"I hope we shall do better now." Three days after his return from his last visit of inspection of his district, a settler rode, at full speed, up to the station.
"Captain," he said--for although Reuben had no right to that title, he was always so called by the settlers--"the blacks have been down at my place.

They have killed my two shepherds, and driven off the sheep." "Sergeant O'Connor, turn out the men at once," Reuben shouted.

"See that their ammunition is all right, and let each man take a water skin and four days' provisions in his haversack.
"When was it ?" he asked, turning to the settler again.
"Some time yesterday afternoon--at least, I judge so.

One of the men was to have come in for supplies, and when night came and he hadn't come in, I began to be afraid something was wrong, for I knew that they were getting short.

So this morning, at daybreak, I rode out with the hands I have about the house.