“I used to visit encampments, and load myself with every thing that I considered necessary for my happiness, and by such means I soon was enabled to dispense with my convict suit, which was calculated to attract more attention than was desirable.

“A number of miners must have been greatly astonished, upon awakening in the morning, to find that most of their stores were gone, and perhaps they attributed their disappearance to magic.  If they did they were wrong, for I hold myself personally responsible, and intend some day to settle for all that I took, and I will not only pay interest, but principal also.  Can any thing be more honorable?”

“But how are you to know whom to settle with?” demanded Fred.

“That is none of my business,” replied Steel Spring, with a cunning leer.  “It is sufficient for me to know that I am ready to settle when the bills are presented, and I don’t consider that I am bound to hunt all over the world for the purpose of finding my creditors.”

“Your ideas are certainly original, and deserving of consideration,” returned Fred, amused at the fellow’s impudence.  “But finish your history.”

“By such honorable means I was enabled to work my way along, striving to reach the mines, where I expected to earn an independence, when one day I fell in with a few notorious characters called bushrangers.  The villains searched me, expecting to find gold, thinking that a gentleman of my respectable appearance must be loaded with wealth; but for the honor of mankind I am glad to say that they didn’t get so much as a shilling piece.

“The robbers, intensely disgusted, swore that I must go with them, as their captain wanted a cook; and although I insisted that I was not qualified for the station which they intended to elevate me to, they only replied that I must either be hanged or work.  I need not tell you which I preferred.

“When I was taken prisoner I had a large supply of provisions on my back, and they asked me why I hadn’t stolen more while my hand was in.  In vain I protested that I was innocent of crime.  I was laughed at and marched off towards this forest, when their renowned captain was introduced to me, and who should he prove to be but my old friend, Jim Gulpin.

“Of course, I was at home at once, and for many months I shared the meals and confidence of my illustrious commander; but at length getting dissatisfied with my share of the prize money, I procured a dishonorable discharge, and went off to the mines in the night time, where I managed to subsist by my honesty.”

“You mean,” replied Smith, “that you were afraid of being dishonest, as the miners have a summary method of disposing of thieves.”

Steel Spring grinned, as though he didn’t wish to gainsay the truth of the remark.

“But about the buried money.  You have said nothing about that,” I observed.