destroyed the band; and above all, its leader."

"The news that you have done so," Mrs. Donald said, "will do more,
I think, for my husband, than anything in the way of doctoring. But
take care of yourself, Captain Whitney. I know from what Mr. Barker
said that, although you make light of your expedition, it is a
dangerous one. He said the police had never ventured so far in the
bush, and you may expect sharp fighting with the blacks."

"We may have a brush with them," Reuben said lightly; "but do not
be anxious about us. We are a very strong party, and you need have
no fear of the result.

"Goodbye, Miss Ellison; pray be careful till I return."

The last words were said in an undertone, as he held her hand.

"Goodbye, Captain Whitney," she said. "God bless you all, and bring
you safely back."

Two minutes later, the party rode off. Jim was, like the rest,
mounted, as they would travel fast. Four led horses carried
provisions; for they would not, as before, find food by the way. It
was two o'clock in the day when they started, and they rode thirty
miles before they halted, for the night, at a water hole. They had
seen no signs of natives during the day, but Reuben at once posted
four men as sentries.

It was a merry party round the fire, for all were in high spirits
at the prospect of an expedition to a point far beyond that to
which any white men, with the exception of fugitives from justice,
had penetrated; and they were delighted with the thought of putting
a stop, at last, to the operations of the band who had so long been
a scourge to the settlement.

Mr. Blount, Dick Caister, and several others who had formed part of
the last expedition were of the party; and the confidence which
these felt in their young leader, and in the sagacity of his native
follower, communicated itself to those who had not formed part of
the previous expedition.

"Must start early," Jim said to Reuben, the last thing. "Long way
to water. Ride all day, not get dere before dark."

They rode rapidly for some time, after starting, so as to allow the
horses to take it easily, during the heat of the day, when there
was a halt of three hours; but in the afternoon they quickened
their pace again, and men and horses were jaded and done up when,
just as the sun was setting, they arrived at their destination.

"How that black fellow of yours finds his way through this bush is
a perfect marvel to me," Dick Caister said. "The country has b