t a Chinee hotel."

"We were lucky in coming across it," said Joe.

"The poor fellow looked frightened when he saw us gobblin' up his
provisions," said Mr. Bickford, laughing at the recollection.

"But we left him pretty well satisfied. We didn't treat him as the
gentleman from Pike treated us."

"No--I wouldn't be so mean as that darned skunk. It makes me mad
whenever I look at this consumptive boss he's left behind."

"You didn't make much out of that horse trade, Mr. Bickford."

"I didn't, but I'll get even with him some time if we ever meet
again."

"Do you know where he was bound?"

"No--he didn't say."

"I dare say it'll all come right in the end. At any rate, we shan't
starve for the next forty-eight hours."

So in better spirits the two companions kept on their way.

CHAPTER XXX

ON THE YUBA RIVER

On the following day Joe and his comrade fell in with a party of men
who, like themselves, were on their way to the Yuba River. They were
permitted to join them, and made an arrangement for a share of the
provisions. This removed all anxiety and insured their reaching
their destination without further adventure.

The banks of the Yuba presented a busy and picturesque appearance.
On the banks was a line of men roughly clad, earnestly engaged in
scooping out gravel and pouring it into a rough cradle, called a
rocker. This was rocked from side to side until the particles of
gold, if there were any, settled at the bottom and were picked out
and gathered into bags. At the present time there are improved
methods of separating gold from the earth, but the rocker is still
employed by Chinese miners.

In the background were tents and rude cabins, and there was the
unfailing accessory of a large mining camp, the gambling tent, where
the banker, like a wily spider, lay in wait to appropriate the
hard-earned dust of the successful miner.

Joe and his friend took their station a few rods from the river and
gazed at the scene before them.

"Well, Mr. Bickford," said Joe, "the time has come when we are to try
our luck."

"Yes," said Joshua. "Looks curious, doesn't it? If I didn't know,
I'd think them chaps fools, stoopin' over there and siftin' mud. It
'minds me of when I was a boy and used to make dirt pies."

"Suppose we take a day and look round a little. Then we can find out
about how things are done, and work to better advantage."

"Just as you say, Joe, I must go to work soon, for I