CHAPTER III .-- The Gold-Seekers.
Two days later the lad was able to sit up in bed and to enter upon a discussion as to the future with Tom and the miner.

It was begun by the latter.
"I suppose you will be taking the first ship back as soon as you are strong enough ?" he said.
"I don't know, Dave; now I am here I should certainly like a run ashore for a few weeks and to see something of the country.

We have got twenty pounds between us; that will last for some time.

I should think we could get a passage back without having to pay on this side for it, and if there was any difficulty about it, we could work our way back; but Tom agrees with me, we should like to see something of the country first.
"I suppose in another fortnight I shall be all right again; but there is the doctor to pay.

I don't know what their charges are here, but I expect his bill will be a pretty long one.