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Updated: May 27, 2025
"Frank," said Mr Allfrey, somewhat solemnly, as he turned his gaze full on the animated face of his nephew, "if I could get you put into a lunatic asylum without a doctor's certificate I would do so without delay, but, that being impossible just now although I think it will be not only possible but necessary ere long I have to make you a final proposal.
Frank Allfrey and his friends heard the shout, and ran to the spot; but the administration of justice was so prompt that, before they reached it, the murderer was swinging by the neck to the branch of a tree. "Surely you have been too hasty," exclaimed Frank, advancing without any settled intention, but under an indefinable sense that wrong was being done.
"Eh!" exclaimed Mr Allfrey, with a look of surprise, as if he could not understand the readiness with which his nephew agreed to the proposal, "why, how's this? I had fully expected you to refuse. Remember, boy, it is not to be a romantic gold-digger, which is another name for a born idiot, that I would send you out to California. It is to be a clerk, a quill-driver. D'you understand?"
I may not be fit for much, and every day I live I feel bitterly the evil of a neglected education, but " "It's well, at all events," interrupted Mr Allfrey, "that you admit the fact of your having neglected it. That gives you some chance of amendment." Frank flushed again and drew his breath shortly; after a moment's silence he went on:
"I understand, uncle, perfectly," replied Frank with a smile. "The fact is that I had made up my mind, lately, not to oppose your wishes any longer, but to agree to go into an office at home. Of course it is more agreeable to me to think of going into one abroad." "I'm glad you take such a sensible view of the matter, Frank," said Mr Allfrey, much mollified.
Next morning the rain continued to pour incessantly, and Frank Allfrey had given the order to get ready for a start, when a loud shouting near the hut in which they had slept induced them to run out. A band of men were hurrying toward the tavern with great haste and much gesticulation, dragging a man in the midst of them, who struggled and protested violently.
Mr Allfrey," said Bradling, "I am innocent of this; I am an escaped convict, it is true, and I did try to kill that man Dick, who has given me provocation enough, God knows, but, as He shall be my judge at last, I swear I did not commit this murder. If you will cut the cords that bind my hands, you will prevent a cold-blooded murder being committed now. You saved my life once before.
With which sentiment Frank Allfrey heartily agreed, and thereafter fell asleep. Next day our gold-hunters and the rescued men reached the forest, and after resting a short time to recruit, continued their journey to the diggings.
Nevertheless Frank Allfrey did not like the life. Whatever else might arouse his ambition, he was evidently not one of those whose soul was set upon the acquisition of wealth. Although successful as a digger, and with more gold in his possession than he knew what to do with, he detested the dirty, laborious work of digging and dabbling in mud from morning till night.
No blame, therefore, to poor Frank that he grew up a half-educated youth, without fixed habits of study or thought, and with little capacity for close or prolonged mental exertion. Mr Allfrey entertained the ridiculous idea that there were only three grand objects of ambition in life, namely, to work, to eat and drink, and to sleep.
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