thought of him, I recalled the object of his visit to this
region--prospecting for gold and other metals--and of what he would say
to our discovery.

"Well," said Mr Raydon, "you reached me safe and sound, and though I
was annoyed at your coming and being thrown on my hands as you were, I
think I may say I have not treated you unkindly."

"Indeed you have not," I cried earnestly, as I held out my hand to him.
"You have been very generous to us both, sir, and I am most grateful."

"Then prove it," he cried, gripping my hand.

"How, sir? What shall I do?"

"Hold your tongue. Do not say a word of your discovery to a soul.
Above all, that friend of yours, Gunson, the prospector, must never
know."

"Not tell any one, sir? Not make use of our discovery?"

"No," he said, firmly. "Promise."

"Oh, I say!" cried Esau.

"And you too, sir!" said Mr Raydon.

I stood looking at him for a few minutes, thinking as he fixed his eyes
on mine, and then I pressed his hand firmly.

"Yes, sir; I promise."

"On your word of honour as a gentleman's son?"

"On my word of honour as a gentleman's son, sir," I said, proudly.

"That will do," he said, releasing my hand, and smiling at me warmly.
"I like that, Mayne, better than any oaths. Now, Esau Dean, what have
you to say?"

"Oh, I don't like it at all, sir," said Esau, bluntly; "but him and me's
been mates all through, and I won't go back from anything he says. But
it is disappointing, now ain't it?"

"It seems so to you, my lad," said Mr Raydon, kindly; "but give me your
promise, and it may prove of more value to you than your share of the
gold. You see I give up my claim, and mine would be a big one if I
liked to exercise it, I dare say."

"Am I to promise, Mr Gordon, sir?" said Esau.

"Yes, just as I have."

"All right, I promise too."

"I look to you both to keep your words."

"I shan't tell nobody unless he does," said Esau, gruffly, as he stood
the rifle against a stone.

"And he will not," said Mr Raydon. "There, let's get back. I never
leave the place as a rule when Indians are about."

"Are they dangerous?" I asked.

"No; and yet not to be trusted. What savages really are, Gordon?
Thanks, my lad," he said, as I dug up and placed a couple of fern-roots
with their spreading fronds in the basket, so as to completely cover the
fine gravel at the bottom, and the gold. "We must wash it again when we
get back," he continued, "and then divide it in