as i lay watching their movements, as well as the darkness permitted, i suddenly remembered that there was a canoe, or little punt, a miserable, leaky, flat-bottomed affair, lying under the bank before me. the reason stevenson had not used it to paddle down to the bottom of the island (a mile off) was the necessity of constant baling to keep it afloat in going such a distance. merely to cross and recross the stream she would do well enough, as she would carry two men. i was determined the thieves should not have her for transporting their saddles and swags, and went forward to remove her. i crept along until i came to the huge log of dead timber to which the canoe was attached. here i was completely in the shade, and sheltered, moreover, by the massive trunk, behind the upper end of which i crouched. i had reached out my hand to loosen the painter, when my eye fell on an object moving along the surface of the water, which was comparatively light. it was the head of a man swimming across for the boat; and i resolved to secure him.

as he approached nearer, i saw it was a black fellow. i was not surprised at this, as i had been informed that the organized gangs of depredators who carried on operations on a large scale between the different colonies generally secured the services of some of these dexterous children of the soil to assist them in travelling through the bush by the remotest and most unfrequented tracks; and, above all, to aid them in swimming the horses across streams when flooded with the winter rains. he did not seem to anticipate any ambush or interruption, for he came boldly though silently on, and, reaching the boat, hauled himself on, and, grasping the rope, lifted himself out of the water by its aid, and in two steps ascended to where it was fastened. i had drawn my pistol from its belt, and the moment he reached out his hand, i pointed it at him, and said quietly, 'if you move, i shoot you!'

beyond turning his face quickly to the spot whence my voice proceeded, the black made not the slightest motion, but remained in the same attitude, as if suddenly paralyzed by this unexpected rencontre; and i stood up to seize and take him up the bank. i confess i acted like a blockhead; but i was new to such matters then; yet, after the example i had already witnessed that evening of the cunning, dexterity, and agility of the blacks, i ought to have known better.

instead of keeping him covered with my pistol, and ordering him to come up the bank to me, i descended the steep face of it to him, and, reaching out my left hand, took hold of his wrist to lead him up. the fellow yielded without uttering a syllable, and as if he had not the slightest intention of resisting, and ascended a step or two, thus bringing himself close to and just beneath me. another step would have placed us on a level, and he was in the act of making it, when, quick as lightning, the rascal, finding himself quite close to me, threw his arm round my body and hurled himself back into the river, head foremost, dragging me with him, and, when under water, instantly making the most desperate efforts to get loose from my grasp. i was a good swimmer, fortunately, and in falling i had let go his wrist and seized him by his bushy head of hair, which i kept a tight hold of. i was desperately enraged at having been so simply done, and when we reached the surface i gave him a blow or two with the pistol. i soon found i was the stronger of the two; but still he struggled viciously.

'what for white fellow kill black drooper?'

'trooper!' i said; 'what do you mean?'

'mine belongin' to p'leece!' he roared, while voices from the other side, which the noise and splashing of our struggle had hitherto prevented me from hearing, called out to know what was the matter.

'you blockhead!' i said; 'why didn't you say so at first?' and i scrambled out.

'who is there?' i said.

'lieutenant walters and the native police. is that you, doctor? will you bring the punt over?'

it was stevenson's voice. in a few moments i and my late antagonist were on the other side.

'what have you and the darky been up to?' he said.

'i took you for a lot of horse-stealers. who could have dreamt it was you? back so soon, and on the island too!'

'but how did you manage to get into the river? you fell in, did you not?'

'it was this black fellow pulled me in,' i said. 'what for you pull me in along a water, eh? what for no speak?'

'what for you poke 'um pissel along a me, eh? what for you pabber "mine shoot"? you stupid white fellow—you! crack um cobra belongin' to mine!' and he rubbed said 'cobra' very gingerly. however, as his head was as hard as the generality of blacks', there was no great harm done.

'mistakes on both sides, apparently,' said stevenson; 'but you had better get across as soon as possible. i will go over with you. are the two boys safe?'

'fast as a church, when i saw them last,' said i, seizing the paddle and sculling vigorously, for i was getting benumbed with cold. one of the blacks swam alongside, to bring back the punt, and hurried home to change. as we went stevenson explained that, when some distance on his journey, he had met the troop on the plains, and was told that, having found a note awaiting his arrival, with orders on the subject from brown, the lieutenant had determined to push on that very night, and beat up the blacks' quarters next morning, if possible. knowing that his every movement was closely watched, and that information is passed on from tribe to tribe with wonderful celerity, he was obliged to be very cautious. feigning that the note was an unwelcome summons to another place, he, in apparent ill-humour, gave orders that the troop should cross the river that evening, in order to be ready for an early start for the avoca, where he pretended that his presence was urgently required. at midnight he sent out two or three scouts to examine the neighbourhood for any lurking spies, and, finding that his ruse had succeeded, he quietly saddled up and started, and met stevenson on his way.

upon approaching the station, they debated whether they should try to surprise and secure the four or five blacks at the ferry inn, and then recross the river by the punt, or whether they should get on to the island, and swim the river opposite the huts. as the blacks were on their guard, the first idea was abandoned; and the more readily, as it transpired that one of the troopers on a former marauding expedition had discovered a ford across the branch, by which they could reach the island without the necessity of swimming. they were thus enabled to ferry over their saddles and clothes.

while stevenson was giving me these particulars, and i was changing my clothes and imbibing some hot tea, the troopers swam their horses across, and presently mustered before the huts. their commander was a young fellow of four or five-and-twenty, in some respects well fitted for his post, for he was a dashing, reckless fellow, with plenty of courage and hardihood. but, as regarded discipline or organization of any kind, his troop was sadly deficient. they were simply black fellows clapped into uniforms, armed with carbine, sword, and pistol, and mounted on horseback; and wonderful airs they gave themselves as they strutted about. when i say they wore uniforms, i must except boots. these supposed essentials to the equipment of the cavalry soldier were dispensed with by them, except on grand occasions, such as the review of the force. then, with great agony and numerous contortions, these were dragged on, and their usual springy, elastic gait was instantly changed to a most unsoldierlike and pitiful hobble. but on active service the boots were hung at the saddle-bow, while each sable warrior inserted his great toe into the stirrup, the spurs being lashed to the naked heel.

the hut-keeper and his wife had been roused to prepare supper, or breakfast, for it was now long past three o'clock, and soon the frying-pan was hard at work.

'do you think any of your head-station blacks who were killed last night had anything to do with the murders?' asked walters, when he had returned from inspecting the bodies.

'they knew of them, but took no active part, i believe; pothook had overheard peel telling poor jimmy about them.'

'it was a good thought of yours, keeping these fellows,' said the lieutenant to me; 'shouldn't have caught them for months if they had got wind of our coming. sorry that fool of mine gave you such a ducking; he always was a stupid blockhead. now, the question is, where are these fellows we want? what kind of country are they camped in? can i get at them so as to surround their miamis? who knows the locality? i must have that fellow peel this time, he has dodged me so often.'

'i rather think the doctor here knows that ground better than any one, as he has shot ducks up and down the creek almost every day, and fished for eels in nearly every water-hole,' said stevenson.

'but does he know the murderers? i have got orders to catch the next lot, and send them prisoners to town. it makes more impression on the rest than shooting.'

'harris and i know them all. we will both go with you. when will you start?'

'in time to reach and surround their camp just before daybreak. will you be good enough to give me a rough sketch of the ground near it?' he said to me.

i made out a plan; and, while he was studying it, harris went to the woolshed and brought down a number of sheepskins, which each trooper quickly made into pads for putting on their horses' feet on approaching near to the camp, in order to deaden the sound.

'i see there is a swamp near the camp; can horses cross it?'

'no; it is all soft ground, boggy in many places—i have walked over it often,' i replied.

'then we must try and cut them off from it, that's all. when we have had something to eat, it will be time to start.'

he sat down to the meal the woman had just brought in; and while he was engaged with it stevenson took me aside. we went towards the kitchen, where the troopers were crowded together, eating their supper also, some sitting at the table, the rest squatted on the floor. after examining them through the window for a while, stevenson pointed out three of the twelve, whom he knew to belong to the same tribe which had made the onslaught on his blacks that night.

'i saw those fellows just now, when you and walters went to look at the bodies, spitting and stamping upon the tracks made by our blacks about the hut, and shaking their fists towards the camp they are going to attack. they are gloating over the prospect before them, and the scoundrels will kill lubras and children without scruple, for walters alone will not be able to restrain them. he is altogether too young and reckless—in fact, too indifferent about the lives of these poor creatures; and in that respect he resembles too many of the squatters, i am sorry to say. now, i am determined that my blacks shall not be cut up by these fellows, if i can prevent it. you will come with us, of course?'

'not i. i have not the slightest wish to see the pour wretches killed or captured, i assure you.'

'still i hope you'll come,' he urged. 'your presence, as a stranger, will be even a greater restraint upon them than mine, who am supposed to have an interest in the destruction of these troublesome pests to the squatter. walters will exert himself to obey the orders he has received, and take them alive; and i must offer these fellows some bribe or other to induce them to behave mercifully, and prevent the slaughter of women and children at least.'

'if you think my presence will have any good effect, i shall, of course, be only to happy to go with you. but the fact is, i am sick of bloodshed after what happened last night,' i said.

'i don't wonder at it; and yet, just look at those fellows,' he added, pointing to where the troopers were enjoying their sweetened tea, damper, and beef. 'what fills us with such loathing is to them a source of the keenest delight. they are in their glory now. strange, is it not—this dreadful instinct to kill, even in the case of men living far apart, and who never, perhaps, saw each other before? and yet i must not be unjust to them either. they kill because they are under the impression that every death, or sickness, or other misfortune which occurs to themselves or friends, is the work of some distant enemy, who has bewitched or stolen away his kidney fat. but here comes walters; i suppose he intends making a start.'

in a short time all were ready, our horses driven up to the stockyard and saddled. the troopers, under the guidance of harris, mounted and started, while walters and we then entered the hut once more, to look at the two blacks, to whom i had given a dose of something to make them sleep.

'i want to make sure of these fellows,' said the former. 'it would never do if, the moment our backs are turned, one of them jumped up and made off. he could easily reach the camp before daybreak, and all our trouble would be thrown away. try them again, doctor, please.'

i did so. little toby could be roused only with difficulty. pothook, however, was not so drowsy; and upon shaking him he opened his eyes and fixed them for a moment on walters and a trooper, who, in their shining accoutrements, stood before him. his head almost instantly fell back, and apparently he was sound asleep again in a moment. something, however, in the glance aroused my suspicions, and i quietly asked the lieutenant if the blacks here knew him.

'oh yes! they all know me very well.'

'then pothook recognised you! i believe he is wide awake at this moment, and will continue so, as the shock of the discovery that you are here will rouse him thoroughly. he must be guarded. shall we tie them together?'

'no need of that, if your hut-keeper will only mount guard over them for one hour. it is half-past four now, and day dawns at six. call him in.'

laidlaw came in, and, having received his orders not to lose sight of them for an instant until daylight, we mounted our horses and pushed on to overtake the troop.

'i am vexed that you should be dragged out on such a miserable expedition as this,' said stevenson to me as we rode together; 'but you know my motives. i feel very sad when i think of the fate about to befall these unhappy wretches. i can venture to say this much to you. were i to speak thus to nine out of ten squatters, they would stare at me in astonishment. it is enough for them that these blacks have killed white men. they must, therefore, be shot down if they run, or be hanged if they are taken alive. but i cannot help feeling that all those so-called murders were perpetrated by these ignorant savages in retaliation for innumerable atrocities practised by the overlanders and their men, who, until a year or two back, when this station was first formed, used to travel from the sydney side with their sheep and cattle to take up this country. had we white men only done our duty by these poor creatures, and used our superior power a little more mercifully when we seized and occupied their country, such atrocities as those we are now going to punish would never have occurred. it is enough to make one's blood run cold to hear some of my neighbours speak of these blacks. "how many did you shoot when you came over?" one will ask another. "only eleven," he will reply. "how many did you?" "fourteen altogether." and in town i have more than once met—gentlemen, i suppose i must call them—who openly asserted that they made it a point to shoot all they came across.'

'i have heard men say the same,' i replied, 'more than once, when in melbourne. it is perfectly horrible.'

walters riding up at this moment put a stop to the conversation, and presently we overtook the troop.

the blacks whom we were going to surprise were stationed six miles off, at the upper end of a long plain, and a hundred yards or so from the banks of a creek, which for some miles above their camp was closely bordered on one side by a swamp and on the other by mallee scrub. the miamis were pitched near the lower end of the swamp (which was on the right or station side of the watercourse), and in such a position that the blacks could see all over the plain the approach of danger, and, taking to the reeds, could escape across the creek into the mallee, which there ended, abruptly extending back in a solid wall at right angles with the bank for half a mile. after passing the camp, the creek wound through the centre of a perfectly level open plain, which plain was bounded on one side by a dense wall of scrub, and on the other by a line of open timber; both the mallee and the timber running parallel to the general course of the creek, at a distance of ten or twelve hundred yards, except at a spot one mile down, where a point or promontory of scrub approached the bank much more closely. at that part of the creek there was an out-station hut.

it happened, however, that the lower portion of the swamp, which protected the rear of the blacks from the approach of horsemen, was almost entirely detached from the upper by a bay or indentation of the plain; and guided by young harris, who also knew the ground well, and favoured by the hour, the darkness, and a high cold wind which had sprung up, accompanied with a drizzling rain, the troops succeeded in passing the blacks and reaching this spot unobserved. descending into the bed of the stream, which was nearly dry, and ten feet below the surrounding plain, nine of the twelve, with walters and myself, then silently crept down it, until we came opposite to the fires. a scout sent forward to reconnoitre reported that, entirely unsuspicious that their dreaded enemies were near them, the blacks and their dogs were all lying close, and sheltered from the cold wind and rain beneath their miamis, and apparently all asleep. walters had planted three sentries in the interval between the two swamps, and across the creek at the edge of the scrub, which terminated just opposite that spot; the lower part of the swamp continuing some two hundred yards farther down the watercourse. if any of the blacks, therefore, escaped into this lower patch of reeds, they would be prevented from passing higher up the creek, or across the intervening two hundred yards of plain, into the mallee scrub.

my feelings were not very pleasant as i stood by my horse's head shivering, and watching over the edge of the bank the showers of sparks which the wind, now increased to a gale, caught up and scattered over the plain. i felt sorry for the miserable destiny of the poor creatures for whom we had prepared so unpleasant an awakening. but i cannot say my sentiments were at all shared by my companions. the rascals were all alive with energy, and waited impatiently for the moment when they were to be let loose on their unfortunate countrymen. not that they had the slightest desire to avenge the deaths of the white men; they were not so weak; but because, under the guise of duty, they hoped to wreak their vengeance upon those whom they regarded as their hereditary enemies. i had heard their commander tell them to capture, not kill; and very much disgusted they were with the order. i fully appreciated stevenson's reluctance to let loose such a set on his blacks.

the different colonial governments, well aware of the savage and bloodthirsty character of these same native border police, had often meditated suppressing the force altogether. but they had hitherto found themselves unable to do so. white constables are useless on the borders. it is only the aboriginal, with his keen senses and power of tracking his enemy, who can be depended upon to protect the settlers in those districts where native outrages prevail, or to inflict chastisement upon the perpetrators of them.

with the first faint streak of dawn the cry of the mopoke rang through the foliage above our heads. it was the signal agreed upon, and emerging from the bed of the creek the troopers silently placed themselves in a semicircle between the reeds and the eight or ten miamis which constituted the camp; and, removing the pads which had deadened the sound of their advance, waited until the blacks should become aware of their presence. like most savages who are given to surprise their enemies, the australian aboriginal is yet careless in guarding against surprise. it was broad daylight before a shrill cry announced that they were at last aware of their danger. springing up from their sleep, and taking in the whole situation at a glance, they fled in a body over the plain, the only way left open for them. guided by harris and stevenson, who had remained behind the reeds, but who now rode out and across the course of the fugitives, the troopers galloped after, and soon succeeded in securing the murderers, of whom one only offered any resistance.