he couldn’t catch me, and den, in a beast of a great, big, immense mper, he ses: ‘I'll tole ap’en 5 oe dat you brought a letter, an’den Cap’en Morgan’li gib you suffin for yerself.’” * \ This sounded like the truth. Morgan glanced from the boy to Toro,and then to Mrs. Harvey. ‘ eee the latter, he raised his hat po itely. ‘ 2 ve Rates madame, that you have been put tm no annoyance yy, my Pon le,” he said. ‘ “ But for that boy I should have been subject: ed to the grossest insults from that ruffian—your worthy comrade.” - Morgan changed color. ‘* Has he dared——” f “The boy spoke the truth when he told you that he had defended me.” Morgan nodded his head in a determined man- er. 2 : “ Good; we can’t allow this sort of thing to continue. An example must’ be made. Seize Toro!” ies : Several of the bushrangers obeyed this order. “Tie him up.” ~ : ‘ Not before me,” cried Mrs. Harvey, eagerly, ‘si0t_ before me!” “Yes, sar,” said Tinker, in eager anticipa- tion. P Soe a “ And flog away until you are tired out.” “Tinker no get tired eber; him work hard, yah —yah; whack—whack! on de big Toro’s back.” And grinning all over his face, the black boy — tumed off to the flogging. ver Tg CHAPTER VI. 5 IN WHICH A DISGRACEFUL CONSPIRACY IS HATOW- ED AGAINST ISAAC MOLE. THE test excitement prevailed in Harka- wayville, as they had cbristened their new set-_ tlement. ‘ aH Anxious moments these were indeed for all who were left behind. is Amongst these were of course the ladies, with the unfortunate exception of the one whose loss — caused the preseng trouble. , i The two boys, young Jack and his comrade — Harry Girdwood, were left on guard, he Mr. Mole, too. Par The unfortunate ex-convict Rook was found — to be in a sat yreeanious condition, and he was tended with the greatest care by the la- a f 7 of
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HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. e : e against the worthy Isaac’s peace of mind must be related in another chapter. + + * * * * “Perhaps I might buy it,” said he, in an off- \ hand way, ‘‘if we could come to terms; I should like to see it very much.” “Well,” said Sunday, ‘‘as you are my own brudder, in a manner of speaking, I don’t know. if I ought to refuse. But Monday don’t let no one look at it; wait until there ain’t no one about, and then you can come in.” . “ All right.” And Mr. Mole walked. off to chuckle and rub his hands in silent satisfaction. * * * * * * They were alone. “Do you know, my dear Jack,” said Mr. Mole “T can scarcely restrain my impatience when i think——” “ Of what, sir?” : “ Of your dear, brave father and poor Dick be- ing in peril there, while we are on guard here. I long for——” “ For what?” , . “Glory, Jack, glory; to share the dangers. I was never born fur a quiet life; my love was danger always.” CHAPTER VIII. HOW IT WAS PREPARED. FOR MR. MOLE—WHAT WICKEDNESS!—THE GREED OF GOLD—THE TRANSFER—MOLE A MINE OWNER—WHAT NUG- GETS!—WHAT GOLD!—WHAT WEALTH! “Frrst take our candlestick,” said young Jack, ‘*and melt it carefully down into little bits, then pick out tne mine; then remove a few inches of “ Ahem! the earth from the surface and mix the nuggets { ae “You appear doubtful.” sparsely, mind, so as not to excite any sus-| Mr. Mole stood within the magic circle, the “Not I, sir.” picions.’ , roped-in-space to which the two darkeys, Sun- day and Monday, asserted their claim. “So this is the spot,” said Mole. ‘‘ Who would ever imagine that we were walking over the paeceds metal here? How ever did you find it out?” , ; : “T was digging some sand out when I first got hold of a bit of yellow metal,” replied Sunday, “a Jump.” “A lump?” echoed Mr. Mole, in awe-stricken accents. pi Large?” ; “Then,” added Harry Girdwood, solemnly. ‘twe let Mr, Mole have an accidental view, and see what can be done.” ‘* Agreed.” They shook hands over this iniquitous com- pact, the young miscreants, and completed their proceedings. * * * * * ox Some few days after this, strange rumors got to be buzzed about the settlement. ; The two darkeys, Sunday and Monday, it was whispered, had alighted upon gold. : You can imagine the efféct of these reports, The two dusky diggers roped-in their ground, ae sulowed none of the curious to approach too closely. Mr. Mole heard these rumors in due course, as Harry and young Jack took care he should, and down he hobbled to see for himself. _ Now began the extremesartfulness. The conspirators had well matured their plans. They hung back, pretending to take no pet ticular notice of the matter, and awaited Mr. Mole. He came. They knew that he was sure to tackle them, and he did. : “Do you really think, dear boys, that these two niggers have hit upon a mine?” he said. ‘Of course they have,” said young Jack; “‘not much doubt about that, eh, Harry?’ ‘¢ But of course, Mr. Mole, it belongs to them,” said Harry. : ‘And what—what can be the value of their find?’ asked Mr. Mole, eagerly. “Can't say.” ‘“But you have seen a good deal more of it than I have,” said Mr. Mole, eagerly; ‘‘ what should you say?” ‘“A few thousands at the outside,” suggested Harry Girdwood, Bh B fawn s : ‘*Ves,” said young Jack, ‘these mines are so aueve! you never know what’s what.” “Well, I must tell hd that I have grown rusty since my last little skirmish on my way from. ae te fields yonder. Gold; what a magic ring. hat music; what fascination in the sound, but still the word danger I love better.” “Yes,” said Jack, smiling inwardly at the old gentleman’s enthusiasm. ~~ “This is.a wonderful country. I shouldn’t : arqnier if there was gold upon the very earth we read. “Mr. Mole—Mr. Mole!” cried a clear, ringing ‘ voice, with a Papa: foreign accent, ‘“‘ you are * growing greedy, L fear.” ‘ “Not I, Paquita, my dear,” said the old gentle- man, ‘‘ only it’s really a tempting subject to ex- site even the most stoical of her kind.” err oh Sey said Paquita. es. “Goodness me! I should so much like to see some of it,” said Mr. Mole. “ Wasy enough,” returned Sunday, promptly. So saying he placed a shovel in the old gentle- man’s hands. ‘* Have a dig.” Mr. Mole said never a word, but drove the spade into the soft, yielding earth. _ One shovelfil was turned over, and as he let the sand and earth drop from it, half-a-dozen heavy nuggets fell to the ground. Mole’s eyes dilated as he plumped on. and scrambled them up in his hands. “Gold—gold—gold!” he muttered, vainly en- deayoring to subdue his excitement; ‘‘ what a feast, ye gods!” “You ain’t found much, brudder Mole?” said Sunday, who was complacently smoking his pipe. : ** No—no—no!” returned Mole, “not much.” “Not so much as I turned up every go, brud. der Mole.” - ; on tan Mole gave a subdued but eestatic groan. p “How much do you want for me to take it off your hands?” t “Fifty pounds,” ““Where’s Monday?” : “Here I am, Mr. Mole,” said the Prince of — Limbi, stepping up, for he had been hanging about awaiting his cue. “Sunday wants to buy out your right to this piece of land for fifty pounds.” i j “Does he?” said Monday; “well, considerin ~ that it’s mine as well as his, he might ask me be- fore he does nothing.” ~ : : “*Just so.” % { “T hope they’re not going to quarrel over it,” thought Mole, anxio ; ‘there neyer was a more foolish invention than partnership.” &: “T know you would like for brudder Mole to have it, Monday,” the darkey said, in a semi- apologetic tone to ea in the diggings. “ Oh, of course. ole is our friend. ith: “Tf that’s agreed,” said Mr. Mole, much re- | lieved and eager to clinch the bargain, “‘here’s the money.” # aie (ie ‘Good, friend Mole, You will make your for-. * “ce “ We want you and Jack.” The two boys followed Paquita into the house. They found little Emily awaiting them. The poor child: was in the greatest distress, and, indeed, had never got over the shock which the outrage on her mother had occasioned er. ‘She was constantly in tears, and knew not a - moment's rest in mind or in body. Young Jack, her gallant champion, was the only person who could cheer her at all. =a Paquita knew this well. ‘Here, Jack,” said little Emily, forcing an ap- Aa yearante of cheerfulness which she was far from feeling, ‘there are the English papers. ‘Now come, all of us, and have a good read.” “Tet Harry read out to us,” said young Jack; “he’s the best reader.” This was settled, and Harry Girdwood selected _ some interesting pieces until he came upon one . which excited general attention, and led to some _ very singular results. Aa “Salting a mine.” __ “Whatever can that mean, Harry?” said little _ Emily. ; / “Wait a bit; this would interest old Mole 9 finely.” ; He read it down, and found that it was a law ease exciting great attention in London, which treated a gigantic swindle in getting up a com- pany for the purchase of a diamond mine. » Diamonds had been purchased at a great cost, and the ground which wa roposed purchasing was ‘‘salted”—i. e,, sprinkled with real diamonds _ just before it was visited by the committee of in- ' spection. j Me, “This is glorious!” exclaimed young Jack, ' “A what?” ‘ “ Duffer.” “‘T object, to such an expression,” said Mr. Mole, who was upon his dignity, “even when a gold mine isin question. Slang, my dear boys, is objectionable in man, woman or child.” “Quite so,” said Harry. ; “But what is your real opinion about-——” “The mine?” ty Yes,” x [ + Ee a i ai RON: ; “Tt is a fine thing,” said young Jack, ‘but T sah pene a rer bles sf ge nen ee achite wan Snuicky or Monday 6 get too great | tune. You find lots of gold, if you dig long g “No ieee * 4.» | an idea of it, or they might run up the price of | enough for it.” : ‘A Tee easily done—we want the materials,” | th cir treastre.” “Let's have it all in fair and business-like’ MTC AR b ‘““T see,” said ‘Mr. Mole, winking and looking | order. Give me a receipt, andstateon it whatit most artful, ‘‘ they want to sell?’ “Not want to,” replied young Jack; ‘but they would, pertiape, and I should like dad to buy as cheaply as ible.” f Mr. Mole walked apart. ai: These words made a deep impression on his mind, and he came speedily to the inevitable } conclusion that he would like to be the purchaser. The ae elas had, of course, calculated upon. this. a he sought Sunday on the quiet, and sounded m. : “*T can’t say asI want to sell_it, Brudder is all for,” said Mole. j “Bery good, brudder Mole,” said Sunday, leering at his black partner; you draw up payer: dockyment, and we'll write our names te “ Agreed.” ; ae ( “That's capital,” said Mr. Mole. ‘‘I’m delight- ed to find you such business-like people; and now, all we have to do,” he added, producing a written — gia from his pocket, ‘‘is to sign this.” te | “Phe diamonds?” Wine ene \ “But I mean agold mine.” TI see—but how?” ; _ “Why, we could get a little real gold if neces- sary, but I don’t see that it is; that’s near enough,” he added, pointing to an old-fashioned ae brass candlestick. Rt ease Lim Fes? i d __ *Now-—now, it’s all very well, but old Mole is snot 'to be gulled without a little trouble.” _* “Perhaps not, but you have heard of candle- ii a _ Well, then, I know that this old fellow melt- Lega would make lovely gold, and you shall 800 1b, . : , Poor Mole! ee and rdanger, loomed in the distance once | And yet, at this very moment, he was calmly _ sleeping hard by, dozing after a whiskey toddy |" h é ( ; th as would make you or I Wink ink | pounds was a ridiculously small - rect ye eee « i E ties wan + eo - a A Birt ag os , i. NR pon it. } ‘the infamous conspiracy |" "What could be better? re, ge took the paper, and seanned its con- mvs $4 Then he handed it ale gore fi . “Why, Mr. Mole,” said the latter, “you have — got it already written out.” — { Ff . Mr: Mole appeared slightly confused at this. \ “Yes, I have,” he said, edgchon a littios*T (4 had some faint idea that you would perhaps be inclined to treat with me. ; : pre i A an inkh
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yo HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. Rn _. Well,” he said, nervously, ‘“‘we had better sign. “Perhaps you'd like to try the ground a bit more before you settle it,” suggested’ Monday. eo hanging fire,” said Mr. Mole to him- se ou would only takea numblecove’s advice, you’d et that lovely gal go.” “What?” ‘thundered the bushranger chief, turning upon the spy as if he would annibilate ae re a you dare to offer your counsel?” ty — ** But where’s the boy, Tinker?” cried Morgan, clutching hold of Bigamini. ; “Bolted likewise,” said the spy; ‘‘absquatu- lated, vamosed, sloped.” Morgan fairly staggered at this news. “Vl not believe it!” he exclaimed; ‘{ you're “‘No—no,” he added aloud, in as off-hand a} ‘ Silence!” deceiving me, Beware how you trifle with me.” manner as he could assume, ‘we are allfriends| ‘‘ Beg pardon.” He seized Bigamini fiercely by the throat, z together, and there’s no deception.” “Silence!” Pam Lai t say now, capt’in, drop it,” remonstrated ~ Oh, no,” exclaimed Sunday, showing the less spy. “You can’t get her back by white of his eyes in his-virtuous reproof even of stoppin’ the h’air in my wisen.” the remark; ‘* could I deceive my own brudder?’ Moreen threw him heavily away, and he “Oh, bother the brother,” said Mr, Mole, im-| And precious glad wf the permission, the spy | fell patiently, for he never relished the claim of kin- dred which Sunday was constantly asserting. Sunday grinned. “Sign away, all of us, den,” he said. And he opened the final negotiation by scrawl- ing his own signature across the document. onda ee bs habs t,” said Mr. Mole, folding up the pa- per, and pocketing it; “now, ‘it’s mine, Iwill to work, and find gold—gold—gold!” Sunday and Monday grinned as they walked away. There was a ring in their laugh that the wcrthy old gentleman hardly liked. No matter. He held the treasure. “What did the quaint niggers mean by that hoarse laugh?’ he asked himse i, Joop andagain; ‘no matter, those laugh best who Jaugh last.” Still he had just the faintest misgivings. “Surely they can’t have played me any trick,” he said to himself, again and again. ‘Oh, no “Why didn’t you intercept them!” he said. “Cos why?’ answered Bigamini. ‘I was a- listening behind the trees, and I heered the black kid talk about which way they was going as soon as you were fairly out of the way. Then says I to myself, if [stops °em now, they'll diddle me afterwards; the best course is to consult the capt’in before he gets too far off——” * And while you are here?’ “They've bolted.” “Bool!” 5 : “Not quite a‘ fool neither, Capt’in Morgan, ’eos I know exact the wa: as they took, ’cos why? I heerd ’em map out all their journey as nice as ninepence.” “ And you think you could overtake them?” “ Yes,’ ‘ scrambled out of the fierce chief’s presence. Morgan walked up and down in thought for some little time. “They must not get as far as this, atany rate,” he muttered to himself; ‘‘no—no;I must meet them half-way and fight them. They shall have a taste of bush-fighting, and see how they like it. ““Yes—yes, Harkaway, in Captain Morgan you will find no Greek or Italian coward to fight with, but an Englishman bold as yourself.” Then, turning sharply around, Morgan called the black boy. “Yes, Cap’en Morgan,” answered Tinker, bounding forward. “There’s going to be a fight, Tinker,” said Morgan. * “Yarks!” cried the black boy, capering about; “gollopshus larks. Tinker go and put on his war pels 2 ‘**No—no; you'll have to stay on guard here.” “Where?” demanded the boy, apparently crest- fallen and dise ppointed. ’ “Here, to mind Mrs. Harvey. You shall have some of the fighting a little later on.” ** Are you armed?” / “ [ve got my barkers,” replied Bigamini, pro. ducing the pistols. : ‘Of with you, then,” said the bushranger; “overtake them, or never show up here again.” “Yes, capt’in.” “ Shoot the boy.” “TJ will, with pleasure, capt’in.” “ And bring back the lady. Respect her, or you will have to answer to me.” Be: ‘* Never fear, capt?in.” “Mind, bring her back, or don’t show your face to me again.” “Vl bring her back, and give Tinker a shot i his impish head,” said Bigamuini, earnest- ly. And off he ran. ae “‘The capt’in ain't to say chi’ce in his lingo,” said the spy. ‘In fact, he’s so very insultin’ at times as he gets my monkey reg’lar up. Talking of monkeys, 1 wonder whether that young mon- key Tinker will show fight?’ « , It is rather odd that his soliloquy should sorun — upon the word monkey. : : He stooped and picked up a piece of the shin- ing yellow metal, : “Berry good, sar,” returned Tinker, ‘I mind _% This is solid fact,” he said, as he fondled it | de gal, sar; nobody take away your gal from in his hand, ‘‘solid—solid fact,and there’s no mis- | Tinker, sar.” take about it.” ‘Treat her with every respect.” He looked about him anxiously as he spoke. « Yes, sar.” a Already his newly-acquired wealth was bring-| ‘And I'll reward you handsomely, for you are ing its penalties. : a fine boy.” t uch is the price of riches. “Tinker a lubly boy, sar,” returned the youn: ‘*T sha’n’t be able to leave itnight or day,” he nigger, proudly; “‘splendiferous, magnificer’ said to himself. “‘As soon as it gets known. how | critter; look at him noble self, sir.” i rich the prize is, it will excite the cupidity of| ‘‘ Well, I don’t know so much: about your everyone in the settlement.” looks,” returned the bushranger chief, ‘‘ but you So he prepared to camp there for the night; | are faithful to those you like and those youserve.” but before night came he dug, and sifted, and| Tinker’s eyes twinkled strangely as he re- sifted and dug until he had got several ounces | plied: of the precious metal, and gathering them all| ‘Yes, sar, Tinker bery faithful, sar. So you together, he held his treasure in his open palms, | find, sar, Awful splendid faithful critter, sar, oaning in ectasy over it, to those he lubs.” a And why? “Made for lite,” he kept muttering to himself, |“ Well, now I’m off, that’s enough for you.| Read on, and you will see. “for life—for life! Mole—Mole, you’re a lucky | Look well after the lady.” hee ” ~ dog. ty ; ; b ; “Wes, sar.” ) bs, * * ¥ And so mumbling he dropped intio a feverish | ‘‘ And look to me for your reward,” said Mor- ; Mes. ‘ ; sleep; but trouble was already looming up in the A ' |" Tt was true. us distance. Trouble which the old gentleman had never contemplated. Treuble in the shape of. his old tormentors, — But before wecan let the reader enjoy furth- er Bs Mole’s perplexities, we must return) to a, ‘an. “ . ro akc Yes, sar. Tinker do him duty,.sar.” j Tinker had run away with the prisoner hehad _ ' And with a final word of admonition, the | been left to guard. : ; leader of the lawless bushrangers started off to| It was also true, unfortunately, that while they collect his men, and march on to meet the ad-| were concerting their plans, and Lear out vancing army from Harkaway settlement. the route back to the settlement, Bigamini, the * * x * * * Spy, was lurking in ambush and listening to “Oh, yes,” said Tinker, ‘I'll mind de. gal; | what t f Missie Harvey bery safe wid dis chile—yah, yah! was being said. : ! Now Tinker Imew every inch of the ground, ~ Poor Cap’en Morgan—yah—yah—yah! Golly!|so to speak, ; =f) sche jfhunderin’ cantani’rous wicked jest—yah —yah! : Trees, stones, and other signs, which to a 4 ; fe stranger would have d unnoticed, served And Tinker grinned, looking intensely satisfied at his own wickedness. him as landmarks in his progress. ' Sea i ‘ Part of the country which they had to tray- _ Woat shape his wickedness took will soon be explained to the reader. | erse was flat and unmarked by any special feat- — organ was already on the march, and, in- ures. Br \ But after an hour’s hard walk, or, perhaps, we deed, had progressed some considerable distance ; J should more properly say run,for they kept upon ae loud warning call behind them attracted | the trot for the pane’ part of the journal, tthe iy attention. i ‘ound grew, more uneven, and assumed an ap- — ‘‘Halloo!” exclaimed the bushranger, ‘look panegace ‘ or around.” nee of hill and vale, that promised well for ; ‘ Fiitaa’s desires, : , ‘There’s someone coming,” said one of the men, aS And frequently they came in sight of trees. , * of” Morgan,” he said, in considerable excite-| A man bounding along at a tremendous pace, y : — , CHAPTER IX. AN ALARM—THE BUSHRANGER’S RESOLVE—THE MARCH TO BATTLE— BRAVE LITTLE TINKER LEVT ON GUARD—' AIN'T I WICKED, JEST?”—A FIGHT. A THE punishment of the Italian ruffian was in- terrupted by asudden alarm. pe 3 Bigamini, who had fallen naturally into his old and congenial character of spy, came flying up toCaptain Morgan with the most startling | intelligence. \ This was regarded as a piece by both of them. Af iO in They could rest here for awhile in safety. H with their exertions. ; nebo I can scarcely put one foot before the other — Stop—stop!” he shouted out as he ran, “Tn one part: “ Awful gr ‘No; several.”” vey,” said the black boy, ‘‘’cos Tinker ain’t big My ‘aye leadst” MN cae) y ennes to carry you home. Be Nar be arkaway is leading one of the parties. smile ae a, he) pees oe ela the others?” : Mie : iNG, Tinker, I should be too big a baby for arvey one, ‘ou, I fear.” |. yeas e* Ves Peat American mon not ele ca gs tenet aes y? sa ey organ frowned. , inker, proudly; “you y bol ay, bery ley mean bus bly lady, Bory beayoLay? “id be Bt ecious ugly Shesmiled again, = : iney * Not altoge _ Morgan smiled. _ She conel “Ah, well, I dare ‘ ea wad r Which?) them—they don’t “Ab, Captain Mon Ae TAN 2285 4 hs “Look!”
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FR She pointed to the branch of one of the nearest trees, where a fantastic-looking object squatted upon a branch, looking down upon them. A huge monkey. ; There he sat chewing something that he had found, and looking as wise as an owl. Tinker made a step or two forward to inspect “the strange object closer. “Don’t leave me, Tinker,” exclaimed Mrs. Harvey; ‘ sae close by me.” se Allright, issie Harvey; don’t you know dat fremarkable gollopshus individdle?” “Know him; no.” “Why, itis Nero.” . “Never.” ; “You'llsee. Nero—Nero—Nero!” Nero—for if was our old friend—grinned, and slid down from his perch. - Z “Good Nero,” said Hilda; ‘‘Ilam so glad it is a friend; shake hands,” Nero put oui his paw. Apparently, he was not less pleased than they were at the ne He wagged his head in his well-known old- fashioned way, and grinned at them both, divid- ing his attentions and his favors fairly between them, : ‘‘How are all at home?” said Mrs. Harvey, smilingly. Nero caught a flea by way of answering this. “Oh, Nero—Nero, why can’t you talk? You could make me feel so happy, or perhaps not. Perhaps you would have bad news to tell me. Well—well, you have none at all; ‘ no news is good news,’ we have always heard. Nero!” The last mention of the monkey’s name’ was caused by his sudden rushing off. - Back he flew to his tree, and began tearing fu- riously at one of the smaller branches. “ Nero!” ** Come back, sar.” Nero took/no heed of Mrs. Harvey nor of Tinker. be Fecidenily there was something wrong with im. What could it be? They had not long to wait to find out, for while their attention was thus absorbed by the wild anties of the monkey, a voice exclaimed: “Got you at last, have 1” Hilda turned with a half-stifled scream. There, not ten feet from where she stood was a man, egret a) a pair of pistols at them. One at hersel _The other at Tinker. > * Ohi? i “Now, marm,” said this man, ‘‘ back you go, or [ll shoot you, damme!” ates ast Uely beast!” cried Tinker. - But he kept ata respectful distance from the threatening pistol. ae : - The reader has, of course, divined who this was. ie mini. 3 Whe could it be but the villanous spy? _ When he boasted that—to quote hisown pecu- _ liar idiom—he ran like a blooming deer, his brag was not altogether devoid of foundation. ay cy Si sah ag te pea eta oe eae UP, “hee we take into consideration the long s ley had got of him. f : E Mutt aniablong: my dainty girl,” said he to Hil- — da; “ off with yur.” ; . “Never,” returned Hilda, proudly; ‘‘T'll die ¥ first.” tea _ “Now, don’t you aggarawate a poor devil,” said Bigamini, “or blessed if you mayn’t die, and no error about it.” : ‘ Begone, and let us proceed on our way,” said _ Hilda, loftily. ‘If you attempt to molest me further you will suffer; I have a husband.” -“T know Dick Harvey very well,” returned Ode Bigamini, insolently; ‘‘ we're old , in fact.” “hen you know that Richard Harvey is not trifled with; you are safe only at a “Ob, Pl keep along way off him, with you; _ “Yah—yah!” jeered Tinker, ‘you big drunk, Canin erage vail-pahe seis , “Can't 1? retorted Bigamini; “ take that.” ps he tet fly. pep ilda gave a scream as Tinker dropped and - rolled over and over upon the ground. Bigamint ran up to finish bim off, when strange: enough, Tinker, in i piuaeics rolled be- e-spy’s legs, ippe him up. , an t ye HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. And they both rolled upon the ground to- gether. In fact, they were in half a jpae so thorough- ly mixed up, that the difficulty was to distin- guish which was which. f Tinker’s oily skin offered no hold to his adver- sary. After a momentary scramble, up Tinker got, and snatchéd up the pistol that was yet undis- charged, from the ground. Bigamini saw how matters were, and ducking to avoid the fire, in case Tinker should be about to shoot, he leaped upon him. Hilda now fied to Tinker’s assistance. But her aid was not needed, for help came from a most unexpected quarter. Something whizzed through the air, and came down with a mighty thwack upon poor Biga- mini’s sconce, Down he dropped. “ Oh—oh!” he yelled, “‘ I’m done for. Murder —oh!” j iron unexpected assailant was the monkey Nero. Tinker stepped back, pistol in hand, and left Bi ini and Nero to have it out together. ero’s gentle nature vanished altogether, and dropping the branch of the tree which he had torn off for a cudgel, he fell on the spy. They closed, “Now, no sooner did Bigamini see that big, hairy face close to his, and the fiérce eyes gleam- ing into his own, than fear filled his craven soul, for he had quite forgotten the existence of the great gt .**Oh, the devil! I’m in the clutch of the Evil One at last,” he groaned. Still he fought. » Yet not with the vigor and fierce determina- tion he would otherwise haye shown. Nero tore at him with the greatest ferocity, ai buried his claws in the wretched man’s esh. So desperate was the battle,that Bigamini was speedily blinded with his own blood. And all the time Hilda and Tinker stood look- ing on. ii frida horrified, fear-stricken at the spectacle. ' Tinker laughing. Yes, the black hay. enjoyed it mightily. ‘‘Nero—Nero!” cried Mrs. Harvey. But Nero’s blood was up. ceases ihe ey Teiket” aie implored; ‘Drag him away, Tinker,” she implored; e will kill that wretched man.” 3 : “Yah—yah!” F “Do you hear?” — i . “Yes, Missie Harvey, deblish fine dat, de ugly feller no kill me den. Yah—yah! gib it him, Nero. Goit, Nero: him dam bad man!” Nero wanted no encouraging to this end. » Bigamini’s struggles grew fainter and faint- er. He battled feebly, instinctively, while the monkey was as fresh and as vigorous as ever. He fastened at length upon the wretched spy’s seen and there he held him to the bitter en Bigamini fought no longer now. His head fell Tack. a His arnis hung Bercy St his side. His eyes were starting from their sockets. _ His pr a protruded, : 4 A ghastly, sickly spectacle. \ i eer the murderer, convict and spy, was ea “Come away, Tinker,” exclaimed Hilda, in accents of mingled awe and horror; ‘he ‘has killed him.” Ler ; “ Yah—yah!” ee Tinker. _ “‘ Immense, big, splendid fellow, Nero. Me lub Nero; him better man dan that wicked spy.” ~ ; vey rned away. And happily they reached the settlement with- out any further molestation, And now you understand why we. remarked upon the singular chance of Bi ini using the word Pe eee in his memorable sol- | g | stand,’ iloquy, after ing upon this pursuit, destined to prove fatal to ict { CHAPTER X. we ANXINTINS—HOPES AND FWARS—A VISIT TO MR. MOLE’S MINE—WARNINGS OF DANGER—FORE- WARNED, FOREARMED, } ‘ Wuen Hilda and Tinker reached the settle- ment, they found that there were no tidings whatever of Harvey or of Harkaway—nor, in- deed, of any of the party who had gone in pur- | infi suit of her. sca. This was a sad result, indeed, after her happy | ver deco teh beck sedans Ce ee | Tis “There is no fear, mama,” said little Emily, who, it need not be said, was overjoyed to see her mother again, ‘‘for they are so strong and so brave. Uncle Harkaway is with papa and Mr. Jefferson and numbers of our men, all armed, and brave as can be.” “T can’t say that-I fear,” answered Hilda, “for, together, I don’t believe that there are many that could oppose your father and brave , Jack Harkaway. Harkaway !” she added; “ why, there is music in the very name.” : And so there was. J Traitors trembled at the sound, and true men grew enthusiastic in the praises of old Jack. “Dad is safe enough,” said young Jack, re- peatedly. This was not only to reassure his mother and their friends generally, but also to make himself easy in his mind, which he was very far from peme, at present. y Indeed, he had very serious doubts about it. Anxiety was upon every face in ithe settle- ment. At length they came to the resolve to send out a man in search of the absent friends. One of their men volunteered for this service, and he was duly armed and furnished with pro- visions of the most portable character. This doné; they grew more easy in their minds. : ‘* Another day,” said Mrs. Harkaway, with a sigh of relief, ‘and we shall certainly have them with us again.” * * * * * * Another day passed. Yet no tidings. Two days more, and three men were started off in another direction, 4 A full code of signals was arranged with them, and every possible precaution was taken. And this tended considerably to restore con- fidence in all their minds. * * + * * * “Well,” said Harry Girdwood, ‘‘I don’t see the fun in making ourselves and everybody else wretched.” y ‘S Nor 1.” “Nor dis chile!” said Tinker, with a precious long face; ‘*‘I’se cantank’rous, dam miserable!” “Let's to the gold mine, and see how old Mole is getting on.” “ Good y? Off they started, accompanied by Tinker. Now Tinker’s face lit up immediately; for when it was a question of visiting the old gentleman, the young darkey gave a pretty shrewd guess that it meant fun. Fun or mischief—and they were much the same to Tinker. / ; Now they found Mr. Mole all alone, hard at it, di ging away for bare life at his mine. e new mine owner had certain difficulties to labor against, but he fought them mes The pick he could ply with tolerable skill, and a certain amount of force. } But what bafiled him, at first, was the spade. To driveit well into the earth, he had, of course to press it hard with his timber-toe, and thi: wanted a deal of dodging. He would limge. furiously at the edge of his shovel, and miss it five or-six times in succession, eh the infinite amusement of our fun-loving ak : . Ate your mine doesn’t turn up trumps, sir,” said young Jack, with a serious air of interest, “vou could yes turn your ground to good ac count.” i Mr. Mole fidgeted nervously at this, “ What do you mean by that?” : rs Ae) in case of accidents, sir,” said young ack, ‘What then?” } \ ow y, look how you could aibble in your cab: bage-plants or potatoes, for instance,” said Hark- | __ | away, junior, as he walked off. Sold f again! ug Mr. Mole nearly. choked with indignation. But it was all thrown away, for young Jach was already out of hearing. Be * ee ee i *
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HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. like lasts upon which the boots and shoes are made. These were so constructed as to screw firmly en to his wooden extremities. ‘And thus he vanquished the difficulty ‘of dig- | ging with the spade. : “Well, sir,” said Harry Girdwood, as they ame up, ‘‘ how do you progress?” { “Wairly, my boy, fairly,” responded Mr. Mole, putting on a cheerful air, which was really not spire thé amount of success he had met with. ‘*Many nuggets?” Mr. Mole looked wonders. If looks could be interpreted, Mr. Mole cer- tainly meant to insinuate a mountain of gold, ‘Pm glad it has turned out so well,” said Har- ry Girdwood. ‘specially as we recommended it, Harry,” said young Jack. “You find lots 0’ brass, ole Massa Mole?” said Tinker. Harry and young Jack felt just a bit uneasy at this familiar term for gold. ~ But Mr. Mole took it very good-naturedly. “Lots,” he replied, with a smile; “in fact—he- hhe—excuse my little joke, I shall have as much ' brass as you three put together—he-he!” / ‘*Ha-ha-ha!” laughed Harry Girdwood, nudg- ing Jack. And then they laughed altogether. Isaac Mole thought, in his'innocence, that they were laughing with him, not at him. “T must tell you, sir,” said young Jack, with his most respectful manner, ‘‘ that we had an ob- ject in coming here.” “Indeed!” , eyes, Siri" “What is it?” ‘The news of your wonderful mine has got - over the country, Mr. Mole,” said young ack, “ Gossipping fools, to talk of it; itmight do no end of mischief.” “Tt has, six,” said Jack, seriously. . “ Never!” “Oh, indeed it has; in point of fact, sir, we have only now come to see if you fear molesta- tion?” 9 ‘Molestation—where—what—from whom?” * “Morgan,” a 5 At the mention of the notorious bushranger’s “game, Mr. Mole jumped up like a parched pea in a fire shovel. “Captain Morgan?” ‘Yes, a fact, sir.” “Why, how the deuce can he—” ; A disagreeable feeling possessed him, and he - eould not finish his sentence. “The danger, sir,” said young Jack, deliberate- ly, “from what I have heard, does not proceed earice daa, directly.” ° “No, sir; for, from information I have re- _. c0eived——” F aa sounds just like Scotland Yard,” said Mr. ole. } 3 “Yes, it does; unfortunately, you haven’t Scotland Yard here to help you.” Young Jack’s serious air and subdued manner duly impressed Mr. Mole, /_ “My dear boy,” he said, ‘tyou surely don’t ~~ mean to say-——’ “Don’t make yourself uneasy, sir; but the bushrangers have—so I have heard—employed a Sane of a aborigines to drop down upon you.” at! “A fact, sir; and so we came on toseeif we ould render any assistance. We didn’t run very __ hard, for we knew that you were a match for a good many niggers, no matter what country ey came from.” Lawn j . Mole at this pulled up his shirt-collar, and 1 “4 out his cuffs, with a pardonable gesture of _ pride. me “Rather!” « Maes ; Ve “And we were doubtful,” said Harry Gird- ary, eaemner you would accept our assist- vance : ; “Tm very grateful for ae offer,” said Mr. rather flatter my- kee * P * ae Mole, with dignity; “but self that Tam pas Bani ers.” < my of you how T tackled American Indians once.” sir,” said our said Mr. born, Jack.” a match for a good mob | the whistle of the savages. But I didn’t make any fuss at all.” ‘* No use.” * None,” said Harry, pretending to be deepl: interested. . / cad “No; sol got up, and got into the loft, with my rifle, On they came, yelling discordantly. I distinguished the chief by his eagle-plume, and, by gad, I potted him!” “You talk of an Indian chief, sir, as if he were a bloater.” “Or shrimps.” “Well, then, my dear boys, I reloaded, and bert away again into the thick of them.” a“ es Sir. “Then, when I had laid seven of them low, out I rushed, and made an awful row. ‘Come on the rest of you!’I cried, as if there were hun- |. dreds behind me. I dashed at’em, and, by the living jingo, I scalped seven-and-twenty before you could wink an eye.” a | ‘*Oh, golly—golly!” cried Tinker, evidently frightened. “Seven-and-twenty, as I am a sinner!” said Mr. Mole. ‘“Dear—dear!” “The other fifty fled as if the old gentleman had been after them, and—would you believe it, dear boys——” ‘No, we shouldn’t,” said Harry, sotto voce. “They actually left mé alone, single-handed, master of the field!” “That's as true as any of Mr. Mole’s warlike |, e oe. said young Jack, tipping the wink to arry. “Tt never got very public,” su ted Harry. “No, publicity is not m airs ” said Mr. Mole, with a lofty waye of the hand, ““it never was. 7 ‘On their own merits nodest men are dumb,” quoted Jack. “Precisely.” ‘Had it only become generally known,” said Harry Girdwood, seriously, ‘‘Mr, Mole would have been put up as a candidate for the presi- Ore om ie Patt ot only put up,” said young Jack, piling it on stiffly now, ‘‘but returned for a dead cer- “Oh,” said Mr. Mole, ‘I am not vain or‘ambi- tious; if I were, there is no doubt but that I could have been elected.” ‘‘Your modesty, Mr. Mole, is too much,” said young Jack. ‘‘ Well, then, I suppose, sir,” said Harry, ‘‘ our assistance, in case the niggers come down on you, would be of no good?” “Perhaps it might,” returned the old gentle- man, with a simper of vanity. : “Well, then, it only remains for us to go; we'll leave our pistols first, for we brought them pur- | osely. es That's very kind of you, Harry,” said the old gentleman, ‘“‘but I have no powder and shot.” - . . ‘‘ They are already loaded, sir.” He winked at Jack. ’ “But one charge might not ‘be enough,” said Mr. Mole. j } “We have no more ammunition to leave you, sir. $ They had particular reasons for not leaving powder and shot in Mole’s clutches. ‘You will understand this presently. “But you are well loaded,” said young Jack, “and, with four pistols, you will be able to scat- ter a whole tribe of savages.” , “ Rai er. ” , " “You look awful cantankerous fierce, sar; look, sar, as though you eat up dozen niggers,” said Tinker, pretending to tremble. . JT don’t think they will venture too near me,” said Mole. ee ook out for the night, sir,” said Harry Gird- wood. “Don’t close your eyes.” “T always sleep with chuckled Mole. So off went the boys. 3 CHAPTER XI. AWFUL ENCOUNTER BETWEEN MR. MOLE AND THE SAVAGES—THE MYSTERIES OF THEIR TONGUE. ‘Mr. More chuckled quietly as they disap- “T don’t think that the niggers would relish a bout with Isaac Mole,” he said, stoutly. , ' “The rough old commodore, the left one open,” s; + _ The tough old commodore,” he warbled. _ : acs. Ric “Perhaps,” he said to himself, his expression * ‘) Bes it would be better if they came in the day. Itis difficult to distinguish a dark man on a Gark~ night, and a nigger andnight are much the same color, and I hope they won’t come in very great force, ahem!” ‘‘Confound those beasts. I wish they would mind their own business instead of worrying . about my diggings. And niggers are such very low-minded persons; they’re not satisfied with getting the upper hand, they have such object- ionable ways of gouging and scalping; that’s what I have to complain of always.” He looked up at the setting sun, and then he, looked at the settlement some distance away. Ugh! Why did he retuse the boys’ assistance? ‘‘T am such a rash, headstrong fool,” he said to himself. ‘‘ Pluck is all very well in its way, but really a man with a wife and family like me, ahem! ought to pay some respect to his skin. But rash daring was always my weakness; I am like some old war-horse, I can’t smell fighting without snorting to be in it.” “Tord ha’ merey! what’s that?” A lone, shrill note, a profound too-o0-woo, A. sort of burlesque of the owl, and unmistakably rendered by a human throat. Mr, Mole had heard such a cry long years before. Too well did he remember when, where, and under what dreadful circumstances. Tt was in the Island of Limbi. : The war cry of the savages. Horrible reminiscence, this, all things consider- losing something of its mirthful attribute ds. ‘“Too-y-woo!” “Phere it is again. Oh, Lord—oh, Lord!” ex~- claimed Mole, starting up aghast. * . ve had been hoping that he was deceived at rst. c Now there could be no mistake about it, In his little tent he < a bugle with which he was wont to signal to Monday from the settle- ment when he was in need of anything. So he blew a Sharp note upon this at once, and waited the answer in some anxiety. ' The answer came. 4 Monday was there, then, ready at hand in case of need. fe Yes ‘* Pheugh!” What a relief! } Mr. Mole could not deceive himself now; he was really alarmed. Bir He got out his telescope, and eagerly scanned the country around, Yet no signs of any enemy could be perceived. ‘‘ Was itmy fancy?” he said to himself. “Sure- ly not, no. Hang it, that would look as if I was frightened, and I rather flatter myself that Isaac Mole is just about thé last manin this part of the world to get frightened.” He looked under his blanket for something. Not there. Where could he have put it?. , ‘ He routed.out several nooks and cornersin his. tent, and finally produced from beneath a }.1.e of straw a small stone bottle labeled ‘‘ whiskey.” “Pm obliged to be a little bit sly,” he said to himself, ‘* way she routs out every hole and corner of this — place is most distressing to a man of my out- — spoken, frank, and truthful nature.” . He poured out a little into a cup, and drained it off. ” “Hah!” he said, smacking his lips ina sort of, subdued ecstasy, “ that’s something like.” It is astounding how*%his spirits rose as the whiskey went down. : He grew valiant immediately. , “Tf they don’t gee iylhin Goh »” he said te himself, “twenty, pérhaps—out joking apart, 1 don’t think I could tackle more than twenty.” ’ He got the whiskey again. - : : } ‘Beastly weak this is,” he said, taking out the cork; ‘‘been well watered before I got it. Awful thieves the dealers are, Why can’t they content themselves with an honest profit? Hah!” ’ He took a ‘suck. ; ! ‘* Two-thirds water.” J f / The old gentleman got rather drowsy soon, « and putting his loaded pistols handy, he settled _ himself down on his blankets to go to sleep. _ “Let ’em come, ye-haw,” he yawned, ‘let Jem come—bloxw the lot to smithereens—ya-haw— knock ’em into the middle of next week—damme, - Wing oie ktulae bol netivte, ne gradual nd with simi resolves, he : sank back and slept. | ‘ ign * ee “To0-y-whoo!” i ate ‘“'Too-y-whoo-0o!” ; ere “Bh, what!” exclaimed Mr. Mole, drowsil *conie in, my dear, don’t knock.”»§ £1 w.i¥, Shloe is so dreadfully curious; the le of nextyear.”
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ad a r ** To0-y- whoo!” “What's that?” a *:Wa-hoo!” ~ _My. Mole sat bolt upright, and looked about The alarming sound was repeated once more. ‘ST was dreaming,” he said, ‘‘ dreaming that I was back in England; I wish I was.” ’ou-y-whoo!” aE Heaven! what a dreadful row.” Ths awful sounds were close at hand this time. The savages.” Yes, there could be no mistake about it now. Mr. Mole scrambled for his pistols. Where were they? ' *» He dived under the blanket, under the straw, and all over the tent. All in vain. He could not feel them. » i. The sounds of the approaching savages grew aga ae ae ieee aie? lik ood Heaven!” gas e old gentleman, ““what a fool I was to drink that whiskey, Beastly strong stuff! Why, it must be over proof. ' There was a wild, Arye Ragan dpe outside, and Jo! at the entrance of the tent appeared three black forms. Mole shrank back. Three horrible looking blacks, all besmeared with ghastly pigments. Two carrying war clubs. t The Mees pee a pty one arrow, ready to let at the un 0! ntleman. of QOb-h-h!” se tty Mr. Mole gave a prolonged groan. ** Don’t, for mercy’s sake!” ‘a The three savages set up a fearful din, all three king at once, producing the most deuf- . barry abel of incomprehensible sounds. ‘*Oh, goodness me!” cried poor Mole; ‘ what- ever will become of me?” “Carajo caramba!” yelled the nigger with the bow and arrow. “Dear me!” ejaculated Mole, “ it’s a Spanish | Savage.” One of the others carrying the war clubs advanced into the tent, flourishing his formidable weapon. _ “Ker-chi ko kum kemeri thar cum totnam- vortrode!” yelled the savage. Mole shut his eyes, groaning: “Oh, ’m a dead man.” Never were such sounds heard by mortal ears, His time was come, he thought. 4 The other sav: came in with a bound. «© Wik wak wallah!” he shouted, dancing wildly around. d a ly so, my dear sir,” said Mr. Mole, hop- ing to conciliate him; “‘ exactly so, but do take a seat and rest yourself.” ; .» “Hikey pikey ticksey wick sheepsedantaters,” remarked the savage. i -“ Never should have thought it, my dear sir,” ward. said Mole, in much the same manner that he ok haye assumed to conciliate a dangerous lunatic. _ The third savage lowered his bow and bounded after his comrades. ' He flew wildly around Mr, Mole, singing an awe-inspiring dirge. ; _. Then he a up by saying, in a menacing - manner: % : ® “Wah hoo; cantankrousbig duffah. Wah |i hool””) e ; air as i “Qh, Lor’!—oh, Lor’!” moaned Mole, in’ deep distress, ‘‘do keep still there, good fellows.” _ But the manner of the other savages tended a They appeared inclined to treat. “ & bgt ay $a English. So Morgan says all money: Ugh words sound éxactly like v it. rds soun ictly yay ; you from ef i HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. The savage took out a knife about six inches long, and execufed an Australian saraband. its all up,” said Mole. ‘‘ Good-by, Chloe— good-by tothe twins. Good-by tomy dear Jack —to my dear Harvey. I shall never see them The savage who had before held the bow and] y arrow, menacing the poor old gentleman, this time found the stone bottle and taken a su at it. The potent spirit made .him cough, and choke, and splutter, and then its effects began to tell up- on him immediately. He talked wildly. ‘** Ole Massa Mole,” he said, with a tipsy air. ** Yes,” said Mr. le, looking up; ‘‘what is it, my worthy young savage! Only spare my life, and Mole will be your slave.” ‘* Ole Massa Mole am a gallopshus ole sole.” “ Goodness me!” ejaculated Mole; ‘ I declare it sounds like Tinker.” ized him at once. Filled with r; and indignation, the old gen- tleman got over his fright in some slight degree, for he made sure that Tinker had turned traitor. He scrambled up, and before the others could ess what he was at, he made a rush anda low at Tinker. ‘ Had it taken effect, Tinker would have felt it; |. but that youthful nigger was knocked eff his perch already by the strong drink, and at that very moment measw his length upon the ground, ; Mole dashed the savages to the door of he Pease hen blew a loud blast upon his ugle, : en off he hobbled as fast as he could go. The call was answered from the settlement. ‘*Saved—saved!” cried Mole. He was not long in reaching’his friends, you, may be sure. * * * * * * ea the savages made no attempt to follow On the contrary, as soon as was gone, the other two followed Tinker’s example by rolling on the ground, not in liquor, but in the wildest mirth. reg absolutely yélled with laughter. And when they had had their laugh out, they went to the tub of water outside the tent and weet their faces and hands with all possible aste. * * * * # * Mole came back followed by eight armed men. The foremost; were Sunday and Monday. ‘Where are the thieves, sar?” demanded Mon- day. ‘Let's get at ’em,” said Sunday, pushing for- ‘““Here they are, in the tent.” _ The armed men pushed Mr. Mole on. The tent was entered and there they saw—— Young Jack and H Girdwood Vay ro on the floor washing Tinker’s face and hea with a wet towel. ie Jack!” } “Yes, sir,” answered our young hero, looking up. ees Harry!” ejaculated Mr. Mole. ‘Why, surely-— : “We've frightened .the savages away, sir,” id young Jack. ‘ You have!” exclaimed Mole; ‘there, I told} you so,” he added, turning to the men with hi sae et, would you believe it, for a moment f —to—— : ““Hikey pike wahditch and biled owl!” said oung Jac ; oe ith a wak-wallah!” added Harry Gird- wood. aoe Seeds 4 BOs ki ko liveranbaken wallah!” said young "This was too much for the audience. |. They burst into a regular yell of laughter. Mr. Mole looked very sheepish. Then very savage. I Then he thought it, best to dissemble. He knew that unless he could get out of the mess adroitly, he would never hear the last of I didn’t know ii nh thought that you had had the impudence to} Girdwood, ‘that won't do} you were in an aw- ful fright. “TI.” said Mr. Mole, loftily, ‘I should like te’ see the man that could ever boast of frightening Isaac Mole.” o we why did you bring all these people with ‘ou “Just to show them what fools you had made of yourselves ” ut stand out as he would, he could not got over it, and it was many along day before-nc; heard the last of the savages’ attack upon his diggings. CHAPTER XII. OLD JACK FALLS INTO TROUBLE—BURIED ALIVE— DESPAIR. WE must now return to Harkaway, Jefferson and Dick Harvey. i P ; In the first place we must deal with Jack Hark- away. Old Jack was the foremost of the expedition, a fact which will not by any means surprise our readers. Eats. His ambition was to rescue his old friend’s wife from the clutches of the villanous bushranger, ~ Captain Morgan, to take her back to Dick, and watch the flush of 3 ig: and of gratitude mantle his honest cheek. i ‘*T shall do it, too,” said old Jack to himself, Little did he knoW what had already takey place. Little did,he think that already Hilda was be ing cared for by that honest, but eccentric little nigger, Tinker. \ : arkaway had got a pretty correct notion of the route his friends'in advance were likely to travel, and he set out upon their track at a spanking rate. But unfortunately he veered.slightly in his — course, with a very sad result. Instead of coming up with his own’ party, he crossed the line of the bushranger’s scouts, The signal was passed from mouth to mouth, and before old Jack could realize what had oc- curred, he was toppled over by an unseen enemy and made prisoner. . Phy “Got one of you,” said a ruffian, bending over | — Harkaway; ‘‘ you will do to begin with.” Jack saw he was, for the time, trapped. < ‘What's your price to let me go?’ demanded old Jack. j The bushranger looked about him. There were too many of his companions about for him to treat on such a subject. ‘““More than you could pay, | know, You can talk to Captain Morgan about that.” id 4 Fs Captain Morgan?” “So I am his prisoner?” : i “ Yes.” f f; ' ‘* Let me see him,” ‘“Presently.” “Ts he away?” “Not far.” A “Very good. I wish to speak to him as may be.” aeard F Old Jack’s idea was that by a liberal outlay he cas ah be enabled to induce the ruffians to part with their prisoner For himself he th as Soom attention, a voice suddenly exclaimed in his ears: ; _“So-so, old friend, we meet again once a acer cave acetnch asic Indited be: way gave a ashe u “Hunston!™ oi latter Hilda. pe ought little indeed at pres ent. ; 3 While this thought was engrossing his whole — a Ne oy See ae = 7 lees Fi reels tn that You repeated of your nike savas begin my repenfance shortly.” “When?” Sas
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HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. 1a 2 ie \ ““Your good opinion, Hunston,” he said, “would be my condemnation—your condemna tion is the compliment.” 5 is made Hunston writhe. He could not subdue Harkaway’s co’ “You can brag, Jack Harkaway ” said Hun- ston, grinning with fiend-like pleasure as a hor- ribleathought crossed him; ‘‘ out I’ve got one in store for you that shall make you shake from top to toe like an aspen leaf.” arkaway did not even deign to reply. “ Dig the grave,” said Hunston, turning to the foushrangers. ‘* What! a grave?” Harkaway heard it, as it was meant he should. * But he could not believe it possible that—— No—no. This was part of Hunston’s ‘programme to make him show the white feather. But there wasn’t such an article in the Harka- way wardrobe, as old Jack’s friends had often remarked. ; i The men proceeded leisurely to dig the ve. From time to time, Hunston would watch his old foe to see if there were any symptoms of fear about him, But not a quiver of an eyelid betrayed that 9ld Jack realized what was passing. Nor did he. He knew thathe wasin peril. Instinctively he felt the gravity of his position. |; if Se cack Yet jittle didhe anticipate the fiend- ty meditated by the heartless villain whom he had forgiven forty times and more, and whose “miserable life hé hadsaved over and over in. There,” said Hunston, “ that will do. Idon’t ‘want it too deep.” AAA “Why, it will hardly cover him in,” returned one of the grave diggers. * That’s whatI want.” * How so?” 3 _.. “JT only wish to nearly cover him. Leave his ’ head a little out, so that he may not die too quick- ly, else he'll not taste all the horrors of death to ' their full extent.” Harkaway felt a little uneasy. : en he might. he words of the ruffian implied a dreadful Aeath, .. Yet he could not be mistaken. ' He was to be buried alive. ' Buried alive! ~ Does the réader: fully realize the horrible nen we 4 ' is not easy to, grapple with such a hideous _. veflection. nila og Yet this was Hunston’s determination. Harkaway, his hated enemy, the one man up- on cartlt for whom he had nurtured the bitterest enmity for a whole generation, was now in his wer, and he sho taste the bitterness of a i agering. death. . é Y eath in its most dreadful form, Slow torture. “Heatly,” said the grave di dy,” said the grave diggers, The bushrangers seized the. prisoner by the shoulders and feet, and dragged him into the newly-dug grave. : ; Brave oid Jack never uttered a word; he was _ bound hand and foot. He could not escape from the bushrangers, |’ who surrounded him on all sides. Yet he disdained to show the white feather to this heartless, graceless ruffian who had, in cold blood, condemned him to such a fate. “Now, beg your life, Jack Harkaway,” said . Hunston. oe tHe, ce ~*~ Old Jack smiled, ¢ _ A quiet, irritating smile, far more galling to his enemy than blows would have wt . . ‘* Beg your life.” i Sp i “6 Of you?” ' “Of who else Yd . “T wouldn’t be beholden to you even for that.” ; Mags tf _ _Hunston turned livid with ed to strike him, but Jack’s bol Villain lower his arm. : _ Fill in the grave.” ’ The two gravediggers obeyed orders. __A few shovelfuls of earth were thrown over _ old Jack, and then Hunston bade them hold. oh eee beg your life, Jack Harkaway, of Huns- _ No answer. | aS ‘ “an for mercy, cae Harkaway,” he said, f ent iH t, itis tr i ; et ae AY , and adyanc- look made the ; | Jefferson had ; ever, r |) Saar _ ground like lighting, ot Sek: uh} UATE fe Hunston felt rage, humiliation,disappointment, all—alt together, @ SS Nothing could subdue the valorous soul of brave Jack Harkaway. ; GA Fill in his grave quick this time,” said Huns- n. : } “* Ay—ay, let’s get it over.” The spades went to work—such spades as they had—and the unfortunate captive’s body was rapidly covered. ‘* Not over his head.” i The eagerness of this showed the villain’s in- tentions clearly enough. Slow torture! By that, was the death to which he doomed Harkaway. Where were his comrades now? Where was Harvey? Where was the bold and stalwart Jefferson? Miles and miles away from this, probably. But would Morgan and the rest of the bush- rangers approve of Hunston’s thus gratifying his own present spite, and sacrificing the interests of the gang? Surely not. * The thought had barely crossed him, when he gave a terrific cry—a yell so loud and so sudden that the ruffians commanded by Hunston fell back affrighted. “Help! To the rescue of Harkaway!” Tt echoed all around the place. But no answer came. No signs of sty ye piled on the earth, and poor old Jack gave poe f up’ for dead, but his courage was still with him. * At last, Jack Harkaway,” said Hunston, ‘‘ at first last, after waiting all these years, after going all over the world for it, Ihave achieved the one ab- sorbing idea of my life. Youaredonéfor. Die —die, good Harkaway,” he added, grinning with the intensity of his bitterness, ‘‘die like a rat in a trap, but with never a bit of cheese tonibble at —with never a chance of raving yourself free. Die, knowing that it is 1, Hunston, your old school-fellow, that doomed you to death.” Poor old Jack. “Never a word did he He gave his villanous enem look, even while despair se a proud, defiant ane CHAPTER XIIT. IN THE NICK OF TIME—JEFFERSON TO THE RESCUE —A FATAL FLIGHT—TWO TO TWELVE—ROUT OF THE BUSHRANGERS, AND DEATH OF JEFFERSON, eet HarK 1? * What is it?” “ Didn't you hear that?” * What?’ ; ‘*T could almost swear I heard a ery.” ** Fancy.” ' ¥; Perhaps,” answered Jefferson; “‘yet I thought He listened intently again, and a second ery came, fainter even than the first. : Yet it was sufliciently distinct to indicate the direction from whence itcame. ““T could swear that I heard it,” said Jefferson. with an air of conviction; ‘‘ moreover, Harvey, i feel sure that itis a familiar cry.” “ce Jack’s.” Harvey stared. © ee ‘Why, Jefferson,” he saia, “if you did really hear anything, it was so faint that you couid certainly not say what it was, even if it was a human voice.” Jefferson made some impatient rejoinder, and looked to his fire-arms. “Tam so certain of it,” he said, “that Iam going off to try to be in time.” ‘Tn time for what?” “To save him.” *“ Who?” ¥ “Jack.” Harvey looked upon his companion as mad. “Tf you hear my revolver fired twice,” said Jefferson, ‘‘come up as fast as you can, for [may want help.” “4 ; And before they could say anything more, ‘one. ae a ee off at a run, Ba soon He had passed years in the backwoods, and hi hearing was more acute than that of Dick Har- yey, or, indeed,of any ordinary hunter, and soon disappeared. |v he heard sounds co ing his cions. __ More cries, louder and more. distinct than , and the voice was now unmistakable. ‘k Harkaw: Srisvaich, for a million!” He redoubled his speed, and er > tee Pee iy: £4 ¥ a iy! id his: | ful fellows; | | But they had not been | to see such f and got over the iat lengthy he was startled by hearing a diabolical sound of trium- phant laughter. ; This was followed by a noisy demonstration, in which some half dozen voices joined. “Strangers!” exclaimed Jeiferson, in alarni; “then Harkaway is in the hands of the Philis. « tines, as I feared. What shall Ido? SignalHar- vey and the men,or—no—no, I will keep my twaz shots, for f may want them, and they mighi alarm the enemy to no good.” eae On he razf until he came to the top of a hi he] upon the further side of which a tragedy wasihe. 7 Sip Hertoroied, ie Ee here was Hunston and his mob of ruffians en. © gaged in burying poor Harkaway alive. ri ee? 7 efferson took in the scene at asingle glance. 3 f me was so close that he was within pistil, |. ot. Out came his revolvers, and taking a rapid, but yet careful aim, he let fly. Bang—bang! they went. A ery of mingled pain and surprise came from the rpg age as they looked w . ‘*Halloo, ho. Harvey !” yelled Jefferson. , And down the steep declivity he tore. “ Harvey—Harvey!” he shouted, as he ran. Piece tchaahog Courage, Jack, old boy ; here's elp.” 5, efferson,” replied Harkaway, faintly. “Right, Jack.” , Hunston turned pale at the sound. nee first impulse was. to fly; but shame stayed im. “Don’t run away,” said the men, “‘stay and fight it out.” (ey i we of the bushrangers were down with the re. But now getting in better range, Jefferson blazed away again. Down went another, howling with pain. Now we do not mean to say that they would have run away from a single enemy, but in the ‘ suddenness of Jefferson’s attack, they felt” sure _ that he was followed by a large party, and so. . they all—with the exception, ofcourse, of the three wounded men—turned and fled. © ~ Jefferson flew up to the grave, and. tore wild: ‘Yy at the earth. : : Rinks Nae It had been thrown loosely over ‘the victim and so to release him was not a very long nor u very difficult job. ; : r One:stroke of his long bowie knife loosened the thongs which bound him. ’ sh a “God bless you, Jefferson,” said Harkaway; ‘vou have saved me.” ; ‘ore Jefferson could make any reply, a loud outery from the enemy attracted their at- tention. 4 “Look out, Jack, my boy,” cried Jefferson, 2 they are coming, and we must fight. for e. “Curs!” cried one of the wounded, who was writhing upon the ground. ‘ Hight men run away from one, He is alone.” Ph ait _ The flying bushrangers did not want this infor-. mation, however. j , t The first fright over, they saw that their alarm was unn .. Back they came. “ Look out, Jack, my boy,” said Jefferson. “* All right, old friend,” ew Peat “Take this, Jack.” : 3 He thrust his pistol into Harkaway’s hand. The bushrangers came on with a rush. A shot, at close quarters, was fired from the enemy, and an involuntary cry escaped Jeffcr- son. ’ : e ee he exclaimed; ‘‘I am{hit hard. — ack. M ) , “Miscreants!” cried old Jack; “they shall pay bitterly for that.” Ne Snatching up the nearest weapon to hand—one __ of the spades which had been employed in dig- __ ing his grave—he dashed rapidly to meet the oe. : Jefferson pulled himself together, — - | “Now for it.” j UN: Nearing them, old Jack made a sudden rush forward, and firing his revolver right intothe _ thick of the rascals, then he fell upon them with _ his spade. . Ae Nis Po Two broken heads were the result of his first attack. % a Upcame Jefferson just as Hunston was reeling _ with the shock, and sigoting outhis sledge sereiaaags he grassed the traitor like a butcher _ fells an ox. F > ee The bushrangers were one and all : z, power , in a word, who could always hold their own. ut accustom bt i Paar as Jefferson and Jack Harka’ The former went in for all aroun h abandoning his pistols and knife, and there : Aes Pk or.
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# scarcely a man there present but received strik- t proofs of his prowess. n less time than it takes us to record the fact, there was not a sound pate present. He shot out at their s, and the proofs of the exactness of his aim were shown in bleeding mouths, and flattened noses, while there was gearcely an eye but what was rapidly going into | Mourning. » Nor was Harkaway idle, as you may sup- - ad spose. -He did not dispense his favors as evenly as _ Jefferson. : «--He singled out such of the ruffians as had “shown him the greatest cruelty, and he peppered them in a way that. they never forgot. “Murder!” yelled one of the most cruelly _ the brave fellow’s breast. ‘Tt was a piteous sight. used, » _* Take that!” cried Jefferson. He took it. It was not at all nice, nor would the man have taken it had he been able to do as he liked. But it was not a matter of choice. That was simply a knock on the head, which es a Lee to put an end to his tricks for many a day. Down he went, like a stone ina pond, Now while the fight was going on thus well for our friends, Jefferson and Harkaway—for they had scarcely received a scratch after Jef- ferson’s shot, of which more anon—the bold American gave a sudden cry of anguish. ant he te a * 4 unston, who was sprawling upon the ground, had dealt him a rcarnectea ae across the leg with his long knife that had severed the tendons of his knee. { But the dealer of this fatal stroke soon re- pented of it. Jefferson fell half upon him. Badly wounded though he was, he had yet strength enough left to hammer away at the ayer 9 face. ni soon the villain Hunston was battered out of all recognition. One of the friends being down, itsoon became very: hot work for the other. Poor old Jack was sorely pressed by the enemy. ; = Yet he contrived to keep them at bay pretty fairly, for he had a strong and dexterous right arm, which they one and all had learned to dread. E ‘Shoot him down!” shouted one of the villains, ““Who has got a pistol?” “T have.’ pi de arith a ed this losel arp Te follow: is a] closely. But happily the bullet pool clone to. old Jack’s ear without doing him any damage. ee inch nearer and it would have been awk- ward. Harkaway dropped on them in reply. j Ding, done, he went at the man with the istol, and his fists did not do as the bullet had ‘done. They did not whistle him, but came straight home, and made the wretched possessor ag oa pistol bitterly repent ever haying fired that ot. The first blow from old Jack’s left knocked his head completely out of the square. The man lived long after. ) But he never got over the crick in the neck which that doughty blow gave him. Old Jack was on his mettle. It was a rare sight to see him drop into those ruffians. . How it ‘would have gladdened the heart of some of his old schoolfellows, and his old college chums, too. * * * * * “Jack,” called the poor maimed Jefferson, sete for his strength was nearly spent, Harkaway heard him. But his attention was given to the three cow- -ardly villains, who were endeavoring to topple him over, and he could not even reply for the moment. , “ Jack, 1—l—lend a hand. It’s all over with \ your old friend Jefferson.” -Harkaway gave a heartrending ery. The Vie gave him a fresh energy—the en- ergy of despair, _ ashing at his adversaries, he scattered them and ran-to Jefferson. \ One of the wounded men had spitted him with a knife as the ba by side bt the ground. _ And now the life blood was ebbing fast from | - * - iY ed wf ye bd Ary perks, oD lee . Wele F TiS a has ¢ HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. the bold American’s blood, and it filled them with madn ess. He fell upon the destroyer with deep rage in his heart, and gave him no ny ‘But this act nearly cost him his own life, for the rest of the men were upon him in an instant, and he was borne to the ground and over- powered. *. * * x * Suddenly there were four or five shots fired in rapid succession. : party of armed men came down the hill at a desperate esd It was Harvey and his friends. The pat ag now reduced to three, vainly endeavored to fly. ; ; There was not a sound man amongst them, for Jefferson and old Jack had so dealt upon them that they could not get over the ground very fast. Before they could get a dozen yards, they were shot down or beaten to the ground. The victory was, after all, with our friends. But ah, at what terrible price! Harkaway had three wounds, ugly to look at, but not dangerous. j Alas for poor Jefferson! He was one mass of wounds, from head to toe. The knife and the bullet had done their work. “Harvey,” said Jefferson, faintly, ‘‘giveme something to drink, I shall choke with thirst.” A flask of brandy was placed to his lips, and he drank freely. { The ardent spirit appeared to revive him. ‘*Hah! that’s brave,” he said, speaking with evident difficulty for a minuteor two. ‘It can’t last long.” **Come—come, Jeff,” said Dick; ‘it isn’t so ved te bape ‘h,” returned the d ; ‘Tt is, thou, returne e dying man, seri- ously,“ Where's Jack?” ; “ Here, pei a fae said Harkaway. “Much dam ” asked the brave American, with a faint smile of recognition, ‘* No—no; knocked about.” ‘** But not fatal?” “*T trust not.” ‘ “Heaven be thanked!” returned “Jefferson. earnestly, ‘‘for the sake of your poor wife and your boy. Jack, old friend, I am going home fast,” he went on seriously. ‘I begin to see clearly, now, on a certain point.” “What?” . «You must leave these wild scenes. A famil, man has no right to play pitch-and-toss with his life like that. For me it is very different. I had nothing to live for, and I sha’n’t live long.” Here he smiled grimly. “Yes, you wi, you must, for all our sakes,” cried Harkaway. “NotI. I feel I am about leaving you all in this world for ever.” ** No—no.” “Yes, itis so. That lastdig was quite enough to do for me, if I hadn’t received my quantity before, which I had. But we have peppered them * 7 royally, Jack, old boy.” “We did—we did,” returned Harkaway, press- | to ing his hand. : ait “Yes, Jefferson.” ‘Give me another pull at the bottle, while you count up the field.” : Harvey obeyed. * Another drink gave the brave man renewed strength, and he awaited Harvey’s reply with apparent eagerness. ‘Eleven of them.” ‘‘ Huzzah!” cried the dying American. ‘‘That’s something. By Heaven, Jack, these vagabond bushrangers will learn to respect the name of Harkaway for evermore.” The effect cost him, dearly, and as the last word passed his lips, Jefferson sank back pale and breathless. ; “ Jack.” 7 “ Yes. ” “Dick.” * Here, Jeff.” ; i ‘Give me your hand—a hand each,” said the brave fellow, looking up into their faces. “The end is near—a few moments only, and it will be farewell.” i “« Jeff—Jeff,” exclaimed Harvey, averting his face, ‘‘ you'll break Hiner y “Don’t be a fool, Dick,” returned the dying man, changing his humor with quaint _sudden- ness. ‘‘ Don’t regret me, dear Lith Why, if I had to choose my death this ute, I conld not hit upon one half so ed to Jevosron, asa brother, and tomeitisa happiness to have fallen in saving you. God bless VouMacmine foe ee, en oe aa > se tate if lorious. I have learn- Harkaway returned his grip in silence... His heart was far too ful! for words. ** You'll have to put me in the pare they di for Jack,” he said ae to Dick Harvey, wi a sad smile. “An odd fancy, that. Good-by! Think of poor Jeff sometimes, and never regret this glorious day. I’m going to rejoin my Gear friend, Brand—poor little wagons a dear friend to me—and to go to him above, in a better and- brighter world, takes away what little bitternesr* death hasfor me. Jack, dear boy—Dick——” is yoice grew fainter; - , ' A film gathered over his eyes. He tried to speak again. ) But, diihough bis lips moved, no sound came. Tt was too late. . A faint, spasmodic quiver of the lips, and the bravest heart that ever beat was still forever. The bold Jefferson had gone to rejoin his friend, Magog Brand, in realearnest. * * * * * * Slowly—reverently they laid the dead brave fellow in the grave ready dug. The only funeral service given over him was a silent prayer and the bitter tears of his heart-- broken friends and comrades. ‘“ Warewell, dear—dear Jefferson!” wailed Harkaway. ‘‘Weshall never look upon such a friend as you again.” “Nevor,” iterated Harvey, bitterly—‘‘never!” *¢ Peace be to his ashes!” . CHAPTER XIV. MR. MOLE HAS A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE— HOW TINKER FISHED HIM OUT—A WICKED HOAX. UNEASINESS prevailed in the settlement. etd ey ad day passed by, and no news of Jack or Dick. Young Jack and his friend, Harry Girdwood, did their best to reassure Mrs. Harkaway ani the ladies generally. They were, however, far from comfortable im their own minds. Where could they be? . ; Why was there no message? F Some terrible mishap, doubtless, had oot curred. : The only person in all the settlement who ap, peared to take it less to heart than all the rest, was Tinker. ; : ; The black boy was not wanting in sympathy nor kindly instincts; but he constantly repeated that it was not so easy to get over the ground as bie f supposed. _ : ow so Hantly, did Tinker take the matter— such was his boundless confidence in hit master, old Jack, and in Jefferson, Harvey, and the resi —that he kept up his pranks, and kept the set- tlement generally in a state of commotion by one particular experiment. He rigged himself up a tent close beside Mr. Mole’s, and into this tent, in the dead of night he conveyed a pick and spade, and a variety o ols. Mr. Mole eyed that tent with distrust, for Tin- ker hadsshown him that he was an adept in the villanous art of practical joking. Still Tinker kept to his own tent, and never by any chance ventured to intrude upon Mr. Mole, eanwhile, Tinker worked as hard as a galley- slave under his own canvas. No one could guess at what, Tinker was close. “ Close as wax, sar, dis bewful, lubl sar,” he said, with a grin, to anyone whe to fathom him. Mr. Mole was uneasy. chile, tried | From Tinker’s tent came forth the mostedise —~ cordant sounds, which continually reminded poor . ; Mole of that attack upon his mine by the savages. And when he showed at the tent door, the black boy showed very evident signs of having worked very hard. Worked at what? , Mole grew more and more uneasy in his mind, ‘Was there some fresh conspiracy hatching? —__ “That beast of a black boy means mischief, 1 know,” said Mole to himsel*, repeatedly. “ Does he mean to rob me?” : j Dreadful thought. : Poor old Mole dared not leave his mine. ‘Waking or sleeping, he dare not leave it. He ate in it. re ; He drank in it, and wrapped in a thick blanket, he slept in it, and_ during his peel young J: a and "y would oo in silently, earth place a few small bits of the old brass cans 7
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HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. nated the mine, the reader must not suppose it Was an excavation of any great depth. The mine consisted of a hole some ten feet _ span, at tne bottom of which was asmaller ex- - cavation two feet m cu'cumterence, and perhaps _ ebout the same depth. Here it was, Mr Mole was convinced, lay the _ metal, which was to reward him for all he had _ suffered and undergone in the past. This was now a spot most jealously guarded _by the mine owner, who sat on the side of the pit with his teet in the hole at the bottom of it. ; “Now if I drop off to ee said the wary Mole to himself, with a chuckle, “‘ I'll defy Mas- ‘ter Tinker or any of the robbers to come and play tricks with my property, without disturb- ing me. “Ya-awh, it’s astonishing how crores feel,” said Mr. Mole, yawning. ‘I shall knock myself up, if I don’t look out—ya-awh!” * * * * * * Tinker plied pick and spade, He was always at it. And why? ‘There was a reason for it, and that reason was shortly to appear. “ Golly, ain’t I wicked?” he said to himself, as he paused in his self-set labor. ‘‘ Can’ big, naughty, spiteful lam, Yah—yah!” e stopped suddenly short in his laugh. 25 o’s dar?” us *‘Tt’s only me, Tinker,” answered a familiar voice, “* Massa Jack?” / ‘* Yes,” said our youthful hero; ‘‘and Harry’s with me.” “What you want?’ asked the black boy, run- ning up to meet him, so as ae him taking a close observation of his work. <erous ‘“ We only want to know what you are doing?” by ‘Have you found a gold mine, too?” asked i aks Tinker replied with a suppressed grin, that rumbled audibly in his inside, as though it threat- ened some volcanic eruption. : *““Massa Jack,” said Tinker, pulling a hypo- critical face, ‘ I’se awful wicked jest.” “We know that you're awful wicked, Tinker,” said Harry Girdwood. , “* Now tell us what you are after here,” said young Jack. d wee tell nobody?” said Tinker, in a whisper. 0. is os you, Massa Harry?” o—no. Thus assured, Tinker drew near to whisper to them his mysterious secret. } But the joke of the situation so tickled his fancy, that’-he couldn’t get a word out for ; ing. fon CROLL, ‘I ’spects V’se gwine to bust right up wid laughing,” he said, holding his sides. “Well, out with it, Tinker,” said young Jack, scape and let us ‘bust es with you.” Look ar,” said the black. boy, leading them into his digging. ‘Look at dis hyar fun- “Funnel? Oh, you mean tunnel,” said Harry Girdwood. ; ' SS Dats 16.7 205 “And what's that for?” “Why, dat funnel goes right away to——” _ And here he sank his voice to a whisper, and finished in young Jack’s ear, Harry heard it, too. And then these three young boys they held their sides. j at could it be? _ We shall see. * * Mr. Mole dozed. _, He yawned. Dozed again. ahi And then the unearthly sounds issuing from the next tent aroused him. “Thought I heard something,” he ,.muttered. Certainly thought I hearda noise. Very odd. Strange thinks happen to people. I’m just as if i was taking a foot bath. Ha-ha-ha?” _ The idea tickled him. _ ‘t Just like a foot bath, for all the world. Fancy , washing my wooden legs. Ha-ha!” eat eA { * * * * * _ As Mr. Mole again dozed, a singular event oc- onthe s By t ah ced b __ The ground beneath his feet was pier a Water ca. “eg Maia if Lary Cc) ro i" ig tid ae Rpt : } : _ Then there was a - ,and tly some | water oozed slowl eeeAaaes Rags | ‘ laughed until ok sound, until the hole at the bottom of-the pit was full. A foot bath. It was indeed a foot bath with a vengeance. While the wooden limbs were bathed it was all very well, but the water rose higher, until it reached his flesh. And then it struck a sudden chill to him, that caused him to rouse up with a shiver, ‘ What an extraordinary feeling!” he exclaim- ed; ‘‘just for all the world as if I was sitting in cold wat—halloo!” Hestared in utter amazement. What could it mean? The water rose higher and higher, until it cov- ered his legs and sage ap This aroused Mr. Mole thoroughly,and he gave a mighty jump out of the hole. But the water had made it slippery at the edges, and down he flopped faster than he could get up. But this time, he went. sprawling full length in the hole, only to scramble up a; spluttering and puffing. A miserably ludicrous aspect he presented, when he got up, too. And the water was stillrising. He clutched frantically at the edge of the mine, but the earth crumbled in his fingers, and down he went i ain. ‘“* Help!” he shouted. ‘‘ Help—help! Some- thing’s the matter withmy gold mine. Help— help!” ad poor Mole been less frightened, he might have heard Tinker’s triumphant laughter. ‘ ‘¢Tinker!” cried Mole, wildly, as the water arose higher and higher. ‘Tinker! Help, good. ny Tinker! come and help your ol friend ole. Tinker came running out of his tent, followed Fn Dail aie me Jack. **Oh, Lor’—oh, Lor’, Massa Jack!” cried Tink- in the greatest surprise. ‘Jes’ er, seeming] look yar, yas Massa Mole a swimmin’ like mad. “Pull me out, you young villain!” yelled Mole. ar washin’ yerself for, Massa Mole?” inquired Tinker. ole made a ‘grab upwards, but missing his hold, down he dropped again, and was covered with water. ‘** Beast!” he cried, as soon as he could get his breath. ‘Pull me ont, you young black y “Yes, sar,” answered Tinker, as coolly as if the matter was one of no urgency whatever, ‘* Wait till I get my fishing rod. ““You devil!” cried poor Mole, “I'll have you Ba oe ““Yah—yah!” laughed Tinker. “You'll suffer for this.” Tinker laughed in his Seyneredl a ay one took an elaborate double, sight at Mole, who writhed with rage and with the unpleasantness of the situation. “The water is rushing in quicker. I shall be drowned. Help me out, oh? T'll kill you!” yelled Mole, shaking his fist at him. s “Den Ino get you out,” cried Tinkér, running away. i “Tinker—Tinker!” cried Mole. ‘‘Good Tinker, do help me out.” = Tinker slowly returned. “Dat’s better,” he said, ‘‘ And now,” he added, gravely wagging his forefinger at the unfortunate gold digger, ‘‘you be good boy for the few- ser?” “Yes—yes!” gasped Mole. Den out you come.” Saying which, he let down a rope, and pulled the old gentieman out. Once free from the water, he hoisted him up, until Jack and Harry were within reach, and the Lieve drag him ap Tinker sat on the ground, laughing at the mis- erable figure old-Mole cut at that san rbietihe “Just you run up to the big house and get me a change of clothing.” . ii SE YOR, sax)? Tinker ran off, just in time to save himself from a lump of mud Mole was about to throw at him. And while he was gone, Harry and young Jack strolled around Mr. Mole’s gold and water mine, No sooner were they gone than Mr. Mole was_ seized with a fit of curiosity. - “What can that boy Tinker have been after there?” he muttered to himself, So looking about him to see that Harry and oung Jack were occupied elsewhere, he stepped into the tent and——” : “Goodness me!” There was a huge hole in the ground which almost rivalled the mine itself. “ This is a very singular thing,” said Mr. Mole, aloud. ‘‘Niggers and monkeys are almost kin- dred. This Aa Sa has been seized with a fit of imitation. He’s been digging because I’ve been digging.” He drew nearer. The excavation which Tinker had so labored at went in a slanting direction so as to reach, at the bottom, the depths of Mr. Mole’s celebrated mine, This was a very singular fact to Mr. Mole. “There’s something in that,” muttered the old Na seeker to himself. ‘‘Some deep villany. ~ hy, what can this be?” ng A pipe. _ Aniron pipe, and fitted into the top of it an immense funnel which seemed to indieate that it - had been used as a water pipe. Mole staggered back and looked about the tent, when his eyes dropped onto a big tub of water, half sunk in the ground, close by ie dha and funnel, but which had been momen concealed from view by a mound of the thrown up out of the tunnel. “There’s something in this more than meets — the eye,” said Mr: Mole, to himself. ‘That tub is to supply the water which is poured down the pipe by means of the funnel. That is clear panes But where the deuce does this water- pipe a to? Where? Unless into’ my gold - mine j s It flashed across him at once. And as the trick dawned upon his startled im- _ ogi ination, he pause el tips md beds = which express his utter and in ation. othe little black beast!” (i Z As this epithet escaped him, he heard the voica of Tinker, pean ‘‘ Where am de ole water Mole?” “Come along, Tinker,” cried young Jack, ~ ‘* What a long time you have been.” “De lubly Missie Mole wouldn’t gib me de Mole’s fings.” “Little beast,” muttered Mole, under hig breath, “T'll ‘fings’ you.” By this the irate old gentleman meant to con= vey a novel form of punishment which Tinker was very far from expecting. He quietly dipped a pail of water from the tub _ and waited. Crouched np behind Tinker’s own tent. olding Tinker’s own pail of water. ‘“Where is Massa Mole?” f * ep he there?’ demanded Harry Girdw: 0. : “Look areund.” ; “He ain’t dere, by golly,” said Tinker. “ And T’se got such gollopshus bewful close for him, all dry and warm—ha, ooh!” ; e latter ejaculation was elicited by the sud- den dashing of the bucket of water from behind the tent into the young darkey’s face. ; “Take that, and that,” cried Mole, rushing out and giving the surprised Tinker a vicious thump i- :|\with the now empty bucket; ‘‘ undermine me, CHAPTER XV. MR. MOLE ‘MAKES AN AWFUL DISCOVERY—THE TEST OF THE GOLD AND THE EXTINGUISHER NUGGET, ““Wuy, however did the accident happen, sir?” asked Harry Girdwood. ; ‘“‘T struck on aspring, Isuppose,” replied Mole. The three boys exchanged significant looks. ‘*No doubt, sir.” j “Good lot of springs, Massa Mole,” said Tink- rit, Yar si \ \ re a almost think so »igatal Mr. Mole, j shakin the wet off his here, Tinker.” i 4 A oe hair and face; “now, look ? piglet t eal Lt ahd, Patty. filets nn, ee ee. | bounding about like an india-rubber ball. will you? Flood my property? Make a water mole of me, and try to drown me, will you? Take that, and that.’ And at each word he laid it on pretty hard. Tinker scrambled up when the first surprise was over, and bolted off to a safe distance, “Ugly ole man, with pig legs,” cried the smarting Tinker, taking a sigh’ ; This aggravated Mole again, and around he went after him at a dashing rate. i But Tinker was an awkward customer to try on a race with, for he dodged and doubled in a way that would have surprised the most active eople. a e was here, there, and everywhere in a iff Presently he was down. warty Sic gi
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HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. “T have you now,” exclaimed Mole. No. Mr. Mole had not got Tinker, for that active black youth nimbly rolled aside and was on his feet in an instant. Then he waited until the old gentleman was close upon him, and bolted off just as the. other thought he had him in his clutches. At length, Mr. Mole, fairly pumped out, was obliged to sit down and pant for breath. ‘* Do you hear, sir?” bid Yes, sar. Dis chile hear bewful, only he don’t ¢ome. Threats being of no avail, Mr. Mole called for assistance to young Jack and his companion, who stood near enjoying the scene. ‘Bring me my dry clothes, Jack, my boy.” “ Can't, sir.” “ Why a) “They’re wet.” ‘Why, you don’t mean to say that that beast ef a bo ‘Not a beast, sir,” replied Jack. ‘‘ You wet- ted them yourself when you doused the water over that rude Tinker.” Mole groaned. “T shall catch the lumbago, and ticdoloreux, and sciatica, and all the rest of it,” he an- “swered. é ‘Yes, sar,” grinned Tinker, “you get de tic- bago an’ de asiatica, an’ all de family of dem tic tin, ‘*Yah—yah! dat’s me, sar,” responded Tinker, r eerfully. Mr. Mole tried threats and denunciations until he saw that it was of no avail. And then he returned to coaxing, and in this way was happily more successful. _ Tinker was induced to make a second. journe te the house for more garments, and so Mr, Mole 9% a dry rig-out, * * * * * “My opinion is,” said Mr. Mole, dubiously, **that you are all in this job.” Young Jack and Harry Girdwood protested their innocence; but protested in vain. “T wouldn’t believe you on oath,” said Mr. Mole; ‘‘ not either of you, but I'll tell you what. Tl look over it all on two conditions.” ‘“What are they, sir?” “Firstly, that you help me undo the mischief you have caused. “ And next?” “That when water, you don bod y. This they willingly agreed to. They set to work with a will, and it was avery short job. . The water sank into the earth when they had got a bucket or two of it out. a that it was all but a matter of a few hours’ work. When the mine was clear, they set to work digging with Mr, Mole, and strange to relate, they had not been long at: work when they came to some very remarkable results. Young Jack was digging Na ai at a new part on the higher ground, when Mr. Mole caught sight of something glittering in a shovelful of varth that the boy had turned over. sch ag ; 6 pounced eagerly upon it. st A nugget!” rit actte “Never!” ‘* It is—it is!” cried Mr. Mole, joyously. He nabbed off the earth sticking to the metal- ' lic objéct of his excitement, and then revealed ve nugget, which was of the most curious ape you have helped me draw off the t mention a word of this to any- It_was a eone and hollow. “Why, bless me,” said the excitable mine- owner, with a puzzled air; “it looks for all the world like an extinguisher!” _ The boys could no longer contain themselves. ps Drips explosion followed; they burst into a yell of laughter that might have been heard in the settlement hard by. _ Mole looked up. What. could it mean? i A dreadful suspicion flashed across his mind as - he fell to rubbing furiously at this newly-dis- covered nugget. i **Tt is—it is!” he cried, in despair, ‘‘ a brass ex- tinguisher. ” “Tubly gold, dat sar. Tinker glad to turn water mole to get such lubly gold.” ** You—you—you——” He had exhausted his vocabulary of abuse, and could not think of any name vile enough for ne Bewful gol dat ’stinguish “Bewful, gollopshus nugget. stinguisher, Massa Mole.” Vt sal Mole groaned. He said never a word, but scrambled out of the diggings and went into his tent, where the bag of small nuggets was hidden. ragging it out, he applied the tests—it is strange that he should not have thought of it be- fore, but he had had no suspicions of trickery— and it all proved to be like the extinguisher. pamidlonick gold, melted down by Jack and arry. His anguish on pie this discovery could only find vent in one word: * Sold!” He was. “It’s a robbery, too,” he exclaimed in his in- dignation; ‘‘ an infamous conspiracy and a rob- bery—those boys were init. Dll have them all trounced—Harkaway shall know of it.” He paused. If Harkaway knew of it, the tale would fly all over the settlement, and he would not dare to show his face for months. When he reflected, he felt rather ashamed of the greed of gain that he had shown in his pur- chase of the mine. : He knew that he had been chuckling over the way in which he had got such a grand Moni baa out of those two unsophisticated darkeys, Sun- day and Monday—at least he thought—and_he knew that on that ground he was not justified in making it a ground of serious complaint. But he could not swallow the transaction, “Listen to me, you boys,” he said, severely, “We'’se listenin’, sar,’ responded Tinker, Laicacn iy ia I didn’t speak to you,” retorted Mr. Mole, ‘No, sar; dis lubly chile spoke to you, sar.” “ Hold your tongue.” ‘Bress my hart,” said Tinker, ‘‘ain’t Massa Mole in a immense cantankerousebig temper? Yah, Tinker run and fetch some rum to mix wid de water Massa Mole swallowed, yah—yah!” “You have been joining in a swindle,” said Mr. Mole, not deigning to notice the irrepressi- ble Tinker. ‘‘That’s just what your practical joking has led you into.” ‘A swindle?” “Yes.” “ But you haven’t read Monday’s letter.” “What letter?” and looked eagerly about him, } ; There it is.” ‘Yes, thete it was; a big white paper, pinned with a wooden skewer to the canvas wall of the tent in a prominent pies enough, but one which had hitherto escaped Mr. Mole’s attention. ‘DEAR BRuppER MoLE: ‘You wanted to buy a gold mine for nuffin or thereabout, and so you was sold yesself. I carn’t rob my own relashin, an’ so I return your money, less the price of the candlestick. An’ we don’t charge nuffin for de amusation [proba- bly the writer meant ‘amusement’] that we have give you, brudder Mole, nor nuffin for this bew- ul moral lesson agin greed of gold. Sono more jes’ at presenk from your own brudder, ‘“CmsarR HANNIBAL A. JX, ‘Common known as Sunday.” “Done for!” groaned Mole, as he concluded this singalar composition. . Yes, sar, done brown, not black, sar.” Tinker was there at the entrance to the tent, nodding and grinning. “Done for, Massa Mole, sar. Done for bewful luscious brown, Yes, sar.” Pies Mole used a naughty word, and rushed at im. But Tinker was off. And when be got out he saw young Jack, Harry Girdwood and Tinker, stepping out to- wards the settlement at a smart pace. “ Ha—ha—ha!” The laughter of those mirth-loving young prac- tical phe rang in his ears, and caused him the most Ol apprehensions, i ‘Tt willnever do to let them carry that tale to the settlement,” said Mr. Mole; ‘‘I shall never hear the last of it. Ihad much better compro- mise the matter with them. Join in the laugh at ui, own expense. Ugh!” his was a pill to swallow; but he got it down as best he could, and made up his mind promptly. * * * * * * ‘Here he comes.” “Mole?” “ Yes. ” “Shall we run?” “Yes, sar,” responded Tinker. “ Dis bewful , infant means to bolt.” “ Stop a bit,” said Harry Girdwood, looking back; ‘* whatever is he after now?” They turned around, and saw Mr. Mole com- ing along as fast as he could stump it, and wav- ing a white pocket-handkerchief at them as he came. ‘A flag of truce, by the living jingo!” ex- claimed Jack. / ‘So it is.” “He's afraid of the chaff.” “T’se gwine!” cried Tinker. ‘Me not let him catch dis nice infant.” ‘“Stop—stop!” But Tinker was not to be coaxed into this. He had not got the same faith in a flag of truce as his more civilized companions, and he was al- ready back in the settlement with Sunday and Monday, while Mr. Mole came on chatting with the two boys, making the best of his misfortune. CHAPTER XVI. MOLE LEADS A RELIEF PARTY IN SEARCH OF OLB JACK, WHEN the settlement was reached, there was a discussion going forward which turned them all from gay to grave at once. Bad news had arrived about the absent friends, A messenger had come in from Harkaway, an- nouneing the unfortunate death of the brave Jefferson. Sunday and Monday were holding a meeting with several of the most trustworthy of the set- tlers, and volunteers were invited to join a re- lief party. i ' Young Jack and his brave companion, Harry, would fain have fore with the Party, but this could not be entertained for a moment. Somebody must remain to guard the settle: ment, for it was just possible that the bushrang- ers, who were known to be very numerous, would discover the comparative weakness of the place, if a sufficient guard were not kept. In that case, in all probability, they would make a descent upon them, and take them by surprise. _As Tinker—whose advice, although couched in his own peculiar phraseology, was invaluable now—explained to them, the bushrangers knew the country so much better than the settlers did, that it would be Seen ential easy for Morgan to detach a party and send them down upon the unprotected people at home, } ‘hey ca aa of men for the service. “Somebody must command here,” said Mr, ole. The old gentleman quite forgot his little private grievances in this state of affairs. ‘Of course,” said Harry Girdwood; ‘there must be a leader that we can all look up to.” _ ‘““What do you say to Mr. Mole?” suggested one of the men. : ’ “Not I,” returned Mole; “I am going after our dear friends, to see if I can take one lite for poor Jefferson’s.” “You ‘are going with the volunteers?” said Harry. iad es,” “You must not, sir,” said young Jack. , “T shall!” His voice and manner showed a degree of firmness to which they had not been accustomed. And, indeed, do what they would to move him, it was of no avail. He was as firm asa rock. Allhis old eccentricities of character seemed to — vanish before the alarming state of things which the messenger of ill had brought them. : _ ‘Well, then,” said one of the settlers, ‘who | is to be named leader here while you are all away?” “Let us vote” “ Good ” “T propose that Jack Harkaway, junior, shall be nominated,” said Mr. Mole. ‘‘He’s very young for the post, you may say, but he is a worthy son of a worthy father, and when not at his monkey tricks, he has his head screwed gn the right way.” Pats ¢ : Tt was put to the vote, and carried unanimous y- ; / fi
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Mr. Mele needed no better revenge than this if | HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. “Yes, captain,” replied his informant, ‘six P of. ” he could only have thought #, but his mind was that we know of. full of more serious mattezz,for the generous vur hero feel very uncomfortable over his share in their little wickedness of the gold-mine hoax. * * * * ae *% * And now we're off,” said Mr. Mole, shoulder- ing his rifle. ‘ Already?” “No time like the present,” replied the old entleman; ‘besides, who knows what is going mnow? Who can say what sort of a fix our ear boys are in?” + “On we go,” said the volunteers, eagerly. “Keep a careful watch, Jack.” ee any sir.” : a ‘ “Mind your sentries are posted everywhere, und frequently relieved.” ie ‘‘ Trust me, sir.” *T do, my boy, I do,” said Mr. Mole, shaking his hand warmly. “God bless you. Right about face, quick—march!” And off they marched, the remaining settlers sending a ringing cheer after them to help them on their way. CHAPTER XvVil. HUNSTON’S PUNISHMENT—HIS COMRADES JUDGE AND CONDEMN HIM—THE EXECUTION, HuwstTon was badly hurt in the fatal fight. But not dead. As he lay stretched upon the ground surround- ed by the dead and dying, he dare not move hand or foot lest they should revenge upon him the death of Jefferson. But when the triumphant enemy had moved a little way off to _pay the last sad tribute of re- spect to their lion-hearted dead, Hunston con- trived to crawl into the low brushwood and hide Here he lay, a prey to the most violent anguish of his wound, and devoured by fever. He would have given anything for one drop of water. Hour after hour, he lay there parched—chok- ing.) ya when some hours had thus gone by, his sufferings, instead of diminishing, were terribly increased by the anguish of his arm. The mechanical limb seemed like a ton weight a i spon him. , And up that shoulder shot sharp burning ee that made him cry out in spite of himself, so eruelly poignant were his sufferings. He Yrtod to free himself from ‘the arm, but vainly. tia Whether it was that in his agony he did not go to work in the right way, or whether from weak- hess or the confined space in which he lay con- vealed, he could not move it. The old superstitious feeling came back. He felt that the murdered merson’s legacy of hate was at last dragging him down. “Tt’s all over now,” muttered the guilty man, hoarsely; ‘‘ all over, and Emmerson will not be fleceived; he must have his hand in my last hgonies. Oh, if I could but drag it off—ugh!” A fearful groan escaped him, and he sank back half lifeless. He remained in a state of semi-stupor for half _ an hour or more, and as his consciousness came back, his pains returned with more than their former force. **T was a fool to hide away,” he murmured. Tf IT had remained in sight, they would have finished me off, and I shouldn’t be now dying a death of torture. Oh, thatsome one would come and put the finishing stroke to me now.” Barely were the words uttered when he heard the sound of voices near at hand. Familiar voices, too. ‘“‘There’s the spot, Captain Morgan; and see here, captain.” Tt was one of the men who had taken part In the late encounter with Harkaway and his Penne only one who had got off comparatively ee. \ This man had fled in good time, and comin, by accident across Captain Morgan, had relate the fact in the most favorable light for him- self. He had run away, according to his own ac- count, simply because he was not sure whether ‘unston was acting under orders or not. This hit Captain Morgan on his tender side. He was a strict disciplinarian, and most jeal- ous of his authority being usurped by any- one. .« | _ © What!” exclaimed the notorious bushranger, _ “six men killed outright?” / ; Goris ar \ 4 ae ‘‘T wish we had only got Master Hunston sulpr ee pronounced by the old gentleman made here,” said Morgan, bitterly; ““he should not have much chance of taking such a job upon himself again.” Hunston heard every word of this quite dis- bar “ He can't have got far, captain.” ‘Why not?” “He was badly hurt.” ‘So much the better.” Hunston winced. There was not much hope or comfort in this for him. “Call your men, Barker,” said Morgan, “and let them Jook after this Hunston.” The bushranger’s men were summoned, and then an active search for Hunston began. They were not long in routing him out, and he was brought before Morgan to be tried and answer for the calamity he had caused. “Now,” said Morgan, ‘‘ what have you to say for yourself?’ “Only this,” replied Hunston faintly, for he was exhausted with his sufferings; “‘I have lost my life in fi hting in your cause.” ‘That's false,” retorted Morgan. ‘You sacrificed my men in trying to gratify your own private spite.” ** And yours.” ‘* My atfairs had no place in your mind,” said Morgan, sternly, ‘‘and you know it.” ‘““Haven’t I paid the penalty for it?” said Hun- ston. ‘‘I am done for.” “Not yet, but kag may be. Hark you, my men, this fellow has come amongst us to sacri- fice the lives of our comrades for his own pur- oses. He tried to torture a man to death. Now, arkaway is no friend of ours.” “* No—no.” ‘*True, he is not, but we are men, not canni- bals or wild Indians. We can kill our enemies in fair fight, but not bury them alive.” “ae N no.” ‘What shall we do to him for this?” said Mor- an. ‘‘What can we do to him for causing the eaths of so many of our best and bravest com- rades?” No auswer came. “Speak,” The men were still silent, and Hunston began feebly to hope. “Ts Henging too good for him? It is, but we must show him more mercy than he would show to his enemies. Who has the rope? One was speedily brought. Hunston never said a word, A sickening dread had fallen upon him, but he knew well that no ‘appeals for mercy would be entertained by these men. He merited none. One end of the rope was cast over the branch of a tree, and a noose was made in it. The arms of the condemned man were fastened behind him. The noose was placed around his neck. A slight tremor of the neck was perceptible as the fatal cord touched his flesh, but he said noth- ing. ‘ A dull, settled lodk was upon his face, and strange to relate, at this awful moment, he had quite forgotten the present, and was back in the ast. 4 All the events of his old life passed in rapid succession before his eyes, a pang after pang of regret shot through his hardened heart. “Have you anything to say?’ demanded the bushranger. No reply. _ “Sulky, are you?” said Morgan, brutally. “We'll cure that for you. Pull away, lads.” wae next moment Hunston was dangling in e.air. CHAPTER XVIII. MEETING WITH HARKAWAY’S PARTY—THE SCOUTS AND THEIR NEWS—A BRUSH WITH THE BUSH- RANGERS—HOT WORK—HOW MOLE KEPT HIS ENGAGEMENT. Mo Le’s party made forced marches until they came up with Harkaway and the rest of them. We pass over the warm greetings which were exchanged—the eager inquiries that went for- ward on either side. : “T'm very glad to see you, old friend,” said Harkaway to Mr. Mole, “ but yet sorry that you sr have ventured out on such an adventure as this. ered self.” dear Harkaway,” replied his old tutor, Mole knows how to take care of him- “Of course.” “He flatters himself that he never shrinks from work when a friend is in danger,” said Mr. Mole, with a touch of his old dignity, ‘“but I hope to show- you, Harvey, that I have yet some ' steam left in me.” “‘T don’t doubt it for a moment, sir,” said Har- ‘Tm afraid you do.” “* No—no.” ‘You wouldn’t be here, sir,” said Harkaway, “if you hadn’t got as much of the old fire in you as ever.” / This gratified Mr. Mole more than anything. While they were engaged in this conversation, there was a wild “whoop” or cry, and a black man, dresged in a smal pocket-handkerchief only, bounded up to the spot. r. Mole jumped back, “ What's this?” “Tt is Wangi,a scout we have engaged,” re- plied Harkaway. ‘He knows Tinker, and all yy’ about Morgan and his men.” ; “Ts he reliable?” asked the cautious Mole, “ Quite.” Wangi was a bright specimen of an ugly race, and he was full of intelligence. They had come across him just at the right moment, for the bushrangers had been ill- treating the unfortunate fellow, and he was smarting under a sense of injury, both physical and moral. He had been so kindly used by the Harkaway that he was eager to render them every possible service. . “Well, Wangi,” said old Jack, ‘what have you discovered this time?” ‘‘Morgan warrior close,” replied the scout, inting to the direction he had come from. ‘How far?” **Close—so close.” “The deuce he is. Are they in force—many warriors there with him?” “ Four—six—ten.” 3 “Yes. ‘« And Morgan, that makes eleven.” 4 “Morgan can count for three,” said Dick; ‘he’s quite as good as three of the others.” “ Quite. ” *¢ Then Morgan, the my ae care,” sai Harkaway Wopgis it over seriously a while. “Yes,” he said, with an air of resolution, ‘let us goon; we must exterminate these mis creants.” : Ss Mole, pompously. had caught one of the Harkaway party, and were about to make short work of him. “You are wrong there,” replied Harkaway, ‘¢we are all here present.” The scout explained that it was at any rate an enemy of theirs, and a white man—hence his reason for presuming it to be a member of the Harkaway expedition. ‘* Perhaps it is one of Morgan’s band.” ““No friend—no bushranger,” said Wangi, with a positive air. ‘*Catchee—catchee——” ‘Oh, they caught him, did they?” sh ; all bad—so bad.” What, wounded?” » ; Yes. ” “Yes. In the “ “ “This is very strange,” said Harkaway; “‘let us hurry forward.” ‘ / “There’s some ugliness going forward,” said Harvey, ‘“‘and we are bound to be in it.” “ And as for this Captain Morgan,” said Mr. Mole, with a swagger, ‘‘let him look out.” ave | bushranger, shall k, . The scout now explained that the bushrangers - “They hurried forward, and after a rapid ~ march, the scouts came running back with warning gestures. ‘« They are hanging a man,” said one. i aE ejaculated Harkaway. “Yes. “Do you know their unfortunate victim?” “No. “Ts Morgan there?” bios “Yes,” replied the scout, ‘‘and a big, foreign- looking fellow, who must be the Italian brigand cha) 1 have heard so much about.” The bushrangers were taken by surprise. Then a stampede occurred, asi Morgan’s yoice was heard in fierce tones. - “You white-livered scoundrels,” he cried. 4 ~~». = J “A
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20 HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. turning around indignantly, for he found him- self alone in the open. He saw the enemy coming down neon him in all directions, and he never attempted. to move, but boldly faced them. ; This example was soon followed by his men in very shame; back they came to the support of their chief. There was a momentary pause, and the bush- ste a chief was the first of his party to break ground. | He cocked his rifle, and bringing it be to his shoulder, was just upon the point of deliverim, his fire, when Mr.,Mole stumped forward an hurled his hat at him. Itserved the purpose of putting him off his aim. Else Dick Harvey would not have lived to join further in the encounter, for the bushranger’s aim was deadly, and he meant the shot for Dick. Now, while they were variously engaged thus, Harkaway rushed to the tree where the wretch- “al Hunston was dangling, and cut down the iy. At the self-same instant a shot was fired which entered the right breast of Hunston. At the same time, Captain Morgan made a rush at his assailant—Mr, Mole—and being as ac- tive as he was vigorous, he soon toppled the old man over. Mole was awfully frightened: but he clutched his rifle tenaciously, and syangine it around his head, he brought it down with tremendous force on Morgan’s arm, : The next moment Mole pulled the trigger, and then fell backwards. “Bang!” At the self-same instant, the bushranger chief- tain was heard to groan, and clapping his hand ay a his chest, he staggered and fell. ead} Yes, the redoubtable bushranger, Captain Mor- gan, was dead. } And his conqueror was Isaac Mole. ‘ _—— 4 CHAPTER XIX. SUNDAY’S LAST STRUGGLE WITH TORO—VICTORY. W Max. Mouz soon realized the fact of his victory, and he was not slow to take advantage of it, for he was not the man to lose a bit of any possible ‘glory in such a stroke. ‘‘ Behold, I haye finished Captain Morgan!” he cried, as he got up from the ground; ‘‘now smite the rest of the villains—smite ’em, hip an’ thigh; charge!” There was a cheer from thesettlers. | The bushrangers turned -tail on seeing their leader fall, and fled precipitately, just as Toro appeared on the scene. |mering away at Harvey,” cried Harkaway, holding Hunston. in his arms, ‘look at this wreck of a man. Wan- gi,” he added, to the scout, ‘‘ bring me some rg He is not dead; he has only fainted, I think. : With infinite pains they brought Hunston to consciousness. At, And while Harkaway held his old enemy in his arms, Harvey, Mole and Monday followed 'the defeated bushrangers closeiy up. A eur panic had seized upon them, and they fled madly. ‘In vain did Toro endeavor to rally them. The Italian bully, with all his many defects was no coward, and he was wild with rage and disappointment at their ignominious flight. “Stop, cowards!” he cried; “‘stop—stand and face them!” On they fled—faster than ever. “Curse your white livers!” he cried; ‘‘go then and leave me. If you areafraid, lamnot. Vl show you how a brave man face his enemies.” ao heroic speech had no effect whatever upon em. They increased their speed and disappeared. Toro launched one finalcurse after them and turned to face the foe. On came the Englishmen, and with them the two darkeys, Sunday and Monday. “Don’t fire,” cried Dick, who could not help admiring the boldness of the Italian ruffian. » ‘We sha’n’t take him alive,” said Monday. “T know it,” returned Harvey; ‘‘ but give him a chance, as we are four toone. Leave him to e. _ No,” cried Monday; ‘he shall be my job.” © “Never.” ; _. “Tt shall be no one’s job but mine,” said Sun- - day, with a dash of firmness and dignity in his d felt ground down by the at his victory. 2 teh onesies 3 te See bondage of slavery; but I have learnt since then to feel like a man, and I will see to him now; so stand back.” And then, before they could offer a word of remonstrance or objection, the sturdy negro rushed forward alone. } Now, Sunday had nothing better to help. him in his encounter with so redoubtable an antagon- ist than a short dagger-knife and stout heart. But he never quailed an instant. “Tse come to fetch you, Toro,” said the darkey, boldly; ‘‘so-give in quietly.” Toro made no reply. The audacity annoyed him, So much so, in fact, that he was in a measure taken by surprise when the bold darkey leaped upon him, knife in hand. “Take dat.” Toro got it. The knife had only about five inches of blade, but the Italian got it all, up to the very hilt, in his shoulder. With a cry of rage and pain, the Italian closed with his adversary, and grabbed at the knife, But Sunday was ready. Ab erage the knife away with his whole force, he severed the fingers of Toro’s right hand, and jabbed away again viciously. This second blow took effeet in his cheek, in- flicting a hideous-looking wound, which was not, however, so serious as the former blow. Toro shook himself free, and swinging around his brawny arm, he dealt the luckless negro a terrific blow which floored him. The spectators gavea cry of alarm at this, Their man was done for. | The Italian fell upon him with his whole weight, half crushing the luckless black. But what Sunday wanted instrength, was fully compensated for in extra activity, and he grap- pled eagerly with the foe, ; A desperate and fatal struggle ensued, ; Over and over they valle the Italian ham- tees Sunday’s head in a way that threatened to batter his skull in. But a negro’s skull is proverbially thick. Sunday’s was no exception to the rule. He took his punishment without any epclatree noise, never attempting to dodge a blow, but giving his sole attention to that ugly little nile. And as they rolled over, he stabbed and stab- bed again with such a fierce energy, that the Ttalian’s huge body was a mass of wounds. At length, Toro seized the unhappy Sunday with his left hand, and holding him momentarily at arm’s length, he dealt him one slaughtering stroke that sent him lifeless to the earth. But this was Toro’s final effort, and almost at 4 the same moment, he shook all over and fell |i across his lifeless antagonist with a dull, hollow groan. | Harvey rushed forward to raise the negro. but first they had to drag the giant Italian off Toro offered no resistance now. He slid through their hands to the ground, and as he lay on his back, he looked towards the life- less negro with a sickly smile of triumph, and so his features grew rigid with the horrible look upon them. “ He’s dead,” exclaimed Mole, in an awe-strick- en tone. 1 It was true. The redoubtable brigand Toro had seen his last skirmish. } He would never trouble any one of his enemies cane * * * * Ao * ** Poor Sunday!” ‘“‘He’s only swooning.” “T fear not.” Sunday showed that the latter speaker’s fear was justified, for as the words were spoken, he opened his eyes. “ Whar’s de big beast?” “Hush, Sunday,” said Mr. Mole; ‘‘it’sall over. Tho wretched, misguided creature is dead.” “And a good thing too—serve him right,” re- sponded meen heartily. ‘ He scrambled on to his feet, but be was what fighting men know as ‘‘ groggy,” and could hard- ly keep up. His head was swollen to twice its ordinary dimensions, and his body was’ knocked into a jelly. . Vet the stout-hearted darkey never thought of his own hurts when he looked at his stalwart cayenne, lately so full of life and vigor, now stiffening in death. They were old enemies, and Sunday, although not brutal by nature, i (Fa I ; could not help chuckling CHAPTER XX. HUNSTON’S LAST MOMENTS—HARKAWAY’S GENER- OSITY—SAD MEMORIES AND BITTER REGRETS— EMMERSON IS AVENGED AT LAST—THE LEGEND ON THE MECHANICAL ARM IS FULFILLED—THE DEATH OF HUNSTON. “Hunston, come, look up, man.” Hunston opened his eyes, and looked wildly about him. ‘* Where am I?” “Here, with Harkaway,your old school-fellow, Jack. Say, how is it with you now?” Hunston puaiced upwards, and his eyes rested upon his old schoolfellow and college chum, the man he had so cruelly wronged and plotted against throughout his misspent career. zs Is it you, Harkaway, or do my eyes deceive mes \ “No,” replied old Jack, sadly, ‘‘I am here, . Hunston, here with you to help you, old fellow, | if I can.’ Hunston’s head was resting upon Harkaway’s knee, but he could not believe that this was a proof of his old enemy’s forgiveness, His evil nature could not comprehend such no- bleness of heart. ‘‘Tam in your power, Harkaway,” he said, “ but not for long—no, not for long.’ “Hush!” said old Jack, ‘‘ Don’t talk like that now. ‘Tell me what I can do for you.” “Do for me?’ repeated Hunston, vaguely. ‘‘ Nothing; they have done for me without your assistance this time. No—no, nothing, Emmer- son has done it.” And he pressed his shoulder above the me- chanical arm. . “mmerson?” said Harkaway. “ Yes. ” ‘“What mean you?” “His legacy has avenged Hunston. ‘I feel the sib through my veins. Nothing could save me. Sooner or later Robert Emmerson was to be avenged, I have escaped the knife, the bullet and the oe I could laugh at them all, for I knew that I bore a charmed life, and that noth- ing could touch me—nothing but Robert Emmer- son. His cursed skill has done for me, and it has baffled the greatest doctors, one and all. The le- end on the arm is fulfilled. Iam paying the orfeit of a life’s misdeeds, but not to you, Hark- away, not to you; it isthe poison in the arm.” The look upon the wretched man’s face told such a piteous tale, that Harkaway turned his head away, visibly affected. ‘** You have got the best of it, Harkaway,” r= sued the dying man, ing now with evident difficulty; ‘‘ but the wretched glory of conquer- oe poor outcast like me doesn’t belong to you; it belongs co the dead and gone—to Robert Em- merson, not to Morgan, either. “You'll look after Morgan, Harkaway?” hen one upon whom death had already set a“ sa talked in this strain, it was inexpressibly shocking. Harkaway turned _his head away and sighed “You can spare Morgan your enmity now Hunston,” he said, seriously. AD “Wh 9” . a gone before you.” “Dead?” “Yes,” “You are deceiviug me,” said the dying man, igre “Why should I? I tell you pega has al ready paid the forfeit of his crimes. He isdead.” Hunston’s eyes sparkled with evident satisfac, tion at this intelligence. “That's brave news,” he said, ‘TI shall cheat ‘ou all—Morgan—you—all—all but Emmerson. e is not to be baulked. I feel the deadly influ- — ence of his work stealing around -my heart, and crushing the life out of me slowly—slowly, but, ah, how surely!” ; His voice grew fainter yet, and Harkaway moistened his lips with the water that Wangi had brought. ; This gentle action evidently surprised the suf- him,” responded tle poison coursing fering man. “‘Come—come, Hunston,” said Harkaway, in a kind voice, “‘tellme if there is anything that I ean do for you?” . “You are mocking me,” said the dying man. “Not I, by heaven!” | / “Ts it indeed possible, Harkaway, that you can forgive ae a guilty wretch as lam?—that, — you can pardon all the evil I have wrought — against you and yours?” , eit “Tcan,”\returned Harkaway, ‘‘I can and do, — ane a Hit, “Do you forgive my last act of cruelty?” “T do;don’t speak of it,” said Harkaway,gent- i vie + Mi atl " D ye sk Let ogee!
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“You are the most wonderful of men,” fal- tered Hunston; ‘too good, too noble-minded for a base nature like mine to understand. Ah, Harkaway, what a different being I might have been had I been able to resist my evil instincts asa boy. Contact with you should have elevat- ed me, and brought me to something better than this. But no, it seemed only totend to the very opposite direction. The better you were, the more generous and forgiving, the viler and baser I became. “Oh, Jack—Jack!” he exclaimed, in bitter re- morse; ‘‘ oh, if I could only wake up to find that it had all been a dream! But no—no, Jack,death is stealing around me now, and will not this time be shook away.” And then a sudden change came over his face. “Jack, I am thinking now of our school days! Ah, Jack, if those times could come again, how different I would act to you and yours!” He held out his hand to Harkaway. *Jack—I must call you Jack, now—hold my head higher, Jaek—there.” His voice grew fainter and fainter. “Will your wife forgive me?’ he murmur- ed. e ‘ Yes—yes,” “And your boy, and Dick Harvey, and Mr. Mole?” ** All—all, Nae freely,” returned Harka- HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. Then came a + shout. “*Down with Mole!” ? “Ohb,, Lor’! oh, Lor’!” exclaimed poor old Mole; ‘‘ where shall I get to?” It was royal fun to see him stum fact, you could hardly understand over the ground at such a rate. And as he disappeared, Tinker came out of the cover, followed by Sunday and Monday. “‘Gollopshus great big lark!” said Tinker, hold- ing his sides, and grinning. “ Ha-ha-ha!” ‘* But the point is,” said Rook, * that the bush- rangers are by no means exterminated.” ‘Ay, but the one or two that yet remain are dispersed, and will never gather together again about this part of the country.” “There’s the rub,” said Rook. ‘I’m told that five of the leadiag men after Captain Morgan are encamped up at the creek yonder.” j “ Never. ? “Tt is true.” ‘Do you think they mean mischief, then?” “Undoubtedly; they are by no means so de- moralized as Mr. Mole would ‘make us believe.” ‘Me know whar to find de beggars, sar,” said Tinker. “You do?” «And could lead us there.” ‘« Believe yan, my boy,” responded Tinker; “walk up behind ’em, too; take immense dam bi salt box, sar, and put a pinch on dere br Ss. away; in ow he got way, much affecte “Bless you for those words of comfort! J—| tail pay my debt,” he went on, speaking with the greatest difficulty, ‘‘my ‘debt to all.” Then, after a moment, he said, er! “Jack, pray for me; ask your wife, Emily, to pray for me.” And with these words upon his lips, his head dropped upon Harkaway’s knee, and all was over. Hunston fell back dead, in his old school- fellow’s arms. CHAPTER XXI, THE END OF THH BUSHRANGERS—HOW TINKDR LED HIS PARTY TO A BLOODLESS VICTORY—A SIGNAL TRIUMPH. “ BEHOLD, all of you, Captain Morgan is dead, “ Bravo!” “Let us keep this job to ourselves,” said Har- vey, ‘‘or we shall alarm the ladies again.” ti Good.” “ ** Who shall go?” ‘i “You and I,” said Harkaway, “ and Rook.” “Yes,” said the latter, eagerly, ‘I'll go.” ‘‘ An’me too,” said Tinker, ‘‘me go and put all de lot ina bag—a bressed big gollopshus bag, sir. “Come along then, off we go,” said Harka- way, who was all impatience to get to work, as usual, when once the thing was decided upon. Tinker led the way, and the three combatant members of the expedition followed. Each man had his rifle slung behind his '. and it is I—Mole—that have done the daring | back. jeed,” said Mr. Mole, with a self-satisfied air; ‘and I feel comparatively at rest, having rid the country of such pests.” “ec You ie ** Yes, Ialone!” His hearers stared at the cool audacity of the old gentleman. He did not scruple to assume th glory of all that had been doné. — “Yes,” he added complacently, while the rest stared and waited for a whacker; “I never did a thing ‘better than this job, perhaps, and that is saying something.” ‘Yes,” added Harkaway, drily; ‘it is certain- ly saying something.” “Tt has always been my principle,” said Mr. Mole, looking around him for admiration, ‘‘ when I take a job in hand of this kind, to finish it right , off, Nip ’em in the bud, sirs.” “Bravo!” eried younz Jack. ‘Cut ’em up root and branch, no half meas- ures.” { 4 “ Hear—hear!” While Mr. Mole continued blowing his own trumpet in the most brazen manner, young Jack whispered a word or two to Tinker. The latter grinned and disappeared. “You mustn’t suppose,” said Mole, with a soré of deprecating smile, “that I think I have done all by sheer force of arms.” “Oh, you are too modest,” said old Jack, wink- ing at Harvey. “Oh, no.” 4 “Well, new that is a very manly and generous admission,” said Dick. “ Ahem! I know as wellas you do that the name of Mole has gone for something, that it lent a sort of moral weight to our expedition. A good leader’s name is a tower of strength. The bushrangers had their spies, and when it became known that Isaac Mole wasin command, I leave you to guess how completely they became de- snore.” ‘o doubt. “ Oh, of course they would fear you,” said Har- Ivey. g ev a In fact, if I had this job to doagain, I should merely let it go forth that Isaac Mole command- _ ed the party, and then I should——” rath ___ “Down with old Mole!” cried a strange voice ush. “Prepare your firearms. The bushrangers are on us,” sho f ted Jack, Ker ; et rifle shots followed. honors and Be oo M Ny * he) In their hands they carried each a brace of pistols, It was necesary, for the sake of pee to reach the creek by a circuitous route, and this in- volved a considerable loss of time. Be the black boy Tinker proved to be a model scout, ‘Every inch of the ground was known to him. After.a long march their patience was re- warded. Tinker, who was marching on about twenty yards ahead of the party, turned around to them, and pointing toa thicket at no great distance, motioned to them, inviting the greatest caution and prudence. The critical moment was fast approaching. As they drew near the thicket, they saw the gray smoke curling up above the shrubs, and hey understood now that they must prepare for some stiffish work. wf It proved to be less serious than they antici- pai i They opened ont, and each of them took up a separate post, and in this way they advanced and pushed their way through the bushes, The bushrangers, who were five in number, were, as might be seen at a glance, worn out by the recent fatigues which they had undergone. Four of them were stretched upon the ground around the wood fire, wrapped in their rugs, asleep. The fifth, who was mounting guard, had been overtaken also by slumber, and was resting in a state of semi-drowsiness upon his rifle. Tinker made this man his mark at once. Creeping like a tiger up behind him, he dealt him one alarming blow with a heavy wooden. elub upon the back of the head. And down dropped this untrustworthy sentinel ‘like a log. Tinker leaped upon him. ° He had a rope all ready to hand with a run- ning noose in it, and this he slipped over his shoulders, fixing his hands down to his sides im- movably. The noise, rene as it was, sufficed to arouse the sleepers, and when they opened their eyes, they found themselves faced by three armed men, L Bare desperate men, each holding a brace of pistols. ; belt ‘* Move a step, either of you,” said Rook, “and. we A } _“ Wake up, men; help!” 4 Wee , ** Another word, a sound, and it is your lastut« terance.” Now the bushrangers were not wanting in courage, but they were complete overmatched. “Yield!” ‘Never to you!” cried the man. “Hold your tongue, Morris,” said Rook, m.- Sah ciel theres f ‘*You have no chance, and you had better take it quietly.” The bushranger never uttered another word. He was completely bewildered. **'Tinker.” if Lee sar.” ? “Bring a rope. “Yes nae? x “Te him ee ‘ “Yes, sir, I will, sar; dis chile do it awful double quick.” He dropped down upon the bushranger Morris, and in spite of his resistance, succeeded in fasten- ing his arms as securely as he had done those of the unfortunate sentry. To secure the others was the work of a very few minutes. What could they do?” | Nothing. They were surprised—utterly—-hopelessly taken at a disadvantage. ‘*Now get up and march,” said Harkaway. They obeyed. / To hesitate was dangerous, seeing that they were faced by three armed men, not to speak of Tinker, who, in his excitement, was really no mean adversary. per “Wake up, you warmint,” said Tinker, giving the insensible sentry a kick. As this failed to arouse him, the dose was re- peated, until the man was brought around. And when they were all upon their feet, Tinker ‘|started them by prodding them on their respec- tive rears with a wooden spear he carried. ‘What are you going to do with us?” demand- ed the bushranger, Morris, sullenly. Da you in a place of safety,” responded — ok. “What!” echoed Morris, recognising tho speaker for the first time, ‘‘is it you, Rook?” * As you see,” “Traitor!” : “That’s false,” said Rook; ‘‘Iam no traitor, I was never one of you, I was forced into play: ing a loathsome part. Morgan turned traitor to me. If ever I owed him and you any allegiance, that freed me,” ‘“ Where would you take us?” ‘Where you will be unable to do any further mischief.” i , “Then we had better fight it out hege, com- rades,” said the bushranger, suddenly tacing around, “No; you had not,” retorted Rook. ‘‘Notif you are prudent. Your lives are safe, Resist, and they will not be so long.” ea ‘Curse your luck,” growled one of the ers; ‘‘ we have no help for it.” “None.” a March,” said Harvey; ‘I’m getting tired of is. “Spikey,” cried Tinker, inserting about an inch of his wooden spear in the sentry’s back. “Oho!” “ March, ” And march they did. In this way they were taken back to the settle- ment, and thence to the town, where they were handed over to the ae ind authorities, to be dealt with by them as they deserved. Everybody was full of the exploit, which virtually concluded the deeds of daring of the Harkaway colony, as far as we are concerned. It also stamped out the band of Morgan the bushranger most effectually. CHAPTER THE LAST. ENGLAND ONCE MORE—FUTURE PROSPECTS AND a PROMISES—FAREWELL. \ ‘T awheart-sick of this place,”/said Harkaway, “But I haven't come across a spot that I like more than the “Land that bears a well-known name,’ as the song itt Bae back I go.” “To land ff Where els ? “ eo?” , f N's “ And what about Harkawayville?” demanded — “Leave it where it is. Pick out the most in “Le ‘is, e most in- telligent of the settlers for the high give Rook now that he f ‘ ie) ‘ | > < = e t places— a chance of doing better things is convalescent—and hurrah for me cant)
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The associations of the place are too sad, now. Poor Hunston’s sad fate I can never forget if I remain here. | His grave shall be well cared for, by the best than I can find, for I shall remember that he was once my playmate and schoool-fellow.” So it was agreed that they should return at an early date. “My boy, Tinker, must go with us, dad.” “ Of course.” said Harkaway, to his son. Old England! HARKAWAY AND THE BUSHRANGERS. i “T couldn't do without my boy Tinker,” said young Jack. “Of course not.” j “Why, what with Mike and Nero and Tinker,” said Mr. Mole, *vou'llhave quite a menagerie.” The preparations for the return of our friends to England were necessarily rather ee ae But at length the day arrived, and the whole settlement trooped down in a body to the sea- port to see the embarkation of the party. Cheers, hurrahs, and signs of regret were sent after them. But not one of the settlers from Harkawayville but wished them all God speed. And now Harkaway and his san have com- pleted their journey together, we and they make our respective bows to the courteous readers whe have so long borne us company. The continuation of this story can be found in The 5 Cent Wide Awake Library No. 1247, entitled “ YOUNG JACK HARKAWAY AND HIS BOY TINKER.” Useful and Instructive Books. 53. “HOW TO WRITE LETTERS. A wonderful little book, telling you how to write to yom sweetheart, your father, mother, sister, brother, employer; and, in fact, everybody and anybody Priae wish to write to, Every young man and every young lady in the land should have this book. It is for sale by all newsdealers, price 10 cents, or sent from this office on pecans of price. Ad- dress Frank Tousey, ees 34 and 36 North Moors street, New York. 2 Box 2730. 54, HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS. Giving complete information as to the tanner and method of raising, keeping, taming, breeding, and man- aging all kinds of pets; also giving fullinstructions fa: mak- ing cages, etc. Fully explained by 28 hardsome illustra- tions, making it the most complete book of the kind ever published, Price 10 cents. Address Frank Tousey, pub+ er, 34 and 36 North Moore street. New York. Box.2730. 55. HOW TO COLLECT STAMPS AND COINS. Containing valuable information regarding the collecting and arranging of stamps and coins. Handsomely illus- trated. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, or sent to your address, post- paid, on receipt of price. Address Frank ‘lousey, pub- lisher, 34 and 36 North Moore Street, New York. Box 2730. : 56. HOW TO BECOME AN ENGINEER. Containing full instructions how to proceed in order to be- come a locomotive engineer; also directions for building a model locomotive; together With a full description of everything an engineer shonid know. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers or we will send it to you, postage ‘ee, upon receipt of the price. Address Frank was Publisher, %4 & 36 North Moore Street, New York. P. O. Ox 5 57. HOW TO MAKE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, Full directions how to make a* Banjo, Violin, Zither, Molian Harp, Xylophone and other musical instruments; together with a brief description of nearly every musica! instrument used in ancient or modern times. rofusely illustrated. By Algernon 8. Fitzgerald. for 20 years band- master of the Royal Bengal Marines. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, or sent to pyr address, Address Frank Tousey, nary paid, on receipt of the price. Street, N.Y. Box ‘ublisher, 34 and North Moore 58. é HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE. By Old King Brady, the world known detective. In which -he lays down some valuable and sensible rules for begin- ners, and also relates some adventures and experiences of well-known detectives. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, or sent to 5 aes address, post-paid, on receipt of price. Address rank ‘Lousey, publisher, 34 and North Moore Screet, Now York. 59. HOW TO MAKE A MAGIC LANTERN. Containing a description of the lantern, together with its history and invention, Also full directions for its use and for painting slides. Handsomely illustrated, by John Allen. Price 10cents. For sale b United States and Canada, or will be sent to your address, ost-paid, on receipt of price. Address Krank Tousey, Pablisher, 34 and 36 North Moore Street, N. ¥Y. Box 2730, Ox 2730. all newsdealers in the ; 60. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER. Oontaining useful information regarding the Camera and how to work it; also how to make Photographic Magic Lantern Slides and other Transparencies. Handsomely illustrated. =F Captain W. De W. Abney. Price 10 cents. For sale at all news-stands, or sent post-puid, on receipt of price. Address Frank Tousey, Publisher, 34 and North Moore street, New York. Box 2730. : 6L. , HOW TO BECOME A BOWLER. A complete manuel of bowling. Containing full instruc- tions for playing all the standard American and German ames; together with rules and systems of sporting in use {te the principal bowling clubs in the United States. B; Bartholomew Batterson. Price 10 cents For| sale by all newedealers in the United States and Canada, or sent to ur address, postage free, on receipt of the price. Ad- Arana Beanie ‘ousey. Publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore _ Street, New York. Box 2730. } “ae ' + x7 62. How to Become a West Point Military Cadet. Containing full explanations how to gain admittance, course of peaars Examinations, Duties, Staff of Officers. Vost Guard, Police Regulations, Fire Department, and all should know to be a Cadet. Compiled and written by Lu. Senarens, Author of “‘ How to Become a Naval Cadet.” Price 10 cents. For sale nf every newsdealer in the United States and Canada, or will be sent to your ad- dress, post-paid, on receipt of the price. Address Vrank ‘Tousey, Publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore Street, New York. Box 2730. 63, HOW TO BECOME A NAVAL CADET. Complete instructions of how to gain admission to the Annapolis Naval Academy. Also containing the course of instructions, descriptions of grounds and buildings, his- torical sketch, and oye a boy should know to he- come an officer in the United States Navy, Genipiod and written by Lu. 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We offer this pina ook, together with the icture of “Muldoon,” for the small sum of 10 cents, very boy who can enjoy a moe substantial Boxe should ob- tain a copy immediately. ll newsdealers have it for sale, or you can obtain it by sending the price to rank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street, New York city and you will receive it by return mail, post-paid. 66. HOW TO DO PUZZLES. Containing over 300 interesting puzzles and conundrums with key to same. A complete book. Fully illustrated. By A. Anderson. Price 10 cents. For sale by all news- dealers, or sent, roster upon receipt of the price. Ad- dress l'rank T'ousey, Publisher, $4 and 36 North Moore St,, New York. P. O. Box 2730, 67. HOW TO DO ELECTRICAL TRICKS. Containing a large collection of instructive and highly amusing electrical tricks, together with illustrations. By A. Anderson. Pricel0 cents. Wor sale by all newsdealers, or sent, post-paid, upon receipt of price, Address, frank ‘Tousey. Publisher, 34 @ 36 North Moore St., New York. P. O. Box 2730. 68, How to Do Chemical Tricks. Containing over one hundred highly amusing and in- structive tricks with chemicals. By A. Anderson. Hand- somely illustrated. Price 10 cents. For sale by all news- dealers, or sent post-paid, upon receipt of price. Address Frank Tousey, Publisher, 34 & 36 North Moore Street, N. Y. P.O. Box 2730. 69. How to Do Sleight of Hand. Containing over fifty of the latest and best tricks used by magicians. Also containing the secret of second sight. Fully illustrated. By A. Anderson. Price 10 cents. Wor sale by all newsdealers, or sent, post-paid, upon peceps of price. Address, Frank Tousey, Publisher, 34 and ‘North Moore Street, N. Y. P.O. Box je ‘ 70. How to Make Magic Toys. Containing full directions for making Magic pede and de- vices of inany kinds. By A. Anderson. Fully illustrated. Price 10 cents. Wor sale by all newsdealers, or sent, post- nae by mail, upon receipt of price, ‘ Address Brank ousey, Publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore Street, New York. P.O. Box 2730, ; they 71. How to Do Mechanical Tricks. _Containing complete instructions for performing overt sixty Mechanical Tricks. By A, Anderson. Fully il- lustrated. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers or we will send it by mail, postage free, upon receipt of the price. Address Frank Tousey, Publisher 34 and 36 North Moore Street, New York. P.’O, Box 2730 — 72. How to Do Sixty Tricks With Cards. Embracing all of the latest and most deceptive card tricks, with illustrations. By A. Anderson. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers, or we will send it to you by mail postage free, upon receipt of price. Ad- dress I'rnnk Tousey, Publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore St., ‘.¥. P.O. Box 2730. & 73. \ How to Do Tricks With Numbers. Showing many curious tricks with figures and the magic of numbers. By A. Anderson. Fully illustrated. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers in the United States, or we will send it to you by mail, postage free, upon receipt of price. Address Frank Tousey, Publisher, 34 & 36 North Moore Street, New York. P.O. Box 2730, 74. How to Write Letters Correctly. Containing full instructions for writing letters on almost any subject; also rules for punctuation and composition; together with spesimen letters. Price 10 cents. for sale by all newsdealers, or we will send it by mail upon receipt of the price. Address Frank ae peeys publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore St., New York. P.O. Box 2730. 75. How to Become a Conjurer. Containing tricks with Dominoes, Dice, ups and Balls, Hats, etc. Embracing 36 illustrations. By A. Anderson. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers, or we will send it by majl upon receipt of the “price. Address Frank Bie publisher, 34 and 86 North Moore St., New York. P. O. Box 2780. 76, Tlow to Tell Fortunes by the Hand. Containing rules for welling fortunes by the aid of the lines of the hand, or the secret of palmistry. Also the se- cret of telling future events by aid of moles, marks, scars, etc. Illustrated. By A. Anderson, Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers, or we will send it to you, Postage | free, upon receipt of the price. Address Vrank Tousey, Publisher, 34 & 36 North Moore St., N.Y. P. O. Box 2730, ie 77. How to Do 40 Tricks With Cards. Containing deceptive Card Tricks as performed by lead- ing conjurers and magicians. Arranged for home amuse- ment. Fully illustrated. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdenlers, or we will send it to you by mail, post-paid, upon receipt of the price. Address, Frank Tousey, a + O, lisher, 34 und 36 North Moore Street, N ‘k, ge et, New Yor 7 78. v HOW T0 DO THE BLACK ART. Containing a complete description of the mysteries of Magic and Sleight-of-Hand, together with many wonder- _ ful experiments. By A. Anderson. Illustrated, Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers, or we will send it to Ton by mail, post-paid, upon receipt of the price. Address rank ‘lonsey, Publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore Street, New York: P.O. Box 2730. 79, i HOW TO BECOME AN ACTOR. Containing comp lens instructions how to make up for various characters on the stage; together with the duties of the Stage Manager, Prompter, Scenic Artist and Prop- ty Man. By a prominent Stage Manager. Price 10 cents. Por aay by all nemices ier op we WER oa poste age free, upon xeceipt of price. ress Frank ‘louse Publisher 4 and 36 North Moora Street, a York. P. ra) 5 Box Thi ' X & ib ‘bed
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a rank Jousey’s Hand Books. Containing Useful Information on Almost Every Subject Under the Sun. Price 10 Cents Per Copy. No. ts Napoleon’s Oracalum and Dream Book. Containing the great oracle of human destiny; also the 4 true meaning of almost any kind of dreams, together with 3 sharms, ceremonies, and curious games of cards. A com- * plete book, Price 10 cents. . # No. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS. The great book of magic and card tricks, containing full fstruction of all the sain card tricks of the day, also the most popular magical iliusions as performed by our ing magicians; every boy sbould obtain a copy, as it will both amuse and instract. Price 10 cents. No. 3. HOW TO FLIRT. The arts and wiles of flirtation are fully explained by this tittle book. Besides the various methods of handkerchief, fan, gloves arasol, window and hat flirtations, it contains we full list of the language and sentiment of flowers, which te interesting to everybody, both old and young. 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This wonderful book presents you with the example and life experience of'some of the most noted and wealthy men in the world, ineluding the self-made men of our country. The book is edited by one of the most successful men of the present age, whose own example is in itself guide enough for those who aspire to fame and money, The book will give you the secret. Price 10 cente. HOW TO KEEP A WINDOW GARDEN. Containing full instructions for constructing a window garden either in town or country, and the most approved methods for raising beautiful flowers at home. fe most complete book of the kind ever published. Price 10 ceuts, No. flees HOW TO DRESS. Containing fall instruction in the art of dressing aud ap- pearing well at home and abroad, giving the selections of laa material, and how to have them made up. Price 10 cents. No. 18. . HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL. One of the brightest and most valuable little books éver iven to the world. Everybody wishes to know how to come beautiful, both male and female. The secret is simple, and almost costless. Read this book and be con- vinced how to become beautiful. Price 10 cents. NO, 19. FRANK TOUSEY’S United States Distance Tables, Pocket Com- panion and Guide. Giving [the official distances on all the railroads of the United States and Canada. Also, table of distances by water to foreign ports, hack fares in the iste) cities. reports of the census, etc., etc., making it one of the most complete and handy books published. Price 10 cents. No. 20. How to Entertain an Evening Party. A very valuable little boox just published. A complete compendium of games, sports, card-diversions, comic recreations, etc., suitable for parlor or drawing-room en- tertsinment. It contains more for the money than any book published. Price 10 cents. f “No. 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH. The most complete hunting and fishing guide ever pub- lished. It contains full instructions about guns, hunting dogs, traps, heey and fishing, together with descrip- fish. Price 10 cents. No. 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT. Heller's second sight explained by his f if Fred Hunt, Jr. x! laining how the woorat dinigenee’ rent carried on between the magician and the boy on the stage; also giving all the codes and signals. ‘he only authentic explanation of second sight. rice 10 cents. No. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS. Everybody dreams, from the little child to the aged man and woman, ‘This little ook given the explanation to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky and unlack; ieee and ‘ Napoleon's Oraculum,”’ the book of fate. Price cen No. 24. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS 10 GENTLE- Containing full directions for wade to subjects; also giving sample letters for in 10 cents. ; ‘entlemen en all action. Price No. 25. HOW T0 BECOME A GYMNAST. Containing full instructions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. Embracing thi Phas ilius- trations. By Professor W. Macdonald. A handy and use- ful book. Price 10 cents. No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT. Fully illustrated. Every boy should know how to row and saita boat. Full instructions are given in this little book, together with : panion sports to boating. “rice 10 cents. No. 27. HOW TO RECITE AND BOOK OF RECI- TATIONS. Dutoh dislecte frouch iatect Weshec and liteh aiciont pieces together with many standard readings. Price 10 a ey instructions on swimming and riding, come | Fe SNS SI To NS MER Rc VU a in ene LS coe Ri 2 pe 5 S g 2 No. 28. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES. or pow the'iorte No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR. Every should know how inventions or! ote. This book explains them all, giving examples in e ‘oity, hy-~ draulics, magnetism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics, etc, The mest instructive book published. Price 10 cents. F No. 30. HOW TO COOK. One of the most instructive books on cooking ever pub- lished. It contains recipes for cooking meats, fish, game, and oysters; also pies, puddings, cakes and all kinds of pastry, and a grand collection of recipes by ome of our moet popular cooks. Only 10 cents per copy. No. 31. HOW TO BECOME A SPEAKER. sitions requisite to become a good speaker, reader and slocutionist. Also containing gems from a the popular authors of prose and poetry, drranged in the most simple and concise manner possible. Price 10 cente. mounting, siding and managing a bicycle, fally explained i i a pieking out No. 35. HOW TO PLAY GAMES. A complete and useful little book, containing the rales and regulations of billiards, bagatelle, backgammon, oro= quet, dominoes, etc. Price 10 cents. No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS, No. 37. “HOW TO KEEP HOUSE, tains information for everybody, men ae onan it will teach you howto ody. bere. ee ee around the house, such as parlor ornaments, brackets, cements, golian harps, and bird lime for eatehing birds. Price 10 cents. 3 HOW TO BECOME XOUR OWN DOCTOR. No. 39. How to Raise Dogs, Poultry, Pigeons and Rabbits. A useful and instructive book. Handsomely itustrated. By Ira Drofraw. Trice 10 cents. HOW TO MAKK AND SET TRAPS. Including hints on how to catch Moles, Weasels, Otter, Rats, Squirrels and Birds, Also how to cure Skins. ©; piousiy illustrated. By J. Harrington Keene. Price @ cents, ? No. 41. The Boys of New York End Men’s Joke Book. Containing a great variety of the latest jokes used by the most famous end men. No amateur minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book. Price 10 cents. ; » 42. The Boys of New Yorke Stump Speaker. _ For sale by al! newsdealers, or sent, post-paid, upon receipt of price. Address FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 34 & 36 North Moore Street, New York, ‘i
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Latest Issues of THE 5 GENT WIDE AWAKE LIBRARY: 1061 meee Tues of Deadwood, and an Fresh i Lua de scun cease F “Noname” 1062 ie Rival Rangers; or, The Song of Free- x by J. G. Bradley 5 OF ie by 1064 ae ns See of the Pueblo; or, the Tease SRA sainp te alk oh cra Soatk.t by Paul Braddon 1065 Dendy Dan of Deadwood in pre era “Noname” 1066 Pawnee Bill’s Gold Hunt; or, he Lost Treasure Train by Paul Braddon 1067 Icebound; or, Among the Floes............ by Berton Bertrew 1068 Sewn Sam; or, A Cruise to the Sea of phasis leles kinpeinaglans as by Roger Starbuck 1069 aphhay Brown & Co. at Sthool: or, Deacon’s Boy at His Old Tricks comic. y Peter Pad 1070 Frank Reade, Jr., and His Gre. iota of the Air; or, The Search For - ue Mount- i d. ““Noname ” a THis Deal > With Dea by “‘Noname”’ 1072 Go-Ahéad 1 Harry, the on The Got There; or, Where There’s a Will, There’s i O Tite le 1078 = 1 se Real or, The Prince of’ Engi FEE, SRR RE BOS He by Howard De $ Vere 1074 The Boy Mate; or, Cast sei With Con- A eit ui Gerd sitiack, Sia as arenas ‘er Starbuck ard Nuts 1075 sim, Teak ba Aa hee or, ‘three 0 Crack—comic.. ssc seseesess by Tom Teaser 1076 Gaorane Gant a The King pn the fogs isd 5 ated 1077 Dandy Dan of Deadwood and His ‘Big Bo- Raa neliuh bins ta oasieeu oncee by “‘ Noname’ 1078 ee Lost Diamond Ship; or, A Search for nknown Lake.......- by R 1079 Benny I Bounce; or, A Block ° er Starbuck the Old Chi OTIS Fa Saas Catt peal by Peter Pad 1080 Nout Ned, the Boy Fireman of Madison. by Robert Lennox 1081 The Tyvo Boy, Cattle Kings; or, An Indian Mail Carrier’s Oath......... by Paul Braddon 1082 ae Nick, the Boy of Nerve; or Fight- is Own Battles.....-......-++ by GC. Little 1083 mae Pole to Pole; or, Frank Reade, Jr’s Strange Submarine Voyage.. .by ‘ ‘Noname’ 108 The Two Boy Clowns; or, A Summer With a Circus—comic.,. by Tom_Teaser 1085 Matha fra = Mystery; aved by a Car- BT PASCO a ea ewitina ante a .by Paul Braddon 1086 Steadfast ‘ Sid, the Bor ho Never Surren- dered; or, Standing ‘p for a Paueny Deal the Boy Veena: y C. Little 1087 sl i Daring, thet oy Unknowns ont or, The Emmet ( yee or, The Mids Cruise lack Frigate Yasuo by Ro; ee Starbuck 1089 ne Dan of Deadwood ae oe 1090 Young Dick Pianket; or, The ‘Trials and Tribulations of Ebenezer Crow—comic.. by Sam Smiley 1091 Old Oak Burrell, the oka Detective by Paul Saas 1092 Among the Amazons. A Thrilling Story of the toe ged of Africa,..... by R. T. Emmet 1098 Afloat in a Tiger’s Den; or, The Wreck of 6 the Menagerie Ship........ by Roger Starbuck 1094 eee ed; or, m the Pavement to Reta Pew Sepiciitie® aacsla(eje nace cigs ae fer Little 1095 Frank Reade, Jr., and His Eleetric Coach; a ane Search for the Isle of Diamonds. hipeeitseerskeptaceccrtrey by ‘‘ Noname”’ 1096 wean Reade, Jr., and His Electric Coach; ‘or, ae Search for the Isle of ne, AND TR oi kan bis te ene ..by “ Noname” 1097 Rob tay. the Life Saver; or, The Pirate Wreckers of the Bahamas. Fauek:ceneaaeagacte Roger Starbuck 1098 ace Tom Seymour, a ame Cock of Sf emo wanee sidhh.et sro t'¢ yy Ralph Morton 1099 Dandy han of Deadwood Baivayed: or, The Vultures of Montana.......... by “'Noname” 1100 The Black Fiend of the Red Sea; or, The Lost Girl of the Coral Cave.............s.. by Koger Starbuck 1101 Muldoon’s Hotel. Part I—comic by, Tom Teaser 1102 Muldoon’s Hotel, Part II. Fp eeu ‘Tom Teaser 1103 Dandy Dan of Deadwood in oe or, The Silver Moon Mystery..... by *‘ Noname ” 104 Rorgus of of the vi pa oh Wiehtin 1a For Land eath eas Corporal a Rattler 1105 Bawnse. Bil 8 Rove, or, The Young Boom- ers of Oklahoma, aMesholes ly 22 = Paul Braddon 1106 The Boy Scout... .....0eceeeeeees . Wood 1107 Muldoon os Treland; or, The Sok Man on PBR ae ney MAMTA ICS Tom Teaser the 1108 Frank Heads Jr., With His ‘Air-Ship in Asia; or, A Big ht Across the hd 8. ‘oname ” Bradley by a oh * 12 The Ship of Silence; or, ithe ‘Terrible . of the Black Sword.. ..»..by Roger Siar bade 1113 Fred Frost, the Young Arctic YE eat or, Bound te Reach the North Pole....... by Albert J. Booth ili4 a Bob; or, From Rags to Bread- wedi dete Baas aa idtedea Dhan, by C. Little 1115 Anna in a Cannibal Saad or, The Fated TAATORES f5 05 (sacd jesse War-Sloep of the ee Roger Starbuck 1116 The eikh Firemen; or, Stand by the Ma- foi oh Tynes, Pb ee u(y by Howard De Vere 1117 The Woh Diamond Seekers; or, Rough- ing it in the Carolina Mountains. y R. ‘7? Emmet 1118 The Youn: be aid ‘an Winkle. by Allan Arnold 1119 The Lost Gold Raft; or, A Perilous Cruise For a Floating ‘Treasure. . by Roger Starbuck 1120 Spare Swift and Spry; or, ee Jolly OTS—COMIC..\. 0 ceed aes by Sam Smiley 1121 The tt Niners; or, The Pioneer’s Dany ‘ng se De Se See Pe: by. T. W. Hanshew 1122 Dick Deadline, the Young Revenue Cap- tain; or, The Pirate of the ee by. Reger Starbuck 1123 Young King Crusee; or, The ‘Treasure Trove of Falcon Bayes Shake oaeaae ss by C. Little 1124 Hook and Ladder No. 2...by Howard De Vere 1125 Sam Sureshot, the Skeleton Marine; or, The Lost Frigate of the Demon Isles...... by Roger Starbuek 1126 Billy Button, the Young Clown and Bare- back Rider. A meee of the Cireus....... by. Lieut, E. H. Kellogg 1127 The Orphans of New York. A Pathetic . Story of a Great City.......... by N.S. Wood 1128 ee ei apt. Perry, the Hero of 1812. An Excitin ie rivateer Yarn.by George G. Small 1129 Amon, e Fire-Worshipers; “ Two New York ‘oys in Mexico...... by Berton Bertrew 1180 The Actor’s Son. A Story of Trials and Triumphs On and Off the aoe Recitiscoet by Gus Williams 1131 ey nisi Wolf. A Story bs fete © idden T. W. Hanshew 1133 Gauuct Boy Ben; or, Sold Into Slavery, Paes by C. Little 1134 Frank Reade, Jr.’s Electric Ice Boat; or, Lost in the Land of Crimson Snow. Part LER Pg tre re ee Per kee ee Pe by “‘Noname” 1135 Frank Reade, Jr.’s Electric Ice ore or, Lost in the Land of Crimson pest Part $$ Cae Par 1137 Frank Reade, Jr.’s Electric Gyclone; or, ee aa ‘Adventures in No Man’s Malbro Po: na .by Lieut. E. 1139 Red Light Dick, the Engineer Prince. .... by Albert J. Booth 1140 Adrift in the Tree-Tops....... by Allyn Draper 1141 Lost in Labrador; ‘or, The Search for the BTOZGn Pirate: si. sacs guess terns by C. Little 1142 The Mysterious Man of the Aigaatent: A Story of the Hudson River.by P. T. Raymond 1143 In the Sea of Ice............ by Albert J. hag 1144 The Young Deserters; or, fe Be hoky Rami ye 8 Island.......... We Berton So 1145 ‘‘ Special’ ” Bobs or, ‘Ehe Pride of the Road by Albert J. Booth 1146 gas in a Haunted Lake; or, The Mys: ry of a Lost pes aes -by Roger enerruele a The, Arkansas by ‘aul Braddon 1149 The Boy Nihilist; or, Young ‘Awieriéa in Russia. . by Captain Geo. Granville, (U. S. A.) 1150 Daniel Boone’s Best Shot; or, The Perils of the Kentucky Pioneers, by John Sherman 1151 The Parson’s Boy; or, The Tnnoeent One of the Family—eomic............ by Tom Teaser 1152 bee Game Cock of Deadwood. A Story of e Wild Northwest......... by Geo. G. Small 1153 Handy Rollins, the Young Fireman. A ry of Heroic Deeds..... Robert Lennox 1154 nites Buffalo Bill; or, oy Seout of the Rio Del Norte.. saby Li Libat, EK. H. baad 1155 The Lost Island. A Romance of a ten World..... ...by.O. Little 1156 The Silent Band. 8 “Noname” 1157 set Carson tS Li ere ‘he Rene- BW IOOME is alelewas nics wiry e 0 y Gaston Garne 1158 Hook a — Ladider Jack, the Bari Kolin Len Mae Oar ornare rt Lennox 1159 The Mon: in Green... 1160 Yellowstone Kelly 1161 Captain Jack Mewnposty the Prince of by J. G. Bradley 1162 A. saa Boy’ 's Fight; or, The Hero of the PEARY PPPS tee een ree G. Small 1163 Boardin Jeg: Sera) or, The Rackets Ventri aust, ae | PE EYRE RAG ae Be ‘Tom Teaser 1164 pourdi School Scrapes; or, ‘in Rackets t a Young Ventriloquist. Part I— Sb od Boslaids ¢ dacats dase aiaae by Tom Teaser. mic 1165 Lt on a Yacht; a The Adventures of rican Boys........ R. T. Emmet 1166 Rob R Rudder, the vay » Pilot = ihe ississip- BUS crakst au nratphea eter ninop nds . Raymond 1167 On a Sinking Island.............. Kit Clyde 1168 Muldoon’s Flats—comic....,...by Tom i acy 1169 The Hut in, the Swamp; or, masts ‘ste Hal Percy’s Fate..../......08 i hormet 1170 es ann Jed, the King tianpe ers of the T. Raymond est; Dea : Booth 1172 Ther erin of the ae or, ines an Beneath the Sea......... by. Howard De Vere 1173 Larry the Life Saver; or, A Neen Fireman by Robert Lennox 1174 The aan of Mystery ; or, Adventures Under the Sea....:....4. by Howard De Vere 1175 Goliburt n, the Girl Guerrilla.............4. : by Morris Redwing 1176 pons ,Mizzen; or, The Cruise of the ‘@or- Se Re by Richard R. Montgomery 1177 Yankeo Bob, the Vadie Seout of the Rap- pahannock.........s.seeeees by Ralph Morton 1178 The Potomac Detective..... ee Ralph Morton 1179 Union Dick in the Rebel arse Poe tgtaks by Philip Murdock 1180 Cavalry Jack at ntpetach ed a 1. Ralph Fenton 1181 Cavalry Jacki in the saan fp eieetia seal iy Goi. Ralph Fenton 1182 onl a a Charlie; or, The Adventures of a ea bauaten wauieta tng by W.I. apes Jr 1183 The Shortys on the Road; or, In the Old Business Just for Fun—comic. .by Peter Pad 1184 The Haunted Cave,..... by Jas. D. Montague: 1185 eee pence the one a of the UWderness......siseererecee Ralph Morton 1186 Daniel Boone. the Hero of Kentueky by Paul} Braddon 1187 Three Yankee Chums; or, Dr. Dodd’s Hx- aig Expedition. .by Commodore Ah-Look 1188 Burt, the Detective; or, A Sleuth-Hound on Siva Track...... Dy ab odAnghs b oith elite eine by Gus. Williams cre Under the Gallows..,..... by a U.S. Detective 93 The Gold. Hunters of Maxton: or, The Prairie Phantom............. by H. &. Emmet: 1194 Drifting Harry; or, Hoeing itis Own Row yy J. G. Bradley 1195 A Trip to the Center of the Barth OT OAR x y Howard De Vere. 1196 Custer’s Last Shot; or, The Boy Trailer of the Little Horn.........by Col. J. M. Travers: 1197 Shady Dell School; eae s and Mishaps of Schoolboy Life... ae Capt. Will Dayien 1198 Dick Wright and His Band of Ca mnibals by J. R. Scots 1199 Sawdust Charlie, the Pet Ve the Rin; by An Old Risamastar 1200 The Blasted Pine; or, ree Boy Scouts. . +s Capt. Will Dayton 1201 The eat Trapezist..by a Former rire 1202 Little Nugget, the Pride of Leadville .. 1208 The Young Aeronaut............ by. by Major J. Andet 1204 Denver Dan and His Mystic Bana by Prof. tet: 1205 Denver Dan and the Road Agents. by C. Little 1206 Denver Dan and the ene ee eas le (oF 1207 Denver Dan Outwitted; or, er ¢ Outlaw ‘8 1208 Deavert Dan the Sheriff . 1209 Denver Dan to the Rescu taineer'’s Strat ra Denver Dan and in 1211 Denver Dan in New York......... b 1212 The Twin Boy Seouts.... by Pere: 1213 Prairie Phil; or, The Panther ce u ePi by Roekwood 1214 Trapper Duke; or, The Female he ate j by Jas. D. Montague. 1215 Black wee Blue; or, Nick Wharton onthe | (ad Harry Rockwood 1217 The NN Son... ,.0..05. sroug 1218 The Search for the “ Midas;" gs Treasur from the Deep............. by Gerald. Fleming 1219 oes George; or, A New York B ca 1220 8 ginders. woh 1221 North Woods Tom, a the A 3222 ace Lem; or, The Myste: e: man’s Reef.........5+ yy a Sea, 1223 Joe Jordan, the Young tesa ajolataie eae y H. K. Shackleford 1224 Lasso Luke; or, The Three Prattie a by Kit Clyde 1225 Jack Harkaway’s Schooldays. A Ye" 1226 Jack Harkaway Afloat. 1227 Jack Harkaway Among the 1228 Jack Harkaway’s paetee. 1229 Jack Harkaway at Oxford, 1230 Jack Harkaway and the Black Band, 1231 Jack Harkaway and the Brigands. 1232 Jack Harkaway oa the Spy. 1238 Jack Harkaway Erapp Figh 1234 Jack Harkaway and the Italians; or, The é Brigand’ 's Doom. Savages. ; Hi For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, or ain oe Fete address, post-paid, on receipt of the price, 5 cents, Aa ress P.O. Box 2780. FRANK TOUSKY, Publisher 34 & 36 North Moore Street, New York, ‘ae