.

"Go right along!" said Raven quietly. "Only a few minutes longer, then
we part. I have greatly enjoyed your company."

Another shout.

"Aha!" said Raven, glancing round. "It is, I verily believe it is my old
friend Sergeant Crisp. Only two of them, by Jove! If we had only known
we need not have hurried."

Another shout, followed by a bullet that sang over their heads.

"Ah, this is interesting--too interesting by half! Well, here goes for
you, sergeant!" He wheeled as he spoke. Turning swiftly in his saddle,
Cameron saw him raise his rifle.

"Hold up, you devil!" he shouted, throwing his pony across the black
broncho's track.

The rifle rang out, the police horse staggered, swayed, and pitched to
the earth, bringing his rider down with him.

"Ah, Cameron, that was awkward of you," said Raven gently. "However, it
is perhaps as well. Goodbye, old man. Tell the sergeant not to follow.
Trails hereabout are dangerous and good police sergeants are scarce.
Again farewell." He swung his broncho off the trail and, waving his
hand, with a smile, disappeared into the thick underbrush.

"Hold up your hands!" shouted the police officer, who had struggled
upright and was now swaying on his feet and covering Cameron with his
carbine.

"Hurry! Hurry!" cried Cameron, springing from his pony and waving his
hands wildly in the air. "Come on. You'll get him yet."

"Stand where you are and hold up your hands!" cried the sergeant.

Cameron obeyed, shouting meanwhile wrathfully, "Oh, come on, you bally
fool! You are losing him. Come on, I tell you!"

"Keep your hands up or I shoot!" cried the sergeant sternly.

"All right," said Cameron, holding his hands high, "but for God's sake
hurry up!" He ran towards the sergeant as he spoke, with his hands still
above his head.

"Halt!" shouted the sergeant, as Cameron came near. "Constable Burke,
arrest that man!"

"Oh, come, get it over," cried Cameron in a fury of passion. "Arrest me,
of course, but if you want to catch that chap you'll have to hurry. He
cannot be far away."

"Ah, indeed, my man," said the sergeant pleasantly. "He is not far
away?"

"No, he's a murderer and a thief and you can catch him if you hurry."

"Ah! Very good, very good! Constable Burke, tie this man up to your
saddle and we'll take a look round. How many might there be in your
gang?" enquired the sergeant. "Tell the truth now. It will be the better
for you."

"One," said Cameron impatiently. "A