“A brave man, to refuse to meet a grocery dealer,” my friend said, sarcastically; “I hope that the British army is not composed of such noble spirits as you; if it is assassination must be held in repute wherever there is a regiment.”

The colonel was too angry to reply, but I thought that he seemed ashamed of his late attempt on the life of my friend, for he sheathed his sword without seeking to again use it.

“You shall hear from me in the course of the day,” Kellum said, and without looking to the right or left he marched from the store, mounted his horse, and left our part of the town in peace.

“He is the most unscrupulous colonel in the English army,” the agent said, after we had got rid of our unwelcome visitors; “he is feared by his men, and disliked by his officers, and he was never yet quartered in a town without finding cause to quarrel with some of the inhabitants.  He has been sent here to crush this rebellion, and unless you shoot him he will do it, even if he has to shed torrents of blood.

“By the way,” the agent said, as he turned to leave the store, “the miners must have employed our countrymen to chop wood for them last night, if I might judge from appearances.”

“How so?”

“Why, haven’t you heard the news?” he asked, in surprise.

“No; what has transpired?”

“Why, the miners are building fortifications on Gravel Pit Hill, and last night the sound of axes was heard from dark until light.  A thousand trees were felled and trimmed, and cut into suitable lengths for a palisade, and even now men are at work digging holes in the sand to insert the ends of the timber.  The miners mean mischief, and we shall have a hot fight before long.”

“But why don’t the commissioner interfere, and prevent the men from continuing the work?” I asked.

“That is something that I cannot explain, although I have endeavored to solve the mystery.  The miners think that he is frightened, and therefore count on an easy victory.”

The agent bade us a good morning, and walked off to attend to his duties.

“Can’t you see through this seeming indifference?” asked Mr. Brown; “the commissioner has sent for artillery, and expects the arrival of the company in a day or two at farthest.  The palisade will afford but trifling resistance to a twelve pound cannon ball.  Besides, there is more glory for the officers if the miners are fortified.  Be assured that the commissioner winks at the operations of the disaffected, simply because he can crush them more effectually if cooped up, than displayed upon the plain.”

“But if the artillery were cut off and sent back to Melbourne with the loss of their guns, the miners would have the best of the bargain,” I suggested.

“By the Lord Harry, I never thought of that,” cried Mr. Brown, with enthusiasm; “that would be worth a careful consideration if Ross only could get the idea.  I’ve half a mind to suggest it to him.”