Here caution was not
necessary, and there were divers fierce hand-to-hand attacks on clumps of
scrub representing a vindictive and merciless police, out of which
Moonlighter and his men issued crowned with victory and covered with
glory. A scarecrow in a wayside orchard was charged with desperate
valour, and only saved from instant destruction as a particularly hateful
police spy by the sudden intervention of the leader.
'Back, men!' he cried imperiously. 'Moon lighter never makes war on women!'
He pointed to the protecting skirt in which the scarecrow was clad, and
his bold bad men drew off and retired abashed.
For the next half-mile Moonlighter led his men in stealthy retreat from
an overwhelming force of troopers armed to the teeth. Tracks had to be
covered and diversions created, and there was much hiding behind logs and
in clumps of scrub; indeed, the police were only foiled at length by the
exertion of that subtle strategy for which Moonlighter was notorious.
It was after one o'clock in the morning when Cow Flat was reached. The
little township slept, steeped in darkness, beside its sluggish strip of
creeping 'slurry' miscalled a creek. Beyond, on the rise, a big mine
clattered and groaned, and puffed its glowing clouds of steam against the
sky; but Cow Flat had settled down into silence after the midnight change
of shifts, and a mining township sleeps well.
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