LOST IN THE RANGES.

Evening Star, Issue 16825, 29 August 1918, Page 1

LOST IN THE RANGES.

J SMALL BOY'S ADVENTURE. A sinking illustration <»f tho influence, of [ literature on the minds of young boys has 1 just been provided at, the hitate Ch.ldien'ri Court (says an Adelaide telegram to tlit Sunday 'Sun'). With .their a magi nations stimulated hv reading SKivenson'si and Ballantyne's hrHiki, t!ui 'Boys' Own Annual,' 'Chums,' and Biniihu* publications, lira est Albert Itiohiird.i, aged 14, and a companion, made up their minds a few days ngo to shoot wild cattle and sheep in tho Crampi.'iu Ranges of Victoria, and to fte 11 the skins to tho McMxiuriie market. It was a dnuna.U':, Flioit-lived exploit. At tho last moment his companion kicked out, but, undismayed, Richards, who had read in the 'Boys' Own. Animal' that tluire were a lot of abandoned sheep and eaiUlo in tho (iranipiitn Ranges, which were, nobody's* pro|>ort.y- started out- singlehanded. All night ho lay In bod without undressing, thinking out the details of tho adventure. In the neighborhood he went to a ndirlibtiring hou. v o and took a saddle and bridle. Ho ewoiirod a pony from another house, returned home, and loaded up with Lis mother's groceiries. He had ;no cooking •utonsLte, but took a tent of his own manufacture, clothes, a revolver, and 4s from his savings bank account. Knowing nothing about the direction of the (itrampiaiiis, excepting what he had learned at his geography lessons at school, he quickly got lost in the Mount Lofty Ranges. After wandering about Ml dav lie asked .somebody whore the Grampiana -were. Tho man took him to the police station. Tlio Ij-ov showed no appreciation of tho humox or tragedy of Ins position. His parents promisod the M«!#Lstii'i„te l-o vend mm to a farm, where do v>-ould have the outdoor lite for which ho wns thirsting, mid ho w.as lekwed on entering into a jjood bond.