hisper if he knew us. The long-legged scamp turned
deliberately around, pretended to be surprised, hastily swallowed his
rum, and then rushed towards us.

"Vel, if this isn't a surprise may I never speak again, or make an
honest living vhile in the bush. To think that three of my old pals
should turn up jist as I vanted 'um, is a vonderful thing and no
mistake. If ye axes me vat I'll drink, I shall say rum."

We all pretended to be pleased to see the follow, and gave him such a
rough welcome as we deemed his companions would be likely to bestow, and
then, to his extreme gratification, ordered the rum that he was so eager
to taste.

"It's all right," we could hear the ruffians, by whom we were
surrounded, say. "Steel Spring knows 'um, and that's 'nough;" and then
each man applied himself with renewed energy to drinking and smoking,
and laying plans for future robberies.

"I should never have known you," Steel Spring whispered, "if you hadn't
have peached about the toggles vot you vas going to vare. I don't
believe that your blessed mother would know you, and as for your fathers
they would be puzzled at any rate."

This was uttered in a whisper, and while the doorkeeper was gone for the
rum and ale; and I suppose it was intended to be complimentary, although
we didn't look upon it in that light.

"Is he here?" I asked, glancing around the room, and endeavoring to
imagine which of those present was the assassin.

"Yes, it's all right; but I can't point him out, 'cos it would attract
attention. Keep quiet, and drink your hale in peace."

We were constrained to follow Steel Spring's advice, although I promised
him a kicking for his impudence.

"Jim," cried a black bearded fellow who sat near us, and who, Mr. Brown
whispered, had served six years as a convict, and who preferred
Australia to the old country, "when is you going to try your hand at the
trade agin?"

"Not until the brads get low, and when Dan refuses to trust me for lush
and grub," was the answer.

"Isn't it a pity that I haven't got the power to arrest these fellows,
and hang them without a trial? They deserve punishment, yet there is no
evidence by which they can be convicted. Your California lynch law would
work wonders here in a short time."

The inspector felt as enthusiastic as an artist in the presence of a
great painting, and Steel Spring was obliged to whisper a few words of
caution for fear of a discovery.

The doorkeeper brought our dr