grief. He shed tears, upbraided
himself for his obstinacy, and refused to be comforted. At length, by
the aid of a few glasses of stimulants, I was enabled to learn his
story. It was as I had half supposed.

"About twenty-five miles from Ballarat, a singular looking genius had
joined them, and requested permission to travel in their company. He
manifested so much fear of robbers, and told about his aristocratic
relatives, and the large amount of money on his person, that a ready
assent was given to his request."

"It must have been Steel Spring," I said.

The little man nodded his head in token of assent, and continued:--

"At noon, on the day that Steel Spring joined the party, a halt was
proposed, under the shade of a gum tree that stood near the road. The
miners, tired with the long walk, readily consented, and after partaking
of their humble fare, Steel Spring produced a bottle, and invited all to
join him in a friendly drink. He did not have to ask twice, and although
no suspicions were entertained by the miners, the relater of the
transaction told me that he noticed that Steel Spring's sups at the
flask were short, and not at all frequent.

"The treacherous scamp, after he had won their confidence by relating
some incidents connected with his early life, began to examine the guns
which the miners carried; and after he had finished, and when the men
were about ready to commence their journey, a stout, dark-faced,
ferocious-looking man appeared before them. He soon made known his
intentions, for in his belt he carried a pair of pistols, and at his
shoulder, with glistening eyes glancing along the barrel, sighting the
first one that offered to stir, was a heavy gun, with a bore like a
blunderbuss.

"For a few seconds they stood thus, not a word being spoken, when
suddenly Steel Spring, with a pretended cry of terror, threw himself at
the feet of the stranger and shouted for mercy. It was a trick of his,
and well he played his part; yet the miners did take up their guns, but
found that the priming had been removed by Steel Spring while they were
drinking his liquor.

"The instant the poor fellows made a motion towards repriming, the
bushranger discharged his gun, and one fell. The other two, struck with
awe at the sight of their comrade's blood, turned and fled--but a pistol
shot brought down one of them, while, by good fortune, the third
escaped, and brought to me a narrative of his sufferings.

"He had lo