s he says," he said at last. "I have no receipt, and no
witnesses. I suppose I can do nothing."

"Just try, my hearty--just try; that's all!" jeered Anstey.
"Maritzburg's busting with law and lawyers. See what you can do.
You're quite welcome."

"Better shut up, Anstey," said the man who had evinced a head-punching
disposition. "We ain't afraid of you and your pistol, and you may get
more than you like, yet. And you, friend. What do you propose to do?"

"Get out of this as soon as possible," answered Gerard, in weary
disgust. "Get back to Maritzburg, I suppose. But I've got some luggage
here--not much, but a good deal more than I can carry; and you can
imagine I don't want to leave it behind."

"Rather. Well, look here now," said the man who had been addressed as
Sam Carruthers; "I'm bound for the town, and if you don't mind jogging
along with a waggon, I'll be glad to take in your luggage and yourself
too. I won't charge you anything for it either. And, remember this.
You don't seem to have been long in the country, and have fallen into
the hands of a mortal sweep. Well, remember the swindle that has been
planted on you was done by one of your own countrymen, not by one of as
Anstey hasn't been out here so very many years himself."

This was only too true. From the colonial people he had had to do with
Gerard had met with many little acts of kindness. It had been reserved,
as the other had said, for one of his own countrymen to rob him of his
little all--to leave him penniless, a stranger in a strange land.

He gladly accepted the transport-rider's friendly offer, and, having
hastily packed his outfit--Anstey the while keeping well out of his
way--he bade adieu for ever to the scene of his first colonial
experience.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poor Gerard, alone in Maritzburg, without a friend in the Colony, and
with about fifty shillings to his name, besides his moderate outfit,
might indeed have reckoned himself in evil case; and, after a few days,
in spite of his pluck and determination, he did so reckon himself. He
had taken up his quarters at a cheap boarding-house which the friendly
transport-rider had told him about--a place in comparison with which the
mosquito-haunted Wayne's was almost a palace--and had set about trying
to find work. But what chance had he? The fact of his being a lad of
education and refinement told against him with thos