eir horses' sides, and followed us at a gallop, the dog leading the
way in the direction of the stock-hut, and no longer uttering loud bays.

An hour quickly passes when there is something to occupy the mind, and
at the end of that time we were not more than half a mile from the house
which we had left at sundown.

"You see," said the lieutenant, "your surmises were groundless. We have
had our journey for nothing, and for once the dog has proved a false
prophet."

I began to fear that I had rendered myself liable to ridicule, and was
thinking how I should recede, when the sharp report of a gun was heard,
in the direction which we were travelling.

"The d----!" cried Murden, suddenly; "I know the sound of my carbines as
well as I know when pay-day comes. That gun was discharged by one of my
fellows, and there is trouble, or he would have been asleep before
this."

Three or four flashes of light were seen, and then the report of an
irregular volley was heard, as though some force outside of the hut was
firing at it from spite.

"The affair is explained," the lieutenant said; "a gang of bushrangers
have attacked the hut, and my men are defending it bravely. Forward,
men, to the rescue."

"One second," cried Fred, laying his hand on Murden's arm. "Let us
reason for a moment, because there is no pressing haste; those in the
hut can keep twenty men at bay until daylight, and I think if we use a
little stratagem, we can secure a few of the gang, and run but little
risk."

"Speak quick," cried the impatient officer, who longed to be where he
could smell the burning powder, and as another discharge of muskets was
heard, he almost broke away from the cool, indifferent Fred.

"There are two suggestions which I have to offer," Fred said. "In the
first place, the party that is attacking the station think that the
force under your charge is gone for the night."

"Well, what then?" cried Murden.

"Or else the party, not knowing that your command is near here, rallied
to avenge the death of Black Darnley and his comrades. Now, if we charge
up to the very door of the station, we shall most probably get a volley,
not only from the bushrangers, who will hear the sound of the horses'
feet, but as likely as not receive a shot from our friends."

"At any rate, we can capture two or three of the villains," cried the
officer.

"I doubt it," answered Fred. "Knowing that they will have to raise the
siege, two or three saddles wi