So much did my apprehensions prey upon me, that I had some idea of selling out my share and forsaking the partnership; but I had not been very long in the concern, before becoming convinced that we were sinking a shaft into one of the richest claims upon the line. It was alike evident to me, that a great deal of hard labour would have to be performed, before the gold could be got out of it; and that my associates were the wrong men for this sort of thing. Fortunately at this crisis a man of a different character purchased one of the two shares, that had remained unsold. Fearing that the other share might fall into the hands of some trifler like the rest of my original partners, I purchased it myself; and then underlet it to a young fellow, with whom I had formed an acquaintance. This young man had been hitherto unsuccessful at gold-digging. His name was John Oakes; and I had learnt from him that, he was by profession a sailor, yet--unlike the majority of sailors met with on the gold fields--he was a man of temperate habits; and seemed determined to save money, if he could only get hold of it. Up to this time he had not found an opportunity of acting upon his good resolves: for every claim, in which he had taken a share, had turned out a failure. Before telling Oakes of my intentions towards him, I simply informed him, that I had purchased the eighth share in our claim, and offered to underlet it to him. "There's nothing I'd have liked better," said he, "than to get into a claim along with you. You are always lucky; and I should have been sure of getting something at last; but unfortunately I haven't the money to pay what you have advanced." "Never mind that," rejoined I. "The claim is pretty safe to be on the lead; and you can pay me, when you have obtained your gold out of it." "Then I accept your offer," said Oakes, apparently much gratified. "I need not tell you, how kind I think it of you to make it. I feel sure it will bring me a change of luck. I've never had but one decent claim, since I've been on the diggings; and the gold I got out of that was stolen from me. Rather, should I say, I was robbed of it. Did I ever tell you how that happened?" "No--not that I remember." "Well, then, let me tell you now. There were three of us in partnership, in a good claim on Eagle-Hawk Gully, Bendigo. We got out of it about forty-eight pounds of pure gold. During the time we were at work, we used to take the gold--as quick as we cleaned it out--to the Escort Office; and leave it there on deposit, until we should finish the job. "When we had worked out the claim, we all went together to the office, and drew out the deposit. "My two mates lived in a tent by themselves; and they proposed that we should go there--for the purpose of dividing our `spoil.'