nticipated him.

"I'll save you the trouble, Fletcher," he said. "As you're bound to have
the money, I may as well give it up. Just hand over that jack-knife,
won't you?"

Fletcher hesitated, not understanding his meaning.

"Oh, I'll give it back to you if you want it, but I need it to get the
money."

Upon this the knife was given back to him.

Obed cut open the lining of his pantaloons, and drew out four five-pound
bank-notes. They were creased and soiled, but this did not impair their
value.

"I guess that's what you were after," said Obed. "I can't say you're
welcome to them, but that doesn't make any difference to you, I take
it."

"Is that all you've got?" demanded the chief of the bushrangers, looking
very much disappointed.

"Every cent, squire."

The leader turned to Fletcher.

"Didn't you tell us this man was well fixed?" he asked.

"I thought so," answered Fletcher, crestfallen.

"I thought you _knew_ it. Why, this is a contemptibly small sum, and
doesn't pay for our trouble."

"You're right, squire," said Obed. "It aint worth carryin' away. You may
as well give it back, Fletcher."

"That's a different matter," continued the captain. "Once more, is that
all the money you have about you?"

"It is, squire."

"Be careful what you say, for if we catch you in a lie, we'll string you
up to the nearest tree."

"It's as true as preachin', squire. I never lie. I'm like Washington. I
dare say you've heard of him."

A further search was made, but no money was found, luckily for Obed,
since there is reason to believe that the outlaw would have carried out
his threat.

"The fellow here fooled you, Fletcher," said the captain sternly. "Take
care how you bring us any more false reports."

"There are the boys," suggested Fletcher, uncomfortable under the
rebuke.

"Search them also."

This was done, or rather it would have been done, had not Harry and
Jack, fully realizing the futility of resistance, produced promptly all
the money they had. So much, however, had been spent on the outfit, that
between them they could only muster about seven pounds.

"Humph!" said the captain contemptuously, "that's a big haul, upon my
word!"

"There are the cattle and supplies," said Fletcher.

"They will be of use. Here, Peter, do you and Hugh drive the team into
the woods, and prepare some dinner for the band. We will be there
directly."

Two men, unmounted, who seemed to be servants, came forward, and