36 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



Bobby. If you expect to get to Simonsbath to- 

 night perhaps it would be as well to see what 

 Bobby thinks about it. I'll drive you to the inn 

 and see you off, and if he is out of humour I'll take 

 you all the way." 



We had found Bobby most consistent in every- 

 thing that concerned the homeward journey ; as 

 usual he had to be held while we seated ourselves, 

 and then started off leaving quite a trail of dust, 

 and we reached home without trouble before the 

 glory of the setting sun had disappeared. 



In due course letters came for us ; amongst them 

 was one for my wife from her mother, with one 

 enclosed from brother Jack, posted in Melbourne, 

 at the sight of which she exclaimed : " Jack's 

 alive, Phil. Fancy his being alive after all these 

 years of silence ! I must cry, I know I must. Oh ! 

 fancy mother, I'm sure she wants me." 



" Steady, dear, steady. Now we shall know the 

 reason of Jack's being alive I mean of his not 

 writing." 



Jack was the bold bad boy that miched from 

 school with me and took his thrashings with such 

 Spartan-like courage. He was one of the multitude 

 that rushed to the Australian goldfields in 1853, 

 and being an only son a great fuss was made about 

 his going. All the mothers his mother knew gave 

 advice as to what he would need while on so long 

 a voyage, and conferences were held as to the 

 cakes and biscuits to be made and as to the best 

 method of preserving eggs. Some helped on the 

 sewing and talked of the prodigal's return with 

 gold, while others drank tea, talked sadly and 

 wept. Mr Holloway, the tailor, and Mrs Hollo- 



