John Caldigate

lated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view. The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have oc

mmediate neighbourhood of Mr. Crinkett's house. But close around him one could see wheels turning and long ropes moving, and water running in little wooden conduits, all of which were signs of the activity going on under ground. And then there was the never-ceasing thud, thud, thud of the crushing-mill, which from twelve o'clock on Sunday night to twelve o'clock on

gled through the mud. The house itself was built with a large hall in the middle, and three large windows on each side. On the floor there were four large rooms, with kitchens opening out behind, and above there were, of course, chambers in proportion and in the little garden there was a pond and a big bath-house, and there were coach-houses and stables;- so that it was quite a mansion. It was called Polyeuka Hall, because while it was being built Mr. Crinkett was drawing large gains from the Polyeuka mine, about three miles distant on the other side of Nobble. For the building of his mansion on this special site, no one could imagine any

e looked as little like a gentleman. Our friends were in what they conceived to be proper miners' costume, but Mr. Crinkett knew at a glance that there was something uncommon about them. As they approached he did not attempt to open the gate, but awaited them, looking over the top of it from the inside. 'We

ld be. Perhaps he was not quick at reading written letters. But at last he got to the end of the very

great deal abou

e offered us a letter to you,' said Caldi

Because I know how to take care that he don't, nor yet nobody else.' As he said this, he looked at them

way to live,

. I remember saying to myself what a pair of simpleton

going there,'

Caldigate made a lengthened speech, in which he explained so much of their circumstances as seemed necessary. He did not name the exact sum which had been left at the bank in Melbourne, but he did make Mr. Crinkett understand that they were not paupers. They were anxious to do so

there's gold. And where there's gold chucked about in that way, just on the surface, one gets it and ten don't. Who is to say you mayn't be the one. As to hiring a man to show you the way,- you can hire a dozen. As long as you'll pay 'em ten shillings a-day to loaf about, you may have men enough. But whether they'll show you the way to anything except the liquor store, that's another thing. Now shall I tell you what you two gents had better do?' Dick declared that the two gents would be very much obliged to him if

hased out all the shar

an put in a couple of thousand pounds or so between you, you can travel about and see the

not yet papered, without a carpet, in which it appeared that Mr. Crinkett kept his own belongings. Here he divested himself of his black clothes and put on a suit of miner's garments,- real miner's garments, very dirty, with a slouch hat, on th

ence. In the engine-house the three of them got into a box or truck that was suspended over the mouth of a deep shaft, and soon found themselves descending through the bowels of the earth. They went down about four hundred feet, and as they w

in reference to gold, and as they had heard of nuggets, and lumps of gold nearly as big as their fist, they were not much exalted by what they saw down the 'Old Stick-in-the-Mud.' Nor did they like the darkness and dampness and dirt and dreariness of the place. They had both resolved to work, as they had often said, with their own hands;- but in thinking over it their imagination had not pictured to them so uncomfortable a workshop as this. When they had returned to the light, the owner of the place took them through the crushing-mill attached, showed them the stone or mulloch, as it was thrust into the jaws of the devouring animal, and then brought them in triumph round to the place where the gold was eliminated from the débris of mud and water. The gold did not seem to them to

. After they had learned their trade as miners it might be very well for them to have shares in some established concern;- but in that case he would wish to be one of the managers himself, and not to trust everything to any Crinkett, however ho

like to do a little in t

go a long way with

at at all,' sai

a week,- eight hours at a time, with five minutes' spell allowe

10s. a-day for the week,' said Cal

s only just to say the word and become a miner out of hand. You've a deal to learn before you'll be worth half the money. I never knew chaps

, 'unless it's that fool Jones? And as for waiting, I don't say that you'll have the shares at that price next week.' In this way he waxed angry; but, nevertheless, he condescended to recommend a man to them, when Caldigate declared that they would like to hire some practical miner to accompany them. 'There's Mick Maggott,' said he, 'knows minin

e potatoes,- the man who had taken them down to Crinkett's house. He seemed to be fast asleep, but as they came up on the boards,

to approve of Aha

s a man has about him, and raises the wages of them who remain, in course he don't lik

ncern, I suppose,

'm not so sure. But Ahalala is a working-man's diggings, not a master'

idn't seem to think much

ebody else is sure to eat 'em. Ahalala isn't so bad. It's one of them chancy places, of course. You may and you mayn't,

it?' asked Caldi

ow why, but it never will. I've had my luck, too. Oh, laws! I might have had my house, just as grand as Polly Hook

of beer out of the pe

swells at their own game. There was a chap over in the other colony shod his horse with gold,- and he had to go shepherding afterwards for thirty pounds

nd had discussed the matter in various shapes,- asking whether the bucket had been emptied, and o

aggott?' Then Caldigate explained the recommendation which Mr. Crinkett

to remain with them for a month, assisting them in all their views; and for this he was to receive ten shillings a-day. But, in the event of his getting drunk, he was to be liable to dismissal at once. Mick pleaded h