but in defiance of his cries he was handcuffed and driven
along with the rest.

We had got a few yards from the hut when Mrs. Judy appeared at the door,
looking a little the worse for her late usage. Her hair was hanging over
her shoulders, and her dress was torn in a dozen places. Both feet were
bare, and none too clean; but little she cared for her appearance just
then.

"For the love of St. Patrick, Mr. Inspector, stop a minute, and don't be
after carrying away Mike, the poor, harmless divil. Lave him here wid
me, and we'll pay the tax without a murmur."

"Too late," cried Mr. Brown, without turning his head, although I could
see that he was disposed to come to terms.

"Ough, don't say that, bless yer handsome face and yer kind heart. What
could I do, sure, widout me Mike? Lave him here wid me, and if the
blackguard has been insulting ye I'll punish him, depind upon it."

"It's not of your husband that we complain," the inspector said; "he
would act decently, and pay his tax, if you would let him."

"Ah, then--glory to God--poor Mike is safe; and I thought all along that
he wouldn't disgrace his Judy so much as to refuse what a just gentleman
like ye demands. Pay the officer the tax, and say no more about it. It's
but a trifle."

The sergeant looked at Mr. Brown, and the latter glanced at the
sergeant. There was but little use in making Mike work on the road, if
he had the money to pay for his month's mining; so a halt was called,
and the woman quickly poured out dust enough from a cracked teacup to
satisfy the demands of government, and then Mike was restored to the
dirty arms of his better half.

"I hope that all the taxes collected do not come as hard as this," Fred
said, addressing the inspector.

"They all pay out their money with an ill grace; but our worst cases,
with one exception, are over."

As we passed through the several districts, many of the miners stood
ready with their gold, and after answering to their names, paid their
taxes without a murmur; and even while disputes were going on, they did
not prevent the clerks who accompanied us from attending to their
duties.

All those who did not possess the cash were required to follow in our
train, as captives, to work out a certain amount on the roads. Men who
had been sick, and were incapable of raising ten shillings, were shown
no indulgence whatever; and although we often interceded, and our wishes
were granted in every case, yet we felt t