o accept of bail, and I shall not alter my
determination, sir. I leave the prisoners in your hands, and you will
render a good account of them to me when I call for them."

The commissioner bowed coldly, and was about to return to his office
when Mr. Brown interrupted him.

"I am not a rich man, as you know," he said, "but I have a little
property, and it can readily be converted into cash. I will place five
thousand pounds in your hands for the appearance of these gentlemen, if
you will admit them to bail."

"And we will deposit half of that sum in addition to insure our
appearance," cried Fred, eagerly.

The commissioner shook his head, and already his foot was on the
doorstep, when Mr. Brown detained him.

"I shall be absent from Ballarat for four days," he said, testily.

"Where do you propose going?" inquired Mr. Sherwin, with a slight
indication of curiosity.

"To Melbourne, as fast as horse can carry me. I start immediately."

"May I ask for what object?"

"To lay this matter before his excellency the governor-general, and
obtain an order for the admission of the prisoners to bail, and the
detention of Follet for conspiracy. Michael, run to my office and bring
my best horse."

The policeman started on a run, and was lost to sight in a cloud of dust
that swept along the street. The commissioner looked slightly perplexed
and undecided. He was evidently taken by surprise at the position which
Mr. Brown had assumed.

"You cannot hope that the governor will rule contrary to my decision?"
Mr. Sherwin said.

"I know that he will. His excellency has too great an esteem for these
gentlemen to allow them to languish in prison when no stronger proof
than the story which a broken-down gambler can invent is urged as
evidence against them."

"Do you mean to say that the governor is acquainted with these (men, he
was intending to say, but altered it) _gentlemen_'?"

"So well that he has granted every request that they have made; and he
has even offered them commissions in the service in return for many acts
of bravery which they have performed."

Mr. Brown was right in the first instance; for the only requests that we
had ever made were for the pardons of Smith and the old convict.

"Are you sure that you are not mistaken?" inquired the commissioner,
with a sudden degree of interest that was quite refreshing, when
contrasted with his former indifference.

"I am so sure," Mr. Brown said, in answer to the co