id, in a disappointed tone.

"No; let's get back, and go on. Those two are having a comfortable
rest," he added, as he pointed to where, far below, Esau and Quong were
lying down by the packs.

"Hurrah!" I shouted just then, for right away down in a pool of the
rushing stream I had caught sight of something sticking out just above
the water.

"What is it?" cried Gunson, eagerly.

"The sheep under water. That's a leg sticking out."

"A piece of wood," he said, contemptuously. "No: you are right. It is
the sheep."

We had a difficult climb down to the place, but did not heed that, for
in a few minutes we had dragged out the prize, which Gunson soon
lightened in a very business-like way, while I signalled to the others
to come up.

Half an hour after we toiled down again, each bearing a quarter of the
sheep, the beautiful head and skin being left as too heavy.

Our load was lightened at mid-day, and again at night, when we camped,
and the rapid disappearance of that sheep during the next days was
startling, for the fresh pure air and exercise created a tremendous
appetite which it was not always easy to satisfy.

But somehow in our most hungry times we generally managed to get hold of
provisions, either from the Indians or some settler. Twice over Gunson
shot a deer, but the scarcity of bird and quadruped was very striking.
There were plenty of berries, but they were not very satisfying food to
hungry lads.

Esau proved a great help, though, twice during the many toilsome days
which followed, by his discoveries in two streams, and I helped him to
drive some delicious little trout into shallow water, where they were
captured, to Quong's great delight.

How many days and weeks had passed before we were busy by one of the
small streams which ran down into the river I cannot now remember, for I
have lost count. It seemed that we had been tramping on for a great
while, and that it might have been last year when we left the sea.

It was long past midday, and the appearance of this little stream had
attracted Gunson so that he determined to camp by it for the night; and
leaving Quong and Esau to get a fire and make cakes with the last of our
flour, he took the gun, and I a light pine pole, to see if we could not
get something in the way of fish or game. I did not say anything, but I
knew that Gunson meant to try the sands of the stream as well for gold.

After about an hour's walking, and stopping from tim