For the sake of the bear, let him come." Mr.Hogan was too glad to join the party, on any conditions, to resent the tone which Mr.Bickford employed in addressing him.

He obtained his suit, and the party of three kept on their way.
As they advanced the country became rougher and more hilly.

Here and there they saw evidences of "prospecting" by former visitors.

They came upon deserted claims and the sites of former camps.

But in these places the indications of gold had not been sufficiently favorable to warrant continued work, and the miners had gone elsewhere.
At last, however, they came to a dozen men who were busily at work in a gulch.