with the richest verdure. Dodge recognised some distant hills as being in the neighbourhood of his station, now some twenty miles distant. "If we had looked nearer home at first," said Dodge, "we should have done as well, and not have been half starved as we are; however, here is something like a cattle run for you, with miles of water frontage, and room to pasture half the stock in the country. We will just take the bearings of it carefully, for I once knew a man who spent two months in looking for a station, and having found one suitable he returned for his cattle, and never could hit upon it afterwards." This was an event not very likely to occur in the present instance, the landmarks were so well defined, and after a few necessary observations, the party set off in high glee at the prospect of soon again reaching Dodge's station, or, as he would insist on calling it "home." We will leave them to pursue their way, whilst we return for a time to the bushrangers, Bayley and Jarrol.
CHAPTER XII.
When Jarrol became aware of the actual terms offered for Bayley's apprehension, and after the latter had made his views known to him, Jarrol became for a time taciturn and thoughtful. Then he suggested to Bayley whether it would not be well to cease all connection with the gang, and for them to try and get off alone. Bayley was soon induced to adopt this view, and his hearty and unsuspecting acquiescence seemed to afford Jarrol intense satisfaction.
It was on the evening before the return of the exploring
