And it was well for us that assistance arrived, for human endurance could go no farther.  We felt as though about to suffocate, and should have fallen upon the bodies of those whom we were attempting to save had not the inspector and one of his men carried us forcibly from the room to the open air, where we quickly received aid by the influence of a bottle containing a quantity of Jamaica rum mixed with water.

While we stood watching the burning building, the inspector joined us.  His clothes were nearly burned from his back, and his hair was singed to a crisp, yet he made no complaint, nor appeared to regard his numerous burns.

“Rather a narrow escape this time,” he said; “a few minutes longer, and you would never have seen that Yankee land which you boast so much about.”

“We have to thank you for our rescue, and we will do so when you are prepared to listen,” Fred said.

“Then I shall never be ready.  Keep your thanks until I have repaid you a small portion of the debt of gratitude which I owe you for my life.  I am not forgetful, believe me.”

“I suppose that Mike told you about Jackson,” Mr. Brown continued, after a moment’s silence, during which we stood looking at the fire.

“He did not mention his name,” I replied; “he is safe, I trust.”

“Yes, his body is saved, but his soul is now before his God, to be judged and punished, or forgiven, as the Omnipotent may decree.”

“Dead!” we exclaimed, in astonishment

“When my men burst the door of the ‘Cricket,’ they discovered a body lying against it, with handcuffs on.  I was referred to, and found that it was Jackson.  A pistol ball had passed through his breast, and probably killed him instantly.  His body has been taken to the station house with the dead and wounded, where you can see it if you desire.”

But we had no desire for such a sight.  We had seen bloody deeds enough for one night, and we felt sick at the thought of what had occurred.

We bade the inspector good night, and wended our way home in a thoughtful mood.  The death of Jackson, we knew, would not prevent our being declared innocent, for Mr. Brown had heard his confession, as well as Steel Spring, although we knew that the latter would not be believed in a court of justice, even if he did speak the truth, which he was not addicted to.

We reached our store in safety, and found Rover watching by the side of our patient, Mr. Critchet, who appeared to have slept during our absence, and probably never knew that we left him for one of the most dangerous expeditions that we ever ventured on, during a lengthy residence in Australia.

The “Bloody Fight,” as it was called, and is called to this day, by those miners who were living at Ballarat at the time of its occurrence, created a profound sensation in the country; and Mr. Brown gained high encomiums for his bravery and good conduct in ridding the country of so many notorious characters at one fell swoop.