And you will see, boss," he said, as, after they had come a mile and
a half, he pointed to a sandbank on the side of the creek, deeply
imprinted with footmarks, "we will find them eating fish in their camp.
Look there."

Grainger saw that on the sandbank were a number of dead fish which had
been swept down the creek from pools higher up. That many more had been
left stranded, and then taken away, was very evident by the disturbed
state of the sand and the numerous footmarks.

Suddenly a harsh sound of many voices fell upon their ears, and Jacky
came to a dead stop.

Motioning to Grainger to lie down and await his return, he slipped
quietly away, his lithe, black body gliding like a snake through the
dense jungle which clothed the banks of the creek.

A quarter of an hour later he came back, his black eyes rolling with
subdued excitement.

"Come on, boss; it is all right. They are camped in an old _boora_ {*}
ground, and Sandy and Daylight are going to fight for Missie. I saw
Missie."

* A place which the Australian aborigines use for their
corroborees and certein religious rites.

"Where was she?" said Grainger, whose heart was thumping fiercely as,
rifle in hand, he sprang to his feet.

"In the middle of the _boora_ ground. She sit up, but all the same as if
she sleep---eyes shut."

"Oh, God, to think that I left her!--to look after horses," Grainger
said bitterly to himself as he followed Jacky, who little knew how dear
Sheila was to the heart of his "boss."

Swiftly but cautiously Jacky led the way through the scrub until they
came to the margin of the _boora_ ground, and then Grainger saw twenty
or thirty blacks seated on the ground in a circle, spears and waddies
in hand. In the centre was Sheila, crouched on her knees, with her hands
covering her eyes. On each side of her was a Winchester rifle, and a
belt with an ammunition pouch--her dowry. And standing near by her,
attended by their nude seconds, were Daylight and Sandy, who were also
armed with spears and waddies. They were both stripped and painted, and
ready to slaughter each other.

"Boss," whispered Jacky, "which feller you want to take?"

"I'll take the big man with the beard," said Grainger, as he drew up his
Winchester.

"All right, boss! I take the other man--that's Daylight. But don't shoot
until they walk across _boora_ ground, and turn and face each other.
Shoot him through _bingie_,{*} boss--don't try for head, you might