ins were well up to their work, and having secured my hands
behind me, they fastened me in so effectual a way to a tree, that I
could not possibly set myself at liberty.

Without speaking another word to me, the big bushranger led off my
horse, carrying with him my gun and articles he had taken from me, and
disappeared among the trees. I saw two other persons leading a horse,
going in the same direction, one of whom I felt sure, from his figure,
was Vinson, though I did not see his countenance. Indeed, I suspect
that he had unintentionally avoided coming near me.

As soon as the bushrangers had gone, I looked round in search of the
dominie, but could nowhere discover him. I could scarcely hope that he
had escaped, or, if he had, that he had got off on horseback. I felt
nearly sure that the horse I had just seen led away by the robbers was
his. I was thus left in doubt how they had treated him, whether they
had bound him as they had me, or used greater violence. As soon as I
fancied that they had gone off to a sufficient distance not to hear me,
I shouted to the dominie, hoping to hear a reply. Not a sound reached
my ears, and I began seriously to apprehend that they had knocked him on
the head or stabbed him. I remembered the dread he had always expressed
of the bushrangers, and I thought it possible that he might have had
some especial reason for fearing them. Perhaps he had known one of
them, or might have attempted at some time or other to betray them into
the hands of the police.

After shouting in vain for some minutes, I began to lose all hope of
receiving a reply. What had become of Carlo, I could not tell; I feared
that the bushrangers must have killed him, as I felt nearly sure that he
would not have deserted me, either to make his escape from the scene of
danger, or to follow them. I should have been glad to have him by my
side for the sake of companionship; it also struck me that should he
come, he might possibly be able to bite through the thongs if I could
show him what I wanted done. I called to him several times, but he did
not appear. At last I arrived at the conclusion that the bushrangers
had killed him. I now began to think of my own dangerous position,
while thus utterly unable to defend myself. If discovered by hostile
blacks, they would make me a target for their spears, or a pack of
dingoes might attack me. I never had heard of their assaulting a living
man, but I saw no reason w