reluctantly
dispersed. They were as anxious to know the secret of the mystery as
their chief.

"Now, gentlemen," Mr. Brown said, with some severity, "I am waiting to
hear an account of your strange conduct."

"Do you recollect," Fred asked, "of being disguised as an old man, and
of asking two Americans what they thought of the annexation question?"

"Pshaw, that was a joke," he returned, pettishly.

"Do you recollect that you laughed quite heartily when we promised to
retaliate, and 'sell' you on the first favorable opportunity, and that
we were defied to do it?" Fred continued. Mr. Brown nodded.

"Well, then we are even," I said.

"I don't see that you are," the inspector, cried. "Here are two
notorious criminals who should be safely locked up, and yet you ask me
to spare them until morning. I know them both, and will pledge my word
that they have stolen more gold dust than any other two parties in
Australia."

"And I will pledge my word that I can't begin to prig with the head of
the police force in Ballarat," cried Murden, who could remain silent no
longer.

Mr. Brown sprang to his feet with indignation stamped upon every line of
his face, but before he could proceed to extremities, Murden threw off
his wig, unrolled his coat collar, and stood before the inspector as
lieutenant of the Melbourne police force, and consequently one grade
lower in rank than Mr. Brown.

"Murden," the inspector exclaimed, extending his hand in astonishment.

"That's me, Brown, and I beg that you will forgive me for my share of
this plot. It was to retaliate, I believe, for some joke that you
perpetrated a few days ago."

"Yes, but this matter is serious," Mr. Brown muttered.

"I grant that; especially when you spoke about my stealing. Faith, I
began to think that I should be the inmate of your town prison, before
long, unless I confessed."

"Well, perhaps I was rather fast in my charges; but you know that your
wig altered your face, and in fact, seeing you in company with this
notorious--"

Mr. Brown pointed to Steel Spring, and that worthy individual grinned
with delight at the excitement that he had created.

"Yes, I rather think that we have met afore," he said; "don't you
remember how you ran after me and my pal ven ve vere goin' to Sydney?"

"You scoundrel," replied the inspector, with some warmth, "I only wish
that I had the custody of you for a few months."

"I 'ave no doubt of it; but I shan't give you a chanc