month."

"That pays better than being a sailor," answered Jack, smiling.

"I should say it did."

"When do you expect to start?" asked the stranger.

"As soon as we can get ready," Harry replied.

"You are right there. Have you got money?"

"Why?" asked Harry rather suspiciously.

"It will cost something for an outfit."

"Yes; we have a moderate sum with us."

"That is well," said the stranger approvingly. "Do you know," he
continued meditatively, "I have a great mind to go with you?"

"Then you are not satisfied with your pile?" said Harry.

"There's very little left of it," said their new acquaintance.

"You haven't spent a hundred and fifty pounds in a month?" said Harry in
surprise.

"Pretty much. I may have twenty pounds left."

"You must have been living high, then."

"No. I have lived plainly, but the faro table has taken most of it. I'm
so near broke that I may as well go back to the mines for a fresh supply
before my money is all gone."

"We shall be glad of your company, sir. May I ask if you are an
Australian?"

"I was born in England, but I have been out here half a dozen years."

"And have not made your fortune yet?"

"It is my own fault. I have been unable to keep money after I got it."

"We are from America."

"I surmised it," said the stranger. "That is a country I want to visit
before I die. You have mines there, too."

"Yes, but they are a long way from where we live."

"My name is Fletcher--Dick Fletcher my friends call me."

"I am Harry Vane, and my friend is Jack Pendleton."

"We will drink to our better acquaintance. Here, John," addressing the
barkeeper, "three glasses of ale here."

"If you won't mind, Jack and I will take sarsaparilla."

Fletcher stared at them in amazement.

"You don't drink ale?" he said.

"We belong to the temperance society," said Harry, smiling.

"You won't keep that up long at the mines," said Fletcher, shrugging his
shoulders.

Harry did not reply, but quietly resolved that he would disprove that
statement.

CHAPTER III.

FLETCHER ACTS SUSPICIOUSLY.

One circumstance led Harry to hurry his intended departure. He found to
his dismay that the hotel charge for their very plain accommodations was
a pound a day for each of them. The Crown inn was what would be called
in an American city a one-horse hotel. There are plenty such to be found
in the United States where the rate charged is but a dollar a day. But
Melbourne was full