He ceased to speak, and placing his hand upon his breast, groaned as though suffering terrible pain.  The blood from his wound flowed on unceasingly.

“Cheer up, old friend,” I said, encouragingly.  “There is life still left, and we can get you on your feet in a few weeks by the aid of a doctor.  We will get a litter, and carry you to the store.”

Smith started in search of one, and left Mr. Brown and me to look after the wounded man.

“’Tis werry kind of you, but ’tis no use.”  Steel Spring whispered.  “I’ve got a load here that vill keep me quiet arter I’m dead.  I shan’t be able to steal then, ’cos gold vould be of no use to me vere I’m going.”

“If you want to save that covey’s life, you’d better make him hold his gab, and get him off the ground as soon as possible,” an English soldier said, stopping for a moment to examine our old companion’s wound, and then passing on with as much indifference as it was possible to manifest.

Luckily the litter arrived, and we managed to get Steel Spring on to it, and carried him to the store.  There was but little life in him, and that little we tried to retain, and consulted with the best doctor in Ballarat for that purpose.  The physician said that the ball would have to be extracted first, when the wound would heal of itself, if nothing in the shape of inflammation intervened, and to prove that he was right, probed the wound, started the bleeding afresh, and in less than an hour after the spy was carried to our store he was a corpse, and the doctor had sent in his bill for medical attendance, and charged in proportion to his ignorance, which was immense.

Leaving Smith to manufacture a coffin out of the spare boards and boxes which the store contained, Mr. Brown and myself started for the head quarters of the commissioner for the purpose of seeking an interview, and obtaining the release of Fred, who, I doubted not, would be set free in the morning, as no charge could be brought against him of a rebellious nature.

We found a guard of soldiers stationed around the house, and an eager and excited crowd was kept at a distance by a line of bayonets.  I saw that the miners were anxious to learn if any of their friends were wounded or taken prisoners, yet could obtain no satisfactory information, as all intercourse with those in custody was denied.

“Stand back, sir,” cried a sergeant, as Mr. Brown and myself pressed forward for the purpose of reaching the entrance to the building.

“Hullo, Richards! is that you?” Mr. Brown exclaimed, extending his hand.

“Ah, excuse me, sir; I didn’t recognize you.  Sorry to be obliged to stop you, sir, but have got positive orders to admit only those having business.”

“Then we are just the ones to pass, for we have business of importance with the commissioner.”

“Ah, that alters the case.  Pass in, gentlemen;” and as the soldiers lowered their bayonets, we slipped past them, and in a few minutes found ourselves in the ante-room of the commissioner.