queer eyes twinkling with mistrust as
they followed the course of a game which was being played. In the
middle of the table was a heap of counters covered by a bowl, under
which the players put their hands, and drew out a number of them at a
time, which they counted with a long stick, and then the heaps of money
changed owners, but on what grounds we could in no way discover.

"You laugh at those odd little Chinese, and think them fail objects to
joke about," observed the captain; "but we must remember that they are
men with souls to be saved, responsible beings, like the unhappy people
in that gorgeous saloon we were in just now. The vice in which we have
seen them indulging is the same, though, as their light is less, they
may be less to blame. My hope is, that what you have seen to-night will
make you wish never to see the same sights again."

In the public room of the hotel, where we remained for the night, a
number of people were collected from all parts of the world. Some had
been at the diggings; some had made money; several had come back as poor
as they went, and much the worse in health; others were about to go up
to try their fortunes, with secret hopes of succeeding where others had
failed. The conversation of many of them was very amusing. One man
especially interested us by the account he gave of his first journey up
the country. He was evidently, from the tone of his voice and manners,
a gentleman by education, though in appearance as rough and
weather-beaten as a navvy who has put on a black coat for Sunday. He
addressed himself to us, as he probably thought that we had come out to
turn gold-diggers, and he wished to warn us of the dangers to be
encountered.

"I had a good appointment in England, but I wanted to become rich in a
hurry, so I threw it up, and came out here," he began. "You may doubt
the wisdom of the proceeding; so do I now. I had a companion, and with
him and the mate of the ship I arrived in, as also her carpenter and a
Chinese boy, I arranged to go up the country. With the implements we
had provided, and as much food as we could carry, we got on board a
small schooner, bound up the river to Stockton. We had on board a
strange assemblage of people. Many of them looked quite capable of
cutting our throats. They were mostly armed, and bowie-knives and
revolvers were constantly exhibited. When after two days' voyage we
landed, we were glad to get into a wretched hut, where