d up his lip and looked contemptuously at the contents of my
hand. "Tell you what it is--it's brass."

"How can it be brass?" I said, examining the scales, which looked dead
and frosted, but of a beautiful yellow.

"Very easy."

"Don't be absurd," I cried, bringing my school knowledge to bear; "brass
is an artificial product."

"That it ain't," cried Esau, triumphantly; "why, it's strong as strong,
and they use it for all sorts of things."

"I mean, it's made by melting copper and tin or zinc together. It's an
alloy, not a natural metal."

"Don't tell me," said Esau, excitedly; "think I don't know? It's brass,
and it's got melted up together somehow."

"Nonsense," I cried; "it's gold; I'm sure of it."

"'Tain't. Yah! that isn't gold."

"It is; I'm sure."

"It's brass, I tell you."

"Impossible."

"Then it's copper."

"Copper isn't this colour at all, Esau. It's gold."

"Not it; may be gold outside perhaps. It's gilt, that's what it is."

"You stupid, obstinate donkey!" I cried in a pet.

"Oh, I am, am I? Look here, mister, donkeys kick, so look out."

"You kick me if you dare!" I cried.

"Don't want to kick you, but don't you be so handy calling people
donkeys."

"Then don't you be so absurd. How can a piece of metal out here be
gilt?"

"By rubbing up against other pieces, of course, just the same as your
boots get brazed by rubbing 'em on the fender."

"I believe you think it's gold all the time, only you will not own to
it," I cried.

"'Fraid to believe it, lad; too good to be true. Why, if you can find
bits like that by just wiggling your hand about in the sand, there must
be lots more."

"Yes; enough to make us both rich."

"I say, think it really is gold?" whispered Esau, hoarsely.

"Yes, I feel sure of it."

"Look! there's another bit," he cried, dashing his hand down and sending
the water flying, as he caught sight of a scrap, about as big as a
flattened turnip-seed, in the sand, into which it sank, or was driven
down by Esau's energetic action.

"Gone!" he said, dismally.

"Never mind; we'll come on here with a shovel, and wash for more."

"But, I say, how do you know it's gold? How can you tell?"

"One way is because it's so soft, you can cut it almost like lead."

"Who says so?"

"Gunson told me."

"Then we'll soon see about that," cried Esau, pulling out and opening
his knife. "Sit down here on this stone and give me that round bit."

"What are you