We followed him into the store and closed the door; and while Fred was busy in lighting lamps, for the store was dark inside, he chatted as though his tongue had had a fast for a month, and was now making up for lost time.

“I had near about given you up for dead, and next week should have left the store in charge of Smith and started in search of you.  What detained you so long, and couldn’t you send me a few words?”

Then, not waiting for us to answer, he continued:—­

“I began to think that you had fallen victims to the bushrangers, for they are very bold lately, and more than one gang has ventured near the city with impunity, while the troubles are continuing.  The commissioner has been asked to despatch a force against them, but he has declined, on the ground that he can’t spare the men.”

“Then troubles continue to exist?” I asked.

“Never more serious than at present; and I expect that open war will be declared every day.  The miners have flatly refused to pay their thirty shillings per month for mining, and government insists that they shall.  Neither party feel like retreating from its position, although I candidly believe that if a good man was at the head of affairs this difficulty would be settled in twenty-four hours, and in a way satisfactory to the government and the miners.”

Even while Fred was entertaining us with news he was busily engaged in starting a fire in the stove for the purpose of preparing our breakfast.

“It is too late to hope to escape bloodshed,” Fred continued, “unless concessions are made on the part of the government, which are not looked for.  I am informed that the commissioner sends despatches to the governor-general every day, in which he represents the miners as on the point of yielding, and that energy and firmness are alone required to subdue them to his wishes, and prevent further outbreaks.  You see how shamefully he is misleading the government, for there are not two hundred men in Ballarat, exclusive of the police force, but who will fight against the tax.”

“How is it known that the commissioner sends such despatches?” I asked.

“Why, to tell you the truth,” said Fred, sinking his voice to a whisper, “a party of men ambushed the courier day before yesterday, and rifled his despatches.  The letters contained a request for more men and plenty of ammunition, and a hope to have the rebels suing for mercy in less than two weeks.”

“And how are our countrymen acting?” I asked.

“They are not so backward as I could wish,” replied Fred; “for they should remember that we are on a foreign soil, and that an active part is not required of us.  But few can withstand the flattery that has been brought to bear upon them, and as a general thing they are all arrayed with the miners.  Their rifles are wanted, and dreadful havoc they will make if blows are exchanged.”

“And you have taken no part in the question as yet?” Mr. Brown asked.