e were
familiar, attracted our attention.

I unbarred the door and let in Steel Spring.

"Things is vorking," he said, rubbing his hands with glee; "'fore
morning we'll 'ave a fight, and I don't care vich vins, I don't."

"How do the miners remain?" I asked; "are they firm?"

"Vell, vot there is of 'em is brave 'nough, but that 'ere Ross has sent
avay 'is best men, and let others go 'ome for the night. He vill catch
it afore mornin'."

"The man is mad," remarked Mr. Brown. "He should have kept every miner
under arms through the night. The commissioner means mischief, I'll
warrant."

"Don't he, though!" exclaimed Steel Spring, winking both his eyes
violently.

"What are his plans?" I asked.

"Vell, 'tain't hardly right in me to tell 'em," the fellow said, as
though he didn't want to reveal all that he knew, although I could see
that he was anxious to, "but the commissioner has sent out men to
mislead the party vot has gone to stop the artillery, and they vill get
on another road and not come back for two or three days. The Yankee
chaps vid their rifles 'ave gone vid the green vons, and now the colonel
don't care an old button for the rest. An attack vill be made to-night
at one o'clock, but don't tell that I said so."

We did not promise a compliance with his request, and after a liberal
drink of whiskey Steel Spring left us to plot mischief, and to steal
whatever he could lay his hands on during the melee.

We held a short counsel, and then resolved that, as the time was near at
hand when the attack was contemplated, we would risk our lives in
witnessing it, and, if possible, render some assistance to the injured,
whether miners or soldiers. We locked up our gold in the safe, and then
started for Gravel Pit Hill. The streets were silent and deserted. Not a
policeman wearing a blue coat was to be seen until we entered the square
where the palisades were erected, and there we found about five hundred
men drawn up in line, silent and immovable, their muskets gleaming by
the starlight, awaiting but the order to open a volley upon the poor
fellows who were cooped up behind the timber, full of pluck, yet hardly
prepared to meet so many disciplined men, and hoping that only a menace
was intended.

"Who comes there?" shouted a sentry, as we approached.

"Friends," I replied.

"Well, friends, stand back and keep out of sight, or you'll lose the
number of your mess," the soldier added, jocosely.

We had no desi