o you suppose that we are fools?" replied one of the men, who was
disposed to be more obstinate than his companions. We knows rogues when
we sees 'em."

"Then it's probable you know your own face when you consult a
looking-glass," Fred said; and the bitter taunt told well with the
crowd, for they roared with laughter, and appeared to be changing their
views regarding the guilt of the lad.

The ruffian looked at us for a moment, as though almost determined to
rush upon us and try his strength in an encounter; but our coolness
confounded him, and he hesitated, and appeared to seek counsel by
looking upon the numerous faces by which he was surrounded.

"You ain't a-going to let a couple of bushrangers abuse honest miners
who pays their taxes, and only axes for what is right, is you?" the
fellow said.

"No, no; you shan't be hurt, Tom," a number of the crowd said, the
epithet of bushranger being sufficient to excite the worst prejudices of
the miners; and we saw that already a number of lowering brows were bent
upon us, and that but a few words were required to cause the whole pack
to yelp in concert.

Tom saw his advantage, and was quick to follow it up with another blow.

"I knows that this little devil [giving his prisoner a shake] is in
league with these fellows, and that they sent him into town for the
purpose of robbing us honest miners, and they intended to wait outside
until he returned. He didn't jine 'em, and now they want to get him out
of our hands so that they can all make their escape. Let's lynch all
three."

"Lynch 'em! Lynch 'em!" were the cries, and the crowd pressed towards us
to carry into effect the words.

Fred's hand involuntarily sought his revolver, but I restrained him.

"No firearms," I whispered; "if we shed a drop of their blood we are
doomed men. Keep cool, and trust to chance."

"Miners of Ballarat, will you hear me?" I shouted, determined to make
one more appeal to them, and then try the virtues of a revolver, for I
did not wish to die unavenged.

"No, no; we've heard enough! Down with the bushrangers!" cried Tom,
yelling with exultation, and the crowd took up the cry and reechoed it.

"I have a proposition to make," cried Fred, and his loud voice was heard
above the tumult, and curiosity outweighed the thirst for vengeance.

"What's the proposition? spit it out!" shouted the crowd; "will you come
down liberal with stolen property?"

There was a general roar of laughter at th