into danger."

"So would I," responded Jack. "That Fletcher's worse than a pirate."

Still they went on, so slowly that the boys, though compelled to walk,
had little difficulty in keeping up. They were necessarily anxious, but
their predominant feeling was of curiosity as to their destination, and
as to the bushrangers' mode of life.

At length they came out of the woods into more open ground.

CHAPTER XII.

THE HOME OF THE BUSHRANGERS.

On a slight rise stood a collection of huts, covered with sheets of the
bark of the gum-tree, held on by ties of bullock hide. For the most part
they contained but one room each. One, however, was large and, the boys
afterward learned, was occupied by the captain of the bushrangers.
Another served as a stable for the horses of the party.

This Harry judged to be the home of the outlaws, for no sooner had they
come in sight of it than they leaped from their horses and led them up
to the stable, relieving them of their saddles. Then the bushrangers sat
down on the ground, and lounged at their ease. The attendants forthwith
made preparations for a meal, appropriating the stores which had just
been taken from Obed and the boys. The captives were not sorry that
there was a prospect of a meal, for by this time they were hungry. They
followed the example of their companions, and threw themselves down on
the ground. Next to them was a young bushranger, apparently about
twenty-two years of age, who had a pleasant face, indicative of good
humor.

"How do you like our home?" he asked, turning to Harry with a smile.

"It is a pleasant place," answered Harry.

"How would you like to live here?"

"I don't think I should like it," Harry replied honestly.

"And why not? Is it not better than to be pent up in a city? Here we
breathe the pure air of the woods; we listen to the songs of the birds;
we are not chained to the desk or confined from morning till night in a
close office."

"That is true, but are there not some things you do not like about it?"
asked Harry significantly.

"Such as what?"

"Is it not better to earn your living, even if you are chained to a
desk, than to get it as you do?"

Harry felt that he was rather bold in asking this question, but he was
reassured by the pleasant face of the young outlaw.

"Well," admitted the latter, "there are some objections to our life."

"It would not do for all to get their living as you do."

"That is true. Some must wor