midst of his followers, who now took to flight
helter-skelter, and were soon lost to sight among the trees.

Bendigo proposed sallying out and killing some more of them, but Paul
ordered him to remain quiet.

"We will hold our position until the white men come up," he said.
"Harry, do you think they are our father's party?"

"No doubt about it," answered Harry.

The defenders again raised a loud shout. This time they were heard,
and, the captain leading, they were all soon mounting the hill. All
that had occurred was briefly told. The captain had observed the
beautiful run from the hill, and, fortunately turning back, had
descended, and found the only entrance which existed. He had seen the
flag in the distance, and guessing by whom it was hoisted, was making
his way towards it.

He at once saw the necessity of teaching the blacks a lesson, and the
horses he had recovered being saddled, the whole party set off in
pursuit. The blacks, however, had got the start of them, and swam the
river, having left their wives and children on the other side.

"I trust they have received a lesson they will not easily forget, and
that when we come here, as I hope to do, they will not venture to attack
us," said the captain.

Paul and Harry were delighted at hearing that their father had resolved
to apply for the run. As no one else was likely to have made a claim
for it, there was every probability that it would be granted to him.
They were much surprised at the altered appearance and manners of
Hector, whose cheek was well browned, and who looked infinitely more
manly and fit for work than he had done before. He seemed in good
spirits and greatly to have enjoyed the trip. Indeed, as they sat round
the camp fire that evening, not a grumble did he mutter.

The captain was, of course, grieved to hear of Mr Hayward's illness,
though he hoped that they should find him perfectly recovered on their
return. The next morning Bendigo went out to ascertain whether the
blacks had taken their departure, while the captain and his party rode
round the proposed run to notch the trees and make other marks for
identifying it. The whole day was thus occupied, and on their return
Bendigo met them with the satisfactory intelligence that the blacks had
gone off to a distance, carrying their dead with them. It was a sign
that they did not intend to come back.

The following morning, after a good night's rest, the whole party
commenced