hese fellows to prison and double iron them, and tell
old Warner that he had better look after them sharp, for they are
bushrangers of some notoriety."

"And tell your keeper that I have escaped from more secure jails than
the one in Ballarat, and that Bill Swinton still possesses the pluck of
a man."

"That will do," returned the inspector, dryly, after the bushranger had
finished. "Take him away, and to pay him for that speech, tell Warner to
put a ring around his waist, in addition to the double irons."

"I still hope for the time when I can meet you alone, and when no
interfering Yankees will save you from my vengeance. Bill Swinton is
worth a dozen dead men, and woe--"

The remainder of the man's remarks was lost, for the police hurried him
off with his companion, who appeared to be completely broken in spirit.

"Now, Sam, give this gentleman (pointing to Fred, who had walked nearly
all the distance from the ravine) your horse, for I am mounted on his."

The man relinquished his animal without a word, and we rode towards the
town, followed at a short distance by the squad of policemen. As we
passed along the main thoroughfare of Ballarat, a crowd of people
assembled to greet us, for already the news had circulated extensively
that a large gang of bushrangers had been broken up through our
instrumentality; and the miners were rejoiced at the intelligence, for
they were more interested than any other class of people in freeing the
country of robbers, so that escorts of gold dust could pass to the large
cities without molestation. Under these circumstances the police were
cheered, and that was something that had not occurred since the struggle
between the government and the miners had commenced regarding the mining
tax.

"You see how much we are indebted to you," remarked the inspector, with
a grim smile, as we helped him from his horse upon reaching his
quarters. "To-morrow the knaves would cheer just as lustily if we were
driven from the town. Good by--don't fail to come and see me early
to-morrow morning."

And with these parting words we turned our horses' heads and started for
our store, where we found Rover keeping guard, and every thing safe.
Tired with our day's jaunt, we resisted several pressing invitations to
attend the indignation meeting that was to be holden that evening by the
miners, and went to bed early.

CHAPTER XLIV.

THRASHING A BULLY.

We slept long past, our usual hour for