o I just fitted a key to the lock, and opened the door,
and was nearly knocked down by the dog, who thought his master had
returned. However, Rover, after his disappointment, received me with a
wag of his tail, and then, after snuffing around for a moment, started
in a trot towards the field we have just left. We followed close to his
tail, and then the trot became a gallop--the gallop a run, and to save
our distance we drew our reins, and jogged along, keeping a good lookout
on both sides of the road; but I believe that we should have missed you
had not the report of your pistol given us token of your whereabouts."

Chatting thus in an old familiar manner, we reached "Smith's villa," as
we called it, and prepared for breakfast, a meal we were ready to enjoy,
as our early rising had sharpened our appetites.

"By the way," cried Murden, suddenly, "your portion of the money due for
the capture and death of the bushrangers will be paid whenever you are
disposed to call for it."

"How much does it amount to?" I asked.

"Why, for you three, I think near two thousand pounds. That of course
includes Black Darnley and his gang."

"Most ten thousand dollars!" cried Fred, surprised at the large amount.

"I wish, with all my heart, it was twice the sum. Join me, and in less
than two months we will have a bill against the treasurer which will
cause him to look wild."

"We can't spend our time hunting men," replied Fred, "when there is so
much gold in the earth that we have only to dig to obtain it. As to the
rewards which are offered for captured bushrangers, I must own that I
feel none too willing to accept that which is due to me, without
striving to earn more. It looks to me as though we were only butchers
and dealers in human blood."

"If we were the only ones who ever accepted of rewards for murderers and
thieves, I might be induced to respect your conscientious scruples,"
replied Murden, with a laugh. "But as it has been the custom from time
immemorial for rewards to be offered for shedders of human blood, and
many men whose respectability cannot be questioned have received rewards
for services so rendered, I think that I shall pocket my share, and
consider all three of you very weak and spleeny not to do the same."

Murden swallowed his coffee with a dogmatical air, as though his
arguments were unanswerable, and shortly took his leave, after making us
promise to breakfast with him the next day, and go and draw the m