“The Almighty is powerful, and can crush at his pleasure.”

“We all know that,” cried Smith, impatiently, “but to my mind it’s better to examine yonder hut, and then make our way back to the team as fast as possible, for there’s no knowing how soon we may have a new gang to contend with.”

His advice appeared so reasonable that we instantly prepared to follow it; but first we stopped by the side of Black Darnley, and examined to see whether he was dead.  The rifle ball had made sure work, having passed through his left side in the direction of his heart, and made its exit below the ribs opposite.  On the dark face of the dead man was a look of defiance, as though even in his death-struggle he had tried to gain his feet, and to face his enemies with his latest breath.

I removed the pistols which he wore in his belt, and as no one presented a better claim for them than Fred and myself, I divided with him; and during our long sojourn in Australia, he kept one, and I the other.  He still clings to his, while I have deposited mine in the office of the American Union, as a sort of memento of times long past.

A visit to the hut was next paid, and there, heaped up in a corner, we not only found the goods which were stolen from Smith’s cart, but numerous other articles; and while we were sorting them, I kicked aside some dirt, and saw a flat stone.  Curiosity prompted me to move it, and underneath was a hoard of gold dust, gold coins, silver dollars, and English shillings and half crowns, the whole amounting to about two thousand pounds.

Without stopping to divide it, we gathered it up with the most convenient articles for carrying away, and then setting fire to the hut, left it blazing, knowing full well that those of the gang who escaped would return before long with reenforcements, and that our lives were not worth much if we were taken by surprise.

We gained the open prairie, and without stopping to rest, continued our march, until we reached the hut of the convict stockman.  The daughter of the latter came out to us, and as she laid her hand upon her father’s arm, she whispered,—­

“Is he dead?”

He nodded his head, and then I saw a gleam of satisfaction cross her face, as she thought of her injuries, and the prompt manner in which they had been avenged.

CHAPTER IX.

The stockman’s daughter.—­Mounted police of Melbourne.

The day after our return from the excursion in pursuit of bushrangers, the cattle were yoked together, and had been attached to the cart for an hour, before the convict issued from his hut.

Twice had Smith cracked his long whip, each time crushing large green flies that had alighted on the flank of the nearest ox, and yet the lash so lightly fell that not a hair of the animal was ruffled, or a particle of pain inflicted.  I never understood the science of using a whip until I learned it upon the plains of Australia, and saw stockmen, with one wave of their weapon, cut chips of hide and quivering flesh from the panting sides of frightened or contrary cattle.