Golden Australia 14* 



news that a big reef has certainly been located, 

 and that the prospects for alluvial miners are 

 more than promising. The ground is soon pegged 

 out in all directions, and the " dry blowers " can 

 be seen at work all over the field, sifting the 

 alluvial soil through sieves which allow the dust 

 and sand to pass but retain the golden nuggets. 

 From somewhere, apparently from the trackless 

 wilderness, a grog-seller has arrived with his 

 barrels and bottles, and is already doing a roaring 

 business in a tent which a small hand-written 

 card, pinned on the tent flap, proclaims to be a 

 hotel. Another man is distilling clear tasteless 

 water from the salty mixture in the lake, and sell- 

 ing it at half a crown a gallon. The camp has 

 passed from the vague realms of rumour and 

 hearsay into the region of absolute facts. 



Work is going on busily everywhere, when the 

 sound of a tin dish beaten with a stick is heard 

 the call for a " roll-up." In an instant, work is 

 at a standstill, and every occupant of the camp 

 hastens in the direction of the sound, to discover 

 what matter of common interest is to be settled. 

 The cause of the " roll-up " is soon made known: 

 a miner's tent has been robbed, and his chamois- 

 leather bag of nuggets stolen. The victim nar- 

 rates the circumstances, and explains his reasons 

 for suspecting some other member of the camp. 

 Some of the miners at once seize and search the 

 accused man while others go to his tent, where 

 the stolen gold is discovered, hidden in the thief s 



