hale, hearty
Englishman.

"Hullo, Murden," he said; "what have you been doing to thus set the city
on fire? Is the news true, that you have had several engagements with
Darnley and Gulpin's gangs, and came out best?"

"Yes, sir," replied the lieutenant, touching his cap with an air of
respect; "I am happy to report that both Darnley and Gulpin are dead,
and that their gangs are either killed or prisoners."

"Why, you have done yourself and the police force great credit, Murden,
and I must talk with the lieutenant-governor about settling a pension on
you. But how is this--do you let your prisoners go at large?" and the
speaker pointed to Fred and myself with his riding whip.

"Your pardon, captain," replied Murden, "but those two gentlemen are
Americans, and volunteers of my force, and without their aid I should
have come back as wise as I went."

"Where did you pick them up?" I heard the police captain ask, in a half
whisper, as he rode beside the lieutenant.

"Hush, sir," we understood Murden to reply; "they are easy to take
offence, and are different from the majority of people who visit
Australia in search of gold."

"Americans, did you say?" the captain repeated; and as he glanced at us
from the corner of his eye, I heard him mutter, "They are not dressed
exactly in dinner costume, but there's a plucky look about the fellows
that I like, after all."

"I'm sure you'll like them, sir, after you've seen something of their
Yankee shrewdness," replied Murden; "if we could only get them to accept
of commissions in the police service, I'd pledge my pay for a year that
we'd free this part of the country of bushrangers in less than six
months."

"But won't they join?" inquired the captain, turning completely round in
his saddle, where he was riding in advance of us, to get a look at our
faces.

"I am afraid not," replied Murden; "they have got their American ideas
of independence, and are as firm set in their notions as our
countrymen."

"I'll have them yet," returned the captain. "I'll have them dressed up
and presented to Latrobe; he is an old courtier, and can wheedle the
devil with his tongue. When we reach the city, see that they are clothed
in decent suits, and are provided for."

Fred, who was riding by my side, overheard the conversation as well as
myself. We looked at each other and smiled, and thought how little the
captain knew of the American character, if he thought, we intended to
depend upon