another shovelful, and
placed it with the other before handing the shovel to me.

"If there is much gold," he said, "it would lie at the bottom of that
eddy, where it would be swept when the stream is in flood. Now, then,
we shall see."

For another ten minutes he went on washing again, while I could see
Esau, as he crept nearer and nearer, perspiring with impatience, and
glancing up and down what in the setting sun now seemed to be a golden
valley, for water, rocks, and the ferns seemed to be tinted of a ruddy
yellow, and the tall fir-trees stood up like spires of gold.

At last I caught a glimpse of something bright again, but I could not be
sure that there was more gold in the basket; it might only be the stones
glistening in the wonderful ruddy light that filled the ravine.

"Hah!" ejaculated Mr Raydon, and he once more set down the basket
beneath the water. "Hard work. What trouble men take to get gold!"

"There is some in the basket, isn't there, sir?" I said anxiously, and
in no wise prepared for the result.

"We'll see directly," he said. "Let's get out of this. The water is
bitterly cold."

He waded out now with the basket, from which the golden water dripped as
if the contents were melting.

"Why, there is some," cried Dean, excitedly.

"Some?" cried Mr Raydon, bitterly. "Unfortunately, yes. Look!" and he
held the basket sidewise in the full blaze of the glowing sun, giving it
a shake, so that we could see scales, beads, and tiny nuggets dotted
about among the flashing stones, and all looking of that beautiful pure
yellow colour which is possessed alone by native gold.

"Why, there must be pounds," cried Esau, excitedly.

"Pish!" ejaculated Mr Raydon, contemptuously. "How you boys let your
imagination go wild! There must be, however, a full ounce--a wonderful
washing for the trial."

"Then you are not disappointed, sir?" I said, eagerly.

"Yes," he cried, turning upon me fiercely; "horribly."

"But there must be quantities more, sir."

"Yes. I was in hopes that it was a mere patch, but everything points to
the fact that the stream is rich, and it may be far better higher up."

"But you said you were disappointed, sir?" I said, as he sat down, and
began to replace his stockings and boots.

"I am boy, horribly."

"With all that wealth before us?"

"Yes. Do you know what it means?"

"Riches for us all, sir," I said, proudly.

"Hah! Look here, boy. I have been out in thes