return from Snakes' Paradise. His bold,
confident air instantly deserted him, and he was as civil as I could
desire.

"O, I beg your pardon, sir--I did not see you before," he said, touching
his cap, with a military salute. "What can I do to serve you, sir?"

"You have my friend in custody. Of course, you recollect all the
instructions of the inspector."

"To be sure I do, sir. I think that there must be some mistake here, and
will instantly set him at liberty; but the miner who has dared to strike
him shall be punished."

"That is unnecessary, as he has already been handled rather roughly," I
said; and in a few words I explained to the policemen the origin of the
affair.

"Ah, yes, I see, you were quite right in what you have done, and I
regret that I didn't arrive on the ground before, to have saved you this
annoyance. Release that gentleman," the sergeant said, turning to his
men. "He is a friend of the inspector's."

The men obeyed without a word in opposition, and the crowd took courage
at the sight, and attempted a feeble applause.

"As for you, sir," the sergeant said, turning to the miner, who appeared
to be completely cowed by the array of force against him, and who
expected nothing less than a sentence of thirty days' hard work on the
roads for the part that he had taken in the fight, "you may thank these
gentlemen for their forbearance in not urging your punishment, which you
certainly deserve. Give the boy in charge of the gentlemen, and, mark
me, I shall have an eye on your future habits."

The poor lad, half crazed with delight, shed tears at his deliverance,
and declared that he would serve us to the best of his ability; while
the fellows who had used him so harshly sneaked to their tents without
uttering a word concerning their reputed robbery.

We thanked the sergeant for his interference, and with the lad walked to
our store--but after we were clear of the crowd the boy appeared to be
in a reflective mood, and scarcely exchanged a dozen words with us; and
even when we told him that he should live with us for the present, and
share our hard beds, his gratitude did not appear to be overpowering,
and he hung his head as though he was not worthy of so much attention.

CHAPTER XLV.

A YOUNG GIRL'S ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF HER LOVER.

We speedily prepared a good breakfast, and invited our _protege_ to
satisfy his appetite, for he looked hungry and appeared hungry; but to
our surprise he