o more for a
gang of bushrangers than for a troop of kangaroos. I am going to coax
them to enter the service."

I don't think that by morning there would have been a single Jewish
house or Christian store left in Collins Street if we had not again
reminded the governor that the fire was raging more fiercely than ever,
and that if the flames were to be checked it was high time to commence
work.

"Our American friends are right," said Colonel Hensen, "and if your
excellency is disposed to comply with their request no time is to be
lost."

"God bless me, then let them go to work without delay. I give them full
power to take as many men as they please to work the engines, and if
they succeed in quenching the flames they shall be well rewarded."

"We ask for no reward, sir," I said, "but we do ask for one hundred of
these soldiers. Let them be despatched after the machines without
delay."

The governor hesitated for a moment, and then gave Colonel Hensen
directions to comply with my request.

Two companies deposited their arms in a building near by, and were
detailed for the duty, while an officer was sent to hunt up the water
carts, and get them filled at the river, so that the engines could have
something to work upon.

We set Smith at work hunting up buckets, and then accepted volunteers,
who formed a long line, and passed the pails back and forth with great
rapidity.

A dozen reckless miners, just from the diggings, clambered to the tops
of the houses nearest to the fire, and dashed the water on the roof and
sides, and by this means held the flames in check until other lines were
formed. In half an hour nearly fifteen hundred buckets were at work, and
thrice that number of volunteers were lending their aid.

Fred and myself were every where, encouraging and giving directions; the
police, seconded our efforts, and saw that our orders were carried into
effect, and they did so the more readily because we recognized all of
our old companions of bush-hunting memory, and they quickly imparted our
history to the rest of the force.

By the time our lines were in good working order we heard the rumbling
of the engines, and with hearty cheers the soldiers dashed into the
hollow square, the crowd opening to the right and left to admit them.
With perfect firemen's enthusiasm they ran the machines close to the
flames, unlimbered the huge tongues which obstructed half the street,
and were nearly as large as the engines t