“Yes,” I answered.
“Some of the lads,” came the answer, “told me you were going to hit the trail again.”
“I’m off to-morrow night.”
“Where away?”
“Somewhere to the east.”
The Australian fell silent a moment, and his voice sounded as if he were apologizing when he spoke again:
“I quit my job to-day. There’s the plague and the summer coming on, and they expected me to take orders from a babu manager.
“I’d like to leave Calcutta and go to Hong-Kong. Do you think you’ll come anywhere near there?”
“I expect to be there inside of a couple of months.”
“How if I go with you?” murmured James. “I’ve had some experience tramping round Australia after kangaroos.”