Part 36 (2/2)

”'Pon my honour, you're right. I don't,” said Mr. Crewe.

Jack laughed again, a thing which in a non-member almost caused the pompous little man to explode with indignation.

”I'm the fellow, you know, who went to look for the new gold-field,”

said Jack, ”and by the lord! I've found it.”

”Scarlett! Is it you?” exclaimed old Mr. Crewe. ”You have got it? My dear sir, this is good news; this is excellent news! You have found the new gold-field? This is really remarkable, this is indeed most fortunate! This is the happiest day I have seen for a long while!”

”Eh? What? what?” said Cathro, who was on his feet too. ”Is it rich?”

”Rich?” said Jack. Taking a bank deposit-receipt from his pocket, he handed it to Cathro.

”Good G.o.d!” cried he, eyeing the figures on the paper, ”it's a fortune.”

Mr. Crewe had his gold spectacles upon his nose and the paper in his hand in a moment. ”Three thousand one hundred and eighty-seven pounds!”

he exclaimed. ”Well, well, that is luck! And where's your mate, Scarlett? Where is Moonlight?”

”He's on the claim.”

”On the claim? Then there's still gold in sight?”

”We've but scratched the surface,” said Jack. ”This is only the foretaste of what's to come.”

The important little man, who had eagerly listened to all that had been said, was hovering round the group, like an excited c.o.c.k sparrow.

”Really!” he exclaimed, ”this is most interesting, very interesting indeed. A remarkable event, Mr. Crewe, a most remarkable event. Do me the honour, sir, to introduce me to your friend.”

”Mr. Tonks, Scarlett,” said the old gentleman. ”Allow me to introduce Mr. Tonks.”

Jack greeted the little man politely, and then turning to Cathro, said, ”We've pegged off four men's claims; so, Cathro, you'll have to turn digger, and go back with me to the field.”

”But my dear sir,” replied Cathro, whose shrivelled form betokened no great physical strength, ”my dear Scarlett, am I to do pick-and-shovel work? Am I to trundle a barrow? Am I to work up to my waist in water, and sleep in a tent? My dear sir, I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.”

Scarlett threw back his head, and laughed. ”Oh, that's nothing,” he said. ”It's the getting there with a 70lb. swag on your back that's the trouble. The country is a ma.s.s of ranges; the bush is as thick as a jungle, and there's nothing but a blazed track to go by. But your claim is waiting for you. What do you intend doing with it?”

The attenuated Cathro sank on a couch despairingly. ”I think I'll sell it,” he said. ”I'll sell it to Tonks here, I'll sell it for 1000 down, and be content with small profits and quick returns.”

The little man, important that he should be referred to as good for so substantial an amount, strutted up and down, like a bantam on whom the eyes of the fowl-yard rested. However, the gentleman, dressed for riding, was beforehand with him.

”It's an open offer, I suppose,” he said.

”Certainly,” replied Cathro. ”I don't care who gets my claim, so long as I get the money.”

”Then it's concluded,” said the horsey man. ”I buy the claim.”

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