utes we were addressed with
prayers and oaths, to make provision for his safety.

The fire, which Murden had given orders to extinguish, was easily
rekindled, and then burning brands were thrown upon the dry bushes and
leaves, raising flames that roared aloft and caught at the branches of
the gum trees, and then spread to the trunks, and leaped from bough to
bough, driving parrots and gaudy-plumed birds from their nests, that
vented their displeasure at being disturbed by uttering hoarse croaks of
rage.

"You will burn down the whole of the forest," cried Murden, alarmed at
the rapidity with which the flames were spreading.

"I had rather see it down, than a man in this company should be
injured," was the brief reply.

"Amen to that. But, Fred, it's growing warm here. Is not the hole which
we have dug large enough?" asked the lieutenant, wiping his brow.

"Not half," replied Fred. "Do you see that long line of fire, which,
urged by a strong wind, is rushing towards us like a furious wave of the
ocean?"

"Well, a man can't very well keep his eyes off of it when he knows that
it is to crisp him up like a baked pig," Murden answered, with a rueful
look.

"We have hardly begun to experience the heat from that line of flames
yet, and our only chance of escape is by entering the excavation which
your men are making." "I see, I see!" cried Murden, a new light
breaking in upon him. "It is our only chance, sure enough."

The officer spoke to the policemen, who, with coats off, were working
like heroes, and they redoubled their exertions.

"The next question is, what shall we do with these wounded men?" Fred
inquired. "We can hardly hope to save them all."

"There is but one of my force wounded, and if it is possible to save
him, I will; but as for these cutthroats, I see no chance for them."

We looked into Murden's face to see if there was any show of pity for
the bushrangers, but there was none. He had already calculated in his
mind that the robbers deserved death, and the sooner they died, the
better for the county.

"Let us speak to your wounded policeman, and see if he can bear
removal," Fred said.

We passed over to the side of the clearing, where he was lying at the
root of a tree which had as yet escaped the flames.

"Well, Sam, do you still feel like having another battle with
bushrangers?" asked the officer.

There was no response. I stooped down and carefully removed the corner
of a blanket from hi