Reference was made to a young man from Brooklyn, a fellow passenger on the ship Nantucket, who had acquired the reputation of a dude, and had afforded much amusement to all on board. He will be remembered by the readers of the preceding volume, "Facing the World."
The boys did not set out on their journey empty-handed. Lucy, by direction of her father, had packed a basket with provisions enough to last them two or three days. The shepherd wished also to lend them some money, but this Harry declined.
"We might not be able to pay it back," he said.
"I shan't miss it, lads, if you don't," urged the shepherd.
"We might be robbed of it as we were of our other money, sir. We thank you all the same."
But they gladly accepted the basket of provisions, without which, indeed, they might have fared badly in that uninhabited wilderness.
"How far is it to Bendigo?" Harry had asked the shepherd.
"Twenty-five miles, or thereabouts," was the answer.
"If it were a straight road and good travelling we might be there by night."! "But it is neither. You will be fortunate if you reach there in three or four days."
"Give us the direction, and we will try it, sir."