Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 29, 2025
At Gleeson's corner he saw Hall, who had recently married the stranger's hostess at the "Coach and Horses," and who now drove the Iping conveyance, when occasional people required it, to Sidderbridge Junction, coming towards him on his return from that place. Hall had evidently been "stopping a bit" at Sidderbridge, to judge by his driving. "'Ow do, Teddy?" he said, passing.
"A darned dirty I-talyan," Palmer Billy shouted; "and on a white man's claim. Roll in, diggers." A dozen outraged and indignant diggers responded. The revolver was knocked up and out of Gleeson's hand, and went spinning high into the air through a well-aimed blow from a spare pick-handle.
Gleeson, only seeing him fall, thought an attack was imminent, and flashed out a revolver from his pocket. In a moment the attack was imminent, and in full swing. The Boulder Creekers had had many a quarrel and many a row amongst themselves, but never had a man drawn a revolver or a knife. Gleeson's action decided his chances.
"Oh, we're sports all square, you bet yer bloochers," Palmer Billy's raucous voice said, as his eyes, sparkling with a curious gleam, met Gleeson's. A hubbub, meant for a cheer, broke out among the men round the room; and Gleeson, guessing there was no fighting for the time being, made an effort to pull himself together. "I'll play you level," he jerked out, facing Tony.
"My God! they're burning out my entrails," one of the white men groaned. "Lie still, you fools; lie still. You're only doing harm by struggling," the man who had shot called out. Another of the four had ceased to move, though three spears were stuck in him. The man nearest to him managed to wriggle over and up on to his hands and knees. "Gleeson's dead," he cried.
By following the route Murray had taken when he returned with the stores, they managed to reach the scene of Gleeson's rush on the second evening; and while camping there, Murray pointed out that as no one was expecting them in the township for at least another month, it might be as well if one of them rode in and told the township they were coming.
His horse was walking slowly, and it was evident he was on the watch for some sign from the red men who held the key to the situation. As he drew nearer his mustang moved still more deliberately, until it was hard to decide whether he was advancing at all. Looking closely, however, he perceived that Gleeson's progress had not ceased, and he was making some kind of signal.
Circumstances had helped the treacherous red men, for it was as if Captain Shirril walked directly into the trap set by them. It was a brave act on Gleeson's part to venture alone among the hills in the hope of opening communication with the red men, when, if there was any mistake, he would be completely at their mercy.
Had they not known that he was wounded, it is likely they would have insisted upon an instant and vigorous pursuit; but none failed to see the truth of Gleeson's utterances, though it was only a few minutes before that he was as impatient as any of them. "Boys," said he, observing that they were looking at him, "I think you know what all this means as well as I do.
So Tony left them, and returned to the creek in full expectation of finding Gleeson there before him. But as he approached the slope which extended down from the level track to the creek, he was astonished to see his own horse and Gleeson's quietly feeding, with their bridles, broken, trailing from their heads. To catch and mount his own was soon accomplished, and he rode on to the creek.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking