"Hand it back, I'll translate it for you. It is from a man I employ to
go out prospecting, and he's struck new ground about a hundred miles
from the Great Tom Mine. It is rich, precious rich, and we are going to
have the pitch, my friend. You can put all the 'ready' you have on to
it, and I'll do the rest. Keep enough for your stay here, of course, but
this is a big affair, and we must not miss it. I know my man, and can
trust him; he never goes wrong, and he doesn't tell lies. He says the
country is richer than the Great Tom. Do you know what that means?"
Jack gasped, "Richer than the Great Tom. Impossible!" he exclaimed.
"All things are possible in gold hunting," said Barry. "I shouldn't
wonder if there was a nugget as big as a horse's head, only no one has
had the luck to find it yet. It means hundreds of thousands of pounds,
my young friend, it means that we are going to scoop the pool, and that
we are not going to lose our heads, or go frantic, or howl out to the
multitude how clever we are, and that other men are mere fools to us.
Dear me, no, we are going to sit tight. I'm not even going to wire. I
don't like wires, they leak," said Barry, with a laugh.
"Then what are you going to do? How are you going to communicate with
him?" asked Jack.
"I am going myself," was the quiet reply.
"What!" exclaimed Jack.
"Fact; quite true, I assure you. There's a steamer leaves in the
morning, and I'm off. We must not lose a chance, and I am the only man
to attend to this affair. You can remain here and see after the horses,
win the Sydney Cup; do what you like; but I must go. There's no help for
it, and if you'll think for a moment you will see I am right."
Jack knew he was acting for the best, but he was sorry almost that the
find had been discovered. He also knew what a keen disappointment it
would be to Barry to miss seeing the horses run.
"It is a jolly shame," said Jack.
"Never mind that; I consider we are in luck's way. We shall be pulling
the string at both ends and may land a big double. I would not miss this
chance for anything. You want a fortune. You came out here for one, and
by the powers you shall have it."
"Listen to me, Jack; you shall go home and marry the girl of your heart.
I don't care whether her father is a Duke or a Marquis, or what he is.
You shall have her, if we have to buy him over with thousands. There's
more than that if this thing pans out all right, as it must. I'll go
with you to beard the lion in his den; how will that fit in?"
"You mean it?" said Jack. "You will return to England with me?"
"Honour bright."
"Then I am glad this has happened. I would sooner have you as my
companion on my return than any man, and Sir Lester will give you a
hearty English welcome."
"He'll not take to a fellow like me."
"That he will. He's not a man to stand on his dignity where Barry
Tuxford is concerned. You shall be my best man at the wedding, is that a
bargain?"
"You're hurrying up," laughed Barry. Jack joined in his merriment and
said--
"It is your fault, you are always hurrying; and I have got into your
way."
"Don't forget while I am away to keep all this dark. You are sure to be
asked hundreds of questions when they know I have gone. You'll have to
rack your brains to concoct some cock and bull story for them, but I
have no doubt you will succeed."
Barry was not long in making his preparations, and next morning he had
left Sydney without anyone being aware of it.
Jack felt in the same condition as Barry had done when he lost his pal
Jake--he was lonely.