Jack did not answer, but from that time he was eager to set out for the mines. The hint of danger invested the journey with a charm it had not hitherto possessed in his eyes.
While the boys were conversing, a tall man, with heavy black whiskers and wearing a rough suit and a slouch hat, appeared to listen attentively. At this point he rose from his seat, and lounged over to where Harry and Jack were seated.
“Young gentlemen,” he said, “do I understand that you are thinking of going to the mines?”
“Yes, sir,” answered Harry, surveying his inquirer with some attention.
“And you talk of going to Bendigo?”
“Yes; do you know anything about the place?”
“I ought to. I only came from there last month.”
“What luck did you have there, may I ask?”
“Pretty fair. I brought back about a hundred and fifty pounds in gold-dust.”
“And how long were you there?”