both sides of the narrow road were
evidences that many teams had passed that way recently, for the refuse
of camp stuff, broken boxes and barrels, and things that the miners had
thrown away as useless, littered the ground.

As Fred made a turn in the road, he saw, just ahead of him, an old man,
mounted on a small donkey. The man's legs were so long, and the donkey
so little, that the rider's shoes nearly touched the ground.

Either the animal was lazy, or it was unable to carry the load on its
back,--for the man had a big bundle on the saddle before him,--and the
donkey went at a very slow pace. So slow, in fact, that Fred soon caught
up to the rider.

"Good-morning," the boy said.

"Ah, stranger, good-morning," was the man's answer. "I see you are
headed for the same place I am."

"I don't know whether it's the same place or not, but I'm going to New
Strike," said Fred.

"So am I, if this donkey lasts the trip out. He's awful slow, stranger.
What might your name be?"

"Fred Stanley."

"Where you from?"

"Piddock."

"Hum. Well I'm Bill Gardner. Old Bill Gardner, they mostly calls me."

"And where are you from?" asked Fred, thinking it only polite to
manifest some interest in the rider.

"Me? Oh, I ain't from nowhere in particular. I make my home wherever I
happen to drop my pick and shovel. I'm a prospector," and Fred noticed
that, in addition to his bundle, the old man had a set of mining tools.

"Are you going to locate at New Strike?" asked Fred.

"That's what I am. I heard there was some rich pockets there, and I want
to get my share. G'lang there, you jack rabbit!" and the man jerked the
donkey's reins.

"That's a queer name for a donkey," commented Fred.

"Well, this is a queer donkey. I call him a jack rabbit because he's so
different. He wouldn't jump if you fired a cannon off right under him."

"Did you ever try it?"

"No, but he stood right near a blast one day, when it went off before I
was ready for it, and all he done was to wiggle one ear a bit, as though
a fly had bit him. Oh, he's the slowest donkey I ever saw, and I've seen
some pretty lazy ones. But do you expect to do any prospecting in New
Strike? Where's your outfit?"

"I haven't any."

"Guess you'll find it pretty hard to pick up one in the camps. Every
man'll want his own."

"Oh, I don't expect to look for gold."

"What are you going to look for then?"

"A job. I heard they wanted drivers for the ore carts at the sta