I puzzled my head for a few minutes, trying to think who was near at hand, but it was in vain; and I at length concluded that a passing train of miners had volunteered, under a promise of a large reward, which now I had not the means of paying. I tried to invent excuses for the purpose of approaching Fred, and at length I hit upon a plan.
"I think," I said, speaking to the old sailor, "that I might relieve the man's sufferings were I to bleed him."
"Go ahead, then, matey," he answered, with a nod of his head.
"Let me see," I said, feeling in my pockets; "I believe that my friend has my lancet. Will you get it, or shall I?"
"Get it," he replied, mechanically, not even taking his pipe from his mouth to answer.
I had carefully secreted a knife which I had found upon the person of the bushranger, and with it I cut Fred's bonds, whispering words of caution as I did so.
"I haven't got the lancet," cried Fred, with a sudden shake, as though to prevent me from searching his pockets. "You know that I gave it to Smith."
"I'm sure that you didn't," Smith said, surprised at Fred's assertion. Before he could utter further remonstrance I had severed his bonds and repeated my words of caution.
"Are you ready?" I heard a voice whisper close behind me.
I glanced to the spot where the rifles were lying, and then surveyed the bushrangers, as they lay stretched out before the fire, perfectly unconscious that we were plotting their destruction.