tood on a line with the bushranger while digging.

We gratified his humor, but to prevent trickery Fred was despatched to
watch his movements and prevent escape. Steel Spring vowed and protested
that he meant honestly by us; but he was too notorious a liar to be
believed, and when he found that we would not trust him, he appeared to
be highly pleased, and considered it a proof of his sagacity and
cunning.

We watched them as they walked to the spot which Steel Spring
indicated--a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile from the clearing;
and when the fellow announced that he was ready for the test, I slowly
passed over such portions of the ground as I thought contained the
money.

Three or four times did I pass over the ashes where the bodies of the
dead bushrangers were burned, and yet I heard no indications from Steel
Spring. At last I set my compass, and walked in an exact south-eastern
direction, about ten paces from the location of the hut, and within a
dozen feet of the hole which we had already dug.

"Stop," said the long-legged biped, "don't move for your life! Vait till
I comes--you've hit it for a farding."

With springs which caused Rover to howl with jealousy, the fellow
bounded over the bushes towards us, and in a minute's time was beside
me.

"Give me the shovel!" he cried, in an excited manner. "I is certain that
you is standing on the place."

"Here is a shovel," said Smith, with a wink of mischief at us; "let us
see how soon you can bring the dust in sight."

"It won't take me long, I can tell you," replied Steel Spring, throwing
out a few shovels full and then pausing to rest, as though a new thought
had entered his long head.

"Dig away," yelled Smith, who was wielding a pickaxe with great effort.

"I was thinkin' how much better I could direct than work," said the
cunning fellow, too lazy to dig.

"Then stand aside and give me the shovel," cried Fred, impatiently.

Steel Spring willingly relinquished it, and pretending that he felt
exceedingly nervous and faint, he squatted down upon the ground and
watched with eager eyes every particle of dirt that was thrown from the
hole.

Before we got fairly to work the sun had set, and the shades of night
began to be thrown upon the dark forest of gum trees by which we were
surrounded. We had wasted so much time talking and listening to Steel
Spring, that the afternoon had passed away almost imperceptibly. To be
caught in the woods over night wa