st all of his hard earnings, for the gold dust was in their
knapsacks, and left behind, a prize to Black Darnley. The survivor
begged of me, nay, entreated, and promised half that he had lost if I
would only recover his wealth. In fact, he appeared to be much more
anxious to get his gold than avenge the death of his comrades; and
amidst all his grief, he had the impudence to ask me if I did not
consider that he was entitled to the wealth of his partners in case I
recovered it. I was almost tempted to turn him out of my room, but I
thought that it would do no good; I recollected that I had a public duty
to perform, and I made preparations for an immediate departure. I took
with me but three men, stout fellows whom I knew I could rely upon, and
whose courage had been tested in a dozen fights.

"We armed ourselves with pistols and rifles, and mounting the fastest
horses that we could command, started for the scene of robbery, in hope
of tracking the villains to their retreat, and bringing them to speedy
justice. We reached the tree, near where the murders had been committed,
but no bodies were in sight. A short distance from the road, however,
was a long line of dried weeds and rank grass, and as I observed a
number of birds of prey sailing over the place, I concluded that I
should find the remains of the men there. I was not disappointed.

"The bodies had been dragged out of sight of the road, and then rifled
of every thing of value. I did not stop to give the poor fellows burial
then, because every moment was of importance; but after we had concluded
the expedition, my men returned and covered them with earth, and placed
a rude cross at their heads.

"We examined attentively for a trail to show the direction that the
robbers had taken, and luckily found it without difficulty. It led in a
direct course towards Sydney, and it was evident that Darnley intended
to cross the country for about fifty miles, and then strike for the
common road, so that he could get provisions or water from those who
happened to be passing.

"I studied on the matter for a few minutes, and wondered why they should
choose such an extraordinary course; at last I came to the conclusion
that the murderers were really bound for Sydney, and that they had an
object in view, and were determined to get there as soon as possible--or
why should they go over a mountainous country, when they might have kept
the woods?

"The course which they had evidently