rly, unless we could manage to mount
our horses and gallop away; but it would take some time to saddle them,
and the natives were not likely to allow us many moments to do so.
Bracewell, however, desperate as was our condition, tried to keep up our
spirits.

As far as we could judge, the savages showed no intention of abandoning
their object. Just as we expected that they would make their final
rush, a loud cooey was heard, and I caught the sound of the trampling of
horses' feet. We cooeyed in return again and again. The savages must
have heard us, as well as the cooeys in the distance; for after vainly
hurling another shower of spears, they turned and scampered off as fast
as their legs could carry them, their flight hastened by the peppering
we gave their backs with small shot. Almost immediately afterwards
Hector and the dominie, accompanied by half a dozen troopers, came
galloping up along the path close to the water-hole. As they appeared,
without waiting to exchange words, we threw our saddles on our horses'
backs and mounted ready to join them in the pursuit of our foes.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

The sergeant in command of the troopers told us that they had been sent
forward in search of some bushrangers who with unaccountable hardihood,
notwithstanding the capture of two of their companions, were still
committing their depredations in that part of the country; and that
having accompanied Hector, who had discovered our note, they had come on
to assist us in case we should be attacked by the blacks.

We all rode on together in the direction we supposed the savages to have
taken. But darkness was coming on: the sergeant soon pulled up
declaring that we might as well look for a needle in a bundle of hay, as
expect to catch one of them.

Had we had any natives with us we might have tracked them during the
night. We should now however only run the risk of losing our way
without the slightest chance of capturing a black man.

This was very evident, and we accordingly settled to return to the camp
and wait until the following morning.

Hector and the dominie had brought a good supply of provisions in their
saddle-bags, and our supper being cooked, we sat round the fire sipping
our mugs of scalding tea, and fighting our battle over again.

The sergeant told us that the mob which had attacked us was said to be
the most daring in that part of the country. They had already, it was
supposed, murdered two hut-keep