"Goody!" he said, striding up. "Anything amiss?"
The stranger started back at first, and looked not a little frightened. Then he took the lamp and inspected our hero carefully, while it was as much as the latter could do to return his glances. That odious accusation, the fact that he was an escaping criminal, had almost robbed his youthful face of its refreshing frankness.
"My word! Thought you was that villain George at first," said the stranger. "Jest see here. I hired him out to look after the hosses and act the professional man. He took good wages too. And he's jest bolted. Said as he'd follow, and hasn't. Met him on the road?"
Jack shook his head. "Seen no one," he said.
"Wall, that jest proves it. He's done a bolt, and my tin box has gone with him. Guess it's lucky I cleared the cash last night. What might you be doin'?"
"Travelling west," said Jack.
"Business?" asked the stranger.
"N-n-no. Just travelling west," answered Jack. "I'm making for the diggings."
"Oh!" exclaimed the little man. "Likely enough you're goin' to meet friends there."
"I haven't any," said Jack, shaking his head, and thinking rather bitterly of his position.