difficulty does not affect us, because we are already a
pretty strong company, although our vaquero has left us, and I have seen
a place this morning which, I think, will do admirably to begin upon; it
is a deep pool, a few miles up the stream, under--"

"I know it," interrupted Maxton, putting a large slice of pork into the
frying-pan, which hissed delightfully in the ears of hungry men. "I
know the place well, but there is a much better spot not a quarter of a
mile higher up, where a Chinaman, named Ah-wow, lives; it will be more
suitable, you'll find, when I shew it you."

"We'll go and have a look at it after dinner," observed Ned; "meanwhile,
here are our comrades, let us hear what they have to say about the
proposal."

As he spoke, Collins, Jones, Larry, and the captain advanced in single
file, and with disconsolate looks, that told of hard toil and little
reward.

"Well, what have you got, comrades?"

"Nothin'," answered Bill Jones, drawing forth his comforter. Bill's
comforter was black and short, and had a bowl, and was at all times
redolent of tobacco.

"Niver a speck," cried Larry O'Neil, setting to with energy to assist in
preparing dinner.

"Well, friends, I've a plan to propose to you, so let us take the edge
off our appetites, and I'll explain."

Ned sat down tailor-fashion on the ground with his companions round him,
and, while they devoted themselves ravenously and silently to tea,
flour-cake, salt-pork, and beans, he explained to them the details of
his plan, which explanation, (if it was not the dinner), had the effect
of raising their spirits greatly. Instead, therefore, of repairing to
their profitless claims after dinner, they went in a body up the stream
to visit the Chinaman's diggings. Captain Bunting alone remained
behind, as his claim was turning out a first-rate one.

"Sure, there's a human!" cried Larry, as they turned a projecting point,
about an hour and a half later, and came in sight of Ah-wow's
"lo-cation," as the Yankees termed it.

"It may be a human," remarked Ned, laughing, "but it's the most inhuman
one I ever saw. I think yonder fellow must be performing a surgical
operation on the Chinaman's head."

Ah-wow was seated on a stone in front of his own log-hut, with his arms
resting on his knees, and an expression of supreme felicity on his
yellow face, while a countryman, in what appeared a night-gown, and an
immense straw hat, dressed his tail for him.

Lest un