me to tell 'em it's
his periodical spree--_they_ say it's robbery. Oh, well, I back my
opinion, that's all. But whether it's the one, or the other, of all the
chuckle-headed old idiots that ever was born"--Tap-tap. It was not the
noise of Jake's hammer, but a gentle knocking at the side-door of the
workshop.

The apprentice rose quietly, and put his ear to the key-hole.
Tap-tap-tap.

"Who's there?"

"Open the door," said a soft voice. "It's me. I want to come in."

"Very likely you do. There's many more'd like to come in here."

"Is that you, Jake?"

"Never you mind. Who're you?"

"You weasel-faced young imp, am I to burst open my own door?"

The mystery was at an end. In a moment, the bolt was withdrawn and
Benjamin Tresco stood in his workshop.

But before he spoke, he bolted the door behind him. Then he said,
"Well?"

"So you've come back?" said Jake, fiercely.

"Looks like it," said the goldsmith. "How's things?"

"Gone to the devil. How d'you expect me to keep business goin' when you
go on a howling spree, for weeks?"

"Spree? Me? My dear innocent youth, I have clean forgotten the very
taste of beer. At this present moment, I stand before you a total
abstainer of six weeks' duration. And yet what I ask for is not beer,
but bread--I'm as hungry as a wolf; I've hardly eaten anything for two
days. What have you got in the house?"

"Nothin'."

"What!"

"_I_ don't 'ave no time to cook. When I can find time, I go up to The
Lucky Digger and get a good square feed. D'you expect me to do two men's
work and cook as well?"

Tresco undid the small "swag" which he carried, and before the
astonished eyes of his apprentice he disclosed fully a hundred ounces of
gold.

"Jee-rusalem! Blame me if you ain't been diggin'!"

"That's so, my son."

"And the police are fair ratty because they thought you were hiding from
the Law."

"So I am, my son."

"Garn!"

"Solemn fact--there's a writ out against me."

"Well?"

"I ain't got a mind to be gaoled at such a glorious time in the history
of Timber Town. I want to get more gold, stacks of it."

"An' where do _I_ come in?"

"You come in as owner of this business by and by--if you're a good boy."

"Huh! I want to go diggin' too."

"All in good time, my energetic youth, all in good time. But for the
present, give me some food."

"Didn't I tell you there isn't any?" yelled Jake.

"Very good, very good, but don't talk so loud. Take this half-crown, an