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," he continued 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 in surprise.
"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'm so near broke that I may as well go back to the mines for a fresh supply before my money is all gone."
"We shall be glad of your company, sir. May I ask if you are an
Australian?"
"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 visit before 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 the barkeeper, "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 his shoulders.
Harry did not reply, but quietly resolved that he would disprove that statement.
CHAPTER III. FLETCHER ACTS SUSPICIOUSLY
One circumstance led Harry to hurry his intended departure. He found to his dismay that the hotel charge for their very plain accommodations was a pound a day for each of them. The Crown inn was what would be called in an American city a one-horse hotel. There are plenty such to be found in the United States where the rate charged is but a dollar a day. But Melbourne was full of strangers, drawn thither by flaming accounts of the richness of the mines and the bright prospects of acquiring sudden fortunes, and war prices were prevalent everywhere.
"Five dollars a day!" exclaimed Jack in open-eyed amazement. "Do they take us for millionaires?"
"I began to think they were imposing upon us," said Harry, "till I made inquiries elsewhere. I find a pound a day is about the usual tariff for such 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 is already 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 sailor earnestly.
"Let me judge of that, Jack; I'd a good deal rather have your company and 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, but
I'll do what I can."
"If I had known of the high prices, I would have drawn more money from the professor," continued Harry. "However, I can make this do. But I want 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 the favor, 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 prudent to 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 are ourselves very poorly provided with money, and just before you came in we were considering how we could manage to pay for the necessary outfit."
"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 much displeased.
"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 with had a mind of his own, and was not to be imposed upon easily. Still he made a farther effort.
"Then I think," he said coldly, "I shall not be able to assist you in your preparations."
"Just as you please," answered Harry promptly. "As you volunteered, I accepted your proposal. Now I will act for myself. I have heard of a party about to start, and I will arrange to join it."
Fletcher felt that he was outgeneralled. He did not mean to let Harry and Jack slip through his fingers, for he had an idea, notwithstanding Harry's disclaimer, that he had a large sum of money, and thought he would be a good party to hang on to. He saw that he had made a false move, and hastened to repair it.
"Excuse me," he said, assuming a hearty tone; "I was hasty, and I apologize. You are right, and I like you too well to cut up rough, just because you can't do me a favor. There, take my hand, and we will make it all up."
"With pleasure," answered Harry, as he accepted the proffered hand, and Jack followed his example. Nevertheless Fletcher's demand had produced an unpleasant effect upon him. The coarse-grained selfishness of the man had shown through his outward varnish of good-fellowship, and he felt that henceforth he must be on his guard.
"I
