ins.

Hardly had they walked a couple of hundred yards away, when one of the
cows in the fenced-in paddock raised her head from grazing, and uttered
a deep-toned bellow. She ceased munching the rich grass, and whisked
her tail about, as if trying to tie it in knots, for she saw a black
approaching the paddock, and that black was one she did not know.

The black came cautiously on, crawling from tree to bush, and from bush
to tree, and always getting nearer to the house. Finally, he reached
the fence, and along by this he crept like a great black slug, till he
was at the end, and within a dozen yards of the store.

Fifty yards away a couple of dozen of his fellows, all spear and club
armed, lay hidden among the shrubs and trees which the captain and Uncle
Jack were unwilling to cut down, and these men watched intently every
movement of their companion, and in perfect silence, till they saw him
raise himself very slightly, and then almost run on all fours across the
space which divided him from the storehouse, the movement being upon his
hands and toes.

Then a low murmur of satisfaction ran through them, and they turned to
look in the other direction, where the ladies were all making their way,
basket-laden, toward where the captain and Uncle Jack were continuing
their attack upon the great tree.

No fear of interruption in that direction; no fear of any one coming in
the other, for the boys had been seen to ride right off over the hills,
as if on a long expedition.

The black fellow disappeared from his companions' sight; and as soon as
he was well inside, he rose up, detached a bark bag from his
'possum-skin waistband, and grinned with satisfaction as he ran his eyes
round among the casks, packages, and tins upon the rough shelves.

Then he stopped short, and stared at the cask before him, for there was
something suspicious about it. That was not the cask from which he had
filled his meal-bag last time, and carried off such a glorious haul. It
looked wider and bigger, and he hesitated, and passing his right hand
behind him, carefully drew out his club, ready for that tub if it should
be dangerous.

But the tub stood there perfectly innocent-looking, and the head had
evidently lately been moved by floury fingers, which had left their
marks. In addition, there was a dusting of flour on the top, and a tiny
sprinkle of the same on the rough boards in front.

All this reassured him, and tucking his nulla-null