I succeeded in
catching three, and then lost no time in coming to you."

When we told him of the visit we had received from the bushrangers, he
exclaimed:--

"We must run those fellows down. It is too bad that we should be unable
to ride in security through the country without the risk of being
robbed, perhaps murdered, by such villains."

We immediately saddled our horses, packed our traps on our baggage
animal, and prepared to go forward under Bracewell's guidance. Old Bob,
his hut-keeper and factotum, dropped behind to drive on the
baggage-horse at a greater speed than Toby was inclined to move. I
heard him talking to the black in a lingo which was utterly
incomprehensible to me.

Bracewell was much astonished when Guy told him that we had recognised
Cyril Vinson among the bushrangers. We were once more, on account of
the slow pace of our baggage-horse, compelled to camp, but as Bracewell
wished to get back to his hut that night, he rode forward, leaving old
Bob to guide us in the morning. Old Bob undertook to keep watch, and as
he did not look like a man who would go to sleep while so engaged, we
were able to rest securely.

It was nearly evening the next day when we caught sight of the huts
forming our friend's station. He came forward to meet us.

"I expected you somewhat sooner," he said. "As Bob was away, I was
engaged in performing one of his duties--feeding the inhabitants of my
farm-yard. I have a curious lot, which I have caught and tamed at
different times. Here they are, come and have a look at them."

And he led the way to an enclosure with a hut on one side of it. As he
stooped down, ducks and fowls rushed forward to obtain the food he held
in his hand, the pigs came grunting up, and several long-legged birds--
storks I believe they were--stood by waiting for their share, numerous
parrots and parroquets were perched on the railings, as tame as the
barn-door fowls, while a laughing-jackass looked on complacently from an
overhanging bough, every now and then uttering its strange notes.

Bracewell directed Bob to finish feeding the birds, and ushered us into
the hut. It was about thirty feet long and twelve wide, roughly built
with a verandah in front, and contained a centre room and one on either
side. The interior was far neater than I had expected from the
appearance of the outside, and was furnished with tables and chairs, and
several cupboards and some book-shelves; the walls were