go back and look after the rest of the beasts, and think
yourself fortunate we have not taken the whole of them."

Jack had lifted his heavy stock-whip, intending to dash in at the man;
but at that instant the report of fire-arms from the direction of the
cart which had been upset reached his ears. It was too evident that
Brinsmead and the rest of the men had been attacked, and Jack felt he
could be of most use by riding back to assist them. As he was hastening
on, approaching the rear of the frightened herd, a horseman who had just
come along the road approached him. The stranger, from the pistols in
his belt and his general appearance, was, he had no doubt, one of the
gang of cattle-lifters. Jack, however, was not inclined to yield
without a struggle. Drawing therefore a long knife, or rather dagger,
which he carried in a sheath in his belt, he dashed at the horseman.

"Halloo there, my lad, sheathe your blade, if you have not a fancy for
having your brains blown out!" exclaimed the other, quietly at the same
time drawing a pistol from his belt.

Jack saw that he was covered by the weapon, and restraining his anger
exclaimed, "These beasts are under my charge, and I want to know by what
right you and your people dare to drive them off the road?"

"By the right of might," answered the robber, for such he seemed to be.
"Just calm yourself, my lad; perhaps we may settle matters more easily
than you now fancy. You will understand that we could manage to carry
off every one of your drove if we chose, but we do not wish to do that.
Will you listen to my terms?"

"I will listen to them, but will not undertake to agree to them,"
answered Jack. "What are they?"

"We will take ten shillings sterling a head for every one of the cattle
in the drove. If you agree to that, those which have been driven off
shall be returned; if not, we shall take the liberty of helping
ourselves to as many as we fancy."

"I will mention the terms you propose to our head drover," answered
Jack: "if he agrees to them, I have not a word to say to the contrary."

"Well, be smart about it, my lad. Will Brinsmead is a man of sense, so
I have no doubt he will listen to reason on this occasion. Hasten down,
therefore, to your friends in the swamp there; they and our men have
played long enough at quarter-staff; and mark you, if Brinsmead does not
like my offer, remind him I have the power to settle the business in
another way."

Jack loo