Digging for Gold | Page 4

his orders. The fact is that Frank was not aware that his
straightforward earnest manner had commended him very strongly to
those, with whom he had lately come in contact. He was one of those
attractive men whose countenances express exactly what they feel, who
usually walk with a quick earnest step, if we may say so, and with a
somewhat downcast contemplative look. Frank knew well enough that
he was strong and tall, unusually so for his age, and therefore did not
continually assert the fact by walking as if he was afraid to fall forward,
which is a common practice among men who wish to look bigger than
they are. Besides, being an ardent student of nature, Frank was himself
natural, as well as amiable, and these qualities had endeared him to
many people without his being aware of it.
"Why, Joe!" he exclaimed, "what do you mean?"
"I mean wot I says, sir."

"Are you aware," said Frank, smiling, "that I do not possess a shilling
beyond the few dollars that I saved off my last month's salary?"
"I s'posed as much, sir."
"Then if you engage with me, as you express it, how do you expect to
be paid?"
"I don't expect to be paid, sir."
"Come, Joe, explain your meaning, for I don't pretend to be a diviner of
men's thoughts."
"Well, sir, this is how it is. W'en we got the sack the other day, says I to
myself, says I, now you're afloat on the world without rudder, compass,
or charts, but you've got a tight craft of your own,--somewhat scrubbed,
no doubt, with rough usage, but sound,--so it's time for you to look out
for rudder, compass, and charts, and it seems to me that thems to be
found with young Mister Allfrey, so you'd better go an' git him to
become skipper o' your ship without delay. You see, sir, havin' said that
to myself, I've took my own advice, so if you'll take command of me,
sir, you may steer me where you please, for I'm ready to be your
sarvant for love, seein' that you han't got no money."
"Most obliging of you," said Frank, laughing, "and by this offer I
understand that you wish to become my companion."
"Of coorse, in a country o' this kind," replied Graddy, "it's difficult,--I
might a'most say unpossible,--to be a man's sarvant without bein' his
companion likewise."
"But here is a great difficulty at the outset, Joe. I have not yet made up
my mind what course to pursue."
"Just so, sir," said the ex-seaman, with a look of satisfaction, "I know'd
you wouldn't be doin' that in a hurry, so I've comed to have a talk with
'e about it."

"Very good, sit down," said Frank, "and let us consider it. In the first
place, I regret to say that I have not been taught any trade, so that I
cannot become a blacksmith or a carpenter or anything of that sort. A
clerk's duties I can undertake, but it seems to me that clerks are not
much wanted here just now. Porterage is heavy work and rather slow. I
may be reduced to that if nothing better turns up, but it has occurred to
me that I might try painting with success. What would you say to that,
Joe?"
The man looked at Frank in surprise. "Well," said he, "people don't
look as if they wanted to paint their houses here, an' most of 'em's got
no houses."
"Why, man, I don't mean house-painting. It is portrait and landscape
painting that I refer to," said Frank, laughing.
Joe shook his head gravely. "Never do, Mr Frank--"
"Stop! if you and I are to be companions in trouble, you must not call
me Mister Frank, you must drop the mister."
"Then I won't go with 'e, sir, that's all about it," said Joe firmly.
"Very well, please yourself," said Frank, with a laugh; "but if painting
is so hopeless, what would you advise?"
"The diggin's," answered Joe.
"I thought so," said Frank, shaking his head.
"Most men out of work rush to the diggings. Indeed, many men are
fools enough to leave their work to go there, but I confess that I don't
like the notion. It has always appeared to me such a pitiful thing to see
men, who are fit for better things, go grubbing in the mud for gold."
"But what are men to do, Mr Frank, w'en they can't git no other work?"
"Of course it is better to dig than to idle or starve, or be a burden on
one's friends; nevertheless, I don't like the notion of it. I suppose,

however, that I must try it just now, for it is quite certain that we cannot
exist here