requiring the greatest caution, for they were
certain to be on the watch, and being well armed, would prove formidable
opponents. We might, to be sure, steal upon them during the darkness of
night and shoot them down, but we had no wish to do that; our object was
to recover our property and bring them to justice. The black showed
himself to be an admirable scout. The evening was drawing on when he
told us that we were not far from where he expected to find them. How
it happened that they had not ridden to a distance, it was impossible to
say; probably the spot they had chosen, being out of the high road, they
did not expect to be discovered.

Securing our horses in a thick scrub, where they were completely
concealed, we cautiously advanced, the black going ahead. It was by
this time getting quite dark. Our great fear was that the dog they had
with them would wind us, and if so it would be necessary to shoot the
creature as it approached. This, of course, would give them the alarm,
though we hoped to spring upon them and knock over two or three before
they could escape. The horses were probably feeding at a distance, and
the saddles and baggage would be at the camp.

We were noiselessly making our way, when the black signed to us to halt,
and then began to creep forward. Anxious to have a look at the fellows
I followed his example, carrying my pistols in my belt, and I found that
Carlo was close at my heels, evidently aware that danger was at hand.
At last the black stopped, when I joined him; and looking over some low
shrubs, I saw the four bushrangers seated round a fire, their saddles
and baggage and their guns lying on the ground near them. They
evidently did not suppose that there was any chance of their being
attacked. The only one of their party who seemed to be on the watch was
their bull-dog, who, lifting up his head, turned his eyes towards us.
The wind was blowing from them to us, or the dog would have smelt us
out. As it was I fully expected every moment to see him dash forward
with a loud bark to where we lay. I did not dare to move, and scarcely,
indeed, to breathe.

After watching for some time, the black began slowly to retreat, and I
was truly thankful when we got out of hearing of their voices.

CHAPTER SIX.

When I got back to my friends we held a consultation as to our best mode
of proceeding. It was agreed that we would wait until the bushrangers
separated, which they were sure