The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE TRACK OF MIDNIGHT. 217 There was just time to notice the black horse and that the rider was a thick set, broad shouldered man with a black beard and long black hair, be- fore both horse and rider were out of sight. | ‘“ Midnight !’’ every one exclaimed, as, with rifles hastily snatched up, they scattered through the bush in the direction in which the man had dis- appeared. But they might as well have stayed round the fire for ail the good they were able to accomplish. Both man and horse seemed to vanish utterly, and not even a sound could be heard of the horse’s hoofs, let alone a sight of the rider. Darkness was also coming on and with that as an extra difficulty, the squatters soon abandoned their fruitless chase and returned to-the camp fire. The audacity of the man they were after amazed them, and as they stood round the fire discussing it, their words were as much of admiration as disgust for the utter disregard he had showed towards their number and superior strength. Directly they had reassembled, guards had been posted round the camp to prevent a surprise, and those who were not required to take part in the watch debated the chances of their being able to capture the leader of the gang, ‘“We may as well go home,’’ one of them said. ‘‘ Midnight is said to know every inch of the country for miles round here, and the way he rode through us and disappeared is quite proof enough for me.’’ ‘He must have ridden up very quietly, for no one heard him until he jumped out upon us,’’ another observed. ‘“ We've been too careless,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘ When Giles was with us he always told everybody what to do and they did it ; but now that he is away, everybody leads for himself, and I tell you it won’t pay while we are dealing with a man like Midnight.”’ ‘T believe you’re right,’’ the man who had first spoken said. ‘Right? Of course it is right. That business at the cave ought to have been enough to warn us. We should have made arrangements there and then, instead of straggling along like sheep. Even when we stopped what was done? Hverybody talked about mounting watches for the night, and while everybody talked, nobody acted, and the result was that Midnight was able to laugh at us and ride through our camp without a man being able to firea shot. I vote for a leader and propose Trooper Farrell.’’ Farrell, who had been discussing the situation with his comrade, and ar- ranging that they should share the task of watching the watchers through the night in order to avoid another fiasco, came over to the fire at the moment, having accepted the responsibility of mounting guard for the first half of the night while his comrade obtained what rest he could. He turned toward Johnson as he heard his name. ‘What's that, Mr. Johnson ?’’ he asked. ‘We're deciding to follow a leader, and I’ve proposed you,’’ Johnson answered. > ‘We want the leader, true enough, but I would not care for the job sin- gle handed. Better take it yourself,’’ Farrell replied. The suggestion was warmly accepted by all who heard it, and those who EOmIicbooks |