he
wants to eat at one time; and, secondly, the gang has been absent from
these parts for two weeks, and undoubtedly want to rest and recruit.
They can't do that until they know that the whole of this section is
free from stragglers and spies. Me they care nothing about, and will not
molest unless I am too inquisitive."

"How do we know that this is not a trick of yours to get us to leave
this island?" I asked.

"'Cos I shall advise you to do no such thing. The only safe place for
you is on this island, where you must stay until the woods between here
and the Lodden have been searched, and the gang is confident that the
parties who were in this vicinity have escaped."

"But why not escape now? Our horses are fresh and fast," I added.

"Because I suppose that a dozen men are watching the fords of the
Lodden, and a bullet in your back would probably be the first intimation
of the presence of a party of skulkers. No, sirs, unless you can skim
over the surface of this bog, and then scale Mount Tarrengower, your
only place of safety is on this island. Trust to me."

"And then lose our horses," I replied. "I suppose that the bushrangers
would like no better plan; but I for one will not consent to that?"

"Which is the most valuable to you, your lives or your animals?" asked
Day, bluntly.

"Can we not save our horses as well as ourselves?" Mr. Brown inquired,
turning to me for advice.

I confess that I could see no way to preserve them; and I still insisted
that we had better trust to the speed of the animals than remain in a
state of inactivity and siege on the island.

My plans were overruled, however, by both Mr. Brown and the shepherd, on
the ground that it would be impossible to escape before daylight, at
which time the bushrangers would probably retire to the heart of the
woods for rest and sleep, and all their outposts would then be
withdrawn.

I was at length reluctantly compelled to yield my opinion to the others,
although I could not help, as I did so, wishing for the presence of Fred
and Smith, and I thought how different would be our conduct.

All idea of finding the buried treasure was at an end; and I began to
feel as though I should be grateful if I escaped back to Ballarat with
my life, minus the gold which was so great a temptation for us to
undertake the journey.

"Well," asked the shepherd, "what have you concluded upon?"

"To remain on the island, I suppose," returned Mr. Brown, rather
sul