The musicians, who had stopped playing upon our knocking, now made feeble signs of renewing their duties; but still the guests assembled did not remove their eyes from us, and we could see a number of them whisper to each other as though making inquiries as to whom we were.

I glanced around the room in hope of seeing Steel Spring, but that worthy was invisible; and I was just about to utter an anathema on his head when a door leading to the hall, or bar-room, opened, and that individual made his appearance.  He stopped for a moment to exchange a few words with Dan, and we could see that he was requesting the favor of a drink, and that he was promptly served, a sure sign that his credit was good, or that he had not run out of money.

CHAPTER LVI.

ADVENTURES CONTINUED.

“Come, ain’t you covies agoing to move along and get some lush, or is you goin’ to stand here all night, and hanged to you?” cried the doorkeeper, who had secured the door, and wanted to turn his attention to any amusement that might be going on, including that of being asked to drink by any good-natured bushranger present.

“Don’t you be in a hurry, you old grampus,” cried Mr. Brown, with a swagger and an indifferent look, as though he had been used to just such society as was present.  “We are strangers here, but we have lived in the bush for a few years, and knows a ‘Trap’ from an innocent.”

To even claim the title of a bushranger was sufficient to secure respect from the common thieves who congregated around Ballarat, as there was so much danger connected with the pursuit of a robber who was obliged to live in the bush, and rarely show his face, except to attack a train, that petty knaves were always awed when one of the fierce rovers of the prairies made his appearance and condescended to speak.  The doorkeeper’s manners underwent an instantaneous change, and from the fierce bully he softened to the fawning panderer.

“I axes yer pardon, gents, ’cos I didn’t know ye, and ’sposed you was sneaks from Melbourne.  Let me show you to a table, and supply you with lush, and (here the fellow’s voice subsided to a whisper) I knows the bottles that holds the best rum.”

“You’re the fellow for us,” cried the inspector, slapping him on his back with pretended frankness.  “Bring on the lush, and hang the expense.  We’re in for a time, and a jolly one at that.”

Our cicerone led us across the room, and while we were walking every eye was upon us, and the least hesitancy or timidity would have betrayed and brought the whole pack upon us before we were ready to receive them.  Therefore, without swaggering, or pretending to be very independent, we reached our allotted table, and called for three bottles of ale and three pipes.

Just then Dan called Steel Spring’s attention, and we could hear him inquire in a whisper if he knew us.  The long-legged scamp turned deliberately around, pretended to be surprised, hastily swallowed his rum, and then rushed towards us.