We had not remained long at our station before two men passed us, talking earnestly together; and we learned enough to know that the presence of the police was not suspected by the bushrangers, and that the party attacking the hut was one got up for the purpose of avenging the death of Black Darnley and his gang.

Smith’s cart, filled with merchandise when we started, had been rifled of every thing which it contained of value, and I could hear the poor fellow groan as he thought of his loss.

“I tell you, Jim,” cried one of the gang, “we are only wasting time here; let’s pack up what we’ve got, and be off.  Bill says that he saw a police force on the road day before yesterday, and our wasting so much powder may bring ’em to this spot.”

“And let the death of Darnley go unrevenged?” exclaimed the ruffian addressed; “I’m blastedly ashamed of you, to hear a man talk that way!  You knows as well as I does that these fellers has got all the money that Darnley’s gang has made for six months past, and now there’s a chance of making a spec you want to be off.”

“But I don’t like the idea of getting nabbed by the police.  I’m well known, and curse ’em, there’d be a jolly time in Melbourne if they could put the hemp around my neck.”

“Your neck’s no more precious than mine,” replied the second bushranger; “I for one don’t quit this place till I’ve cut the throat of every man in the hut.  I’ll learn ’em to attack our people.  They shall be made examples of.”

“Well, Jim,” replied the milder ruffian, “if you have set your heart on fighting ’em, why, I’ll stand by.  But let’s make short work of it, and storm the hut without delay.”

“And lose half of our gang, hey?” answered the bushranger.  “There’s good marksmen in the hut, as the death of Sam just now should convince you.  We can’t afford to throw away men, as we’ve none too many to do the work.”

“Then how are we going to get at ’em?”

“I’ll tell you the plan I’ve hit on, and I think we needn’t lose more than one man in putting it into execution.  Remove every thing from that cart, and let half a dozen men keep up a brisk fire in front of the hut, while I with the rest, will take the team to the back of the shanty.  We can push it close under the roof and shelter ourselves from the fire of those within, if they discover the trick, which I don’t think they will.  By starting a board or two, without much noise, we can command every part of the room, and pour in half a dozen volleys without being injured.”

“That is a deused good idea, and I’ll go and tell the boys.  They’ve got hold of that keg of rum, and I suppose I shall have hard work to choke ’em off; but they must leave it for a while, and attend to business.”

The two bushrangers, who appeared to be the leaders of the gang, separated, one stealing towards the object of his attack, and the other hastening in the direction of the ford which crossed the stream—­possibly where the men were carousing.