"Well, tell him to come in," I responded.
"He can't; he's 'ossback."
"And we are at breakfast," Fred cried.
"He's in a hurry."
"So are we."
"Will you come?"
"Certainly; after we have finished eating our breakfast."
The fellow uttered an oath, and withdrew his head to report to his superior officer. In a few minutes afterwards we heard the heavy steps of men approaching us, and looking up we saw the dark face of the commissioner, and the bull-dog countenance of Colonel Kellum, who had command of the military in Ballarat.
"Good morning, gentlemen," Fred said, rising, and placing chairs for our visitors.