We heaped up fuel on the fire, and waited patiently for the time when the woman would exhaust her grief, and give us some account of the proceedings by which she and hers had suffered.

While Smith and Fred remained near the fire, they examined the cart to see if it contained any thing that would be useful to the unfortunate woman in her present hour of grief.  There were a few culinary utensils, besides a thin mattress and blankets—­all thrown in promiscuously, as though the load had been ransacked and rifled of every thing that was valuable, and the remainder not considered worth taking away.

The night wore on, and light would soon herald the approach of day.  It was necessary that we should return to our camp, and look after our effects; for who could tell how long they would he safe unless guarded by a display of rifles?  Besides, the cattle needed looking after, and collecting, or they would be likely to stray back towards Melbourne and get mixed with the wild animals which belonged to some of the numerous stockmen on the road.  Or the bushrangers might take a fancy for a change of diet, and prefer beef to mutton; and in this case they would not be likely to ask the permission of the owner of the animals, unless he was stronger-handed than the robbers.

I saw Smith glance uneasily along the ravine, and edge towards the woman as though he wished to cheer her in her affliction, and yet explain about the large amount of property which he had left unprotected.  As her sobs had somewhat subsided, worn out by the violence of her emotions, she appeared more calm; he made the attempt, and kneeling beside her spoke,—­

“We are strangers,” he said, taking her sunburnt hand between his rough palms, and looking at her as tenderly as though she had been his sister; “we are strangers, but there is not a man present but will shed his blood in your defence; and while we have strength there is no fear of your suffering.  Have confidence in us, and explain how this dreadful affair happened.”

He waited patiently for an answer, but some few minutes passed before she could repress her sobs, which commenced anew at the sound of his voice.  At length she raised her head, brushed back the heavy masses of hair which partly screened her face, and with an uncertain voice replied,—­

“I thank you for your offers of assistance, and accept them; for what can I do alone in this desert without friends?  My troubles are so unexpected that if I do not appear grateful, attribute it to a want of realization of the dreadful scenes through which I have passed since yesterday.  My husband—­”

She threw herself upon his corpse again, and for a while her grief recommenced with all its former violence.  Smith soothed and comforted her, and gradually was enabled to draw all the facts connected with the murder from her unwilling lips.