ame age, both bound on the
same errand, it was easy to see that, come good or come ill, their lines
would run upon altogether different roads. One, a well-made,
broad-shouldered young fellow, whose sunburnt face and muscular hands
spoke of abundance of cricket and rowing, and, in short, of every
healthy outdoor sport within reach. The other, of slighter build,
showed, in feature and dress alike, every symptom of the budding
"masher," the would-be man of the world. Thus Gerard Ridgeley and Harry
Maitland respectively, as they gazed curiously at the shores of the new
country, whither both had been consigned to seek their fortunes--in a
word, to shift for themselves.

They were in no way related. They had become friends on board ship--up
to a certain point, that is, for they had few ideas in common. Both
were of the same age, however--just under nineteen, and the _Amatikulu_
carried but few passengers. But she carried them at a considerably
reduced rate.

"Of course, of course," went on he who had accosted the pair, a bluff,
jolly-looking individual with a short, grizzled beard. "That's only
natural and right. Young fellows who don't look ahead ain't worth their
salt, in my humble opinion. And yet, if I know anything of life, I'll
bet a guinea the time'll come when you'll find yourselves wishing all
you know you were back aboard this old barkie, with the cockroaches
running over you all night, and nothing to do all day but play `bull,'
and look at the sea, or quarrel to kill time."

"That's cheerful, Mr Kingsland, at any rate," said Gerard Ridgeley,
laughing heartily at this terse summary of a sea voyage, no less than at
the somewhat discouraging prediction which accompanied it. "But of
course no one expects a bed of roses by way of a start in a new country.
And now that it has come to the point, I feel in no hurry to leave the
old barkie, cockroaches and all."

"That's right, my lad," said his senior, looking at him approvingly.
"We haven't had such a bad time aboard the old ship after all. And
she's brought us over safe and sound. No--you'll do; I can sea you'll
do, wherever you are." And the speaker strolled away forward.

"Of all the bumptious old clodhoppers!" muttered Harry Maitland,
scowling after the retreating form. "You seem to take things mighty
cool, Ridgeley. Now, for my part, I can't stand that fellow's
patronising way of talking to one. As if a chap was a schoolboy, don't
you know."