in the dead of night, have startled men of greater courage than Australian blacks. These noises, interspersed with horrible shrieks and yells, produced a general panic. First the women and children, then the old men and warriors, fled in a body, leaving Dodge master of the situation. His first act, after emerging from his concealment, was to collect the spears, clubs, and other weapons, which lay scattered about the huts, and to heap them on one of the fires, at which he was composedly warming himself, when his dog Lady crept up and laid herself at his feet.
"What business have you here, old girl, eh?" said Dodge, patting her head, "are you come to take me the nearest way back? Well, I'm ready to start, so 'show home.'" But Lady evinced no such disposition; she went foraging about amongst the huts, and presently returned to Dodge with a lump of kangaroo's flesh in her mouth.
"Well thought of, old girl," said Dodge; "of course we must sack the town now it is taken, so let us set to work." In a very short time he found himself laden with a large stock of provisions, and, escorted by Lady, who led the way, he was not long in reaching the locality of his friends.
They had been awakened by the shouting, and would have started in search of Dodge had he not previously to leaving them interdicted such a course under any circumstances. They had however, prepared their arms and were so satisfied that something was necessary to be done, that no sooner did Dodge appear than, without any warning, Slinger let fly at him, fortunately without fatal effect.
"That's a good shot," said Dodge, coming forward to the fire with the utmost coolness, and displaying to the penitent Slinger a hole made by the bullet in the side of his hat.—"That's a good shot, but the safest plan always is not to be hasty, and
