at
Hector should stay by the prisoners and the two animals we had
recovered, while he and I went in search of our missing friend.

Hector undertook to do as proposed.

"I'll hobble all four of them," he observed, "and there'll be no risk of
their getting away."

Not wishing to lose more time we started. After going on for some time
we got separated, and I found to my right a deep gully, with steep
cliff-like banks, mostly covered with trees of a character which showed
that there was generally an abundance of water; indeed, I observed
several small pools, joined by a trickling rivulet three or four feet
only in width.

As I went along, I shouted out our friend's name. At last I heard the
tramp of horses, and looking about, I caught sight through the trees of
our two animals with their saddles on their backs, the black following,
driving them before him.

I was thankful to find that they had been recovered, though much grieved
not to see the dominie, for I naturally feared that some serious
accident had happened to him. I now once more returned, intending to
rejoin Hector, when I heard a faint shout. It came from the direction
of the gully. My hopes revived of finding the dominie. After going on
some way, I again heard the shout followed by a cooey which I was sure,
however, was not uttered by him. It was the voice either of Guy or
Hector.

I cooeyed in return. Soon afterwards another reached my ears, coming
from the same direction. At last I gained the summit of a cliff, when,
looking down, I saw Guy bending over the prostrate form of a man.

I soon joined my brother, and found that the fallen person was the
dominie. Guy was employed in chafing his hands, and trying to restore
him to consciousness.

"Can he have been attacked by bushrangers, and thrown here?" I asked.

"I don't think that," answered Guy, pointing up to the cliff. "See, he
must have fallen over, and striking his head on the ground, have become
insensible. Go and get some water from yonder pool in your hat, and I
think that if we bathe his head, he will come to."

I did as Guy desired me, and in a short time we had the satisfaction of
seeing our companion revive.

"Have you got the horses?" were the first words he spoke.

"All right!" I answered, "and we have captured two bushrangers into the
bargain."

The news seemed to have a good effect, and now that he had come to
himself, he quickly, with our assistance, was able to get