We hope thanks will be the only coin offered," cried Fred, quickly,
"for we would not have you think that we have labored through the night
for hire. If we have been instrumental in doing your city a service we
are glad of it, because it may be the means of obtaining a better
reputation for Americans than they have hitherto enjoyed in Australia."

"I shall ever look upon Americans with respect from this time forward,"
the colonel said, warmly. Once more he shook our hands, and then we
called Smith and edged our way through the crowd to the rude house,
where I found the hound had broken half a dozen panes of glass in his
desperate attempts to escape and join me.

Tired and almost exhausted with our night's work, we quickly threw
ourselves upon our hard beds, and slept soundly, nor did we awaken until
the loud baying of the hound aroused us.

CHAPTER XIX.

PARDON OF SMITH AND THE OLD STOCKMAN.--GRAND DINNER AT THE GOVERNOR'S.

"Hullo," I heard somebody shout; "is this the way you receive your
friends? Call off the dog, or he'll eat me for his dinner."

I started up and spoke to the hound, and then saw, to my surprise, that
our visitor was no other than the captain of police.

"Excuse me for disturbing you," he said, taking a seat, and looking
around the room with a quiet smile upon his broad face. "I know that
you have had a hard night's work, and need rest; and I should not have
presumed to awaken you, had I not feared that you would forget the
audience which his excellency has granted on this afternoon."

"At what time, may I ask?" I inquired, trying to look as though I was
awake--in which I did not fully succeed, I am afraid, for the captain
said, kindly,--

"There, there, go to bed again, and let the audience be postponed until
to-morrow. Latrobe will readily understand why you are not present, and
if he does not, I will get Colonel Hensen to explain the reason. By the
way, speaking of the colonel, he has grown to be a sworn friend to both
of you, and as he has the governor's ear in all matters, I think it will
be well to speak to him in a candid manner, and enlist his aid."

We bowed, without speaking at the advice, and the captain continued,--

"Then I will ask the governor to postpone your interview until
to-morrow, if you desire it."

"By no means," exclaimed Fred, the last words thoroughly arousing him.
"We have not had much rest for a number of nights, but we are not so
tired that we cannot