d I don't think that he vould, had he seen
me to-night."

"But where are you stopping?" I again asked.

"Vell, I am at Dan Brian's 'Cricket,' and I must say that my old friend
keeps tiptop lush, and is disposed to be civil," answered Steel Spring.

The "Cricket" was one of the vilest places in Ballarat; and its
proprietor, Dan Brian, one of the most noted characters. He was once a
convict, but made his escape, and joined a gang of bushrangers. For two
years he lived in the bush, and subsisted by killing sheep and cattle.

Soon after the gold mines were discovered, he helped to rob a government
escort of dust on its way to Melbourne, and two thousand ounces of gold
fell to his share. His ill-gotten wealth made him long for an
opportunity to squander it; and unknown to the gang, he sent word to the
captain of police at Melbourne, and asked what terms he could receive if
he betrayed his comrades.

Of course the police were too ready to accede to any proposition that
Dan might make to haggle about terms; and the Judas was promised not
only his life and a free pardon, but it was intimated that the treasure
in his possession should never be claimed by government.

On these considerations Dan promised to turn traitor; and one day he
persuaded the gang to visit a spot which they considered unsafe, but
which Dan swore no policeman would ever dare to venture in. The
bushrangers were surrounded, surprised, and captured, and executed to a
man, with the exception of the betrayer.

After this bloody piece of work, the fellow spent most of his money in
dissipation, and when it was nearly all gone, he determined to open a
resort for thieves and assassins at Ballarat; and although the police
knew the kind of house he maintained, yet they were unable to break him
up for want of evidence to convict him and his guests.

Some went even so far as to say that he furnished information to the
police for certain considerations, but Mr. Brown always denied the
imputation with great eagerness.

"Does Dan know what brings you to Ballarat?" I asked, resuming the
conversation with our visitor.

"He's already bin pumping, but the clapper don't work. I told him I was
after a few _scrags_, for the purpose of raising a gang; and taking the
bush agin; and he thinks it's so, and promised to help me. I 'opes I
don't forfeit your confidence by being compelled to tell a lie. It goes
agin me, you know."

We readily promised him that all such littl