red, cheerily; "we will go
at once, and you can read a few books that we own until we come back.
Rover will take care of you."

The hound stretched himself in the doorway, and showed his teeth as
though he understood the order, and was prepared to obey without
demurring.

I saw a slight frown gather upon the brow of the girl, and I read her
thoughts in a moment. She was asking herself if she would not have
possessed more power had she been dressed in female apparel and had
never sacrificed her hair. She passed her hand over her short locks two
or three times, and a sigh escaped her at the ravage which the scissors
had effected.

"Let us go," I said; and I urged my friend from a sight more dangerous
to him than a thousand pyramids of black snakes, and yet he was
unconscious of fear.

We directed our steps towards the residence of Mr. Brown, the inspector,
and were readily admitted to his presence. He was stretched upon his
bed, but was slowly recovering from the effect of his bruises, and was
quite cheerful over his bodily injuries.

He extended such a welcome to us as gratified our pride, yet did not
make us feel as though we were overpraised. We soon laid our business
before him, and he ordered a book containing a list of the tax-paying
miners of Ballarat to be brought, and which he consulted, for a few
minutes, in silence.

"There is no such name as Robert Herrets in the book, but there is a
Robert Henrets, and that may be the person you are in pursuit of. I will
ask if any of my men know the latter."

He touched a bell, and the policeman who was on duty at the door
entered.

"James," inquired the inspector, "do you know a miner here named Robert
Henrets?"

"Yes, sir; young fellow--sandy hair--blue eyes--scar over the left
one--saves his money--is doing well--never heard that he was a
suspicious character," answered the officer, promptly.

"Pshaw!" returned Mr. Brown, pettishly; "you think that every person I
ask about is a rogue; you are mistaken. Show these gentlemen to the
shaft that Henrets is sinking, or the mine that he is working, and
attend to their orders."

"Yes, sir; I know where he is; works the old 'Dugget mine;' smart
lad--makes money--pays his tax regular, and never growls 'cos he has
to."

"Then he is the only one at the mines," returned the inspector, good
humoredly, and we took our leave, fearful that he would begin a long
discussion on the merits and rights of taxation.

We had t