He then learned that Thorne rode quietly up to the back of the house and dismounted, then went to the stable, where Smithson was asleep--having been on guard during the night--and pushed a piece of wood under the latch of the door, so that it could not be raised.

Having thus securely fastened Smithson in, he had gone to the front of the house, and had apparently shot down the constable there before the latter was aware of his presence.
Smithson, awakened by the shot, tried in vain to get out; and was only released by Mrs.Barker, when she recovered from the effect of the stunning blow which the bush ranger had struck her.

He had then mounted at once, and followed in pursuit.
In the afternoon the party returned from the bush, having experienced no further molestation from the natives.

Nothing occurred to interfere with the progress of Reuben's wound and, in the course of a fortnight, he was again able to resume his duties.
The complete destruction of the gang of bush rangers, and the energy with which they had been pursued into the very heart of the bush country, made a vast sensation in the colony; and Reuben gained great credit, and instant promotion for his conduct.
A month after the return of the party from the bush, Mr.Donald was about again and, as the danger was now past, he abandoned his idea of selling his property.

The course which events took can be judged by the following conversation, between Mrs.Donald and her sister, three months later.
"Well, Kate, after all he has done for us, of course I have nothing to say against it; and I don't suppose you would mind, if I had.
Still, I do think you might have done better." "I could not have done better," Kate said hotly, "not if I had had the pick of the whole colony." "Well, not in one way, my dear; for you know that, personally, I like him almost as well as you do.