treet. They dismount in
front of the League's Office, and ascend the steps, at the top of which
they come into violent altercation with Moonlight and the Prospector.
These are immediately ordered in the Queen's name to stand aside, and
the four blue-coated men walk into the meeting.

The tall, thin, young man, catching sight of the intruders, pauses
in his speech, and says, "What the deyvil!" but the constables walk
straight to the improvised table, and their leader, laying his hand on
Scarlett's shoulder, say, "John Richard Scarlett, you are charged with
the murder of Isaac Zahn. I arrest you in the Queen's name."

For half a minute there rests on the assembly a silence that can be
felt. Then there bursts a roar of indignation from fifty throats. In a
moment the constables have closed round their prisoner, and with drawn
revolvers they stand ready to resist interference.

Not many of "the toffs" are armed, but such as are quickly draw their
weapons, and it only needs a single shot to start a fight which must end
disastrously for the Law, when Scarlett's voice rings out, "Stand back,
you fellows! For God's sake, don't fire! This thing is a mistake which
will be more quickly cleared up before a Magistrate than by bloodshed."

Expostulating, but obedient to his wish, his friends one by one lower
their weapons.

"_I_ know nothing of a mistake," says the Sergeant, as he takes a piece
of paper from his pocket. "But here's the warrant, which any gentleman
present is at liberty to see. We are but carrying out our duty."

The handcuffs are now on Scarlett's wrists, and his captors lead him
slowly through the crowded room.

"Let me speak." Filled with emotion which he can hardly suppress, Jack's
voice almost seems to choke him. "Let me speak before you take me away."

"Not a word," retorts the Sergeant. "You shall say all you want to the
Magistrate."

"Men," cries Scarlett, as he is hustled through the door, "I am
innocent, I swear." But he has no time to say more. He is hurried down
the steps; he is quickly placed on a spare horse; the constables spring
into their saddles, and ere the great concourse of diggers can grasp
what is happening, Jack is conducted at a trot through the town of
canvas, along the track which leads to Timber Town, and is soon out
of sight.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

The Goldsmith Comes to Town the Third Time.

The flash digger put his elbows on the table, and leered at Gentle Annie
who sat,