when we
entered, and I glanced back, I could see that they were already
beginning to make their little camp, while others were seeing to the
laden horses.

"What!" said Mr Raydon, when I told him of my discovery. "Gold?"

"Yes; and I think in large quantities."

"Are you sure it is gold?" he said. I took out what I had found, and
placed the little scales before him. He seized them, and examined them
carefully, closing his hand over them afterward, and sitting gazing
straight before him for some moments, while a chill of dread ran through
me.

"It is not gold," I thought; and as I gazed at him intently, he looked
up. "Well?" he said.

"You think it is not gold, sir?" I said. "I am sure it is," he
replied, sadly. "Tell me whereabouts you found it;" and I described the
place.

"Yes," he said; "one of our most lovely valleys. Here, are you tired?"

"No."

"Are you?" he said, turning to Esau, who replied that he was not the
least so.

"Stop a moment--to whom have you spoken?"

"Spoken, sir?"

"How many people about the place have you told about the gold?"

"No one, sir."

"Neither of you?" he said, with a sharp look at Esau.

"We came straight to you," I said, "because I felt that you ought to
know about it, and I thought you would give us your advice."

He laid his hand on my shoulder, and gripped it fast, speaking very
firmly, but in a kindlier tone than I had heard from him before.

"That's right," he said, "quite right. We'll go up there at once, and
see if this is an important discovery, or only one of the little patches
that are found at times."

"Then no one saw you there?" he said, after a few minutes' thought.

"We did not see a soul, sir, till we came out of the little valley, and
found that party of Indians coming here."

He stood with his brows knit, thinking deeply, and then he nodded his
head sharply.

"Yes," he said, "we'll go at once. Come along."

He led us to his garden, and out of the shed took a shovel and a shallow
wooden basket.

"You lads can carry these," he said, "and I'll take my rifle. It will
look as if we are going on some pleasure trip. One minute, though,
while I give orders about those Indians."

He spoke to his second in command, giving him some instructions, whose
import I did not understand then; and afterwards we strolled out through
the gate slowly enough, and wandered away along the track and down by
the lake, Mr Raydon stopping every now and t