ed the order,
and no sooner did I bow my head than the bushes appeared to be
illuminated with a sheet of flame. A roar of musketry that seemed to
shake the forest followed the flash, and over my head I could hear the
bullets whiz as they sped on their errand of death.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

OPPORTUNE ARRIVAL OF LIEUTENANT MURDEN AND HIS FORCE, ROUT OF THE
BUSHRANGERS.

I heard a wild yell, such as men utter when taken by surprise--I heard
groans and curses, and then, loud above all, arose a cheer which could
only have proceeded from men who had some great matter at stake, and
were determined to fight to the last for victory.

Through the smoke, which slowly drifted over the clearing, I saw half a
dozen robbers spring to their feet and fall headlong, like logs, to the
ground, and by the light of the still blazing fire I observed the
astonishment depicted upon the faces of the bushrangers as they looked
in the direction from whence the discharge proceeded, and stumbled over
each other on their way towards the spot where their arms were stacked.

All this I observed in a few seconds' time, but before I could start to
my feet, wondering who were the attacking party, I heard the voice of
the old convict, shrill and wild, shout out a quotation from the Bible,
and conclude with one of his semi-religious, fanatical expressions.

"May the God of my fathers," he exclaimed, "forgive me for killing the
devils, but I couldn't help it."

"Charge, men!" cried a manly voice that I thought I knew.

A wild cheer arose that shook the very forest, and through the bushes
came the regular tramp of disciplined men. I caught sight of the old
familiar blue uniform, and one glance at the leader of the force was
sufficient. I saw my old friend, Lieutenant Murden, and a strong squad
of Melbourne police at his back.

I sprang to my feet and cheered lustily, and then grasped the first
weapon that I could find, and joined their ranks. I saw that Fred and
Smith were with me, and like eagles we swept down upon our prey.

A hasty discharge greeted us, and one man fell badly wounded, but we had
no time to pause to administer to his relief. On we rushed where the
bushrangers were endeavoring to make a stand, and were calling upon each
other to fight to the last. Even Nosey was evidently determined to
sustain his great reputation and die facing his enemies; but as we
advanced upon a run we delivered our fire and tumbled over two or three
oth