gold turning out?"

"The gravel seems fairly rich, but somehow I'm afraid we shall do no
good."

"That's how it seems with me," said the miner. "One just gets enough to
live upon and pay one's way; and one could do that anywhere, without
leading such a life as this."

Dallas thought of his friend's words as he tramped back through the snow
with his sack of provender on his back, for the life they were leading
was that of the lowest type of labourer, the accommodation miserable,
and the climate vile.

"It will not do--it will not do," he said sadly; but he returned, all
the same, in better spirits with the results of his foraging, to find
Abel waiting for him anxiously, and the dog curled-up by the fire
sleeping heavily.

The stores obtained were carefully husbanded, and during the next few
days, in spite of intense frost, Dallas worked hard in the shaft on
their claim, heating it with the abundant wood till a certain amount of
gravel was thawed, and then throwing it out ready for washing when the
next summer came.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

ABEL'S NIGHT ALARM.

"It's no good, Bel," said Dallas one day; "I can't go begging round
again. It's not fair to the men. I must go down to the town and bring
back as much as I can."

"Very well," said Abel. "When do you start?"

"To-morrow morning."

"So soon? Well, if it has to be done, the sooner the better."

"I can get back within four or five days, I believe, and I'll ask
Tregelly to come in once or twice to see you, so that you will not be so
lonely."

"You need not do that, because I shall not be here," said Abel quietly.

"Not be here?"

"Of course not. I shall be with you."

"Impossible."

"No, I shall manage to limp along somehow."

"Impossible, I tell you!" cried Dallas. "You must stay to take care of
the claim; and then there is the gold--and the dog."

Abel was silenced; and the next morning, taking his empty sledge, and
trusting to obtain enough food at the shanties which he would pass on
the track, Dallas started.

Abel watched him pass away into the gloom of the dark morning, and then
turned and limped back sadly to where the dog lay dozing by the fire,
apparently still too weak to stir.

Abel's bed had been drawn aside, and there was a hole in the ground,
while upon the upturned barrel which formed their table stood a little
leather bag half full of scales, scraps, and nuggets of gold--that which
remained after Dallas had taken o