166 



ON AND OFF THE TURF. 



and give liiin no peace. They are as bad as the 

 Chinamen, who never prospect for themselves at all. 

 If I went out there prospecting again, I should have 

 no chance. There would be a crowd after me in a 

 moment/^ said Ford. 



" Then you have no fear for the future of 

 Coolgardie ? '' 



^' None in the least. I had thirty thousand shares 



in Bayley's, and have sold a few, but the bulk I 



hold.^^ 



''How does it feel to be rich?'' I asked 

 Ford. 



''Not bad; more especially when you have been 

 in Melbourne with a few bob in your pockets like I 

 have/' said Ford, 



"How do you feel when you pick up a 200oz. 

 nugget ? " I asked. 



" At first you feel inclined to shout. Next you 

 are down on your knees looking if there are any 

 more about. Do not think I exaggerate, but I can 

 tell you when we first struck Bayley's you could 

 almost shovel up gold. I never saw a sight like it 

 in my life, and I have been on a good many 

 fields." 



When Ford rose to go I shook hands with him. 

 I gripped him hard, in the hope that some of his 

 luck might stick to me ; also in the hope that some 

 stray atoms of gold dust might be hanging on to 



