“So am I. There’s no one out there that I cared to make a friend of. It’s ‘every man for himself, and devil take your neighbor.’ Perhaps I was as bad as the rest. But I feel an interest in you, and whether you find any gold or don’t find any, you’ll need a friend. Perhaps you’ll need one more if you are successful than if you fail. What is your name?”
“Harry Raymond.”
“And mine is John Bush. I would give you my card if I had any, but they don’t care about such things at the mines. Will you take supper with me?”
“No, thank you; I shall be expected back.”
“Have a cigar, then?”
“I never smoke, Mr. Bush.”
“So much the better, Harry. But it’s second nature to me, and I can’t leave off. Let me see, what day is it?”
“Friday.”
“Then Monday we will start. Call and see me before that time.”
“I’ll call to-morrow afternoon.”