would not be fooled a second time. Some of the others had an instinctive
perception that this time the bushrangers were real ones."

The narrator paused, and Harry asked if that was the case.

"It was exactly," was the reply. "The men were notorious bushrangers who
had been troubling that part of the country for some time. The robbers
drew revolvers and ordered the men to 'bail up!' (hold up their hands)
which they did in a hurry, and then they were commanded to stand in a
row with their faces next to the wall.

"Then the bushrangers ordered the ladies to provide them with
refreshments, while one was commanded to sit at the piano and entertain
them with music. No one was allowed to leave the room except under the
escort of a bushranger, for fear that word would be sent to the police.

"The scoundrels ate and drank freely, and then took possession of all
the watches, jewelry, money, and other valuables in the possession of
the party. After making their collection they left the place. Word was
sent to the police as soon as possible, but as the police station was
several miles away, the information was of no practical value."

"Were the scoundrels ever caught?" inquired Ned.

"Yes, they were eventually caught and hanged," was the reply. "They
troubled that region for some time. The inhabitants dared not pursue
them, for fear of their vengeance, though all wanted to be rid of them.
Four men came from Melbourne with authority for taking these robbers,
dead or alive, and with the promise of a large reward. It was impossible
to keep their errand a secret, and none of the people dared give them
any assistance in consequence of their dread of what the bushrangers
might do if they heard of it. I know of one instance where these four
men applied to a squatter for a night's lodging and supper. He dared not
let his family know about the men being there, but lodged them in an
out-building, and with his own hands carried the food to them for their
supper."

"And did these four men capture the bushranger gang?" queried Harry.

"Not by any means," was the reply. "They were riding one day along the
road, when they suddenly found themselves face to face with the
bushrangers. A fight followed as a matter of course, and every one of
the four was killed. When the corpses were discovered, one of them was
found in a kneeling posture, as though he had died in the act of begging
for mercy. A ten-pound bank note was found sticking in a wo