ured him that we would be governed by his wishes, and with this
declaration he led the way towards the camp, first taking the precaution
of putting on his head gear, in case he should meet with stragglers. We
followed in his footsteps at some distance until we reached the edge of
the woods, when the ghost motioned for us to take up a position in a
clump of bushes, while he skulked behind a tree.

We stole carefully forward and saw that we were within five rods of the
bushrangers, who were seated around half a dozen fires, cooking their
mutton on long sticks, and endeavoring to obtain a cessation of
hostilities from the attacks of mosquitoes by beating the air wildly
with their huge black fists when not engaged in cutting meat, or
throwing on light brush to feed the fires. The men all seemed excited,
and we listened to their conversation with some pleasure, showing, as it
did, how mistaken they were in their estimate of the true appearance of
the ghost.

"For ten years I've knocked about these woods, and done some very pretty
tricks, but I never met with such a looking devil as I've seen
to-night," I heard an old grizzly fellow (an exact representative of a
pirate) say, as he ripped off about a pound of flesh from the carcass of
a lamb, thrust it upon a stick and held it over the coals, after which
he looked around upon his brother devils with an air that showed how
much he should like to kill every one present merely for the fun of the
thing.

"I would have stopped and spoken to the darn thing if any one had kept
me company," a young fellow said, apparently desirous of raising himself
in the estimation of his companions; but, if such was his intention, it
was a failure, for the old pirate turned on him like a hungry wolf with
snapping jaws.

"You stop and bandy words with a spirit?" asked the old fellow, with a
sneer. "Why, d----n it, you was the first one to run."

"Not as you knows of," replied the young robber, shaking his head as
though he was willing to test the matter.

"Do you tell me I lie, you impudent son of a Dutch woman?" asked old
grizzly, lifting his stick from the fire and striking the youngster full
upon his face with the hot meat, which caused him to start from the
ground as though about to inflict vengeance upon the old pirate for the
insult.

The elder bushranger did not seem in the least disturbed. He shook the
mutton clear of his stick as though it had been contaminated by contact
with his