f the gold washers did not alter Barry's plans; he followed the
native to the river and kept him under close observation from the bank.
But Little thought he had detected a note of sincerity in that dismal
wail and undertook a little scrutiny himself. He, like Barry, was
ignorant regarding the business of gold seeking; but the native sense
and shrewdness that had carried him to a high point of salesmanship
fitted him to at least read signs if such signs were. He opened a bulky
wallet which served him for a travelling case, and from among a litter
of shaving gear, hairbrush, and spare sock-suspenders, he took a huge
reading glass, purchased in Batavia with a vague idea of studying insect
life in the primitive wilds.

This he carried into the hut and diligently sought with it for traces of
glittering metal. Common sense told him that if gold had ever been found
here, it must have been carried away or stored against transportation,
and in so crude a plant it was conceivable that specks of gold would be
discovered somewhere about the floor. Thus he scrutinized every square
foot of the floors of all the huts, pulling off roofs and knocking out
walls wherever necessary to get sufficient light. But no trace of metal
did he find; nothing but a populous colony of virile insects that at
last drove him out to the river, shedding clothes as he ran.

Barry met him with a grin on the bank and helped him peel off his
garments.

"Struck it rich, hey?" chuckled the skipper, amused out of his scowling
disgust. "Find any gold?"

"Gold color, Barry, and they bite like gold-bugs!" chirped Little,
irrepressible even in his discomfort; for red ants bite hard and deep.
"How about you?" he shouted over his shoulder, as he floundered into the
water to rid himself of his tiny tormentors.

"I believe the man's right," returned Barry. "I never saw gold washing
done, but if there's any gold in this river it's a long way from here.
It don't _look_ like gold sand to me."

Little emerged from his bath and sluiced out his clothes. While
dressing, he began to see something more than a temporary fault in the
search for Houten's gold. These few men from the post were undoubtedly
loyal to his employer and Barry's; but why they should have been sent to
this place to make a palpable bluff at gold mining, even to building
huts and carrying up washing gear and food, beat him as a problem. And
Barry was no clearer on the matter.

"I believe I begin to se