ers' ethics, and went peacefully
to sleep on it, having by this time acquired complete confidence in
Burton's hiding-place.

When the mates had more gold than they could carry in their belts with
comfort, and trustworthy gold-buyers were not available, choosing a
suitable hour long after midnight, Burton dug a hole near the tent, Jim
keeping careful watch the while to make sure they were not observed. The
gold was placed in a pan, and buried in this hole, and after that the
camp-fire was built on the spot, and kept burning day and night. It never
occurred to anyone to look under the fire for hidden gold.

Their first claim was nearly worked out, and the two young men were busy
below digging out the last of the wash-dirt, when a voice calling down
the shaft caused both picks to be suspended simultaneously, and the mates
looked curiously into each other's faces in the dim candle-light.

Hello below, there!'

'Aurora!' said Mike.

Jim went up the rope suspended in the shaft hand over hand. Aurora was
standing by the windlass smiling down at him. The girl was remarkably
well dressed. The gown she wore was too florid, perhaps, for that sickly
refinement which abhors colour, but it suited her tall figure and her
hale and exuberant good looks. As he came up the shaft the picture she
made standing in the sunlight, with a background of sun-splashed,
vari-coloured tips, and one drowsing gum-tree fringed with the gold and
purple of young growth, gave him a thrill of joy, so vivid she seemed, so
fresh. She had occupied his mind little since the departure from Diamond
Gully; but seeing her again so radiant, he was glad through and through,
and laughed with pure delight when she met him at the shaft's mouth with
a kiss. Once upon his feet, he clasped her in his arms. Her walk along
the lead had attracted a good deal of attention, and the embrace was the
signal for a sympathetic cheer from the miners about, and the men whirled
their hats in the air.

'Arrah! Won't ye sarve the bla'gards all alike, darlin'?' cried a young
fellow on the left.

Aurora bowed low, and scattered kisses over the field with both hands,
winning another cheer. Jim watched her with pride. After all, she it was
who stood as his goddess of gaiety in the twelve months of absolutely
happy life that had marked the reaction from the brutal stupidity and
sourness of that other existence. He owed her much gratitude, much
tenderness. He kissed her again almost re