ay back to
camp, when we caught sight in the distance of three horsemen, their
heads and those of their steeds, occasionally appearing above the
brushwood. They appeared to be coming towards us.

At first we thought that they must be Bracewell and two companions; but
as we could make out no led horses, and they were not approaching from
the direction he would appear, we concluded that they must be strangers.

"What if they should be bushrangers?" said Guy. "If they catch Toby
alone they are certain to carry off our baggage and horses, and will
probably shoot him to prevent him giving information."

"The sooner we get back to camp the better," I answered.

We hurried on, keeping ourselves concealed as much as possible. "It
would be prudent to load our guns with ball," said Guy; "the fellows
won't know that we suspect them, and may think that they can stick us up
with perfect ease."

Fortunately our horses were close to the camp, and as soon as we reached
it we sent Toby to bring them in, not telling him that we suspected the
character of the strangers. As they approached we anxiously examined
their appearance, which was certainly not in their favour. They were
savage-looking fellows with long beards, their unkempt hair hanging over
their shoulders. They pulled up suddenly when they saw us standing with
our backs to a couple of large trees, our baggage and saddles piled on
the ground, and Toby holding our horses.

"What is your pleasure, friends?" asked Guy. The fellows examined us
without answering.

"You look as if you'd know us again should we come across you," said
Guy. "Just take my advice. Ride on and leave us to cook our dinner."

"Who are you, young chaps, and where are you going?" inquired one of the
horsemen, who from his appearance we concluded was the leader of the
party.

"We are going our own way and are not inclined to give that information
to those who have no authority to ask it," replied Guy in a firm voice.

"Did you fall in with a young fellow who had been stuck up by
bushrangers?" inquired the man.

The question convinced us that we were not mistaken as to the character
of our visitors.

"I have just told you that we are not going to answer any questions from
those who have no right to put them," said Guy.

"Oh, oh, oh!" cried the man, making a movement as if he was about to
unsling his gun.

"If you do that, I'll fire," shouted Guy. "Our rifles are loaded with
ball; now ri