Promises are easily made, (_vide_ politicians in this country, where
offices are to be obtained;) and the reader will not wonder, considering
the light in which we stood, that we murmured a ready assent to his
wishes. The commissioner looked gratified, while Mr. Brown grinned with
delight.

"What shall we do with the wounded man, and this young fellow, Follet?
He has made a strong charge against these gentlemen, and he should be
made to give heavy bonds to meet it at the proper time," said the
inspector, pointing to the nephew, who stood trembling, as though
already anticipating trouble.

"Well, really," Mr. Sherwin said, "I don't see why the old man should
not remain under the charge of your friends until his injuries terminate
one way or the other. Suppose you send the government physician to
attend him, and a fortnight from to-day I will call the case up, and
decide whether to dismiss it or send it to trial."

"And Follet? Hadn't he better be put under heavy bonds for his
appearance?" insinuated the inspector.

"Certainly; it is very important to keep him. Let him be committed to
jail until he can find bonds in one thousand pounds;" and with a
cheerful wave of his hand, the commissioner left us.

"You see how much you have injured yourself in trying to fasten your
crime upon these gentlemen," Mr. Brown remarked, addressing Follet; "if
you will make a free confession, I will endeavor to get you as
comfortable a sentence as possible."

"Will you?" sneered the wretch; "you shall offer better terms than that
before I will let them up. I have the game in my own hands, and my
evidence will tell before a jury."

"Take him away," cried Mr. Brown, addressing a policeman; and after the
prisoner was out of hearing, he continued, "There is too much truth in
what he says, and we have work before us to discover who his accomplice
is, and bring him to justice. Even if Mr. Critchet does recover, it is
probable that he will not be able to identify his assailants, and in
that view of the matter I need not tell you in what a precarious
situation you will stand."

We saw the force of his reasoning, and looked to him for advice.

"We must set the police at work to find Follet's accomplice; and I will
not leave a stone unturned on 'Gravel Pit Hill,' but I will discover him
if in Ballarat"

"And is there any way that we can assist you?" I asked.

The inspector thought for a few moments before he replied.

"If we could bu