Three or four times did I pass over the ashes where the bodies of the dead bushrangers were burned, and yet I heard no indications from Steel Spring.  At last I set my compass, and walked in an exact south-eastern direction, about ten paces from the location of the hut, and within a dozen feet of the hole which we had already dug.

“Stop,” said the long-legged biped, “don’t move for your life!  Vait till I comes—­you’ve hit it for a farding.”

With springs which caused Rover to howl with jealousy, the fellow bounded over the bushes towards us, and in a minute’s time was beside me.

“Give me the shovel!” he cried, in an excited manner.  “I is certain that you is standing on the place.”

“Here is a shovel,” said Smith, with a wink of mischief at us; “let us see how soon you can bring the dust in sight.”

“It won’t take me long, I can tell you,” replied Steel Spring, throwing out a few shovels full and then pausing to rest, as though a new thought had entered his long head.

“Dig away,” yelled Smith, who was wielding a pickaxe with great effort.

“I was thinkin’ how much better I could direct than work,” said the cunning fellow, too lazy to dig.

“Then stand aside and give me the shovel,” cried Fred, impatiently.

Steel Spring willingly relinquished it, and pretending that he felt exceedingly nervous and faint, he squatted down upon the ground and watched with eager eyes every particle of dirt that was thrown from the hole.

Before we got fairly to work the sun had set, and the shades of night began to be thrown upon the dark forest of gum trees by which we were surrounded.  We had wasted so much time talking and listening to Steel Spring, that the afternoon had passed away almost imperceptibly.  To be caught in the woods over night was a joke which we did not care about indulging in, and we made strenuous exertions to complete our task before darkness had entirely set in.

Already had we piled up a large mound of earth, and excavated a hole big enough to bury an ox, and yet nothing was to be seen of the treasure; and as each additional shovel full of dirt was thrown up I began to grow discouraged, and felt that I had been deceived, and almost cursed the folly which led me to believe in the dying declaration of the bushranger.

“I don’t see any use in digging here,” said Smith, pausing, and wiping the perspiration from his heated brow; “the dirt we are removing now has not been disturbed since the formation of the island.  If there is any gold dust buried in this clearing, we must search in another direction.”

“But haven’t I told you that you was in the right spot?” ejaculated Steel Spring.

“Keep your advice for those who ask it,” returned Smith, bluntly, want of success having made him cross.

“Vell, haven’t you all been haxing me, and don’t I tell vere the money is?  If you ’spect to get it, you must vork.”