“Now, my men, what do you wish?” asked the aid; and we knew by the tones of his voice that he possessed the spirit of a man, and would know how to appreciate the services which we were disposed to render.

“We accidentally overheard a remark from the governor, that there was no one in Melbourne who understood the working of your fire-engines, so we have come to volunteer our services,” Fred said, boldly.

“God bless me, but this is most extraordinary,” said the governor, turning to his suite for confirmation of his words.

“Have either of you ever been accustomed to the working of an engine?” asked the aid.

“We have both belonged to a volunteer fire department,” I said, “and if the machines are not entirely out of repair, we think that we can work them to advantage.”

“I was not aware that there was a volunteer system in England,” said the aid, whom we now understood was Colonel Hensen.  He spoke in a slightly sarcastic manner, as though he had caught us in a falsehood and was determined to fathom our motives.

“We were not speaking of England, sir,” I said, with some little asperity.

“Pray, what country do you allude to, then, if I may ask?” the colonel inquired.

“We meant our country, sir; we are not Englishmen, but Americans.”

I saw the frown vanish from the brow of Colonel Hensen, and a look of good nature passed over his face; but before he had an opportunity to speak, the governor had his eye-glass up, and exclaimed,—­

“God bless me, you don’t mean to say that because you are Americans you can extinguish this fire?  Pray, what part of the United States do you come from, that you possess such assurance?”

“We were both born within the shadow of Bunker Hill, your excellency, and that famous spot overlooks Boston, a city of some importance in America.”

I heard a good-natured laugh at Fred’s speech, although I was fearful that those present would not relish joking at their ancestors’ expense.  But I was mistaken; even the withered features of Mr. Latrobe relaxed their expression of distrust, and he cried, “God bless me,” and wrung his hands for a minute or two before he spoke.

“If these young men think they can do any good with the engines, why, God bless me, I don’t know but they had better take charge of them,” the governor said, after a brief survey of the fire, and seeing what headway it was making.

“I will answer for these two young men, your excellency,” said a deep voice, whose tones we recognized; and looking up, I found that our old acquaintance, the captain of police, had approached us, unseen, and overheard a part, of the discussion.

“Ha, captain,” cried the governor, “you don’t mean to say that you know these two persons?  God bless me, how singular.”

“Not very extraordinary, sir, when I tell you that these are the Americans whom I asked your excellency to receive to-day, and whose petition I hope you will grant,” replied the captain.