"Do you think we are so cowardly as to desert a comrade?" demanded Fred. "Let them attack us if they will, but we will stick to you and the team as long as life remains."
"I expected the answer," cried Smith, applying his long whip to the sides of the reeking cattle, and starting them into a run. "But if you will not save yourselves, at least take care of the oxen and let me cover the retreat."
"Do you think they will dare to follow us?" I asked.
"Here is your answer," cried the stockman; and as he spoke a slim poled spear whistled within an inch of my head, and passed out of sight, far to the other side of the road.
"And here goes my reply," exclaimed Fred, who held his rifle in his hand ready for use.
He raised it, and hardly took time to sight a naked, black body, which was visible for a moment before he fired.
A yell of bodily pain followed the explosion, and for a moment we could hear a great commotion among the bushes, and then all was still.
"Help me to urge the cattle forward," shouted Smith. "Now is our time to escape, while the devils are with the wounded imp."
We were about to comply, when a club, about three feet long, flew over our heads, touched the ground in advance of the cattle, bounded from the earth, and came towards us with undiminished velocity.
"Look out for their boomerangs," shouted Smith, and we dodged our heads in time to save them from a blow that would have unhorsed us.