asked to despatch a force against them, but he has declined, on
the ground that he can't spare the men."

"Then troubles continue to exist?" I asked.

"Never more serious than at present; and I expect that open war will be
declared every day. The miners have flatly refused to pay their thirty
shillings per month for mining, and government insists that they shall.
Neither party feel like retreating from its position, although I
candidly believe that if a good man was at the head of affairs this
difficulty would be settled in twenty-four hours, and in a way
satisfactory to the government and the miners."

Even while Fred was entertaining us with news he was busily engaged in
starting a fire in the stove for the purpose of preparing our breakfast.

"It is too late to hope to escape bloodshed," Fred continued, "unless
concessions are made on the part of the government, which are not looked
for. I am informed that the commissioner sends despatches to the
governor-general every day, in which he represents the miners as on the
point of yielding, and that energy and firmness are alone required to
subdue them to his wishes, and prevent further outbreaks. You see how
shamefully he is misleading the government, for there are not two
hundred men in Ballarat, exclusive of the police force, but who will
fight against the tax."

"How is it known that the commissioner sends such despatches?" I asked.

"Why, to tell you the truth," said Fred, sinking his voice to a whisper,
"a party of men ambushed the courier day before yesterday, and rifled
his despatches. The letters contained a request for more men and plenty
of ammunition, and a hope to have the rebels suing for mercy in less
than two weeks."

"And how are our countrymen acting?" I asked.

"They are not so backward as I could wish," replied Fred; "for they
should remember that we are on a foreign soil, and that an active part
is not required of us. But few can withstand the flattery that has been
brought to bear upon them, and as a general thing they are all arrayed
with the miners. Their rifles are wanted, and dreadful havoc they will
make if blows are exchanged."

"And you have taken no part in the question as yet?" Mr. Brown asked.

"No; although offers in abundance have been made by government agents
and the leaders in the revolutionary movement. We have too many thousand
dollars at stake to trifle with public affairs, although if--"

Fred paused while pouring out