"No, sir, especially as they were drinking wine. The table was all
covered with bottles."

"You did not see anything of Jim, did you?" Reuben inquired.

"No, sir, I did not see or hear anyone stirring about the place."

Reuben gave a loud cooey.

"That will bring him, if he is anywhere within hearing."

But no answering call came back.

"I hope nothing has happened to the poor fellow," Reuben said,
after a pause.

"He could not possibly be here by this time," Mr. Barker said. "The
place where he warned the shepherd must be sixty miles from here."

"Yes, quite that; but he can run nearly as fast as a horse can go,
and he would be ten miles nearer here, in a straight line, than the
way the man went round to fetch me."

As soon as it became light they followed the track, which was
plainly visible; but when they had gone half a mile further, there
was a general cry of dismay--the ground was trampled in every
direction.

"Confound it," Mr. Barker said, "they have done us! Do you see,
they have ridden right into the middle of a large herd of cattle,
and have driven them off in every direction; and have, no doubt,
themselves scattered among the cattle. They may go like that for
three or four miles, and then draw off from the cattle at any spot
where the ground is hard, and no tracks will be left; to meet again
at some appointed place, maybe fifty miles away."

"Then you don't think it's any use in pursuing them?" Reuben asked,
in a tone of deep disappointment.

"Not a bit in the world," Mr. Barker replied decisively. "If we had
a native tracker with us, he might possibly follow one horse's
track among those of all the cattle, discover where he separates
from them, and take up his trail; but I doubt, even then, if he
would be successful. These fellows know that a strong party is in
pursuit of them, and each of them will do everything they can to
throw us off the scent. They are sure not to go straight to their
place of meeting, but each will take circuitous routes, and will
make for thick bush, where it will be next to impossible for even a
native to follow them. No, they have done us, this time."

"Well, gentlemen, I hope you will all wait as long as you can at
the station here. If my boy has not been shot by those scoundrels,
he is sure to find his way here; and will be able, in all
probability, to set us on the right track.

"At any rate, though the bush rangers have given us the slip, we
may congratulate