No need for Craig or Archie to tell the news when they returned to the others. Their very silence and sadness told the terrible tale.
Nothing could be done at present, however, in the way of punishing the murderers, who by this time must be far away in their mountain fastnesses.
They must ride back, and at once too, in order to warn the people at Burley and round about of their great danger.
So the return journey was commenced at once. On riding through the forest they had to observe the greatest caution.
Craig was an old Bushman, and knew the ways of the blacks well. He trotted on in front. And whenever in any thicket, where an ambush might possibly be lurking, he saw no sign of bird or beast, he dismounted and, revolver in hand, examined the place before he permitted the others to come on.
They got through the forest and out of the gloom at last, and some hours afterwards dismounted a long way down the creek to water the horses and let them browse. As for themselves, no one thought of eating. There was that feeling of weight at every heart one experiences when first awakening from some dreadful nightmare.
They talked about the massacre, as they sat under the shadow of a gum tree, almost in whispers; and at the slightest unusual noise the men grasped their revolvers and listened.
They were just about to resume their journey when the distant sound of galloping horses fell on their ears. Their own nags neighed. All sprang to their feet, and next moment some eight or nine men rode into the clearing.
Most of them were known to Craig, so he advanced to meet them.
"Ah! I see you know the worst," said the leader.