ment of
death. The sergeant also, who was a good-natured fellow, was evidently
anxious not to take too much notice of the matter.

We soon got the fire made up, and having breakfasted, we mounted and
rode in the direction we supposed that the blacks had taken, but except
the dead bodies of the men we had shot, no trace of them could we
discover. They probably could not tell whether or not we had any
natives with us, and therefore took care to leave no trail by which they
could be followed up. They might possibly have been hiding all the time
in the neighbourhood, or might--contrary to their usual custom--have
travelled during the night.

After looking for an hour or more we agreed that it would be useless to
search further and pursued our course towards Mr Strong's. The
sergeant's way for some distance lay in the same direction, and he and
his men therefore accompanied us. We had got about half way, when we
saw a white man running towards us. He appeared to be in a desperate
hurry, and as he approached made signs entreating us to stop.

"What's the matter, my man?" inquired Bracewell as he came up.

"I am a shepherd on Mr Robinson's out-station," he answered. "I had
driven my flock to the run this morning, when who should I see coming
towards me but old Bill the hut-keeper who had a spear in his side and
another in his back. He had just time to tell me that, soon after I had
gone, a whole mob of blacks surrounded the hut, and to the best of his
belief were still either in or about it, when, though I did my best to
help him by cutting out the spear, he sank back and died. On this I was
afraid to stay where I was lest the blacks should find me out, and was
trying to reach Mr Strong's or some other station, when I saw you."

This account made us resolve at once to try and surprise the blacks.
The shepherd acknowledged that he and his mate had just before got in on
the sly some bottles of rum, which it was possible the blacks might have
found; and that if so, should we advance cautiously, we might very
likely catch them. Not a moment however was to be lost, and one of the
troopers taking the shepherd up behind him on his horse to act as our
guide, we set off in the direction of the hut. It was so situated at
the bottom of a hill, with a belt of trees on one side, that led by the
shepherd we were able to get close up to it without being discovered.

We there dismounted, leaving our horses under the charge of