A Final Reckoning

eatest cordiality; but she exclaimed loudly, when

y, we are always hearing of murders and robberies there; and you know the last inspector was killed; an

ng chosen for such a station; and you see, there will be cap

d," Mrs. Wilson said, in a vexed to

district. The press have been saying very severe things, about our incompetence to protect the outlying settlements

now, if he hadn't had plenty of pluck and energy; but for that

n, and I want to push him on; but you see, I can't promote him over the heads of som

go into the constabulary at all, instead of accepting papa's offer. I can't think wh

to; and after all, it is less dangerous fighting bush rangers and natives when you are prepared for it, than t

s, her father's place had been, for three days, beset

you do go to this horrid place, you wil

himself and hadn't been rash, you would not have come so well out of that Malay

lson agreed, "but that's no good against spears or

band said lightly, "but for once, you seem to be determi

ilson

hten him, George. I only

f there are any black fellows about, he will sniff them out somehow. That fellow has a nos

esides the barracks in which the constabulary force, consisting of a sergeant, eighteen constables, and two native trackers, were quartered. The sergeant, a no

, close to the main building, and he as

talk, "I have been sent up by Captain Wilson, with

ant smile

he last three years, sir, but we h

that I am going to succeed all at once. In the first

ely. One way and another, we have lost something like ten men in the last tw

ome of them are not quite so eager to m

day in the saddle, often called out by false news to one end of the district; and then to find, when they return, that

ce, at present; and he has promised to send me up fifteen new hands, so there will be eight to be relieved. I will leave it to you to pick out the men to go. Mind, put it to them that they are to be reliev

ws, for to tell you the truth, I do think

d in the force. The others had all been employed at up-country stations, and were well acquainted with the nature of the work before them. The same afternoon, the eigh

ion. It was impossible to comply with all these but, after consultation with O'Connor, he sent five

eographical features; for he felt that, until he had mastered these, he should only be working in the dark. For a time the outrages had ceased, the bush rangers having shifted their quarters,

the stations at which they halted. Everywhere he heard the same tale of sheep

and see how it turns out. You look to me the right sort of fellow for the post; but the difficulty is, with such a large scattered district as yours, to be everywhere at once.

llages, and the want of water would render it impossible for us to go very far. But the worst point would be that they all seem to be well informed as to what is going on. I suppose they get

y are not as bad as the bush rangers. If the blacks can but drive off your cattle, they are contented. You have got nothing else that is much use to them. The bush rangers don't want your cattle, beyond a head or two for present use; but they

Reuben said cheerfully. "We will give them a

seem to have been at the right place at the right time. Not that I am surprised at t

ad luck," Reuben agreed. "I

visit of inspection of his district, a set

was always so called by the settlers-"the blacks have been down at m

d. "See that their ammunition is all right, and let each man

asked, turning to

ere getting short. So this morning, at daybreak, I rode out with the hands I have about the house. We could see nothing of the sheep, so we rode straight to the men's hut. There, lying some twenty yards away,

for you," Reuben said. "I wi

k, together with some dampers Jim had just cooked, and then went out again. Jim had already brought his ho

heir head, with the settler, whose name was Blount, he rode off at full speed; fol

hard, at first. There is no say

them into their own cou

llow them till I catch them, if

tation, by the time you get there. I sent my hand off on horseback to the stations near, to te

s it?" Reu

forty

l never be able to

iend's, four miles from your

n a day's start of us,"

to stop at my place tonight. But they ca

en useless following them; but with sheep we may come up to th

pecting the shepherd in for supplies, I might not have found it out for two or three days. So I expect they will thin

d everywhere, and the only way to put a stop to these outrages is

fteen of the neighbouring settlers gathered there. They came out as the sound of the trampling of t

are too late," said Dick Caister, a young set

proved," Reuben repl

nd it's too late to do anything tonight. They

dred, I would follo

e, and something like a cheer, on t

the elder settlers said. "There is neith

atives can no more go without drinking than we can. There must be streams and water holes, here and there. But however difficult it is, I mean to attemp

ollow up this stroke. Therefore, it will not do to leave the stations defenceless. I do not want a large force with me. If we once overtake the blacks, I have no fear whatever of being able to give a good account of them. Therefore I would urge, upon all of you who are married men, that it is of the firs

d. "As you say, let the married men stop at home and guard t

e blacks, they were yet glad that they were not called upon to leave their wives and families. With many good wishes for the success

Reuben said. "What spare h

o, besides the

least six. We must carry a

not be amiss. All these I can furnish. But as to meat, I do not think we need trouble. Going as fast as the blacks will travel, there are sure to be lots of the

Reuben replied; "in that case

th me; they are all good ones, and I should be sorry to find they were gone when I get back. I can lead one, my black boy can ride another and lead the third.

two of the others also volunteered to ride over

's two. We shall travel all the faster, bec

nd a considerable portion cooked, so that each of the twenty men going on the expedition would start with ten pounds of cooked meat, in order to save the time that wo

alf a mile away. It was in a sitting position by a tree; the skull was completely smashed in by the blow of a waddy, and it was evident that a native had crept up behind him, and killed him before he was conscious that any

do you think there were?" Reu

ck fellow, capt

ll a great many

any. No use, captain, look for dem, gone

how," Reuben said. "Now

rted; "quite a crowd of dem. Me no much like those two black fellow," and he no

you think

n. Not know Jim saw dem. Secret sort of talk. Why dey never find de tracks befor

or to hunt down the bush rangers, but the thought that they had been put off their scent by the trackers had not occurred t

e fellows. I will do the same. We shall so

r the grass was several inches in height, and the trail could be followed as easily as a road. The country then began to change. The ground was poorer and more arid, and clumps of low brush grew here and there. St

g and examining. "The footprints do not go in pairs, as they did at fi

d, cut up, and eaten raw by the blacks. In the next mile they came upon the remains of two more; then the track widened out, and the footpr

est here. Could no go any

trackers th

ix hours till moon rise. Make fi

lers rode over to the spot

laimed. "Look there! There

said. "There must have

ould think. Nobody has ever found out, yet, how much these blacks can eat when they make up thei

Reuben said; "but allow only three to a sheep, there must be sixty of them

r. I only hope the

ours. Then three dead sheep were passed. This time the flesh had not

have given the sheep a chance of life, when they could

difference. I expect the sheep have dropped as much from thirst as from fatigue, and they would probably have never been got up again, after they once fell. I fancy w

thirty yards wide, and from two to three feet deep. A score of sheep lay dead in the water. They had apparently rushed headlong in, to quen

came to a series of downs, covered with a short grass. At the

e twenty-five mil

time they got here. I should think they must have stopped here,

nted, and put his

on rose, no doubt. Thus they have eight or nine hours' start of us, only; and as they can't travel fa

start with, and that was what knocked them up; but the blacks will begin to feel themselves safe

rses a couple of hours' rest. It is just eleven o'cloc

grass at the foot of the hill. There was no fear of their attempting to stray, after their journey of the morning. Some of the men set to to cut brush, and in a few minutes a

ere thrown in; and with the fried mutton, cold damper, and tea a hearty meal was made. Then pipes were produced a

last, looking at his watch. "I

n, the bridles replaced,

y?" Reuben ask

y de foot of de hill, d

of some width was t

ed, when he caught Jim's eye, and saw that

he asked, going a

red sheep gone that way, wid four or five blac

ou sur

went over de hill, saw plenty sign of sheep. Went straight uphill, and then turned

e seen that as well as you

n. Don't say, sar, Jim told you. If you say dat, put 'em on their guard. Massa ride along the trail for a bit, just as if talk wid Jim

ea, Jim. I will