?'

'Not exactly. No offence is intended; the men jeer out of mere harmless
devilment. The new churn's got so much to learn here, he can't help
looking a born fool as a general thing.'

'And pea-souper and lime-juicer?'

'They've been hazing you properly, mate. Pea-soupers and lime-juicers are
strangers off shipboard. They'd never have spotted you, though, without
the bundle. There's no raw-meat tint about you; you're tanned like a
native. Buy a blue jumper and get a cabbage-tree up in place of that cap,
and you'd pass muster as a Sydney-sider born and bred.'

'A cabbage-tree?'

'Hat--straw. Get a second-hand one if you can: they're more appreciated.
Usually a man likes to colour his own hat as he colours his own pipe; but
you're eager to meet the Australian prejudice against newness. Another
bit of advice,' continued the bar-man, who was glad of the chance to turn
his vast antipodean experience to some account. 'If you happen to be
anybody in particular, as you love your peace of mind and your bodily
comfort, don't speak of it.'

'Luckily, I'm nobody in particular.'

'That's all right. I was idiot enough to let it be known that I was
afflicted with an aristocratic name, and I had to hold this job against
banter enough to drive a cow daft. Now my name's Smith.'

'Are you a new chum, then?'

'Lord no! I've been out seven weeks.'

It was Jim's turn to laugh. 'Well,' he said, 'if a man can qualify as a
representative Australian in seven weeks, I'm not going to complain.'

The barman provided much more valuable information. Bed and board could
not be had at that establishment for love or money, and, furthermore, it
was unlikely Jim would be able to find lodgings anywhere in Melbourne.

'I suppose you can take care of yourself--you look a likely man,' he
said. 'Well, the nights are so warm no man needs a dwelling. When you're
tired of knocking round to-night, take your traps down by the river, roll
yourself in your blanket in the lee of a gum-tree, and sleep there. Did
it myself for a week, and only had to put up one fight all the time.
Sleeping out's no hardship here. Meanwhile, in exchange for the latest
news from down under, I'll dump your swag, and keep an eye on her till
you call again.'

The young fellow's ready friendship was most grateful to Done, and he
remained in the bar till a run of business rendered further conversation
impossible, picking up useful knowledge by the way, and presently
discoverin