y men who stood upon the brink of the grave,
hastened us in our deliberations. We glanced towards the poor wretches
and found that they were endeavoring to work their maimed bodies towards
us for the purpose of pleading for mercy.

There was one man, however, who did not move from the spot where the
policemen had first deposited him, and although the flames were roaring
within forty feet of his position, he merely turned a dimmed eye towards
them, and appeared to be resigned to his fate. I thought I recognized
his weather-beaten countenance and grizzly hair, and nearer inspection
convinced me that my surmises were correct. It was the old sailor who
had so manfully resisted the orders of Nosey, and insisted upon allowing
me to administer consolation to the snake-bitten bushranger. "Here is a
man who must be taken care of, if I go without shelter," I said,
pointing to the sailor.

"It is impossible," Murden replied. "He is badly wounded, and would
occupy the room of three or four men. Let us retreat, for already do I
feel as though my lungs were being boiled."

"You may go," I answered, firmly, "but not a step do I stir until I see
that old sailor provided for. He saved my life, and I will try and save
his."

"Don't mind me, matey," cried the wounded man, in a feeble tone; "my
cruise is nearly up, and the log book will soon record my fate."

"If you die you shall expire without the torture of fire. We cannot save
your companions, and indeed hardly know whether we can save ourselves,
but the experiment shall be tried."

"Well, well," Murden said, seeing that I was firm in my demand, "we will
share our den with him. Lift him up, men, and place him in our vault as
carefully as possible."

The policemen performed the duty with an alacrity that I did not
anticipate, and after I had seen the old sailor placed in a corner of
the vault, and Rover by the side of him, I turned to join Fred and
Murden, who were still arguing whether they could desert the other
bushrangers and yet appear honorable in the eyes of the world.

"The old follow seems a little cast down," said one of the police, as I
prepared to leave the vault.

I answered in the affirmative, and was continuing on, when the man
touched me on the arm.

"Hist," he whispered; "don't say a word, but it's a little wine I have
in my canteen which the old robber is welcome to, if you think it will
do him any good."

I grasped the treasure with more pleasure than I