"but come, I
will shew you the way; it is not far from nooning-time, when I usually
cease work for a couple of hours."

So saying, the miner threw his pick-axe and shovel into the hole, and
led the way towards the colony of Little Creek.

"Ain't you afraid some of the bad-looking scoundrels in these parts may
take a fancy to your pick and shovel?" inquired the captain, as they
rode along at a foot pace.

"Not in the least. Time was when I would have feared to leave them; for
at one time neither life nor property was safe here, where so many
ruffians congregated from all parts of the world; but the evil wrought
its own cure at last. Murders and robberies became so numerous, that
the miners took to Lynch law for mutual protection. Murderers and
thieves were hanged, or whipped almost to death, with such promptitude,
that it struck terror into the hearts of evil-doers; and the consequence
is, that we of this valley are now living in a state of perfect peace
and security, while in other districts, where the laws of Judge Lynch
are not so well administered, murders and thefts are occasionally heard
of. Here, if a man takes a fancy to go prospecting for a time, he has
only to throw his pick and shovel into his claim, or upon his heap of
dirt, [see note 1] and he will be sure to find them there untouched on
his return, even though he should be absent several weeks. Our tents,
too, are left unwatched, and our doors unfastened, with perfect safety,
though it is well-known that hundreds and thousands of dollars in
gold-dust lie within. I do not mean to assert that we have attained to
absolute perfection--a murder and a theft do occasionally occur, but
such are the exceptions, security is the rule."

"Truly," said Ned Sinton, "you seem to live in a golden age in all
respects."

"Not in all," answered the Scot; "the terrors of the law deter from open
violence, but they do not enforce morality, as the language and
deportment of miners generally too plainly shew. But here we are at the
colony of Little Creek."

They rounded the projecting spur of one of the hills as he spoke, and
the whole extent of the little valley opened up to view. It was indeed
a romantic and curious sight. The vale, as we have said, was narrow,
but by no means gloomy. The noontide sun shed a flood of light over the
glistening rocks and verdant foliage of the hills on the left, and cast
the short, rounded shadows of those on the right upon the p