"When gold was discovered in these diggings, I gave up my hackney business, took an affectionate leave of my girl; and came out here. "I've been lucky; and I shall start to-morrow for Sydney. I shall find the one I love waiting for me--I hope, with some impatience; and, if I don't miscalculate time, we shall be married, before I've been a week in Sydney. "I am young, and have health and strength. With these advantages, I should not consider myself a man, if, in a new world like this, I allowed my warmest inclinations to be subdued by the selfish worldly influences, that control the thoughts and actions of European people." I believe the company were a little disappointed in the "Elephant's" story. From the remarkable character of the man, and the evidence of superior polish and education--exhibited both in his bearing and conversation--all had expected a more interesting narrative--something more than the tale he had told us, and which was altogether too simple to excite their admiration. Some of them could not help expressing their surprise--at what they pronounced the silliness of the "Elephant," in "sacking" a fine lady with _fifty thousand pounds_, and an aristocratic connection, for a poor Sydney sempstress. To many of them, this part of the story seemed scarce credible, though, for my part, I believed every word of it. Reasoning from what I knew of the character of the narrator, I felt convinced that he was incapable of telling an untruth--even to amuse his audience; and I doubted not that he had refused his rich English cousin; and was really going to marry the poor sewing girl of Sydney. In judging of the Elephant--to use his own words--I did not allow my "inclinations to be subdued by the selfish worldly influences, that control the thoughts and actions of European people." Volume Three, Chapter XVII. SAILOR BILL'S LIFE YARN. As the autobiography of the "Elephant," had been of too common-place a character to create any excitement, there was but little interruption in the proceedings; and Sailor Bill, according to the conditions, was next called upon to spin the yarn of his life. Without any formality, he at once responded to the call. "When a very small boy," began he, "I was what is called a gutter urchin, or `mud lark,' about the streets and docks of Liverpool. It was not exactly the business for which I had been intended. When very young, I had been bound apprentice to a trade I did not much like, and to a master I liked still less. In fact, I hated the master so much, as to run away both from him and his trade; and became a ragged wanderer in the streets. "The profits of this profession were not so great, as to allow me to contract habits of idleness, though, somehow or other, I managed to live by it for nearly a year.