SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

When traveling on a railroad it is said that I lying with the head toward tho engine will j sometimes remove a headache. Water used in wool-washing yields 4...0 per cent of a very dry potassium, which can be recovered, as M. Delattre has shown, at a considerable profit. It appears that alum is sometimes added to wines to give astringoncy and to raise the colour. For its detection evaporate to dryne.s and then set fire to tho organic matter. Struve upholds Dr. Biedent's suggestion that only cream should be used for the earliest nourishment of young children brought up by hand, as the digestibility of any milk is inversely as tho quantity of caseino which remains iri thc skiin-milk. Writing from British Columbia to "Forest and Stream," J. C. Hughes says: " Pin-s upon the clear-water rivers learn to dive" after the salmon lying dead on the bottom of the streams, and the interesting sight may bo witnessed of a sow diving for a salmon, and, having obtained it, taking it ashore for her little ones.

The Church can no longer suppress scien tific writings in Russia. Literary censor ship is confined to political works. As a contemporary remarks, thore will hence forth be an impossibility in that country " of books being suppressed, as one was by Count Tolstoi, for inquiring too minutely into miracle.- alleged to have been wrought by bones of saints drawn from tho cata combs of Kieff and sold to the people by the clergy at high prices." A new explosive has been invented by M. Turpin, a Parisian chemist. It is said to bo very powerful, and, unlike nitro glycerine, dynamite and gun-cotton, it has the highly important property of not being affected by concussion. It is made by the combination of two liquids, which can be transported like ordinary chemicals, and need only bo mixed when the explosivo is about to be used. It can be cmployod in its liquid form or when absorbed by silicious earth. Frost does not affect it. At Cherbourg experiments havo been made with this substance upon slaty rocks containing quartz, and also upon old cement-work, and tho report of the engi neers praises it very much. A writer in "Cosmos" advocates tho thoory, recently advanced, that tho sun s|_ots, instead of being cooler than tho adjacent parts of tho solar surface, as has boon the general belief, represent parts of thesunthat are vastly hotter than thobright portions ; thoy arc.in fact, regionssointensoly hot that all the heat movements emanating therefrom have reached tho intensity of tho ultra violet, and tho s|K>t_ consequently ap pear dark. The widest gauge railway yet rojvortcd iH in Washington Territory. It is an eight foot gauge logging road, running back from Skagit river. The rails aro wood, oight by eight inches ; the cars aro largo, and aro carried on twelve wheels of uino inch face, with double flanges.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln reply to Mr Minchor, permit tno to say that though 987054321 is not a square numbor, yet its .square root is 9935, which has for its square root 99, wliich is a multiple of 9, viz., 11 times 9=99. As the gquare of any quantity contains tho product Ot each part multiplied by each of the other {-arts, it is perfectly clear that what is ap plicable to the part is equally truo of thc whole, and if tho one is divisiblo by a given number, so aro its variations on tho samo basis. An examination of tho figures given shows that overy fourth digit (excopt units) is divisible by 3, tho square of 9, thus show ing that figure to be tho dominant number. It may not bo out of place to point out that a beautiful harmony exists between tho powors of 9 in tho puzzle given by Mr Milichcr, viz. :— BS76M-21 x fl !) __-__3_B_9-rnkleil make 81. which is the amount of Osnuarert. These tigurcs reversed, viz. : -1231567.. multiplied by _ K've UllllllOltotaia 9 DM9909009 total 81. Adding together these results, we get— 8888__-__9 aud 1111111101 nnd get 9999999090=81, or 9 x 9=Bl, or 9x 9. Again, by adding theso two lines from left to right, we got— 88888_8SS9=81 and 1111111101=; U giving us a total of 00, or 13 x2, tho aggregate of 0X7(151321, which is a multiple ot 9, viz., 10 times 9. —Yours, __c, E.U.J. :

Mixing Boys and Girls in Public Schools.

A much vexed question has long been acrimoniously discussed and debated by School Boards, School Committees, and school teachers in New Zealand, as to whether boys and girls attending publio schools should bo kept separate in school and out of school hours, it was only lately that a parent applied for tho dismissal of a teacher because lio permitted his daughter, twelve yearsold, tositalougsidoof aboyabout tho same ngo'for three snecos-ive days. Tho teachor was not dismissed, but ho was re primanded nnd cautioned that ho was not to do so any moro. In tho Gisborne school wo boliovc differences of opinion havo beon expressed, and discussions liavo como about upon this particular subject. Tho matter has now beon sot at rest so far as England, Amoriea, continental countries, Tasmania, and Kew South Wales aro concerned. A circular has beon issued from many Boards of Education in thc countries and colonies montioned. The circulars state the result of "co-educating" (mixing tho boys and girls) tho sexes in 340 cities and large towns whore public schools exist. Of these the best-conducted and disciplined, 321 prac tised co-education ; 17 co-educate for part of the course, and two only separate tho sexes entirely. A caroful analysis of the reasons adduced for co-education has beon thus formulated: Co-education of tho sexes is preferred where practised, because it is (1) natural, following the usual structure of tho family and of society; (2) cus tomary or in harmony with tho habits and sentiments of ovory-day lifo and law ; (3) impartial, affording to both soxes equal opportunities for culture ; (4)oconom ical, using school funds to tho best advan tage ; (5) convenient both to superintendent and teachers in assigning, grading, instruc tion, and discipline ; and (G) beneficial to tho minds, morals, habits, and develop ment of tho pupils. Tho circular concludes Ijy observing that both the general instruc tion of giris and the common employ ment ot women as public school-teachers depend, to a great degree, on tho pre valence of co-education, and that a general discontinuance, of it would ontail either much-increased expenso for ad ditional buildings and teachers, or a with drawal of educational privileges from tho , futuro women and mothers of tho nation. Such advice, coming from such high authori- j ties, we should think, ought to dispose of j this long-vexed question for over and for good.

Stanley and the Congo.

Firm Friendship Shown hy the Blacks

to the Whites.

This war at Manyanga and a small skirmish in tho densely-populated village of Lutete (where there is now a flourishing station guarded by oue white man and two Zanzibaris) formed tho only interruptions which have taken place in the friendly in tercourse existing between Mr Stanley's expedition and tne inhabitants along the Congo. These, too, as I have endeavoured to show, far from leaving any disagreeable or resentful feeling in the native mind, have rather, as it were, conduced to a more durable friendship, founded, as far as the black man is concerned, on a firm basis of respect for his white friends. By tho timo I loft tho Congo there wore nine flourishing stations belonging to the African Inter national Association — Vivi, Isangila, Manyanga, Lutete, Ngoma, Loopoldville, Kimpoko, Msuata and Bolobo. Tho site of Vivi is generally known, Isangila is distant from it about fifty-oight miles by road, and between Isangila and Manyanga lies a long stretch of eighty miles of navigable river. Manyanga is a splendid station, one of the most happily chosen of all. It is a " city sot upon a hill," rising somo 20S feet above the Congo and with nearly precipitous ap proaches, save on tho inland side. Lutete station is about twenty miles further, on the other side of the Congo, and placed on the great Soory route to the coast. This is also tho land of fat living, and it is possible to nourish ono's self well on merely nutivo food.

Ngoma is only fifteen miles from the groat station of Leopoldville, Stanley Pool, and may bo regarded as its storehouse, for tho nutivo district of Kintamo, round Loopoldvillo, is poor as a food-producing country. This placo—called, as I need not remind you, after tho King of tho Belgians —is destined to bo tho einpiro city of tho Stanley Pool region. It stands rather at the entrance to this great expansion of tho Coni'o, and from its hilltops commands tho fortifo valleys and lovely meadow lands which Ho sproad round thc watory basin. Kimpoko is situated at the other end of tho pool," noar where tho Congo cntors it from tho north-east. This is also a fine site, and is much richer as a food district than tho parent station. Then comes a space of about 150 miles, and Msuata is ronehed—•the prettiest, brightest, healthiest settlement on tho Congo—a few miles south of tho point where it reccivos tho great Quango- Wabumn river (Stanley's lbari Akutu). Lastly, 100 miles still farther up lies Bolobo, in the populous district of that name. All these stations, with their gardens and plantations, thoir workshops and corrals for stock breeding, havo been founded in threo years' time. Within threo years tho in llueneo of Stanley's expedition ovor tho natives has so gained ground that, now a white man may travel, as I have done, ac companied by only threo Zanzibaris, a dis tance of 250 miles beyond Stanley Pool, treated everywhere with kindness and cor diality by the pleasant-tempered natives. So much for what Mr Stanley has done undor the generous aid of Lco]>old 11. As to Do Brazzn and tho Fronch, they can hardly yot bo regarded as factors in tho Congo question, for, however much they may be talked about in Europe, tho natives of tho Upper Congo do not rood tho Euro pean journals, and consequently live in no state of expectation of tho civilisation with which Franco is about to ondow them through her apostle Do Brazzar. Of his lat ter and his tricoloured Hags thore still re mains a slowly fading remembrance. Thoy call him "Camaun," or " Camoleno " (a corruption of "Commandant"), and dimly remember that ho onco promised to return ; but, inasmuch as his tri coloured flags havo proved quite inade quate for the purposo to which the natives put them, wliich was to swathe the loins of thoir portly • chiof, and as their high and sublime uso is scarcely understood or appreciated, and, in short, as "Cumolono " seemed to have no moro prac tical presents to bestow, they are perfectly indifferent as to his return. They will not opjiose him unless ho enforces his imagined rights with violence; nor will Mr Stanley's expedition do anything unloyal toward a fellow-white, or indeed, even abstain from holping him, as long as ho puts forward no valid pretensions. But meanwhile, as he is struggling up tho Ogove, lie will havo to battle with all tho obstacles and hindrances that first attacked tho indomitable Stanley. First, thore is hunger—for lie has no gardens and plantations of manioc and bananas of threo years' date, such as now belong to tho expedition, and the countries round tho Congo, howover rich their soil may be, aro only made to grow sufficient food to sustain their indolent inhabitants. Then, where Stanley has spent 5,000,000 francs, De Brazzn has but a small sum to spend, and when that is gone he will find Africa an ab sorbing soil. At present Brazzaville, or, as its fifty or sixty inhabitants .-till call it, Mfwa, contains perhaps eight native huts, buried in bananas and thick vegetation, and lies in a very low-lying and, I should think, unhealthy sito on the northwest corner of Stanley Pool. Makoko, who is said to havo coded him this territory, has boon deposed by his fickle subjocts, and another chief, Tilpumo Ntaba, reigns in his stead ; so it in doubtful whothor tho contract will hold good. Certainly if Dc Brazza docs succeed in reaching the Congo with his party fairly intact and establishing himself there with his boats, ho will prove himself to bo a really great man, not a " rival " of Stanloy, let us hopo, but rather his emulator in a noblo toil. Ido not beliovo, howover, that there will ovor bo a serious difficulty bo tweon tho French and tho African Interna tional Association. It is the great Dutch company, tho A. H. V. (the Nieuwe Afriknnscho Vonnoolschap), that from a mistaken idea that tho expedition is inimical to its real interests, tries to act toward Mr Stanley as the "thresher" to the whale. I do not mean to say that gonorally, be tween most of tho members of tho expedi tion and tho employe's of the Dutch house, a courteous bearing and even an inter change of hospitality does not exist, but in an abstract sense tho Dutch company avows itself to bo the open enemy of tne African International Association. When Mr Stanley first [arrived at tho mouth of tho Congo on his second expedition, the Dutch may almost bo said to have enjoyed a monopoly of tho commerce, for tho other •oinmercial houses were practically their subsidiaries. Imagining, erroneously, that the expedition would prove a serious rival to their trade with the interior, or would indeed cut off the ivory on its way to the coast, thc Dutch havo assumed a decidedly hostile bearing towards its operations, and it is to Dutch sources, I fear, that wo owe so many of thoso false and ridiculous tales of Mr Stanley's doings which circulate in the European press. 1 cannot myself see that they have any ground for their enmity, or that their commerce has suffered by the loss of a single penny ain.ee Mr Stanley explored the Congo. Nay, rather, if thoy aro loyal toward mm and follow in the road ho is opening—if they make ono common cause with him and adopt a broader policy toward the natives—the Dutch company may enjoy susli future prosperity as it has never known. Commerce is tlie true and only real civiliser, and commerce, if honestly ex ploited, can never fail to meet with the help of those who promote tho expedition.

Finally, there is the Portuguese claim to sovereignty over the Lower Congo, which is awaiting consideration. Beyond the exist- ' ence of a few trilling Portuguese factories, whose proceedings toward the natives sadly need investigation, Portugal has but few interests on the Congo. Her language is dominant as the commercial tongue, it is true, and is oven considerably understood and spoken by tho riverine natives on the lower river ; but I cannot see what she has to gain by wishing for dominion there. The profit in a Portuguese occupation of the LowerCongofromVivitotheseawouldrather be to other nations, for she would keep some sort of a police on the river, and indeed, with ono very important reservation, I rather think it would bo to England's inter est that she should thus recognise Portugal on the Congo. This reservation is that tho Congo should be free of all customs duties that its budding prosperity may not be checked, and to this situation I fear that Portugal wi 1 never consent. But I have now cleared my ground and will hereafter depict, if you permit, the features and ob jects of the vast new tracts of Africa, where I have been able to study the wonderful work of civilisation proceeding.—" Letter in London Telegraph."

An Australian Jack Sheppard.

With regard to the statements of tho man Connell, who gave himself into the custody of the police on tho __l)th ultimo, and re lated portions of his criminal career, a cor respondent writes to tlie "South Australian Register":— "The facts, as admitted by Council, referring to the jwrtion of his career spent in Tasmania are essentially correct. His maiden effort iu Victoria was the sticking-up of Springbank, a station at that time tho property of Robert Swan. For this offence he was subsequently arrested by Trooper Burke, of the Harrow Station, and was taken to Hamilton, tried, and sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. In the custody of Sergeant Cadell he was being removed to Portland Gaol, when ho made his escape in rather a clever way. The sergeant and another trooper had camped for tho night at a hut on the road whero the prisoner, securely handcuffed, was placed. During tho night the sergeant had occasion to go out, and tho prisoner, seeing tho trooper asleep, got up, unlocked tho handcuff., holding the key which was left on the table in his teeth, and lay down again before tho sergeant returned. A couple of hours later ho stole silently to hia feet, and snatching tho holster pistol (at that time the regulation arms) which was on tho table, he dashed out, closely followed by Cadell; but turning in the darkness ho seized tho sergeant, and with the pistol at his ear marched him three miles into the bush, whero ho left him and made good his escapo to Tahara, tho station on which the notorious Frank Gar diner was reared. Being almost without clothos.he made his way to a shepherd's hut, which at the time was untenanted, and there holped himself to an outfit, and leaving the place, got clear away. The statement that ho fired at Cadell is untrue ; the sergeant, now a civilian, is residing in New Zealand. Until 18G-- he was not again seen, and his case had almost been forgotten, when for fighting on tho Hamilton Showground he was arrested. Hero he offered a most de termined resistaneo, and succeeded ( in escaping three times from the arresting constable before he was finally secured and lodged in the lockup. During the evening tho watchhouso keeper had occasion to visit his wifo, who was ill, and was absent some 15 or 20 minutes. On his return he went to look at his prisoner, and caught him in tho act of escaping. Ho was promptly secured, and then identified as Con noil, tried on tho charge of escaping from Cadell, and again sentenced. Phis timo, during his removal to Portland, three policemen were *_ent as guards; but being left with one of thcin For a few seconds while the others had stepped into tho hotel at Hey wood, he jumped round, smashed the chain of his handcuffs over -tho constable's head, and escaped. For some years he was not seen, nor anything heard of him, when ho was in 1».7 arrested at YVarrnambool on suspicion of being Connell, alias Sullivan, and lodged in the local lockup; but, with a Jack Sheppard-like skill, he broke gaol, escaped before his trial, and until tho date of your telegram had not been heard of. Connell was known as a quiet, harmless man, though his career in Tasmania was essentially criminal. In Victoria the only charge entered against him was the sticking up ot Springbank."

Princesses Pouring Tea.

Ox a recent evening tho beau-mondc was in force at the Fisheries for tho fete in aid of funds to complete the English Church in Berlin. The attraction of royal princesses serving as saleswomen at stalls was potent enough to draw an enormous crowd, oven at the high rate .charged as admission fee, while the stalls at whioh the royal ladies officiated were fairly run down with cus tomers. Tho Princess Christian, with her own hands, poured out hundreds of cups of tea for thirsty customers. The price for all refreshments was half a crown each—a fail profit on a cup of tea, or a bun, certainly, but still not prohibitive to any one who really longed to be waited upon by such a distinguished attendant as thc daughter of a Queen. The Princess woro a dress of wdiito muslin and lace, some diamonds and a scai-lot bow i|) her hair; tho scarlet bow was tho distinguishing badge of the ladies at the refreshment stalls, among whom was another royal Princess, tho Duchess of Con naught, together with the beautiful Countess of Dudley, the Countess Sefton, the ladies Duncombo, and many others. Tho tank-fishing for prizo packets full of nonsense at 5 shillings each throw of the rod and line, was an enormously successful diversion under tho direction of tho Countess of Dufl'erin, Lady Charles Beres ford, and many other fascinating members of tho aristocracy. The Duko and Duchess of Albany assisted the Chinese Embassa dress—who was in her national costume—in her duties at the Chineso teahouse. The Duko and Duchess of Teck did a heavy trade in flowers, and Lord Brassey kept a fish restaurant, "The Crab and Lobster." The Princess of Wales also had a flower stall, and the display of blooms laid before this gracious woman was simply magnifi cent. The prices charged wero slightly "ele vated." I know one American gentleman who paid five guineas for a buttonhole flower bought of Her Royal Highness. The Princess did not take any money in her own hands, but there were plenty of ladies to do this for her. She woro white, with her hair simply dressed and adorned with a band of diamond stars. Gladys, Countess of Lonsdale, the beautiful young dowager, was in black lace. The American bar was under the charge of Lady Waterlow, who was assisted by several young American ladies, wearing red-white-and-blue rosettes. RumourhaditthatMrsJames Russell Lowell was officiating in this stall, but Mr Lowell desires it to be understood that such was not the case. Late in the evening the ex- Khedive of Egypt arrived, and going into each and overy stall,^ purchased liberally at an of them, and seemed to be greatly amused at the whole affair. An enormous sum of money was got together by tliie unique aud worthy effort to spread the influence of the Anglican Church.

A Practical Joke.

A Reminiscence of tlie old Bushraag-

lug Days.

PiiorLK who were resident in New South Wales 18 or 19 years ago will recollect the reign of terror which oxisted over a large portion of the interior, and particularly throughout theLachlan district, during the career of the notorious Ben Hall and his gang. In the early part of 1805 things had come to such a pass that mail robberies were matters of almost every-day occur ence, and it was no uncommon thing for stations, and oven whole townships, to bo stuck up by the bushrangers. Resistance was not, as a rule, deemed advisable ; but occasionally someono more venturesome than the usual run of victims would re monstrate in terms more forcible than prudent, and so surely as such a thing happened, a cold-blooded murder would re sult. Men were shot down for having the temority to lay claim to their own property, and travellers upon the roads were in con stant fear of outrage It was about this time that poor Mcßride was shot by bushrangers on the road between Lambing Flat and the Ten-mile, and this deed, which was attributed to Ben Hall himsolf at tho time, caused a wide spread feeling of uneasines, because M'Bride was known to be a quiet inoffensive man, and his murder proved that to be quiet and inoffeusive wero not always safeguards in the eyes of these bloodthirsty ruffians. In thoso days postal communication was slow and irregular. The southern line of rail way had its terminus at Pioton, and the Western at Penrith, distant from Sydney 53 and 34 miles respectively. From these two points communication was maintained with all the principal towns by coach. Branch mails were carried on horseback to the smaller settlements, very few of which had news from the metropolis oftenor than once a week ; and squatters or selectors who did not live close to a main road or a township wero obliged to send for their letters, sometimes to a distanco of 20 miles or more. This journey was always con sidered risky, especially if money-letters wore expected; and after the performance of some unusually bold exploit by the out laws, it was sometimes difficult to get a messenger to undertake it. This was the case on ono occasion with a squatter, whom wo will call Daley, though in reality his name was something else. Daley's station was known as Barney's Ridge, and was situated some 18 or 19 miles from Lambing Flat, now known as the township of Young. The mail from Sydney usually arrived at the Flat at about midday on Saturday, and it was tho custom for someone to ride over from Barney's Ridge overy Saturday afternoon for letters and newspapers. In quiet times the Btation hands were ready enough to do the trip. Thero was generally some fun to be had in the town on Saturday night; and they would ride over in the afternoon, onjoy themselves in tho evening, and start for homo again at 10 or 11 at night, or some times during tho small hours of the morn-

ing. But the shooting of Moßride caused con siderable consternation around Lambing Flat; and on the following Saturday no one at Barney's Ridiro seemed particularly anxious to go for tho mail. Not that there was any direct refusal. But the stockmen and boundary riders who usually came in to the head station for their weekly rations, and to get orders to town every Saturday morning, failed on this occasion to put in an appearance during tho forenoon ; and as no ono else volunteered, it became necessary at dinner time for Daley to broach the sub ject at the table. Daley had a large family, throe sons and several daughters ; Dan, tho eldest, being a strong, robust young man, two-and-twenty years of age. Tho second son was away from home, and tho third, Johnny, was a tall stripling of IG, who had been to school in Sydney for 12 months, and had only re turned three weeks before, bringing with him a schoolmate who was anxious to gain a little bush experience. "What's become of Teddy Bryant?" began old Daley, as the boys straggled into the enormous kitchen in which the family always took their meals. "I thought he was going into the Flat to-day." " He went out to the selection this morn ing," said Dan, "and ho ought to have been back before this, but ho didn't say anything about going to tho Flat." "Curb'd on it, I'll swear," returned his father. " Ho's afraid of being stuck up. And it seems to me they're all alike. Rocks hasn't shown up to-day, nor Caliaghan, nor Tom Handfield."

" Why, father," put in Johnny, who was anxious for an adventure, "I'll toll you what. If you lot me ride old Whalebone, I'll go for tho mail ; and let Arthur here tako Dan's mare, and he'll go too. If we meet Ben Hall, we'll give him a spin for it; and he'll have to ride a flyer to catch us."

Johnny was ;w reckless as most school boys, and quite as boisterous in his manner, but ho was a great favourite, especially with his sisters, one of the younger of whom immediately exclaimed in a bantering tone, "Say yes, father; say yes. He's afraid of his life you'll say yes I" Johnny was near enough and ungallant enough to return, in an undertone, " I'll ' yes' you under tho ear," and he made as though he would put his threat into execu tion ; but, with a scream of mock terror, his sister ran round tho table, and straight into the arms of her mother, who entered the room at that moment. "What's the matter now?" asked Mrs Daley. " Why, Johnny wants to go for the mail, mother, and he wants to take Arthur with him. Fancy, thoso two boys! They'd be frightened to death if they saw a bush ranger." "Who'd be frightened?" . demanded Johnny. " Couldn't I take a revolver, and couldn't Arthur carry father's gun ?" " I don't see why wo can't do without tho mail to-dny," said Mrs Daley. "It isn't safe for anybody to go while the bush rangers are about.''

" Ugh I Bushrangers I" exclaimed Dan, impatiently. " Anyone would thiuk the country swarmed with them. There's no more danger than ever there was. I want to go in for my watch to-day, and I'll bring the letters back with me."

Dan was a young man of considerable determination, and of very few words, and he possessed good judgment withal; so that when he decided uhon a certain course of action his father seldom made any objection. His speech, therefore, settled the matter.

Notwithstanding his protended confi dence, however, Dan thought there really was "some danger ; and it was moro with tlie idea of saving his brother from the risk than with any other object that he deter mined to go for tho mail himself. Accord ingly he took the precaution to place a loaded revolver in tho inside pocket of bis coat befoi-e starting, and resolved that he would uso it if occasion should arise. He said nothing, however, to cause the family to think that ho anticipated trouble. Storting off immediately after dinner, Dan rode leisurely into the Flat, reaching town at about 4 in the afternoon ; and after a couple of hours' spell, he started home again with the letters. . Darkness set in shortly after he had left, and although the moon was almost at its full, it afforded but little light, owing to

the intervention of heavy banks of c_oua t But Dan knew every foot of the road, as indeed, did his mare also, and they ex perienced no difficulty. At times, croßsicg some deep gully, or passing through a thick scrub which had only been cleared to a sufficient width to admit of a dray going through, it was impossible to see any object half a dozen yards off. Again the clouds would open out for a few moments and the mooH would shine brightly, though such intervals only served to make the succeediug darkness blacker than before. On the whole the night was a very favour able orite for the highwayman's business and our friend, during tho first half of his journey, kept himself keenly on the alert. But after a while he relapsed into a ratherdreamy condition. Thoughts of bush rangers, which had previously occupied his mind, gave way to more pleasant topics He was thinking probably of his sweek heart, and of the time when he saw her last; of her golden hair and pretty laugh ing eyes; of the happy time wlien he should be in a position to get married, and have a Btationof his own—building all aorts of castles in the air—when he was startled by the sudden appearance of a masked horse man, who came out of the bush apparently stood in the middle of the road almost at the mare's head, and presenting a gun called upon him in a gruff voice to "Bail up I"

Cool and steady as Dan usually was, the suddenness of the attack almost unnerved him ; but he gathered his wits together, and said in a rather flurried voice, " Hold on, don't fire! I'll give you what I've got," and thrusting his hand into his pocket he drew his revolver, and, quick as thought, fired straight at his assailant's breast.

He heard the bullet strike with a thud, saw the man throw up his arms and roll off' his horse with a groan, and then putting spurs to his mare he made for Barney's Ridge at a gallop. The spot where the encounter had taken place was at a small creek, with a rough culvert thrown over it, known as Jackson's Crossing; nnd recognising the locality, Dan knew that he was not more than six miles from home. In less than half an hour he had completed his journey. He quietly stabled his mare for the night, and by the time he had done this and strolled up to the house, he had pretty well recovered his self-possession. All hands were sitting in the kitchen waiting for the mail, and as Dan entered and closed the door, several of them rose to meet him, and Mrs Daley, expecting to see someone else apparently, asked quickly, " where's Johnny ?" "1 don't know," said Dan. "Didn't you meet him?" asked two or three voices together.

" No," returned Dan, rather mystified. " Why, he said he'd wait for you at Jack son's Crossing," explained Arthur. "He said as you seemed to be so confident, he'd stick you up for a lark." "Had he a gun with him?" asked Dan, turning pale as death. " Yes, he took his own gun." " Oh, my God I I've shot him I" was all Dan could say; and he fell senseless on the floor.

Tho agony of consternation which ensue passes description. Poor Mrs Daley fainted her daughters screamed and cried; and it was some time before anyone could decide what was best to be done. Eventually a cart was despatched to look for Johnny. He was found just where he fell, in a pool of blood, but still breathing faintly. They carried him home ; doctors were brought, and after an examination they e__tra<_led the bullet, and said he might possibly live. For three weeks he hovered between life and death. Then ho mended a little; and" at the end of three months ho was almost well again. The shot appeared to have struck the breast-bone, and glancing up ward, remained somewhere in the lower part of his neck. But skilful treatment, aided by a good constitution, saved him. Poor Dan received the worse shook of the two. He was quite prostrated with grief, and had his brother d.ed he would un doubtedly have gone mnd. As thingswere, it was long after Johnny had quite re covered before Dan could take his usual share in the management of the station; and even to this day he turns pale and shudders whenever the incident is brought to his mind. Johnny Daley appears to have dismissed the event from his memory, but he has had a great horror of practical joking since that night.

A Wild Beast Scare

A coEREsroxDENT writes to the Melbourne';; "Argus":—"A strange story has come.:; from Piper's Creek. It is stated that on I Sunday at about three p.m,, as three young-:: men named James Walsh, Patrick Walsh, a and Patrick Egan were out hunting,; kangaroos with their dogs, thej came across;§ a large savage animal, described to be aßJfii large as a one-year-old heifer, with large I head, shaggy mane, smooth hair, bushy■ tail, and heavy limbs. The animal roared A nt them, and it was the roar which first*;, drew their attention. The young men took to their heels nnd ran, calling at Fisher's:;' Piper's Creek Hotel, and informing thßaj inmates there of what they had seen. TbaFj other men accompanied them back to.thkF place where the animal had been seenf butij they did not come across it. They saw,l|j however, traces on tho ground where he Ma been scratching, and where he had lain . down. Tho locality of the appearance Wm what is known as the Provident Instifcute pnddock, a large rough tract of - grazing land 1,700 acres in extent, fall '- of scrub, timber, and rocks. It is dis tant rather more than a mile behind ths Piper's Creek Hotel, and bounds on one ei_Lft| the road to Lancefield. About a fortnight;; ago several of the children attending tte- Piper's Creek state school rerjorted having seen a large wild animal like a lionoSii they were going home across,the bush, but; no attention was paid to their statement at, the time. However, Mr Henry Fisher,* licensee of the Piper's Creek Hotel, and M ' F. J. Martin (his brother-in-law) do no doubt the information given by the Walsh and Egan."

Heroic Rescue by a Boy.

A crippled lad, named Roger Edwardsj! about 15 years of age, performed a verjjj heroicfeat at South War.anambool the btßffl day by jumping off the jetty and saving thSs life of his sister, a child two years and jj| halfold, who had fallen intothe sea. Th« child, who had been playing on the jetfflj steps, ovor-balanced herself and fell into tug sea. Sho was being rapidly carried into tie breakers when the alarm was given by som* other children. Her brother heard thflt] cries, and throwing his crutch on the jettvii plunged into the sea near where the lira! girl had disappeared. He succeeded % bringing her to the surface, and t_tra| struggled against the current to keep oufc of the breakers. He maintained his hold ojj the child with great determination an_| pluck until his father arrived with a boat,;; into which he was dragged in an almost es4 hausted condition. The little girl had be:;, come insensible, but was brought round by. Pilot Cloke, who successfully resorted to the; treatment recommended by the RoyfUi Humane Society for the recovery of tbs apparently drowned.

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 10, 1883

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