quite within the limits of probability that our young hero might
be as successful.

"If I fail it won't be for lack of trying," thought Ben.

Three thousand dollars, in addition to the thousand he already had,
would make him feel rich. Some of my readers, who have been luxuriously
reared, will be surprised to hear this. But Ben had always been used to
small things. He had been brought up in a small country town, where a
dollar counts for a good deal more than it does in the city, and where a
man possessing ten thousand dollars is thought to be independently rich.
His uncle Job, who was thrifty and industrious, and generally, through
careful economy, had a little money in the savings bank, was probably
worth, at the outside, fifteen hundred dollars.

No wonder, then, that the prospect of being worth four thousand dollars
dazzled our young hero and stimulated him to unwonted effort.

Neither of our two friends got on fast. They averaged perhaps fifty
dollars a week each, but out of this their expenses had to be paid, and
these, on account of the high price of all articles of necessity, were
rather heavy. Still, the end of each week found both richer, and they
were contented.

It was the aim of every miner to "strike it rich." Each had a dream of
some day cutting a rich vein or finding a nugget of extraordinary size
which should compress into one day the profits of a year or two of
ordinary success. But such lucky finds were not numerous. As in ordinary
life, the large prizes are rare, and average success is the rule. But
the general hope was kept up by occasional lucky strokes.

"Ben," said Bradley, one day in excitement, returning from a visit to
the claims half a mile distant on the other side of a hilly ridge, "I've
got great news."

"What is it, Jake?"

"Perkins has just found a nugget that must contain five hundred dollars'
worth of gold."

"You don't say so, Jake?"

"Fact; I just saw it."

"I hope there's more of them 'round here."

"So do I. That's a find worth having."

The discovery made a sensation at Golden Gulch. It excited the hope of
all, and stimulated labor. What had fallen to Perkins might chance to
any one of his comrades.

So, as the miners sat round their roaring fire--for it was getting
chilly in the evening--one and another discussed the interesting
question, "What would I do if I could find a nugget?" Various, of
course, were the answers. One would go home and start a dry-goods st