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