“Some one is under the building,” whispered Fred.

Our store rested upon two small hillocks, which was an advantage during the wet season, for the water was all carried off towards the river, and the constructor of the store had rightly judged that it would flow under the building, and leave the front part perfectly dry.  It was, therefore, very easy for one or more persons to crawl along the rough gulf which the water coursed over, and stopping under the former, kindle a fire that would give us great difficulty to extinguish in the absence of engines and scarcity of water.

We all listened attentively, but no sound was heard, and we began to fear that the flames might already be kindled, and that the incendiaries had made their escape.  Smith and Murden agreed to creep down one side of the building, while Fred and myself undertook to guard the other.

With this understanding we parted company, and cautiously reached the gulf, so that we could look under the building, and there, sure enough, we saw that ample preparations had been made for smoking us out, for a pile of kindling nearly a foot high was raised, and two men, who, when they spoke, did so in whispers, were busy adding to it.

“There, there’s enough,” cried one, “to set fire to all the shanties in Ballarat.  Light the match, and let’s be off, or the dog will be snuffing around, and then we shall have the fellers about our ears.”

“Faith, there’s mighty little fear of that, for don’t you hear ’um snore as though they hadn’t slept a bit for a month.  Pile on the stuff, and let’s have a rousing fire while we are ’bout it,” replied the other; and his voice sounded familiar to us, although who the speaker was we had no idea.

“You forget that firewood is dear at Ballarat,” and he chuckled as he spoke, as though amused at the thought.

“Thin we’ll have it chaper before long,” returned the other; and by his language we knew that he was an Irishman.

They worked for a few seconds, and after a match was lighted and thrust into the pile of kindlings, and then the incendiaries crawled towards us as fast as possible, for the purpose of escaping, and getting clear of the flames, which already began to shoot up and crackle, as they gathered headway.

CHAPTER LI.

ATTEMPT TO BURN THE STORE.

As the heads of the incendiaries emerged from beneath the building, and even before they had time to gain a footing, we threw ourselves upon them, and pinned them to the earth in despite of the powerful struggles which they made to escape; failing in which, their hands sought for their knives, but we saw the movement, and succeeded in defeating it.

“Yield in peace,” cried Fred, “or you will fare worse,” addressing his antagonist, the Irishman, who replied with an oath, and a fierce thrust of a long knife.

“Is that your gratitude?” continued Fred, who easily avoided the meditated blow.  “Then I will begin in earnest.”