Then, as he anticipated being absent a week or two--the weather was getting very hot and he thought a change to a cooler climate would be enjoyable--the idea suddenly occurred to him that he might as well leave his brass-bound trunk containing all his English souvenirs and valuables, including letters and papers, in Mr. Stirling's care. 'The tent might be burned down or robbed in his absence,' he bethought himself, 'and Stirling is such a brick that if I came back in ten years instead of ten days, it would be as safe as when I left it. There are not so many men I'd say the same of, but if there's any man to whom the old boast "you can trust your life to him" applies, that man is Charlie Stirling!' Between business and pleasure the day was pretty nearly disposed of. His valise had been packed in the morning. The bright bay horse was faring well in the stable of the 'Prospector's Arms' hard by the bank--where all hands went to lunch at Mr. Stirling's invitation. He and his clerk lodged there, as far as meals went, though they took care--as, indeed, was strictly necessary--to sleep at the bank. Mrs. Delf, the smart and proverbially energetic landlady, was instructed to prepare a more than usually _recherché_ collation. Champagne ornamented the festive board, of which a local magnate--the opulent squatter of the vicinity--was invited to partake, and all things being fittingly concluded, Lance Trevanion made his adieus. 'Well, good-bye, Stirling!' he said, as he mounted the resolute bay, who arched his neck and gave a playful plunge. 'You'll honour my drafts, I suppose? and, by the bye'--here he drew a rather large envelope from his shooting-coat pocket--'keep this till I return. I had a fit of the blues last week, and scribbled what you'll find inside. Good-bye, Jack'--here he shook hands with Polwarth--'I'll ride by the claim, and say good-bye to Tottie and her mother.' Half an hour's fairly fast riding brought him to the claim, alongside of which stood the rude canvas shelter which had for so many weeks, even months, filled the place of 'home' for all the party. A true home in the best sense had it been. There had the little party enjoyed, so far, peace, security, warmth and shelter, sound sleep and wholesome meals. Near it was the shaft through whose incursion into Mother Earth's interior the _esse_, to be so much more noble _in posse_, had been reft by hard and honest toil. Even such a dwelling is not quitted wholly without regret. 'Well, good-bye, Mrs. Polwarth!' he cried as he rode up to where that worthy matron--having placed a gigantic loaf in the hot ashes of the recent fire in the open chimney--was washing and cleaning up all her belongings. 'I'm going away for a week.' 'Where to, sir?' she queried, 'if I may make bold to ask.' 'Well, up the country a bit. Ned Lawless wants me to join him at a new diggings, more than a hundred miles from here.'