“And I will pledge my word that I can’t begin to prig with the head of the police force in Ballarat,” cried Murden, who could remain silent no longer.

Mr. Brown sprang to his feet with indignation stamped upon every line of his face, but before he could proceed to extremities, Murden threw off his wig, unrolled his coat collar, and stood before the inspector as lieutenant of the Melbourne police force, and consequently one grade lower in rank than Mr. Brown.

“Murden,” the inspector exclaimed, extending his hand in astonishment.

“That’s me, Brown, and I beg that you will forgive me for my share of this plot.  It was to retaliate, I believe, for some joke that you perpetrated a few days ago.”

“Yes, but this matter is serious,” Mr. Brown muttered.

“I grant that; especially when you spoke about my stealing.  Faith, I began to think that I should be the inmate of your town prison, before long, unless I confessed.”

“Well, perhaps I was rather fast in my charges; but you know that your wig altered your face, and in fact, seeing you in company with this notorious—­”

Mr. Brown pointed to Steel Spring, and that worthy individual grinned with delight at the excitement that he had created.

“Yes, I rather think that we have met afore,” he said; “don’t you remember how you ran after me and my pal ven ve vere goin’ to Sydney?”

“You scoundrel,” replied the inspector, with some warmth, “I only wish that I had the custody of you for a few months.”

“I ’ave no doubt of it; but I shan’t give you a chance now.  I’ve turned ’onest, and intends to lead a different life.”  And Steel Spring grinned in triumph, and opened and shut his long, flexible limbs with wonderful dexterity.

“You turned honest!” muttered the inspector, with an incredulous glance.

“That’s the vay that ve is doubted,” whined the treacherous scamp, wiping his eyes, and pretending to feel as though his heart was broken; “ven ve leaves off our bad vays, and becomes associates for the police, then ve is suspected of being bad.  There’s precious little ’couragement for us.”

“Don’t be too hard on the lad,” the lieutenant said, “for he helped us convict half a dozen of the worst bushrangers in the country, a few weeks ago, and he saved his own life by—­”

“Turning government evidence, I’ll be sworn,” cried the inspector, eagerly.

The lieutenant nodded, and continued, “Two or three of the fellows tried to get clear, on the ground that they were prisoners in the hands of the bushrangers, and I’ll confess that the plea was having a telling effect on the jury; but when Steel Spring opened his mouth, he brought them.”

“And didn’t you tell me how to swear, and didn’t I do it?” the wretch exclaimed, triumphantly.

“Silence, you fool!” and Steel Spring, obedient as a dog, held his tongue.

“The fact of it is,” Murden said, after a pause, “the government has granted the fellow a full pardon, and I have taken him into my service for the present, in hopes that his reformation will be complete.”