; but we wished
especially to avoid being caught asleep, either at night or resting
during the noon-day heat.

We had, at this time, literally no experience about Australia. We had
read a few books, to be sure, but Mr Strong had not described the
country, and only advised our father to send us out without incumbrances
of any description--a small stock of serviceable clothes, a few books
and a box of pills apiece. We followed out his injunctions almost to
the letter, adding only some well-made tools, a fowling-piece each, and
a supply of ammunition, to which we added on our arrival a few
necessaries for travelling in the bush.

Thus we found that one animal could carry all our worldly possessions, a
few odd articles for immediate use being packed in our saddle-bags. We
were now, as the day was wearing on, looking out for a convenient place
to camp. We tried to make Toby understand that we wished for one in
which we could not easily be surprised by natives, or if surprised,
where we could defend ourselves with some hope of success.

The nature of the ground had changed since the morning, and we now
entered a rocky and wild-looking district.

Here we should have no difficulty, we thought, in selecting a spot for
our camp. We were looking about, when we spied in the distance what
appeared to be the figure of a man standing against a tree. My brother
instantly rode forward and I following him saw a person who, to all
appearance, though in bush costume, was a gentleman, bound with his
hands behind his back, and secured firmly to a tree. He was deadly pale
and seemed so much exhausted that he did not even speak to us as we
approached.

To leap from our horses and release him without asking questions, was
the work of a minute. Having put him on his feet and waited until he
had somewhat recovered, we inquired how he had been placed in the
position in which we had found him.

"Some rascally bushrangers surprised, and `stuck me up,'" he answered.
"I had just dismounted, when three of them, who had been lying in
ambush, suddenly sprang on me, and before I could draw my revolver,
knocked me down.

"I fully believed that they intended to murder me, but they contented
themselves with carrying off my horse and arms and ammunition and
everything I had about me; having lashed me to this tree, and then
galloped away, leaving me to the chance of dying of thirst and
starvation, or being gnawed to death by the dingoes. Had