y the colonists; and the fact that these were constantly
aided, by the ticket-of-leave labourers, increased the hostility
with which they were regarded.

Jim left his horse behind him, when he started with his party;
saying that coming back at night, in the dark, he would rather be
without it. After their comrades had set out, those who remained
behind posted two men as sentries; and then, as soon as they had
cooked and eaten a meal, laid themselves down to sleep, until the
time should come for their advance.

It was just midnight when Jim returned. He reported that he had
seen no blacks by the way, and that he believed he had posted his
party without their being observed. He himself, instead of
returning by the same route that he had taken them, had come
straight up the valley.

There were, he said, two huts which had been built by the bush
rangers; and these were now occupied by them. There were great
fires blazing, and he thought that the natives had probably only
arrived there that evening. He had got near enough to find that
they were in a high state of delight, at the presents which their
white friends had brought them.

"Did you catch sight of any of the bush rangers, Jim?" Reuben
asked.

"Two ob dem came out and spoke to black fellows at fire, but too
far off to see which dey were."

An hour before daybreak the party moved forward, and halted within
half a mile of the bush rangers' camp. There they stopped, till
they could see the sunlight touch the top of the hill at the
right-hand side of the valley. This was the signal agreed upon and,
mounting, they rode forward at full speed.

Just as they got within sight of the huts, they heard a wild
shouting, followed instantly by the crack of rifles. Another
minute, and they had reached the scene and joined the other party,
who had made straight to the huts. The blacks, awakened suddenly as
they were sleeping round the embers of their fires, had hastily
thrown a volley of spears, and had darted away among the bushes.

"Surrender, in the queen's name!" Reuben shouted, "and I promise
you that you shall be taken down, and have a fair trial."

The answer came in the flash of a rifle, from the window of one of
the huts; and a constable immediately behind Reuben fell dead, with
the ball through his head.

"Dismount!" Reuben shouted, "and break in the doors."

With a shout, the men threw themselves from their horses and rushed
at the doors of the huts.

"Ser