Digging for Gold | Page 5

without gold. By the way, Joe, have you got any more?"
"Not a rap, sir."
"H'm, then I doubt whether I have enough to buy tools, not to speak of
provisions."
"I've bin' thinkin' about that, sir," said Joe, "and it seems to me that our
only chance lie in settin' up a grog and provision store!"
"A grog and provision store!"
"Yes, sir, the fact is that I had laid in a stock of pipes and baccy, tea and
brandy, for winter's use this year. Now as things have turned out, I
shan't want these just at this minute, so we can sell 'em off to the
diggers at a large profit. We might make a good thing of it, sir, for
you've no notion wot prices they'll give for things on the road to the
diggin's--"
Frank here interrupted his friend with a hearty laugh, and at the same
time declared that he would have nothing to do with the grog and
provision store; that he would rather take to porterage than engage in
any such enterprise.
"Well, then, sir, we won't say no more about that, but wot coorse would
ye advise the ship's head to be laid?"
Frank was silent for a few minutes as he sat with downcast eyes,
absorbed in meditation. Then he looked up suddenly, and said, "Joe, I'll
give you a definite answer to that question to-morrow morning.
To-night I will think over it and make arrangements. Meanwhile, let it
suffice that I have made up my mind to go to the diggings, and if you
remain in the same mind to-morrow, come here all ready for a start."
The ruddy countenance of the sturdy ex-porter beamed with
gratification as he rose and took his leave of Frank, who heard him, as
he walked away, making sundry allusions in nautical phraseology to

having his anchor tripped at last, and the sails shook out, all ready for a
start with the first o' the flood-tide in the morning!
CHAPTER THREE.
A VISIT TO THE DIGGINGS RESOLVED ON. TERRIBLE
COMMENCEMENT OF THE JOURNEY.
When next morning arrived, Joe Graddy, true to his word, appeared
with the first--if not of the "flood-tide," at least of the morning sun, and
Frank told him that, on the previous evening, he had made
arrangements to go to the diggings in company with a party that was to
start the following day; that he had already made purchases of the few
things which they would require on the journey, and that the only thing
remaining to be done was to pack up.
"Now, Joe, you must go at once to the principal guide and make
arrangements with him as to that brandy and tea on which you expect
to found your future fortunes. I told him to expect a visit from you
early in the day."
"Wotiver you do, do it at once," said Joe, putting on his straw hat with
an energetic slap. "That's one of my mottos. I'll go an' carry it into
practice."
The following day saw Frank and his man set forth with a party of
about thirty men, all of whom were clad in blue or red flannel shirts,
straw hats, big boots, and other rough garments; with rifles on their
shoulders, and bowie-knives and pistols in their belts. These were men
of various nations; Californians, Chinamen, Malays, Americans, Scotch,
and English, and many of them looked not only rough but savage. In
truth, they were as diverse in their characters as in their appearance,
some of them being men who had evidently moved in good society,
while others were as evidently of the lowest--probably the
convict--class. They had all, however, been thrown together by the
force of a common interest. All were bound for the gold-mines, and it
was necessary that they should travel in company for mutual protection
and assistance.

There were two guides, who had charge of ten pack-mules loaded with
provisions for the storekeepers at some remote diggings. These guides
were stern, powerful, bronzed fellows, who had to make their way
among rough men in difficult circumstances, and they seemed to be
quite prepared to do so, being fearless, resolute, and armed to the teeth.
Joe Graddy had obtained permission, on promise of payment, to place
his little fortune on the backs of the mules, so that he and Frank had
nothing to carry save their weapons and blankets, besides a tin cup each
at their girdles, and a water-bag.
"Come, I like this sort of thing," said one of the party, an Englishman,
when the order was given to start. "If it is all like this it will be
uncommonly jolly."
"I guess it ain't all like this, stranger," said one of the Americans with a
good-humoured grin.
One of the