staken; and Toby assured us that we
should be able to follow them up, as they had taken no pains to conceal
their movements. As it grew dark he dismounted, and led the way in a
manner which showed that he was well accustomed to the work.

After going some distance, he begged us to halt, saying that we were not
far off from the camp of the bushrangers.

Having pulled up under the shelter of some tall bushes, we waited to
hear the report Toby might bring us. He again crept forward. We had
not remained long, when the crack of a rifle was heard. As Toby had
gone unarmed, with the exception of a long knife which he usually
carried in his belt, we feared that coming suddenly on the bushrangers
he had been shot. At all events, as concealment was no longer
necessary, we dashed forward, Bracewell and I, with Mr Strong's
overseer leading. We had not gone far, when we caught sight of Toby
standing with his knife in his hand, and, some twenty paces from him, of
a man in the act of levelling his musket to fire.

That the latter was one of the bushrangers, there could be no doubt, and
the overseer, without waiting to inquire, raising his rifle, discharged
it. The bullet took effect, but not until the man had fired; Toby at
the same moment fell to the ground, and I thought was killed; but the
bushranger, before the smoke had cleared away, had darted behind a tree.

I had not fired, and my attention was attracted for an instant by Toby,
who, to my great satisfaction, I saw spring to his feet and make chase
after the fugitive. We called him back, thinking, probably, that the
man was not alone, and that our black follower would fall a victim to
his intrepidity; but, without heeding us, he dashed forward, and as soon
as Bracewell had reloaded, we followed him. It was no easy matter,
however, to make our way between the trees, which here grew unusually
thick, while the ground was encumbered by fallen trunks and boughs. The
spot had evidently been chosen by the bushrangers as a place likely to
afford concealment, and, at the same time, enable them to defend
themselves.

"That fellow was placed here on watch, to warn his comrades of the
approach of an enemy, and, depend upon it, they are not far off," said
Bracewell. "We shall come upon them presently, and it will be our own
fault if we allow any of the gang to escape."

We now heard the sound of fire-arms, and as the bushrangers were warned
of our approach, we knew that the