ve I not
shared your dangers and toils?" Murden asked.

"That you have," the police said, uttered in a tone of voice that showed
they should like to see the man who would gainsay it.

"I ask you these questions, men, because all dangers through which we
have, passed were nothing compared to the present. Our safety depends
upon our actions."

"Our actions?" repeated the men, in great surprise.

"Yes, I repeat it. Our safety depends upon ourselves. You feel that the
air is close and heated within our retreat. In half an hour's time the
present temperature would seem like winter if offered in contrast to
what we shall endure. We shall suffer for water, and perhaps none of us
will survive the ordeal; but let me tell you that our hope of safety is
in keeping still, and enduring all without a murmur. If a disturbance
does come in our midst, and one of you loses his reason, remember I
shall not hesitate to sacrifice him to preserve the rest. I have my
pistols with me--they are loaded, and I seldom miss my aim."

The men listened in silence, and by their looks appeared to agree in the
conclusion to which Murden had arrived.

For a few minutes not a word was spoken, and not a man moved from his
position or even offered to fan his heated face, for fear the act would
be construed into one of suffering.

Almost over our heads we could hear the roaring of flames as they
gathered force and fury in their course; but worse than all, the groans
of the wounded bushrangers fell upon our ears with awful distinctness,
in spite of the falling trees, which at times crashed upon our heavy
roof, and sifted down dirt through the cracks like falling rain.

The flames were almost forgotten--the heat, oppressive as it was, seemed
endurable when compared to the sufferings which we knew the bushrangers
were experiencing.

We listened attentively, and could tell when they expired, one by one,
by the cessation of groans, oaths, and curses which they heaped upon us.

Those who survived the longest appeared to have become insane; and after
dragging their mutilated bodies to the entrance of the vault, laughed as
they told us of the delicious warmth which they were experiencing, and
died cursing their Maker, and their mothers who bore them.

I stopped my ears, but, long after the most hardy had died, I fancied
that I could hear their dreadful ravings; and even at this late day, I
frequently start from my sleep as I dream of the frightful scenes