Eyre consented, against his better judgment.

It was necessary to watch the horses lest they should ramble too far, and Eyre kept the first watch.

The night was cold, the wind blowing a gale and driving the flying scud across the face of the moon.

The horses wandered off in different directions in the scrub, giving the tired man much trouble to keep them together.

About half-past ten he drove them near the camp intending shortly to call the overseer to relieve him.
Suddenly the dead stillness of the night and the wilderness was broken by the report of a gun.