Before they had been at Ahalala twenty-four hours they also had their tent and their frying-pan and their fire, and had pegged out their claim, and were ready to commence operations on the morrow.  It was soon manifest to Caldigate and Dick Shand that they would have been very much astray without a ‘boss’ to direct them.  Three or four hours had been passed in forming a judgment as to the spot on which they should commence to dig.  And in making his choice Mick had been guided by many matters as to which our two adventurers were altogether ignorant.  It might be that Mick was equally so; but he at any rate assumed some knowledge.  He looked to the fall of the ground, the line in which the red flags were to be traced,—­if any such line could be found,—­and was possessed of a considerable amount of jargon as to topographical mining secrets.  At last they found a spot, near a creek, surrounded by forest-trees, perhaps three hundred yards from the nearest adjacent claim, and, as Mick declared, in a direct line with three red flags.  Here they determined to commence their operations.  ’I don’t suppose we shall do any good,’ said Caldigate to Dick, ’but we must make a beginning, if only for the sake of hardening our hands.  We shall be learning something at the time even though we only shovel up so much mud.’

For a fortnight they shovelled up the soil continuously without any golden effects, and, so far, without any feeling of disappointment.  Mick had told them that if they found a speck at the end of three weeks they would be very fortunate.  They had their windlass, and they worked in relays; one man at the bottom, one man at the wheel, and one man idle.  In this way they kept up their work during eighteen hours of the day.  Each man in this way worked twelve hours, and had twelve for sleeping, and cooking, and eating.  Other occupation they had none.  During the fortnight neither of them went any further distance from their claim than to the neighbouring shop.  Mick often expressed his admiration at their continued industry, not understanding the spirit which will induce such young men as them to work, even when the work is agonising.  And they were equally charmed with Mick’s sobriety and loyalty.  Not a word had been said as to hours of work,—­and yet he was as constant to their long hours as though the venture was his own,—­as though there was no question of wages.

‘We ain’t had a drop o’ drink yet,’ said Mick one night.  ’Ain’t we a holding off like Britons?’ There was great triumph in his voice as he said this;—­very great triumph, but, also, as Caldigate thought, a sound of longing also.  They were now in their third week, and the word whisky had never been pronounced between them.  At this moment, when Mick’s triumphant ejaculation was uttered, they were all lying—­in bed.  It shall be called bed by way of compliment.  They had bought a truss of straw, which Mick had declared to be altogether unnecessary and womanish, and over