“Ho, Bimbo,” he said, “show us where the stolen property is kept, and perhaps I may interfere to save your life.”

“So help me, God, lieutenant, I don’t know what you mean.  I never stole a single thing in my life.”

“Then how came you to be sent to Australia for ten years?” asked the officer, with a sneer.

“Because I was unjustly suspected, as I am now.  A man swore that I broke into a store when he knew I was nowhere near the building.”

“It won’t do, Bimbo,” replied the officer, sending the fellow back to his place.  “Remember, I have offered you a fair chance to act as a government witness, but you decline.”

I thought the follow had half a mind to confess, but he apparently considered the offer, and resolved to brave it out.

“Bring me a couple of hatchets,” Murden said to his men; and when they were brought he led the way to the hut, and began splitting the boards of the floor and removing them; but no signs of a cellar were discovered, and I began to think that the conversation must have reference to some other stock-house, when one of the men uttered an exclamation of surprise, and tearing up a board that was pinned against the wall, we saw a large hole, which, instead of being directly under the floor, extended beyond the sides of the hut, and formed a sort of magazine that could only be discovered by removing, as we had done, all the planks and timbers.

“Jump down, one of you,” said Murden, addressing his men.

An exclamation of surprise was uttered by the man that descended.

“Here’s a large room,” he shouted, “and nearly full of different articles.”

“Go and slip a pair of irons on Bimbo,” Murden said, turning to Maurice, “and chain him to the cart with the rest of the thieves.”

A moment after we could hear the prayers of the fellow as he was led to the cart, and his entreaties to speak with the lieutenant just for a moment.

“He is too late,” was all the remark that the officer vouchsafed upon being informed of Bimbo’s desire.

We entered the secret cellar, and then had the articles which were found there passed up for an examination.  Clothes, powder, and lead, liquors, boxes of pickles, preserved meats, China ginger, and other sweetmeats, and in fact it is hard to remember all the names of the different articles stored in that underground cell.  The collection looked as though it had been plundered from various teams on their way to the mines, and such we afterwards found to be the case; as Bimbo confessed that he had acted in the capacity of storekeeper for three or four years, and even before the mines were discovered he was in league with bushrangers, and always gave them information when he knew a party of policemen were on their trail.

There was another piece of information which Bimbo gave us, more pleasing than any thing which he had said.  By his directions, one of the men was set at work digging in the cellar, and after throwing up a few shovelfuls of earth, a canvas bag was reached, which proved to be remarkably heavy.  The men crowded around, wild with excitement, when Murden loosened the string tied around its mouth, and we all gave a shout when particles of gold dust were discovered, and a louder cheer when the lieutenant emptied into a basin about forty pounds of gold of the first quality.