more hab left de party
today, and gone off wid dere share of de sheep to der people."

"Well, what do you think, Mr. Blount--shall we attack them tonight,
or wait till morning?"

"I should say wait till morning, certainly," the settler said. "We
might shoot a few if we attack them now, but the rest would be all
off, at the first flash of our gun; and we should never get another
shot. I think our best plan would be to remain where we are, for
another couple of hours--it is two o'clock now--then Jim will guide
us to the place, and we can take up our position as close as we can
get, and wait for daylight."

"There is no fear of their making a move before it is light, Jim?"

"No, sah. Dey tink dey am safe now, and eat one big feast. Dey not
move till light, sartain."

"Very well, Mr. Blount, then we will do as you say. When we get
near them we will divide into four parties. You, with four men,
shall move up close to the sheep, Sergeant O'Connor, with four
others, shall work up from the other end of the bottom. Five others
shall make a detour, and get right on the other side of their fire;
and I, with the other three and Jim, who you see has got one of the
constables' rifles and ammunition, will come down on them from this
side.

"Jim will place all the parties, taking them by turns, as near the
fire as he thinks safe; and will then return to me. Only, as we
shall attack them from four sides, let everyone be careful about
his shooting; otherwise we shall have casualties from our own
shots.

"All will remain quiet until I fire. Then a general volley must be
poured in, with bullet and buckshot; and when the rifles and guns
are empty, go right at them with pistol and sword."

The plan was carried out as arranged and, before daybreak, the four
parties were lying in the positions allotted to them, within forty
yards of the blacks. A few of these were seen sitting by the fire,
the rest were all asleep.

Gradually the light began to creep over the sky and, as it became
lighter, there was a movement among the blacks. As soon as he could
see perfectly, Reuben was about to fire in the air; for he did not
like to fire at unsuspecting men, in spite of the deeds of blood
and rapine they had performed in the settlement.

Presently, however, his eye fell upon one of the treacherous
trackers, who had so nearly brought destruction upon them. He
levelled his rifle and fired, and the man fell dead in his tracks.

As the rest o