This clerk had found Ahalala almost deserted,--occupied chiefly by a few Chinese, who were contented to search for the specks of gold which more ambitious miners had allowed to slip through their fingers.

The woman had certainly called herself Mrs.Caldigate, and had been called so by many.

But she had afterwards been called Mrs.Crinkett, when she and Crinkett had combined their means with the view of buying the Polyeuka mine.

She was described as an enterprising, greedy woman, upon whom the love of gold had had almost more than its customary effect.

And she had for a while been noted and courted for her success, having been the only female miner who was supposed to have realised money in these parts.