we write, the party rode with difficulty down the
rugged banks of the river, which, roaring through a narrow valley, had
overflowed its banks, so that the trail was completely covered, the
horses being frequently up to the girths in water. In the course of the
day they came to a place where the trail passed along the face of a
lofty cliff of crumbling slate. The path was only just wide enough for
the horses to pass. On the right rose a perpendicular precipice. On
the left, a few yards below, the swollen waters of the Fraser roared and
boiled down their rocky bed with tremendous velocity. On turning a
projection they found the track barred by a huge rock which had recently
slipped down the mountain side. As it was impossible to pass the
obstacle either above or below, there was nothing for it but to cut down
trees, use them as levers, and dislodge the mass. It was discovered,
when they dismounted to undertake this task, that Larry O'Hale was
amissing. Will Osten had just uttered an exclamation of surprise, and
the others had not had time to reply to the question, "Hallo! what's
become of Larry?" when that worthy's voice was heard shouting in the
distance, and his horse's hoofs were heard clattering along the narrow
track as he approached at full gallop.

"Hooroo! howld on, doctor; hi' Bunco an' Ben, look here. Goold, avic,
goold, I've got it at long last, sure enough!"

"You've got rid of your senses at last," said Will, as his comrade
almost rode him down. "Have a care, man! What makes you ride at such a
pace?"

"Goold! goold! goold!" cried the excited Irishman, plucking a little bag
from his breast, leaping off his horse, and pouring the contents--a mass
of glittering lumps and particles--on a flat stone. "Didn't I tell ye I
was born to make my fortin' out o' goold? There's plenty more where
that comed from. Come back an' I'll show 'ee the place!"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Larry," said Will, examining the so-called
gold, "but I have seen this stuff before, and I believe it to be a
substance which is not worth its weight in brass. Many poor fellows
have been deceived by it before _now_."

Larry's face elongated very much at this. "What say _you_, Ben?" he
inquired.

"I fear me that it an't worth picking up," replied the trapper,
fingering the shining particles. "Leastwise I once collected a bag o'
the same an' showed it to a man in the settlements who got the credit o'
bein' a knowin' fellow