two, visiting one claim after another,
trying to raise a loan.

"I say, you're uncommon jolly, you chaps," he began, as he stood in a
lounging attitude watching the little party at their work.

"If we are it's a credit to us," returned Obed dryly, "for there isn't
much to be jolly about."

"Isn't your claim a good one?"

"That's what we're trying to find out. Where's yours, stranger?"

The tramp returned an evasive answer and shambled off.

"Do you think he's got a claim, Obed?" asked Jack.

"No; but he's prowling around to see what he can pick up."

"Do you think he's a thief?"

"I think he's willing to be. He heard us whistling, and thought we'd
found something."

"We are safe from robbery for the present." said Harry.

"Yes, there's that advantage about being poor. It reminds me of old Jack
Pierce in our village."

"What about him?" asked Harry.

"He read in the paper one day that a certain bank had burst. So he went
home in a hurry to see if he had any bills on that bank. He found that
he had no bills on that bank or any other--and then he felt better."

Harry laughed.

"It was a poor consolation, I think," he said. "I remember hearing a
sermon from our minister at home in which he said that riches were a
great responsibility, but I don't think I should mind taking the
responsibility."

"That's my idee, Harry. I am afraid there isn't much chance of our
having that responsibility, but there's one thing we can do if we don't
make the claim pay."

"What's that, Obed?"

"We can join the bushrangers."

"Will you set us the example?" asked Harry, smiling.

"I'm not quite desperate enough yet. We'll try the claim a little
longer. But I'm gettin' tuckered out. We'll go and get some dinner and
then start diggin' again."

They repaired to their cabin, and solaced themselves with food. Then
they threw themselves down in the shadow of the cabin to rest, and Obed
pulled out his pipe. This was a solace which the boys didn't enjoy. They
were sensible enough to know, that, whatever may be said of men, boys
only receive injury from the use of tobacco. In the resolution to
abstain, they were upheld and encouraged by Obed, who, veteran smoker as
he was, did not approve of smoking.

"You're better off without it, boys," he said. "It won't do you no good.
I wish I could leave it off."

"Why don't you?" asked Harry.

"Easier said than done, my boy. Let me see, I was only turned of
thirteen when I used to