“Our friend is getting nervous,” cried Murden, with a laugh.

“There,” I cried, suddenly, as a deep bay, many miles distant, came floating over the prairie, “you must have heard that howl.  The hound is on our trail, and his following us at this time of night means something.”

“You are right,” said Fred, quietly; “I could distinguish that dog’s bay amid a hundred.  Let us return, lieutenant, and find out what has happened at the hut.”

Murden laughed at our folly, as he termed it, and could not he induced to understand that the animal was endowed with rare instinct; and even when we related how he had sought us out on the night that Black Darnley had murdered his master, he tried to argue that it was purely accidental; but even while we debated, the bays of the hound grew louder and nearer as the scent became fresher, and while we were listening attentively, as the animal searched along the edge of the woods for a trail, I thought I heard the report of firearms, but at such a distance, that I did not venture to call attention to my surmise.

In a few minutes the dog was with us, bounding towards Fred and myself, as we sat on our horses, and seeking to attract, our attention by a number of artifices.  With a low whine, he would look in the direction of the hut, where his mistress was supposed to be, and then trot off a short distance, when, finding that we paid no attention to his movements, he would return and whine as though his heart was breaking by our coldness, in refusing to notice his appeals.

“I can’t stand this any longer,” cried Fred, suddenly.  “Lieutenant, if you will not lead your troop back to the stock-hut, Jack and myself will go alone.  I am satisfied that there is something wrong going on there, and that the dog has been sent by the old convict to recall us.”

“What can have happened to them since we left?  There were no indications of bushrangers in that quarter, and to return would be waste of time,” returned the commanding officer.

“Then we will go alone.  We should like Smith as a companion if you have no objections; but as the horses are under your charge, we will leave them, and walk to the hut.  If matters are right there, we can join you by daylight in the morning.”

As Fred spoke, he dismounted, and I was about to imitate his example, when Murden altered his mind.

“Do you think,” he said, with all the warmth of an honest John Bull, “that I will permit you two Don Quixotes to leave me, and cross this wide prairie on foot, at this time of night.  No, sirs.  If you are determined to go, thinking there is fighting, why, I am bound to accompany you, and get my share.  A quick trot, men, and keep in a compact body.”

The men, without a murmur at the sudden order, struck their spurs into their horses’ sides, and followed us at a gallop, the dog leading the way in the direction of the stock-hut, and no longer uttering loud bays.