ertook
to accompany it, but Bracewell could not again leave the station during
the time that old Bob who drove it, and Toby who went to assist him,
were away. As we approached the scene of action, we caught sight of a
number of what at a distance I should have fancied were ordinary dogs--
with sharp muzzles, short, erect ears, and bushy tails--hovering round
the spot.

"They're dingoes!" cried Guy. "The rascals have already commenced
operations on one of the bulls. We must drive them off or old Bob won't
have much meat to carry home."

We dashed at the brutes with our riding-whips, which we brought into
active play. Some well-aimed lashes on their backs made the dingoes
turn tail and retreat to a safe distance, where they stood watching the
operation of cutting up one of the animals.

While we were assisting Bob and Toby to load the cart with the flesh of
the first bullock, the dingoes made a sudden dash at the carcase of the
animal on which they had before commenced.

This was more than we could stand.

"If I was you, sir, I'd give them a lesson they'll not forget," cried
Bob; and throwing ourselves on our horses, we rode at the savage pack,
using the butts of our whips with such good effect that we knocked over
upwards of half a dozen before the rest of the pack took to flight. To
prevent their returning, we pursued them as they went off in the
direction of the station, when, firing our pistols, we brought down two
or three more; but we were soon thrown behind by having to pull up and
reload, and the pack, keeping wonderfully well together, again managed
to distance us. Still, excited by the chase, we kept on, the dead
dingoes marking the course we had taken. Our horses, having been
somewhat tired by the chase after the wild cattle and the rides to and
from the station, did not make as good play as they might otherwise have
done. Neither Guy nor I thought of pulling up, however, while we had
the chance of killing more of the brutes. At last my horse, stumbling,
threw me over his head, and I lost the rein; when finding himself at
liberty, away he galloped, showing no inclination to be caught. I
shouted to my brother, who had got some distance on; he heard me, and
seeing what had occurred went in chase of my steed, which by
occasionally doubling and then galloping off again, well-nigh tired out
his horse. I ran here and there hoping to catch the animal, but it took
good care to avoid me. At length howe