CONTENTS CHAP. I. BEGINS WITH DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, . 9 II. FRANK DISCUSSES HIS PROSPECTS WITH A FRIEND, . ., . . . .17 III. A VISIT TO THE DIGGINGS RESOLVED ON. TERRIBLE COMMENCEMENT OF THE JOUR- 24 NEY, . ....- IV. DESCRIBES AN INCIDENT OF DEVOURING INTEREST, AN UNEXPECTED VISIT, AND A VIOLENT ASSAULT, V. THE TRAVELLERS MEET WITH INDIANS, AND ARE LED TO WISH THAT THEY HAD NOT GONE SEEKING FOR GOLD, .... 57 VI. ARRIVAL AT THE GOLD-FIELDS, AND LESSONS IN GOLD-WASHING RECEIVED, ... 67 VII. GIVES THE RESULT OF THE FIRST DAYS DIGGING, AND SHOWS THE POWERFUL EFFECT OF LYNCH-LAW, .... SO VIII. FRANK AND JOE TAKE TO WANDERING SEE SOME WONDERFUL THINGS, AND HAVE A NARROW ESCAPE, IX. . . CONCLUSION, . . 93 ... 115 314117 LIBRARY 43 NOTE PLAN OF THIS MISCELLANY THEEE is a vast amount of interesting information on almost all subjects, which many people, especially the young, cannot attain to because of the expense, and, in some instances, the rarity of the books in which it is contained. To place some of this information, in an attractive form, within the reach of those who cannot afford to purchase ex- pensive books, is the principal object of this miscellany. Truth is stranger than fiction, but fiction is a valuable assistant in the development of truth. Both, therefore, shall be used in these volumes. Care will be taken to ensure, as far as is possible, that the facts stated shall be true, and that the impressions given shall be truthful. As all classes, in every age, have proved that tales and stories are the most popular style of literature, each volume of the series with, perhaps, one or two exceptions will contain a complete tale, the heroes and actors in which, together with thecombination of circumstances in which they move, shall be more or less fictitious. In writing these volumes, the author has earnestly endea- voured to keep in view the glory of God and the good of man. CHAPTER I BEGINS WITH DIFFERENCES OF OPINION there was a man in this world who was passionately fond of painting and cut out for a painter, thatman was Frank Allfrey but fate, in the form of an old uncle, had decided that Frank should not follow the bent of his inclinations. We introduce our hero to the reader at the interesting age of eighteen, but, long before that period of life, he had shown the powerful leaning of his spirit. All his school-books were covered with heads of dogs, horses, and portraits of his companions. Most of his story-books were illustrated with coloured engravings, the colouring of whichhad been thework of his busyhand, and the walls of his nursery were decorated with cartoons, done in charcoal, which partial friends of the family sometimes declared were worthy of Raphael At the age of thirteen, his uncle for the poor fellow was an orphan asked him one day what he would like to be. This was an extraordinary condescension on the part of Mr. Allfrey, senior, who was a grim, hard-featured man, with little or no soul to speak of, and with an enormously large ill-favoured body. The boy, although taken by surprise for his uncle seldom addressed him on any subject, answered promptly, I d like to be an artist, sir. A what An artist. Get along, you goose This was all that was said at the time, and as it is the only conversation which is certainly known to have taken place between the uncle and nephew during the early youth of the latter, we have ventured, at the risk ofbeing tedious, to the whole of it. give Frank was one of those unfortunates who are styled neglected boys...