to do in the morning, and then rush on
those in the camp while the others were away. The dog would prove the
chief obstacle, and it was settled that I was to shoot him while Hector
and Guy should dash into their camp. Two of the men would in all
probability remain, while the others went to look after the horses,
leaving their arms behind them. The dominie was to remain with the
horses in case any of the fellows escaping might gallop off with them.

We waited until about a couple of hours to dawn, when we crept forward,
led by the black. We dared not approach as close as we could have
wished, on account of their watch-dog, who would be certain to give the
alarm. Our plans being arranged, the dominie and I lay down, and,
wearied with what we had lately gone through, slept for the greater part
of the night.

It was still dusk when, having crept up to the robbers' camp, we saw one
of them get up and throw some sticks on the fire. He then aroused his
companions, and two of them, the big bushranger and one I took to be
Vinson, went off, as we concluded, to bring in the horses, happily
leaving their guns behind them.

Now was our opportunity. At a signal from Hector, we rose to our feet,
and holding our guns ready to fire, rushed towards the two men, who were
engaged in cooking their breakfast. The bull-dog, with a fierce bark,
sprang towards us. As he did so, the black with his spear nearly fixed
the brute to the ground, which saved me from having to fire, and thus
alarming the other two. One of the men attempted to take up his gun,
but it was beyond his reach; he, however, seized from the fire a thick
stick, with which he made a blow at my head; but at that instant my
brave Carlo sprang at his throat with a force which brought him to the
ground. Hector and Guy were in the meantime struggling with the other
man, whom they succeeded in securing. Having lashed his arms behind
him, they were at liberty to come to my assistance, and soon firmly
bound the fellow Carlo had overthrown, for I had not struck a blow. On
examining the countenances of the men we discovered that they were both
strangers. The big bushranger and Vinson, who were, we had little
doubt, the other two we had seen, had gone off probably to catch the
horses. Having left their arms behind them they were in our power, but
it was a great question whether we could manage to capture them. They
would probably be back in a few minutes, and we had at o