His fondest anticipation's had gone no farther than twenty or thirty thousand dollars to a claim; but here were claims worth half a million each at the least, even if they were spotted.
He did not go back to work in the shaft that day, nor the next, nor the next.

Instead, capped and mittened, a light stampeding outfit, including his rabbit skin robe, strapped on his back, he was out and away on a many-days' tramp over creeks and divides, inspecting the whole neighboring territory.

On each creek he was entitled to locate one claim, but he was chary in thus surrendering up his chances.

On Hunker Creek only did he stake a claim.

Bonanza Creek he found staked from mouth to source, while every little draw and pup and gulch that drained into it was like-wise staked.