th go in for the loocrative
profession of diggin'."

"Mumf--mumf--muff--muff." The ham had conquered Tresco's speech.

"Jes' so. That's what _I_ think, boss."

Benjamin gave a gulp. "I won't take you," he said, as plainly as
possible.

"Oh, you won't?"

"I won't."

"Then, suppose I go on my own hook, eh?"

"You've got to stop and look after this shop. You're apprenticed to
_me_."

"Oh, indeed!"

"If a man chooses to spend a little holiday in the bush, is his
apprentice to suppose his agreement's cancelled? Not a bit of it."

"An' suppose a man chooses to spend a little holiday in gaol, what
then?"

"That's outside the sphere of practical politics, my son."

"I don't know so much about that. I think different. I think we'll cry
quits. I think I'll go along with you, or likely there'll be trouble."

"Trouble?"

"Yes, trouble."

"What sort of trouble, jackanapes?"

"Why, crimson trouble."

"Indeed."

"I've got you tied hand and foot, boss. You can take that from _me_."

"Is that so? What do you think you can do?"

"I intend to go along with you."

"But I start to-night. If I can scrape together enough food to last a
week or two. But I'll take you along. You shall come. I'll show you how
I live. Now, then, what d'you say?" There was a twinkle in Tresco's eye,
and the corners of his mouth twitched with merriment.

"Think I don't know when I've got a soft thing on?" Jake took off his
apron, and hung it on a nail. "Shan't want _that_, for a month or two
anyway." Then he faced the "boss" with, "Equal whacks, you old
bandicoot. I'll find the tucker, and we'll share the gold."

Tresco's smile broke into a hearty laugh. He put his hands to his sides,
threw back his head, and fairly chortled.

"I don't see any joke." Jake looked at his master from beneath his
extravagant eyebrows.

"You'll ... you'll get the tucker ... see?"

"Why, yes--how's a man to live?"

"An' you'll help swag it?"

"'Course."

"You'll implicitly obey your lawful lord and master, out on the
wallaby?"

"'Spect I'll 'ave to."

"You won't chiack or poke borak at his grey and honoured head when, by
reason of his endowment of adipose tissue, his wind gives out?"

"Oh, talk sense. Adipose rabbits' skins!"

"All these several and collective points being agreed upon, my youthful
Adonis, I admit you into partnership."

"Done," said the apprentice, with emphasis. "It's a bargain. Go and
sleep, and I'll fossick round town f