d
upon the plain."

"But if the artillery were cut off and sent back to Melbourne with the
loss of their guns, the miners would have the best of the bargain," I
suggested.

"By the Lord Harry, I never thought of that," cried Mr. Brown, with
enthusiasm; "that would be worth a careful consideration if Ross only
could get the idea. I've half a mind to suggest it to him."

While he was speaking Steel Spring entered the store, ostensibly to buy
a plug of tobacco, but in reality not to pay for it.

"Well," I whispered, while serving him, "did you convey the information
to Ross?"

"Of course," he replied, promptly.

"And what did he say?" I asked.

"That he now knew his friends, and would take measures to prewent the
sogers from getting here in a hurry."

I had no time to talk farther with Steel Spring, for he seemed impatient
to be gone, so I slyly slipped the money into his hand, and he left the
store with a chuckle of such intense delight that a tall policeman near
the door asked him where he got his swipes.

Trade was remarkably good that day. There was a steady stream of gold
dust pouring in, in exchange for many articles which were usually slow
of sale. A large portion of our stock of liquors was sold in bottles and
demijohns, and there were many inquiries for powder and lead, but we
were not allowed by the authorities to deal in such articles, and even
if we had been, we should have declined to sell them under the
circumstances, knowing that the ammunition was intended for the especial
benefit of the soldiers and police officers, and in the latter force we
had many friends.

We closed the store earlier than usual that night, for there was an
agitation pervading the working class that showed that the eventful hour
was approaching when the miners were to measure their strength with the
disciplined soldiers of their country. The red coats were under arms at
their barracks, and a man informed me that he had seen each soldier
served with ball cartridges, and that afterwards they loaded their guns
carefully, as though determined to make every shot tell.

Two or three times during the evening we were on the point of venturing
into the streets; but a fear of getting embroiled with the military
prevented us.

We heard the heavy tramp of men as they marched through the street, and
each moment expected to listen to the roar of musketry. While we were
thus expectant, a light rap at the door, and a voice with which w