ike had taken
the twenty-four feet in the direction in which the lead seemed to be
running, and now he lined out a shaft about four feet by two feet, and
commenced sinking. He dug down to the depth of his waist, and at sunset
the mates returned to Forest Creek. That night the teamster arrived with
their goods, and Done and Burton slept under canvas, the tent having been
hastily thrown across a hurdle to provide a screen from the glowing
moonlight, the trees here being stunted and widely scattered.

'So you're a wrestler, Jim said Mike, when they had turned in for the
night.

'I know a fall or two,' answered Done.

'You put Long Aleck down on his chin in short order, an' he fancied his
mutton, I can tell you. Know how to turn a fist to the best advantage,
too, don't you? That Geordie's an old sailor who's been through the mill.
I know the breed. You stopped him like a stone wall. I'm satisfied I
struck it lucky when we met.'

'Glad you think I'll be useful. I don't seem to have been of much account
up to now.

'Useful! A man's got to fight 'r knuckle under. The rushes ain't peopled
with penny saints. You've got to punch a few to get yourself respected.'

Done was not long learning the truth of this. He found in time that the
feats of arms he had mastered with the idea of impressing his enemies in
Chisley were his most valuable accomplishments in Australia.

Next day the mates carted their belongings to their claim, and the
morning was spent in erecting the tent, rigging bunks, and making things
shipshape. They got to work in the shaft again after dinner, Done taking
his first lesson in sinking. Within two hours they came upon the wash
dirt, the sinking at Diamond Gully being very shallow. While they were
busy Jack Thorn, the Geordie, came up from the creek and approached them,
grinning broadly, and hiding something under his hat.

'Hope yer eyesight's good, mates,' he said. 'I've got a bit of a dazzler
here to spring on you. What d'yer think o' that?' He removed his hat, and
exposed a pint pannikin filled to the brim with clean, coarse nuggets.

'Whew!' whistled Jim. 'You've hit it thick.'

'Yes,' he said. 'That's from three buckets off the bottom. I s'pose
you'll get her just ez good. My mate's got a few ounces o' finer stuff.
We're mightily obliged to you boys for puttin' us in this hole.'

'You're welcome,' said Mike, grinning. 'We did it for your own good.'

'What weight is there in that?' asked Done.