Jack, who was a silent man, and somewhat melancholy, merely shook his head and ate his beef.

It may be presumed that he was fond of pickles, having taken so much trouble to provide them; but he said not a word of the injury to which he had been subjected.
'Them's a-going to Ahalala, Jack,' said the distributor of the potatoes, nodding his head to indicate the two new adventurers.
'Then they're a-going to the most infernal, mean, -- --, ---- break-heartedest place as God Almighty ever put on this 'arth for the perplexment of poor unfortunate -- -- -- -- miners.' This was Jack Brien's eloquence, and his description of Ahalala.

Before this he had not spoken a word, nor did he speak again till he had consumed three or four pounds of beef, and had swallowed two pannikins of tea.

Then he repeated his speech: 'There isn't so -- -- -- -- an infernal, mean, break-hearted a place as Ahalala,--not nowhere; no, not nowhere.

And so them chums'll find for theirselves if they go there.' Then his neighbour whispered into Caldigate's ear that Jack had gone to Ahalala with fifty sovereigns in his pocket, and that he wasn't now worth a red cent.
'But there is gold there ?' asked Caldigate.
'It's my belief there's gold pretty much everywhere, and you may find it, or you mayn't.