A TRIAL AND ITS TRAGIC FINALE.
Harry was very much disturbed by the communication of his new
acquaintance, whose name he ascertained to be Wyman. It was not very
pleasant, of course, to be a prisoner, but this he could have borne,
being confident, sooner or later, of escaping. But to be forced to join
these lawless men, and render himself, like them, an outlaw and outcast
from respectable society, seemed terrible. He determined that, come what
would, he would preserve his integrity and his honest name. He might be
ill-treated, but they could not force him to become a bushranger. He
talked the matter over with Jack, and the young sailor agreed with him.
Presently the meal was ready, and the two boys were served with the
rest. Notwithstanding their precarious position, each ate heartily It
takes a good deal to spoil the appetite of a growing boy.
After eating, the captain, clearing his throat, addressed the band:
"My men," he said, "we have refreshed ourselves by eating, and now a
less pleasant scene awaits us. I am your captain, and to me you have
sworn implicit obedience. Is it not so?"
"Yes, yes!" answered the bushrangers.
"It is a necessity of our position. We have withdrawn from the world,
and we lead a free, untrammelled life in the bush. We scorn the laws
that the colonists have made, and prefer to govern ourselves. Is this
so?"
There was a hoarse murmur of assent.
"As a consequence," the captain proceeded, "we are hunted like wild
beasts. Our enemies have laid plots to ensnare us, but thus far they
have not succeeded. While we stand together we are safe."
Again there were signs of assent and approval as Captain Stockton
paused.
"But one thing is essential. There must be no traitor, no malcontents
among us. A large reward has been offered for my apprehension--five
thousand pounds! It shows how much they are afraid of us," and he raised
his head with unconscious pride. "Against open enemies we can hold our
own, but not against the secret foe who sits beside us as a friend, and
eats and drinks with us. When such a one is found, what shall be his
fate?"
He paused for a reply, and it came from the lips of all in one stern
word--"Death!"
"I am answered," said the captain. "The sentence has been pronounced,
not by my lips but by your own."
Here he turned to two attendants, who were stationed near at hand.
"Bring forth the traitor," he said.
The two men disappeared within one of the huts, and immediately
reappeared, leading behind them a third, with his hands tied behind him.
His face was covered by a black cloth, which effectually screened his
features from the general observation. All eyes were turned on the
unhappy man. Harry and Jack regarded the scene with painful interest.
They guessed what was coming.
"Complete your task!" said the captain with a wave of his hand.
The two guards set the offender with his back to a tree, and producing a
rope, quickly passed it round his waist and tied him securely, with his
screened face toward the band.
"Wretch!" said the captain in a terrible voice, "you thought to betray
us, and expose us to punishment and death, but the doom which you were
ready to bring upon us has recoiled upon yourself. You would have sold
your captain and comrades for gold. They have pronounced your doom, and
it is _Death!_ Have you anything to say?"
The victim did not speak, but slowly inclined his head in hopeless
submission to his fate.
"You have nothing to say for yourself. Is there anyone to speak for
you?"
One of the bushrangers sprang forward impetuously. "Yes, captain, I will
speak for him."
Captain Stockton frowned fiercely, but uttered one word, "Speak!"
The daring outlaw, who had stepped forward a little from the line,
commenced: "This man is my brother. We were nursed by the same mother,
we played together by the same fireside, we grew into manhood together,
and together we joined this band of brothers."
He paused a moment, and the captain said briefly, "Well?"
"Now," continued the brother, "you would condemn him to a shameful
death, which he does not deserve."
"What!" exclaimed the captain, his face becoming pale with anger; "what
do you dare to say? Do you question the justice of our sentence? Would
you excuse a traitor?"
"He is no traitor!" said the brother boldly.
"Was he not caught attempting to escape? Answer me instantly."
"Yes, but he had no intention of betraying any of us."
"What then was his object?" demanded Captain Stockton sternly.
"He meant to leave you. He had become tired of the life of a bushranger.
He wished to return to the paths of honesty, and live by labor at some
respectable trade."
"And why was this? Why, after so many years, had he become tired of our
noble independence?"
"In one of his missions, undertaken in the interest of the fraternity,
he had made the acquaintance of a young girl, modest and attractive. He
wished to marry her, but as a bushranger he knew this was impossible.
Therefore, he resolved to leave our band, and enter upon a new life. He
would never have uttered a word to imperil the safety of his captain or
his comrades."
"And you expect us to believe this?" said the captain with a sneer.
"I do. I swear it is true."
"And what do you expect me to do, Robert Graham?"
"To consider his temptations, and to show mercy upon him."
"Perhaps also you expect me to release him, and bid him go his way to
the maiden who is waiting for him."
"It would be a generous act."
"But I am not so generous," said the captain. "Your plea is ingenious,
but I put no faith in it. It is utterly improbable. You and your brother
have been with us for seven years. You have become accustomed to our
ways. He was faithful and loyal till the love of gold made him a
traitor. What he sought was blood money."
"No, a thousand times, no!" exclaimed the brother earnestly.
"I say it is so," said Captain Stockton harshly. "It is plain to every
member of the band. Yet, because you have never transgressed, I have
been willing to listen to you, remembering that he is your brother."
"Spare his life at least; even if you are convinced that he is guilty.
He has not lived his life half out. Be merciful!"
"I cannot," answered the captain in an inflexible tone. "If I yielded to
such a weakness all discipline would be at an end. If treachery is to be
pardoned, who knows which one among you might be the next to imitate the
example of this man. No! justice is stern, and punishment must be
inflicted. The guilty must be punished though the heavens fall. Men,
stand aside!"
[Illustration: The Death of the Bushranger Captain.]
This was addressed to the two men who stood, one on each side of the
condemned bushranger.
They obeyed the command of their chief and he, raising his revolver,
pointed it at the breast of the unhappy offender.
There was a moment of intense excitement. Harry and Jack were
spellbound. Their faces were pale, and wore an expression of horror.
They were about to see a human life taken. They could hardly forbear
uttering a groan.
The silence was broken by a sharp, explosive sound. The deadly weapon
had done its work; but it was not the captive who had received the
winged messenger of death. It was the captain himself who staggered and
with one convulsive movement fell prone to the earth.