ny
rate."

"We both took advantage of the excitement occasioned by the murder of
Captain Stockton----" he began.

"What!" exclaimed the shepherd in profound astonishment, "Captain
Stockton murdered! When? By whom?"

Of course Harry told the story, but that need not be repeated.

The shepherd listened in evident excitement.

"If this is true," he said, "nothing better could have happened for this
part of Australia. This man--Stockton--is noted everywhere as the most
desperate and cruel of the bushrangers. I can't begin to tell you how
many atrocious crimes he has committed. He killed my brother in cold
blood three years since,"--here the shepherd's face darkened--"because
he defended the property of another, and tried to save it from being
stolen. If he is dead I am deeply, profoundly grateful!"

"You need have no doubt on that point, sir," said Harry. "Jack and
myself saw him shot down. There can be no doubt of his death."

"I believe you speak the truth. You don't look as if you were deceiving
me. So you took the opportunity to give the bushrangers legbail, eh?"

"We didn't stay to bid them good-by," said Harry, smiling. "We ran till
we were out of breath, but saw no one on our track. Probably it was some
time before we were thought of, and our escape noticed. We have been
walking ever since, and were ready to drop with hunger and fatigue when
we espied the light of your cottage, and ventured to ask for help."

"You are welcome to all that we can do for you," said the shepherd, his
tone changing. "I was suspicious at first, for the bushrangers are up to
all sorts of tricks, but the news you have brought insures you a
welcome. At last my poor brother is avenged, and the bloodthirsty
villain who killed him has gone to his account. You don't know who is
elected in his place?"

"No, sir, we came away at once."

"Of course, of course; I should have thought of that."

"I hope it isn't Fletcher," said Jack.

"Ha! what do you know of Dick Fletcher?"

"More than we want to. He it was who passed himself off on us as a
returned miner, and betrayed us into the hands of his comrades."

"I know of him, too. He would be as bad as the captain if he dared, but
he is a coward. His turn will come after a while. But, Lucy,"--here he
addressed his daughter,--"you are not treating your guests very well.
Where are your potatoes and other vegetables?"

"They were so hungry they preferred not to wait for them, papa."

"You