the blessing of St. Patrick."

"Sell while the excitement lasts," continued the tempter; "I never knew
of two nuggets being found close together."

"It's our fortunes we'll make out of the mine," Mike exclaimed. "I'll go
back to Ireland, buy land, and be called 'the squire,' and drink
buttermilk twice a day, and ate paraties every meal. I'll have a still
of me own, and make the real poteen whiskey, and drink punch, instead of
water, and smoke 'bacca, instead of cabbage leaves. Won't I keep open
house, and none shall be more welcome than an Australian miner!"

"Will you have a pig?" asked some one in the crowd.

"A pig!" repeated Mike, with intense scorn; "I'll have a dozen of them,
and each one shall be fatter than ye."

A roar of laughter followed Mike's sally, and the questioner, who
thought that he could ridicule the honest Hibernian, instantly subsided,
and was seen no more.

We intended to send to the store for the purpose of getting a stout
bucket, into which we could put our nugget and carry it to the office;
but Mike would not listen to the suggestion for a moment. He shouldered
the precious lump of gold, and marched through the streets, as proud of
his charge as though the whole of it belonged to him, and he knew where
he could get another just like it.

A crowd of miners followed at our heels, and such a mixture of tongues
was never heard, except at the construction of the tower of Babal.

Followed by this motley crew, we passed along the streets, amidst shouts
and congratulations, until we gained the government reception office.

"There," cried Mike, throwing down his load upon the counter of the
office, much to the astonishment of the clerks; "plase weigh that, and
see how much it comes to, for I want me quarterings."

The clerks did not comprehend his words, although they did understand
the meaning of his action; and while a couple of police officers, who
were stationed at the building, drove from the room all those not
interested in the matter, we watched the large scales that were to tell
us to a farthing how much the nugget was worth.

"Well," cried Mike, "can't ye spake, and let us know how much me
quarterings come to?"

The clerk, who was figuring, looked at the speaker with silent contempt,
and did not even condescend to reply, much less hasten his movements.

"Your nugget," said the clerk, at length, addressing Fred and myself,
"weighs just fifty-one pounds two ounces, and if there is n