"I shan't forget what I owe you," said Mark to Josiah Socket.
"Take your own time about paying," answered the man. And then he and his family moved off, pack and baggage, and the others did not see them again for some time.
It was an important day when the three boys and Maybe Dixon set out to make their first hunt for gold. The lads were wild with excitement. One carried a pick, another a shovel, and Si had the washing pan,—an article shaped somewhat like a broad coal hod, with little tin ridges on the front slope. This was one sort of washing pan, and there were numerous others.
An hour of stiff walking brought them to a spot Maybe Dixon thought inviting, and they set to work, close to the stream, to dig up the sand and dirt and proceed to the washing.
"I'll wash the first panful," said the man, "and then you can all try your hands at it. You've got to learn, and there ain't no time so good as the present."
"If the first panful only pans out good," whispered Si, hopefully.
All stood around and watched the process of washing with keen interest. The loose dirt came away quickly and then more water was put in, and Maybe Dixon showed how to get rid of the fine sand and small stones. At last the pan was almost empty.
"Any gold?" asked Bob, in a voice he tried his best to steady.
Maybe Dixon looked at the pan bottom with great care.
"Not a smell," he declared.