hough we were wild animals confined for his especial
amusement.

"I wonder if the stealings are good in that department?" asked another.

"Do you hear, Murden?" Fred inquired, with a laugh, and a thought how
appropriate the question was under the circumstances.

"Curse the fellow's impudence," muttered the lieutenant; "but I'll learn
him a lesson that he'll remember for a few days," he continued; and then
turning to Maurice who was unsaddling his horse, he said,--

"Take a man with you and arrest that blackguard. I suspect him to be a
bushranger in disguise."

The policeman abandoned his horse on the instant, grasped his carbine,
spoke a word to a companion, and before the inquisitive genius, who
wished to know whether the stealings in the police force were good, had
a chance to think of his unfortunate remark, he was in custody, and
threatened with instant death if he even made a movement towards
resistance. He was hustled before the commander of the corps, and with
an indignant look and blustering voice, wanted to know for what he was
seized.

"You think that I don't know you," said Murden, in a tone of pretended
sternness, "but you are mistaken. You are Sam Firefly, the leader of a
gang of bushrangers. I knew you the instant that I got sight of your
face."

"So help me God, I'm not--I don't know the gentleman you speak of. I'm
a stranger here--I only arrived in Australia week before last;--for
God's sake let me go, and I won't do any thing but what you wish me to;"
and the fellow wrung his hands, and looked the very picture of woe and
fright.

"I think I'd better order you to be shot, for if I should let you off,
and find that you are Sam after all, I should always regret it," the
lieutenant said, with mock gravity.

"Don't shoot me; please don't--I never hurt anyone in my life. I'm only
in the country to make my fortune, and when I get it I'll leave. I swear
that I will."

"On those conditions, then, I will let you go--but remember, I shall
have an eye on you hereafter."

The fellow expressed his thanks in a confused manner, and darted from
the enclosure, and during the remainder of our stay at the stream we did
not hear an impudent remark concerning our blue flannel shirts or the
perquisites of Australian policemen. The heterogeneous maps were
suddenly struck with Murden's display of authority, backed as it was by
about a dozen men, well armed and ready to do his bidding without a
question or murmur.