his
knife and began to chip the flint, so that it might be certain to strike
out sparks.

"What do you know?" said Nic, looking at the man wonderingly.

"What do I know?" said Brookes, giving him a defiant look: "why, I know
it's that there Leather as is skulking about like a rat, and snatching a
sheep whenever he likes."

"Absurd!" cried Nic indignantly.

"Oh, all right, sir, it's 'surd, then; you know best, o' course. You're
master, and I'm on'y a servant; but I say as that there Leather killed
all them sheep, and if the doctor was at home he'd soon stop that."

"Go on, dogs!" shouted Nic, riding forward to hide his annoyance and
fidgety looks, for Brookes had looked at him in a way which troubled
him.

The blacks led on among the trees and over the pastures, now nearly
brown for want of rain; and to Nic's annoyance the men made for the
stretch of country which ran along by the side of the gorge. Then
suddenly one of the collies uttered a sharp bark, which was taken up by
the other, Nibbler gave forth his deep growl, and as they started off on
the scent of something, he followed, and the blacks trotted close
behind.

Nic felt a peculiar, sense of hesitation; but his two men started in a
run, and he felt that he must go too, though this part of the country
seemed to him the least likely for dingoes, and he began to wonder
whether the dogs had taken up the scent of a man who had passed that
way, and if so, would it be the convict?

Ten minutes later he felt ready to stop the hunt, for the dogs were
right on the line he would have himself taken to reach the spring which
ran down to the tunnel-like cavern. Certainly it was miles away, but,
going at a pretty good speed, Nic felt that the dogs would quickly
reduce the distance, and his horror increased.

"They'll soon have him, Master Nic," panted old Sam, who ran, in spite
of his years, better than his companion, the blacks being now out of
sight.

"Have whom?" cried Nic; but he repented directly, for Brookes turned and
gave him another curious look.

"Why, that there dingo, sir," said Sam.

"_Cooey_--_cooey_!" came from a distance, as the faint barking of the
dogs ceased; and Nic pressed forward, to arrive, in a quarter of a mile
or so, at a dense thicket, within which he could see the blacks and hear
the dogs whining and snuffling about.

"Got him?" cried Nic, with an intense feeling of relief.

"Mine help dog follow find him," cried Bungarolo with