with the latter.

Brave little Rob offered to gallop off to warn them. Jock Andrews
begged that he might go with Master Rob. There were still two horses in
the paddock, though not very good ones. They were quickly caught and
saddled, and Rob and his attendant set off. They had to cross by the
ford some way down the river, in which direction the riding-party was
coming. They would have to make a wide circuit, so as not to fall in
with the blacks.

Rob and Jock rode on as fast as their sorry steeds would allow, looking
out for the savages, who might, they feared, be on the watch for the
riding-party, to revenge themselves for the defeat they had suffered.
They had gone some distance, when Jock exclaimed--

"There they are, Master Rob, there they are!"

"What, the blacks!" cried Rob. "We must keep clear of them, and gallop
on."

"No, sir, the captain and the ladies," answered Jock, who, standing up
in his stirrups, could obtain a wider view than his young companion.

"Hurrah!" cried Rob, and he dashed on to meet the party.

"What has happened, my lad?" exclaimed the captain in a tone of alarm,
on seeing him approach.

Rob briefly explained what had happened.

"Thank heaven that they have escaped," said the captain. "We nearly
fell in with the blacks, but seeing a mob of them in the distance, I
thought it prudent to make a circuit, and so avoided them, or I don't
know what would have been the consequences."

The captain was, of course, anxious to reach home. The remainder of the
distance was performed at a gallop. They found Mrs Berrington greatly
recovered, and Mrs Hugh as calm as ever. Janet and Adela received
their meed of praise. They had proved themselves true heroines, for had
it not been for their courage and presence of mind--in all human
probability the whole family would have been destroyed by the savage
blacks.

Paul and Harry immediately volunteered to ride off and obtain the
assistance of the police, lest the blacks--as it was probable they would
do--might return.

While the lads were gone, the captain and his brother, with Mr Hayward,
the rest of the boys, and the men, employed themselves in repairing the
door and further fortifying the house. Their labour was rendered
unnecessary, however, by the arrival of a strong party of police, led by
Paul and Harry, who had fortunately found them nearer than they had
expected.

Chase was immediately made after the blacks, who were overtaken