The bruise on his side, received against the fallen tree, was more serious than I had supposed; and this had misled me. He had made no complaint. The moment I became aware of my mistake, I hastened to his side. "Hiram," said I, "you are ill? Forgive me, if you can. I fear that my thoughtlessness, and passionate temper, have caused you much suffering." He made no reply to my conciliatory speech. He was in a very high fever; and asked faintly for water. I took the tin vessel, in which I had made the coffee; and having filled it at the stream, gave him a pint cup full. He drank the water eagerly; and then found voice to talk to me. He said that he was glad that I had returned, for he wished to tell me where he had buried some gold, and where his wife and child were living, and could be written to. He spoke with great difficulty; and soon called for more water. I again filled the cup nearly full, and handed it to him. After drinking every drop that was in it, he requested me to give him the coffee-can; but, thinking that he had drunk enough water, I declined acceding to his request; and tried to persuade him, that too much water would do him a serious injury. He only answered me by clamouring for more water. "Wait but a little while," said I. "In a few minutes you shall have some more." "Give it me now! Give it me now! Will you not give me some now?" Knowing that the quantity he had already drunk, could not fail to be injurious to him, I refused to let him have any more. "Give me some water!" he exclaimed, with more energy of voice and manner, than I had ever known him to exhibit. I replied by a negative shake of the head. "Inhuman wretch!" he angrily cried out. "Do you refuse? Refuse to give a dying man a drop of water!" I once more endeavoured to convince him, that there would be danger in his drinking any more water--that there was yet a chance for him to live; but, while talking to him, I perceived a change suddenly stealing over his features. He partly raised himself into a sitting position; and then commenced cursing me, in the most horrible language I had ever heard from the lips of a dying man! After continuing at this for several minutes he sank back upon the grass, and lay silent and motionless. Allowing a short interval to elapse, I approached the prostrate form, and gently laid my hand upon his forehead. I shall never forget the sensation that thrilled through me, as I touched his skin. It was already cold and clammy--convincing me that my prospecting companion had ceased to live! I passed the whole of the following day in trying to recover the mules. Had I succeeded, I would have taken the body to some camp of diggers, and buried it in a Christian manner. As this was not possible, with my lame hands, I scooped out a shallow grave; and buried the body as I best could.