ssed up for an examination. Clothes, powder, and lead, liquors,
boxes of pickles, preserved meats, China ginger, and other sweetmeats,
and in fact it is hard to remember all the names of the different
articles stored in that underground cell. The collection looked as
though it had been plundered from various teams on their way to the
mines, and such we afterwards found to be the case; as Bimbo confessed
that he had acted in the capacity of storekeeper for three or four
years, and even before the mines were discovered he was in league with
bushrangers, and always gave them information when he knew a party of
policemen were on their trail.

There was another piece of information which Bimbo gave us, more
pleasing than any thing which he had said. By his directions, one of the
men was set at work digging in the cellar, and after throwing up a few
shovelfuls of earth, a canvas bag was reached, which proved to be
remarkably heavy. The men crowded around, wild with excitement, when
Murden loosened the string tied around its mouth, and we all gave a
shout when particles of gold dust were discovered, and a louder cheer
when the lieutenant emptied into a basin about forty pounds of gold of
the first quality.

"This is a prize worth something," Murden said, overjoyed at his good
fortune.

"The government will make its expenses on this trip," I remarked, as I
calculated the worth of the gold.

"Do you suppose that government will ever see the color of this dust?"
asked Murden, with a laugh.

I replied that I expected he would render an account of it to his
superior officer.

"And let my superior officer retain the whole of that which we have
worked hard for. I know a trick worth two of that. Stand by and let me
divide it according to grade, men."

A pair of scales was produced in a twinkling from one of the saddle
holsters of the men, and with great dignity the lieutenant weighed out
the full amount, and then made a calculation.

"I am going to let these two gentlemen share equally with me. They
deserve more, but according to the rules of the service, volunteers must
rate with lieutenants."

Fred and I looked at each other in surprise, hardly believing our
senses, while the men declared with one accord that it was but right we
should receive our share, and that we were an honor to the police force.

"There's twenty-two hundred dollars to be divided among the men, and
about two thousand dollars for us three," said Murd