our adventurers to become a sort of public nuisance. Larry had
frequently to go down the stream for provisions, and Ah-wow being given
to sleep when no one watched him, took advantage of those opportunities
to retire to his own tent; the consequence was, that strangers who
chanced to look in, in passing, frequently fell headlong into the hole
ere they were aware of its existence, and on more than one occasion
Larry returned and found a miner in the bottom of it with his neck
well-nigh broken.

To guard against this he hit upon the plan of putting up a cautionary
ticket. He purchased a flat board and a pot of black paint, with which
he wrote the words:

"MIND YER FEET THARS A BIG HOL," and fixed it up over the entrance. The
device answered very well in as far as those who could read were
concerned, but as there were many who could not read at all, and who
mistook the ticket for the sign of a shop or store, the accidents became
rather more frequent than before.

The Irishman at last grew desperate, and, taking Ah-wow by the pig-tail,
vowed that if he deserted his post again, "he'd blow out all the brains
he had--if he had any at all--an' if that wouldn't do, he'd cut him up
into mince-meat, so he would."

The Chinaman evidently thought him in earnest, for he fell on his knees,
and promised, with tears in his eyes, that he would never do it again--
or words to that effect.

One day Larry and Ah-wow were down in the hole labouring for gold as if
it were life. It was a terribly rainy day--so bad, that it was almost
impossible to keep the water out. Larry had clambered out of the hole,
and was seated on the top of the mud-heap, resting himself and gazing
down upon his companion, who slowly, but with the steady regularity of
machinery, dug out the clay, and threw it on the heap, when a voice
called from without--

"Is this Mr Edward Sinton's tent?"

"It is that same," cried Larry, rising; "don't come in, or it'll be
worse for ye."

"Here's a letter for him, then, and twenty dollars to pay."

"Musha! but it's chape postage," said Larry, lifting the curtain, and
stepping out; "couldn't ye say thirty, now?"

"Come, down with the cash, and none o' yer jaw," said the man, who was a
surly fellow, and did not seem disposed to stand joking.

"Oh! be all manes, yer honour," retorted Larry, with mock servility, as
he counted out the money. "Av it wouldn't displase yer lordship, may I
take the presumption to ax how th