tore of food, when German
shouted, "Hi! quick! look out!" and there was a glimpse of a black
figure passing rapidly among the trees.

CHAPTER SIX.

"COO-EE! COO-EE!"

A run was made for the wagons, in whose shelter the ladies were placed,
while with quite military precision, the result of the captain's
teaching, men and boys stood to their arms, so that an inimical tribe
would have had to face six double guns, whose discharge had been so
arranged, that two would always be loading, two firing, and the other
two ready to pour in their shots in case of a rush.

It was just at the edge of the grove at one end, where a glimpse of the
black figure had been seen, and every eye was strained on the watch for
the next appearance of danger.

"I'm glad we were warned in time," said the captain in a low voice.
Then, after a painful pause, "Mind this; not a shot must be wasted. If
we are to fire on the poor wretches, I should prefer for them to be at a
distance, so that the charges of buck-shot may scatter and wound as many
as possible, so as to give them a lesson. A close shot means death. No
one fires till I give the word."

The moments grew into minutes, and as Norman looked back over his
shoulder, he could see the anxious faces of the four ladies peering out
at him from their shelter, but not a word was spoken.

"Think they will get round to the back to try and drive off the
bullocks?"

"I was thinking of going to see, and--Look out!"

For all at once there was a loud rustling of the bushes in front of
them, as if something was making a rush, and the next moment a black
figure bounded into the open space where the fire was burning.

"Why, it's old Shanter," cried Rifle, bursting into a hearty laugh, in
which the black joined, showing his white teeth with childish delight as
he came close up, holding out something hung on the end of his spear,
and carrying what appeared to be a bag made of bark in his left hand, in
company with his boomerang, his war-club being stuck in the skin
loin-cloth which was the only garment he wore.

"White Mary--big white Mary," he cried, while every eye scanned the
trees behind him, but only for a moment or two, as all felt now that it
was another false alarm.

"What do you want?" said the captain rather angrily, for he was vexed at
the black's arrival.

"Shanter want big white Mary," cried the black; and he shook the objects
on his spear, which proved to be a couple of opossum-