Page 126 - In A New World

responsibility, but I don't think I should mind taking the responsibility."

"That's my idee, Harry. I am afraid there isn't much chance of our having
that responsibility, but there's one thing we can do if we don't make the

claim pay."

"What's that, Obed?"

"We can join the bushrangers."

"Will you set us the example?" asked Harry, smiling.

"I'm not quite desperate enough yet. We'll try the claim a little longer. But
I'm gettin' tuckered out. We'll go and get some dinner and then start diggin'

again."

They repaired to their cabin, and solaced themselves with food. Then they

threw themselves down in the shadow of the cabin to rest, and Obed pulled
out his pipe. This was a solace which the boys didn't enjoy. They were

sensible enough to know, that, whatever may be said of men, boys only
receive injury from the use of tobacco. In the resolution to abstain, they
were upheld and encouraged by Obed, who, veteran smoker as he was, did

not approve of smoking.

"You're better off without it, boys," he said. "It won't do you no good. I
wish I could leave it off."

"Why don't you?" asked Harry.

"Easier said than done, my boy. Let me see, I was only turned of thirteen
when I used to slink off to the barn and smoke, for I knew father wouldn't
let me if he knew it. It made me sick at first, but I thought it was makin' a

man of me, and I kept on. Well, the habit's on me now, and it's hard to
break. It don't hurt a man as much as a boy, but it don't do him any good,

either. Jack, did you ever smoke?"