Murden, Wattles, Merriam, Doctor O’Haraty, and a dozen others, whose acquaintance we had cultivated during our brief residence in Melbourne, were assembled at “Smith’s villa,” and came to say farewell.

“You heard the word, gentlemen,” said Fred; “our leader says that he is ready, and we must not detain him.  We wish to place twenty-five miles between us and Melbourne before morning, and to do so requires an early start.  The next time we meet, I hope that our days will not be limited.  In the mean time, if any one present should visit Ballarat, don’t fail to make our tent his home.”

“Ballarat be blessed!” growled O’Haraty; “the idea of two dacent, sinsible people digging for gold, when there’s so much can be had without work.”

“I have only my left hand to offer you,” said Wattles, presenting it to Fred, “but my grasp is as friendly and sincere as though both were free.”

“Your arm is improving?” inquired Fred, who had not seen his adversary before, since the morning of the meeting.

“Thanks to the doctor, and your kindness in not aiming at a more vulnerable part, I shall soon be well.  Do we separate as friends?”

“I say yes, with all my heart,” cried Fred, eagerly.

Some one locked the door of “Smith’s villa,” and handed him the key, and then once more bidding good-by, the oxen were started, and in company with Murden, we soon reached the outskirts of the city.

It was past dusk when our friend, the police lieutenant, drew rein, and decided to return to the city.  We allowed Smith to continue on, while we stopped and chatted for a few moments.

Murden appeared sad at parting, and more than once he declared that he wished he was to accompany us, for now that we were to leave him, he should have no one who would enter into his adventures with the same degree of interest which we had shown.

“There is one question which we wish to ask, Murden,” I said, a few minutes before he left us.

“Name it,” he replied.

“How many of the bushrangers whom we captured have been condemned to death?”

“Why do you ask?” he inquired.

“Because you know that we have not been able to obtain any information on the subject.  A select few were admitted to see them; but they had no formal trial, that I am aware of.”

“You are right, they had no formal trial, and they did not deserve one.  The examination was secret, and even now not more than fifty people in Melbourne know that the bushrangers are dangling by their necks in the prison yard.

“All?” I cried, surprised at the secrecy which had been maintained.

“Not a man is now alive.  They rightly merited their fate, for their careers were stained with cruel crimes; and may God forgive them, for man would not.”

Murden wrung our hands, and the next instant he was galloping swiftly towards Melbourne.

We resumed our journey, feeling somewhat saddened by the intelligence which we had received; yet we felt that we had only done our duty in assisting in the arrest of the robbers, and with this conviction, we tried to banish the thoughts of their death.