k Kala if there is a place where we can cross, where the water is not
over our heads?" I inquired of Mr. Wright.

He put the question, and the native replied that a few rods down the
stream, at a bend, we could cross on a bar, where the water would not be
more than up to our armpits.

Mr. Wright no longer hesitated, but gave the order to move down the
stream to the place proposed, and as the rain had nearly ceased, and the
moon was high in the heavens, we had no difficulty in finding the spot
which Kala indicated.

Our only trouble was to prevent the bushrangers from seeing our
movements, so that they should not be prepared for our reception. This
we were enabled to do by keeping within the shade of the bushes and
trees, which grew in profusion upon the banks of the stream.

"Lead the way. Mike, and find out the deep places with your spear,"
commanded Mr. Wright, but the Irishman held back.

"I couldn't think of taking advantage of my betters, and going before
'em," pleaded Mike.

"Are you afraid?" our host demanded, angrily.

"Divil a bit, master; but it's misgivings I have about the water. What
it was made for, 'cept to mix with punch, I don't see."

"Kala go first," muttered the native, and without waiting for orders, he
dropped quietly into the stream, followed by Iala.

"The divil! but can't I go where the nager does?" demanded Mike, and he
was up to his shoulders in the brook before we could answer him.

The ghost followed Mike, and then the rest of us, leaving our oil-cloth
coverings on the bank of the stream, crossed without difficulty, taking
good care that our revolvers were kept dry.

"Now, I want all to keep silent, and obey my orders," whispered Mr.
Wright; "when I give the word to fire, do so, but not before.

"Now then, let us steal forward as fast as possible, and Kala, you and
Iala can remain behind, if you please."

"Kala and Iala will go with you," was the prompt reply, and I marvelled
at it, for the natives are dreadfully afraid of firearms when in the the
hands of white men.

"Now, gentlemen, let us onward, and may the God of battles give us
success. If any accident should befall either of us, we shall have the
satisfaction of knowing that we suffered in a good cause. Be careful how
you step, and don't be impatient."

Mr. Wright placed himself at the head of the column, and moved along
carefully, and with some considerable knowledge of woodcraft, although I
almost lost all patience