hing but spear
heads were to be seen, for we did not like the idea of fighting people
who ran no risk.

When we joined Smith, we found that he had turned his oxen, and was
driving them at full speed towards an open plain half a mile distant.

"Are you going back to Melbourne?" asked Fred.

"I am going to gain yonder plain as fast as possible," the stockman
cried, casting an uneasy glance over his shoulder, as though fearful of
pursuit.

"For what reason?" we asked.

"Because I've no idea of risking my life by running an ambush, where, no
doubt, twenty or thirty natives are stationed, determined to kill the
first one who passes."

"I thought they were harmless," I replied.

"So they are, when they choose to be; but it's very probable that miners
have been committing outrages upon their women, and now they are
determined to revenge their injuries upon us. Keep your eyes upon the
bushes, and don't mind me if you see signs of their following. Escape to
the open plain, and trust to me to join you. Once there, we can hold
fifty of them at bay."

"Do you think we are so cowardly as to desert a comrade?" demanded Fred.
"Let them attack us if they will, but we will stick to you and the team
as long as life remains."

"I expected the answer," cried Smith, applying his long whip to the
sides of the reeking cattle, and starting them into a run. "But if you
will not save yourselves, at least take care of the oxen and let me
cover the retreat."

"Do you think they will dare to follow us?" I asked.

"Here is your answer," cried the stockman; and as he spoke a slim poled
spear whistled within an inch of my head, and passed out of sight, far
to the other side of the road.

"And here goes my reply," exclaimed Fred, who held his rifle in his hand
ready for use.

He raised it, and hardly took time to sight a naked, black body, which
was visible for a moment before he fired.

A yell of bodily pain followed the explosion, and for a moment we could
hear a great commotion among the bushes, and then all was still.

"Help me to urge the cattle forward," shouted Smith. "Now is our time to
escape, while the devils are with the wounded imp."

We were about to comply, when a club, about three feet long, flew over
our heads, touched the ground in advance of the cattle, bounded from the
earth, and came towards us with undiminished velocity.

"Look out for their boomerangs," shouted Smith, and we dodged our heads
in time to save