ot give Ah-wow's answer to this question, seeing
that it was never given, in consequence of Bill being suddenly called
away by Ned Sinton, as he and his friends turned to go.

"Come, Bill, let's be off."

"Ay, ay, sir," answered Bill, turning from the Chinaman and following
his comrades with solemn stolidity, or, if you prefer the expression,
with stolid solemnity.

"Don't linger, Larry," shouted Tom Collins.

"Ah! thin, it's cruel to tear me away. Good-night to ye, Bow-wow, we'll
be back before mornin', ye purty creature." With this affectionate
farewell, Larry ran after his friends and followed them down the banks
of the tumbling stream towards the `R'yal Bank o' Calyforny,' which was
destined that night, for a time at least, to close its doors.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE NEW DIGGINGS--BRIGHT PROSPECTS--GREAT RESULTS SPRING FROM GREAT
EXERTIONS, EVEN IN CALIFORNIA--CAPTAIN BUNTING IS SEIZED WITH A GREAT
PASSION FOR SOLITARY RAMBLING, AND HAS TWO DESPERATE ENCOUNTERS; ONE
WITH A MAN, THE OTHER WITH A REAR.

The part of the Little Creek diggings to which the gold-hunters
transported their camp, was a wild, secluded spot, not much visited by
the miners, partly on account of its gloomy appearance, and partly in
consequence of a belief that the Celestials located there were getting
little or no gold. In this supposition they were correct. Ah-wow and
Ko-sing being inveterately lazy, contented themselves with digging just
enough gold to enable them to purchase a sufficiency of the necessaries
of life. But the region was extremely rich, as our adventurers found
out very soon after their arrival. One of the ravines, in particular,
gave indications of being full of gold, and several panfuls of earth
that were washed out shewed so promising a return, that the captain and
Larry were anxious to begin at once. They were overruled, however, by
the others, who wished to make trial of the bed of the stream.

Six days of severe labour were undergone by the whole party ere their
task was accomplished, during which period they did not make an ounce of
gold, while, at the same time, their little store was rapidly melting
away. Nevertheless, they worked heartily, knowing that a few days of
successful digging would amply replenish their coffers. At grey dawn
they set to work; some, with trousers tucked up, paddling about in the
water all day, carrying mud and stones, while others felled trees and
cut them into logs wherew