Chinkie's Flat and Other Stories

he "Digger's Best" with some papers laid before him, At the other end was Dick Scott, and th

into business at once, He spoke to them as if he were one of themselves, adopting a simplicity of language and

hing of me beyond what I have told you myself; but I don't think any one of you will imagine I'

dn't think no such thing. We on'y thought y

ily that his hearers foll

e not enough of us. We want more men-wages' men; and presently I'll explain why we shall want them. But first o

sh, and placed it upon the table. The miners rose and gathered round, and

w his forefinger through the bright, yello

wenty-five pennyweights, and all that came

with excitement, and then Grainger poured the g

at means those tailings wou

y ordinary means, though with new screens, new tables and blankets I am pr

as the unani

l tell you how I got the result. You can try some of the stuff in the morning, and

ighty dear stu

ictoria without roasting. Well, we could do that now, though we should only get half the gold and lose the other half in the sludge pits. Now, as I told you, I have about four hundred pounds' worth of alluvial gold, which I brought with me from the north, and which I can sell to any bank in the Bay. I

the men's faces when they heard this

crushing alone. This morning I had a long yarn with Ah San, the boss Chinaman, and he is willing to let us have as many of his men as we want for twenty-five shillings a week each, and indenture them to me for six months-there'

temptuously, "they're

twenty of them and set them to work right away. There is any amount of good clay here, I know, and we'll start them digging. I know how to build a brick-

ay him about eight pound a week," said a man na

will you take four pounds a week

ng, if my

a-dozen to help at the new shaft. I'll boss the battery, drive the engine, and do the amalgamating, and you men can go on roasting stone. Every Saturday we'll stop the battery and

work-i.e., to work

e

nly willing, but pleased to "come in" with him, but they thought that he would only be acting fairly to himself if he,

you will not object to refunding me the money I am expending on

o the same with you as regards the stone we raise. Boys, I proposes that as our new mate is finding the money to start the old battery ag

one and shook hands with Grainger, whose face flushed with pleasure.

ll hear the stampers banging away in the boxes and the 'Ever Victori