by degrees all the surplus dirt was washed away, leaving only these
stones and a kind of fine black sand, in which the gold being heavy,
had stayed. This sand was carefully gathered up with a brush and
iron trowel into a shallow tin basin, and then an experienced miner
carefully manipulated the same with clear water. What with blowing
with the breath, and allowing the water to flow gently over it, all
the black sand was soon taken away, and the bottom of the tin dish
was then covered with dirty yellow grains of gold interspersed with
little water-worn nuggets. Archie took the gold and carried it down
to the office, where it was first weighed and then put into a little
canvas bag, which would be taken to the bank in Ballarat, and there
sold at the rate of four pounds an ounce or thereabouts.

'Sae this, ye ken,' said Archie, when he had finished all his
explanations, 'is the way ye get gold.'

'My faith,' said Vandeloup, carelessly, with a merry laugh, 'gold is
as hard to get in its natural state as in its artificial.'

"An' harder," retorted Archie, "forbye there's nae sic wicked wark
aboot it."

"Madame will be rich some day," remarked Vandeloup, as they left the
office and walked up towards the house.

"Maybe she will," replied the other, cautiously. "Australia's a
gran' place for the siller, ye ken. I'm no verra far wrang but what
wi' industry and perseverance ye may mak a wee bit siller yersel',
laddie."