"We should find it hotter in the regions of his Satanic Majesty than
here; but that is something that concerns you alone, as no doubt you are
fully aware."

Fred uttered a grunt--he was too warm to laugh, and I again returned to
the charge.

"Gold mines have been discovered in Australia, and ships are up at San
Francisco for Melbourne. A party of twenty left there last week, and
more are to follow."

There was no reply, and I continued:--

"It is stated in this paper that a man took out a lump of gold weighing
one hundred and twenty pounds, and that he had been but ten days in the
mines when he found it."

"What?" cried Fred, suddenly sitting up, and wiping the perspiration
from his brow.

I repeated the statement.

"It's a d----d lie," cried Fred.

"Then let's go and prove it so."

"How's the climate in that part of the world--hot or cold?"

"About the same as here."