to be rendered. The officer untied
the hands which confined him, and without a word he retreated with us
towards our vault.

Steel Spring eyed us for a moment, as though uncertain whether he was
included in the invitation or not, but when he found that the latter was
the case, he broke forth into lamentations that fairly rivalled the
shrill yells of triumph which we had heard his companions utter.

He pleaded and threatened, promised and protested; and when he found
that we were invulnerable and unmoved, he uttered curses upon our heads
so bitter that it seemed as though he had spent all his life in framing
them.

I crawled through the narrow opening and found that the men were seated
so close together that not an inch of spare room was between them. A
small space was reserved for Murden, Fred, and myself, but it did not
look large enough to seat one of us comfortably. In the corner opposite
to me was the wounded man, and partly resting upon one of the police was
Rover, as quiet and orderly a dog as ever suffered confinement for the
purpose of saving life.

"And von't you take me in?" asked Steel Spring, as Murden entered our
over-crowded den.

"Your miserable system of treachery does not entitle you to that
kindness. Burn, and get a foretaste of what you may expect in the next
world," replied Murden.

"I'll see you all hanged first," was the indignant answer of the
long-legged brute; and we did not hear another murmur escape him,
although we felt that his sufferings must be intense, and his ultimate
death certain.

CHAPTER XXX.

PERILOUS SITUATION DURING THE FIRE.--STEEL SPRING TURNS UP.

As Murden crouched down by my side, he loosened his pistols in his belt,
and whispering to me, requested that I would follow his example. While I
wondered at his command, he spoke to his men, and then I understood his
motive.

"During our long connection with the police force," the lieutenant said,
"we have never been placed in a situation like the present. We have
undergone almost starvation--we have had bushrangers howling at our
heels and ready to kill all who fell behind while on the march--we have
been nearly dead for the want of water--we have been surrounded by
natives wielding poisoned spears, and you know that a prick from them is
death--we have enjoyed good and bad fortune together, have we not?"

"We have," replied the men, with one accord.

"And during all the scenes through which we have passed, ha