John had been attacked and killed for the sake of his gold, and the attackers and the gold had been taken hold of by the law; so far it said, and no further.

That the notion should occur to Frederick to go out to Melbourne, and lay claim to the gold and any other property left by John, was only natural.

He had been making up his mind to do so for the last three weeks; and perhaps the vision of essaying a little business in the gold-fields on his own account, urged him on.

But he had not fully made up his mind yet.

The journey was a long and hazardous one; and--he did not care to leave Sibylla.
"To be, or not to be ?" soliloquised he, from his seat on the gate, as he plucked thin branches off from the bare winter hedge, and scattered them.