ad the ring
manufactured in California expressly to order. I am certain that I am
correct, for when we passed this very stream, the owner requested me to
wear it while he bathed."

"But his name?" I asked.

"I only heard him called Edward by his companions; but I know that he
was an American, and he said he belonged in New York, or New England
city, I don't know which."

I could but smile at Smith's geography, although the scene before me was
not well calculated to provoke mirth. I sighed over the unhappy fate of
Edward, and handed the jewel to Murden, when he returned it, saying,--

"Keep it, my friend, and may you at some future day be enabled to trace
the family of the owner, and tell them of the sad fate which their
relative probably met."

[With this object in view, I have left the ring with the publishers of
the American Union, thinking that probably these sketches might attract
the attention of some person cognizant of the manufacture of the jewel,
and the rightful ownership. The publishers in Boston will be happy to
answer all questions concerning the property, and considering the scenes
which the ring has gone through, it may indeed be regarded as a
curiosity. I shall always retain the ring, and when I gaze at the
emblems which are engraved upon it, my thoughts will wander back to the
sad scenes which I witnessed while in Australia, and the violent death
of the wearer.]

"In with the bodies," cried Murden, "we have much to do before sunset."

As soon as the grave was filled in, the troop regained their former
jocularity, and they began dividing among themselves the property which
they had found upon the persons of the bushrangers.

The amount was not large, not more than a hundred pounds, yet Murden
received his share without a blush, appearing to think that he was doing
no more than his duty. Even the dead policeman was remembered, and as he
had left a widow in Melbourne, his portion was deposited with the
lieutenant, to be paid to her. As Fred and myself were offered our
portion, we declined, and begged that it might be given to the lady in
question, which action on our part raised us in the estimation of the
men immensely.

"Dare you venture across the prairie this forenoon?" asked Murden; "I
would not ask you, were it not necessary to use all despatch to reach
Melbourne as soon as possible; but to benefit you and your friends, the
convicts, I must get a sight of Darnley and his gang."

"If that