Up the Country: A Saga of Pioneering Days

Until Bert's intervention, the raid at Eueurunda had gone off smoothly. Dr James, Labosseer and his wife, Mrs Millburn the companion, the baby's nurse-girl, the housemaid and the cook had all been quickly lined up along the wall. The remaining shepherds and stockmen, with the exception of two men employed about the premises who had been "squared", were out of hearing. Mrs Labosseer was in agony, since her baby's crib was in a little room adjoining her own. So far she had not heard him cry. He was a fine child who slept well and sucked with gusto. Following the precedent of Mrs Poole, she asked the bushranger to let her go to him, but Cane told her to hold her jaw if she wanted to be safe. Labosseer was also told to slew his head and not look at his jailer, unless he wanted a bullet between the eyes.

This confrontation had continued tensely for perhaps thirty minutes, until they suddenly heard the shrill whistle which all the Southern District knew meant that the men were disturbed. No sooner did Cane turn to bolt than Labosseer, with all his wits about him, leaped to his firearms.