"Hullo! one horse went off in this direction!" cried the fellow who was following up the trail.
The gang gathered round the speaker, and satisfied themselves that such was the case, and then we could see them gazing with some degree of apprehension upon the dark palms.
"Who's going there to make a search?" one asked.
"Not I," said one.
"Nor I."
"Nor I."
"Fools, are you afraid of your own shadows?" demanded one robber, more bold than the others.
"I don't fear any man, if he comes at me single, but I don't like fighting with the devil and his imps!" exclaimed the superstitious bushranger, and I judged that a majority of his comrades sided with his idea, and seemed much more disposed to return to camp than to weary themselves with a search for unknown foes.
"You know what the cap'n will say if we go back without a good report. It's easier for us to work now, than to scout over the whole ground again," we heard the man who had followed the trail say.
"Yes, but why don't he take some work and do it?" demanded another, who was disposed to grumble at the order of things.