“Well, I’d like to have it take place immediately, but there’s no parson near,” replied Smith, with great deliberation and solemnity.

Like all lovers, he wished to hasten his fate, and have the affair off his mind.

“But what will you do with your wife while absent with a load at the mines?” I asked.

“O, we’ve fixed all that—­Becky and I have.  She will live at our house in Melbourne, where she can be nice and comfortable, until I’m rich enough to start some kind of business in the city, when I can remain at home and enjoy her society.”

I looked at the man, and actually compared him to a young lover, sighing at the first thoughts of his mistress, and picturing to himself how happy he could be with her in a cottage.

I filled my pipe afresh, and smoked for a few minutes in silence.

“Becky tells me that she took a fancy to me on the night that Gulpin assaulted the house.  She thought I acted like a man on that trying occasion.”  Ungrateful Beck, to thus forget the valuable services of Fred and myself.  Love had indeed blinded her, for all that was noble and generous was centred in Smith.

“Well, Smith,” I said, extending my hand, “I give you joy, and hope that nothing will ever occur to disturb your happiness.  I should like to be present at the ceremony, but I fear that it will be impossible.”

“I don’t know as it is so very difficult.  There are parsons at the mines, and Ballarat is nearer than Melbourne.”

I knew what he wanted me to do, but I feared that we should waste too much valuable time.  He looked hard at me to see if I was not intending to urge him to take the lady with us, but as I smoked on in silence, he did not continue the conversation.

We were all tired enough at sundown to stretch our weary limbs upon the ground, and endeavor to sleep in peace for one night.  To prevent our being surprised, sentinels were stationed around the hut, with orders to keep their eyes open, and report if any thing of a suspicious character was seen.

Whether they acted up to the orders is more than I know, but of one thing I’m positive.  After I rested my head upon my knapsack, I did not awaken until I felt a hand laid upon my shoulder, when, starting up, I found that Murden was standing by my side.

“Day is just breaking,” he said; “I am sorry to disturb you, but you know we must be on the march to Melbourne by sunrise.  Have breakfast with us for the last time, and then we’ll to the saddle.”

I could not resist the temptation, and when I had packed my blankets, I found that the policemen had nearly completed their arrangements for breakfast, and were feeding the prisoners with the remnants of last night’s repast.

Coffee was swallowed hastily, and then the clear, ringing notes of the bugle gave the signal for bringing up the horses.

“You surely don’t intend to make these poor devils walk all the way?” I asked of the lieutenant, just before he started.