ctory," cried the aged convict, removing
his apology for a hat, and casting his eyes heavenward.

"Humph," grunted Smith; "we'd better make preparations for quitting
these woods, instead of praying, according to my fancy."

"To Him alone belongs the praise for this day's work--for this mighty
triumph," cried the old man, whose religious feelings were all awakened
by the carnage.

"I don't dispute that the Lord lent his aid, but to my mind, if it
hadn't been for these two Americans, he'd deserted us in the hour of
need. Two good rifle shots are a great help towards obtaining a
victory," exclaimed Smith, wiping his axe of the crimson gore which
still adhered to it, and glancing around the clearing, as though he
expected there might be more bushrangers starting up to offer battle at
any moment.

"The Almighty is powerful, and can crush at his pleasure."

"We all know that," cried Smith, impatiently, "but to my mind it's
better to examine yonder hut, and then make our way back to the team as
fast as possible, for there's no knowing how soon we may have a new gang
to contend with."

His advice appeared so reasonable that we instantly prepared to follow
it; but first we stopped by the side of Black Darnley, and examined to
see whether he was dead. The rifle ball had made sure work, having
passed through his left side in the direction of his heart, and made its
exit below the ribs opposite. On the dark face of the dead man was a
look of defiance, as though even in his death-struggle he had tried to
gain his feet, and to face his enemies with his latest breath.

I removed the pistols which he wore in his belt, and as no one presented
a better claim for them than Fred and myself, I divided with him; and
during our long sojourn in Australia, he kept one, and I the other. He
still clings to his, while I have deposited mine in the office of the
American Union, as a sort of memento of times long past.

A visit to the hut was next paid, and there, heaped up in a corner, we
not only found the goods which were stolen from Smith's cart, but
numerous other articles; and while we were sorting them, I kicked aside
some dirt, and saw a flat stone. Curiosity prompted me to move it, and
underneath was a hoard of gold dust, gold coins, silver dollars, and
English shillings and half crowns, the whole amounting to about two
thousand pounds.

Without stopping to divide it, we gathered it up with the most
convenient articles for carryin