s the gang?" demanded Murden.

"Not more than four or five miles, I guess," was the answer.

"In the woods?"

"In the woods," repeated Steel Spring.

"Easy of access?"

"Vot is that?"

"I mean, can I and my men get at the gang without being surprised on our
part?"

"Vell, if I hoffers to guide you there'll be no difficulty, 'cos I knows
the vay, and no mistake. But my life is to be preserved, you know.
Recollect that, lieutenant."

"I shall remember my word, and I will keep it in every respect. If you
prove true, your life is safe, but if false, not a man under my command
but will single you out for instant death. I know your tricks, and shall
be watchful."

"I 'opes you vill, 'cos I can bear a great deal of that kind of
vigilance. But I'm all right now. I know my friends."

"You'll know them better if you lead me into an ambush," remarked
Murden; and here the conversation with Steel Spring dropped, but Fred
and myself took occasion to speak to the lieutenant on the folly of
trusting to him, but Murden was firm.

"If I can use this man," he argued, "to break up the gang of Nosey, and
destroy that wretch, I shall think that I have been of real use to the
country, and feel content to retire on my honors. There is some risk,
you say. I grant that there is; but consider how many people have been
murdered by the villains, and then reflect whether it is not better to
entertain the danger and strike a blow that shall free this part of the
country of bushrangers for months to come. Come, come, look at matters
in their true light and promise me your cooperation."

How could we refuse him, after the trouble he had endured for our sake?
We extended our hands, and with a warm pressure the compact was sealed.

CHAPTER XXXI.

CAPTURE OF THE BUSHRANGERS, AND DEATH OF NOSEY.

"Vot, is the Yankees going vid us?" asked Steel Spring, when he saw
Murden shaking hands with us, to bind the contract.

The question was such an impudent one that I did not feel indignant, and
perhaps our calmness restrained the lieutenant from giving vent to his
wrath, which we saw blazing in his eyes. At any rate he managed to
answer in a quiet tone that we were to accompany him, and that the
rifles which we carried, and which he had previously expressed a great
dread of, would cover his body during our march.

"Then Nosey is as good as dead," cried the lank wretch, hardly deeming
it worth while to notice the allusion to himself; a