nd," the inspector said,
"for he was a friend of Burley's, and many a robbery have they committed
together, that never came to light."

"You might have cautioned us against him," remarked Fred.

"So I might, had I but known he was in Ballarat. I have not seen or
heard of the fellow before for two months, and I thought that he was
either shot or hanged, as he certainly should have been a year ago. He
must have arrived here yesterday afternoon, and Burley told him that you
had money, and that he could make a good thing in avenging his injuries
and stealing your gold. I am glad to say that he was caught in his own
trap, and I shall always cherish the name of a diamond snake for the
good that one of them has done in ridding us of a ruffian who would have
robbed his mother, and beat her in the bargain."

"But the snake--what do you think of that?" we asked.

"I have seen larger ones, though I will quiet your fears by saying not
in this part of Australia. They are not so dangerous as they look, and
seldom attack a man unless frightened into the encounter. A few miles
from Ballarat is a colony of the same kind of reptiles, and it's
something of a curiosity to see the monsters squirming about during a
pleasant forenoon."

"Have you seen them often?" asked Fred.

"O, yes, I have seen them a dozen times, perhaps." "We have nothing of
importance to attend to, for a few days, and would like to visit the
colony. Will you go with us?"

"Willingly," replied the inspector. "Appoint your day."

"Say to-morrow forenoon. Our horses will feel better for the jaunt, and
so shall we," Fred said.

"To-morrow forenoon we will go; and now, before we take breakfast, let
us get rid of these encumbrances."

He pointed to the bodies on the floor, and while we were wondering what
we should do with them, the inspector called a policeman, and directed
him to find a cart and carry them off, and for all that we know to the
contrary, they were both buried in the same grave. At any rate, the skin
of the snake, which we had requested as a trophy, was returned to us,
and by the aid of a quantity of arsenic, we were enabled to preserve it,
and send it to Murden as a sample of one of the staple articles of the
mines.

As soon as the bodies were removed, we went to work and cleaned our
store, and then prepared breakfast, and I am happy to be able to record
it, that the horrors of the night had no sensible effect upon our
appetites.

CHAPTE