to Melbourne if I went at once, so
I caught the mail train and soon smelt the Australian bush that I had
left in 1878. On reaching Melbourne at mid-day I had fifteen shillings
left. Dumping my baggage at the station, I hunted up my chief friend, a
journalist. The very first thing he handed me was a cablegram demanding
my instant return to England. My rage can be imagined; it would take
strong language to describe it, for I had meant to stay in Australia for
a year, and write a book about it from another standpoint than _Land
Travel and Seafaring_.

I hadn't even enough money to live anywhere. I couldn't cable for any,
for if my instructions had been obeyed, all available cash was now on
its way to me, when I couldn't wait for it. I talked it over with my
friend.

"Have you no money?" I asked, but then I knew he had none.

"Nobody has any money in Australia," he answered. "If it is known you
have a sovereign in cash you will be pestered in Collins Square by
millionaires, whose wealth is locked up in moribund banks, for mere
half-crowns as a temporary accommodation."

I pondered a while.

"I have a plan whereby we may get a trifle in the meantime. You can
write a long interview with me and I will take the money. Sit down and
don't move."

He remonstrated feebly.

"My dear fellow, why not do it yourself?"

"It would be taking a mean advantage of other writers," I said.
"Besides, I'm in no mood to write."

Overcome by my generosity, he at last wrote a column and a half. I shall
always treasure that interview, for when he tired I dictated some of it
myself. The only thing I really objected to was his determination not to
let me say what I meant to say about the Australian financial outlook.
Under the circumstance of the failure of credit, the matter touched me
deeply, and was a personal grievance. But he persisted that if I were
too pessimistic the article would never see type, and I couldn't have
the money. I gave way, and condescended to have hopes about Australia.
But even when I got his cheque I was not much further forward.

I went to my banker's agents and asked them to cash a cheque. Would I
pay for a cable home and out? No I would not, because I didn't know
whether my account was overdrawn or not. All I knew was that if they
would cash a cheque I would telegraph from Port Said or Naples and see
it was met. So that failed. I tried Cook's, who had cashed cheques for
me on the Continent. They also spoke of