Then he thought of home, and his father and sister, and hoped to have letters from them at Yanda. They would be anxious to hear how his exploit had turned out, and what a glowing account he would give them! Lost in these pleasant reflections, he did not hear the stealthy tread of two men behind the tree.
These men kept well in the shadow of the trunk of the tree against which Edgar sat, all unconscious of their approach. They were desperate-looking fellows, dressed in bush fashion, and had evidently ridden after Edgar and his companions from Alice Springs. Cautiously they approached, avoiding the loose twigs on the ground, and halting to listen intently at every few yards. Each man had a revolver in his hand, and a knife in his belt.
The taller of the two motioned to the knife at his side, and pointed to Edgar. The other nodded, and drew out his formidable blade. He then crept, knife in hand, towards Edgar, and his companion made towards Will.
Edgar, who began to feel drowsy, rose to his feet and leaned on his shoulder against the tree, his back still to the man stealing up, knife in hand. Edgar little knew the peril he was in, and dreaded nothing.
Nearer and nearer drew the man with his murderous weapon. He was now close to the tree, and had his knife uplifted ready to strike.
Suddenly a laughing jackass, perched in the branches above Edgar’s head, gave his mocking laugh. The sound startled him, and he turned round; as he did so he saw the man, and the knife he had in his uplifted hand flashed in the faint moonlight.
He shouted, ‘Yacka! Yacka! Will! Will!’ and sprang backwards.
The man rushed upon him just as Will opened his eyes in a half-drowsy way, and dimly realized that a man was pointing his revolver at him.
‘Move, and I fire!’ said the man to Yacka, as he saw the black spring to his feet.
Yacka dared not move; he knew it would be instant death to Will.