The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

234 THE ‘TRACK OF MIDNIGHT. a puff of smoke, and a mocking laugh came from Midnight. ‘The pistol had missed fire. With his rifleempty, and his pistol useless, Wilton was at the mercy of the man whom common report said was merciless. The desperate position he was in came to him more quickly than he could have thought, and he turned and sprang into the shelter of the bushes. He heard the report of the bush- ranger’s rifle ; something whizzed past his ear, burning it as if a piece of hot iron had touched it ; a horrible sense of fear swept over him, and Wilton fled for his life. Neither heeding nor thinking where he was going he rushed madly for- ward, crashing through the undergrowth, tripping and stumbling over fallen logs and projecting roots, until suddenly the trees ceased, and before and around him he realized that there was open space. ‘I‘he fear of the man, whom he believed was only a few paces behind him, gave him the energy of despair, and he rushed onwards, blindly and wildly. The ground went from undér his feet; there was a mighty rush of air, and he knew that he was falling. It was only a few seconds of time; but it was as a lifetime to him as he looked upwards and backwards, and saw a long thin tongue of flame shoot out from the blackness of the bush that he had left, and the report of a rifle shot echoed through the night. Then he struck water with a splash, and sank into the cold flood. Fortunately, he was an able swimmer, and as soon as he felt himself in the water his senses returned to him. He struck out and slowly rose to the surface, his wits about him, and the terror that had urged him to his head- long flight gone. As his head came above the water he glanced quickly round, ready to dive should he see anything of hisenemy. He comprehended then where he was. He had plunged into the river from the top of a high bluff, and the stream had already carried him far enough away for him to be able to look back to where the bluff stood out, black against the dim light. From behind it there showed a faint gleam which, even as he watched, in- creased, until a blaze of light showed through the night. Midnight had set fire to his hut. | Full of bitterness and anger Wilton swam to the shore, and was making his way back through the bush towards his burning hut before he quite grasped the folly of his action. His empty rifle he had left on the log, when he sprang up to complete his conquest of the redoubtable Midnight ; his pistol he had dropped in his rapid flight, and he was now empty handed and unarmed, and yet was going back to face a man who was not only armed, but so cool and collected that he could use his weapons even in the face of such dangers as had recently threatened him. Wilton paused in his hurried walk. If he wanted to effect anything, he would have to act cautiously and thoughtfully. He stood for a while, de- bating with himself the best course to adopt, and then walking silently and carefully, he crept towards the blaze which showed through the trees. When he had approached near enough to see the flaming structure, which was all that was left of his hut, he stopped, for between him and the fire he saw Midnight standing and watching the burning mass. He had his back to DOOKS =) (E(0) (€(0)