ds. Arthur, rushing out to his
rescue, was seized likewise, and the whole party dashed together into
the hut, overthrowing Green, who came out to help his young masters.
Fortunately their eyes first fell on the wounded man as he lay on a bed
in the outer room. The stretcher of boughs, on which he had been
brought to the hut, still remained outside. A few words passed between
them. They lifted him on the litter, neither the Gilpins nor Green
being able to prevent them, and, with a shout of triumph, they carried
him off towards the river. The Gilpins and Green were quickly on their
feet. For an instant they stood irresolute whether to follow.

"Do not attempt it," cried a voice from within; "the villains will not
scruple to fire if you do."

It was Craven who spoke. James was inclined to accuse him of cowardice
till he reflected at what risk he had come voluntarily to their
assistance. Craven himself, too, explained that being assured the
outlaws would murder him and his companion had they seen them, they had
retreated into the storeroom, where they lay hid among casks and cases.
It was provoking to have lost their prisoner, but at the same time they
had reason to be thankful that no life had been sacrificed.

"If they find out from Basham that we are here, they will to a certainty
return," observed Craven; "and we must be prepared."

"The police will be here by that time," was Arthur's remark. "If they
come, we may follow, and we should have our horses ready."

"None of them said a word about the police," observed James; "I don't
think that they were aware that we expected them."

"Then, depend on it, when they find out that Richards and I are away
from our posts, they will return to punish us. Basham will not say
anything, however, till he thinks that they have placed him in safety,
and then, of course, he will tell them of our being here."

In consequence of Craven's very just apprehensions, the party set to
work to fortify the hut more completely, by putting stronger bars to the
windows and doors, and by placing a stockade outside at the weaker
parts, so as to make it more difficult for any assailants to reach the
roof.

These preparations were scarcely completed, when Green, who happened to
be on the roof, cried out--

"There come the chaps again, and twice as many as before!"

This was serious news; for it was not likely that the ruffian band would
have returned, unless with the intention of des