man a coward who deserts a friend in
distress. We sink or swim in the same boat, to-day."

The inspector faintly squeezed our hands, and a gratified expression
beamed upon his face, yet his pain was too great to allow him to reply;
and Fred and myself began to consult how we could bring into play the
early lessons which we had learned while mining in California, and
surrounded by tribes of hostile Indians.

We were no longer bound to regard the advice of the inspector, even if
he had been disposed to offer it, which he was not, and after a slight
deliberation we came to a conclusion, and resolved to act upon it. For
this purpose we removed Mr. Brown to a place of greater security, and
after informing him that we should not be far off, and that he was to
remain silent until our return, we crept along under the bank for some
distance, stopping every few minutes for the purpose of listening, yet
making no noise by our movements.

The ravine, as I said before, led between two high hills, and each bank
was perpendicular, and covered, at the edges, with small gum trees.
There was only one place on the left bank, where the bushrangers were
stationed, that could be descended, and unless the ruffians made an
attempt to reach us by that single place, they would be compelled to go
a mile or two to descend the hill, and then enter the ravine at the
outlet. By attempting to surprise us by entering the ravine the way that
we did, the distance would be greater and more difficult. We therefore
reasoned that the bushrangers, after waiting an hour or more, and
finding that we made no stir, would attempt to secure the two horses
that were quietly grazing nearly opposite the place where the bank was
most shelving, and that they would seek for the quickest way of
accomplishing their object. We therefore resolved to station ourselves
near the animals, and see what would happen.

By good fortune we found a large ridge of earth, formed like a shelf,
about four feet wide, which the water had gullied out when rushing
through the ravine, during the winter months--and under this we
stationed ourselves, and waited patiently, well aware that we were
secure from observation from our enemies, unless some of them happened
to be on the opposite bank, which we did not expect.

Half an hour passed, and there were no signs of the enemy. Our horses
had approached us once or twice, but as we paid no attention to them,
they had wandered off, and were st