ke a good seaman.
Howsever, it's a comfort to know that I've got edication enough for a
landsman--ain't it, Miss Polly?"

Polly laughed, and admitted that that was indeed a consoling reflection.

While these two were conversing thus, Jack and Jacob Buckley were riding
together in the rear of the party. They had been talking as if under
some sort of restraint. At last Jack turned to his companion with a
kind, straightforward look.

"It's of no use, Buckley, my beating about the bush longer. This is
likely to be the last time that you and I shall meet on earth, and I
can't part without saying how anxious I am that you should persevere in
the course of temperance which you have begun."

"Thank you, Jack, thank you," said the miner heartily, "for the interest
you take in me. I do intend to persevere."

"I know that, Jacob, I know it; but I want you to believe that you have
no chance of success unless you first become a follower of Jesus Christ.
He is the _only_ Saviour from sin. Your resolutions, without Him,
cannot succeed. I have found that out, and I want you to believe it,
Jacob."

"I _do_ believe it," said the miner earnestly. "Dear Dan used to tell
me that--often--often. Dear Dan!"

"Now," added Jack, "we shall have to part soon. There is another thing
I want to mention. There is a bag of gold with my name on it, worth
some few hundred pounds, more or less. I want you to accept it, for I
know that you have not been so successful as we have during our short--"

"But I won't take it, Jack," interrupted Buckley.

"Yes you will, Jacob, from an old friend and comrade. It may tide you
over a difficulty, who knows? Luck does not always last, as the saying
goes."

Still Buckley shook his head.

"Well, then," continued Jack, "you can't help yourself, for I've left
the bag under your own pillow in the tent!"

Buckley's reply was checked by a shout from Captain Samson. They had
reached the parting point--a clump of trees on an eminence that
overlooked a long stretch of undulating park-like region. Here they
dismounted to shake hands and say farewell. Little was said at the
time, but moistened eyes and the long grasp of hard muscular hands told
something of feelings to which the lips could give no utterance.

The party could see that knoll for miles after leaving it, and whenever
Polly reined up and looked back, she saw the sturdy forms of Baldwin
Burr and Jacob Buckley waving a kerchief or a hat,