some night the
villains might undertake an attack upon ourselves, knowing, as they
must, that our sales were large, and that we must have considerable
money on hand, which we did not deposit at the government office, for
the purpose of being sent to Melbourne under military escort.

Every night, since we had grown in importance and wealth, we had slept
with our revolvers under our heads, and beneath our pillows were small
bags of gold dust, and gold and silver coin; and when men begin to
collect riches, they will defend them and watch over them with more
tenderness than any thing else that they possess.

Again we heard the knock upon our door, and, we thought, a low groan;
but it might have been the wind. The hound was snuffing at the door, and
uttered a low wail, as though mourning for the dead. Two or three times
he trotted towards us, and then returned and scratched at the woodwork
with his claws, as though anxious to get into the street.

"I can stand this no longer!" cried Fred, cocking his revolver, and
starting up. "I will see who is at the door if a dozen robbers are
waiting outside."

He started towards the door as he spoke, and I followed him. Just as we
were about to draw the bolts, another knock, but much fainter, and a
low, death-like groan, fell upon our ears.

We started, and hesitated about proceeding; but Rover looked up into our
faces with such an expression, as though to encourage us to see what the
matter was, that we determined to investigate, and no longer suspect a
trick.

We withdrew the bolts and suddenly threw open the door, and as we did
so, the body of a man fell inward, and lay at our feet motionless,
although by our lights, dim as they were, we could see that our midnight
visitor was covered with blood.

CHAPTER LII.

THE ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. CRITCHET.

We were surprised and somewhat startled at the intrusion, but we did not
stop to exchange surmises, or to ask questions. A man was lying at our
feet, badly wounded, and was bleeding freely from half a dozen cuts or
stabs.

We considered that our first duty was to attend to him, and defend him,
if necessary, from a fresh attack of assailants, and that after his
wounds were dressed, and he was able to answer questions, then we could
investigate the circumstances connected with his mysterious appearance
at our door, and, if possible, bring to justice the perpetrators of the
wrong.

Before we moved the now insensible body