a hedge and stood in the light of the open door.

"We've only waited near an hour for you," said the first man. "If you've
orders to be on time, be on time. D'you expect the whole push to dance
attendance on you?"

"Now, Dolphin, draw it mild. That blame pretty girl at The Lucky Digger
kept me, an' wouldn't let me go, though I told her I had a most
important engagement."

"Petticoats an' _our_ business don't go together," gruffly responded
Dolphin. "Best give 'em a wide berth till we've finished our work here
and got away."

The two men entered the house, and the door was shut.

At a bare, white-pine table sat two other men, the sour-faced Garstang
and the young fellow who answered to the name of Sweet William.

"Come in, come in," said the latter, "and stop barrackin' like two old
washerwomen. Keep yer breath to discuss the biz."

Dolphin and Carnac drew chairs to the table, on which stood a guttering
candle, glued to the wood with its own grease.

"Charming residence," remarked Carnac, elegant in a black velvet coat,
as he glanced round the bare and battered room.

"Sweet William Villa," said the young man. "I pay no rent; and mighty
comfortable it is too, when you have a umberella to keep out the rain."

"Our business," said the pugnacious-looking Dolphin, "is to square up,
which hasn't been done since we cleaned out the digger that William
hocussed."

He drew a handful of notes and gold from his pocket, and placed it on
the table.

"Gently," said Sweet William, who took Carnac's hat, and placed it over
the money. "Wait till I fix my blind." Snatching a blanket from a bed
made upon the bare floor, he hung it on two nails above the window, so
as to effectually bar the inquisitive gaze of chance wayfarers. "Damme,
a bloke would think you wanted to advertise the firm and publish our
balance-sheet." Stepping down to the floor, he replaced Carnac's hat
upon its owner's head, and said "Fire away."

Each man placed his money in front of him, and rendered his account.
Then Dolphin took all the money, counted it, and divided it into four
equal heaps, three of which he distributed, and one of which he
retained.

"Fifty-seven quid," said Sweet William, when he had counted his money.
"A very nice dividend for the week. I think I'll give up batching here,
and live at The Lucky Digger and have a spree."

"Not much, William," broke in Dolphin. "Keep yourself in hand, my son.
Wait till we've made our real haul and