, perhaps to
help sustain his sinking house.

"You lie, you young whelp; you know you lie," cried one of the miners,
shaking the boy by the collar so roughly that I was fearful he would
dislocate his bones.

"I do not lie, gentlemen; upon my honor, I do not. Don't choke me so
hard--you hurt me," cried the boy, putting a small hand upon the miner's
rough paws, as though his slight strength was likely to effect any thing
in the way of obtaining a cessation of their cruelty.

"I've had my eye on you for some time," cried one of the men, "and I
knew I should get hold of you at last. What was you doing in our tent
when we woke up this morning? Answer me that, will you?"

Between them both they shook the boy so roughly that he burst into
tears, and was incapable of uttering a word. This, instead of exciting
feelings of compassion in the breasts of the miners, caused them to
shout with sardonic laughter, and mock him by sobbing in imitation. It
was during the latter performance that Fred, followed by myself,
squeezed into the small circle and confronted the two half-civilized
brutes.

"Don't hurt the lad," cried Fred, in a mild tone. "He is nothing but a
boy, and if he did take your dust perhaps he can make some explanation
that will satisfy you."

"Hullo," ejaculated one of the fellows, with a stare, "who in the devil
are you, I should like to know?"

"That is of no consequence, at present," replied Fred, in a tone of
excessive mildness. "The question is regarding this boy. I think there
must be some mistake in your accusations, and if you will give him into
my charge I will make up to you all that he has taken, provided you can
prove that you have lost any thing."

"Hullo, boys, here's a couple of the young thief's pals. Down with 'em
both."

We had expected such a cry, and knew how to meet it. Instead, therefore,
of looking frightened, and attempting to escape from the circle, we
remained perfectly cool and self-possessed, and those who had pressed
forward to lay hands upon us drew back and awaited further developments.

The youngster, who was still retained by the two miners, had, upon our
first interference in his behalf, trembled with hope; but when he heard
the savage cries, his heart seemed to sink within him, and he appeared
as though about to faint.

"You are choking the lad to death," cried Fred. "Don't you see that he
can hardly breathe? Let me take charge of him until the police call for
him."

"D