"How long has he been captain?" asked Harry.
"Ever since I joined the band," answered the young man. "I don't knowhow much longer."
"How long have you been a member of the band?"
"Five years."
"You must have been a mere boy when you joined."
"I was seventeen. I am twenty-two now."
"I should like to ask you a question, but you may not like to answerit."
"Go on! If I don't care to answer, I will tell you so."
"What induced you to join the bushrangers?"
"I will tell you," said the young man, showing neither offence norreluctance. "I was employed in Melbourne in a business establishment.One of my fellow-clerks stole some money, and, to screen himself,managed to implicate me by concealing a part of the stolen money in mycoat pocket. I knew no way to prove my innocence, and my employer wasnot a man to show pity, so I escaped from Melbourne and took refuge inthe bush. There I fell in with Captain Stockton, who offered me a placein his band. I accepted, and here I am."
"But for the act of your fellow clerk you would have been an honestbusiness man today, then?"
"Very likely."
"What a pity!" said Harry regretfully, for he was much attracted by theopen face and pleasant manners of the young man.
"So I thought at first, but I became used to it. After a while I grew tolike the free life of the bush."
"I don't call it free. You can't go back to Melbourne for fear ofarrest."
"Oh, yes, I have been there several times," said the young mancarelessly.
"How did you manage it?" asked Harry, puzzled.
"I disguised myself. Sometimes the captain sends me on specialbusiness."
"Like Fletcher?" asked Harry quickly.
"No; I shouldn't like that work. It suits him, however."
"I never should have taken you for a bushranger. You look too honest."
The other laughed.
"I think I was meant to be an honest man," he said. "That is, I ambetter suited to it. But fate ordained otherwise."
"Fate?"
"Yes; I believe that everything that happens to us is fated, and couldnot have been otherwise."
"You think, then, that you were fated to be a bushranger?"
"I am sure of it."
"That, then, accounts for it not troubling you."
"You are right. We can't kick against fate, you know."
"I shouldn't like to believe as you do," said Harry earnestly.
"You'll come to believe it sooner or later," said the outlaw, with anair of conviction.
"Then what is the use of trying to lead a good and honorable life?"
"That's just what I say. There isn't any use."
Harry had never before met anyone holding such views of fate. He wasinterested, but repelled. He felt that he could not and would not acceptany such idea, and he said so.
"You'll change your mind after you become one of us," said hiscompanion.
"After what?" ejaculated Harry.
"After you become one of us."
"But that will never be. How can you think such a thing!"
"Because I know it is to be. Why do you think the captain brought youhere? He had your money, and couldn't get any more out of you."
"Do you really mean what you say?" asked Harry, his heart filled with asickening apprehension that this might be true.
"Of course I do. The captain likes young people. You two boys are smartand bright, and he is going to make you members of the band."
"He can't! I'll die first!" exclaimed Harry with suppressed energy.
"You will see. But hush! don't speak so loud. For my part I shall bevery glad to have you among us. You will be companions for me. You areonly about a year younger than I was when I joined."
At this moment their companion was called away, and Harry, bendingtoward Jack, whispered in his ear: "I am afraid he is right about thecaptain's intentions. We must try to escape as soon as there is anychance."
"I'm with you," Jack whispered back.
CHAPTER XIII.
A TRIAL AND ITS TRAGIC FINALE.
Harry was very much disturbed by the communication of his newacquaintance, whose name he ascertained to be Wyman. It was not verypleasant, of course, to be a prisoner, but this he could have borne,being confident, sooner or later, of escaping. But to be forced to jointhese lawless men, and render himself, like them, an outlaw and outcastfrom respectable society, seemed terrible. He determined that, come whatwould, he would preserve his integrity and his honest name. He might beill-treated, but they could not force him to become a bushranger. Hetalked the matter over with Jack, and the young sailor agreed with him.
Presently the meal was ready, and the two boys were served with therest. Notwithstanding their precarious position, each ate heartily Ittakes a good deal to spoil the appetite of a growing boy.
After eating, the captain, clearing his throat, addressed the band:
"My men," he said, "we have refreshed ourselves by eating, and now aless pleasant scene awaits us. I am your captain, and to me you havesworn implicit obedience. Is it not so?"
"Yes, yes!" answered the bushrangers.
"It is a necessity of our position. We have withdrawn from the world,and we lead a free, untrammelled life in the bush. We scorn the lawsthat the colonists have made, and prefer to govern ourselves. Is thisso?"
There was a hoarse murmur of assent.
"As a consequence," the captain proceeded, "we are hunted like wildbeasts. Our enemies have laid plots to ensnare us, but thus far theyhave not succeeded. While we stand together we are safe."
Again there were signs of assent and approval as Captain Stocktonpaused.
"But one thing is essential. There must be no traitor, no malcontentsamong us. A large reward has been offered for my apprehension--fivethousand pounds! It shows how much they are afraid of us," and he raisedhis head with unconscious pride. "Against open enemies we can hold ourown, but not against the secret foe who sits beside us as a friend, andeats and drinks with us. When such a one is found, what shall be hisfate?"
He paused for a reply, and it came from the lips of all in one sternword--"Death!"
"I am answered," said the captain. "The sentence has been pronounced,not by my lips but by your own."
Here he turned to two attendants, who were stationed near at hand."Bring forth the traitor," he said.
The two men disappeared within one of the huts, and immediatelyreappeared, leading behind them a third, with his hands tied behind him.His face was covered by a black cloth, which effectually screened hisfeatures from the general observation. All eyes were turned on theunhappy man. Harry and Jack regarded the scene with painful interest.They guessed what was coming.
"Complete your task!" said the captain with a wave of his hand.
The two guards set the offender with his back to a tree, and producing arope, quickly passed it round his waist and tied him securely, with hisscreened face toward the band.
"Wretch!" said the captain in a terrible voice, "you thought to betrayus, and expose us to punishment and death, but the doom which you wereready to bring upon us has recoiled upon yourself. You would have soldyour captain and comrades for gold. They have pronounced your doom, andit is _Death!_ Have you anything to say?"
The victim did not speak, but slowly inclined his head in hopelesssubmission to his fate.
"You have nothing to say for yourself. Is there anyone to speak foryou?"
One of the bushrangers sprang forward impetuously. "Yes, captain, I willspeak for him."
Captain Stockton frowned fiercely, but uttered one word, "Speak!"
The daring outlaw, who had stepped forward a little from the line,commenced: "This man is my brother. We were nursed by the same mother,we played together by the same fireside, we grew into manhood together,and together we joined this band of brothers."
He paused a moment, and the captain said briefly, "Well?"
"Now," continued the brother, "you
would condemn him to a shamefuldeath, which he does not deserve."
"What!" exclaimed the captain, his face becoming pale with anger; "whatdo you dare to say? Do you question the justice of our sentence? Wouldyou excuse a traitor?"
"He is no traitor!" said the brother boldly.
"Was he not caught attempting to escape? Answer me instantly."
"Yes, but he had no intention of betraying any of us."
"What then was his object?" demanded Captain Stockton sternly.
"He meant to leave you. He had become tired of the life of a bushranger.He wished to return to the paths of honesty, and live by labor at somerespectable trade."
"And why was this? Why, after so many years, had he become tired of ournoble independence?"
"In one of his missions, undertaken in the interest of the fraternity,he had made the acquaintance of a young girl, modest and attractive. Hewished to marry her, but as a bushranger he knew this was impossible.Therefore, he resolved to leave our band, and enter upon a new life. Hewould never have uttered a word to imperil the safety of his captain orhis comrades."
"And you expect us to believe this?" said the captain with a sneer.
"I do. I swear it is true."
"And what do you expect me to do, Robert Graham?"
"To consider his temptations, and to show mercy upon him."
"Perhaps also you expect me to release him, and bid him go his way tothe maiden who is waiting for him."
"It would be a generous act."
"But I am not so generous," said the captain. "Your plea is ingenious,but I put no faith in it. It is utterly improbable. You and your brotherhave been with us for seven years. You have become accustomed to ourways. He was faithful and loyal till the love of gold made him atraitor. What he sought was blood money."
"No, a thousand times, no!" exclaimed the brother earnestly.
"I say it is so," said Captain Stockton harshly. "It is plain to everymember of the band. Yet, because you have never transgressed, I havebeen willing to listen to you, remembering that he is your brother."
"Spare his life at least; even if you are convinced that he is guilty.He has not lived his life half out. Be merciful!"
"I cannot," answered the captain in an inflexible tone. "If I yielded tosuch a weakness all discipline would be at an end. If treachery is to bepardoned, who knows which one among you might be the next to imitate theexample of this man. No! justice is stern, and punishment must beinflicted. The guilty must be punished though the heavens fall. Men,stand aside!"
The Death of the Bushranger Captain.]
This was addressed to the two men who stood, one on each side of thecondemned bushranger.
They obeyed the command of their chief and he, raising his revolver,pointed it at the breast of the unhappy offender.
There was a moment of intense excitement. Harry and Jack werespellbound. Their faces were pale, and wore an expression of horror.They were about to see a human life taken. They could hardly forbearuttering a groan.
The silence was broken by a sharp, explosive sound. The deadly weaponhad done its work; but it was not the captive who had received thewinged messenger of death. It was the captain himself who staggered andwith one convulsive movement fell prone to the earth.
CHAPTER XIV.
ELECTION OF A NEW CAPTAIN.
The excitement among the bushrangers was intense. Simultaneously theystarted forward, and two of them, bending over, lifted the body of theirprostrate leader. But he was already dead. The bullet had reached hisheart, and probably he never knew what hurt him.
Robert Graham, the man who had caused his death, stood erect andunflinching.
He threw his weapon upon the ground, folded his arms, and said, in atone devoid of fear: "Comrades, do with me what you will. I could nothelp doing what I did. It was either my brother's life or his. Sandy wasinnocent of the crime charged against him. He had no thought oftreachery, though he did mean to leave your ranks. Is there anyone amongyou that would stand by and see his brother murdered before his eyeswhen he had the means of preventing it?"
The bushrangers looked at each other in doubt. They had at firstaccepted the captain's statement that Sandy Graham was a traitor. Hisbrother's explanation of his attempted desertion put a new face on thematter. Then, again, there was not one among them that had not tired oftheir despotic leader. Alive, he had impressed them with fear, and heldthem in strict subordination, but he was far from popular, and had noreal friend among them. So, though they were startled and shocked, therewas no one to shed a tear over the dead. It was a moment of doubt when aleader was wanted.
"Well," said Robert Graham, after a pause, "what are you going to dowith me? I wait your pleasure."
"He ought to be served as he served the captain," said Fletcher, whodisliked Graham, and had always been a toady to Captain Stockton.
"I say no," rejoined Rupert Ring, a man of medium height, but of greatmuscular development. "It was a terrible deed, but had my brother--Ihave a brother in England, whom I have not seen for fifteen years--beenin Sandy Graham's shoes, I would have done the same."
There was a half murmur, which seemed like approval.
"And after all," continued Ring, "though Sandy Graham was in fault, heis not the first man that has been beguiled by a fair face."
"No, no!" was heard from several of the bushrangers.
"I don't wish to speak ill of the dead, but he drew the reins too tightat times. He forgot that we have rights."
Again there was a murmur of assent. It was evident that he was carryinghis comrades with him.
"I move, therefore, that we pass over Robert Graham's deed as one towhich he was impelled by brotherly affection, and that we restore SandyGraham to his place in our ranks, on condition that he does not repeatthe offence. Those who agree with me, hold up their right hands."
All hands were raised except that of Fletcher.
"Release the prisoner," said Ring, turning to the two attendants.
Instantly the rope was cut, the dark cloth was removed, and SandyGraham, a tall, athletic, good-looking fellow, stepped forth, his facepale from the terrible strain to which he had been subjected.
"Comrades, brothers," he said, in a voice indicating deep emotion, "Ithank you for giving me back my life. It shall be devoted to yourservice."
The first to press forward, and grasp his hand convulsively was hisbrother, Robert Graham.
"Robert," said Sandy, "but for your brave act I should have been lyingdead instead of him," and he pointed, with a shudder, to the deadcaptain.
"For your sake, Sandy," said Robert solemnly, "I have shed human blood.To save your life, I have become a murderer."
"No, Robert, you cannot be called that any more than if you had shedblood in self-defence."
Their conversation was interrupted by Rupert Ring.
"Comrades," he said, "the captain is dead. We can do nothing without aleader. We should appoint one at once."
Here Fletcher pushed forward.
"I am the oldest in service among you," he said. "I was the trustedfriend of Captain Stockton. I submit that I have the best claim to beyour leader."
But among bushrangers, as in other communities, the man who is the mostanxious to secure office is very apt to be left in the lurch. Now, ithappened that Fletcher was by no means a favorite in the band. He wassly and sneaking in his methods, currying favor with the captain, evenat the expense of manliness and self-respect, and there were seriousdoubts as to his courage. If he had been wiser, he would not have made aboast of his standing with the late leader, for the men were heartilytired of his tyranny, and resolved to elect someone in his place whobore no similarity to him.
Rupert Ring smiled slightly as he heard Fletcher's modest claim.
"Comrades," he said, "you have heard Fletcher's appeal. It is true thathe is the oldest in service among you. It is for you to consider whetherthat entitles him to the post of leader. Those of you who are in favorof Dick Fletcher as your leader will signify
it by raising your righthands."
Fletcher's eye wandered anxiously around the circle. To his chagrin nota single hand was raised save his own. There was a cheer of derisionwhich brought an angry flush to his cheek.
Then a clear voice was heard. It was that of the young man, Wyman, whoseconversation with the two boys has already been recorded.
"I nominate Rupert Ring for our leader," he said.
There was a chorus of approval, which emboldened Wyman to add: "As hecan't very well put the question on his own nomination, I will do so.Those of you who want Ring for your captain, please hold up your righthands." All hands were raised except that of Fletcher.
"That settles it," said Wyman, who was unversed in parliamentarylanguage. "I call for three cheers for Captain Ring!"
The woods echoed to the lusty cheers of the bushrangers. It was evident,from the general expression of satisfaction, that the choice was apopular one.