Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-01-07

we have bigger pile than we've got
now"
Their plans being arranged, the little
party separated for the night, utAvery
shared the cave with his daughter, as
he thought it safer. This was also the
repository of some $4,000 worth of
gold, which the two men had already
taken from the spot.
On the following morning work was
commenced in earnest, and the piles Of
dirt began to melt away before the Wig
orous attacks of the men, while Hank
Bowers dug manfully by himself ashort
distance away, apparently satisfied to
take them at their word. He was an
experienced miner. and his little pile
Of dust grew steadily.
That night the result of their COM
bined efforts was nearly $1,000, and
Yom Scott could hardly be content to
take the necessary time for sleep. Il
seemed to him that his fortune was =!
ready made.
Three days of unremitting toll fol-
lowed, the average being a little less
than the first day. Then Avery said,
as they were starting out the fourth
morning:
Taylor, we are digging in the wrong
place altogether"
"The wrong placer"
"Yes, that's what 1 said. I've waited
to see how rich this dirt is and am not
satisfied. Don't you see, Dick, you have
been digging here by stream that runs
now, but it isn't the stream that cut
that big hole through the face OF the
cliff. That goes off in another direc-
tion altogether, you see.
Perhaps n hundred or a thousand
years ago this stream wasn't running
at all. Now, where must the bed of the
stream have been that did cut its way
through that rock? You can see it must
have been over there on the other side
of the ridge. I'll bet that old stream
ran thousands of years before it dried
up. 1t must have"
How do you know?'' asked Tom, in
wonder.
Because it would take that long to
wear through the rock as it did. It was
bigger stream than this by good
deal. See those big stones scattered all
around in it's bed. 1t must have been a
powerful stream 10 START them, and
there they are everywhere"
by thunder, believe you're righti"
cried Taylor excitedly. "I can see 1t
now. ought 20 have known it at first,
but we struck good paying dirt on this
side, and didn't prospect any further
Come on, let's try over there!"
Hold on a bit" replied Avery.
You're not headed for the. best place"
The Others looked at him to see if he
was joking, but his face was very
earnest, and he went on:
ut makes lots Of difference where
we dig. We may be surprised here anv
day and can't hope TO keep this place to
ourselves a great while. We don't want
TO waste day. Just look at that bend
where the round pebbles are collected.
There wasa strong eddy just there. I'm
der the ridge Of such n place is apt to
be more gold than anywhere else. Let's
try there first, and if we don't find gold
I'm no prophet"
His words carried conviction, and tho
party seized their shovels and hurried
to the spot at once. They found it COW
cred with single, the. debris Of CEN
turtles. Below was little dirt, and then
they struck a layer of gravel.
Tom Scott was working with all his
might lie had taken about foot of
gravel from the place about a ward
square, when, rs he drove his shove
down, it struck something which felt
like rock. y moment later he had laid
bare few inches of rough, shaly sur
face just as the others also struck the
same obstruction.
Il guess I've struck bottom he said
ruefully. 1--WE cant dig here"
AS he spoke he scraped the surface
of the rock under his feet carelessIy
with his shovel.
Something yellow caught his eye, and,
18th little exclamation of surprise,
he dropped on his knees and brushed
away the dirt about it.
His heart seemed fairly to stand still
as ne grasped an oblong lump of dirt
on the side of which his shovel had left
yellow scratch. As he lifted it its
great weight told him the truth, and he
sprang erect, shouting:
Its nugget! It's a nugget"
"Let me seei"
Avery's voice trembled as he held
out his hand.
It's heavy as leaG!" cried Tom. as he
laid lump Of virgin gold, weighing
nearl y pound, in the old miners
extended palm.
Its gold, my lad" said Avery, after
one glance. Il knew l was making no
mistake. We must take no more
chances. Let each man stake out a
claim along this old river bed before
anyone arrives. We are all rich men"
1t seemed impossible to leave at that
time, but the old miners advice was
good and they followed it, while Hank
bowers. who had not been aware of
their discovery, soon understood that
they were stalking OUT claims formally.
and proceeded 10 do likewise ON his
side of the ridge.
When this had been accomplished.
Avery said:
NOW, we must each work on his own
claim to hold it: \ claim can't go idle
~ hours on Canadian soil without for