Steel Spring understood the meaning of the language used, and he saw that he had men to deal with who were not disposed to submit to his demands and impudence, as he supposed they would.  His confident air was gone, and an abject one assumed its place.

“Last night,” he commenced, “I vas sitting vid a few coves in Dan’s crib, talking flash, ven von of ’em mentioned the case which I is hunting up.  I pretended that I didn’t, know vot vas meant, and axed in a careless sort of vay for the particulars.  One of the coves tells me how old Critchet got lammed, and then said that the coves didn’t get anything, ’cos the old feller had carried all of his money to the government office, and took a paper for the amount.  I axed him how he knowed, and he said he seed the old cock lugging the dust to the office, and followed him, thinking that if he could get a chance he would crack him over his head, and make a raise.  I didn’t make many ’quiries, ’cos I thought I vould vate a little vile until I got ’quainted.”

“And was there any thing said about the parties who committed the outrage?” I asked.

“There vas a few hints, but not enough to give me a hold.  However, von of the chaps said that he would show me a man vot helped in the business to-morrow night, if I vished.”

“And what answer did you make?” we inquired eagerly.

“I said that I thought he would make a good pal for the bush, and that I would like to know him, and talk the matter over with a few good ones vot I had already spoken to.”

“And what do you propose to do in case the assassin meets you?” we demanded.

“Get him to talk of the matter—­praise him for his courage, make him boast of it, and then nab him, and vere is he?  Ve have the feller fast and no mistake, and vether the old gent lives or dies ve don’t care, ’cos ve shows the commissioner that you’re hinnocent.”

“How many men will be required to act as you state?” we asked.

“As few as possible,” responded Steel Spring, promptly; “three besides myself.  Say Mr. Brown and both of you.”

We knew enough of Dan’s crib to be certain that, if an attempt was made to arrest a noted character, there would be a struggle, and possibly bloodshed; and we had seen too many desperate battles not to know that a shot can be fired by a pretended friend with more coolness than an enemy, and no one the wiser for it.  I scrutinized Steel Spring’s face to see if I could read his thoughts, but nature had given him eyes of such a peculiar hue and shape that I was baffled in my attempt.

“Do you mean honestly to assist us if we agree to your plans?” I asked.

“So help me Heaven,” he cried; and one of his hands was raised as though swearing to the truth of his words.

“We want no oaths, because we know the value that you place upon them; but let me impress upon your mind that to-morrow night we will accompany you—­that each of us intends to carry a revolver, (and you know what execution we can do with them,) and the first shot fired shall be at your body if we see any signs of treachery.  Now go, and meet us to-morrow night at any time you see proper.”