lk of the matter--praise him for his courage, make him
boast of it, and then nab him, and vere is he? Ve have the feller fast
and no mistake, and vether the old gent lives or dies ve don't care,
'cos ve shows the commissioner that you're hinnocent."

"How many men will be required to act as you state?" we asked.

"As few as possible," responded Steel Spring, promptly; "three besides
myself. Say Mr. Brown and both of you."

We knew enough of Dan's crib to be certain that, if an attempt was made
to arrest a noted character, there would be a struggle, and possibly
bloodshed; and we had seen too many desperate battles not to know that a
shot can be fired by a pretended friend with more coolness than an
enemy, and no one the wiser for it. I scrutinized Steel Spring's face to
see if I could read his thoughts, but nature had given him eyes of such
a peculiar hue and shape that I was baffled in my attempt.

"Do you mean honestly to assist us if we agree to your plans?" I asked.

"So help me Heaven," he cried; and one of his hands was raised as though
swearing to the truth of his words.

"We want no oaths, because we know the value that you place upon them;
but let me impress upon your mind that to-morrow night we will accompany
you--that each of us intends to carry a revolver, (and you know what
execution we can do with them,) and the first shot fired shall be at
your body if we see any signs of treachery. Now go, and meet us
to-morrow night at any time you see proper."

I opened the door as Fred ceased speaking, and, with a thoughtful brow,
Steel Spring passed out of the room, and was soon lost to view as he
skulked homeward.

CHAPTER LV.

ADVENTURES AT DAN BRIAN'S DRINKING-HOUSE.

The next day, anxious to test the truth of Steel Spring's statements, I
made an inquiry at the government reception office, and referring to the
books a clerk informed me that on the very day before the attack was
made upon Mr. Critchet he had deposited one thousand ounces of gold, and
had received a stationary certificate, or note, acknowledging that the
money had been received, but was to lay in the office, and not be
forwarded to Melbourne--a method that was often adopted to prevent loss
by miners.

This was good news to me, and I felt warranted in calling upon the
commissioner to let him understand the fact, as it would in a measure
relieve us of suspicion of being implicated in the robbery.

Mr. Sherwin received me with mo