It's always a good thing, men knowing that their master can have an eye upon them, when they least expect it.

Why do you ask ?" "Because if the window commands the stable door, we can prevent them getting the horses out." "Yes," Dick said, "after losing two in that last affair, it would be a serious matter to have the rest of them carried off." Reuben went up the stairs and made his way towards the window, standing a short distance back.

He could see no one moving about in the yard, and he was about to move close to it, when a tremendous crash took place below, followed by loud shouts.

He ran downstairs again.
The bush rangers had moved round to the back of the house and, there picking up a young tree which had been brought in, to saw up into billets for firewood, they used it as a battering ram against one of the shutters; and at the very first blow broke it off its hinges, and then made a rush at the window.

Two shots rang out almost together; and then, firing a hasty volley into the window, the bush rangers began to climb in.