er examination convinced me that they were bound hand
and foot, and their mouths gagged.

"It may seem to you incredible, but it is nevertheless true, and only
proves what resolute men can accomplish when opposed to weakness.
Twelve men were surprised and bound, and made to lie flat on their backs
at the word of command, and so well did they obey the instructions of
the murderers, that the latter, very probably, were too much pleased
with their compliance to waste powder on them.

"I did not upbraid them with their cowardice, for I know what human
nature is, and perhaps, had I been of the party, I might have submitted
to the same degradation.

"There was one thing that I learned from the released prisoners that
pleased me. The convicts had left their horses at the station, and
expressed a determination to return in a few hours' time for them. Where
the villains had gone they did not know, or in what direction they
departed. A native, however, who was employed at the station, searched
for their footsteps, and was not long in finding them.

"The trail led to the woods, and the men stationed at the hut expressed
an opinion that the convicts were in search of a gang of bushrangers,
that had been secreted in the vicinity for many months, but had recently
disbanded, and gone to the mines.

"I expected that the murderers would return to the hut for their horses,
when they found that the men they wished to join were no longer
organized as a gang; so bidding the men conceal the horses, and retire
within the walls of the stock-house, I waited hour after hour for them
to come in sight.

"About four o'clock, my wish was gratified. Two stout, black-whiskered,
desperate looking men, with rifles in their hands, and revolvers in
their belts, came in sight, and advanced towards the hut, conversing in
earnest tones, and apparently unsuspicious of the change that had taken
place during their absence.

"I can only account for their boldness in returning, by the supposition
that they had been so long accustomed to see men tremble when they
raised their deadly weapons, that they were regardless whether the
prisoners had released themselves or not.

"In fact, when the two convicts were advancing, I looked around on the
numerous stockmen, and was surprised to see that they trembled and
turned pale; and yet they were surrounded by twelve policemen, as brave
as Melbourne could produce.

"When the convicts were within a dozen paces of