All this, and a great deal more, did Ned worm out of his companion in the course of half-an-hours stroll in the Plaza.
Now, said he, when Collins had finished, Im going to make a proposal to you. I feel very much interested in all that you have told me; to be candid with you, I like your looks, and I like your voicein fact, I like yourself, andbut whats your Christian name?
Tom, replied the other.
Very well; then Ill call you Tom in future, and youll call me Ned. Now, Tom, you must come with me and Captain Bunting to the gold-fields, and try your fortune over againnay, dont shake your head, I know what you would say, you have no money to equip yourself, and you wont be indebted to strangers, and all that sort of stuff; but that wont do, my boy. Im not a stranger; dont I know all your history from first to last?
Tom Collins sighed.
Well, perhaps I dont 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 muchno one has spoken to me as you have done since I came to the diggingsbut 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?
Becausebecause, I want toto 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 youths 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 thingdont frown, my dear fellow, I do not apply these terms to you, I apply them to the principle of gamblinga 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 dont 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 upI 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 sightso come along.
Well, I will, said Tom, smiling at his friends energy, but still hanging back; but you must permit me to go to my lodgings first. I shall be back immediately.
Very good. Remember, we dine in the course of an hour, so be punctual.
While Tom Collins hurried away to his lodgings, Ned Sinton proceeded towards the shores of the bay in a remarkably happy frame of mind, intending to pass his leisure hour in watching the thousands of interesting and amusing incidents that were perpetually taking place on the crowded quays, where the passengers from a newly-arrived brig were looking in bewildered anxiety after their luggage, and calling for porters; where traffic, by means of boats, between the fleet and the land created constant confusion and hubbub; where men of all nations bargained for the goods of all climes in every known tongue.
While he gazed in silence at the exciting and almost bewildering scene, his attention was attracted to a group of men, among whose vociferating tones he thought he distinguished familiar voices.
Thats it; heres your man, sir, cried one, bursting from the crowd with a huge portmanteau on his shoulder. Now, then, wherell I steer to?
Right ahead to the best hotel, answered a slim Yankee, whose black coat, patent-leather boots, and white kids, in such a place, told plainly enough that a superfine dandy had mistaken his calling.
Ay, ay, sir! shouted Bill Jones, as he brushed past Ned, in his new capacity of porter.
Faix, yeve cotched a live Yankee! exclaimed a voice there was no mistaking, as the owner slapped Bill on the shoulder. Hell make yer fortin, av ye only stick by him. Hes just cut out for the diggins, av his mother wos here to take care of him.
Larry ONeil gave a chuckle, slapped his pockets, and cut an elephantine caper, as he turned from contemplating the retreating figure of his shipmates employer, and advanced towards the end of the quay.
Now, thin, whos nixt? cried he, holding out both arms, and looking excited, as if he were ready to carry off any individual bodily in his arms to any place, for mere love, without reference to money. Dont all spake at wance. Tshoo dollars a mile for anythin onder a ton, an yerself on the top of it for four! Horoo, Mister Sinton, darlint, is it yerself? Och, but this is the place intirelygoold and silver for the axin amost! Ah, ye neednt grin. Look here!
Larry plunged both hands into the pockets of his trousers, and pulled them forth full of half and quarter dollars, with a few shining little nuggets of gold interspersed among them.
Ned opened his eyes in amazement, and, taking his excited comrade apart from the crowd, asked how he had come by so much money.
Come by it! he exclaimed; ye could come by twice the sum, av ye liked. Sure, didnt I find that they wos chargin tshoo dollarsaiqual to eight shillins, Im towldfor carryin a box or portmanter the length o me fut; so I turns porter all at wance, an faix I made six dollars in less nor an hour. But as I was comin back, I says to myself, says I, Larry, yell be the better of a small glass o somethineh! So in I goes to a grog-shop, and faix I had to pay half-a-dollar for a thimbleful o brandy, bad luck to them, as would turn the stomik o a pig. I almost had a round wi the landlord; but they towld me it wos the same iverywhere. So I wint and had another in the nixt shop I sees, jist to try; and it was thrue. Then a Yankee spies my knife,the great pig-sticker that Bob Short swopped wi me for my junk o plum-duff off the Cape. It seems theyve run out o sich articles just at this time, and would give handfuls o goold for wan. So says I, Wotll ye give?
Three dollars, I guess, says wan.
Four, says another; hes chaitin ye.
Fours bid, says I, mountin on a keg o baccy, and howldin up the knife; who says more? Its the rale steel, straight from Manchester or Connaught, I misremimber which. Warranted to cut both ways, av ye only turn the idge round, and shove with a will.
I begood in joke; but faix they took me up in arnest, an run up the price to twinty dollarsfour pounds, as sure as me names Larrybefore I knowd where I wos. I belave I could ha got forty for it, but I hadnt the heart to ax more, for it wasnt worth a brass button.
Youve made a most successful beginning, Larry. Have you any more knives like that one?
Sorrow a wanmores the pity. But thats only a small bit o me speckilations. I found six owld newspapers in the bottom o me chist, and, would ye belave it, I sowld em, ivery wan, for half-a-dollar the pace; and I dont rightly know how much clear goold Ive got by standin all mornin at the post-office.
Standing at the post-office! What do you mean?