.

"Come, come, master, you hand them out, and be done with it!" cried
several of the men together.

"Supposing they were with us, and that we were to deliver them into your
hands, what would you do with them?" asked James.

"Hang them up on the nearest tree, as we will you also, if you don't
come to terms pretty quickly!" shouted the first ruffian who had spoken.

"I won't help you to be guilty of so great a crime," said James; "think
better of it, and go away."

"No more of this; time's up!" cried a loud voice. "Charge, lads!"

The whole body sprang forward towards the hut. The whites instantly
began firing their muskets or fowling-pieces, the blacks at the same
moment casting their spears.

"Hurra! Here come the police! Look out for yourselves!" cried Sam
Green, who had been keeping watch at a hole near the roof, looking
eastward.

The words, uttered before any one had time to reload, had a magic
effect. One of the outlaws, springing on one side to ascertain whether
the announcement was true, shouted out the fact to his comrades. Down
the hill they rushed, as fast as their legs could carry them. Their
bullets had either passed over the hut or had lodged in the thick
planking which formed the sides, without injuring any of those within.
The sound of the shots, however, made the police put spurs to their
horses' sides, and they came galloping up as the last of the outlaws
disappeared across the river. Their steeds were pretty well knocked up
with their long and rapid journey, but Lieutenant Graham, the officer in
command, was most anxious to catch some of the men. "We will join you!"
cried Craven, running out. Their horses were found in a grassy nook to
the left. Craven, with his friend Richards, and Arthur Gilpin, and ten
of the police, led by their officer, joined in the pursuit. Before long
they came in sight of the outlaws, scattered far and wide over the
country, each man endeavouring to make his escape by himself. Most of
them had thrown away the boughs and the skins with which they had been
covered. Three men kept closer together than did the rest. Craven, who
thought he recognised them by their figures as stockmen belonging to the
station, recommended that they should be followed. The men soon
discovered that they especially were pursued. When they saw that all
chance of escape was gone, they turned round and stood at bay; but as
the troopers advanced with drawn sabres, they threw down