Dust would not do for me--I must have nuggets.

So from Bendigo I drifted to the Ovens, and from the Ovens to Ballarat.

But I did no more good on one field than on another, and eventually, early in 1853, I cast up in Melbourne again with the intention of shipping home in the first vessel.

But there were no crews for the homeward-bounders, and while waiting for a ship my little stock of gold dust gave out.

I became destitute first--then desperate.