animals. Now, then, mount."

We slung our rifles over our shoulders by the means of leather straps,
and in a few minutes were cantering across the prairie at an easy gait,
and in the direction of the bushrangers' late retreat.

It was near nine o'clock when we reached the edge of the forest, and
drew up near the spot where we had entered the day before by the secret
path.

The stillness of the woods was oppressive; for not a tree waved its
bough, nor did a breath of air sigh over the plain. The night owl alone
sent forth its discordant shriek, as though troubled with ominous
forebodings regarding its future fate, and was protesting against them.

"This silence is more dreadful than the howling of wolves," cried Fred,
at length, as he sat in his saddle, and regarded the dark forest before
him.

"Those trees, if they could speak, would tell of tales of blood and
cruelty, equal to that which I related yesterday," said Murden, after a
short pause.

"And do you think that there are other gangs of bushrangers concealed in
those dark recesses?" I asked.

"There must be near half a dozen different ones, for it's the most
extensive forest in Australia; and ten thousand soldiers, with every,
equipment necessary, would be obliged to retire from its shades, baffled
and defeated, before a few hundred men who knew the ground thoroughly."

"Well, let us get beyond the range of a bullet," cried the lieutenant,
after a moment's pause; and as we presented a fair mark for any robber
who might be in ambush, we were not slow to turn our horses' heads and
trot a short distance from such dangerous concealment.

We were about to dismount, and post our sentinels, when I heard a deep
bay in the direction of the stockman's hut, which recalled to my mind
the many scenes through which Fred and myself had passed since the same
sound had first broken upon our ears.

"Do you hear any thing?" I asked, of my companion, pausing to listen.

"No," he replied; "why do you inquire?"

"Did you, Smith, hear no sound that is familiar to your ear?"

"No, sir," he replied, pressing forward, "I did not hear any sound but
the shrieking of yonder owl."

"Our friend is getting nervous," cried Murden, with a laugh.

"There," I cried, suddenly, as a deep bay, many miles distant, came
floating over the prairie, "you must have heard that howl. The hound is
on our trail, and his following us at this time of night means
something."

"You are right," sai