g, "I don't want your gold; I wish to comfort you, if I
can. Would you like me to do anything for you after--"

"After I'm dead," said the man, abruptly. "No, nothing. I have no
relations--no friends--no enemies, even, _now_. Yes," he added,
quickly, "I have one friend. _You_ are my friend. You have spoken
kindly to me--a beggar. You deserve the name of friend. Listen, I want
you to be my heir. See here, I have had my will drawn up long ago, with
the place for the name left blank I had intended--but no matter--what is
your name?"

"Edward Sinton."

"Here, hand me that ink-horn, and the pen. There," continued the man,
pushing the paper towards him, "I have made over to you the old boat,
and the ground it lies on. Both are mine. The piece of ground is
marked off by four posts. Take care of the--"

The man's voice sank to a mere whisper; then it ceased suddenly. When
Ned looked at him again, he started, for the cold hand of death had
sealed his lips for ever.

A feeling of deep, intense pity filled the youth's heart, as he gazed on
the emaciated form of this friendless man--yet he experienced a
sensation approaching almost to gladness, when he remembered that the
last words he had spoken to him were those of our blessed Saviour to the
chief of sinners.

Spreading the ragged piece of canvas that formed a quilt over the dead
man's face, he rose, and left the strange dwelling, the entrance to
which he secured, and then hastened to give information of the death to
the proper authorities.

Ned was an hour too late for dinner when he arrived at the hotel, where
he found Captain Bunting and his new friend awaiting him in some
anxiety. Hastily informing them of the cause of his detention, he
introduced them to each other, and forgot for a time the scene of death
he had just witnessed, in talking over plans for the future, and in
making arrangements for a trip to the diggings.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

OUR HERO AND HIS FRIENDS START FOR THE DIGGINGS--THE CAPTAIN'S
PORTRAIT--COSTUMES, AND SCENERY, AND SURPRISES--THE RANCHE BY THE
ROAD-SIDE--STRANGE TRAVELLERS--THEY MEET WITH A NEW FRIEND, AND ADOPT
HIM--THE HUNTER'S STORY--LARRY OFFERS TO FIGHT A YANKEE--HIGH PRICES AND
EMPTY PURSES.

Ovid never accomplished a metamorphosis more striking or complete than
that effected by Captain Bunting upon his own proper person. We have
said, elsewhere, that the worthy captain was a big, broad man, with a
shaggy head of ha