The balance of our company was served in the same way, and after a sharp gallop of fifteen minutes, Steel Spring intimated that we had better dismount and approach the remainder of the distance with less noise if we wished to be successful in our designs.  His advice was taken; when leaving two men to attend to the horses, we went forward at a brisk walk, and soon found an entrance to the forest that apparently had been long in use.

“This is the spot,” whispered Steel Spring, “where Nosey’s gang enters hafter a thieving job.  Ah, many’s the time I’ve been so loaded with plunder that I could ’ardly stand.”  But that’s all passed now, you know, and in future I’m to be ’onest and good.”

“How far from this entrance is the camp?” asked Murden.

“Not mor’n a mile, sir.”

“Then lead the way.  Maurice, walk by the side of him, and if—­but you know what I mean.”

“I think I do, sir,” answered the policeman, drawing one of his formidable holster pistols, and examining the cap with a careful glance.  “Vell, please don’t pint it this way, ’cos I’m always nervous about firearms in the ’ands of inexperienced persons.”

“Don’t be alarmed,” replied Maurice, composedly; “I’m well acquainted with the pistol, and once killed a bushranger with it at the distance of fifteen rods.”

“Did it hurt him?” asked Steel Spring, with a shudder.

“I don’t think that it did, for he never complained to me about the transaction,” replied Maurice, with a grin.  Steel Spring regarded the face of his companion for a moment in silence, and then seemed to decide that it would be better not to meddle with such a cool philosopher.

“Are we ready?” asked Murden, after every man had once more examined his gun and pistols.

“All ready, sir,” answered the squad, eager to push forward.

“Then step light and keep your eyes about you.  Smith, will you and the stockman defile to the left of us, while Fred and Jack perform the same duty on the right?  It is the post of danger I offer you, gentlemen.”

We readily accepted our location; for we had hinted to Murden that our safety required some such disposition of our forces, and he had acted on the suggestion.

On we stole, slowly, but noiselessly, each man looking to see where he planed his foot, so that no cracking of dry bushes should give warning of our approach.  In fact, so well had the men improved under Fred’s hints and observations, that they would have passed for old Indian hunters to a casual observer.

Rover, as though aware of the nature of the expedition, trotted along a few yards in advance of us, stopping every few minutes to snuff the air, and then glance at my face, saying as plain as language could express the words, “There’s no danger yet—­come along and I’ll give you warning.”

For over an hour we picked our way, at each step whispering our repeated vows to shoot our guide if he did not conduct us right; and when I had begun to think that the fellow was playing us false, he suddenly stopped, and repeated his caution for silence.