ike _yourself_, and--but what's your Christian name?"

"Tom," replied the other.

"Very well; then I'll call you Tom in future, and you'll call me Ned.
Now, Tom, you must come with me and Captain Bunting to the gold-fields,
and try your fortune over again--nay, don't shake your head, I know what
you would say, you have no money to equip yourself, and you won't be
indebted to strangers, and all that sort of stuff; but that won't do, my
boy. I'm not a stranger; don't I know all your history from first to
last?"

Tom Collins sighed.

"Well, perhaps I don't know it all, but I know the most of it, and
besides, I feel as if I had known you all my life--"

"Ned," interrupted the other, in an earnest tone of voice, "I feel your
kindness very much--no one has spoken to me as you have done since I
came to the diggings--but I cannot agree to your proposal to-day. Meet
me at the Parker House to-morrow, at this time, and I shall give you a
final answer."

"But why not give it now?"

"Because--because, I want to--to get paid for a job I expect to get--"

"Tom," said Ned, stopping and laying his hand on the shoulder of his
companion, while he looked earnestly into his face, "let us begin our
friendship with mutual candour. Do you not intend to make a few
dollars, and then try to increase them by another throw at the
gaming-table!"

The youth's brow flushed slightly as he answered, "You are right, I had
half an intention of trying my fortune for the last time--"

"Then," said Ned firmly and emphatically, "you shall do nothing of the
sort. Gambling for money is a mean, pitiful, contemptible thing--don't
frown, my dear fellow, I do not apply these terms to _you_, I apply them
to the principle of gambling--a principle which you do not hold, as I
know from your admission, made to me not many minutes ago, that you have
often striven against the temptation. Many men don't realise the full
extent of the sinfulness of many of their practices, but although that
renders them less culpable, it does not render them innocent, much less
does it justify the evil practices. Gambling is all that I have styled
it, and a great deal worse; and you _must_ give it up--I insist on it.
Moreover, Tom, I insist on your coming to dine with me at the Parker
House. I shall introduce you to my friend Captain Bunting, whom you
already know by sight--so come along."

"Well, I will," said Tom, smiling at his friend's energy, but still
hanging back