bush rangers;
and regretted the matter deeply, on their own account. They were,
too, now that the work was done, anxious to be off; not only
because they wished to return to their stations, but because they
felt that their position was a dangerous one. They had penetrated,
to a distance hitherto unattempted, into the country of the
natives; and they knew that these would gather round them, like
hornets, on their return march.

Ten minutes were spent in the search of the huts. The police probed
the ground with their swords, and closely examined the walls. They
found, under some sheepskins in one corner, a bag containing
upwards of two hundred pounds; which was doubtless the amount which
the bush rangers had brought back with them, from their last
plundering expedition, and had not yet been added to their main
store, wherever that might be. This, however, was a welcome find to
the police, and they abandoned the idea of searching further; and
were about to set fire to the hut, when the prisoner said:

"Lookee here! I may as well tell you where the lot is hidden. It
may do me good, when it comes to the trial; and you may as well
have it, as for it to lay there. You dig up the ground in front of
that tree, behind the hut, and you will find it."

Five minutes later a large leather bag, containing a considerable
quantity of gold and notes, and a number of watches, chains, and
other trinkets, was brought to light.

"Don't stop to count the money now," Reuben said. "Fasten it on one
of the horses, and let us be off.

"Sergeant, let Jones ride beside the prisoner, and be responsible
for his safety. See that his hands are tied behind him, and his
ankles tied securely to stirrup leathers. Let four men take charge
of the eight horses of these bush rangers. Do you ride ahead with
four others, and keep a sharp lookout as you go. Don't press the
horses, but we must go at a smart pace, for we have a long day's
march before us. It is fully sixty miles to the water hole where we
camped, the night before last."

A few minutes later, the party were in motion. Although
disappointed at the escape of the leader of the band, they were
well satisfied with the result of the expedition, and at the small
amount of loss at which it had been accomplished. There was general
regret at the death of Mr. Blount; but two lives were considered to
be but a small loss, for the capture of so strong a body of bush
rangers; who, knowing that they fought