Here and there were to be seen little red flags stuck upon the end of poles.

These indicated, as Mick informed them, those fortunate adventures in which gold had been found.

At those very much more numerous hillocks which showed no red flag, the labourers were hitherto labouring in vain.

There was a little tent generally near to each hillock in which the miners slept, packed nearly as close as sheep in a fold.

As our party made its way through the midst of this new world to Ridley's hotel, our friend observed many a miner sitting at his evening meal.