“You had better go in alone, for I can be of no service to you,” whispered Mr. Brown; and I felt the truth of the remark.

I boldly followed an officer into the commissioner’s room, and soon found myself in the presence of Kellum, the commissioner, and half a dozen captains and lieutenants.

“I tell you, that every dog of them should be shot, and then you’ll hear no more of taxes and rebellion.  That’s the way I’d punish treason, and it will be effectual.  We should have no more meetings and political speeches by men who don’t know what they are ranting about.  We have got the rebels at our feet.  Let us trample upon them.”

“It will not do,” replied the commissioner, mildly, with his usual crafty calculation.  “The home government will hear of the matter, and rake us over the coals for it.  Besides, the newspapers would raise a prodigious row, and then Parliament will have to appoint a commissioner of inquiry.  No, no; I’ve thought the matter over carefully, and I’m convinced that we should get awfully blackballed if we shoot the rascals, although”—­and he smiled and rubbed his hands with glee—­“I should like the sport.”

“Say but the word, and in fifteen minutes every dog of them shall be dead,” cried the colonel, who, having tasted blood, wished for more.

“No, no; let us send them to Melbourne, where a long imprisonment and low diet will be the fate of each.”

The colonel was about to make some observation, when an officer touched his elbow, and called his attention to me.

“Hullo, by G——­d, sir, how long have you been in this room?” he roared.

“I should judge about five minutes,” I replied, calmly.

“And your business here?” he demanded, fiercely; and I saw that he had not forgotten the blow which Fred dealt him the day before.

“My business is not with you, sir, but with this gentleman,” I replied, turning to the commissioner.

“Well, transact it, and be off.  If that sergeant admits another grocer, I’ll hang him before morning.”

I did not notice the sneer, but turned towards the commissioner, upon whom I hoped to make a favorable impression.

“I have called, sir, to see if I could not make arrangements for the release of my friend, who was taken into custody to-night, and who is innocent of any connection with this rebellion.”

“What arrangement do you wish to make?” the commissioner asked.

“I will give bonds to a large amount for his appearance at any time that you may appoint.”

“Why, the grocer thinks that he is in a court of law,” the colonel said, with a most insulting sneer.

“No, sir,” I replied, “I thought that I was in the presence of gentlemen.”

“None of your insolence here,” the bully roared, not liking the smile which he saw upon the faces of his officers.

“Insolence is but a poor weapon to gain a cause, and a gentleman should never use it unless to rebuke presumption,” I replied.