addressed to."

"O, yes you would," he replied, confidently.

"Why do you think so?" I asked.

"Because you will hear my name mentioned oftener at Ballarat than any
other."

"And pray, may we he so bold as to ask what your position is, that gives
you so great a notoriety?"

"Ask? To be sure you may," returned the little man; "I am the police
inspector of Ballarat, and my name is James Brown, very much at your
service."

"We have mingled with the police so much since we have been in
Australia, that we almost consider ourselves as belonging to the
department. We are therefore sorry that we were not introduced to your
notice under better auspices," Fred said.

"O, you alluded to that shooting affair to-night. That did not amount to
much, although I must say that I wish you had killed the bully, for he
has given me more trouble than any other man at the mines. He is as
desperate a scoundrel as ever went unhanged, and had he been killed
outright, there are few who would mourn his fate."

"That may be true, yet I have always a great repugnance to shedding
human blood," replied Fred, in a sorrowful tone.

Mr. Inspector Brown stopped for a moment, as though surprised by the
answer.

"I had the same kind of feeling once, yet it is many years since. A long
residence in Australia has blunted all my finer sensibilities, and I
have witnessed so much crime and cruelty, that I am unmoved now, even
when a poor wretch is gasping forth his last words. I have often thought
that I would give all the gold that the mines of Australia yield if I
was but young again, and possessed the same sympathizing heart that I
did once."

By this time we had reached our tent, and our approach was challenged by
a deep bay from Rover, whom we had left to guard our baggage.

"A splendid animal," remarked the inspector, as he sought to lay his
hand upon Rover's head; but the dog resented the liberty, and growled
menacingly.

"He deserves all your praise," I replied, pleased at the conduct of the
brute, and doubly pleased to hear a deserved tribute to his ability.

"If you ever feel disposed to part with him," the inspector hinted, "I
will not haggle about his price."

"I will never sell him," I answered.

"Where did you obtain him, for I see that he is of English breed?" asked
Inspector Brown.

We entered the tent, where we found Smith, who had preceded us from the
Californian's Retreat, and, after finding a seat for Mr. Brown, we
rela