DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 37 



way, were at work for him every day for weeks 

 together, and the clothes they made looked very 

 suited for digging gold ; and the double set of tools 

 that Thomas King, the blacksmith, made would 

 dig up anything. His boxes were packed with 

 everything that could be suggested by kind-hearted 

 folk, and in every corner that could hold nothing 

 else was his mother's and sister's love. 

 This was Jack's letter : 



" No doubt you will be surprised to hear from 

 me after so long an absence but I have been ill and 

 down on my luck. My misfortunes commenced on 

 the passage out and it was all about a woman. She 

 was travelling alone ander the captain's guardian- 

 ship to relatives in Melbourne and she was such an 

 angel, mother, that every one of us fell in love with 

 her. I thought I was the one she favoured most 

 but I suppose she found a difficulty in choosing 

 from amongst so many. Go where she would the 

 other fellows were buzzing round her like a swarm 

 of bees and it was just this crowding that led to 

 her falling overboard. She was standing by an 

 opening in the bulwarks when a sailor had to force 

 his way past the stupid asses that were gathered 

 round, and she got pushed into the sea. The 

 fellows, I amongst them, dived in like rats from 

 off a rick of corn when the ferrets are first put in. 

 Fortunately a boat was at the stern and we were 

 all picked up. The captain seemed much put out 

 and made us stand in line while he walked along 

 our front with the dripping yet lovely girl. * Now, 

 my dear,' said he, 'the best thing you can do is 

 to take your choice.' She passed us each in turn 



