AustLit

A reminiscence of gold digging in Victoria. The original four mates are split when one is turned out for dishonesty. Unease is caused when he returns at the same time as David Chance brings his simple young 17-year-old daughter up from Melbourne. She wanders often, searching for lilies her mother told her about in England, and falls in love with the youngest mate. The dishonest partner robs the father one night after he has been working on a particularly rich smelting - taking the gold and striking the daughter in his exit. She dies from the blow and the thief dies when he accidentally stumbles into their 60 foot mine shaft. Interesting in relation to the descriptions of smelting, direction of the gold reef etc. Also the young girl's dawning affection. (PB)