“Hech! hech!” whined he, “thir's a maist awfu' come doon for the McLaughlans—-but wha wadna' stuip to lift gowd?”
He left his head man, a countryman of his own, in charge of the flocks, and tarried in the mine. He gave great satisfaction, except that he used to make his masters wait for dinner while he pronounced a thundering long benediction; but his cookery compensated the delay.
Robinson enrolled him in his police and it was the fashion openly to quiz, and secretly respect him.
Robinson also made friends with the women, in particular with one Mary McDogherty, wife of a very unsuccessful digger. Many a pound of potatoes Pat and she had from the captain, and this getting wind secured the good will of the Irish boys.
CHAPTER LXI.
GEORGE was very homesick.
“Haven't we got a thousand pounds apiece yet?”
“Hush! no! not quite; but too much to bawl about.”
“And we never shall till you take my advice, and trace the gold to its home in the high rocks. Here we are plodding for dust, and one good nugget would make us.”