Dip your pan 

and dredge it in the stream. 

Discard the rock, 

it has no worth. 

Next rubble roughened with the rasp 

of too much thought 

might have you fooled, 

but tip it back, 

it's poor stuff for your trade. 

Now down to grit 

your prospect's better now. 

Sieve it, inspect it, 

swill it round 

then maybe in its settling 

you'll find a tiny gleam 

of gold dust in the silt, 

the inkling of a seam. 

 

From: Skookum Jim and The Klondike Gold Rush 
Published by Indigo Dreams Publishing
Available from www.indigodreams.co.uk