The escort of policemen cleared the crowd, who stopped to gaze and ask questions, and as the former advanced with their heavy horses and drawn sabres, the latter receded to the right and left, leaving a space for the procession to pass.
Down through Collins Street we went, every window on the thoroughfare filled with eager faces anxious to get a sight of the novel procession, and I don't know how many times Fred and I were pointed at by women, who appeared to possess as much curiosity to see murderers as the sterner sex, and called us bushrangers and villains; and once we were hooted at by an excitable old lady, who did not for a long time discover her mistake; and Smith afterwards told us in confidence, that he heard her muttering, that if we were not bushrangers, our countenances belied us shamefully, and she would not like to trust herself with us, after dark.
"Where do you intend to confine the prisoners, sir?" asked Murden of his captain.
"At the barracks; as I consider them safer than the jail at the present time," replied the captain of police.
"Why safer now than at any other time, sir?" inquired the lieutenant.
"Because, I do not know how many of the faces which I see around me may belong to men who have an interest in the escape of the bushrangers. Since you have been gone some strange things have come to light, and I am induced to believe that men living here under our protection, and trusted with our secrets, have been in league with the robbers of the plains for months. How have the bushrangers always known when an expedition was to be started for their extermination, and so faced it, or kept out of the way, according to the numbers we sent, unless word was carried by people who had our confidence? Be assured, Murden, that as patriotic and great as we may think ourselves, there are those in our midst, and, I believe, high in power, who do not scruple to accept of bribes, even if the gold which is offered is stained with blood."
I thought, the lieutenant's cheeks blanched a shade paler than their wont, and I imagined, considering he had a few hundred pounds' worth of gold dust in his pockets, which formerly belonged to some honest man, that he would get confused, and confess to the secret hoard which we had discovered; but to my surprise he did no such thing, and returned an answer that elicited my unbounded admiration, it was so cool.
"We must ferret out the parties," he said, in reply to his superior, "and make an example, and that will strike terror to the hearts of those disposed to accept bribes, hereafter."
"We will talk of this another time," replied the captain; "I feel now so rejoiced to think that we have secured a number of bushrangers, that I can hardly talk on any other subject. It was only last night Latrobe sent for me, and wanted to know why I had done nothing towards rendering a passage to the mines safe? The old fool! Why don't he send a company of his idle soldiers to scour the country, if he thinks it is so very easy to find those devils incarnate—the bushrangers?"
"Perhaps he keeps them in Melbourne because he has fears of his own safety," replied the lieutenant, laughing.
"Perhaps so; but I'd rather trust to my police force than all the soldiers in Australia. I suppose your two American friends will share in the reward which has been offered?"
"I hope so, for right well do they deserve it," replied Murden, heartily.
The multitude moved to and fro, and struggled to get glimpses of the bushrangers in the cart, and a number of times the police were obliged to strike those who pressed too near with the flat of their sabres, as a slight rebuke for their curiosity; but with all the struggling I heard no angry words pass, and for so large a crowd, it was the best natured one I ever saw.
We drew up before a substantial-looking building, with an open square in front, where a company of soldiers were parading.
A large gate was opened for our admission, and as soon as our party had entered, it was shut and bolted, and the crowd excluded, although many crawled upon the walls and sat there patiently, until the bushrangers were placed under lock and key, in a strong dungeon, where hardly a ray of light penetrated. A guard was stationed before the door with orders to allow no one to converse with those inside, and then, for the first time for many days, I and my friend found ourselves at liberty.
"Come," whispered Smith, "place your arms in the cart and we will go home. There is nothing further for us to do."
"Hullo," we heard Murden shout, "where are you going to?"
We waited for a moment, until he, in company with the captain, came within speaking distance, and then we replied—
"We are going where we can get shelter and something to eat."
"Take them to the station, Murden, and let them stop there for the night, and see that they have something to eat. To-morrow we will see what we can do for them."
"We are able to take care of ourselves, sir," replied Fred, haughtily, "and do not need the charities of a station house. When we do we will let you know."
I saw the face of the captain turn a deep purple, as we continued our walk, and I was not surprised to hear him thunder out—
"Stop, sir; I wish to speak further with you."
"Any communication that you may have to make, we shall be pleased to listen to, sir," I answered.
For the space of a minute the captain surveyed us from head to foot, as though hardly knowing whether to be pleased or offended at our dignity; but at length he exclaimed—
"Who, in the devil's name, are you?"
"We are happy to say that we are Americans," rejoined Fred, straightening his muscular form, and looking as proud of the title as a senator just elected to congress.
"Blast it, that is not what I mean. Are you born gentlemen?" pettishly exclaimed the captain.
"No one can be born gentle, but every man an be a gentleman if he but studies the courtesies of life," remarked Fred.
"And have you so studied?" asked the captain, with a smile.
"All Americans study," replied Fred, "though perhaps no two are alike. We try to be civil and attentive to all, and those qualities will pass for good breeding all the world over."
"By heavens, you are right," cried the captain, with genuine English bluffness, "and I should have known better than to have thought you would have accepted of a bed at the station house. Come with me, and make my house your home. I assure you both a welcome."
"You will excuse us, but we made an engagement before we entered the city to stop at Smith's house, and we told him to rely upon our word."
"And do you prefer his company to mine?" asked the captain, with astonishment.
"We are better acquainted with him," Fred said, evasively.
"But the man has been convicted as a felon and is only at liberty now on parole."
"He has atoned for his fault, and has shown himself a brave man," I replied.
"But with one word I can order him to prison again, and make him serve out his sentence."
"You would not think of doing such an unkind act, I know," rejoined Fred, with a smile.
"I don't know but I shall have to for no other reason than to get his company away," said the captain, smiling; "you will pardon me if I misjudged you both on account of your dress; we have many strangers landing at our port, and if they disguise themselves in the clothing of workmen, they must not feel slighted if they are taken for such."
"We are but workmen," I replied, "and to prove it, I will commence now. You have it in your power to help confer a benefit, and I mean to work until I get your consent to the scheme."
"Pray, what is it, sir? Any thing in my power I will do willingly."
"We