d out a
heavy sheepskin bag, and laid it beside him. Once more he reached, and
again dragged to light another bag, similar in size and weight. He
motioned to let the stone return to its place, and then turned to us
with a triumphant air.

While the old man was thus employed, we remained silent, hardly knowing
what the proceedings on his part meant. With trembling hands he untied
the strings which confined the mouths of the bags, and held them up for
us to view. To our amazement, we found they were filled with fine gold
dust, of an excellent quality, and that the two sacks contained not less
than twenty thousand dollars' worth.

We uttered an exclamation of astonishment, and could hardly believe that
what we saw was real.

"Yes, yes; it's all good gold, God be praised," cried the stockman,
eagerly; "you thought that the old man was poor and destitute, but you
see that I'm not. I've wealth, and it's all my own. God be praised."

"But how came you in possession of so much gold dust?" asked Fred; a
slight suspicion crossing his mind that the old convict might have
employed his leisure hours at a bushranger's occupation.

"Honestly, good youth, honestly. God knows all things, and he will
acquit me of obtaining the dust otherwise."

"The amount is large for a person to possess who has received only a few
dollars per year for his services as shepherd," Fred remarked.

"I know--I know," cried the old man, trembling with eagerness, and
hastily taking up the bags again, and depositing them under the stone.

"I know," he continued, when he saw that the stone was safe in its
accustomed place, "that the amount is large; and I mean to add to it,
and be rich, and have men bow to me, and say, 'There goes one of our
most worthy men. He is worth a million.'"

The old convict actually straightened his lank body, and looked proudly
upon his daughter, as he thought of the homage which he should receive
as a wealthy man.

"But you have not told us how you became possessed of so much gold,"
Smith said, rather coolly.

"Never you mind how I got it--that is a secret. But be assured, one half
goes to you on the day that you marry my daughter."

"I accept of the woman, but before the gold crosses my palm, I must know
that it was--"

Smith hesitated, for he did not like to wound the old man's feelings.

"You would say honestly," cried the stockman, looking Smith full in the
face with his calm, gray eyes. "I like you better for you