They were caught like birds in a trap.

No hope!--no escape! Nothing left for it now, but to die red-handed.

He dashed into the house with the old hut-keeper and shut the door.
The black lad ran up to a little rocky knoll within two hundred yards of the house, and, hiding himself, watched what went on.

He saw the bushrangers ride up to the door and dismount.

Then they began to beat the door and demand admittance.