“Yes, there’s that advantage about being poor. It reminds me of old Jack Pierce in our village.”
“What about him?” asked Harry.
“He read in the paper one day that a certain bank had burst. So he went home in a hurry to see if he had any bills on that bank. He found that he had no bills on that bank—or any other—and then he felt better.”
Harry laughed.
“It was a poor consolation, I think,” he said. “I remember hearing a sermon from our minister at home in which he said that riches were a great responsibility, but I don’t think I should mind taking the responsibility.”
“That’s my idea, Harry. I am afraid there isn’t much chance of our having that responsibility, but there’s one thing we can do if we don’t make the claim pay.”
“What’s that, Obed?”
“We can join the bushrangers.”
“Will you set us the example?” asked Harry, smiling.
“I’m not quite desperate enough yet. We’ll try the claim a little longer. But I’m gettin’ tuckered out. We’ll go and get some dinner, and then start diggin’ again.”