method was severe, but the only safe plan, and Murden was too old a hand
at rogue-taking to adopt half-way measures.

At eight o'clock we were ready for our journey. Three of the police were
to ride on the cart as a means of precaution, and Fred and myself were
promoted to horses. Smith resumed his old position by the side of his
cattle, and after an affectionate leave-taking with the old convict and
his child, we started; but, to our surprise, the hound trotted along by
my side, and all words or gestures were useless in forcing him to return
to his mistress.

Knowing that she valued the animal, I rode back with him, and requested
her to call him into the hut and close the door, but to my astonishment,
she declined; and when I urged that I could not induce the animal to
return unless I accompanied him, she requested me, in a quiet manner, to
accept of him as a gift, and the only conditions that she imposed were,
that I should treat him kindly during his life.

I joyfully accepted her offer, and once more saying good-by, I rejoined
the troop, and with Rover, as I called the dog after I owned him, by my
side, bounding towards me to receive a friendly pat on the head, as
though he rejoiced in the change that had been made, I journeyed on, in
company with Murden and Fred.

All night long did we urge the oxen to their quickest paces, so that we
could reach a stock-hut by sunrise, where we could obtain food and rest,
both of which we needed. A dozen times did I fall asleep in the saddle,
only to awaken when I found that I was likely to pitch headlong to the
ground, and when, by the sudden efforts which I made to recover myself,
I got thoroughly awakened, I saw that my companions were equally as
sleepy.

Had a strong force of bushrangers but attacked us that night, not a man
would have been left to tell the story; for so thoroughly used up were
the force, that I doubt if even the report of a gun could have roused
them from their lethargy.

About daylight we left the main road, and took a course nearly parallel,
over a plain where not a sign of a wagon wheel was visible. After we had
lost sight of the road, we began to meet cattle grazing upon the
prairie, and by their wildness, we imagined that visitors were a rare
sight to them.

At length, two Australian natives were discovered, nearly naked, and
armed with their favorite weapons, spears and boomerangs, squatting
under a tree, and watching our cavalcade with great