Their hopes ran high, but presently one of the four--Askew by name--sickened and died of fever.

They buried him and persevered with varying luck.

Then a second member of their party, Johnston, was taken ill.

He lingered for a month and died also.
After this Leonard was for abandoning the enterprise, but, as fate would have it, on the day following Johnston's death they found gold in very promising quantities, and his brother, whose desire to win the wealth necessary was only increased by many disappointments, would not listen to such advice.
So they rebuilt the hut on a higher and healthier spot and stayed.

But on one unfortunate day Thomas Outram went out shooting, and losing his path in the bush was forced to spend a night in the fever-fog.