Yes;—­it was different from Trinity College, different from Babington, very different even from the less luxurious comfort of the house at Pollington.  The deck, even the second-class cabin, of the Goldfinder had been better than this.  And then they had no friend, not even an acquaintance, within some hundred miles.  The men around them were not uncivil.  Australian miners never are so.  But they were inquisitive, familiar, and with their half-drunken good-humour, almost repulsive.  It was about noon when our friends reached Henniker’s, and they were told that there would be dinner at one.  There was always ‘grub’ at one, and ‘grub’ at seven, and ‘grub’ at eight in the morning.  So one of the men informed them.  The same gentleman hoped that the strangers were not very particular, as the ‘grub,’ though plentiful was apt to be rough of its kind.

’You’ll have it a deal worse before you’ve done if you’re going on to Ahalala,’ said another.  Then Caldigate said that they did intend to go on to Ahalala.  ‘We’re going to have a spell at gold-digging,’ said he.  What was the use of making any secret of the matter?  ’We knowed that ready enough,’ said one of the men.  ’Chaps like you don’t come much to Nobble for nothing else.  Have you got any money to start with?’

‘A few half-crowns,’ said Dick, cautiously.

’Half-crowns don’t go very far here, my mate.  If you can spend four or five pounds a-week each for the next month, so as to get help till you know where you are, it may be you’ll turn up gold at Ahalala;—­but if not, you’d better go elsewhere.  You needn’t be afraid.  We ain’t a-going to rob you of nothing.’

‘Nor yet we don’t want nothing to drink,’ said another.

‘Speak for yourself, Jack,’ said a third.  ’But come;—­as these are regular new chums, I don’t care if I shout for the lot myself.’  Then the dirty old woman was summoned, and everybody had whisky all round.  When that was done, another generous man came to the front, and there was more whisky, till Caldigate was frightened as to the result.

Evil might have come from it, had not the old woman opportunely brought the ‘grub’ into the room.  This she chucked down on the table in such a way that the grease out of the dish spattered itself all around.  There was no tablecloth, nor had any preparation been made; but in the middle of the table there was a heap of dirty knives and forks, with which the men at once armed themselves; and each took a plate out of a heap that had been placed on a shelf against the wall.  Caldigate and Shand, when they saw how the matter was to be arranged, did as the other men.  The ‘grub’ consisted of an enormous lump of boiled beef, and a bowl of potatoes, which was moderate enough in size considering that there were in all about a dozen men to be fed.  But there was meat enough for double the number, and bread in plenty, but so ill-made as to be rejected by most of the men.  The potatoes were evidently the luxury;