tes," said the latter, sitting up, "that
twist I gave my leg yesterday troubles me a little. I shall remain in
camp to-day and smoke."

"Very good," said Jack, rising and putting the kettle on the fire with a
view to breakfast. "Watty and I will go up that valley and prospect.
We will expect that you'll eat no more than your share of the provisions
during our absence, and that you'll have supper ready for us when we
return."

The simple breakfast being disposed of and washed down with cans of hot
tea, the two friends shouldered their guns and set off up the gorge or
narrow mountain valley, near the mouth of which they had bivouacked.
There was a belt of wood close to their camp; beyond that a small plain,
after crossing which they entered a dense thicket, and began a toilsome
march up the bed of a little mountain stream. The channel was nearly
dry at the time, but the boulders, which were strewn about everywhere,
showed that it was sometimes a formidable torrent.

"A likely place for gold," said Watty, with a hopeful look and tune.

"We've tried many such likely places," replied Jack, with a look and
tone not quite so hopeful.

For several miles they advanced, washing out a panful of dirt here and
there, and finding a little gold-dust as usual. Mid-day arrived, and
they sat down to a cold dinner, consisting of a few scraps of meat left
from breakfast. Little conversation was indulged in. They were too
hungry for that--perhaps too much depressed by hope deferred.

"I'll try the banks higher up," said Jack, rising.

"And I'll try the bed of the stream lower down, just by way of
opposition," said Watty.

They separated, and the latter soon found himself among the boulders,
where he continued to search--actively at first, but more lazily as time
passed by. Presently he came to a wild spot where the stream was
overhung by bushes. He turned over a small stone. Beneath it was a
hole or "pocket". He stooped quickly, and pulled out a nugget of gold
about the size of a thimble. He stooped again, and, inserting his hand,
pulled at something that would not come. His heart gave a jump and
appeared to get into his throat, where it apparently remained, while the
blood rushed to his forehead. Another pull, and out came a mass of
solid gold, about the size of his own fist! A cheer rose to his lips,
but he checked it. "P'r'aps there's more!" he said. Yes, the greedy
little wretch said that! But there was no more