him. We naturally supposed that he intended to
lead us to the station, and rode after him without hesitation. We had
not gone far, however, when a cooee reached our ears. We replied, and
presently, looking round in the direction from whence the sound came, we
saw Bracewell galloping towards us, followed by Toby.

"I am thankful that I found you sooner than I expected," he said.
"Where do you think you were going?"

"To the station," answered Guy.

"You were riding, however, in an opposite direction," said our friend.

"The black we fell in with, undertook to guide us," I remarked.

"The rascal had no intention of taking you to my station. He would
probably have led you into the midst of a gang of his own people who, I
have had notice, are encamped in the neighbourhood, and had they found
you unprepared they might have speared you for the sake of your horses
and clothes. The fellow you fell in with was probably one of their
scouts who had been sent forward to ascertain what we were about.
Should they have found us off our guard, they might have robbed the huts
and carried off some of our cattle and sheep."

While Bracewell was speaking, I looked round and found that the black
fellow had disappeared. This strongly corroborated the account our
friend had given us.

As we were suffering greatly from thirst, we were anxious to get back as
soon as possible. We had, we found, gone at least ten miles out of our
way. Bracewell had, however, with the aid of Toby, traced us. Though
our horses were tired, their eagerness to obtain water made them exert
themselves, and they did not take long to cover the ground. Most
thankful we were when we reached the stream close to the station, where
we and they could take a good draught of the refreshing fluid.

We then, by our friend's advice--while old Bob was preparing dinner--
turned into our bunks and managed to get a sound snooze, awaking much
refreshed.

Next morning we had completely recovered from the fatigues we had gone
through, and we now felt that we ought to continue our journey to Mr
Strong's.

"But I don't like you two fellows, with only Toby, to travel through the
bush, with a chance of falling in with hostile blacks or those rascally
bushrangers, who would only be too glad to stick you up and revenge
themselves for your setting me free," said Bracewell. "I have given
notice to the police that the latter gentlemen are abroad, and before
long, clever as t