CHAPTER XLV.

A YOUNG GIRL’S ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF HER LOVER.

We speedily prepared a good breakfast, and invited our protege to satisfy his appetite, for he looked hungry and appeared hungry; but to our surprise he manifested some reluctance to eating before us, and not all of our rallying could overcome his diffidence.

“Come, come, take hold and eat heartily,” I said, “and don’t appear like a young girl in the presence of her beau.  Your modesty is all thrown away in the mines of Australia.”

“You know me, then?” he asked, in a sad tone, and his head was bent low to hide his blushes, which covered his face like a thick coating of rouge.

“Know you? not we; but that is what we are anxious about, and after breakfast you must tell us what freak drove you to this country, and how it happened that you were in Tom’s tent at such an early hour in the morning.”

“I was weary,” he said, making a desperate effort to appear at his ease, “and having no money, I thought that I would rest myself where I should not be called upon to pay for lodgings.  When I first went there the tent was unoccupied; but when I awoke, I found that the men had returned while I was asleep, and then they accused me of stealing their gold dust, and would have beaten me had you not interfered.”

“I have no doubt of that, my lad,” I answered, “and I see that they used you rather roughly, at any rate.  One, of the brutes has knocked off a piece of skin from your neck.”

“You had better have a little salve rubbed upon your bruises, for wounds in this country have to be attended to without delay,” Fred said.

I went to my trunk and got all the healing ointment that we possessed, and offered it for his use—­but he firmly declined, and declared that he did not suffer from the effect of his bruises, and that they would soon be well.  I turned away disappointed, and inclined to be angry, which the young fellow saw in a moment.

“Don’t be cross with me,” he said, in such a soft, pleading tone, and he looked into my face with his gentle eyes so full of tears, that all my resentment was banished in a moment.  “I will work for you as hard as my strength will allow, but please don’t be cross,” the boy repeated; “I am very grateful for what you have done for me, and know that I shall never be able to repay you; but don’t be cross, will you?”

“No, no; we will never use a cross word to you,” Fred said, laying his hand upon the boy’s head and patting his check, both of which actions seemed to cause the young fellow excessive alarm.  “You may stay here in the store as long as you please, and we will pay you for your labor.  When you wish to go, say so, and we will part company without any ill-feeling.”

The boy seemed grateful for our kindness, but he did not express it in words; and while he and Fred were talking I rummaged my trunk, and found a number of articles of clothing that were suitable for him, and in which he stood in great need, his garments being somewhat the worse for wear.