held their guns in the same position.

"What is going on?" I asked of a fellow who stood looking at the scene
with open mouth.

"Can't you see for yourselves?" was the prompt reply, and the answer was
delivered without deigning to turn his head.

"You might be civil, at any rate," I replied, half a mind to kick him
for his impertinence to us.

"Don't come round 'ere bothering me, young men," said the fellow, with a
wave of his hand, as though desirous of cutting short the conversation.

I thought that I recognized the voice, although I was not certain.
Neither had I seen the fellow's face, except by profile, so I just laid
a hand upon his shoulder, gave him a whirl and brought him to the right
about face. My suspicions were verified; I stood face to face with my
old rascally friend, Steel Spring.

"Why, you scamp, where did you come from?" I asked.

"That's the vay vid the vorld," the fellow said, putting one hand to his
eyes as though overcome by the unexpected interview; "a covey tries to
be honest, and get a honest livin', but up comes somebody vot has been
concerned vid him in the grab line, and insists upon being acquainted.
I'll leave this 'ere country, I vill."

"Why, you rascal!" exclaimed the ex-inspector, "I've a good mind to lock
you up until you eat humble pie for six weeks to come."

"No, you don't," replied Steel Spring, with a chuckle, "'cos you ain't
inspector no more, no how, and you can't lock a covey up, and you know
it."

"He has you there, Mr. Brown," I remarked, and it pleased Steel Spring
so much that he condescended to regard us with a little more favor.

"If he has," replied Mr. Brown, "I've got him on another tack that would
give him trouble. Come, tell us what you are doing here."

"Can't you see?" he answered, impudently. "I'm looking at that awkward
squad of miners drilling, and pretty bad vork they make of it."

"But are you in the breaking and entering line, or the pickpocket
business?" Mr. Brown asked.

"I don't answer any questions vot reflects on my honor as a gentleman,"
Steel Spring replied.

"But you can tell us what occasioned you to leave the service of
Lieutenant Murden, can't you?" I remarked.

"I could tell, but I don't choose to."

"Very well," was the significant remark of my friend, "I know of a few
_knucks_ who are in town, and whom you were the means of burning out a
few months since. I am not in the police department at present, and
can't harm you, bu