e manner, afforded a peep into the hills
beyond. At evening, when the rest of the vale of Little Creek was
shrouded in gloom, this ravine permitted the last beams of the setting
sun to stream through and flood their encampment with rosy light.

Here the tent was pitched, and a fire kindled by Tom Collins, he being
intrusted with the command of the party, whose duty it was to prepare
the camp. This party included Bill Jones, Maxton, and the vaquero.
Ned, the captain, and Larry O'Neil went, under the guidance of McLeod,
to select a claim, and take lessons in washing.

"This seems a likely spot," said the Scotchman, as he led his new
acquaintances down to the stream, a few yards below their encampment.
"You may claim as much ground as you please, for there is room enough
and to spare for all at the Creek yet. I would recommend a piece of
ground of ten or twelve feet square for each to begin with."

"Here is a level patch that I shall appropriate, then," said Ned,
smiling at the idea of becoming so suddenly and easily a landed
proprietor--and to such an extent.

"I suppose we don't require to make out title-deeds!" remarked the
captain.

"There's _my_ title dade," cried Larry, driving his pick into the earth.

"You are right, Larry," said McLeod, laughing, "no other deed is
required in this delightfully-free country."

"Ah! thin, it's quite to my taste; sure I niver thought to see the swate
spot where I could pick out me property an' pick up me fortin' so aisy."

"Don't count your chickens quite so fast," said Ned, "may be it won't be
so easy as you think. But let us begin and ascertain the value of our
claims; I vote that Larry shall have the honour of washing out the first
panful of gold, as a reward for his enthusiasm."

"A very proper obsarvation," remarked the Irishman, as he commenced work
without further delay.

In the course of ten minutes part of the layer of surface-earth was
removed, revealing the bluish-clay soil in which gold was usually found;
the pan was filled with this "pay-dirt," as it was called, in
contradistinction to the "surface-dirt," which didn't "pay," and was
taken down to the stream, where Larry washed it out under the eye of
McLeod; but he did it clumsily, as might be expected, and lost a
considerable amount of valuable material. Still, for a first attempt,
it was pretty well done, and his companions watched the result with
feelings of excited earnestness, that they felt half-ash