Summary

Emery Staines is in Hokitika, but has not started prospecting. He cannot find a stake or a company that he likes. The life of a prospector is hard on him. He likes to be in good company and indoors. The only thing that spurs him forward is the conditions of his sponsorship with Francis Carver.

When he takes his pouch of dust to the bank, he meets a man on the steps. The man asks him if he values loyalty or honesty. Staines claims he values loyalty in himself and honesty in others. The man wants a favor. He has a large gold nugget that he needs cashed in so he can pay a land agent to purchase land in the area. He has been robbed so he has not paper so cannot take the gold in the back himself. He did not...