id upon his shoulder.

"You find fault with the method which I resort to to punish rebellion,
do you?" demanded the colonel, with a savage laugh.

"If it was with my last breath, I would protest against so cowardly an
outrage," replied Fred, with all the contempt that he could assume.

"Hullo! I know that voice," cried Kellum, starting forward, and pulling
Fred's cap from his face. "D----n me, if I didn't think so," he
continued. "You are the grocer that dared to raise your hand against me
yesterday morning. Iron him, and away with him to the barracks."

"For what crime, sir?" I asked, starting forward.

"For rebellion," shouted the colonel. "He has dared to interfere with
the army of Her Majesty, while suppressing treason."

"He came here to assist the wounded, and had no intention of interfering
with the soldiers," I said.

"Away with you, or I'll lock you up, and send you to Melbourne for
trial, with your partymen. Go."

"Don't provoke him," whispered an officer. "Obey him, and we will do all
that we can for your friend."

"Will you allow me to exchange one word with your prisoner?" I asked of
Kellum.

"What, not gone yet?" he roared. "Ready," he shouted, addressing his
soldiers, "aim," and the word to "fire," was trembling on his lips, when
the officers forced us from the presence of the brute, and we heard the
cries of the wounded as they were roughly handled by the soldiers, for
the purpose of securing them and conveying them to the barracks.

The soldiers were also employed in attending to their own wounded,
several of whom had fallen, and while I carefully picked my way through
the crowd I stumbled over a prostrate body, which caused us to stop, and
see if we could be of any assistance. I stooped down and placed my hand
upon the man's head, and felt his hot blood gush from a wound in his
heart. I removed the poor fellow's broad rimmed hat, and saw, to my
surprise, that it was Steel Spring.

"Why, it is our old companion," I cried, feeling really sorry at his
misfortune. "Help me to lift him up, and we will carry him to the
store."

"It's no use," gasped the wounded man. "Got a ball in my breast; all
over vid me--sorry I came 'ere--didn't mean to--didn't get pay for
this--don't disturb me. I shall die in ten minutes--know it--vill bet
all the money I've got that I do--I'm sorry for all my rascalities."

He ceased to speak, and placing his hand upon his breast, groaned as
though suffering terrible