hen to pick up some flower
or stone to which he drew my attention.

This went on till we were out of sight of the Fort, when his whole
manner changed.

"Now, boys," he said, sharply, "on as fast as you can. How far is it
from here?"

"About two hours' walk," I said.

"Then we shall not be back much before dusk; so best leg foremost."

It was quite the two hours before we got to the spot where the tree was
blazed, and Mr Raydon's keen eyes detected the sign long before we were
abreast of it.

"Your mark to show the spot, eh?" he said. "Very ingenious. It would
have deceived me. Now wait a few minutes."

He walked forward for a few hundred yards, and then returned.

"No one has been along here," he said. "There is not a footmark. Now
then; to work."

He stood his rifle against a tree, stripped off his boots and stockings,
and signed to me to do the same.

"You, my lad," he said to Esau, "keep watch by my rifle, and at the
slightest sign or sound give me warning. Now then, Gordon, in with you
and use the shovel."

I stepped into the stream, where it was shallow, and in obedience to his
instructions plied the tool, and threw three or four spadefuls into the
shallow wooden basket, which he held down then in the running water, and
rapidly agitated, giving it a curious circular motion, and letting the
light sand run with the water over the side. Then he stopped from time
to time to pick out stones.

"Another shovelful," he said, "from that place. Yes," he continued, as
I obeyed him; "now another from as deep as you can. In with it."

Thus in the late afternoon, with the sun getting low, and throwing our
shadows far over the stream, he worked the basket about in the water
somewhat after the manner adopted by Quong, but of course on a large
scale, for the basket was heavy with what I had thrown in, and it made
the muscles stand out in knots upon his arms where he had rolled his
sleeves up to his shoulders; and I remember thinking, as I gazed at his
sun-browned face and grey hair, what a fine thing it must be to feel so
big and strong and manly.

Esau stood resting on the rifle, for he could not resist the temptation
of taking hold of it to stand like a sentry, while I, nearly up to my
knees in water, raised one foot and rested it on the blade of the
shovel, as intent as my companion, and, I am afraid, indulging in all
kinds of golden dreams of wealth and position, and of how happy we
should all be.