the settlers the
necessity not only of strongly barricading their houses, but of
keeping a watch by turns; as the bush rangers seldom attack a
place, unless they can gain the advantage of a surprise.

As nothing had been heard of the bush rangers, Reuben determined to
return to his barrack. He was spending the last night at Dick
Caister's when, just as they were about to turn in, the sound of a
horse's hoofs, at full gallop, was heard.

"Something is the matter," Dick said. "Men don't ride like that, at
night, for nothing."

He went to the door and opened it, just as the horseman stopped in
front.

"Quick, Caister!" the man said as he leaped down, "the bush rangers
are not fifty yards behind."

And indeed, the sound of the trampling of other horses sounded
close behind.

"Come in, come in!" Dick cried. "Ah! Is it you, Shillito? Never
mind the horse, he must look after himself. Luckily the captain's
here, and we will give it them hot. Just run round and see that all
the shutters are fastened."

As Dick spoke he was barring the door, and he now shouted at the
top of his voice to the two hired men, who were in bed upstairs;
but before any answer could be returned, there was a thundering
knocking at the door.

"What is it?" Dick shouted.

"Open the door, and be quick about it, or it will be worse for you.
We want that chap that's just ridden up, and we mean to have him,
so he had best come out at once. If you don't open the door at
once, we will cut the throats of every soul in the house."

"You have got to get at our throats first, my fine fellow," Dick
said jeeringly.

The knocking was at once renewed, but with greater violence.

"The door's a strong one," Dick said to Reuben, "and it will stand
a good deal of that sort of thing; but we may as well move the
table and benches up against it, then we can see how things stand."

Reuben had been busy taking down the guns, which hung over the
fireplace; dropping a ramrod into them to see that they were
charged, and putting fresh caps on to the nipples. His own rifle
stood in the corner; and was, he knew, ready for service.

"What arms have you altogether, Caister?"

"I have that rifle and double-barrel gun. Both my hands have got
muskets; I got them up from Sydney, a few months back."

The two men now came running down from above, each with his musket.

"Where is Jim?" Reuben said, looking round.

"He went out about ten minutes ago," Dick said. "I fancy