in not meeting with an assortment.

"We shall be happy to serve you in a few days," Fred said. "Our stock is
on the road, and will he here shortly."

"Vell, I guess I can vait," returned a voice that sounded familiar, and
our visitor removed his hat and revealed the not over-pleasing
countenance of Steel Spring.

We could hardly believe the evidence of our senses, yet there stood the
cunning scamp before us, with his long limbs and lank body, as supple as
ever, and grinning with delight at our astonishment.

"I 'ope you've not forgotten old friends," he said, extending his hand,
which neither of us accepted, but which act did not discompose him in
the least; for he only grinned the harder, and appeared to look upon our
refusal as a matter of course. "Where did you come from?" I asked, as
soon as I recovered from my astonishment.

"The old place--Melbourne; 'ave 'ad lots of fun there, but thought I'd
look at the country for a change of air. Can't stay long, though; so
don't press me to stop over a week."

"You certainly have lost none of your impudence by residing at
Melbourne," Fred replied, and the fellow grinned at the compliment. "But
tell us how you escaped from prison," Fred continued.

"Escaped?" asked Steel Spring, with an injured look; "I'd scorn such a
breach of confidence between gentlemen. No, sir, I did not escape, but
was pardoned for the service I've rendered my country."

"And the bushrangers that Murden carried to Melbourne?" Fred asked, with
some anxiety.

"Vell, they suffered for their crimes, and are all forgotten by this
time," replied the wretch, with a grin.

"Hanged?" I asked.

"Every mother's son of 'em, and served 'em right, too. Property is
respected, nowadays, and a miner can travel all the way from Ballarat to
Melbourne, and lose nothing if he's got nothing to lose," the grinning
scamp replied.

"I've got a friend vid me," Steel Spring said at length, "and perhaps
you'd like to see him."

"Who is he?" we asked.

"O, a man you used to know--Murden I believe is his name, and he's in
some vay connected with the police force of Melbourne."

The grinning rascal! he had been sent by our friend to notify us of his
arrival, and that was the way he performed his duty. But before we had
time to administer to him a sound kicking, the lieutenant was with us.

We need not tell the reader that we welcomed him with our whole hearts,
and that he appeared as delighted to see us as we were