CHAPTER SIX.
When I got back to my friends we held a consultation as to our best modeof proceeding. It was agreed that we would wait until the bushrangersseparated, which they were sure to do in the morning, and then rush onthose in the camp while the others were away. The dog would prove thechief obstacle, and it was settled that I was to shoot him while Hectorand Guy should dash into their camp. Two of the men would in allprobability remain, while the others went to look after the horses,leaving their arms behind them. The dominie was to remain with thehorses in case any of the fellows escaping might gallop off with them.
We waited until about a couple of hours to dawn, when we crept forward,led by the black. We dared not approach as close as we could havewished, on account of their watch-dog, who would be certain to give thealarm. Our plans being arranged, the dominie and I lay down, and,wearied with what we had lately gone through, slept for the greater partof the night.
It was still dusk when, having crept up to the robbers' camp, we saw oneof them get up and throw some sticks on the fire. He then aroused hiscompanions, and two of them, the big bushranger and one I took to beVinson, went off, as we concluded, to bring in the horses, happilyleaving their guns behind them.
Now was our opportunity. At a signal from Hector, we rose to our feet,and holding our guns ready to fire, rushed towards the two men, who wereengaged in cooking their breakfast. The bull-dog, with a fierce bark,sprang towards us. As he did so, the black with his spear nearly fixedthe brute to the ground, which saved me from having to fire, and thusalarming the other two. One of the men attempted to take up his gun,but it was beyond his reach; he, however, seized from the fire a thickstick, with which he made a blow at my head; but at that instant mybrave Carlo sprang at his throat with a force which brought him to theground. Hector and Guy were in the meantime struggling with the otherman, whom they succeeded in securing. Having lashed his arms behindhim, they were at liberty to come to my assistance, and soon firmlybound the fellow Carlo had overthrown, for I had not struck a blow. Onexamining the countenances of the men we discovered that they were bothstrangers. The big bushranger and Vinson, who were, we had littledoubt, the other two we had seen, had gone off probably to catch thehorses. Having left their arms behind them they were in our power, butit was a great question whether we could manage to capture them. Theywould probably be back in a few minutes, and we had at once to decidehow to act.
"I have a bright idea," exclaimed Guy; "I tell you what we will do.We'll gag these two fellows to prevent them from crying out, and dragthem behind those bushes close to the camp. You, Maurice, and theblack, being also concealed, must threaten to shoot them if they attemptto make any noise. Hector and I will then take their places at thefire, and pretend to be cooking the breakfast. As there will not bemuch light for some time, the other men when they return will not atfirst discover us, and we shall be able to point our rifles and orderthem to give in before they are aware of the trap we have laid. To makethings more certain, we'll put on our prisoners' cabbage straw hats andred shirts, so that the chances are that they will get close up beforethey find out their mistake."
Hector and I highly approving of Guy's suggestion, we immediately setabout putting it into execution. The black, who, being a remarkablyintelligent fellow, fully understood our object, seemed highlydelighted, grinning from ear to ear, as he assisted us.
We quickly gagged our prisoners, and then, dragging them behind thebushes, took off their shirts and hats, which, as they were far fromclean, I was secretly glad I had not got to wear. Guy and Hector putthem on, and then examining the fire-arms to ascertain if they wereproperly loaded, drew them close to the fire, before which they satdown. While one turned the spits on which they had put some meat toroast, the other employed himself in chopping up sticks and placing themon the fire. So exactly did they act the parts in which we had foundour present prisoners engaged, that I felt sure the other men would notsuspect the trap laid for them until they were close up to the camp. Itwas to be hoped that both would come at the same time, for if not,though we might seize one, the other would probably be warned, and makehis escape. There was a risk, of course, that they would come acrossthe dominie and the horses, and if so, would guess that we haddiscovered their camp, and would at all events be on their guard. Guyhad, however, especially charged the dominie that should the bushrangersby any accident discover him, he was to keep them at a distance bythreatening to fire if they approached.
While my brother and Hector were bending over the fire as I havedescribed, I kept peering through the bushes, keeping one eye on our twoprisoners, though I felt sure that the black would watch them carefullyas he squatted down by their side with a sharp knife in his hand. Itwas a nervous time, but we had not long to wait before we heard the dullsound of galloping feet, and several horses came in sight, followed bythe big bushranger mounted on a powerful steed. I could nowhere seeVinson, so that he at all events would have a chance of escaping. Thehorses came rushing on, and as they got near the fire separated, some onone side, some on the other. With an oath the big man shouted out--
"Why don't you stop them, you fellows?" The two figures bending overthe fire did not appear to hear him, until, throwing himself from hishorse, he approached them; when, snatching up their rifles, theysuddenly turned round and presented the barrels at his head.
"Hands up, or we fire!" cried Guy and Hector in the same breath.
Notwithstanding this warning the bushranger's right hand instantly movedtowards the butt of the pistol in his belt, his left still holding therein; he, however, quickly changed his mind, for he well knew, should heattempt to draw his weapon, before he could present it a couple of ballsmight be crashing through his brain. Another oath escaped his lips.
"Caught at last," he cried out, as if he was going to yield, but thenext instant with a bound he was in his saddle, leaning forward at thesame time, so that the horse's neck might protect his head. Guy fired.
The bullet only grazed the fellow's shoulder. I was taking aim at thefugitive, when another person appeared, driving before him the remainderof the horses. Forgetting for a moment that the bushranger's guns laybeside my brother and Hector, but recollecting that the big fellow had abrace of pistols in his belt, I was afraid of firing lest I should miss;and that he, coming back, would turn the tables on us. The next instantHector and Guy had each picked up a gun. The big bushranger had,however, already got to a considerable distance, and although bothfired, he continued his course, apparently uninjured.
While they were reloading, the fourth man, whom I took to be Vinson, haddisappeared. We all three immediately rushed out to stop the horses,and succeeded in catching our own and two others. Our own saddles werein the robber's camp, so all we had to do was to put them on ready for astart. We then placed our prisoners on the backs of the other two,securing their legs under the horses' bellies, and fastening longleathern thongs to the bridles. We then, carrying off the ammunition,and two of the guns as trophies, smashed up the others, and threw thesaddles and the few articles of baggage we found, on the fire,retaining, however, one or two things which were likely to proveacceptable to our black guide, who was highly delighted with his shareof the plunder. Hoping to receive a further reward, he undertook toaccompany us to Bracewell's, and to lead our prisoners' horses. Wethought it prudent, however, not to trust him too much, though weaccepted his offer, provided he could keep up to us.
We were anxious as soon as possible to hand our prisoners over to thepolice, lest their two comrades, still at large, with others of the gangthey might fall in with, should attempt their rescue; but we felt prettysecure, as they would know that, so long as we were on the watch, theywere not likely to succeed. Should we, however, be kept out anothernight, they would compel us to be very vigilant, while we should have toguard both ourselves and the horses.
Although the two bushrangers had escaped, we had succeeded in breakingup the gang, and without guns and ammunition they wou
ld have greatdifficulty in supporting themselves; while the two we had made prisonerswould probably, on their trial, be ready to give such information asmight assist in the capture of others.
Leading on our prisoners, we now set out to return to where we had leftthe dominie.
We had, I should have said, hurriedly eaten some of the provisions Guyand Hector had cooked, and we took the remainder so that no time need belost in proceeding to Bracewell's.
On reaching the spot, what was our dismay to see neither the dominie northe horses. We shouted to him, but no reply came.
"What can have become of him?" exclaimed Guy. "Those fellows must havefallen in with him, and compelled him to accompany them."
"I do not think that is possible," I remarked, "for they went off in adifferent direction. Still his disappearance is very mysterious. Wemust try to learn what the black thinks about the matter."
We inquired of our guide, by signs and such words as he understood.
He examined the ground on every side and then started off at a run in asoutherly direction, and on closer examination we discovered traces ofthe horses.
After waiting some time, as the black did not return, Guy proposed thatHector should stay by the prisoners and the two animals we hadrecovered, while he and I went in search of our missing friend.
Hector undertook to do as proposed.
"I'll hobble all four of them," he observed, "and there'll be no risk oftheir getting away."
Not wishing to lose more time we started. After going on for some timewe got separated, and I found to my right a deep gully, with steepcliff-like banks, mostly covered with trees of a character which showedthat there was generally an abundance of water; indeed, I observedseveral small pools, joined by a trickling rivulet three or four feetonly in width.
As I went along, I shouted out our friend's name. At last I heard thetramp of horses, and looking about, I caught sight through the trees ofour two animals with their saddles on their backs, the black following,driving them before him.
I was thankful to find that they had been recovered, though much grievednot to see the dominie, for I naturally feared that some seriousaccident had happened to him. I now once more returned, intending torejoin Hector, when I heard a faint shout. It came from the directionof the gully. My hopes revived of finding the dominie. After going onsome way, I again heard the shout followed by a cooey which I was sure,however, was not uttered by him. It was the voice either of Guy orHector.
I cooeyed in return. Soon afterwards another reached my ears, comingfrom the same direction. At last I gained the summit of a cliff, when,looking down, I saw Guy bending over the prostrate form of a man.
I soon joined my brother, and found that the fallen person was thedominie. Guy was employed in chafing his hands, and trying to restorehim to consciousness.
"Can he have been attacked by bushrangers, and thrown here?" I asked.
"I don't think that," answered Guy, pointing up to the cliff. "See, hemust have fallen over, and striking his head on the ground, have becomeinsensible. Go and get some water from yonder pool in your hat, and Ithink that if we bathe his head, he will come to."
I did as Guy desired me, and in a short time we had the satisfaction ofseeing our companion revive.
"Have you got the horses?" were the first words he spoke.
"All right!" I answered, "and we have captured two bushrangers into thebargain."
The news seemed to have a good effect, and now that he had come tohimself, he quickly, with our assistance, was able to get up the cliff,when we helped him along.
In a short time we joined Hector, who had caught the horses driven up tohim by the black.
We immediately mounted, and Hector taking charge of one prisoner, andGuy of the other, I attended to the dominie. We expected that our blackguide would have kept up with the horses, but when he found the rate atwhich we went, he appeared to have had enough of our society, and,suddenly bolting off into the bush, disappeared.
"It is the way of those black fellows," observed Hector. "He hasobtained more than he expected, and has no fancy to be shot by thebushrangers, should we encounter them; probably, also, he wants to joinhis gins, who, I dare say, are not far off, though they have kept out ofour sight."
We rode on, when the ground was level breaking into a gallop. Thedominie now and then groaned, but when I offered to pull up, he alwaysanswered--
"Go on, go on; perhaps those villains will be watching for us; I don'twant to be stuck up again or shot."
When I observed that they had only pistols, he answered--
"Ah, well! pistols will kill as well as rifles, and we don't know atwhat moment they may pounce out from this thick scrub."
As I thought it possible that they might make an attempt to surprise us,I was not sorry to follow the dominie's wishes.
We made such good way that I hoped we should reach Bracewell's beforesundown. Late in the day, I began to recognise spots we had passedwhile staying with him, although so great is the sameness of thecountry, that I could not feel very certain that such was the case,until I heard Guy, who was ahead, sing out--
"Here we are! I see the top of Bracewell's hut."
We gave a cooey to let those at the station know of our approach, and inanother moment old Bob came hurrying out to meet us.
"Thankful you've come, gentlemen," he exclaimed; "though Mr Bracewell'sround the corner, he'll be glad of your society. He's in terribly lowspirits at having only me to look after him. But, whom have you there?Picked up a couple of pirates on the road?"
We soon explained who our captives were. Old Bob shook his fist atthem.
"You rascals! You're caught at last, are you? You'll be having yourlegs in chains before long I hope, and not be keeping honest folk infear of their lives."
"We must see where we can stow these fellows until we can send for thepolice," said Guy.
"We'll stow them safe enough," said old Bob, "and, provided we keeptheir arms lashed behind their backs, and their legs in limbo, they'llnot escape from where I'll put them."
The captive bushrangers cast angry glances at the speaker, but as theirmouths were still gagged, they could not express their feelings bywords.
Before we went in to see Bracewell, we had hauled them off their horses,and under Bob's directions, dragged them into a hut, which had only onedoor and one window. He then brought a couple of stout ropes, withwhich we secured them to the posts which supported the roof, one oneither side of the hut, so that they could not reach each other. Wenext drew the gags from their mouths, expecting that they would make thefirst use of their tongues by abusing us, but they appeared to be toodull and brutal even to do that. After closing the door and window, weleft them to their own devices.
"I'll take care that they don't get out during the night. If they trythat dodge, I'll send a bullet through their heads," muttered old Bob.
Bracewell, who had been asleep when we arrived, awoke as we entered,delighted to see us, and insisted on getting up to do the honours of hishut. Old Bob in the meantime was cooking supper, and a verysatisfactory one he managed to produce.
Our coming, as we expected, did our friend a great deal of good, and wehoped that the medicine which the dominie brought would still furtherrestore him.
Old Bob insisted that a guard should be kept on the prisoners, and heoffered to stand watch for four hours, provided we three took theremainder of the night between us. To this we could not object, thoughwhen he aroused me, I confess that I got up very unwillingly.
I was thankful, however, that his advice was followed. While standingbefore the door, I heard one of the fellows announce to his comrade thathe had got one of his arms free, and that in another minute he would sethim at liberty. Had they succeeded in doing this, they would have hadno difficulty in working their way out of the hut.
I at once opened the door, and walked up to the fellow with a pistol inmy hand. I found that he had really managed to get an arm free, thoug
hthe moment he saw me he placed it behind him.
I shouted to old Bob, who quickly came to my assistance, and we soon hadthe fellow more securely fastened than before. We then examined theother. Though he had evidently been trying his best to get out hisarms, he had not succeeded. As may be supposed, we did not allow theman opportunity of attempting the same trick again, and when I called upGuy, I charged him to keep a watch on the two fellows, a lantern beingplaced in the middle of the hut to throw its light upon them.
At day-break Hector rode off to execute the commissions for his father,and at the same time to summon the police.
As our prisoners required our constant attention, we were very thankfulwhen a dozen black troopers came clattering up to the station under thecommand of an English officer, to whom we handed over the bushrangers,and gave a full description of how they had been caught, and of theirtwo companions who had escaped.
We had, as we expected, to go and give evidence; but, fortunately, astheir trial came on at once, we were not long delayed.
By the time we were wanted, Bracewell, thanks to the dominie's medicalskill, had almost entirely recovered. He was able to identify the twomen as among the party who had attacked him, we also having found intheir possession some of his property which they had taken. The othertwo were still at large, but the police entertained no doubt that theyshould catch them before long.
We all returned to Bracewell's, and I was glad to find that he hadaccepted an invitation from Mr Strong, to pay him a visit, which he wasable to do as he had engaged a trustworthy man to assist old Bob intaking care of the station. We therefore prepared to set outimmediately.