"PUT FORTH THY HAND" 43 



ing very short — in fact, only about six weeks — 

 the assembling of the component parts of the 

 mammoth dredge was rushed to completion, 

 and yet it was too late to be of service during 

 that particular season. 



The following one, however, found every- 

 thing ready for lifting the precious metal to 

 the surface. The machinery was started and 

 the big dredge was towed to the most favor- 

 able place to make the richest and quickest 

 hauls of golden nuggets. 



What happened? 



The great bucket descended over and over 

 again to the bottom, but nothing ever came 

 up. It was whispered about that the floor of 

 this part of the lake was all paved with gi- 

 gantic boulders, and so the dredge was taken 

 to another portion of the lake, but with the 

 same result. After vainly endeavoring to find 

 a place at the bottom where sand and gold 

 might be found, with no boulders to interfere 

 with the dredge, the idea was abandoned and 

 once more "Hope, Eternal Hope" was shat- 

 tered. 



Nearly a half-million dollars had been ex- 

 pended in building and getting the dredge 

 ready for its work, in addition to salaries to 

 the so-called engineers and commissions to the 



