rrying his intention into effect.

"What excuse have you to offer for plotting against us?" demanded Fred,
addressing the Irishman.

"I was poor, and wanted food," he returned, with a face of shame.

"Why did you not come to me, and I would have supplied your wants? It is
but a poor return to attempt to burn us out for the attention that we
showed you. Is your heart made of stone?"

"I was told that you two was plotting agin the miners concerning the
tax, and that it would be a good thing to ruin ye, and make ye lave the
country," answered the Irishman, not daring to raise his downcast
glances from the floor.

"And the miners hired both of you to commence the war of burning, did
they?" asked Fred.

"No, not the miners," returned the man, "although they think that you is
agin 'um, and that you had better move. A man, whose name we don't know,
gave us five pounds to set the place on fire."

"You are lying, and we know it," retorted Fred. "Tell us who paid you
the money, or you will fare badly," he continued, in a stern tone of
voice.

The incendiary stammered, and looked towards his accomplice, as though
uncertain what to say, and while hesitating, the latter exclaimed:

"It is useless to mince matters, Pat--we are in a fix, and have got to
make the most of it. We belong to a secret league, whose object is to
resist paying the taxes imposed by government upon miners, and hearing
that you were with the government, we determined to clip your claws, and
prevent you from doing mischief. If your store had taken fire, we might
have made a few pounds by plunder, but as for receiving five pounds, or
any money for the work, it's all sham, and Pat knows it. We talked the
matter over with a dozen or so, and agreed to do the business. That's
all about it, and you may make the most of it, and hand us over to the
police as soon as you please."

The ruffian spoke in as free and easy a manner as though he had been
engaged in some meritorious work, instead of a piece of black villany.

"You did not know, then, that we were opposed to the government on the
tax question, and that while we determined to take no part in the
struggle, we sympathized with the miners?" inquired Fred.

"One of the men to whom we talked said as much," answered the fellow,
"but we did not pay any attention to him, and neither do I believe it
now."

"Then let this convince you," exclaimed Fred, taking the key of the
irons from Murden's hand, and unlo