ith to form the dam required to turn the stream
from its course. This was a matter of no small difficulty. A new bed
had to be cut to the extent of eight or ten yards, but for a long time
the free and jovial little mountain stream scorned to make such a
pitiful twist in its course, preferring to burst its way headlong
through the almost completed barricade, by which it was pent-up.

Twice did it accomplish this feat, and twice, in so doing, did it sweep
Captain Bunting off his legs and roll him along bodily, in a turmoil of
mud and stones and dirty water, roaring, as it gushed forth, as if in
savage triumph. On the second occasion, Bill Jones shared the captain's
ducking, and all who chanced to be working about the dam at the time
were completely drenched. But, however much their bodies might be
moistened, no untoward accident could damp the ardour of their spirits.
They resumed work again; repaired the breach, and, finally, turned the
obstinate stream out of the course which, probably, it had occupied
since creation. It rushed hissing, as if spitefully, along its new bed
for a few yards, and then darted, at a right angle, back into its former
channel, along which it leaped exultingly as before.

But the object for which all this trouble had been undertaken was
attained. About eight yards of the old bed of the torrent were laid
bare, and the water was drained away, whereat each of the party
exhibited his satisfaction after his own peculiar manner--Larry O'Neil,
as usual, giving vent to his joy in a hearty cheer.

The result was even more successful than had been anticipated. During
the next few days the party conversed little; their whole energies being
devoted to eating, sleeping, and digging. The bed of the stream was
filled with stones, among which they picked up numerous nuggets of
various sizes--from a pea to a walnut--some being almost pure gold,
while others were, more or less, mixed with quartz. A large quantity of
the heavy black sand was also found at the bottom of a hole, which once
had been an eddy--it literally sparkled with gold-dust, and afforded a
rich return for the labour previously expended in order to bring it to
light. The produce of the first two days' work was no less than
fourteen pounds weight of gold!

The third day was the Sabbath, and they rested from their work. It is,
however, impossible for those who have never been in similar
circumstances to conceive how difficult it was fo