ew words of encouragement, and then were compelled to leave the
building.

"Pass this way, gentlemen," the captain said; "I'll escort you through
the lines, as you might find some difficulty in answering the sentry's
challenges."

We followed the kind-hearted officer, and were soon outside the lines,
when we thanked him for his kindness.

"Some other time we will talk of the matter," he answered. "I must now
hasten back to my command; but one word before we part. Don't think that
all British officers resemble Colonel Kellum. Now, I will thank you for
the overcoats, or my brother officers will scold worse than a dragoon.
Adieu. We shall meet in Melbourne."

He disappeared in the darkness, and we walked silently to the store,
where we found Smith, who was so overcome by the arrest of Fred that he
had drank six or seven glasses of whiskey, and announced his intention
of continuing to imbibe until he was lost to all reason. A few words of
comfort, however, and an announcement that we should leave for Melbourne
in the morning, and require him to look after the store until our
return, sobered him, and he vowed not to touch another glass of spirits
until Fred was released.

Mr. Brown promised to accompany me, and before morning we packed up our
clothes, and at daylight we were on our way in the stage, rolling along
at the rate of ten miles an hour; and in two days after leaving the
mines we were in Melbourne, and closeted with Murden, who proved himself
our friend in adversity, as he was in prosperity.

"I will do all that I can," he said, after listening to our story. "The
commissioner has so magnified matters that the governor and council
really think a most formidable insurrection has occurred, and that he
has displayed great power in putting it down. To make the affair as
complicated as possible, the governor seems to think that the Americans
were at the head of the conspiracy, and have urged the English on to
action. I, of course, know better, and will endeavor to have him put
right on the subject."

Murden appointed an interview in the afternoon, and then left us to lay
our case before a few of the most influential members of the council,
while we visited old acquaintances, and explained to Smith's wife, who
was living in a very pleasant house in the city, the reason why her
husband would not return for a week or two. The lady was heartily glad
to see me, and at her request Mr. Brown and myself took up our quarte