“Willingly; but wait until after breakfast.  That woman is getting better—­hear her breath, regular and natural.  Let her father come in to tend her, if he wishes.”

The latter remark was made to one of his privates, who stood at the door, and had prevented the entrance of the aged convict.  The father entered with a humble air, and seated himself near his daughter’s side.

He appeared too grateful for the privilege of thus remaining in the presence of his superior to pay any attention to his conversation; and when breakfast had been disposed of, and our pipes were lighted, each of us chose a comfortable place to rest at full length on the floor of the hut, and discuss matters and things in Australia.  I found the lieutenant a rare companion, and a man that had seen much service in the country.

“We have a number of hours to spare before we undertake our expedition,” said Fred, during a pause in the conversation; “suppose you favor us with a short history of some of your adventures in this country.  You have seen many years’ service as a police agent, and tales of no ordinary kind must be familiar to you.”

“If I should tell you of the murders which the bushrangers sometimes commit, when they have a thirst for blood, you would think I was romancing,” answered the officer.

We both protested against such an idea, and Lieutenant Murden—­that was his name, and I am glad to see that, since I left Melbourne, he has been promoted to a captaincy—­knocked the ashes from his pipe, carefully reloaded it, told the sentinel at the door to keep his eyes open, and not let a gang of robbers approach the hut unperceived, wet his lips with the contents of a flask, which he carried about his person, lighted his pipe with a match, and then began.

* * * * *

Lieutenant Murden’s story.

“Not long since, the whole police force of the country was thrown into a state of great excitement and vigilance, owing to the desperate deeds of two convicts, who seized a schooner on the coast, compelled the crew, on the pain of instant death, to navigate her to a distant part of the island, and by keeping their guns pointed at the heads of the frightened men, and relieving each other at the task, were enabled to accomplish their ends.

“The convicts were landed, and to repay the sailors for their kindness and forbearance, they shot the two men that rowed them ashore; and, from the time that they set foot on land, until the day of their death, their course was marked with blood.

“They took the life of every human being that stood in their way.  The most unreasonable request, if there was a moment’s hesitation, was rewarded with a bullet; and it seemed as though demons, not men, were thirsting for the blood which was shed so profusely.