“Nice bit of amusement for Uncle Jack and old Sam. He is getting too fat.”
The others laughed, and then after they had caught, saddled, and bridled their horses, they walked them up to where the captain was examining the edge of a felling-axe, Uncle Jack and German being similarly armed.
“Off you go, boys,” said the captain.
“And let’s see whether you’ll be back before we get down the great gum-tree,” said their uncle, smiling.
“We shall be back,” said Rifle. “You will not get down the big gum for a week.”
German chuckled, and the boys sprang into their saddles.
“You’ll have a long ride, boys,” said the captain. “I was up on the big rock yesterday,” he continued, nodding toward the top of the precipice whence Norman had seen the black fellows, “and I could not see them with the glass.”
“We’ll find ’em, father,” said Norman, confidently.
“Off then,” said the captain; and away they went, riding now with wonderful ease and skill; while, bent on getting down the great gum-tree by the creek because it impeded part of the view from the house, and in addition its trunk being wanted for boards and its branches for fuel, the captain led his little force of axemen to the assault.