For the most odious weeks I had been a licensed digger on Black Hill Flats; and I had actually failed to make running expenses.

That, however, will surprise you the less when I pause to declare that I have paid as much as four shillings and sixpence for half a loaf of execrable bread; that my mate and I, between us, seldom took more than a few pennyweights of gold-dust in any one day; and never once struck pick into nugget, big or little, though we had the mortification of inspecting the "mammoth masses" of which we found the papers full on landing, and which had brought the gold-fever to its height during our very voyage.

With me, however, as with many a young fellow who had turned his back on better things, the malady was short-lived.

We expected to make our fortunes out of hand, and we had reckoned without the vermin and the villainy which rendered us more than ever impatient of delay.

In my fly-blown blankets I dreamt of London until I hankered after my chambers and my club more than after much fine gold.