e to try the gold-fields
first."

"It's only natural, lads," said the shepherd. "You are young, and you
crave excitement. When you are as old as I am, you won't mind the quiet.
Go, then, to Bendigo, but if you have bad luck, come back here, and you
shall be welcome to stay as long as you like, and to accept my offer if
you feel like it then."

"I am sorry you won't stay," said Lucy, with a shade of sadness.

"I wish we could be contented to do so," said Harry. "You may be sure we
won't forget your kindness, Miss Campbell."

"Do you mean me?" asked Lucy, smiling. "I never was called Miss Campbell
before."

"I will say Lucy, if you will allow me."

"I would rather you did."

"Then good-by, Lucy. We shall always remember you."

"And you will come back some day?"

"If we can."

"Then good-by, and don't forget your promise."

There was a suspicious moisture in the girl's eyes, for she knew that
when the young visitors were gone she would feel lonelier than ever.

"That's a nice girl, Jack," said Harry after a pause.

"That's so, Harry. I never saw a girl so nice before," responded Jack
emphatically.

"Do you know, Jack," said Harry, turning to him with a smile, "it is
just as well we are going away."

"What do you mean, Harry?"

"If we stayed here till we were both young men, we might both fall in
love with Lucy, and quarrel over her."

"I might fall in love with her, but I would never quarrel with you,
Harry," said Jack affectionately.

"No, Jack, I don't think you would. Nothing shall ever divide us."

"You are very kind to a poor sailor boy," said Jack. "You know a great
deal more than I, and I am not fit to be your friend."

"Take care, Jack, I may quarrel with you if you say anything against
yourself. Fit or unfit, you are my chosen friend, and I should not be
willing to exchange you for anyone else I have ever met."

"Not even for Montgomery Clinton?" said Jack archly.

"Not even for him, with all his stock of trousers."

Reference was made to a young man from Brooklyn, a fellow passenger on
the ship _Nantucket_, who had acquired the reputation of a dude, and had
afforded much amusement to all on board. He will be remembered by the
readers of the preceding volume, "Facing the World."

The boys did not set out on their journey empty-handed. Lucy, by
direction of her father, had packed a basket with provisions enough to
last them two or three days. The shepherd wished also to lend them some