of the disappointed commissioner next
morning.

We did not retire very early, but sat up with closed doors and darkened
windows, and read our papers and talked until long past midnight. Our
business affairs were prosperous--we were free from debts of any
kind--we had ready money enough on hand to take advantage of the
markets, and buy low and sell dear--and to crown all, we had many
thousand dollars lying idle in the Melbourne bank, which we could resort
to in case of necessity. Our position was good, but a few losses by bad
management would have made us as pecuniarily poor as when we reached the
country, therefore the little trouble which we had with the commissioner
gave us considerable annoyance, for in various ways he could injure us.

We went to bed that night with considerable anxiety on our minds, but
with a firm determination that if we were imposed upon we would resist,
and even carry our grievances before the governor, if we could obtain
redress in no other way. We were anxious for daylight, yet dreaded the
disagreeable results which it would bring forth.

No sooner had the sun shown its hot face than we heard a commotion in
front of the store, but we remained seated at our table leisurely eating
breakfast, and pretending that we cared but little for the excitement in
the street. Presently a police officer put his head in at the door and
shouted out,--

"I say, you!"

"Well, what say you?" asked Fred, without moving.

"The commissioner wants to speak to you instantly."

"Well, tell him to come in," I responded.

"He can't; he's 'ossback."

"And we are at breakfast," Fred cried.

"He's in a hurry."

"So are we."

"Will you come?"

"Certainly; after we have finished eating our breakfast."

The fellow uttered an oath, and withdrew his head to report to his
superior officer. In a few minutes afterwards we heard the heavy steps
of men approaching us, and looking up we saw the dark face of the
commissioner, and the bull-dog countenance of Colonel Kellum, who had
command of the military in Ballarat.

"Good morning, gentlemen," Fred said, rising, and placing chairs for our
visitors.

A brief nod was the only sign of recognition that was returned, but the
chairs were not accepted.

"To what are we indebted for this early visit?" Fred asked.

"We have come, sir, for--"

The commissioner had proceeded thus far, when he seemed confused, and
stopped. He may have felt that he was about to commit a