its transit, tethered his horse, and was deliberately preparing to swim the stream, when he was prevented by Dodge, who slid his boat into the water from behind the mangrove trees and brought the stranger across by a more convenient method.
"So you have heard that bushrangers are about, have you?" said Dodge, after his passenger was landed and his pipe in full operation. We need hardly say the reply was looked forward to with some anxiety by all.
"Now I'll tell you all about it. You see I am out for stray cattle; and this morning, just arder I'd started, who should I come across but Bugsby's Jack—his stockman, you know; and, says he, 'Why, Blaizes, is that you?' (they call me Blaizes" he said, parenthetically, because I got my freedom for assisting at a large fire in Sydney and saving a life or two.) 'Have you got any baccy?' says he. 'A pipe or two,' says I. 'I'm starving' says he, 'for want of a smoke. I was cleaned out of my baccy t'other day by bushrangers; they meets me, bails me up, as if I'd been a gentleman, cleans out my pouch and every blessed pocket I've got, they did'nt leave me a grain; and here I am destitute, an absolute beggar. You haven't another pipefull to spare me?' Well I could not refuse, and so that's how I'm scarce o'baccy, and how I come to know the bushrangers are out. Rugsby's people is expecting a visit from 'em, and I'm just going to skirt the scrubs for cattle, and call at the head station on my way back."
"Rugsby is a trump," said Dodge, "and if it was not that my companions might object to it, I'd take a short cut across the country myself."
But the friends consented without hesitation to accompany him wherever he might be disposed to lead them, and added, that they expected to find in Rugsby an old colonial acquaintance. So the few preparations necessary were hurriedly
