After a sufficient number of persons was thought to have arrived upon the ground, it was decided to go on with the business of discovering: to whom fate should decree the future ownership of the woman. "Gentlemen!" said the mutual friend, rising up, and placing himself upon a chair, "I suppose you all know the game that's up here to-night? I believe that most of you be aware, that my friend `Brumming' here, can't agree with his old woman, nor she with him; and he have come to the resolution of getting rid of her. He thinks he'd be better off without a woman, than with one, 'specially with one as he can't agree with. And she thinks any other man be better than Ned `Brumming.' Such being the case, they think they had better part. Now, `Brumming' wants a little money to take him over to the other side; and to rise it for him, his friends have been called together, and his woman is going to be put up at a raffle for fifty pounds--twenty-five chances at two pounds a chance. Mrs Brumming is willing to live with any man, as will support her, and use her kindly. Who is going to help poor Ned Brumming? What name shall I first put down on this 'ere paper?" "Dirty Dick," "Jack Rag," "Hell Fryer," "Shiny Bright," and several other names were called out--to the number of twenty. It was then announced that five names were still wanted to complete the list. "I'll take a chance," said a man stepping forward to the table, where the names were being written out. The individual thus presenting himself, bore every evidence of having obtained a passage to the colonies at the expense of his native country--about twenty-five years before. "What name shall I put down?" asked the youthful master of the ceremonies. "Jimmy from Town." "Jimmy from hell!" screamed the woman. "You had better save your money Jimmy from Town. I wouldn't live with an old beast like you, if you were to win me ten times over." The prospect of losing his two pounds, and gaining nothing, caused the old convict to retire, which he did, apparently with no very good grace. "We must pay something for this entertainment," whispered my mate; "I will go halves with you in a chance." As he said this, he slipped a sovereign into my hand. I did not fully understand what my partner meant. He surely could not be thinking of our winning the woman, and owning her in partnership, as we did our mining claim? But as he had said something about our paying for the entertainment--and having trusted myself to him before I came away from my tent--I gave the name of "Rolly," to the manager of the raffle, and put down the two pounds. Two others then came forward, took a chance each, and paid their stakes. There were now only two more "tickets" to dispose of. Amongst the first who had entered their name upon the list, was a young miner, who to all appearance, took a greater interest in the proceedings than any person present.