st
night."

"You may be right," the convict said, in a musing tone. "If we are," he
continued, "in close proximity to those we seek, what do you advise?"

"I would advise a seperation of forces--let Jack and myself approach the
encampment in one direction, while you and Smith can steal towards it
from another. There are many reasons why we should act in this manner,
and you do not need my advice to be convinced of its force."

"May the God of battles aid us," muttered the convict, _sotto voce_, as
though fearful we should catch his words and fears. "I see," he
continued, "the force of your reasoning. When you are ready for the
attack, discharge your rifles, and mind and not waste a single shot."

The convict stalked on as he ceased speaking, following the lead of the
dog. We were about to start in a different direction, but still verging
towards the smoke, when we were detained by a few words from Smith.

"Remember, boys," he hurriedly whispered, "that if any thing occurs, you
are to take charge of my property and remit the sale of it to my mother.
She is somewhere, in London, I believe. Take care of yourselves, and
remember that it was not I that proposed this confounded excursion."

He squeezed our hands as he spoke, and the next minute we lost sight of
his burly form as he followed in the wake of the convict.

Still keeping the smoke in view, Fred and myself struck off in another
direction. We carefully picked our way through the forest, hardly making
noise enough to alarm the numerous birds that were perched upon the
trees, in the deep shade, to avoid the heat of the sun. Not a dry stick
was trodden upon to send forth its crackling sound--not a bough was
brushed past rudely for fear its waving top should give an alarm.
Silently we stole along, and were, as we thought, near the camp. We
crept upon our hands and knees until we came in sight of an open space,
and then upon the first glance we knew that we were close to a gang of
bushrangers.

In the middle of the clearing was a low hut, covered with the hides of
bullocks, which were nailed on shingle fashion, for the purpose of
excluding rain. The logs did not fit very snugly together on the sides
of the cabin, and grass was crowded into the chinks, although in some
places it had been pushed out as for the purpose of enabling those
within to take a survey of the different approaches to the hut. A fire
was smoking before the door, looking as though it had been k