A LINDSAY 0' THE DALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13595, 14 November 1907, Page 3

A LINDSAY 0' THE DALE.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL AKKANGEMENT.

BY A. G. HALES, Author of "The Watcher on tho Tower." •' Driscoll. King of Scouts." " McGltisky," " Jair the Apostate." etc.. etc, COPYRIGHT. CHAPTER V.—(Continued.) Dave gave just one glance at the fallen black, unci then ran as fust as his feet would let him into the scrub. " You owe me a good one for this day's work," said the splitter grimly. " You'd have gone to the end of a rope if I had not saved yon. Here," ho continued, pushing the revolver into Dave's hand, "lake this. It saved your life, man, and I don't want to bo found with that thing on mc when Vernon comes and overhauls our camp, as ho is pretty certain to do. How did you come to let that black dingo catch you?" Dave told him. The man whistled. "So it was nona of the Killowen gang who did that murder, eh?" "No: we are not that sort." "I didn't think you were, but Vernon has saddled your gang with the crime in order to rouse the feeling of the people against you. Now you'd better be off. I'm going. Good-bye, and good luck." He went his way, and Dave stood and did some rapid thinking, and in tho end decided to go back to the forge and commence work there as usual, because that was his best chance of getting a really good horse quickly. He had scarcely got his forge fire alight ere he heard the sound of hoois, and there, on a tine grey horse, sat that very trooper who had boasted so loudly that he would kill any Killowen he might meet on sight. "Where's your master, young man?" demanded-this autocrat. "He's away on business of his own somewhere," answered Dave. The trooper swung his long length out of the saddle, and hitching up his" horse, came to the forge to light Ins pipe. "Got that Kiilowfu gang vet':" queried Dave. "Not yet, but we'll soon have 'em; Vernon has pressed a lot of Afghans into the service for a week. The Killowens once stuck the Afghans' camel team up, anil robbed 'em, and they are itching to get even with the marauders. The old chap who leads 'em swears he'll day 'cm alive if he gets them into his power; and I- hope he does, for I'd like to see the whole cowardly gang cut up myself." Dave smiled at the. talkative trooper. "You'll have a pretty good fight, won't you,, when you run 'em down?" "Not a bit of it," sneered the officer; then, looking very fierce, lie exclaimed, "I only wish I could get near the Killowens, I'd undertake to bag the lot of 'em in no . time. . A man only has to show his teeth to fellows of that clays, and they cave in at once." Drawing his pistol, Dave levelled it at the boaster's mouth. "If yon ever praysd," said he, "pray now, for I'm going to shoot you where you stand." '" Shoot me !" exclaimed the astounded

;■;; trooper. " Why, who are you?" I'm Dave Killowen, at your service," was the cool answer: " and since you are so thirsty for my blood, why don't you do some of the splendid things you have been bragging about?" • "Dave Killowen," gasped the officer. "Why, I —I" thought you were a smith. , v i J was only joking when I said I'd shoot you on "sight." ■ -"Oh, were you?" sneered Dave. " Well, the" next time you joke, don't call other men cowards, for you are, a pretty fine specimen of a coward yourself, let me tell you that." Dave made the boaster stand up with .his hands held above his head, and he fastened him like that to the door with fe ; ' a couple of .leather straps and a chain, ,j and pinned this notice ou his chest— ," The man who captures bushrangers 4 \ with his mouth," '» so that the folk who came to the forge « might see the braggart, and enjoy a laugh •' at his expense. ;'i , Then Dave got on the trooper's horse, »| And cantered off to play hide-and-seek m with Inspector Vernon. $ It did not take him long to regain the « gang, and when he told them that Mail hornet and his Afghans were in the hills *? with Vernon and the black police, seekJ ing to run the gang to earth, Bryan at ;,1 once suggested that they should turn the ;? tables on their foes, by riding as hard ;*[ as horseMefih would take them to the camp ri where Mahomet had left his string of one hundred camels. * Father was left in a place of safety on a account of his wound, and the three young /•si men : did one of those wonderful rides * which made them so famous. The town■M. ship where Mahomet had left his team J; was seventy miles away, and, of course, "■';' was considered quite safe on account of * the distance, but the th were light, % wiry,, and young, and ah were tireless ig:.' horsemen. - ■'" ■■',"' ;; .• Their scouts* brought them word that X Vernon and his black police were beat- , ing the hills, the Afghans were guarding - the gullies that led to them, and the white . 't police, with a few volunteers, were sta- ; tioned at all the likely points for an ambas'hi Vernon had given the order to ' shoot on sight.

.Dave chuckled when lie heard the report. "He will fish this time in an empty stream,", he cried with. glee. "Now, boys,, let us , show the gentlemen of the 'force' how we bushmen can ride." He cantered off as he spoke, and the other two closed up alongside him. When the horses had got warm to their work, they let them stride into a hand gallop. On and on they went, hour after hour, nursing their animals over the bad ground, and casing them at each bit of hilly country.- -v ,

> The blood mare and the racehorse, Tame Eagle, made light of the work, for they were wonderful creatures, in the pink of condition, but Davie had to take a lot of care of the troop-horse he had looted; it was a fine animal, but not to, be. compared with the other two. ■" I wish wo could ride on like this for ever," cried Bryan exultantly; "on and on to the end of the world.' > ' He loved hard riding with all his soul, and nothing came amiss to him when he could feel a good animal between his knees.

At last they saw the lights of Ooongarrie township sparkling in front of them, and they cantered straight in. and drew bridle in front of the police station. | "Very coolly they dismounted and walked into the polioe station. . Veiy.cui t.v they vered the two policemen with their pistols. "No nonsense, gentlemen, said Dave sternly; "we won't shout unless you make us, but if we have to we will not hesitate."

It' was the audacity of the thing that won I for them. ; The two constables were brave enough, but they were unarmed except for their truncheons, and clubs were no <. od against pistols, so they looked very sheepish and threw up their hands. "March to the nearest cell," commanded Dave; and away they inarched, swearing ;;, very hard in low voices, for they knew they would never hear the last of that matter, ''Mid'that many a laugh would go round at / their expense. . The constables were quickly locked up in * eel!. Then the three outlaws rode at a walk to the Afghan camp, where the camels ff cr<s all knee haltered in a big circle, in the middle of which the half-dozen hands, who ; had been left in charge by Mahomet, were silently citing their evening meal out of - one common bowl. The outlaws went directly to them, and y called on them to surrender. One of the ■Afghans snatched up a gun and was about .., to fire at Dave, when Basil McAllister sent a bullet into him. This was the signal for a fierce fight. The Afghans, drawing their long knives, rushed ™> the fray, and the outlaws used their > Vi*to] s . Each of the three had wounds that badly required dressing when the melee was wer, and several of the Afghans were lying about groaning dismally. The outlaws made '„ a .nch haul, ■ and were more than satisfied , ,■ .with the result of their foray, and were .-, Roving off, when a white man plucked ■Have by the sleeve. v.j , Was one of the sundowner class, who ; I ■*<* been hanging about the camp, to.' see

what lie could steal, when the raid commenced.

"What do you want with me?"- was Dave's prompt, query. t "You arc leaving the richest prize behind you," whispered tho sundowner. "Am II What may that be?" " If you go and look into that stable made of boughs, with a couple of canvas tarpaulins thrown over them, you'll see the iinest horse that ever came to tho buck country it's a horse worthy to carry even a leader of bushrangers," grinned tho'sundowner, .holding out his hand for a reward. Davie dropped some notes into the grimy palm, and walked over to the spot indicated, the, sundowner going with him. " Did you ever hear of a horso called Honeyball?" queried the loafer. ''Honeyball, the steeplechaser - , do vou mean ■'

"Yes." . "Of course I've heard of him; but vou don t mean to say that horse is here?" " " He's in that stable. Honevball, imported from England as a yearling, and raced in all the big Australian cities. Bred as cleau as Eclipse. Old Mahomet bought him to sell to Mr. Shorncliffe, who is starting a breeding station for high-class horses. Ihe thing has been kept very quiet for fear ol your' gang." The rude door of the stable was quickly pulled aside, and *aere the outlaws saw the most famous horse of his dav in Australia, a mighty animal, yellow-bay "in colour, with a big head and a Roman no'se: not a pretty animal, but a creature fnll of power and speed. "Man," gasped Bryan, "he'd carry a ton and gallop with it." * "He'd raco over - big timber, with a Lifeguardsman in tho saddle," cried Basil McAllister. "If I had mv leg over his back 1 wouldn't caro if half. the police in Australia were on my track." Dave did not say a word, but his eyes were just dancing in his head as he threw the saddle on Honeyball's tremendous back. The next instant ho was in the saddle, and as he gathered up. the reins, and tho wonderful creature, that Mas afterwards to become famous as the greatest horse that outlaw ever rode, moved off with the springy stride that marks the thoroughbred, ho exclaimed:

"Boys, I think we have got even with our Afghan friends for going a-hunting for our blood." And the others chuckled as they turned their bridles towards the bush.

(To bo contiuncd daily).