"What do you say to that, Jack?" said Harry, turning to his companion;"nearly eight hundred dollars in a month."
"That pays better than being a sailor," answered Jack, smiling.
"I should say it did."
"When do you expect to start?" asked the stranger.
"As soon as we can get ready," Harry replied.
"You are right there. Have you got money?"
"Why?" asked Harry rather suspiciously.
"It will cost something for an outfit."
"Yes; we have a moderate sum with us."
"That is well," said the stranger approvingly. "Do you know," hecontinued meditatively, "I have a great mind to go with you?"
"Then you are not satisfied with your pile?" said Harry.
"There's very little left of it," said their new acquaintance.
"You haven't spent a hundred and fifty pounds in a month?" said Harry insurprise.
"Pretty much. I may have twenty pounds left."
"You must have been living high, then."
"No. I have lived plainly, but the faro table has taken most of it. I'mso near broke that I may as well go back to the mines for a fresh supplybefore my money is all gone."
"We shall be glad of your company, sir. May I ask if you are anAustralian?"
"I was born in England, but I have been out here half a dozen years."
"And have not made your fortune yet?"
"It is my own fault. I have been unable to keep money after I got it."
"We are from America."
"I surmised it," said the stranger. "That is a country I want to visitbefore I die. You have mines there, too."
"Yes, but they are a long way from where we live."
"My name is Fletcher--Dick Fletcher my friends call me."
"I am Harry Vane, and my friend is Jack Pendleton."
"We will drink to our better acquaintance. Here, John," addressing thebarkeeper, "three glasses of ale here."
"If you won't mind, Jack and I will take sarsaparilla."
Fletcher stared at them in amazement.
"You don't drink ale?" he said.
"We belong to the temperance society," said Harry, smiling.
"You won't keep that up long at the mines," said Fletcher, shrugging hisshoulders.
Harry did not reply, but quietly resolved that he would disprove thatstatement.
CHAPTER III.
FLETCHER ACTS SUSPICIOUSLY.
One circumstance led Harry to hurry his intended departure. He found tohis dismay that the hotel charge for their very plain accommodations wasa pound a day for each of them. The Crown inn was what would be calledin an American city a one-horse hotel. There are plenty such to be foundin the United States where the rate charged is but a dollar a day. ButMelbourne was full of strangers, drawn thither by flaming accounts ofthe richness of the mines and the bright prospects of acquiring suddenfortunes, and war prices were prevalent everywhere.
"Five dollars a day!" exclaimed Jack in open-eyed amazement. "Do theytake us for millionaires?"
"I began to think they were imposing upon us," said Harry, "till I madeinquiries elsewhere. I find a pound a day is about the usual tariff forsuch accommodations as we have."
"But we have only a small bedroom, and the meals are very common."
"That is true, but it seems to make no difference."
"Our money will soon be gone at that rate," said Jack soberly. "Mine isalready gone."
"No, it isn't, Jack. We are going to share and share alike, you know."
"But that is imposing on you, Harry," protested the young sailorearnestly.
"Let me judge of that, Jack; I'd a good deal rather have your companyand half of the money than be alone and have the whole."
"Thank you, Harry. You are a true friend. I can't do much for you, butI'll do what I can."
"If I had known of the high prices, I would have drawn more money fromthe professor," continued Harry. "However, I can make this do. But Iwant to start to-morrow, if possible. We shall then be owing four days'board each, and that will make forty dollars."
At this point Fletcher joined them.
"By the way," said he nonchalantly, "I want to ask a little favor."
"What is it?" asked Harry unsuspiciously.
"I am rather short of money. Can you lend me five pounds?"
Jack looked at Harry in alarm. He was afraid Harry would grant thefavor, knowing his obliging disposition. But he didn't know our hero.Harry was ready to do anything for a near friend, but he was too prudentto waste his money on acquaintances who had no sort of claim on him.
"I am sorry to refuse, Mr. Fletcher," he said, "but Jack and I areourselves very poorly provided with money, and just before you came inwe were considering how we could manage to pay for the necessaryoutfit."
"Haven't you got five pounds?" asked Fletcher quickly.
"Of course we have, or we should be unable to get to the mines."
"Then I think you might oblige me," he continued, looking very muchdispleased.
"I am the best judge of my circumstances," said Harry shortly.
Fletcher looked hard at him, and saw that the boy he had to deal withhad a mind of his own, and was not to be imposed upon easily. Still hemade a farther effort.
"Then I think," he said coldly, "I shall not be able to assist you inyour preparations."
"Just as you please," answered Harry promptly. "As you volunteered, Iaccepted your proposal. Now I will act for myself. I have heard of aparty about to start, and I will arrange to join it."
Fletcher felt that he was outgeneralled. He did not mean to let Harryand Jack slip through his fingers, for he had an idea, notwithstandingHarry's disclaimer, that he had a large sum of money, and thought hewould be a good party to hang on to. He saw that he had made a falsemove, and hastened to repair it.
"Excuse me," he said, assuming a hearty tone; "I was hasty, and Iapologize. You are right, and I like you too well to cut up rough, justbecause you can't do me a favor. There, take my hand, and we will makeit all up."
"With pleasure," answered Harry, as he accepted the proffered hand, andJack followed his example. Nevertheless Fletcher's demand had producedan unpleasant effect upon him. The coarse-grained selfishness of the manhad shown through his outward varnish of good-fellowship, and he feltthat henceforth he must be on his guard.
"I may have to ask for some money, however," continued Fletcher, in anoff-hand manner, "for it is necessary to buy supplies for our journey.You know we shan't be able to put up at hotels on our way, but mustfurnish our own meals."
"So I have heard," answered Harry. "What is it customary to take?"
"Well, it will be best to buy a bag of coffee, a sack of flour, someship biscuits, potatoes, and sugar. That will do to start on, and weshall vary our diet by what we are able to kill on the way."
"What can we kill?"
"Well, kangaroo meat isn't bad, and we can bring down a few birdsoccasionally."
"Then we shall need guns?"
"Yes, it will be well to have them."
This was another expense upon which Harry had not calculated. He beganto think that he had been very improvident. The professor would readilyhave left him a hundred dollars more, and as it would have been repaidwith his own money, he was sorry he had not availed himself of it.
"How much do you think the supplies will cost?" asked Harry.
"Well, you had better let me have ten pounds. I think that will besufficient."
"For the whole or for our share?" asked Harry pointedly.
"For your share," answered Fletcher after a pause. "It seems to me youare very suspicious."
Really he had intended to make the two boys pay for the whole stock ofprovisions and save his own purse, for he had in reality as much moneyas they.
"I only wanted to understand clearly," said Harry quietly. "As we are insome sort partners, that is fair, is it not?"
"Oh, yes," returned Fletcher, but he did not respond with any alacrity."I'm always
fair and above board, I am. No man can say that DickFletcher ever tried to get the best of him. Why, if I was better fixed Iwouldn't let you two boys pay a cent. I'd shoulder the whole thingmyself."
"Your offer is a very kind one, Mr. Fletcher----"
"Don't say Mr. Fletcher; call me Dick," interrupted their newacquaintance.
"I will if you wish it, though as you are so much older, it hardly seemsproper. What I was going to say was that Jack and myself are determinedto pay our share. We couldn't accept any such favor as you mention."
"That's all right. Now, if you let me have the ten pounds I'll take allthe trouble off your hands, and have everything ready for a startto-morrow morning."
"I would prefer to go with you and help select the articles."
Fletcher looked disconcerted.
"Oh, well, if you think I aint capable----" he began.
"I think nothing of the kind, but I want to learn as much as I can. Imay have to do it alone some time."
It was well Harry adhered to his determination. It saved him threepounds, and Fletcher was forced to pay his share, as he had not intendedto do. While they were making purchases they were accosted by a tallloose-jointed man, whom it was easy to recognize as a Yankee.
"Goin' to the mines, boys?" he asked in a strong nasal tone.
"Yes," answered Harry.
"So am I. I'd like to hook on to your party if you aint no objections."
For some reason Dick Fletcher did not appear to relish the proposal.
"I don't think we can accommodate you," he said abruptly.
"I think we can," said Harry, who was beginning to be distrustful ofFletcher, and felt safer in adding another to the party. "There are butthree of us, and we shall be glad of your company."
Dick Fletcher looked angry, but did not venture to oppose the planfurther.
CHAPTER IV.
A TIMELY RESCUE.
On the last evening spent in Melbourne the boys decided to take afarewell walk about the city, not knowing when it would again be theirfortune to see it. Neither Fletcher nor their new Yankee acquaintancewas at hand, and they started by themselves. They did not confinethemselves to the more frequented streets, but followed wherever fancyled.
They had no thought of an adventure, but one awaited them.
As they were turning the corner of a narrow street, their attention wassuddenly excited by a sharp cry of blended surprise and fright.
"What is it, Jack?" asked Harry, grasping his companion by the arm.
He did not need to await a reply, for by the indistinct light he saw twomen struggling a few rods further on. One appeared to be an old man,with white hair, the other was a man of middle age. Clearly it was acase of attempted robbery.
"Run, Jack, run!" said Harry, in excitement. "Let us help the old man!"
"I'm with you," answered the young sailor briefly.
Harry had in his hand a heavy cane--his only weapon--but he did not stopto consider the personal risk he was running. As he drew near, the oldman, whose feeble strength was quite unequal to a conflict with a man somuch younger, swayed and fell backward. His assailant bent over him, anddespite his feeble resistance began to search his pockets, at the sametime indulging in savage threats. The old man gave himself up for lost,but help was nearer than he anticipated.
So occupied was the villain with his disgraceful work that he did nothear the approaching footsteps.
His first intimation of them came in a sounding blow over his shoulders,given by Harry's stick, which was laid on with a good will.
He jumped to his feet with an oath, and darted a rapid glance at his twoassailants. Then, much to the surprise of Harry, he turned and ranrapidly away. It was a piece of great good luck, Harry thought, for hewas not at all sure that he and Jack combined would have been a matchfor the highwayman.
"Are you hurt, sir?" asked Harry, bending over the old man.
"Not seriously," was the reply. "Will you kindly help me up?"
With Jack's help Harry got the old man on his feet. He was a tall man,of splendid aspect, over sixty years of age. He looked like a gentlemanof wealth and position.
"You have had a narrow escape, sir," said our hero.
"Yes, indeed," answered the old man, "thanks to your brave interference.It surprises me that my brutal assailant should have run away from twoboys."
"I am surprised also, sir. I feared we should have a hard fight. Isuppose his object was robbery."
"Yes, he must have heard in some way that I had a large sum of moneyabout me. Thanks to you, it is safe."
"I am very glad, sir."
"Do you mind accompanying me to my house? This attack has made metimid."
"With pleasure, sir."
The old gentleman lived perhaps a quarter of a mile distant in ahandsome house. He pressed the boys to enter, and they did so. Hequestioned them as to their plans, and then selecting two bank-notes oflarge denomination, urged the boys to accept them as a recognition ofthe help they had given him at a critical moment. The boys, however,declined positively to accept any compensation, but expressed theirsatisfaction at having been of service.
"At least," said the old gentleman, "you must promise to call on me whenyou return from the mines. There is my card."
"That we will do with pleasure, sir," answered Harry.
He looked at the card, and read the name of Henry A. Woolson.
"Harry," said Jack, as they resumed their walk, "do you know that robberhad a look like Fletcher?"
"So I thought, Jack, but I had only a glimpse, and could not be sure. Iwish he were not to be in our party."
"We must be on our guard; I don't fancy him much."
When the boys saw Fletcher in the morning he appeared as usual, and theywere disposed to think they were mistaken. Yet the lurking suspicionoccurred to them from time to time, and made them feel uneasy.
The next day they set out on their journey, accompanied by Dick Fletcherand Obed Stackpole.
CHAPTER V.
STARTING FOR THE MINES.
Harry may be considered rash in his immediate acceptance of his Yankeeacquaintance as a member of their party, but there are some men who needno letters of recommendation. Obed Stackpole certainly was not ahandsome man. He was tall, lean, gaunt in figure, with a shambling walk,and his skin was tough and leathery; but in spite of all there was anhonest, manly expression, which instantly inspired confidence. BothHarry and Jack liked him, but Dick Fletcher seemed to regard him withinstinctive dislike.
"What made you accept that scarecrow into our company?" he asked, whenStackpole had left them to make his own arrangements for leaving thecity.
Harry smiled.
"He isn't a handsome man," he replied, "but I think he will prove avaluable companion."
"You took no notice of my objection to him," said Fletcher, frowning.
"Our company was too small," returned Harry. "From inquiry I find thatparties seldom consist of less than half a dozen."
"I know all about that," said Fletcher impatiently. "You might have beenguided by me."
"I shall be to some extent," answered Harry, "but not implicitly."
"I am going to have trouble with that boy," thought Fletcher. "Wait tillwe get on the road." Aloud he said: "If you had mentioned the matter tome I would have found someone to go with us. You had better tell thisYankee that we haven't room for him, and I will do it now."
Fletcher's persistence only aroused vague suspicions in Harry's breast.He felt glad that Stackpole was neither a friend nor likely to prove aconfederate of Dick Fletcher, and was resolved to hold on to him.
"I have invited him, and I won't take back the invitation," he said.
"How old are you?" asked Fletcher abruptly.
"Sixteen."
"I should think you were sixty by the tone you assume," said Fletcherwith a sneer.
"Do I understand, Mr. Fletcher," asked Harry steadily, "that you claimto control our party?"
"Seeing that I am more than twice as old a
s you are, I am the naturalhead of the expedition."
"I cannot admit any such claim. If you are not satisfied to be simply amember of the party, like the rest of us, I shall not be offended if youback out even now."
This, however, did not suit Fletcher, and with a forced laugh heanswered, "You are a strange boy, Vane. I suppose it's the way with yourcountrymen. I don't want to back out, as you term it. I fancy we shallget along together."
"I wish he had decided to leave us," said Harry when the two boys werealone. "Somehow I distrust him."
"I don't like him myself," said Jack, "but I don't see what harm he cando us."
"Nor I, but I feel safer with this Yankee addition to our party."
About ten o'clock the next morning the little party got off. It isneedless to say that Obed Stackpole contributed his full share ofexpense, and more too, for he furnished the yoke of oxen that were todraw the cart which conveyed their provisions and other outfit.
"I don't want to push in where I aint wanted," he said, "but I'm used tooxen, and if you want me to, I'll drive these critters, and you threecan foller along as you please."
"That'll suit me," said Fletcher with unusual graciousness. "I've nodoubt you understand the business better than I do."
"I ought to understand it," said Stackpole. "I was raised on a farm inNew Hampshire, and used to drive oxen when I wasn't tall enough to seeover their backs. I never thought then that I'd be drivin' a team inAustraly."