definite idea of where he was going to; although I always thought that
he intended to pay our store a visit during our absence.

He had not gone far before he ran into a squad of policemen, who were
lying in ambush, awaiting the inspector's orders; and as the guardians
of the night were about to confine him as a suspicious person, he
suddenly bethought him that he could benefit us and himself at the same
time. He told of the danger that Mr. Brown was in, and urged a rapid
movement for his relief.

The sergeant, who had charge of the men, had been told by the inspector,
that a person answering Steel Spring's description would be sent to
them when their services were wanted; and without doubting that every
thing was right, they stole forward as quickly as possible, but arrived
none too soon, as the reader will admit.

The sergeant of the force tried the front door, but it was locked, and
all attempts to enter by that way were useless.

Just then the bottles crashed against it, and Mr. Brown's voice was
heard loud above the confusion.

That quickened the movements of the men amazingly; and although Steel
Spring was watching an opportunity to run away the second time, yet he
did find sufficient voice to suggest an entrance by the windows. It was
necessary, however, to find articles to stand on, as the windows were
eight feet from the ground; but even that difficulty was speedily
overcome, by taking a number of dry goods boxes and empty rum barrels,
which belonged to a grocer's store near at hand, and which the
enterprising proprietor had left out over night.

By their aid an entrance was effected, and we were saved, but at an
enormous sacrifice of life.

As soon as the police disappeared, Steel Spring, who never had much love
for the smell of gunpowder, speedily retreated to a safe distance, and,
no doubt, laughed in his false heart, at the struggle which was taking
place, for he never appeared to experience much regret at the slaughter;
and I suppose if we had been killed, he would have plundered our store,
and then fired it, and ran away by its light.

"What do you intend to do now, that you have finished our job?" I asked
of Steel Spring, after he had refreshed his inner man with a drink of
what he most loved on earth.

"I start for Melbourne within an hour," he answered promptly.

"Why do you leave so suddenly?" I inquired.

"I has my reasons, but I don't mind telling 'em to you. In the first
place, three