e, John Berwick had for years accepted her rulings without protes

"prospects" could be found-reading a month old newspaper that a trapper, who had passed the previous night with him, had brought from the settlement, and in its columns had found an item of news

ey had reached bed-rock at thirty feet, and were beginning to cross-cut in search of a pay-streak. There was certainly little gold in the gravel on the bed-rock already uncovered, and the flow of water into the working was very great: indeed, as much time was taken in keeping the shaft free of water a

lack of it hindered his marriage with the one necessary girl, Alice Peel, the only daughter of Surgeon-Major Peel. This was one cause of his presen

pidly, we can hardly hea

s Joe's reply.

, and his religion was negligible. When first this French-Canadian had arrived in British Columbia, and started work in a saw-mill, he had refused to work on

e shaft to-morrow with seve

ss dat

problems: had he or had he not better throw up his Judas Creek Cl

ken logs, had during that time been sucking down bubbles of cold air, which sealed the fine ice particles to the river bed. For miles Judas Creek was lined with anchor ice, encasing the rocks with a coating, sickly, white,

d this tree, and swept against it but a second, when it snapped. Now the flow of the river became a seething mass of ice and sticks-four feet high-travelling at the rate of several miles an hour, picking up all that came in its way. It passed the mouth of several tributaries, which lent it increase of f

e nerves of John Berwick, who was miles down-stream, far be

ts, as when on a steamer the throb of the engine ceasing will rouse sleepers from their slumber. The slowing down

roof against the spell; at last, he took his s

ng pretty soon h

unteer a remark was unusual: it in

ty of miners had arrived in San Francisco bringing much gold fro

What were his chances of fortune? Masses of gold or moun

was just a prospector, no more in the eyes of Dame Fortune than the sturdy natural by the stove: in fact, e

come something of a cynic; certainly his mind had hardened with his muscles. He dreamed dreams. What would his lady say if she received a letter, saying

withstand great cold? Yes, he could; he could endure and do anything as any other normal strong man could; and cou

ce more came to his mind, he was aware of the complete silence now outside, and letting his

employer joined him there. There was no

funnee t'ing,"

to account for it," said Be

tove, Berwick putting his bed in order for the night, when Joe ju

. Quick, boss-quick! Get for hell out of dis! Pretty soon no more

oots, and instinctively his master follo

t's

havalanche on wheels, all turn over-over-over! Him carry away

undled together his personal effects, and some of the more valuable of the supplies in the cabin. Berwick did the same; out of the door they sprang into the night, and up the hillside, under which their

ttle valley. The timber there had been largely cut, and over the rugged

and water fell upon their workings. There was a loud crack as the windlass went down; and then the fury of water pou

away, swallowed up by the flood. The lights went out. Lower and lower it sank, till the roof was touched by the surgi

s proved effectual. Berwick turned to look at his man. Joe was already

write it down as such. He had known many miners on whom Fortune had smiled; dru

price of his future home

it to a handful of birch-b

mped into the fray and helped Joe make their camp; bu

must throw u

d logs. Then he cut down a fir-tree and made a bed, over which he spread the canvas of a tent a

er which he sat down upon the blankets, took off his boots

about the flames, calling up scenes of his youth, and conceiving all manner