which the police would like to hear.

We had taken the precaution to disarm the wounded men, before they
fairly recovered from their surprise, so that they were powerless to
inflict harm; and after the two bushrangers who were uninjured stood
before us, obedient to our will, we began to ask ourselves what we
should take to secure them with.

Luckily, upon one of the horses was a halter of considerable length,
which we had used when we staked the animals for feeding nights, and we
determined to secure them with this, and then carry them to Ballarat in
triumph.

Fred stood guard over the ruffians, while I got the rope, and carried
our resolution into effect. Bill, the leader of the gang, who was one of
the uninjured, uttered a number of angry oaths, as I bound his limbs;
but the cocked pistols which Fred held were too much for him to attempt
to brave, and he submitted without a struggle.

Even while tying the rope, I used due precautions to prevent their hands
from getting at the knots; and although the scamps winced a little, as
the cord sunk into their flesh, I did not pay that attention to their
comfort that I should, had they been other than bushrangers.

After lashing them together, and then making them lie down upon their
backs, from which position they could not move without help, we turned
our attention to the two wounded men, who were groaning piteously.

One of them had received a ball near the hip, which had shattered the
bones in that region, and prevented his standing upon his feet, even for
a second.

The other was wounded in the back, near the spine, and could not move
without great exertion. We could not relieve their pains, or even
furnish them with a drink of water, for which they begged piteously; but
we promised that they should be removed to Ballarat, as soon as
possible, and that their wants should there be attended to.

We then led our horses to the spot where the inspector was lying, and
was glad to find that he was quite cheerful, in spite of his intense
suffering.

We briefly explained to him what we had done, but it was some time
before he would really believe that we were giving a true account of our
proceedings. It seemed so extraordinary that two men could accomplish
so much, by the aid of a little strategy, that he was lost in wonder,
and declared that to us alone did he owe his life.

Only wait until I get back to Ballarat and tell the police force that
two Americans have saved