for the fixens, you know," our friend said, with true
Yankee sagacity; and as he spoke he watched narrowly to see if the money
was forthcoming to back up the request.

"Certainly," answered Fred, with a melancholy smile at the prospect
before him. He drew from his pocket a number of gold pieces and handed
them to Charley, who clutched them with avidity.

"I say, Bob," our California friend exclaimed, running to the entrance
of the tent; "it's all right. Tell the folks to wait, and we'll have
something to wet their whistles. He's come down handsomely, and no
mistake."

"Any orders?" asked the fellow addressed as Bob.

"Yes, indeed; go down to my place and tell my partner that we'll be
there in a few minutes, and that we intend to drink him dry afore
morning."

"A pleasant prospect," I muttered, in an undertone, to Fred. "It seems
that the fellow is proprietor of a saloon, and is determined that we
shall pay him for his trouble by drinking all that he has got."

Charley intimated that he would show us the way, but Fred held back.

"Why can't you drink your ale without my presence?" he asked,
impatiently.

"'Cos we don't approve of haristocracy here in Ballarat, and it would
make the miners think that you didn't want to 'sociate with 'em. It
wouldn't do."

"But if you should tell them that I am slightly injured, and need rest,
wouldn't that have some effect?" Fred inquired, driven almost to
desperation.

"Well, the only effect it would have you'd be obliged to receive the
folks in your tent, and perhaps that would not be agreeable. But you can
do jist as you please, remember. I've been at Ballarat for six months,
and I should think I know'd the ideas and habits of the miners purty
well."

"For Heaven's sake, let us go to your place without delay, and get
through with the business. I've half a mind to turn my back upon
Ballarat to-morrow," cried Fred.

"You won't do that, I reckon, while there's so much of the root of all
evil in the ground. Why, I s'pose you come up here to get rich, and you
is going jist the right way to work to do it. To-morrow you'll be the
most popular man in the mines, and there's no telling what the boys may
do for you. Perhaps send you a delegate to the governor-general, to ask
him to clip off the taxes which we have to pay for digging gold. I tell
you there's a brilliant future before you, so come along."

We could not resist such a plea, and, followed by about half a thousand
min