t will be necessary to send it to Melbourne
for repairs."

"Not I," answered the ghost, with a chuckle; "somebody might see it and
lay claim to it, and then where would be my watch, and where would I be?
Another term at the hulks is not agreeable to think of, and my accounts
of the manner in which I got hold of the thing wouldn't be believed. No,
no; I'll wear it out of sight until I leave the country, or am rich
enough to escape suspicion."

I thought that Day's course was the best, if he desired to retain
possession of the property, for, as he said, a number of awkward
questions would probably have been asked him at Melbourne, the mere
carrying of a watch by a ticket of leave man being looked upon as
suspicious by people who were not so honest as Day.

We continued our examination of the treasure, and were delighted to find
that it exceeded our expectations, and so engrossed were we in
speculating upon the nature of the dust that we forgot the hardships
attendant upon obtaining it.

We counted the coins, and found that we had about three thousand
dollars, and I judged the dust was worth about as much more, as it was
of good quality, and entirely free of dirt. "Now, Day, how much shall
we give you for your valuable services?" asked' Mr. Brown.

"O, I am satisfied with this," he answered, holding up his watch, which
he was polishing on his shirt sleeve.

"But, of course, you expect a portion of the dust and gold coins?"

"No, I don't expect any thing, 'cos I volunteered my services, and I'm
always happy to accommodate, as the man said who was willing to be put
in a coffin before he was dead. Never mind me, I'm satisfied."

The shepherd's modesty surprised me, for I had anticipated, from his
eagerness to get hold of the watch, that he would be equally as eager
for a share of the gold, and Mr. Brown and myself were both aware that
he deserved a handsome reward for the dangers through which he had
passed to free us from the inquisitiveness of the bushrangers.
Therefore, the more backward Day appeared the more firmly did we insist
upon doing justice to his merits.

Mr. Brown and myself consulted together for a few minutes, and then
concluded to give him a thousand dollars in gold coin; and when we
announced our decision, the shepherd was frantic with delight.

"O, luddy!" he cried, "wouldn't I have a time to-night if I was in
London and had this money in my pocket? Wouldn't I drink 'alf and 'alf
till I couldn't