y hard work--but they didn't
mind. They were doing something useful, and as long as a Bushman is
doing that he is all alive and interested.

Bang! went a rifle ahead of them. Bang! Bang! Bang! went the reply.
The fight had commenced. Bill, who was in command of Doolan and Sandy,
was right ahead. Claud was away on his right with another little
squad. But it was Bill's keen eyes which had first seen little groups
of the enemy ahead. One little group, grown tired of waiting, was
snoozing peacefully on a sandy hollow. Bill and his cronies crept on
their stomachs towards them. Nearer they drew, then, with a yell,
leaped down on them.

"Hands up, boys; we've got you."

"Who are ye kiddin'?" said a Lancashire lad, jumping up with his pals.

"There's no kiddin' about this business," said Bill. "Chuck them
rifles over here."

"All right, lad; thou can 'ave 'em--give us a fag," said the leader,
glad to be out of the hurly-burly.

They were sent to the rear.

Meantime, the firing had become stronger. Away ahead, Bill's party saw
a long line of men lying about on a ridge of sand. They were firing
furiously at the advancing scouts.

"I reckon that's a patrol. We'd better scatter them," ordered Bill,
going forward in the most brazen manner to capture about twenty men.
According to the rules of war this was impossible. Hence the sudden
appearance of a "Brass Hat" with a white band on his arm.

"Here--you!" he shouted to Bill and his men.

"Well, matey--what's wrong?"

"You're out of action--clear out," said the officer, a little annoyed
at the term "matey."

"Hands up," said Bill, shoving in a round of blank and presenting his
rifle at the man on the horse.

"Confound your cheek--how dare you----"

"No lip, old cock. Get off that gee-gee."

"Don't you know who I am? I'm Colonel Redtabs----"

"And I'm Bill Buster, boss of this scoutin' show. You can't fool
me--I'm an Australian."

"Hang it all! Don't you know I'm an umpire?"

"Look here, this ain't a cricket match. Get off, or I'll blow you
off," said Bill, fingering his trigger. The old colonel, realising
that he was dealing with a too zealous scout, unacquainted with the
rules of mimic warfare, jumped off his horse.

"Now, Sandy, get on that horse."

"What?" said Sandy, a little confused.

"Get on that horse or I'll blow you _on_," ordered Bill, somewhat
annoyed at the waste of time.

Sandy jumped up.

"Now, take this bloke back to