e failings on his part should
be overlooked; and after a second edition of whiskey, we laid our
trouble and plans before him, and gave him full directions how to
proceed.

He was to frequent all places where crime was committed or planned; to
converse with all sorts of characters, honest or otherwise; to avoid the
police, and pretend an intense hatred for them; and when he wished to
communicate with us, it must only be done in the night time, and dressed
in such a disguise that none of his gang would recognize him.

In case of his discovering Follet's companion in the attempted
assassination, he was to let us know, so that the fellow's arrest could
take place immediately; and while we agreed to find money for his
expenses, we promised a handsome gratuity in case he was successful.

Steel Spring listened with more patience than I ever gave him credit
for, while we were enlightening his mind; and although he asked a dozen
different questions, which we considered at the time as frivolous, we
answered them to the best of our ability, and gave him what insight we
were able to regarding the company that Follet had been in the habit of
keeping.

"There, that will do for the present," Steel Spring said. "Ef the feller
is in Ballarat, I shall hear of 'im afore long. Give me another drink of
viskey, and I'll be off, 'cos a select company of the _elite_ of
Ballarat expects me to honor their supper vid my presence in about an
hour's time, and ven I gives my vord to a gentleman I don't like to
disappint um. Keep cool, and don't be afeerd of swinging on this little
affair, 'cos there's no danger. Ef I thought there was, I should
certainly speak to my friend, the governor."

"Mr. Murden did not send you here to jest, did he?" asked Fred, a little
sternly.

"O, by no means; and I didn't mean any 'arm by vot I said. Please don't
say anything to the lieutenant."

We promised; and Steel Spring turned to go, quite satisfied. Just as he
reached the door, he stopped, and drew a very dirty-looking letter from
his bosom, and handed it to us.

"I'd almost forgotten that Lieutenant Murden sent this letter by me.
Good night. I'll see you again to-morrow some time, but it will be late
in the evening;" and with these words he stole from the store as
noiselessly as a serpent creeping towards a paroquet sleeping on a gum
tree.

We broke the flaming red seal of our friend's letter, and read as
follows:--

MELBOURNE, Jan. 24th, 18--.