A LINDSAY O' THE DALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13591, 9 November 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

A LINDSAY O' THE DALE.

PUBLISHED BY. SPECIAL AEEAKGEMENT.

BY A. G. HALES. Author of "The Watcher on tlio Tower." " Driscoll. Kirig of Scouts." " McGlusky," " Jair the. Apostate." etc., etc. . . COPYBIGHT. SYNOPSIS. The story is written by Kate Killowen, who in the first chapter gives her family history. Her lather was of a capable headstrong Irish family, who had crossed the Scottish border and married one of the Lindsays o' the Dale.' Mixing ill politics her fatlnr interested himself in wild schemes for the emancipation of Ireland, .lost his business and emigrated to Australia when Kate was a child. In Australia he joined the'mounted police and .served • for scale years, rearing a family Davie, Bryan,* and Kenneth. -Inspector Vernon,. of tho mounted police, frequently' visited the house,' and for unwelcome and insulting attentions to Mrs Killowen he (Killowen) one day horsewhipped Vernon. Killowen had to leave the police and took to well-sinking and. chance work, but Vernon gave the family a bad character to the squatters, and they had difficulty in pelting employment. They were .attacked by blacks and several of the .family wounded m the fight, but the blacks were riot punished owing to the intervention of Inspector Vernon.' The men of the family leave home for some time on -a droving contract, and Mrs. Killowen and her daughter and young soil are left alone. One night three men enter the house, and after demanding food they steal the. Horses from the stable and ride away. . They are amateur bushrangers, but arc pursued, and one of them is wounded by neighbouring squatters, the animals being recaptured. Inspector Vernon subsequently visits the home ot the Killowena. and after insulting the women is left alone with the injured bushranger, whom lie induces to falsely implicate ' Killowen' in ' their arrangements. Vernon tells Mrs. Killowen -that, lie 'does this .to*'be revenged -upon- -li liana r for the horsewhipping he administered years before. Before leaving the hut he commands the 1 child Ken. to sing for him.. The boy refuses, and Vernon strikes him across the face with bis whip. At this juncture Bryan Killowen enters, and almost., kills the police .officer, eve.ntuallv crushing his (Vernon's) .face with his heel. .J' Bryan ' then leaves the house, announcing his intention to take to, the bush. He is pursued by Vernon and the black troopers, but being an expert, bush-. man he is difficult to capture. " •* '• • Bryan remains in the bush, and his sister and sweetheart, Mary McAllister, succeed in getting a horse to his hiding place. With a fleet.horse Bryan is able. to : dodge the police for a time, but is eventually captured, and is sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Then Killowen (Bryan's father) sent .a note to his son Dave telling him to consider himself the head of the family, he (the father) having determined to rescue" Bryan and flee from Australia. With this end in view Killowen stuck up the coach on which Bryan was being conveyed to prison. In the confusion ' the coach is overturned. ahd .the pojiccmen in charge .of the prisoners are injured. . . CHAPTER IV. ' • . / STICKING "CP THE AXE. In* the confusion thai followed, Bryan got a chance to escape. Gliding noiselessly into the bush, he' stole off, and as he was making his way, with feet 'shod with silence, _. amongst the trees, he ran right 011 top of a, big horse that, saddled and bridled, was tethered to a tree. It was father's black hack, but Bryan did not know- it. in the dark. He managed to ■ unhitch the bridle with his manacled hands, and was just- climbing clumsily into- the saddlcy when a' pair .of hands grasped'him by" the collar of his- -coat. * He tried hard to struggle, but, weak from his wounds, received from ' Vernon when he was - captured, be was no match for his assailant. •

"Look -here, mate," growled ' a voice in his car, "I don't want to strangle you, but I■ must have this horse;, my liberty, and perhaps my life, depend upon it:" • In a moment Bryan recognised the voice of his fellow-prisoner. " We're •in the same boat," said he. "Anyway, we were in the same coach; bound for the same gaol, a few. minutes ago." - . . . . r "■ "Hello, it's young Killowen, is it?" answered the other in ■ a • surprised tone. " Well, my lad, we'll share and share alike; I'm glad you got away. But who the deuce owns this horse, I wonder'/" - . " Ono of the fellows* who stuck the coach up, I expect," said' Bryan. We'd best, wait a few minutes and • see if the road agent comes for his horse ; it j may, have been some friend of yours, or, of mine, or it may have been a gang who meant to job the mail-bags and loot the gold chest." "He's sure to know/where to lay hands on more horses if' he has not been shot or captured." > : The pair of them stood by the horse and listened, and at last they heard a man coming towards them through the. bush. As soon as Bryan heard the step, he started, and then listened with all his ears. He had the blackfellow's gift. of being able to .distinguish one man s step from another., When the marching man was quito close, Bryan called out in a low, eager voice: ; " It's all right, dad." The next moment father's burly form was beside him. "Safe, boy?" he asked. "Not hit, eh?" No; not this time, dad." "Good luck but who's this? I didn't count on anyone besides yourself." .... : The cattle robber held out a pair of manacled hands. '-. •'• ■ y "

, " Feel these," said he; "they will tell you I am- in the swim with your son, Killowen." : , ,- ... "Well, I'd rather have been alone with my boy," was the father's ungracious answer; "but as you are with us, why, we'll make the' best of it-" ; " Help me to get rid of these confounded bracelets, Killowen, and,then, if you don't want my company, I'll shift: for myself. I can fend for myself, and want none who don't want me." ■ ' . j.'' : v

Father threw the bridle-rein over his arm. "Come on, then,"- was all lie; said, and he. pushed into the bush,. - After walking as swiftly as possible,'for about two hours, they came to a splitters' camp, where it was very evident that he was expected. Several men came quickly out of ; a tent, and after a hasty glance 'at the little party, they produced cold chisels and hammers, and in a few seconds both Bry&n and the "cattle duffer, as cattle robbers were called,- B were 'eased" of their ' handcuffs. Father then handed Bryan a carbine and a pair of pistols, and one of the splitters led forward a horse ready saddled. ;v" The. cattle duffer walked right up. to father, and, ' looking him in .the; face, said : '•> •, •

, "This night's work is a hanging ; wetter, for you, - Killowen, if you are ever captured; it "means a : fight to a finish, with all the odds against you, if you are not captured. I 1 wish you would trust me, and let me make one of your gang." "I trust none but my own flesh and blood," retorted father, bitterly. "My boy will bo true to me till death, as I will betrue to him. We both know that, but who is to answer for you?" >,' <■. The cattle duffer had extended his hand in an offer of friendship, but at those bitter words lie laughed, and dropped his clenched fist to his side, and was turning away, when Bryan interposed: "He was a good friend to mo when I was a prisoner, dad. I think you will find him a square man." - For fully three minutes father stood with knitted brows," thinking deeply; then he held out his hand to the cattle duffer, saying: 1 . ; . . ■ The boy is a good judge of men if he trusts you, I will; but heaven help you if you prove to be a- false friend." Another horse and set of firearms were produced by the splitters, and as the little band of outlaws got into their saddles, one of the fellows at the camp said : " You have promised to pay us for, these horses and arms, Killowen, and it will-be a bad day's work for ; you if you don't, for we have risked imprisonment and flogging to serve you and yours." "You shall be paid, as you: were never paid for. anything in all your lives, and within the month if I live; if I fall, <one or both of these youngsters , must pay the debt. Now, one of you make off to the police, and tell them that-we came and stuck up your camp. That will throw suspicion off you. Anyway, the black trackers will trace us to your camp at , daylight. Now, good-bye you'll get your money as soon as I can get to a bank." food ,* and the next day it was decided Very little was said between the -three of them during- that first ride. . By tacit consent father was the leader. He had made a study'of' the district whilst awaiting Bryan's trial, and had hit upon a hid-ing-place in the depths of a low range of hills, which were . densely,. covered, .with' trees, and for : this . plaice he steered : at once. ' ■ ■'.:*& : ■■■■■■' Near the top of the highest of the hills there Was a series of caverns which at one time had been used by tho black tribe that had inhabited the locality. ■ • - One cavern ran into the, other, and the gallcr-.

ies made an, almost interminable labyrinth into which 'a "fugitive"COuld" daVt'iike a ' rabbit if pursued. , Many of these galleries opened out on to the world of trees, in most unexpected places, so that a .person ; who knew their secrets could watch any- ■ one approaching with the utmost ease, re- ; ■ maining ' unseen himself. '.;A' One of the galleries led right to the bot- -- '' '• torn of an immense old gum tree, which age had hollowed, and up that hollow trunk... was ,?, kind of' rude* ladderway made* l by 1 " ; means of " nicks" in the wood. A"• * ' I It had evidently been a look-out post " . ! for the blacks who had. once owned the i hollow hills. When the three had arrived at their destination, the horses were hid-'". den, and the party rested and partook" of that as they had been driven beyond'the' pale"of the law, they should make as- many '.' friends as possible amongst the -outcast classes, and to do this they .would need „ ready money, and plenty of ; it.. : V.. , (V , . Father asked the "cattle ..'duffer.' p'qlnt-' v blank what his name was;' a-pd Bryan 1 WBrt s '"' : astounded when. the latter replied : : 11 • ' — "1 was sentenced under the name' of George Wilson, but my real name is Basil-* McAllister." But it was some time ore,, A . Bryan told the reckless, dare-devil fellow. • that he knew his sister Mary and his stern, unbending father. All that was to come' ' out later. ' • >■ ■ i ■' : . Father managed to get, news concerning the movements of tho police from some " ticket" men who were working a small slate quarry. Ho also learned that the manager of the branch of the Bank of - New South Wales, * that was. situated at ~, Betaloo township, had volunteered to go/, out with the troopers to hunt for' the twa , Killowens and' the supposed George' Wih". ; son. " "■" v • : This bank -manager;- was at rather - boast*-"? ful man, who professed to have a .great-., love for personal danger, and had bragged.. whilst at dinner at his hotel that ..if ha"- . came in contact with the bushrangers * ha.' would make short J work of them.- - -'■•V*'"^" •' ' His name was Wicombe. He was a* fair-'.*: shot with a revolver and a ritle,- and; quite a good horseman but there were soma ..- folk in the neighbourhood " who .'did. . nciti.7 • think that his courage was quite* as "great.,. . as hi? mouth would have* people think. ' : ■*~ . When the cattle duller heard of the bauF manager's boast lie was wild to play hirr_; a prank, for a' more reckless madcap neyfet" ' broke"the laws of' 'any 11 couhtrjv^■ 1 The mail-coach only passed through Beta-' ' 100 every second day. One coach came '-into the township at about nine in thc morniftg;- '' the Other arrived-at about the 1 name tifnfeV' at night; and the" talkative-bank* "managerwas fond of riding his horse along with the ;;; police 'escort in charge of tho coach, ■lor-'--' three or - four miles; out ' of; Betaloo. Th'i§?; : he called "defending the travelling publie>' : within the limits of his boiders." ' ' '?? He used to ride a beautiful thoroughbred stallion, named Tame Hawk, that had:come- . into his . possession temporarily* -.through " the' failure of a station owner.,who had . mortgaged the horse: to the bank.- ' This -:- : horse was as black as a c0a1,., aiid waslu'C famous jumper, and only a very vain or.' very foolish fellow would have ridden it in such an unsettled district. As soon as the..: cattle duffer heard of this- horse, ho, made up his mind to possess it. One evening-.'---, when father had sent.him out scouting, he, ■ either by accident or design, found himself oh the track of the leaving Betaloo. He only had just sufficient time to-pull' - his horse into the shadows of the bush',"*J when the mail-coach- camo clattering"past. 1 ; v " with its strong escort of police, and, there, ' . sure enough, was the bank manager on the ; glorious black thoroughbred. He wore 'a --• belt stuffed full of cartridges around his waist, and ready to his hand lay. his car- - bine. " ' -V. • - • 1 -■-'* A- ; The cattle duffer awaited the: banker's ','" return. At last- the rhythmic strokes of ai •cantering horse feil upon,his ears;. Then, taking a good grip on. his. bridle-rein, .-ha ~ • suddenly shot out of the scrub right across . Tame Hawk's path. - The next instant' he i had grasped the banker's bridle-rein, and .... had presented a pistol at hie head."■.{ • . . .... "Jvot a sound above • a whisper, sir," - cried he, "if you value your life. One cry - - from you, and I'll shoot ycu where you sit." . " ■ .... = ;;;

' The manager threw up his-hands >in,aiik instant,:' letting his carbine v fall to ' the ." ground. The , cattle duffer. laughed, derisively to see a man who had dono so much; v talking take defeat so tamely. ■ >•.' " Dismount," he -ordered curtly ; •''-we'll • ; exchange' horses.'' This order v&& obeyed, and the exchange was made. -«-■; ~;y'l "Now, sit tight, my beauty, and look out' _ for overhanging boyghs. : . I'm going to take v you:' for ■ a. little ; ride by starlight,' and if "'' voir fall Off, or get : knocked off your horse, • I'll put a bit of lead! into ybutoAnake' sure' j you don't play me any tricks." • Then- ha '<•. !• touched Tame Hawk ' with his heels, ?' ever iso lightly, and, holding the other 1 horse by'' the bridle, rod's into the forest in a direc - tion that led right away from our camp. . He did not go far refore-finding a spot, to suit his purpose./- There he commanded - ' his prisoner to dismount and'strip.'off lite' • , clothes. When this was done, he undress- 1 •' -f ed, ; and tossing; his own j apparel to ,'thfc , manager, -he dressed ■ himself ; in the; nice, ;™■ well-cut riding-trousers; .but before putting* iv; . on the serge-jacket and soft, tyhite felt Katiit* that had made the bank manager. such a gallant figure, the bushranger ' tod' soma • • rough 'work to do. ' • -.J- 1 - •'. v-"- • "Now, you look quite nice in my clothes,"ho laughed, "so turn your back. - < I• am- go'^ <. ing to tie your: hands." Suiting the, actlfiii to the words, • he- tied -the manager's wrists-- : together, .then he gagged .him cleverly by, . slipping a forked! stick upright between his • teeth. ."• ''• ■ "-There,'Vhe cried tauntingly, "that wi11!,,, keep your mouth • open so long that wheA- ; you get- back to the bank,.my friend, you C« : will be glad to : get it closed, and keep it"' : closed, and not open it to brag about.what» you will do to the Killowen gang. .Taker a seat on the ground, ■ I must wind-you up'v;; tightly, you are such a desperate fellow, ■you know." v ; As he talked, the bushranger corded - his::; victim thoroughly,-and finally, tied' him .to ; » a sapling, leaving him: with the' consoling words.' " You'll be found right enough by the police in a few hours; and as this horse » that I've been- riding ie; not much: good', 'I'lb • leave it for: you in exchange foy t Tame; v Hawk." ■- :<■ -: • -• j'. -:; ; ;!-i ~..... v v-.' Jumping lightly to saddle,, the "wildest-" of wild blades cantered easily off towardsfeCv,, : the township, and' as 'he' rode down, 'th& main street lie smoked; one of • the very.' choice cigars that he, had . found in a, - case a. .in the breast-pocket J of 'the .coat. •• ' ,Vr When, he got opposite the police-station, he wished an officii* of the law, who was, standing on tho footpatn, a jaunty- good-'- 1 night, and grinned as he noticed ho# respectfully the man in uniform touched his ; cap with his forefinger, in humble salute, ••• ' A' bit farther down: the highway ! he'saW;' a low, white stone building with " Bank of! • - New South, Wales" painted upon it in ■ large".' black letters.,.' ' Here a' fins kangaroo hound! sprang out' ; towards him with a joyous whimper, and. springing up to his stirrup sniffed his leg, failing back at once with a growl of mem" ace. ' \ V "• ■ • -' ' '/> •-' ■} ■ A young lady leaning. far, out over- thd " balcony 'of ahotd waved, a white BhU\yl"' to him, and he raised his hat in-anwer tether salute ; and so, having taken the bear ings of the township, he rode off to the appointed place of meeting. .'-'i. r , . Father looked grave when lie saw Tama Hawk. ' "That's a marked horse," said he,- "and may - bring us all" trouble;" but Brvaiu laughed outright when he heard of the fro-•. • lic, for he, too, had had it in his imihd to' . give the boastful banker a lesson. V ;? / • "What scheme. have you now in that' hot-, head of yoursV" asked father ;to which the ' cattle, duffer had answered that, finding the . keys of the bank in the stolen clothes, h0,"., hail hit on a plan for looting the-bank without delay. ';* , ■ • "The sooner the better," cried father; . " for our pockets are empty, and men won't , play spy for us long unless we can pay them ; well." ■' •. "Well, Killowen," said he, "this is my. plan. You and Bryan ride quietly into the. township with . me*. I'll' ride up* to. the ; bank just as if I were going homo from -ah ; ordinary ride; after that we must trust to _ , luck and our wits." ... _ . !■, Father bade Bryan load his carbine care-,,., - fully."ere. he mounted, and by tlTo "stein ringin his voice both the others knew tliat Jife", would fight to the end father thai^be- tabein-T : prisoner. Into the'township they rode |i:: ; ; , : three abreast, i clattering along ' as noisily - as if the place belonged' to them, instead.'of. being men .with a price.'on their heads.- a.-* - (To be continued daily). - Zti&frZ