THE TABLES ARE TURNED.
It was certainly an oversight in Fletcher not to have ascertained the
situation of the government encampment. He was under the impression that
it was in a direction opposite to that in which they were moving, and
this determined his course. He was therefore wholly unconscious of
danger, and tranquil in mind, though his situation was critical.
Obed was puzzled to know in what manner to get the necessary
intelligence to his comrades. Chance gave him a suggestion. The man next
him wore round his neck a whistle--designed doubtless to use in case of
emergencies. It was of rather peculiar shape.
"That's an odd whistle you've got there, my friend," he said, "where did
you get it?"
"In Melbourne," answered the fellow unsuspiciously.
"I think I've seen one like it in the States. Let me look at it a
minute."
The bushranger allowed Obed to take it in his hand.
Suddenly Mr. Stackpole put it to his mouth, and gave a sharp, loud
whistle that awakened the echoes in the forest.
Like a flash Fletcher turned from his place at the head of the train and
eyed the bushranger with a frown. Obed had dropped the whistle, and was
walking on with an innocent look.
"What is this foolery, Hogan?" demanded Fletcher sharply. "Don't you
know better than to whistle?"
"I didn't, lieutenant," answered Hogan. "It was this man here."
"The Yankee?"
"Yes."
"How did he get the whistle?"
"He asked to look at it."
"What does this mean, Stackpole?" asked Fletcher angrily.
"Don't get riled, squire," said Obed imperturbably. "I just wanted to
try it, that's all. I had a whistle once a little like it. When I was
workin' for old Deacon Plummer in New Hampshire----"
"Confound old Deacon Plummer!" retorted Fletcher impatiently. "Don't you
know I might have you shot for what you've done?"
"Shot for whistling! Well, that beats all I ever heard of. I say,
squire, your laws are stricter than any I ever came across. I didn't
think I was doin' any harm."
"I will overlook it this time, but if you take any such liberty again,
I'll have you tied to a tree and whipped."
"That's better than bein' shot, anyway. I won't do it again, squire. I
aint particularly anxious to get into trouble."
"These Yankees are about as stupid and presuming as any people I ever
met," Fletcher remarked to the comrade who rode beside him. "That fellow
is a nuisance, but I mean to teach him a lesson before twenty-four hours
are over."
Obed and the two boys awaited with anxiety the result of the summons.
The camp was but an eighth of a mile away, but hidden by the trees.
"Will they hear it?" thought Obed.
It is doubtful whether this would have been the case, but luckily for
our three friends one of the escort--by name Warner--was taking a walk
in the woods, and heard the whistle. His curiosity was excited, and
peering through the trees he saw the bushrangers and their captives.
He was a man of promptness, and returning to the camp with all
expedition made a report to the officer in command.
"How many are there in the band?" inquired Captain Forbush.
Warner reported.
The captain immediately started, under Warner's guidance, with ten men,
and arranged to intercept the bushrangers.
The first intimation Fletcher had of his danger was the sudden
appearance of the government soldiers, who broke through the underbrush
and took the astonished bushrangers in the flank.
"Surrender instantly, or you are dead men!" exclaimed Forbush sternly.
Fletcher fell back in dismay, and was at first speechless with
consternation.
"Do you surrender?" repeated the government officer impatiently.
Fletcher's eye ran over the party that confronted him. They outnumbered
his own forces two to one. He felt that resistance would be useless.
"We will release our captives if you let us go," he said.
"So you would make conditions? You are in no condition to do that. We
propose to free your captives, and to take you to our camp."
"You had better not," said Fletcher, hoping to intimidate the officer.
"Our main band is close at hand, and they will avenge us."
"I'll take the risk," said Forbush indifferently. "Throw down your
arms!"
As this order was given with each of the bushrangers covered by the
weapons of his own party, the bushrangers found it prudent to comply.
"Very well; now follow me."
First, however, the rifles surrendered by the bushrangers were gathered
up, and in their defenseless condition they were marched to the
government camp. It added to Fletcher's annoyance that the weapons
dropped by his party were picked up and carried by their late captives,
Obed and the two boys.
"So you're comin' to make us a visit, Fletcher?" said Obed, with an
exasperating smile. "It's just as well as if we had gone home with you.
We shall be together anyway, and I know you value our society."
"I'd like to strangle you," muttered Fletcher.
"Thank you, but I don't think I should enjoy it. I've seldom met a
kinder-hearted man, Fletcher, but you have queer ways of showing it."
Probably the most discomfited members of the party were Colson and
Ropes. All their schemes had miscarried, and they felt that they were in
a genuine scrape. If they could only convince the officers that they
were innocent companions of the bushrangers, they might yet escape.
Accordingly, when they reached the camp Colson advanced to Captain
Forbush and said: "Ahem! captain, my friend Ropes and I wish to express
our thanks to you for your timely rescue, and would like to travel under
your escort to Melbourne."
"What does the man mean?" asked Forbush, turning to Obed.
"Suppose you ask him," suggested Obed, with a smile of enjoyment.
"Like your friends here we were captured, but a little earlier. I
hope--ha, ha!--you don't take us for bushrangers? That would be a great
joke, eh, Ropes?"
"Just so," answered Ropes.
"Suppose you ask Fletcher," again suggested Obed.
"Are these men followers of yours, Mr. Fletcher? They say you captured
them."
"They did, did they?" returned Fletcher, eying the two men in a manner
by no means friendly. "It is a lie. They came to me and reported that
your party were carrying a nugget to Melbourne, and wanted us to attack
you, and get possession of it. In that case they demanded a share of the
proceeds. The dogs! so they want to get favor at our expense, do they?"
"Do you know anything about them, Mr. Stackpole?" asked Captain
Forbush.
"Yes, captain, and I am convinced that my friend Fletcher tells the
exact truth. That skunk there [indicating Colson] tried to steal the
nugget the very night of its discovery, and broke into my cabin for the
purpose. He's a sly, underhand thief, and not to be compared with a bold
bushranger. I respect them for their pluck at any rate."
"Don't believe him! He's prejudiced against us," whined Colson.
"Gentlemen," said Captain Forbush, "I will comply with your request and
allow you to travel with me to Melbourne--under guard!"
Fletcher and the bushrangers looked pleased at this announcement. Their
own prospects were not very bright, but they were glad to find that
Colson and Ropes were to share their fate.