ed in his pockets, and at length drew out two pieces of crumpled
paper. These he smoothed with his rough begrimed hands, and then placed
them on the table. They were Tresco's IOUs.

"I suppose you'll fix these 'ere, mate," said he.

Benjamin scratched his head.

"When I've squared up my hotel bill an' a few odds and ends," explained
the digger, "I'll be makin' tracks."

Tresco looked on this man as a veritable gold-mine, in that he had
discovered one of the richest diggings in the country. To quarrel with
him therefore would be calamitous: to pay him was impossible, without
recourse to financial suicide.

"What does it amount to?" he asked, bending over the bits of dirty
paper. "H'm, L117--pretty stiff little bill to meet between 10 p.m. and
10 a.m. Suppose I let you have fifty?"

The digger looked at the goldsmith in astonishment.

"If I didn't want the money, I'd chuck these bits o' paper in the fire,"
he exclaimed. "S'fer as _I'm_ concerned the odd seventeen pound would
do _me_, but it's the missis down in Otago. She _must_ 'ave a clear
hundred. Women is expensive, I own, but they mustn't be let starve. So
anty up like a white man."

"I'll try," said Tresco.

"If I was you I'd try blanky hard," said the digger. "Act honest, and
I'll peg you off a claim as good as my own. Act dishonest, an' you can
go to the devil."

Tresco had taken off his apron, and was putting on his coat. "I've no
intention of doing that," he said. "How would it be to get the police to
make those spielers disgorge?--you'd be square enough then."

"Do that, and I'll never speak to you again. I've no mind to be guy'd in
the papers as a new chum that was bested by a set of lags."

"But I tell you they had loaded dice and six-shooters."

"The bigger fools we to set two minutes in their comp'ny."

"What if I say they drugged you?"

"I own to bein' drunk. But if you think to picture me to the public as a
greenhorn that can be drugged first and robbed afterwards, you must
think me a bigger fool'n I look."

Tresco held his hat in his hand.

"I want this yer money _now_," said the digger. "In three weeks money'll
be no object to you or me, but what I lent you last night must be paid
to-day."

Tresco went to the door.

"I'll get it if I can," he said. "Stay here till I come back, and make
yourself at home. You may rely on my best endeavours." He put on his
hat, and went into the street.

Mr. Crookenden sat in his office. He was a