e was another log-hut of minute dimensions and ruinous
aspect, in front of which sat another Chinaman, eating his dinner. Him
Ah-wow addressed as Ko-sing. After a brief conversation, Ko-sing turned
to the strangers, and said--

"Ho! Kin speek English, me can. What you want?"

"We want to look at your diggings," answered Ned.

"We are going to turn the river here, if we can; and if you and your
companions choose to join us, we will give you good wages."

"Kin speek, but not fery well kin on'erstan'. Work, work you say, an'
pay we?"

"Yes, that's it; you work for us, and we'll pay you."

"How moche?" inquired the cautious Celestial.

"Five dollars a day," replied Ned.

The Chinaman put on a broad grin, and offered to shake hands, which
offer was accepted, not only by Ned, but by the whole party; and the
contract was thus settled on the spot, to the satisfaction of all
parties.

After this they spent some time in examining the bed of the stream, and
having fixed upon a spot on which to commence operations, they prepared,
about sunset, to return for their tent and mining tools, intending to
make a moonlight flitting in order to avoid being questioned by
over-curious neighbours. All their horses and mules, except Ned's
charger, having been sold a few days before to a Yankee who was
returning to Sacramento, they expected to get off without much noise,
with their goods and chattels on their backs.

Before starting on their return, while the rest of the party were
crowding round and questioning Ko-sing, Bill Jones--whose mind since he
arrived in California seemed to be capable of only one sensation, that
of surprise--went up to Ah-wow, and glancing round, in order to make
sure that he was not observed, laid his hand on his shoulder, and looked
inquiringly into the Chinaman's face. The Chinaman returned the
compliment with interest, throwing into his sallow countenance an
expression of, if possible, blanker astonishment.

"O-wow!" said Bill, with solemn gravity, and pausing, as if to give him
time to prepare for what was coming. "O-wow! wot do you dress your
pig-tail with?"

"Ho!" replied the Chinaman.

"Ho!" echoed Bill; "now, that's curious. I thought as how you did it
with grease, for it looks like it. Tell me now, how long did it take
afore it growed that long?" He lifted the end of the tail as he spoke.

"How!" ejaculated the Chinaman.

"Ay, _how_ long?" repeated Bill.

We regret that we cann