"Oh!" came from the three boys, and each followed with a long sigh.
"Ain't no use to git discouraged yet," said the man, hopefully. "We may go days before we strike paying dirt."
"I thought gold was everywhere," said Si.
They continued to dig and wash for an hour, each trying the pan. But nothing in the way of gold was brought to light. Then they moved to another locality and went through the whole process over again.
"No gold," murmured Mark, and his face showed his disappointment.
"I thought sure we'd strike something," said Bob.
"Perhaps after all we ought to have followed Mr. Socket down the valley," put in Si. "He said this district didn't look like gold to him."
"You can't tell from general appearances, not unless you're an expert," said Maybe Dixon. "Maybe by to-morrow we'll be having better luck."
They continued to dig and to wash, trying half a dozen different places, up and down the stream. But it was of no use, and at sundown they returned to their cabin much downcast.
"And doesn't my back ache!" declared Mark, bracing up with a grimace.