not trespass upon
your store. It is you whom we invite to share our supper. Recollect we
are just from Melbourne, and have a rare quality of tea in our cart
which we want you and your daughter to test."

"There surely can be no harm in accepting of your offer," replied the
old man, musingly. "When I am rich, it will of course be a different
thing--then you can partake of my hospitality."

"If we proposed to you to help us to wealth, what answer should you
return?" Fred asked of the convict.

"The answer of a grateful, honest man. Show me that the means to get the
wealth are honest, and I will work without complaining, for months, and
when you are satisfied with your share of worldly goods, I will seek to
get mine," returned the old man, promptly.

"Then we ask your aid for the space of a few days. In yonder forest, a
treasure is buried, and we expect that some work is required to find it.
Will you aid us?"

"With all my heart," replied the stockman, without a moment's
hesitation. "I am under too great an obligation to you, gentlemen, to
refuse assistance in so small a matter. When shall we start?"

"To-morrow morning, at daylight. Time is precious to us until we find
the treasure."

"I hope you will not be disappointed in your search," returned the old
man, apparently restored to his usual clear-headedness with the prospect
of something to do. "A secret like Gulpin's must have been known or
suspected by others beside his band. For a few days past I have seen
strange men wandering around the edge of the wood, although they did not
appear to be regular bushrangers. They may have the same object in view
as yourselves, but without your knowledge of the locality of the gold.

"If they are bushrangers we will fight them, but if honest people in
search of the treasure, we will laugh at them for their pains, and
ridicule them for their trouble," the old man continued. "I see that
Smith and my daughter have managed to get something to eat. Suppose we
have supper first, and discuss the best means of accomplishing your ends
afterwards?"

"By the way, we forget to tell you that your share of money, for the
capture of bushrangers, is awaiting your order," Fred said, during
supper, speaking to the stockman.

"I feel content with the paper which contains my pardon, and think that
I am amply rewarded. I desire nothing more from government."

Finding that the subject was distasteful to the old man, we said no
more, but af