t his ideas, and seeing how the diggers
higher up got on.

As he sauntered slowly along, he came to a solitary place where no
miners were at work, in consequence of the rugged nature of the banks of
the stream rendering the labour severe. Here, on a projecting cliff;
which overhung a deep, dark pool or eddy, he observed the tall form of a
naked man, whose brown skin bespoke him the native of a southern clime.
While Ned looked at him, wondering what he could be about, the man
suddenly bent forward, clasped his hands above his head, and dived into
the pool. Ned ran to the margin immediately, and stood for nearly a
minute observing the dark indistinct form of the savage as he groped
along the bottom. Suddenly he rose, and made for the shore with a
nugget of gold in his hand.

He seemed a little disconcerted on observing Ned, who addressed him in
English, French, and Spanish, but without eliciting any reply, save a
grunt. This, however, did not surprise our hero, who recognised the man
to be a Sandwich Islander whom he had met before in the village, and
whose powers of diving were well-known to the miners. He ascertained by
signs, however, that there was much gold at the bottom of the stream,
which, doubtless, the diver could not detach from the rocks during the
short period of his immersion, so he hastened back to the tent,
determined to promulgate his plan to his comrades. It was noon when he
arrived, and the miners were straggling from all parts of the diggings
to the huts, tents, and restaurants.

"Ha! Maxton, glad I've found you alone," cried Ned, seating himself on
an empty box before the fire, over which the former was engaged in
culinary operations. "I have been thinking over a plan for turning the
course of the stream, and so getting at a portion of its bed."

"Now that's odd," observed Maxton, "I have been thinking of the very
same thing all morning."

"Indeed! wits jump, they say. I fancied that I had the honour of first
hitting on the plan."

"_First_ hitting on it!" rejoined Maxton, smiling. "My dear fellow, it
has not only been hit upon, but hit off, many months ago, with
considerable success in some parts of the diggings. The only thing that
prevents it being generally practised is, that men require to work in
companies, for the preliminary labour is severe, and miners seem to
prefer working singly, or in twos and threes, as long as there is good
`pay-dirt' on the banks."

"Well, then, the