"Be careful what you say, for if we catch you in a lie, we"ll string you up to the nearest tree."
"It"s as true as preachin", squire. I never lie. I"m like Washington. I dare say you"ve heard of him."
A further search was made, but no money was found, luckily for Obed, since there is reason to believe that the outlaw would have carried out his threat.
"The fellow here fooled you, Fletcher," said the captain sternly. "Take care how you bring us any more false reports."
"There are the boys," suggested Fletcher, uncomfortable under the rebuke.
"Search them also."
This was done, or rather it would have been done, had not Harry and Jack, fully realizing the futility of resistance, produced promptly all the money they had. So much, however, had been spent on the outfit, that between them they could only muster about seven pounds.
"Humph!" said the captain contemptuously, "that"s a big haul, upon my word!"
"There are the cattle and supplies," said Fletcher.
"They will be of use. Here, Peter, do you and Hugh drive the team into the woods, and prepare some dinner for the band. We will be there directly."
Two men, unmounted, who seemed to be servants, came forward, and proceeded to obey orders.
"Hold on, squire!" exclaimed Obed in alarm. "You aint goin" to take our team, are you?"
"Most certainly I am. If you had had a large sum in money, we would have spared you this. As it is, we must have them."
"But we shall starve, without money or food."
"That is nothing to me."
"Well, boys, come along," said Obed in a despondent tone. "Our prospects aint over bright, but something may turn up."
Meanwhile there was a quiet conference among the bushrangers.
"Hold!" said the captain, as Harry and Jack were about to leave the scene with their older companion. "_You_ can go," turning to Obed, "but the boys remain with us."
CHAPTER XI.
TAKEN CAPTIVE.
Harry and Jack exchanged a glance of dismay. To be stripped of all they had was a serious misfortune but in addition to be made prisoners by the bushrangers was something of which they had not dreamed. Obed, too, was taken aback. He had become attached to his young companions, and he was very sorry to part with them. He could not forbear a remonstrance.
"Look here, squire," he said familiarly to the captain, "what do you want to keep the boys for? They won"t do you any good, and it"ll cost considerable to keep "em. They"re pretty hearty."
Harry and Jack could not help laughing at this practical argument.
The captain of the bushrangers frowned.
"I am the best judge of that," he said. "You are lucky to be let off yourself. Don"t meddle with matters that don"t concern you."
"Take me, if you want to," said Obed independently. "I shall be lonesome without the boys."
"You had better go while there is a chance," said the captain menacingly. "If you give me any more trouble, I will have my men tie you to a tree, and leave you here."
Harry was afraid the threat would be carried out, and begged Obed to make no further intercession.
"I have no doubt we shall meet again," he said. "These gentlemen will no doubt release us soon."
He was by no means confident of this, but he thought it politic to take things cheerfully.
"The boy has sense," said the captain approvingly.
"Well, good-by, boys," said Obed, wringing the hands of his two young friends. "I shall feel awfully lonely, that"s a fact, but as you say, we may meet again."
"Good-by, Obed," said each boy, trying not to look as sorrowful as he felt.
Obed Stackpole turned, and walked slowly away. His prospects were by no means bright, for he was left without money or provisions in the Australian wilderness, but at that moment he thought only of losing the companionship of the two boys, and was troubled by the thought that they might come to harm among the bushrangers.
"If I only knew where they were goin" to take "em," he said to himself, "I"d foller and see if I couldn"t help "em to escape."
To follow at once, however, he felt would be in the highest degree imprudent, and he continued to move away slowly, but without any definite idea of where he intended to go.
When Obed had disappeared, Fletcher came up to the boys, and said with a smile:
"So you miss that Yankee, do you?"
"Yes, I do," answered Harry.
"You like him?"
"Yes."
"Then I don"t admire your taste. He"s rough and uncouth, and is more fitted for a farm laborer than for society."
"That may be," said Harry, "but he is honest and reliable."
He might perhaps unconsciously have emphasized the word honest. At any rate, Fletcher so understood him, and took offence at the implication.
"Look here, young whipper-snapper," he said roughly, "you"d better take care how you talk. You are in my power, and something will happen to you if you are insolent."
"What have I said to offend you?" asked Harry, looking the bushranger calmly in the face. "I am not speaking of you, but of Mr. Stackpole."
"You meant to insinuate that there was a difference between us."
"That ought not to offend you, as you have so poor an opinion of him."
Harry evidently had the best of it, and Fletcher felt cornered, for he did not care to court the charge of dishonesty.