Part 9 (1/2)
”Yes, if you call it travelling I've been draggingto find soive me aid”
”Well, you've found somebody Here, sit down, for you don't see some biscuit and cold meat, won't you, and Jack had better build a fire A cup of tea will put new life into you, iven to the stranger He devoured theer
”Go slow, my friend Your stonawing at my vitals,” said the new-comer ”I have not tasted food for three days”
”I never was in that fix, though I did go hungry for twenty-four hours once in Californy You'd better believe I pitched in when I got to where victuals were”
”How did that happen, Mr Stackpole?” asked Harry
”I was lost in the mountains,” answered Obed, ”and couldn't find any trace of a livin' creature except an old miser, who pointed a musket at me, and didn't dare to let me into his hut I don't think I could have stood it three days”
”That goes to the right spot,” said the stranger, after he had gulped doo cups of tea ”Now I'”
”If it's all the saet ready to live,”
said Obed
”I'd rather die now than suffer as I have done in the last three days,”
”You won't have to We've got plenty and to spare”
”But I have no ”
”Robbed! How is that?”
”It's rather a long story You h, and patience enough, but perhaps you don't feel strong enough to talk”
”I didn't before you relieved er The food and the tea have put new life into er We're all anxious to hear your story”
”I aan the unknown, ”and land of the richness of the Australian gold-fields, I sold outthe first to come out here By the sale of my business I realized about five hundred pounds
Three hundred I left with one It is very fortunate that I took this precaution and left her so well provided for, since, had I brought all my money with me, it would all have been lost”
The three adventurers looked at each other soberly The ill fortune of their new acquaintance did not augur very well for their good fortune
”Then you had bad luck,” said Harry inquiringly
”On the contrary I had good luck,” replied the stranger
”Good luck!” repeated Harry in surprise ”Then how----”
”How did I coht? That is what you were about to ask?”