than usual,"
said the latter. "We have had a visit from some suspicious characters
who said that they were in search of work and had lost their way, and
begged that they might have a night's lodging in one of the out-houses,
and some supper and breakfast, and that one or two of us would ride
along with them in the morning to show them the road to the next
station. As, however, Hector had detected a brace of pistols under the
shirt of the man who spoke, and saw that the others had long knives in
their belts, while their countenances were of the most villainous cast,
we refused to comply with their wishes, and told them that they must
ride on and camp out as they had evidently previously been doing."

"I did not think all had villainous countenances," said Hector; "there
was one good-looking young fellow among them. He kept in the background
and said nothing. However, I had no doubt of what they were, and they
showed it by riding away when they found that we were not to be taken
in. Oliver followed them, when they stopped at a piece of scrub, from
which they each drew forth a rifle and several other articles, still
further proving that they had some treacherous design in coming to the
station."

CHAPTER FIVE.

The account we brought of the direction the supposed bushrangers were
riding convinced Mr Strong that such was their character, and that
pressed for food and ammunition, probably for both, they were going to
some other station to supply their wants by force. We, however, heard
nothing of them, nor had they, we found, visited Captain Mason's
station, and in what direction they had gone we could not ascertain.

Some days after the events I have described, a stockman who had been
engaged by Mr Strong's agent arrived. He had stopped at Bracewell's,
and brought the sad intelligence that our friend was ill, and that he
had expressed a strong wish that either Guy or I should come and stay
with him. He also greatly wanted medical advice. No doctor was to be
found within sixty miles of the station. Guy and I were eager to go to
the assistance of our friend, and Mr Strong gave both of us leave.
Hector having some business to transact for his father at the chief
town, and the dominie, who we found had a considerable amount of medical
knowledge, offered to go if he could be spared for a few days. To this
Mr Strong did not object, and before daylight the next morning we set
off carrying huge saddle-bags in whi