and
branches, but before I was twenty rods from the flames I could hardly
have returned without danger of being burned."

"Well, gentlemen, what is to be done?" asked Murden; "shall we stay here
and be singed like dead rabbits, or shall we push through the forest and
endeavor to escape the ambush?"

"In either case I don't see but that our prospects of escape are
hopeless," said Fred, quite calmly.

"Hark!" cried the stockman, starting to his feet; "do you not hear the
flames?"

We all listened, and a noise like the roaring of the surf on a beach
could be heard, but apparently at a distance.

"That does not sound encouraging, I confess," remarked Fred; "but I
think that we can yet circumvent the devils."

"How?" cried Murden, eagerly.

"Will you be governed by me, for a few hours?" Fred asked.

"Yes, and my men also," answered Murden, heartily.

"Then let us commence work, for we have no time to lose. In the first
place, collect all the powder that your men have, and cover it with
dirt, a foot high, we want no explosion to dishearten the men, and
encourage the enemy."

"Do you hear, men?" cried Murden; "bring to me your flasks without a
moment's delay."

The policemen hastened to obey the order, and a few shovels full of
earth secured our safety in that respect.

"Now, then, as many of you as can use shovels and pickaxes, dig away at
that hole, which Steel Spring commenced. Do not spare your labor, for a
gang will relieve you, when tired. Dig deep and wide."

"But I don't see of what use that is to be," remonstrated Murden.

"Remember that you have promised to be guided by me. Don't stop to
question, but see that the men work with a will, while I attend to other
important duties."

Murden no longer sought to fathom Fred's motives, but grasped a shovel,
and set an example of energy which his men were not slow to follow.

"Now, Smith, you and the stockman and Jack help me. Rekindle the fire,
which has almost died out, and burn every stick of timber within reach
on the left side of us. We will catch the bushrangers in their own trap,
if they are not quick."

"But vot is to 'come of me? Vho's to take care of me? Vhere's my
friends?" yelled Steel Spring, making desperate efforts to break the
bonds which confined him.

We were all too busy to attend to the wretch, and merely glanced towards
him occasionally, to see if his bonds held; but Steel Spring was a man
not easily discouraged, and every few min