they still lingered in
the store, and we wondered at it; and at length we hinted to Murden that
we thought they wanted something for their services, although they had
refused money.

"Leave them to me," the lieutenant replied, "and I will find out what
they expect."

"Well, boys, we have had a pretty hard evening's work," the lieutenant
said, speaking to the men, who had no idea that he belonged to the
service.

"Yes, sir; carrying in the barrels is apt to make one dry and tired,"
replied the men.

"Yes, I know; but you understand that there is no such thing as liquor
in the store," and Murden winked mysteriously.

"O, we knew there was none," cried the men, with wonderful unanimity,
and their faces experienced a change for the better immediately.

"I suppose if there was liquor here, and it was offered, you could take
off half a tumbler full without much trouble?"

The men were confident that they could, although they once more
expressed their full conviction in none being in the store.

"Tap a barrel and give them a strong pull at it," Murden whispered, "and
you need not fear of their informing."

It was but the work of a moment to accomplish the object, and perhaps we
were the more ready from a desire on our part to taste what Smith had
bought. The six policemen threw back their heads with military
precision, and emptied their tumblers without making even a wry face;
but their lips smacked like the reports of six distinct pistols, and as
they turned to go one said,--

"Liquor is not allowed to be sold at the mines without a full license,
and the rules and regulations prevent us from touching any kind of
spirits; therefore we are all temperance men; but, I must say that you
have got some of the best colored water to be had in the country. Good
evening, sirs; we should like to assist again when our services are
needed;" and off went the policemen, well satisfied with their reward.

It was as the men stated--liquor had to be licensed or not at all; and
although a large amount was disposed of daily at Ballarat, yet it was
never sold in the presence of a policeman, or a person who would be
likely to inform of the vender.

We ate our supper with a good appetite, glancing with pride upon our
well-filled store and carefully-selected goods, and bright anticipations
arose in our minds as we thought of the profits that we should reach
before they were all disposed of. A fortune of colossal size seemed
within our