is your object," we replied, "we are prepared to accompany you
as soon as you are ready. Let us get a cup of coffee and a piece of
broiled lamb, and then start."

"But my prisoners?" suggested the lieutenant.

"Leave them in charge of a portion of your men until we return," I
replied.

"That is easily said; but while I am gone, my men, who are but human,
will probably make free with that keg of rum, which I have thus far kept
from their reach; and if they are without restraint, would be just as
likely to let the prisoners escape, or shoot them, or get to quarrelling
among themselves, as any thing else."

"Where is the keg?" asked Fred.

The officer poked aside some bushes where he had placed it, and revealed
its hiding place.

"I'll soon quiet your anxiety," Fred said, and as he spoke he pulled out
the spigot, and the Jamaica rum mingled with the earth.

"A harsh proceeding, but the best under the circumstances," cried the
lieutenant, with a mournful look, as he heard the rum gush forth as
though saying "good, good;" "I love a drop of good liquor, but men, when
drinking, have no discretion."

Murden turned away with a sigh, as though the strong fumes which
assailed his nostrils were suggestive of lost hopes, and for the
remainder of the day, he was melancholy.

On reentering the stockman's hut, we found him seated beside his
daughter's rude couch, tenderly bathing her head with fresh river water.
She was conscious now, but still very weak and feeble, and spoke in
whispers. She held out her hand to us when we entered, and smiled, as
though thanking us for the care which we had taken to revenge her
injuries.

Her pulse we found to be more regular, and if she received no fresh
shock, we thought there was a prospect of her being entirely well in a
few days, and so we told her.

At our request Murden stationed one of his men at the door with strict
orders to admit no one who would be likely to disturb her, and after we
had partaken of our rude repast, we got ready for our hot ride over the
plain to the forest.

Before we started, however, we paid a visit to the bushrangers, still
chained to trees, and incapable of assisting each other. We were greeted
with derisive shouts and fierce taunts, which did not disturb our
equanimity in the least; and when the robbers discovered such to be the
case, they again stretched themselves upon the ground, as well as their
irons would permit, and relapsed into sullenness.