There were two or three men camped here.

One of them was more social than the rest and we soon got acquainted.

His name was Williams, from Missouri.

He came down to the river with a pan of dirt, and seeing me in my ignorance trying to wash some as well, he took the pan from me and very kindly showed me how to work so as to let the dirt go and save the gold.

When he had the pan finished a few small, bright scales remained.