time appointed they came within sight of their starting-place,
the Doctor meeting them a few minutes later.

"What luck?" he asked.

"Nothing but a glorious spring of water, and a stream with some specks
of gold in the washing."

"I have done little better, Bart, but there is a valley yonder that
leads up into the mountains, and with care I think we can get the waggon
along without much difficulty."

CHAPTER TEN.

A SURE-FOOTED BEAST.

An early start was made next morning, and following the course mapped
out by the Doctor, they soon reached an opening in the hills, up which
they turned, to find in the hollow a thread-like stream and that, as
they proceeded, the mountains began to open out before them higher and
higher, till they seemed to close in the horizon like clouds of delicate
amethystine blue.

Every now and then the travelling was so bad that it seemed as if they
must return, but somehow the waggon and horses were got over the
obstacles, and a short level cheered them on to fresh exertions, while,
as they slowly climbed higher and higher, there was the satisfaction of
knowing that there was less likelihood of molestation from Indians, the
dangerous tribes of the plains, Comanches and Apaches, rarely taking
their horses up amongst the rugged portions of the hills.

Maude, in her girlish freshness of heart, was delighted with the variety
of scenery, while to Bart all was excitement. Even the labour to
extricate the waggon from some rift, or to help to drag it up some
tremendous slope, was enjoyable.

Then there were little excursions to make down moist ravines, where an
antelope might be bagged for the larder; or up to some dry-looking flat,
shut in by the hills, where grouse might be put up amongst the
sage-brush and other thin growth, for six hard-working men out in these
brisk latitudes consume a great deal of food, and the stores in the
waggon had to be saved as much a possible.

One way and the other the larder was kept well supplied, and while Dr
Lascelles on the one hand talked eagerly of the precious metal he hoped
to discover, Joses was always ready with promises of endless sport.

"Why, by an' by, Master Bart," he said one day as they journeyed slowly
on, "we shall come to rivers so full of salmon that all you've got to do
is to pull 'em out."

"If you can catch them," said Bart, laughing.

"Catch 'em, my boy? Why, they don't want no catching. I've known 'em
come up some rivers s