"All the gold in Victoria could not buy that Bible Dick."
"I don't think it could, Tom."
"And yet I was told that you swore to burn my Bible, when you could lay hands on it."
"Whoever told you so told a lie. I'm not very sober, but you can believe me."
"I do. We're both been put upon by Steve. He told me you swore this, and you may guess my blood was up."
"I should think so. But why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Because Steve made me promise not to say anything about it. I suppose he made you promise the same."
Richard nodded, and said, half musingly, "What could be his motive?"
"Never mind his motive. To-morrow morning we share the gold, and when we have squared up, we'll break with Steve, and you and I will stick together as mates, if you like. I'll tell him my opinion of him, too. Shake hands again, Dick."
They shook hands once more, and the two were friends again. Softened by the reconciliation, they fell into confidential conversation.