“What do you intend to do now, that you have finished our job?” I asked of Steel Spring, after he had refreshed his inner man with a drink of what he most loved on earth.

“I start for Melbourne within an hour,” he answered promptly.

“Why do you leave so suddenly?” I inquired.

“I has my reasons, but I don’t mind telling ’em to you.  In the first place, three or four fellers made their ’scape from the ‘Cricket’ afore the fighting began, and it’s quite likely that my company vill be desired by the gents, on the ground that I vos the one vot betrayed ’em.  I know that you will consider it strange that such an idea should exist, and any one wid half a knowledge of my character vould laugh at the thought; but I think that the best vay to save my life vould be to step out vile I am hable, and so prevent mistakes.”

“And what reward do you require for your valuable services?” I demanded, after commending him for his prudence in leaving town so soon, to escape the thrust of a long knife, or a pistol shot.

“Vell, I’s one of the most bashful men in that respect that ever lived, and couldn’t think of naming a sum, and should be glad to make you a present of the trifle, but money is a scarce article vid me, and so say fifty pounds, and don’t think that I’m hard on ye.”

We made no objection to the proposed sum; and while Fred was counting, out his money in sovereigns, for Steel Spring entertained a profound disgust for gold dust, because he couldn’t pay for drinks without a loss to himself, I sat down and scribbled a few lines to Murden, telling him the result of our expedition, and thanking him for the kind, but somewhat deceptive letter which he had forwarded to the commissioner, relative to ourselves, and after intrusting the missive to Steel Spring, and loading him with provisions sufficient to last him to Melbourne, we saw him start on his journey, profuse in his thanks, loud in his professions of leading as honest a life as his near connection with the police would let him.

The next day we saw the commissioner in company with Mr. Brown, and re-told the story which Jackson had told previous to his death.  Mr. Sherwin professed that he was entirely satisfied of our innocence, ordered our names to be struck from the docket, and excused our bondsman (the inspector) from being responsible for our appearance, but insisted upon retaining Follet in custody until his uncle’s injuries terminated one way or the other.

He was not kept long in suspense, for the morning after our visit, very unexpectedly, Mr. Critchet opened his eyes, and began talking in a rational manner; and although he was weak from the effect of his fever, yet he gained strength sufficient in two days to sit up, and give a clear and impartial account of the attempt to rob and murder him.

I remember the day on which his recovery was dated.  I was sitting by Mr. Critchet’s side, while Fred was dozing away the afternoon in the shop.  The invalid opened his eyes, looked around the room in which he was lying, and then stared at me in some astonishment, as though wondering how it happened that he had been sleeping under the roof of a house, instead of his tent.