“Here commenced the most difficult part of our undertaking, as we deemed it best to take the robbers by surprise, and exterminate the gang, if possible.  The old stockman undertook to pilot us through the woods, and the manner in which we crept to within a few feet of you without making any noise, shows that he performed his part with great success.

“The large number of bushrangers assembled, astonished me.  I found that my force contained only one half as many as they did, yet I had no idea of not attacking.  Desperate as I knew the robbers were, I thought they would yield upon being taken by surprise.  My expectations were not disappointed; they did fly, and left one half of their force upon the ground.”

“We thank you, heartily, for the trouble and danger which you experienced in saving our lives, for I have serious doubts whether to-morrow would have seen us alive,” Fred said, shaking hands with Murden, at the conclusion of the latter’s account.

“Say no more, my dear boy, for I know that you would have come to my assistance as soon as I did to yours.  But about this treasure; I see that you have been digging; have you found any thing yet?”

Before we had time to answer that question, Maurice called the officer’s attention, and relieved us of a reply.

“If you please, sir, there’s a dog out here at the edge of the clearing, and he’s got a bushranger down, and has had him there ever since they run for their lives.  The animal won’t let one of us come near him, and threatens the throat of the robber, every time he offers to move.  I can’t tell, in the dark, what kind of a dog he is, but I think it’s the one the gentlemen own.”

“Poor Rover, I have missed him for an hour or two.  Let us go and see whom he has taken as prisoner,” I said.

We followed Maurice to the spot, and found Rover standing sentry over a prisoner, whose slightest motion caused a growl of warning.  I called off the dog, and ordered the fellow to get up, so that we could see who he was.

“Vell, of all the games that I ever seed, this is a beater!” cried a man whose voice was familiar to me.

“Ah, Mr. Steel Spring,” said Fred, seizing the individual by the collar; “we have you in our power again.”

“Vell, if I haint thankful to think that I’ve hescaped from them ere villains, and got into decent company again.  I ’ave trembled at the profanity of the brutes, and feared for my life ever since I’ve been with ’em.”

“Do you think, you long-legged wretch, that you can impose upon us for the second time?  Do you suppose that after betraying us into the hands of your companions you are to be spared?” we demanded, indignantly.

“Vell, ’ere’s a go.  All through my life I ’ave been suspected vithout cause.  Fust, I’m cast hoff by my hungrateful parents, and left to seek my living, and artervords I’m made a fool of, and gets transported, and now the very coves vot I thought friends, turns agin me.  Vot a vorld this is!”