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Palmer Billy moved a few steps towards the four, and the others, formed into an irregular line behind him, advanced at the same time. "Stop where you are, or " Gleeson cried, as he raised the revolver and covered Palmer Billy. There was silence amongst the Creekers, for the situation had changed since the moment when they yelled for revenge in unison with Palmer Billy.
Gleeson, who acted as master during the absence of Captain Shirril, mounted his horse and rode out to inspect the herd. He was relieved to find them all in place. Most of them were lying down, drowsily chewing their cuds, but a few had risen and were cropping the grass, which grew quite abundantly in the neighborhood.
Gleeson, only seeing him fall, thought an attack was imminent, and flashed out a revolver from his pocket. In a moment the attack was imminent, and in full swing. The Boulder Creekers had had many a quarrel and many a row amongst themselves, but never had a man drawn a revolver or a knife. Gleeson's action decided his chances.
"Come on, Baby," called Gleeson, wheeling his animal to the right, and sending him off at a dead run. Thunderbolt knew what was expected of him, and without waiting for orders, stretched away in the same direction, with the old thrill stirring his rider at the prospect of exciting work at hand.
These facts were apparent to Avon at the first sweeping glance he cast to the eastward. He wondered that they escaped the notice of his friends, but this was probably due to their attention being diverted for the time by the cattle, and because, too, of their disposition to wait the report of Gleeson before deciding upon their course of action.
Who wants to yarn with a full tucker-bag outside and none under the waistbelt? Shove along." He swung his swag on to his shoulder again and resumed the walk, the others following, Gleeson silent and morose. The view of Palmer Billy was correct.
There were more on one side than the other, and to the weakest side Tony ran, succeeding, with Peters's help, in extricating the struggling Gleeson while yet the mob meted out severe punishment on one another. By the time that they had separated and Palmer Billy had picked himself up, the four were grouped round the ruins of the deserted camp, each with a revolver in his hand.
On April 3rd, while crossing the Gleeson, Kekwick's horse fell back with him in ascending the bank, and broke the stock of his gun, but he himself escaped unhurt. On Saturday, April 5th, they camped at the east end of Newcastle Water, and the following day, "at about 9 o'clock a.m.
"Oh, Peters is fly, and the youngster has grit," Gleeson said, adding in a louder tone to the others, "We'll walk all the way till we camp. You needn't tighten the girths for that."
Few, even of his own people, could have performed the exploit which he executed with perfection. Ballyhoo Gleeson lowered his gun. "You can go! I'll be hanged if you don't deserve to get away after that trick!" Avon Burnet knew that when the cattlemen reached a point within a half mile of his home, and the fire had not yet been started, that all danger was over.
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