be as well not," said one of the other party drily, "on
account of the flour and sugar and tea. I always said you ought to
swim, Bob, old man."

"So you did, mate," said the big fellow, with a chuckle. "And as soon
as it gets warm enough I'm going to learn."

That night they reached the foot of the lake where the rocky walls
closed in, forming a narrow ravine, through which the great body of
water seemed to be emptying itself with a roar, the aspect of the place
being dangerous enough to make the party pole to the shore at the first
likely landing-place and camp for the night.

The evening was well upon them by the time they had their fire alight,
and after a hearty meal their couch of pine-boughs proved very welcome.

"Sounds ominous, Dal," said Abel. "I hope we shall get safely through
in the morning."

"We must," was the reply. "Don't think about it; we ought to be
hardened enough to do anything now. How's your head?"

"A bit achey sometimes. And your shoulder?"

There was no reply, for, utterly wearied out with poling the raft,
Dallas was asleep, leaving only one of the party to watch the expiring
embers of the fire, and listen to the rapids' deep humming roar.

Abel did not keep awake, though, long. For after getting up to satisfy
himself that the raft was safe, he lay down again, meaning to watch till
the fire was quite out, though there was not the slightest danger of
their being attacked. The only way an enemy could have approached was
by water, and it was with a calm, restful sense of satisfaction that the
young man stretched himself out on the soft boughs as he said to
himself, "There isn't a boat on the lake, and it would take any party
two days to make a raft."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

FROM THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE WET FIRE.

"We could not have better weather, Bel," said Dallas, as they finished
the next morning's breakfast. "Summer is coming."

"Rather a snowy summer," was the reply; "but never mind the cold: let's
try wherever we halt to see if there is any gold; those fellows are
getting out their tins."

A few minutes later all were gold-washing on the shore, their Cornish
friend having cast loose a shovel, and given every person a charge of
sand and stones from one of the shallows, taking his shovelfuls from
places a dozen yards or so apart.

Then the washing began in the bright sunshine, with the same results--a
few tiny specks of colour, as the men termed their glittering scal