er, of which
they partook with the zest to be expected of boys thoroughly healthy.
When the meal was over they repaired to the public room.

"Now, Jack," said Harry, "it is necessary for us to settle on our
plans."

"All right," said Jack.

"Have you anything to propose?"

"No, Harry, you are smarter than I am, and I leave it to you."

"Thank you, Jack, for your confidence, but we are on a par here. Neither
of us knows much about Australia. We have a great deal to learn."

"Then you had better decide for us both."

"Very well, I accept the responsibility, but I prefer to talk over my
plans with you. First of all, then, shall we stay in Melbourne, or
strike for the mines?"

"Just as you say, Harry, but I would prefer the mines."

"I feel that way myself, and for that reason I have been making some
inquiries. There are three principal localities, Ballarat, Bendigo, and
Ovens. We might try one of the three, and if we don't have good luck
make our-way to another."

"Which shall we try first?"

"I have thought of Bendigo. I hear of one party that cleared two
thousand pounds out of one hole."

"How much is that?" asked Jack, who was not very well acquainted with
any but United States currency.

"It is equal to ten thousand dollars," answered Harry.

"That's a big pile of money," said Jack, his eyes sparkling.

"True, but we mustn't expect to be so fortunate. It isn't everybody who
succeeds as well as that."

"I should be satisfied with a thousand, Harry."

"And what would you do with it, Jack?"

"Convey it home to my mother, Harry. But I would fix it so that my
step-father couldn't get hold of it."

"You are a good boy, Jack, for thinking so much of your mother. I wish I
had a mother to provide for," and Harry Vane looked sober.

"Do you know how far off Bendigo is, Harry?"

"About a hundred miles. That is, it is seventy-five miles to Mount
Alexander, and the mines are twenty-five miles to the north of that."

"It won't take us long to travel a hundred miles," said Jack hopefully.

"On the contrary, it will be a long and difficult journey, as far as I
can find out. The country is full of bogs, swamps, and moist land."

"Then we can't walk?"

"No; the custom is to charter a cart, drawn by oxen, which will give a
chance to carry a stock of provisions. The roads are not very well
marked, and are often impassable."

This description rather discouraged Jack, who was more used to the sea
and its da