e glorious valleys many
years now. The place is a perfect Eden, where nature smiles upon us,
and wealth showers her golden gifts. You know my home, and that no
troubles come, save some trifle with the Indians now and then. Do you
know what would happen if it were known that this ravine teems with
gold?"

"We should set to work and make fortunes of it, sir, and not let it be
known."

"Bah! Impossible, Gordon. In one month from now the news would have
spread; and as long as the gold lasted, this place would be turned from
a Paradise into a horror. The scum of the American population would
float here, with all the lawlessness that was in California in its early
days. Drinking-bars and gambling-saloons would rise like mushrooms; and
where now all is beauty and peace, there would be robbery, violence,
murder, drunkenness, and misery too horrible to contemplate."

"What!" I cried, incredulously, "because a rich supply of gold is
found?"

"Yes. I have seen it all, and I know," he cried; "and I have often
hoped and prayed that no gold might be found near here. Gold can be
made a blessing, but too often it has proved a curse."

I looked at Esau, and in spite of my trouble and disappointment as I saw
my fortune fading away, and with it Mrs John's carriage and my life of
ease and plenty, I could not help smiling, for my companion's face was
comic in the extreme.

"There, let's get back," said Mr Raydon, stamping his feet in his heavy
boots.

"But what--"

"Am I going to do with the gold?" he said, quickly. "Oh, we'll take it
home with us. Dig up a root or two of those ferns to put in the basket,
and hide what we have found."

"Then you will not work for the gold with us, sir?" I said, as Esau
stood holding the rifle, listening eagerly.

"No," said Mr Raydon, sternly. "And now listen. I am chief officer of
this fort and station. I am, so to speak, almost a king here among
these people; and amongst the tribes who come to trade I am their father
and chief of chiefs, and my word is law."

"Yes, sir, I know," I said.

"You two lads were sent out to me by my thoughtless brother-in-law, who
is always meaning well and doing ill. You were delighted by the
prospect, and did not see what a mad scheme it was. As it happens, all
has turned out well, though it is almost a miracle to me that you have
both reached me in safety."

I thought of Gunson, and how we could not have done it without his help;
and as I