The judge, who, by virtue of age, was the master of ceremonies and general moderator of the camp, very promptly appointed a committee, consisting of Toledo and two miners, whose attire appeared the most respectable in the place, and instructed them to wait on the schoolmarm, and tender her the cordial support of the miners. Early the next morning the committee called at the schoolhouse, attached to which were two small rooms in which teachers were expected to keep house. The committee found the teacher "putting to rights" the schoolroom. Her dress was tucked up, her sleeves rolled, her neck hidden by a bright handkerchief, and her hair "a-blowin' all to glory," as Toledo afterward expressed it. Between the exertion, the bracing air, and the excitement caused by the newness of everything, Miss Brown's pleasant face was almost handsome. "Mornin', marm," said Toledo, raising a most shocking hat, while the remaining committee-men expeditiously ranged themselves behind him, so that the teacher might by no chance look into their eyes. "Good-morning, gentlemen," said Miss Brown, with a cheerful smile, "please be seated. I suppose you wish to speak of your children?" Toledo, who was a very young man, blushed, and the whole committee was as uneasy on its feet as if its boots had been soled with fly-blisters. Finally, Toledo answered: "Not much, marm, seein' we ain't got none. Me an' these gentlemen's a committee from the boys." "From the boys?" echoed Miss Brown. She had heard so many wonderful things about the Golden State, that now she soberly wondered whether bearded men called themselves boys, and went to school. "From the miners, washin' along the crick, marm--they want to know what they ken do fur yer," continued Toledo. "I am very grateful," said Miss Brown; "but I suppose the local school committee--" "Don't count on them, marm," interrupted Toledo; "they're livin' five miles away, and they're only the preacher, an' doctor, an' a feller that's j'ined the church lately. None uv 'em but the doctor ever shows themselves at the saloon, an' _he_ only comes when there's a diffikilty, an' he's called in to officiate. But the boys--the boys hez got the dust, marm, an' they've got the will. One uv us'll be in often to see what can be done fur yer. Good-mornin', marm." Toledo raided his hat again, the other committee-men bowed profoundly to all the windows and seats, and then the whole retired, leaving Miss Brown in the wondering possession of an entirely new experience. "Well?" inquired the crowd, as the committee approached the creek. "Well," replied Toledo, "she's just a hundred an' thirty pound nugget, an' no mistake--hey, fellers?" "You bet," promptly responded the remainder of the committee. "Good!" said the judge. "What does she want?" Toledo's countenance fell. "By thunder!" he replied, "we got out 'fore she had a chance to tell us!"