how the wind blew, and each time did I find that it
was favorable for vessels entering the harbor. I consulted an aged
mariner, with tar plentifully sprinkled upon the seat of his trousers,
and the son of Neptune told me, with many grave shakes of his head,
that,--

"You can't always tell about these things; sometimes the wind blows one
way here in this bloody hole, and sometimes it blows different on the
ocean."

The next day I despatched two large teams to Ballarat loaded heavily
with flour, and sent a letter by the mail, telling Fred what I had done,
and advising him to put the price up, but to first, frighten the
merchants by bantering them with offers for their stock. I knew that
that course would startle them into asking at least one third more than
they had been demanding, and that a dozen of the most prominent ones
would start for Melbourne without a moment's delay for the purpose of
seeing what the movement meant.

CHAPTER LXII.

THE FLOUR SPECULATION.--MR. CRITCHET'S STORY.

After I had written to Fred, and started the teams, I felt a little
easier, although no change had taken place in the market. I knew that
dealers had sent to Sydney for a supply of flour, and I feared that
their orders would be filled, but in this I was agreeably mistaken.
Flour at Sydney was ten shillings per barrel higher than at Melbourne,
with an upward tendency; while not a sack could be obtained of the few
farmers who raised wheat, short of eighty pounds per ton,--just double
what I had paid.

Two days after my bargain, and still no ships were signalized. I felt a
little more confidence in myself, and in the bold scheme that I was
attempting to carry out. A dozen teams were in the city, for the purpose
of carrying provisions to Ballarat and other mines, but they were
delayed, owing to their inability to get flour. I heard the price of the
article quoted at fifty pounds per ton, and I debated whether I should
hold on longer, or sell.

Twice, during the day, a rumor was started that a large American ship
was signalized, and that she was loaded to her scuppers with grain; but
I quickly proved the falsity of the report, and then made my appearance
in the store of the largest grain dealers in Melbourne, Messrs. Hennetit
& Co., since failed, and didn't pay their English creditors but sixpence
on the pound, and I strongly suspect that American firms suffered worse,
even, than that.

"My dear sir," said Mr. Hennetit, comin