party of
my countrymen. Some little time since I started from Oregon with a
prospecting party that was organised to hunt up various openings for the
employment of capital in mining, and other speculative enterprises.
With this party I crossed the Rocky Mountains, and went about from place
to place, until about three days ago, when, while shooting amongst these
hills of yours, either I lost them or they lost me, and here I have been
wandering about ever since by myself, and would probably have come to
grief if I had not met you. By profession I am a mining engineer, but
the mine I had come from England to work turned out badly, and I
accepted another engagement, thinking to do a little sporting and
exploring on my own account before returning to England--nice sport I've
found it, too!"

Mr Rawlings gave the stranger an earnest invitation to spend a day or
two with them down at the creek.

The visitor readily accepted; and the game being lifted and slung on
poles, the party started for the camp, Mr Rawlings strolling on with
his new acquaintance, and the others following, talking earnestly
together.

Arrived at the house, Mr Rawlings laughingly apologised for its state
of dilapidation, but assured the visitor that it was far more
comfortable than it looked.

Seth came to the doorway, and the other miners gathered round, to
inspect both the welcome supply of fresh food and the stranger.

"This is Seth Allport, my lieutenant and manager," Mr Rawlings said.
"Seth, this is Mr Wilton, an English mining engineer."

"Jerusalem!" exclaimed Seth. "Now, who would have thought that?"

"You seem surprised at my being an engineer," said Ernest Wilton,
laughing at Seth's exclamation: for even the hungry miners, who had been
previously clustered in groups around Josh and Jasper, surveying the
cooking arrangements of the two darkeys with longing eyes, appeared to
forget the claims of their appetites for the moment on the announcement
of what evidently was a welcome piece of news, as they incontinently
abandoned the grateful sight of the frizzling mutton, that was also
sending forth the most savoury odours, and joined the leaders of the
party who were interviewing the young Englishman. "I shouldn't have
thought one of my profession by any means a strange visitor."

"It isn't the surprise, mister," replied Seth cordially. "No, that
ain't it, quite, I reckon. It's the coincidence, as it were, at this
particular time, mister