ing so. As the light increased, Paul
climbed to the rock which has been spoken of, to look out for the
horses; for he naturally feared that, if the blacks had been in the
neighbourhood, they might have driven them away or speared them.

As he cast his eye over the plain he could nowhere see the animals.
They might, of course, have got round to the other side of the knoll,
but still their non-appearance made him anxious. A shout from Harry,
announcing breakfast, called him back to the camp. Bendigo had not yet
returned. It was not necessary to wait for him. The young explorers
made a hearty meal--Bruce coming in for his share--to prepare them for
the work to be done, whatever that might be.

They had just finished breakfast, having laid aside a share for the
black, when he was seen coming up the hill, stealing among the bushes.
He shook his head, as he sat down and gobbled up his breakfast.

"Black fellows here--no good--come again; horses gone too," and he
pointed to the north-east, the only outlet to the region, except by a
ford over the river.

"We must go after the horses at once, then," exclaimed Harry.

"No, I certainly would not," answered Paul; "our best plan will be to
remain where we are until we can learn what the blacks are about.
Should they attack us, we could not have a better place for defence than
the one we occupy. If we find that they have driven off the horses, we
might follow and try to recover them; but if not, I again say we should
remain where we are."

Reggy thought Paul's plan the best, and Harry soon saw its wisdom.
Bendigo also approved of it, and said that he would set out again and
try to discover the whereabouts of the black fellows.

"There appear to be a good many birds on the knoll. We shall probably
find some 'possums and other animals, so that we shall not want for food
if we can catch them; but we must not throw a shot away," observed Paul.
"We shall want our powder to keep the blacks in check."

Bendigo told them not to be anxious about food, as he could obtain as
much for them as they could require. Having taken a survey round from
the top of the rock, he glided down the knoll, keeping among the bushes
so as not to be seen by any enemies who might be on the watch.

Although the three lads kept looking round on every side, they could
nowhere discover him. Harry suggested that they should fortify their
rock with small trees and boughs, which they could easily cut dow