“And pray what is that?” asked the lieutenant.

“Why, Yankees have a great desire to lead, instead of being led.”

He drew us one side, so that his men could not overhear his remarks, and said,—­

“Of course you knew that a large reward was offered for the death of Darnley and his gang.”

We reiterated our ignorance, and the officer looked at us in astonishment.

“Then let me give you joy—­for you have completed one of the best day’s work that you ever began.  Give me the proof that Darnley and his gang are dead, and I will put you in the way of obtaining the reward.”

“We did not sell our rifles for gold,” replied Fred, “but to assist an old man to revenge his daughter’s injuries.  If you can serve Smith and the old convict, we will willingly forego all thoughts of a reward.”

In a few words we stated the case, and put him in possession of the facts relative to our taking up arms.  He listened to us patiently, and when we had finished, said,—­

“If you can give convincing proof that the gang of bushrangers has been broken up, I can certainly promise you a free, unconditional pardon for Smith and the stockman.  But I must first see the bodies of the dead men, and have your certificate of the gallantry of the parties named.”

“How can we manage that?” we asked.

“By delaying your journey, and accompanying me to the spot.”

Fred and myself consulted for a moment and agreed to do so.  A day or a week was nothing to us, if Smith could be made a free man.  We called to him:—­

“Smith,” said Fred, “do you wish a pardon from government?”

The poor fellow flushed red in the face, and then the blood receded and left his cheeks pallid as death.

“If you wish a free and unconditional pardon, you must go with us back to the haunts of Darnley,” Fred said.

The tears started to his eyes with delight, and for a moment he was incapable of motion; but in another second he bounded to the side of the cattle, and with nervous fingers was unhitching the yokes and turning the brutes loose upon the wide prairies, to feed upon the rank grasses which abounded on the sides of the stream.

CHAPTER X.

Desperate deeds of two convicts.—­Lieut.  Murden’s story.

The sun was pouring down with Australian brilliancy and power, but we cared but little for the heat, if we could gain the scene of the battle before a gang of bushrangers reached the spot, and concealed the bodies.  It was, therefore, with considerable uneasiness that we saw the lieutenant of police coolly dismount from his horse, throw the bridle to one of his men, with directions to remove the saddles from the animals, and let them drink their fill at the stream, and afterwards be allowed to graze on the rank grass.