had also been to Africa, and, by way of a little
variety, had once engaged in a cod-fishery on
the banks of Newfoundland.

"Arrowsmith's the man," said I. "But you
don't tell me what successes he met with in
all his adventures. Brought back lots of
dollars and doubloons, I suppose, from South
America, and gold and skins from Africa, and
the other places?"

"I don't doubt but he did," said Isaac; "but
at any rate he has not saved much since I've
known him."

"Gambles, perhaps?" I suggested.

"Don't believe it," said Waits.

"Fond of horses, or dogs and guns?"

"Don't believe it."

"Pictures, prints, books, perhaps?"

"Very little of them, I fancy."

"Taste for plate, or jewellery?"

"No. I 'm sure he hasn't the least."

"Drinks!"

"No."

"What can he possibly have done with all
the gold and silver, then; and the skins
and things?" said I; and I also suggested
some other ways it might have gone very
easily.

"No," said Waits; "I don't much think
any of these, or not so very much as that
comes to."

"Perhaps," said I, "he never made any
money!"

"I don't know," said Isaac; "if he only
helps us to make money, we shall know
how to keep it."

"I wish it wasn't such a deuce of a distance
to Australia," said I; "if it were but a week
or two, the thing wouldn't be so serious."

"Ah!" said Waits, very gravely; "it is a
goodish distance across the sea. You've
made your will, I suppose?"

"Good heavens, no!" said I; "do you
think that necessary?"

"Of course," said Isaac; "if you've
anything to leave!"

"But I haven't," said I.

"Your aunt has, though," said he; "and if
she hasn't made her will, the sooner you get
the old lady to do it, the better."

I told Isaac I couldn't do such a thing—
wouldn't hint at it for the world.

May 20th.—Received a note from Arrowsmith
in the afternoon, inviting me to breakfast
on Saturday morning at 8 o'clock. Not
a word more. Wish he had named a much
earlier day. A later hour would also have
suited me better, as my lodgings are at
Somers' Town, and his at Walworth. But
n'importe—we Australian gold-diggers must
not mind a little distance.

May 21st.—Walked to Tower Hill, and
looked at sea-chests, waterproof boots, and
waterproof coats and trousers; inquired the
price of red night-caps, chequered shirts, and
blue frocks. Took cards of all the shops
where they kept cards. Inquired about a
screw-wrench of several intelligent Jews who
were standing at their doors, but could learn
nothing about such an article. Made my way
hastily through Thames Street to St. Paul's,
and on arriving at Ludgate Hill could not for
the life of me recollect what I had come
there for. Very vexatious. Walked anxiously
up Fleet Street at a prodigious pace, and
back again. Wanted to buy something at
nearly every shop, useful for Australia, and
which could not be got there. Felt as if I
could walk any distance. Continually thinking
of my visit to Arrowsmith. Wondered if he
would talk much of his travels and
adventures to induce me to join him.

Went to tea with aunt in the evening. She
very good and kind about intended
expedition, which now seemed almost certain.
Found her conversation, after a time, become
scarcely tolerable. So sedate, and dull, and
commonplace, and all about the old past, and
worsted stockings, and things.

Saturday, May 22nd.—Arrowsrnith's lodgings
—half-an-hour before my time, and he
not down. Wondered he could sleep at peace
with such a new world of affairs on his mind.
Breakfast-table laid—ham, dry toast in plated
rack, eggs, watercresses, &c., and a large
bottle of green and scarlet Indian pickle,
brought over by himself, no doubt.
Something lying on the cloth, loosely folded in
half a sheet of the Times. Partly open at one
end—saw the muzzle of a rifled pistol, of
course a revolver. Made a note immediately
in my memorandum book as to revolver.
Indispensable. Wondered Arrowsmith had
not been up since six o'clock, preparing.
Expected hardly to know him. He would be
very much larger and immensely taller since
he was at old Tucker's with me—also having
a very different sort of face, much bronzed,
with scars on the cheek and forehead from
bullets and bursting shells, and cutlasses or
tomahawks, and having a fierce eye, fit to
pitch upon a new digging of a rich kind, and
keep it. A slip of paper lying on the
chimney-piece; could not help seeing that it was
covered with figures and notes, no doubt of
things he meant to purchase, and calculations
of expenses—perhaps of gold dust of different
degrees of purity, or of mining and engineering
operations. Up half the night at it, very
likely.

A light foot on the stairs, the door ajar—
and in walked a little white wiry-haired
Scotch terrier, who cocked his ears at me, and
held his head on one side, but said nothing.
Clock struck nine, another light foot on the
stairs, and in came Arrowsmith. He walked
straight up to me, and shook hands with a
cordial smile, and instantly began to talk
about our old school-days, just as if we had
been there a few weeks ago. He went on in
this easy way, scarcely looking at me—patting
his dog, making the coffee and boiling eggs in
bachelor fashion, and asking very kindly after
my aunt, though he had never seen her. He was
really very little altered—though considerably