by his continually stopping and listening, as
though that part of the performance was really necessary to insure
success.

The rain had now entirely ceased, and the black clouds overhead had
parted, and showed light fleecy ones, tinged by the rays of the moon,
which was struggling to show its face, as though angry at having been
hid from the earth for such a length of time.

This circumstance required our movements to be prompt if we wished to
surprise the ruffians, but Mr. Wright was not a man to be hurried by
such trifles. He had a peculiar idea of how such matters should be
conducted, and neither Mr. Brown nor myself were disposed to interfere
with his plans.

Suddenly, when within twenty rods of the place where the bushrangers
were camped we saw a light, and for a few minutes Mr. Wright was
uncertain whether to advance or retreat, thinking that the light was
intended as an ambush to draw us under fire.

In vain I explained that the bushrangers had kindled a fire for the
purpose of cooking a sheep, or a portion of one, and Mr. Brown
entertained the same idea, but Mr. Wright said we were young men, and
rash at that, and that we were not to be trusted.

We were more amazed than indignant, knowing that our host regarded our
safety more than his own, for he was as brave as a lion, and would have
willingly fought the whole gang had it been necessary to prove his
courage.

At length I volunteered to act the part of a scout, and investigate
matters, but for a long time Mr. Wright would not listen to my advances,
until I saw that there was a prospect of our remaining on the ground all
night, and then I tore myself away, and requested my friends to remain
quiet until my return.

This they promised to do, and I started on my mission, not a dangerous
one, as I knew full well, for the ruffians did not suspect the presence
of our force, and I felt certain that they had no sentinels posted.

The result justified my expectations, for when I had crawled as
noiselessly as a cat to within a rod of the light, I saw that the
robbers had in some way managed to kindle a fire, which, by the way,
attracted myriads of flies and mosquitoes, and they were biting as only
Australian flies and mosquitoes know how to bite, much to the rage of
the bushrangers, who were cooking meat, and endeavoring to beat off the
cloud of insects by threshing their heavy hands about their heads, and
uttering oaths that were frightfully original and emph