“GOLD! GOLD!” 325

“Do you see the bits of gold—the tiny little specks there?”
“Oh-h-h!” said the boys, with an affirmative tone.

There it was, flashing like very minute stars out of a very dingy
heaven. Rick wanted to pick up a memento for Bumble-bee, but
he restrained himself.

“Now if you will come back with me,” said the manager, “I will
show you what we do with the dirt.” ©

Riding back and riding up again, they were glad to leave the
darkness and dampness behind them, though Rick said he was “ sorry
to leave the poor miners boxed up down-stairs.” A call came for
somebody !

The manager stopped and listened. “I am very sorry, friends,”
he said, “but I must leave you.”

When he had gone, Uncle Nat said: “Well. boys, we, too, ought
to be going, but I can tell you something, for I have been here before
and seen the gold-dirt puddled or mixed with water. The earth was
put in a trough and water poured in. Iwas ona platform at the top
of the machinery, and saw that the matter in the trough was worked

by something like a harrow. The water and mud ran off, and the
weight of the gold and any refuse carried it to the bottom. Water
was again poured in with the gold, a man working it all over, the

~ gold once more sinking to the bottom, the stones and mud passing
off. When the gold had been separated, it was gathered up and put
into earthen pots. It was then melted, poured into molds, washed,
and sent off to the bank.” :

“But, uncle,” inquiréd Ralph, “ I thought there were quartz-crushers.”

“So there are, for they take out a good deal of quartz also in
Australia. I guess we must stop to see the crushing.”

Another mine was visited. Here, the gold was found in quartz. A

. quantity had been brought to the surface, and a workman explained