have arrived in time to make terms
of sale."

"Terms of the devil!" the agent shouted; "here, you, sirs, take those
animals back to the stable, or I'll break you finer than a piece of
quartz after it has passed through a mill!"

The men stood irresolute, and looked towards their chief.

"We want the animals," the colonel said.

"And will have them," the commissioner exclaimed.

"Gentlemen," said the agent of the stage company, "these animals belong
to me; I have paid for them, and have a bill of sale, and the man who
dares to detain them does so at his peril."

"Let us see the document," the military man said, after a whispered
consultation with the commissioner.

The agent handed the paper to the colonel, and he studied over it
carefully.

"Why, this document was signed last night," he exclaimed, with a sour
look at Fred.

"What's that got to do with the question?" the agent asked, abruptly.

"Because I believe that it's a d----n trick to cheat the government!"
shouted the colonel, boiling over with rage.

"Do you dare address such words to me, sir?" cried Fred.

"Or to me, either?" demanded the agent.

"Your uniform shall be no protection, unless you unsay what you have
uttered," Fred continued, advancing in a menacing manner towards the
colonel.

"Don't be rash," I whispered, laying a hand on Fred's shoulder;
"remember that he is high in rank, and won't meet you."

"But I will post him in every town in Australia, unless he apologizes or
fights."

"When the government solicited our company to establish a daily line of
stages between Ballarat and Melbourne, we were promised all the
assistance that officials could afford, and no interference was to be
allowed; I see that the commissioner, and you, Colonel Kellum, are
desirous of driving us from the town, and compelling us to abandon our
enterprise. I shall take immediate steps to let the government know the
reason of our refusal to continue the contract."

The speech of the agent was a telling one on the colonel and
commissioner, for they knew that government would never pardon
interference with a line that cost so much money to establish, and which
was carrying information through the country at an unprecedentedly rapid
rate. No wonder they stopped to consider, and changed their fierce
aspect for one of conciliation, for they knew that suspension from duty
would probably follow a remonstrance from the company.

"If you have bought the horses we