he prairies, the "expedition"
was successful beyond all expectation. No sooner was the bed of the
river laid bare, than gold was discovered in quantities, and the
"washers," despising the slower process of "sifting," betook themselves
to the pick and the "barreta," like their comrades. It was a season of
rejoicing, and, so far as our humble means permitted, of festivity; for
though abounding in gold, our daily food was buffalo and "tough doe,"
unseasoned by bread or anything that could prove its substitute. If the
days were passed in successful labor, the evenings were prolonged with
narratives of the late discoveries, and gorgeous imaginings of the
future as each fancied the bright vista should be. Some were for a life
of unbounded excess and dissipation,--the "amende," as they deemed
it, for all their toil and endurance; others anticipated a career of
splendor and display in the Old World. The Frenchman raved of Paris and
its cafes and restaurants, its theatres and its thousand pleasures. A
few speculated upon setting forth on fresh expeditions with better means
of success. Halkett alone bethought him of home and of an aged mother,
in the far-away valley of Llanberris, whose remainder of life he longed
to render easy and independent.

Nor was it the least courageous act of his daring life to avow such a
feeling among such associates. How they laughed at his humility! how
they scoffed at the filial reverence of the Gambusino! Few of them had
known a parent's care. Most were outcasts from their birth, and started
in life with that selfish indifference to all others which is so often
the passport to success. I saw this, and perceived how affection and
sympathy are so much additional weight upon the back of him "who enters
for the plate of Fortune;" but yet my esteem for Halkett increased from
that moment. I fancied that his capacity for labor and exertion was
greater from the force of a higher and a nobler impulse than that which
animated the others; and I thought I could trace to this source the
untiring energy for which he was conspicuous above all the rest. It
was evident, too, that this "weakness," as they deemed it, had sapped
nothing of his courage, nor detracted in aught from his resolute
daring,--ever foremost, as he was, wherever peril was to be confronted.

I ruminated long and frequently over this, to me, singular trait of
character,--whole days as I rambled the prairies alone in search of
game; the tedious h