DAYS OF DANGER

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1372, 13 August 1895, Page 2

DAYS OF DANGER

[CorraiGiiT.] NAKBA.TIVE3 OF THE

BDSHRANGING TIMES

VAN DIEMAN'S LAND.

BY CAPT JIM LAC lE,

PERIOD, 1824 to 1830. . THE MACQUARIE GANG.

(IN FIFTEEN PARTS.)

PART IV.

Fully an hour previously Mason had unloosed the bonds from his legs and got some life into them, and his hands had long since resumed their natural state. If he waited until Morris was overcome some of the others might awake and frustrate his escape. As he looked around his eyes fell on the slabs in the-wall at the end of the bunk and it occurred to him that escape might be made in that direction. He had built the house himself, and, of course, knew its weak points. A couple of slabs could easily be removed at the back, and he at once decided to make the attempt. Slipping off the bunk he set to work, and in a few minutes found that he could take out the slabs as he expected. This necessitated making a little noise, but the sound of the storm outside drowned it. As soon as the aperture was made he slipped out into the dismal night and at once turned his face in the direciion of Hobart Town. He knew the district thoroughly, and in spile of the darkness and storm kept on his right course. It was considerably after midnight when he got out of the house, and at daylight he found himself on the banks of the Derwent about six miles from Hobart Town. In a quarter of an hour he got on to the main road leading from Sorell to headquarters, and in a few minutes after in turning a bend of the road he encountered a party of men coming from Hobart Town. He instantly recognised most of the men in it. Lieutenant Gunn was in front and the remainder were settlers whom Mason knew in and around Sorell. It was, in fact, the lieutenant's party returning a couple of days sooner than Rooney, the servant, expected it would. In a few words Mason told his neighbors what had happened, and they instantly resolved to take action in the matter. Lieutenant Gunn was a regular fireeater and brave to the heart's core. Nothing pleased him better than a fight with outlaws, for he was a great stickler for the King's authority. He had heard at Hobart Town that a party of convicts had * escaped from Mac- i quarie Harbor, but he could scarcely believe that they were successful in getting round to the Derwent. Of course from what the captive settler had overheard there could be no doubt that the party in his house were a portion of those who had got away, and it was very important that they should if possible be secured. In a straight line it was not more than eight miles to Mason's hut, and leaving the main road the experienced men plunged into the bush and made for the place. It was a matter of difficulty to get through the scrub, and it was noon when the hut was sighted. There was smoke coming from the chimney, but no sign of the convicts could be seen. A hasty consultation was held and it was decided to make a rush on the place and risk the consequences. If the men under Brady had returned they would meet with a warm reception in making such an attempt; but if not the five convicts would be at their mercy as they were unarmed. It was worth the risk and Gunn led the way in making it. Fortune favored them, for the whole party reached the door without a shot being fired and found that it was not locked. In a moment they poured pell mell into the place, and then it was seen how easy was their task. The rum orgy had been kept up but tco well, and the outlaws were incapable of resistance. Morris had at last given up his drunken muttering and was lying unconscious on the floor. Barton was not quite so bad. He was suffering recovery and had not time to make any resistance even if he had been in a position to do so. Within a minute the escaped convicts were bound securely and placed in the room from which Mason had got away. Precautions were taken that the outlaws would not be so fortunate as the settlers mounted guard over them. Barton told them that a couple of hours previously they had discovered the escape of Mason, but it did not trouble them much. They expected the return of Brady's party, and of course the influence of the rum made them superior to all thoughts of danger. After securing the five outlaws the next question was the course to pursue in reference to the other half of the bushrangers. Lieutenant Gunn was strongly of opinion that the second body would not come back at all, and that they did not intend to. He thought they simply wished to get rid of the unarmed section by leaving them behind. Mason took quite an opposite and (as the reader knows) a correct view of the situation. He felt certain that Brady would return if he could. It was possible that the second party might be lost in the bush or that they had fallen into the hands of the enemies. After considerable discussion the majority of the party concluded that Brady would return, and that it was advisable to lie in wait for him and his comrades. They had already succeeded in one swoop in capturing five desperate men without a struggle, and if they could bag the lot it would be an

achievement that would*ring over the island and bring them substantial reward.

Mason and his friends were glad enough to have a rest after what they had gone through, and they made themselves as comfortable as possible to await the possible advent of the bushrangers. All that afternoon passed and during the night no appearance was made. It was resolved to leave the place during the following afternoon should Brady not come. This would give them time to reach Sorell with their prisoners before night and lodge them in the gaol there. Shortly before noon preparations were made for leaving, and it was during this time that Brady on approaching the clearing saw the stranger going towards the stable, or shed, which did duty for one. A few minutes after the shot was fired which told Gunn and his friends that the second half of the bushrangers had returned and were aware of the presence of enemies. This was unfortunate as it prevented the outlaws walking into the trap which was set for them. We may now return to Brady and his gang. After firing the warning shot and no response being given, the outlaw gave his men the instructions already mentioned'and they dispersed into various positions from which they could command the hut. While they were doing this several shots were fired at tjhem by Gunn's party who, when they were discovered, decided to precipitate the fight which was inevitable. If the outlaws were foolish enough to make a rush they could soon be disposed of, but.Brady knew better than to do so. The leader of the bushrangers was in a rather aWkward position, for he had to be careful of his late comrades in dealing with his foes. While they were inside the hut. it complicated matters. Had it not.been for that fact the desperate outlaw would soon have dislodged his foes, by means of fire, but if that weapon were resorted to under, the circumstances it would probably result in the roasting of the convicts he was fighting to save. . Thus the after-, noon, passed without damage being done on either side. Both parties were in a dilemma. If the settlers made a sally they would be at the mercy ot the outlaws whilst crossing the clearing, and Lieutenant Gunn hesitated to sacrifice life in such a manner. The bushrangers, as stated, could not take decisive measures on account of their comrades, and thus both were unable to strike a decisive blow. As darkness set in Brady called his companions together and asked what they wished to do. To their credit be it said, they one and all decided not to forsake their Gomrades. They would surround the house, and if an attempt at escape was made under cover of the darkness they would capture or slay their foes. It was not a pleasant prospect to remain in the dismal bush on such a cold night, but they were inured to hardship and were not deterred. The area they had to guard made it awkward to keep a proper watch on it, but Brady disposed the men as best he could and arranged a pass-word by which they could recognise him when going aroUnd during the night. It passed without any incident of note occurring, and when the sun rose they were just in the same position as on the previous day. In fact the outlaws were much worse off. They had exhausted all the food which they had taken from Rooney's hut, and the exposure to the weather was not easy to bear. Brady was walking round to the pickets pondering over the situation when his reverie was cut short by the report of a musket as a bullet whizzed past and tore the bark off a sapilng a few inches in front of him. It was the bullet of a foe, and as the startled bushranger looked round to see where it came from, the slowly rising smoke directed his eyes to a thicket about fifty yards away where he caught sight of a stranger. In a moment he had taken shelter behind a convenient log and awaited the expected attack. He had scarcely done so when a heavy fusillade was opened from the hut, and it was evident that a second party was attacking the outlaws on the flank. This was a serious discovery, and as Brady realised it he knew that instant action would be necessary. Looking towards the thicket whence the shot had been fired that so nearly settled him, he again saw the outlines of a man, and, raising his musket, he fired. He was not a good shot, but as every bullet has its billet it found a lodgment in the body of the settler at whom it was aimed, and the chance shot carried a life with it. The smoke had not lifted before a second bullet struck the log behind which Brady lay, and as it did so the outlaw retired to the nearest picket and by a pre-arranged signal he rapidly assembled the remaining outlaws. In a few words he told them that they were being attacked by a second party, and it would be necessary to take up another position. This was at once acted on for the men did not want to be caught between two fires, and as quickly as possible they followed Brady into a densely wooded gully close at hand. In this a place was soon found from which they could defy their enemies, and they were able to consider the situation. It was not to be expected that they would rashly throw away their lives in a vain attempt at rescue, but their resolve to free the captured bushrangers was still as strong as ever. The only difficulty was the best way to act in the matter. If they were surprised from behind with foes, in front they could not hope to come victorious out of the fight, and that was the position they were in a few minutes previously. After some further consideration it was resolved to watch the hut until nightfall and then resort to the desperate device of firing the building if the settlers still remained in it. Some ] way would be found of saving their , comrades from a fiery death, and it I

was the only thing they could do. Hunger would compel them to leave the locality before long—and at any rate the authorities would be informed of their whereabouts and send a military expedition to help the settlers. If an effort was made by the party in the hut to leave it, they might be able to make a successful attack on them. For this purpose one of them would require to take the dangerous post of spy, and Sinclair volunteered for the duty. He would not be more than a quarter of a mile from his comrades, and if he was attacked they would hasten to his assistance. Not more than an hour elapsed between the time the bushrangers retreated from the edge of the clearing and that on which Sinclair took up a position from which he had a good view of the hut. There was no sign of their foes, but it was not likely they would show themselves. Sinclair was a man who never faltered in a purpose. He remained a lynx watch throughout the day but saw nothing of importance. The settler's party doubtless keeping 'close until further help came, and that urged the outlaws to immediate action. At dusk Sinclair returned to his companions, and it was decided that the party shculd go back and attempt to fire the house. The night was intensely dark and favorable To the design of the convicts. It had not rained since the preceding night, and this was a boon to the men as rain would have greatly added to the discomforts of the situation in which they were placed. Brady and Sinclair, the leaders, were men who did not shirk danger, and they expressed their willingness to firej the house. About eight o'clock the two men began their dangerous mission. They had gathered all the dry and inflammable "material they could carry and stealthily approached the place under cover of darkness. Select- . ing the side on which the breeze blew, they placed the fuel in the best position and then fired it, retreating as quickly as possible. They met with no interference, and the party in the hut were strangely quiet. Outside the circle of light which the now blazing fire threw the bushrangers crouched with ready weapons, waiting for their foes who must soon show themselves! Larger and larger the fire spread, until the side and roof of the hut was wrapped in flames ; yet still no sign of the supposed occupants was visible. For the first time it occurred to the outlaws that the hut might not be occupied at all, and this was soon found to be the case. In a very short time. the whole house was on fire, and within an hour nothing but the glowing embers remained. How or when the late occupants had got away was a puzzle to Brady and his companions, but the explanation was a simple one. It appeared that during the previous night when it became certain that the bushrangers were determined to, rescue their comrades if possible, the settlers" in the hut decided on a novel course of. action. ' This was to get two or three of the party into the woods where they could make a flank attack on the outlaws, or in the event of the latter retiring during the night scout around and ascertain . the fact. It was a dangerous mission, but all of the men were agreeable to undertake it if necessary. Two men named Williams and Ransome were eventually selected for the duty chiefly because they were unmarried and their loss would not be so much felt in the little settlement of Sorell. These two settlers left the hut about midnight, and more by chance than design escaped the pickets which were around the edge of the clearing. > They took up a position in a thicket to wait tor daylight, and shortly after sunrise they saw Brady walking about forty yards away. The opportunity was too good to be lost, and Williams fired at him but missed. The outlaw, in returning the shot was more fortunate, and the bullet passed through William's body. Ransome then fired, and when the second shot was heard by those in the hut Lieutenant Gunn and Mason both ran out in the direction where they knew their comrades were. They were in time to see the retreat of the bushrangers, and, thinking they were going right away, they turned, their attention to the wounded man. They had their hands full, and under the circumstances could not pursue the outlaws. Williams was very badly wounded that was evident, and Gunn decided to at once leave for Hobart Town with him and the prisoners. Under ordinary circumstances he would have gone on to Sorell, but with the five prisoners and the wounded man it was easier to «et back to Hobart Town as there was a good road in that direction and it had not yet been finished to Sorell. The preparations for departure were soon complete, and within half an .hour they, left the place and turned towards the high road with the prisoners and the dying man on a rough litter. Williams, did not live to reach Hobart Town, tor the wound proved fatal shortly after they left Mason's house. Barton and his comrades were under the impression that Brady had retreated and left them to their fate, and had they been aware of the proximity of the outlaws they could easily have brought them to their aid by raising an outcry for help. In fact Lieutenant Gunn and his party passed within two hundred, yards of the spot where Brady and bis five desperate companions lay in hiding. The opportunity to effect a rescue was lost through want of knowledge of the situation by Brady. J It might be here stated that the five prisoners were safely brought to Hobart Town, where some time after they were tried and sentenced to death. They were executed with the notorious cannibal convict, Pearce, and the rum orgy had thus made very short the merry life which Barton had spoken about. D D 29 (PART V. WILL APPEAR IN OUR NEXT.)