Harry did not reply, but quietly resolved that he would disprove that statement.
CHAPTER III. — FLETCHER ACTS SUSPICIOUSLY.
One circumstance led Harry to hurry his intended departure. He found to his dismay that the hotel charge for their very plain accommodations was a pound a day for each of them. The Crown inn was what would be called in an American city a one-horse hotel. There are plenty such to be found in the United States where the rate charged is but a dollar a day. But Melbourne was full of strangers, drawn thither by flaming accounts of the richness of the mines and the bright prospects of acquiring sudden fortunes, and war prices were prevalent everywhere.
"Five dollars a day!" exclaimed Jack in open-eyed amazement. "Do they take us for millionaires?"
"I began to think they were imposing upon us," said Harry, "till I made inquiries elsewhere. I find a pound a day is about the usual tariff for such accommodations as we have."
"But we have only a small bedroom, and the meals are very common."
"That is true, but it seems to make no difference."
"Our money will soon be gone at that rate," said Jack soberly. "Mine is already gone."