"Comrades," said the new captain modestly, "I did not look for thispromotion, as you may have thought from my taking the lead just now, butI saw that it was necessary for somebody to act. I don't know whetheryou have made a wise choice or not, but I will do my best to make youthink so. Since I am your captain, it is my duty first to see thatproper honor is paid to the remains of your late captain, whom suddendeath has overtaken. You two lift the body and carry it into yondercabin."
The two attendants did so.
"Prepare a coffin, and at daybreak we will commit him to the earth.Whatever else may be said of him, he was a brave man, and knew notfear."
"That is true," said Robert Graham in a low voice.
"As to his faults, those we have no further concern with. All of us havefaults and no doubt grave ones."
Fletcher, till now, had sulked in silence. He was terribly disappointedthat he had been passed over and Rupert Ring promoted to the place ofchief, but since it was so he felt that it was politic to stand wellwith the new administration.
"Captain Ring," he said, extending his hand, "let me be the first tocongratulate you on your election as our captain."
Ring smiled slightly. He had never liked Fletcher.
"I accept your congratulations, Fletcher," he said, "and condole withyou on your own disappointment. We can't all be leaders."
"I hope to enjoy your favor, as I did that of Captain Stockton,"continued Fletcher smoothly.
"That will depend on yourself," said Ring shortly.
"I would like to suggest that the two boys"--here Fletcher turned in thedirection where Harry and Jack had been standing, and ejaculated indismay, "I don't see them. What has become of them?"
"They have taken advantage of the excitement and confusion to run away,I fancy," said the new captain quietly.
This was quite true. Just after the fatal shot had been fired, and theattention of all had been taken up by the tragedy, Harry had whisperedto Jack, "Now's our time to escape, Jack. Follow me!"
"I'm with you," responded Jack promptly, and no one noticed the two asthey vanished among the trees.
"Shall I go after them, Captain Ring?" asked Fletcher in excitement."I'll take another man, and scour the woods for them."
"It is not necessary," said Ring indifferently. "Let them go! They wouldonly be in our way."
"But," protested Fletcher, "Captain Stockton meant to take them into theband. They are bright and smart boys, and would grow up into usefulmembers."
"Heaven forbid!" said Ring earnestly. "Our lives are spoiled already,and we have no chance but to continue. Leave them to grow up innocent."
"This is strange talk for a captain of bushrangers," said Fletcher,disappointed.
"Remember that I am your captain," retorted Ring sharply, "and don'tattempt to interfere with me! Go, I would be alone."
Fletcher slunk away, mortified and disappointed. It was well for the twoboys that he had not been elected captain.
CHAPTER XV.
LOST IN THE WOODS.
Yes, the two boys had escaped. When the excitement produced by the fatalshot was at its height, it had flashed upon Harry like an inspirationthat then, if ever, was the time to escape. He knew that it would be atthe risk of their lives, and but for one consideration it is doubtful ifhe would have been willing to incur the peril of the attempt. But hefelt that to stay was to run a risk as great that of being compelled tojoin the ranks of the bushrangers, and of that he had a great dread.
The boys never stopped running till they had set half a mile betweenthem and the camp of the bushrangers. Jack was the first to showdistress.
"Hold on, Harry," he said, panting, "I am all out of breath."
Harry instantly slackened his speed.
"Look back, Jack," he said anxiously; "see if you can discover anyonepursuing us."
"I see no one," answered Jack after a prolonged look.
"They have other things to think of," said Harry. "The murder of theircaptain has put all thoughts of us out of their heads. When theexcitement has subsided a little, I am afraid they will look for us. Howterrible it was!" he added with a shudder.
"Yes," returned Jack. "I saw that man--the captive's brother--lift hisweapon and point it at the captain. Almost before I could speak it wasdischarged and the captain fell. He must have been killed instantly."
"I little thought what lay before me when I left home," said Harry.
"I wish I knew what lies before us now," said Jack.
"I am afraid our prospects are rather dark. We must take care at anyrate not to fall again into the hands of the bushrangers. I am mostafraid of that man Fletcher. If he could have his way, he would show usno mercy."
"Let us go on again," said Jack. "I only stopped to catch my breath."
"You are right, Jack. The farther we get away from the bushrangers thebetter."
Before them was a densely wooded hill. The way had become difficult withthe scrub bushes that filled up the distance between the trees. Thelatter were no longer the same which they had hitherto encountered, thetall and stately eucalyptus, but were smaller and wider branched.
"We can't make our way here, Harry," said Jack despondently.
"Oh, yes, we can. Besides, don't you see, the rougher and more difficultthe way, the less are we likely to be followed. I am willing to gothrough a good deal to save capture."
"So am I," answered Jack. "You are always right. Push ahead, and I'llfollow."
For three or four hours the boys kept on their way. They surmounted thehill, and found a clearer country. Finally, turning to the right theycame upon an open tract. By this time it was growing dark, and the boyswere feeling both fatigued and hungry.
"I think we can rest now, Jack," said Harry.
With a sigh of relief Jack threw himself on the ground.
"This is worse than any work I did on shipboard," he said.
Harry smiled.
"I don't think it is likely to cure you of your love for the sea, Jack,"he said. "Though I haven't your fondness for sea life, I confess I wouldrather be on the deck of a good stanch ship than here."
"Harry," said Jack anxiously, "when do you think we shall find somethingto eat? I am terribly hungry."
"So am I, Jack. It's the hard walk that has increased our appetite."
"I have often thought I might be afloat in an open boat without anythingto eat, but I never expected to be caught in such a pickle on land."
"A good many things have happened to us to-day that we didn't expect,"said Harry. "Do you know, Jack, it seems the longest day I ever spent?"
"I can say the same."
"This morning we set out with Obed, free from care. We have beencaptured by bushrangers, taken to their camp, seen the murder of theirleader, escaped, and after walking for miles through a rough wildernesshere we are, tired out and in danger of starvation."
"Don't say any more, Harry," said Jack faintly. "I can realize itwithout your description."
"I wish Obed were with us," said Harry, after a pause. "Perhaps he couldthink of some way out of our trouble. He is an experienced man, and isused to roughing it. As for me, I feel helpless."
"Do you think there is likely to be any house near at hand?"
"It doesn't look like it," said Harry, shaking his head.
"I don't think I should mind much being caught and carried back by thebushrangers, if they would give me a good supper," said Jack ruefully.
"Poor Jack!" said Harry compassionately; "I do believe you are sufferingfor food."
"I told you so, Harry."
"My appetite no doubt will come later. At present I am not veryuncomfortable. Well, Jack, there is only one thing to do. We mustexplore further and see if we can find any trace of a human habitation.Suppose you go to yonder knoll, and climb the tree at the top. Then useyour eyes for all they are worth. They are better than mine, at anyrate, for you are accustomed to use them at sea. All sailors, I haveheard, are farsighted."
Jack was ready to obey Harry, feeling
much more confidence in hisjudgment and discretion than in his own. He accordingly followed hisadvice, and with a sailor's agility mounted the tree. Then shading hiseyes with his hand, he looked earnestly, first in one direction, then inanother.
"Well, Jack?" inquired Harry anxiously, for he, too, appreciated thegravity of their situation.
There was a pause; then Jack called out joyfully: "I see a light: yes, Iam sure I see a light."
"Whereaway?"
"Straight ahead, or a little to the left."
"Take a good look, Jack, so as to be sure of your bearings. Then we willmake our way toward it with the best speed we can muster."
Jack scrambled down from the tree with his face actually cheerful. Theprospect of a meal had put new life into him.
"Follow me!" he said. "I don't think it can be more than a mile away."
CHAPTER XVI.
THE SHEPHERD'S HUT.
Not feeling their fatigue so much now that they were buoyed up by thehope of shelter and food, the two boys plodded on. The way was at timesdifficult, and there was no glimpse of the light which Jack had seenfrom the tree-top.
"Do you think you are on the right track, Jack?" asked Harry anxiously.
"Yes, I feel sure of it," answered the young sailor.
"It would be very unlucky if we had wandered from the right direction."
"Yes, I should feel like lying down and giving up, but I am sure I amright."
Events proved that Jack was right. They came to an open place, fromwhich they could distinctly see the light gleaming from a dwelling onlyforty rods away.
"There, what did I tell you?" demanded Jack triumphantly.
"You are right, Jack. I am glad enough to admit it. Now the question is,will the people who occupy the house let us in?"
"They can't be so inhuman as to refuse. Pass on, Harry."
They were not long in reaching the hut. It was one of those slab hutswhich are used by shepherds. They are lonely enough, the stations beingin some instances twenty miles from the nearest dwelling. This was asingle dwelling, the home of one of the out keepers. The chief stationsare usually an aggregation of dwellings. In the yard was a pile of woodfor fuel. Close at hand was a paddock surrounded by a rail fence, overwhich hung a number of sheepskins. All these evidences of habitationcheered the hearts of the lonely boys.
Harry went up to the door and knocked.
His knock appeared to create some commotion inside. A voice was heard,and then there was audible the barking of a dog, but no one came to thedoor.
"Suppose you knock again, Harry," said Jack.
"They must have heard my first knock. Perhaps they don't want to let usin."
However, Harry knocked again.
Again the dog inside barked, this time with fierce emphasis.
"Is there no one inside but the dog?" thought Harry anxiously. Having noweapon with him, he took a piece of a broken rail, so that in case ofnecessity he might have a means of defence.
He was about to venture on a third knock when a tremulous voice, whichthe boys at once recognized as that of a girl, was heard from within.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"We are two boys who have lost our way, and are almost starved,"answered Harry. "For Heaven's sake let us in, and give us something toeat."
There was a pause, the girl being evidently undecided.
"Are there only two of you?" she asked.
"Only two."
"You are sure there is no one with you?"
"No one."
"And you are boys?"
"Yes."
"What brings you here--in this lonely place, at this hour?"
"We are on our way to the gold-fields of Bendigo."
"But this is off the road."
"I know it. The fact is, we were captured by the bushrangers, and havemade our escape. We plunged into the woods, thinking we were less likelyto be caught and carried back."
There was a change in the girl's tone as she said: "Is this really true?You are not bushrangers yourselves?"
"No, I hope not," answered Harry with a boyish laugh.
This laugh, which sounded natural and genuine, evidently inspired thegirl with confidence.
"If I let you in, will you promise to do no mischief?" she asked.
"You shall have no cause to regret admitting us, we promise that."
There was still a little pause of indecision, and then a bolt was drawn,and the door opened. The two boys saw in the doorway a pleasant-facedgirl of fourteen, whose eyes fell upon them not without a shade ofanxiety. But when she saw that the two visitors were boys not much olderthan herself, there was a look of relief, and she said: "I will trustyou. Come in if you like. Hush, Bruno!"
This was addressed to a large shepherd dog that stood beside her, eyingthem suspiciously.
A weight seemed lifted from the hearts of the two boys, as they caughtsight of the comfortable interior of the hut. On the one side of theroom was a large open fireplace, on which a good fire was burning. Theflickering flames helped illumine the apartment, and diffused ahome-like air, which was most grateful to the two tired wanderers.
"You are very kind to admit us," said Harry. "You have no idea how greata favor it is."
"I would have let you in before, but I thought you might bebushrangers," said the girl.
"We don't look much like bushrangers, do we?" said Harry with a smile.
The girl smiled too. She was evidently pleased with the appearance ofher two visitors.
"No; if I had seen you, I should have known better than to think youbelonged to their band. Come in and sit down by the fire."
"Thank you."
Harry and Jack seated themselves on a settle near the fire, and the girlcontinued to eye them curiously.
"I suppose you are boys," she said.
"We don't call ourselves men yet," answered Harry.
"I never saw a boy before," was the unexpected remark of their younghostess.
"WHAT!" ejaculated the two boys in concert.
"I scarcely ever saw anybody," explained the girl. "My father and I livehere alone, and have lived here for years. He has a flock of fifteenhundred sheep to watch and tend. Sometimes another shepherd calls here,and we had a visit from the bushrangers last year."
"It must be very lonely for you," said Harry in a sympathetic tone.
"Yes, it is; but I am used to it. Father is away all day, but he leavesBruno to keep me company."
"Come here, Bruno!" said Jack in a coaxing tone.
Bruno eyed Jack dubiously, and finally walked up to him deliberately,and allowed himself to be stroked.
"Bruno doesn't think we are bushrangers," said Jack, smiling.
"He did at first, though," the girl replied with an answering smile."Have you been walking all day?"
"Yes; the greater part of the day."
"Then you must be hungry."
"We are almost starved!" said Harry tragically. "Are we not, Jack?"
"I am quite starved," said the young sailor.
"Then I must get you some supper," said the girl in a hospitable tone.
"Thank you," said Harry earnestly. "Will you let me know your name?" heasked.
"My name is Lucy."
"My grandmother's name was Lucy," said Jack.
"Then you may look upon me as your grandmother," said the girldemurely.
Of course all three laughed heartily at this absurdity. Then Lucy movedabout with quick steps, and soon a goodly supper of mutton-chops wasfizzling in the frying-pan, sending forth savory odors that made theirmouths water. Presently Lucy drew out a table, and placed upon it thechops and some cold bread.
"I would boil some potatoes," she said, "but you might not like to waitso long."
"I think we won't wait, Lucy."
"You haven't told me your name," said Lucy as they drew up to thetable.
"My name is Harry Vane," said the possessor of that name.
"And mine is Jack Pendleton."
"Harry and
Jack," repeated Lucy, nodding.
"Yes."
"And where do you come from?"
"From America."
"Isn't that a long way off?"
"Yes, thousands of miles off; seven or eight, I think."
"You are very young to walk so far," said Lucy, "but perhaps you rode.Did the bushrangers steal your horses?"
"We came over the sea," said Harry. "Jack is a sailor."
Lucy looked at Jack curiously, as if a sailor were a strange species ofanimal.
At this point Bruno raised his head, looked toward the door, and beganto bark.
"I think my father must be close by," said Lucy. "Bruno is always thefirst to hear him."
CHAPTER XVII.
A WELCOME IN THE WILDS.
Before Lucy could reach the door, it was opened, and a stalwart man ofmiddle age paused on the threshold, in evident surprise.
"Whom have you here, Lucy?" he asked in a tone of displeasure.
"Two boys, papa, who came here in distress, having lost their way."
"Did I not caution you against admitting strangers?" continued herfather with a slight frown.
"Yes, but these are boys, not men."
Harry Vane thought it was time to start.
"I hope, sir," he said, "you won't blame your daughter for her kindnessto us. We stood greatly in need of friendly help, having been robbed ofeverything by the bushrangers, from whom we managed by good luck toescape some hours since."