The amount derived from their sales barely kept the diggers in provisions.

About this time Lord fell ill of dysentery, which was prevalent in all the camps in this vicinity, and Paul had to do double work to give the gentlemanly sorter, who refused to do any digging, occupation.

Being tired and worn with the two-fold labor, Paul was tempted many times to abandon the claim and take a rest, and was prevented only by the fear that jumpers would take advantage of the work already done.

The unwritten law at that time was that if a miner ceased working his claim for a certain length of time it could be "jumped" by others.

About this time Paul also began to suspect the honesty of the sorter and kept a close eye on him.