sk of finding the trail, or the place where the
bushrangers were expected to ford. On their hands and knees they crawled
about from place to place, aided occasionally by a flash of lightning,
but still they were unsuccessful, though not discouraged. Their natures
were too patient for that.

"To the devil with the trail," muttered Mike, hitting one of the
prostrate natives with his spear. "Let's find the brook, and then we'll
be all right, shan't we? Find the main thing first, and then toiler up
the little ones, used to be the advice of me father, God rest his soul,
and keep him well supplied wid whiskey in the nixt world! Ah, what man
he was to be sure! You knew him, sir?" continued Mike, addressing Mr.
Wright, who was awaiting the result of the Australians with exemplary
patience, considering that the rain was falling in torrents.

"Be quiet," said our host, "or if you must do something go and see how
near we are to the creek, and don't make a noise."

"I'll do that same," muttered Mike, "but it's the opinion of a man who
knows more than a dozen nagers, that the creek is a mile from here in
the udder direction."

He went on his mission, grumbling at the supposition that the creek was
near us, when suddenly we heard a loud splash, and Mike's voice raised
in supplication.

CHAPTER LXXVI.

MIKE TUMBLES INTO THE RIVER.--ARRIVAL OF THE BUSHRANGERS.

"That d----d Irishman has tumbled into the creek," cried Mr. Wright,
endeavoring to suppress a laugh that did find utterance.

"Here's the river, sure!" shouted Mike, "and a cussed mane one it is.
Help me out!"

"Be quiet," said Mr. Wright, "or you'll alarm the bushrangers."

"And do you intend that I shall strangle myself for the purpose of
letting the blackguards git kilt?" remonstrated the Hibernian; "I've
swallowed a gallon of the dirty water already, and it's cowld on my
stomach. Help me out, will ye?"

We reached the scene of the Irishman's disaster, and were compelled to
wait for a flash of lightning for the purpose of seeing his situation.
When the flash did reveal his position, we saw that he was clinging to
some rocks most tenaciously, while the boiling waters were bubbling over
his head, which he made no attempt to raise beyond the reach of danger.

"Crawl up the bank, you loon!" cried Mr. Wright, but the advice was
unheeded.

"Save me!" yelled Mike; "I can't swim and I'm filled with the bloody
dust, that weighs me down like lead. A thousand do