“Escaped?” asked Steel Spring, with an injured look; “I’d scorn such a breach of confidence between gentlemen.  No, sir, I did not escape, but was pardoned for the service I’ve rendered my country.”

“And the bushrangers that Murden carried to Melbourne?” Fred asked, with some anxiety.

“Vell, they suffered for their crimes, and are all forgotten by this time,” replied the wretch, with a grin.

“Hanged?” I asked.

“Every mother’s son of ’em, and served ’em right, too.  Property is respected, nowadays, and a miner can travel all the way from Ballarat to Melbourne, and lose nothing if he’s got nothing to lose,” the grinning scamp replied.

“I’ve got a friend vid me,” Steel Spring said at length, “and perhaps you’d like to see him.”

“Who is he?” we asked.

“O, a man you used to know—­Murden I believe is his name, and he’s in some vay connected with the police force of Melbourne.”

The grinning rascal! he had been sent by our friend to notify us of his arrival, and that was the way he performed his duty.  But before we had time to administer to him a sound kicking, the lieutenant was with us.

We need not tell the reader that we welcomed him with our whole hearts, and that he appeared as delighted to see us as we were glad to see him.

“I have just arrived in time, I see,” Murden said, glancing at our supper, “and, by George, I’m glad that I’ve a place to rest to-night, for I’m tired.  We’ve been three days on the road, on horseback all the time, with the exception of a few hours during the extreme heat of noon.  Our animals got used up about five miles from Ballarat; so I footed it to town.  I suppose that you recollect that scamp,”—­pointing to Steel Spring, who bowed low at the compliment.  “I’ve taken him into my service on his promise to be of good behavior; but I don’t think that his word is to be relied on; so I cane him about once in twenty-four hours, to see if what little goodness there is in him cannot be brought out.”

Steel Spring shrugged his shoulders, as much as to say, There is no joke in what he is telling, as I can testify.

“But how came Steel Spring to find us first?” I asked.

“Well, when our horses broke down I sent him ahead to find out in what quarter of the town you were located, and I followed more leisurely.  The first policeman that I met directed me here, so that I found no difficulty, and was not compelled to wait for my notorati fellow-traveller at the cross-roads.”

“But how comes it that you are in citizen’s dress, instead of the blue uniform?”

“Ah, my boys, that is the secret; but as I have nothing to conceal from you, I will confess I am the bearer of secret despatches to the inspector of this district in relation to the mining tax.  But while I am talking, set Steel Spring at work cooking supper, for I am famished, and I suppose that he is also.”