The greater number of them were earth-stained diggers, who ran up for, it might be, a missing tool, or a hide bucket, or a coil of rope.

They spat jets of tobacco-juice, were richly profane, paid, where coin was scarce, in gold-dust from a match-box, and hurried back to work.

But there also came old harridans--as often as not, diggers themselves--whose language outdid that of the males, and dirty Irish mothers; besides a couple of the white women who inhabited the Chinese quarter.

One of these was in liquor, and a great hullabaloo took place before she could be got rid of.

Put out, she stood in front of the tent, her hair hanging down her back, cursing and reviling.