"outward bound." In the reservoir was fixed a pump, and up this Smith climbed, breathed in the fresh air, and looked about. Finding the coast clear, he quickly jumped into the enclosure, m a d e for the open gate, and ran as if for his life. T h e outside warder on duty over the stone-breaking gang, seeing the strangelooking figure emerge from the enclosure, at once took it for granted there was an escape, immediately acquainted the military sentry of the fact, and they both started off in pursuit. T h e fugitive m a d e for the bush along Victoria Street—then an unformed, uneven, stumpy track—and, as there were several persons passing backwards and forwards, the soldier was afraid tofireat Smith, lest he might shoot someone else. T h e consequence was the runner had a good start, and, though sadly handicapped in consequence of his subterranean excursion, the soldier was equally at a disadvantage through the weight of his accoutrements, whilst the warder had too m u c h flesh to be in racing condition. At length the soldierfiredat the flying target, grazing it, but doing no harm. T h e gunshot report brought out the corporal and his guard with Wintle (the gaoler), but the latter was so solemnly stout and stiff in his limbs, that to lead a foot-hunt was altogether out of his line. S o m e of the soldiers were active young fellows, and off they pegged, blazing away, but throwing their bullets far astern of the mark, which kept well out of range. Smith pelted on northward of the old cattle yard, at the n o w junction of Victoria and Elizabeth streets ; and, keeping the Old Cemetery well to the left, clapped on all sail, steering towards the Benevolent Asylum, then on the eve of being opened. T w o of the soldiers pushed ahead, determined, if possible, to run him to earth, but their guns and equipments retarded them, and the runaway could beat them hollow. Half-a-dozen civilians joined in the fun, and helter-skelter along they galloped as fast as legs could carry them, the course frequently changing from a flat to a steeplechase country, where small, nasty water leaps had to be taken and fallen trees jumped, for there was no time for going round to an easy crossing, as Smith hit out in regular bee-line style. It was neck or nothing with him, " a gold chain or a wooden leg," and a barked shin or two was of little account where freedom beckoned him on, and the hangman's " cats" caterwauled from behind. Sometimes the hunters m a d e good running, and the excitement was varied by random shots fired by the guard, and once they were so close that a bullet struck within a foot of thefleeingheels. O n nearing the asylum, Smith put on full steam for afinaleffort, and as it was up hill, his superior powers of locomotion so told in his favour that he topped therisingground to the north of the asylum, leaving his pursuers well in the rear. H e dashed d o w n the other side, and, on getting within shelter of a large fallen tree—for there was m u c h dead wood about—burrowed under it. and lay there panting. T h e others were soon on the crown of the hill, when, to their astonishment, on looking around they could observe no trace of the fugitive, and what had become of him was matter for m u c h surprise ; to lose sight of him was passing strange, but to be completely thrown off the scent was marvellous. H o w to act, or what next to do was a puzzle, for black-trackers were then unknown, and a blood-hound was not accessible. During the hunt the party were observed by a son of the gaoler, Master George Wintle (then in his thirteenth year), as he was returning from school, and, being a light, nimble lad, with thefleetnessof a young deer, he followed the hue and cry, and arrived on the hill almost as soon as the rest. Whilst they were in a quandary, this youngster treated himself to a coursing match, and, making a circuit of the valley, in skirting a fallen tree he smelt something near him, and a little further investigation disclosed the form of a m a n coiled up like an opossum. A shout of triumph from the finder quickly brought the rest to the place, and there lay Smith at bay. W h e n ordered to c o m e out, he bluntly refused to do so, and sulkily dared any of them to lay afingeron him. T h efilthycondition in which he had parted company with the reservoir, amply warranted his adopting noli me tangere as a motto, without the permission of any Herald's College, and no person present seemed disposed to be brought into close quarters with him. O n e of the soldiers proposed to shoot, and another to prod him out with a bayonet; but though it m a y be justifiable to kill or wound aflyingenemy, a lawyer's clerk in attendance ruled that it was highly illegal to resort to such violence against a person so hors de combat. T h e next proposal was to smoke him out of his lair, and when Smith heard some of them preparing to gather a heap of green bushes for the purpose, he voluntarily came forth and offered to surrender, but no one was willing to take him into custody. It wasfinallyarranged that Smith should march back to the gaol in front of the soldiers, w h o followed with their loaded guns at the "ready," and were prepared to shoot him if he attempted to run. This was done accordingly, and Smith, as if enjoying a kind of triumph, headed the return procession, and all the way was in the most
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THE CHRONICLES OF EARLY MELBOURNE.
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