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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Digging for Gold, by R.M. Ballantyne
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Digging for Gold
+       Adventures in California
+
+Author: R.M. Ballantyne
+
+Release Date: June 7, 2007 [EBook #21727]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DIGGING FOR GOLD ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+
+
+
+DIGGING FOR GOLD, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+ADVENTURES IN CALIFORNIA.
+
+BEGINS WITH DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
+
+If ever there was a man in this world who was passionately fond of
+painting and cut out for a painter, that man was Frank Allfrey; but
+fate, in the form of an old uncle, had decided that Frank should not
+follow the bent of his inclinations.
+
+We introduce our hero to the reader at the interesting age of eighteen,
+but, long before that period of life, he had shown the powerful leaning
+of his spirit.  All his school-books were covered with heads of dogs,
+horses, and portraits of his companions.  Most of his story-books were
+illustrated with coloured engravings, the colouring of which had been
+the work of his busy hand, and the walls of his nursery were decorated
+with cartoons, done in charcoal, which partial friends of the family
+sometimes declared were worthy of Raphael.
+
+At the age of thirteen, his uncle--for the poor fellow was an orphan--
+asked him one day what he would like to be.  This was an extraordinary
+condescension on the part of Mr Allfrey, senior, who was a grim,
+hard-featured man, with little or no soul to speak of, and with an
+enormously large ill-favoured body.  The boy, although taken by
+surprise--for his uncle seldom addressed him on any subject,--answered
+promptly, "I'd like to be an artist, sir."
+
+"A what?"
+
+"An artist."
+
+"Get along, you goose!"
+
+This was all that was said at the time, and as it is the only
+conversation which is certainly known to have taken place between the
+uncle and nephew during the early youth of the latter, we have ventured,
+at the risk of being tedious, to give the whole of it.
+
+Frank was one of those unfortunates who are styled "neglected boys."  He
+was naturally sharp-witted, active in mind and body, good-tempered, and
+well disposed, but disinclined to study, and fond of physical exertion.
+He might have been a great man had he been looked after in youth, but no
+one looked after him.  He was an infant when his father and mother died
+and left him to the care of his uncle, who cared not for him, but left
+him to care for himself, having, as he conceived, done his duty towards
+him when he had supplied him with food, clothing, and lodging, and paid
+his school fees.  No blame, therefore, to poor Frank that he grew up a
+half-educated youth, without fixed habits of study or thought, and with
+little capacity for close or prolonged mental exertion.
+
+Mr Allfrey entertained the ridiculous idea that there were only three
+grand objects of ambition in life, namely, to work, to eat and drink,
+and to sleep.  At least, if he did not say in definite terms that such
+was his belief, he undoubtedly acted as though it were.  His mind
+appeared to revolve in a sort of small circle.  He worked in order that
+he might eat and drink; he ate and drank that he might be strengthened
+for work, and he slept in order to recruit his energies that he might be
+enabled to work for the purposes of eating and drinking.  He was a
+species of self-blinded human-horse that walked the everlasting round of
+a business-mill of his own creating.  It is almost unnecessary to add
+that he was selfish to the back-bone, and that the only individual who
+did not see the fact was himself.
+
+When Frank reached the age of eighteen, Mr Allfrey called him into his
+private "study,"--so called because he was in the habit of retiring
+regularly at fixed periods every day to study _nothing_ there,--and,
+having bidden him sit down, accosted him thus:--
+
+"Well, boy, have you thought over what I said to you yesterday about
+fixing upon some profession?  You are aware that you cannot expect to
+lead a life of idleness in this world.  I know that you are fit for
+nothing, but fit or not fit, you must take to something without delay."
+
+Frank felt a sensation of indignation at being spoken to thus rudely,
+and in his heart he believed that if he was indeed fit for nothing, his
+sad condition was due much more to his uncle's neglect than to his own
+perversity.  He did not, however, give utterance to the thought, because
+he was of a respectful nature; he merely flushed and said,--"Really,
+uncle, you do me injustice.  I may not be fit for much, and every day I
+live I feel bitterly the evil of a neglected education, but--"
+
+"It's well, at all events," interrupted Mr Allfrey, "that you admit the
+fact of your having neglected it.  That gives you some chance of
+amendment."
+
+Frank flushed again and drew his breath shortly; after a moment's
+silence he went on:--
+
+"But if I am not fit for much, I am certainly fit for something.  I have
+only a smattering of Latin and Greek, it is true, and a very slight
+knowledge of French, but, if I am to believe my teacher's reports, I am
+not a bad arithmetician, and I know a good deal of mathematics, besides
+being a pretty fair penman."
+
+"Humph! well, but you know you have said that you don't want to enter a
+mercantile or engineer's office, and a smattering of Latin and Greek
+will not do for the learned professions.  What, therefore, do you
+propose to yourself, the army, eh? it is the only opening left, because
+you are now too old for the navy."
+
+"I wish to be an artist," said Frank with some firmness.
+
+"I thought so; the old story.  No, sir, you shall never be an artist--at
+least not with my consent.  Why, do you suppose that because you can
+scribble caricatures on the fly-leaves of your books you have
+necessarily the genius of Rubens or Titian?"
+
+"Not quite," replied Frank, smiling in spite of himself at the
+irascibility of the old gentleman, "and yet I presume that Rubens and
+Titian began to paint before either themselves or others were aware of
+the fact that they possessed any genius at all."
+
+"Tut, tut," cried Mr Allfrey impatiently, "but what have you ever done,
+boy, to show your ability to paint?"
+
+"I have studied much, uncle," said Frank eagerly, "although I have said
+little to you about the matter, knowing your objection to it; but if you
+would condescend to look at a few of my drawings from nature, I think--"
+
+"Drawing from nature," cried Mr Allfrey with a look of supreme
+contempt, "what do _I_ care for nature?  What have _you_ to do with
+nature in this nineteenth century?  Nature, sir, is only fit for
+savages.  There is nothing natural now-a-days.  Why, what do you suppose
+would become of my ledger and cash-book, my office and business, if I
+and my clerks raved about nature as you do?  A fig for nature!--the less
+you study it the better.  _I_ never do."
+
+"Excuse me, sir," said Frank respectfully, "if I refuse to believe you,
+because I have heard you frequently express to friends your admiration
+of the view from your own drawing-room window--"
+
+"Of course you have, you goose, and you ought to have known that that
+was a mere bit of conventional humbug, because, since one is constrained
+unavoidably to live in a world full of monstrous contradictions, it is
+necessary to fall in with its habits.  You ought to know that it is
+customary to express admiration for a fine view."
+
+"You spoke as if you felt what you said," replied Frank, "and I am
+certain that there are thousands of men in the position of yourself and
+your clerks who delight in nature in all her varied aspects; who,
+because they unfortunately see so little of her in town, make it their
+ambition to have cottages in the country when they can afford it, and
+many of whom decorate their walls with representations of nature."
+
+"Frank," said Mr Allfrey, somewhat solemnly, as he turned his gaze full
+on the animated face of his nephew, "_if_ I could get you put into a
+lunatic asylum without a doctor's certificate I would do so without
+delay, but, that being impossible just now--although I think it will be
+not only possible but necessary ere long--I have to make you a final
+proposal.  It is this:--that, as you express such a powerful objection
+to enter an office in this country, you should go abroad and see whether
+a three-legged stool is more attractive in foreign parts than it is in
+England.  Now, I happen to have a friend in California.  If your
+geography has not been neglected as much as your Latin, you will
+remember that this country lies on the western seaboard of North
+America, not far from those gold-fields which have been recently turning
+the world upside-down.  Will you go?"
+
+"I shall be delighted to go," said Frank with enthusiasm.
+
+"Eh!" exclaimed Mr Allfrey, with a look of surprise, as if he could not
+understand the readiness with which his nephew agreed to the proposal,
+"why, how's this?  I had fully expected you to refuse.  Remember, boy,
+it is not to be a romantic gold-digger, which is another name for a born
+idiot, that I would send you out to California.  It is to be a clerk, a
+quill-driver.  D'you understand?"
+
+"I understand, uncle, perfectly," replied Frank with a smile.  "The fact
+is that I had made up my mind, lately, not to oppose your wishes any
+longer, but to agree to go into an office at home.  Of course it is more
+agreeable to me to think of going into one abroad."
+
+"I'm glad you take such a sensible view of the matter, Frank," said Mr
+Allfrey, much mollified.
+
+"Besides," continued Frank, "I have read a good deal about that country
+of late, and the descriptions of the magnificence of the scenery have
+made me long to have an opportunity of painting it and--"
+
+He paused abruptly and started up, for his uncle had seized a book,
+which usually lay open on his desk, and was in fact a sort of dummy
+intended to indicate the "study" that was supposed to go on there.  Next
+moment Frank sprang laughing into the passage, and the book flew with a
+crash against the panels of the door as he shut it behind him, leaving
+Mr Allfrey to solace himself with a large meerschaum, almost the only
+unfailing friend that he possessed.
+
+Thus it came to pass that Frank Allfrey went out to the gold regions of
+California.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+FRANK DISCUSSES HIS PROSPECTS WITH A FRIEND.
+
+We pass over our hero's long voyage round "the Horn," and introduce him
+in a totally new scene and under widely different circumstances--seated
+near a magnificent tree of which he is making a study, and clad in a
+white linen coat and pantaloons and a broad-brimmed straw hat.
+
+Just the day before, the "House" to which he had been sent had failed.
+Two years had he spent in grinding at its account books, perched on a
+three-legged stool, and now he found himself suddenly cast loose on the
+world.  Of course when the stool was knocked from under him his salary
+was stopped, and he was told by his employers that it would be necessary
+for him to go elsewhere to earn a subsistence.
+
+This was rather a startling piece of advice, and for a time Frank felt
+much depressed, but on returning to his lodgings, the day he received
+his dismissal, his eye fell on his palette and brushes, which he at once
+seized, and, hastening out to his favourite tree, was soon so thoroughly
+absorbed in the study of "nature" that his sorrows vanished like morning
+mist.
+
+After three hours' steady work he arose refreshed in soul and comforted.
+
+Thereafter he returned to his lodgings and sat down to think over his
+prospects.  His cogitations were temporarily interrupted, and afterwards
+materially assisted, by a short thick-set man of about thirty years of
+age who entered with a deferential air, and pulled his forelock.
+
+"Come in, Joe.  I was just thinking over my future plans, and I daresay
+you can assist me, being, I suppose, in the same fix with myself."
+
+Joe Graddy had been a porter in the "House" which had failed, and was
+indeed in the "same fix," as Frank said, with himself.
+
+"I've comed, sir," said Joe, "to ax yer advice, an' to offer ye my
+sarvice, it it's of any use," said the porter, who was a shrewd
+straightforward man, and had originally been a sailor.
+
+"If you had come to offer me advice and ask my services," said Frank, "I
+would have been better pleased to see you.  However, sit down and let me
+hear what you have to say."
+
+"Well, sir," said Joe; "this is wot I've got for to say, that we are in
+what the Yankees call a pretty considerable fix."
+
+"I know it, Joe; but how do you think we are to get out of the fix?"
+
+"That's just wot I comed for to ax," said the man; "and when you've told
+me how, I'll lend a hand to weigh anchor an' set sail.  The fact is, I'm
+in want of a place, and I'm willing to engage with _you_, sir."
+
+Frank Allfrey experienced a strange mingling of feelings when he heard
+this.  Of course he felt much gratified by the fact that a man so grave
+and sensible as Joe Graddy should come and deferentially offer to become
+his servant at a time when he possessed nothing but the remnant of a
+month's salary; and when he considered his own youth, he felt amazed
+that one so old and manly should volunteer to place himself under his
+orders.  The fact is that Frank was not aware that his straightforward
+earnest manner had commended him very strongly to those, with whom he
+had lately come in contact.  He was one of those attractive men whose
+countenances express exactly what they feel, who usually walk with a
+quick earnest step, if we may say so, and with a somewhat downcast
+contemplative look.  Frank knew well enough that he was strong and tall,
+unusually so for his age, and therefore did not continually _assert_ the
+fact by walking as if he was afraid to fall forward, which is a common
+practice among men who wish to look bigger than they are.  Besides,
+being an ardent student of nature, Frank was himself natural, as well as
+amiable, and these qualities had endeared him to many people without his
+being aware of it.
+
+"Why, Joe!" he exclaimed, "what do you mean?"
+
+"I mean wot I says, sir."
+
+"Are you aware," said Frank, smiling, "that I do not possess a shilling
+beyond the few dollars that I saved off my last month's salary?"
+
+"I s'posed as much, sir."
+
+"Then if you engage with me, as you express it, how do you expect to be
+paid?"
+
+"I don't expect to be paid, sir."
+
+"Come, Joe, explain your meaning, for I don't pretend to be a diviner of
+men's thoughts."
+
+"Well, sir, this is how it is.  W'en we got the sack the other day, says
+I to myself, says I, now you're afloat on the world without rudder,
+compass, or charts, but you've got a tight craft of your own,--somewhat
+scrubbed, no doubt, with rough usage, but sound,--so it's time for you
+to look out for rudder, compass, and charts, and it seems to me that
+thems to be found with young Mister Allfrey, so you'd better go an' git
+him to become skipper o' your ship without delay.  You see, sir, havin'
+said that to myself, I've took my own advice, so if you'll take command
+of me, sir, you may steer me where you please, for I'm ready to be your
+sarvant for love, seein' that you han't got no money."
+
+"Most obliging of you," said Frank, laughing, "and by this offer I
+understand that you wish to become my companion."
+
+"Of coorse, in a country o' this kind," replied Graddy, "it's
+difficult,--I might a'most say unpossible,--to be a man's sarvant
+without bein' his companion likewise."
+
+"But here is a great difficulty at the outset, Joe.  I have not yet made
+up my mind what course to pursue."
+
+"Just so, sir," said the ex-seaman, with a look of satisfaction, "I
+know'd you wouldn't be doin' that in a hurry, so I've comed to have a
+talk with 'e about it."
+
+"Very good, sit down," said Frank, "and let us consider it.  In the
+first place, I regret to say that I have not been taught any trade, so
+that I cannot become a blacksmith or a carpenter or anything of that
+sort.  A clerk's duties I can undertake, but it seems to me that clerks
+are not much wanted here just now.  Porterage is heavy work and rather
+slow.  I may be reduced to that if nothing better turns up, but it has
+occurred to me that I might try painting with success.  What would you
+say to that, Joe?"
+
+The man looked at Frank in surprise.  "Well," said he, "people don't
+look as if they wanted to paint their houses here, an' most of 'em's got
+no houses."
+
+"Why, man, I don't mean house-painting.  It is portrait and landscape
+painting that I refer to," said Frank, laughing.
+
+Joe shook his head gravely.  "Never do, Mr Frank--"
+
+"Stop! if you and I are to be companions in trouble, you must not call
+me _Mister_ Frank, you must drop the mister."
+
+"Then I won't go with 'e, sir, that's all about it," said Joe firmly.
+
+"Very well, please yourself," said Frank, with a laugh; "but if painting
+is so hopeless, what would you advise?"
+
+"The diggin's," answered Joe.
+
+"I thought so," said Frank, shaking his head.
+
+"Most men out of work rush to the diggings.  Indeed, many men are fools
+enough to leave their work to go there, but I confess that I don't like
+the notion.  It has always appeared to me such a pitiful thing to see
+men, who are fit for better things, go grubbing in the mud for gold."
+
+"But what are men to do, Mr Frank, w'en they can't git no other work?"
+
+"Of course it is better to dig than to idle or starve, or be a burden on
+one's friends; nevertheless, I don't like the notion of it.  I suppose,
+however, that I must try it just now, for it is quite certain that we
+cannot exist here without gold.  By the way, Joe, have you got any
+more?"
+
+"Not a rap, sir."
+
+"H'm, then I doubt whether I have enough to buy tools, not to speak of
+provisions."
+
+"I've bin' thinkin' about that, sir," said Joe, "and it seems to me that
+our only chance lie in settin' up a grog and provision store!"
+
+"A grog and provision store!"
+
+"Yes, sir, the fact is that I had laid in a stock of pipes and baccy,
+tea and brandy, for winter's use this year.  Now as things have turned
+out, I shan't want these just at this minute, so we can sell 'em off to
+the diggers at a large profit.  We might make a good thing of it, sir,
+for you've no notion wot prices they'll give for things on the road to
+the diggin's--"
+
+Frank here interrupted his friend with a hearty laugh, and at the same
+time declared that he would have nothing to do with the grog and
+provision store; that he would rather take to porterage than engage in
+any such enterprise.
+
+"Well, then, sir, we won't say no more about that, but wot coorse would
+ye advise the ship's head to be laid?"
+
+Frank was silent for a few minutes as he sat with downcast eyes,
+absorbed in meditation.  Then he looked up suddenly, and said, "Joe,
+I'll give you a definite answer to that question to-morrow morning.
+To-night I will think over it and make arrangements.  Meanwhile, let it
+suffice that I have made up my mind to go to the diggings, and if you
+remain in the same mind to-morrow, come here all ready for a start."
+
+The ruddy countenance of the sturdy ex-porter beamed with gratification
+as he rose and took his leave of Frank, who heard him, as he walked
+away, making sundry allusions in nautical phraseology to having his
+anchor tripped at last, and the sails shook out, all ready for a start
+with the first o' the flood-tide in the morning!
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+A VISIT TO THE DIGGINGS RESOLVED ON.  TERRIBLE COMMENCEMENT OF THE
+JOURNEY.
+
+When next morning arrived, Joe Graddy, true to his word, appeared with
+the first--if not of the "flood-tide," at least of the morning sun, and
+Frank told him that, on the previous evening, he had made arrangements
+to go to the diggings in company with a party that was to start the
+following day; that he had already made purchases of the few things
+which they would require on the journey, and that the only thing
+remaining to be done was to pack up.
+
+"Now, Joe, you must go at once to the principal guide and make
+arrangements with him as to that brandy and tea on which you expect to
+found your future fortunes.  I told him to expect a visit from you early
+in the day."
+
+"Wotiver you do, do it at once," said Joe, putting on his straw hat with
+an energetic slap.  "That's one of my mottos.  I'll go an' carry it into
+practice."
+
+The following day saw Frank and his man set forth with a party of about
+thirty men, all of whom were clad in blue or red flannel shirts, straw
+hats, big boots, and other rough garments; with rifles on their
+shoulders, and bowie-knives and pistols in their belts.  These were men
+of various nations; Californians, Chinamen, Malays, Americans, Scotch,
+and English, and many of them looked not only rough but savage.  In
+truth, they were as diverse in their characters as in their appearance,
+some of them being men who had evidently moved in good society, while
+others were as evidently of the lowest--probably the convict--class.
+They had all, however, been thrown together by the force of a common
+interest.  All were bound for the gold-mines, and it was necessary that
+they should travel in company for mutual protection and assistance.
+
+There were two guides, who had charge of ten pack-mules loaded with
+provisions for the storekeepers at some remote diggings.  These guides
+were stern, powerful, bronzed fellows, who had to make their way among
+rough men in difficult circumstances, and they seemed to be quite
+prepared to do so, being fearless, resolute, and armed to the teeth.
+
+Joe Graddy had obtained permission, on promise of payment, to place his
+little fortune on the backs of the mules, so that he and Frank had
+nothing to carry save their weapons and blankets, besides a tin cup each
+at their girdles, and a water-bag.
+
+"Come, I like this sort of thing," said one of the party, an Englishman,
+when the order was given to start.  "If it is all like this it will be
+uncommonly jolly."
+
+"I guess it ain't all like this, stranger," said one of the Americans
+with a good-humoured grin.
+
+One of the guides laughed, and the other ejaculated "humph!" as they set
+forward.
+
+There was indeed some ground for the remark of the Englishman, for the
+country through which they passed was most beautiful, and the weather
+delicious.  Their track lay over an undulating region of park-like land
+covered with short grass; clumps of bushes were scattered here and there
+about the plain, and high above these towered some magnificent specimens
+of the oak, sycamore, and Californian cypress, while in the extreme
+distance rose the ranges of the "golden" mountains--the Sierra Nevada--
+in the midst of which lay the treasures of which they were in search.
+
+All the members of the party were on foot, and, being fresh, full of
+hope, and eager to reach their destination.  They chatted gaily as they
+marched over the prairie.
+
+On the way the good-humoured American seemed to take a fancy to Frank,
+with whom he had a great deal of animated conversation.  After asking
+our hero every possible question in regard to himself and intentions, he
+told him that he was Yankee,--a piece of superfluous information, by the
+way;--that his name was Jeffson, that he was a store-keeper at one of
+the farthest off diggings, that the chief part of the loading of one of
+the mules belonged to him, and that he was driving a considerable
+business in gold-dust without the trouble of digging for it.
+
+Towards evening they came to a very small hole in the plain, which was
+dignified with the name of a well.  Here they stopped to replenish their
+water-casks.
+
+"Take as much as you can carry, men," said the principal guide, "we've a
+long march to the next well, over sandy ground, and sometimes there
+ain't much water in it."
+
+They all followed this advice with the exception of one man, a coarse
+savage-looking fellow, with a huge black beard and matted locks, who
+called himself Bradling, though there was ground for doubting whether
+that was the name by which he had been at first known in the world.
+This man pulled out an enormous brandy-flask, and with a scoffing laugh
+said:--
+
+"This is the water for me, mister guide, pure and unmixed, there's
+nothin' like it."
+
+He nodded as he spoke, and put the flask to his lips, while the guide,
+who made no rejoinder, eyed him with a grave, stern expression of
+countenance.
+
+That night they all encamped under the shade of a small clump of trees,
+kindled several large fires, and, heartily glad to be relieved of their
+back-burdens, sat down to enjoy supper.  After it was over pipes were
+smoked and stories told, until it was time to retire to rest.  Then each
+man lay down under his blanket, the sky being his canopy, and the
+howling of the wolves his lullaby.
+
+It seemed to each sleeper, when awakened next morning, that he had only
+just closed his eyes, so sound had been his repose, and there was a
+great deal of violent yawning, stretching, grumbling, and winking before
+the whole party was finally aroused and ready to set forth.  However,
+they got under way at last, and early in the forenoon came to the edge
+of a sandy plain, which appeared to be interminable, with scarcely a
+blade of grass on it.  Here they halted for a few minutes.
+
+"How wide is the plain, guide?" inquired Frank.
+
+"Forty miles," replied the man, "and there's not a drop of water to be
+had till the end of the first twenty.  We'll get there about sundown,
+and replenish our kegs, if it's not all gone dry.  Let me warn you,
+however, to use the water you have sparingly."
+
+"Do we encamp at the end o' the first twenty?" asked Jeffson.
+
+"Yes, you'll find it a long enough day's march."
+
+No one made any reply, but by their looks they appeared to think nothing
+of a twenty-mile walk.  They found, however, that such a distance,
+traversed over loose sand ankle-deep, and under a burning sun, was not
+what any of them had been accustomed to.
+
+On entering the plain they observed that the heat had opened cracks and
+fissures in the earth, which omitted a fiery heat.  At intervals
+pyramids of sand arose, which were borne with great velocity through the
+air, sometimes appearing in the shape of columns sixty feet high, which
+moved majestically over the plain.  Ere long some of these clouds of
+sand enveloped them, and they were accompanied by hot winds, which
+seemed to shrivel up, not only the skin, but the very vitals of the
+travellers.  The pores of their skin closed, producing feverish heat in
+the blood and terrible thirst, while their eyes became inflamed by the
+dazzling glare of the sun on the white sand.
+
+Of course most of the party applied pretty frequently to their
+water-kegs and bottles.  Even Bradling gave up his brandy, and was
+content to refresh himself with the little of the pure element which
+chanced to remain in his formerly despised, but now cherished,
+water-bottle.  The guides carried skins of water for themselves and the
+mules, but these they opened very seldom, knowing full well the torments
+that would ensue if they should run short before getting across the
+scorching desert.
+
+Thus they went on hour after hour, becoming more and more oppressed at
+every step.  The improvident among them drank up the precious water too
+fast, and towards evening began to sigh for relief, and to regard with
+longing eyes the supplies of their more self-denying companions.  They
+consoled themselves, however, to some extent, with thoughts of the deep
+draughts they hoped to obtain at night.
+
+Our hero and Joe were among those who reserved their supplies.
+
+As night approached the thirst of the travellers increased to a terrible
+extent, insomuch that they appeared to forget their fatigue, and hurried
+forward at a smart pace, in the eager hope of coming to the promised
+water-hole.  Great, therefore, was their dismay when the guides told
+them that it was impossible to reach the place that night, that the
+mules were too much knocked up, but that they would get to it early on
+the following day.
+
+They said little, however, seeming to be too much depressed to express
+their disappointment in words, but their haggard looks were fearfully
+eloquent.  Some of those who had wasted their supplies earnestly
+implored their more prudent comrades to give them a little, a "very
+little," of the precious element, and two or three were generous enough
+to give away a few drops of the little that still remained to them.
+
+The place where they had halted was without a scrap of vegetation, and
+as there was no wood wherewith to kindle a fire, they were compelled to
+encamp without one.  To most of the travellers, however, this was a
+matter of little importance, because they were too much exhausted to
+eat.  Those who had water drank a mouthful sparingly, and then lay down
+to sleep.  Those who had none also lay down in gloomy silence.  They did
+not even indulge in the usual solace of a pipe, for fear of adding to
+the burning thirst with which they were consumed.
+
+At day-break they were aroused by the guides, and rose with alacrity,
+feeling a little refreshed, and being anxious to push on to the
+water-hole, but when the sun rose and sent its dazzling rays over the
+dreary waste, giving promise of another dreadful day, their spirits sank
+again.  Seeing this the principal guide encouraged them by saying that
+the water-hole was not more than three miles distant.
+
+Onward they pushed with renewed energy and hope.  At last they reached
+the place, and found that the hole was dry!
+
+With consternation depicted on their haggard countenances the men looked
+at the guide.
+
+"Dig, men, dig," he said, with a troubled look on his bronzed face,
+"there may be a little below the surface."
+
+They did dig with shovels, spades, knives, sticks, hands, anything, and
+they dug as never men did for gold.  All the gold in California would
+they have given at that time for a cupful of cold water, but all the
+gold in the world could not have purchased one drop from the parched
+sand.  Never was despair more awfully pictured on men's faces as they
+gazed at one another after finding that their efforts were unavailing.
+Their case was truly pitiable, and they turned to the guide as if they
+expected commiseration; but the case had become too desperate for him to
+think of others.  In a stern, hard voice he cried--
+
+"Onwards, men! onwards!  The nearest stream is forty miles off.  None of
+those who have water can spare a drop, and death lies in delay.  Every
+man for himself now.  Onward, men, for your lives!"
+
+Saying this he applied the whip to the poor mules, which, with glazed
+eyes and hanging ears, snorted with agony, and dropped down frequently
+as they went along, but a sharp thrust of the goad forced them to rise
+again and stumble forward.
+
+"God help the poor wretches," murmured Joe Graddy to Frank as they
+staggered along side by side.  "Is our supply nearly out--could we not
+give them a drop?"
+
+Frank stopped suddenly, and, with desperate energy, seized the keg which
+hung over his shoulder, and shook it close to the ear of his companion.
+
+"Listen," he said, "can we afford to spare any with forty miles of the
+desert before us?  It is our life! we must guard it."
+
+Graddy shook his head, and, admitting that the thing was out of the
+question, went silently forward.  It was all that Frank himself could do
+to refrain from drinking the little that remained, for his very vitals
+seemed on fire.  Indeed, in this respect, he suffered more than some of
+his companions, for while those of them who had not charge of the
+water-kegs and bottles experienced the pain of suffering and hopeless
+longing, he himself had the additional misery of having to resist
+temptation, for at any moment he could have obtained temporary relief by
+gratifying his desires at the expense of his companions.
+
+Overpowered with heat, and burnt up with thirst, those without water to
+moisten their parched lips and throats could scarcely keep pace with the
+guide.  By degrees they threw away their possessions--their blankets,
+their clothes,--until the plain behind was strewn with them.
+
+"Don't go so fast," groaned one.
+
+"Won't ye halt a while?" said another uttering a curse--then, suddenly
+changing his tone, he implored them to halt.
+
+"We cannot halt.  It is death to halt," said the guide, in a tone so
+resolute and callous that those who were enfeebled lost heart
+altogether, and began to lag behind.
+
+At that time the man Bradling, who had become nearly mad with drinking
+brandy, ran in succession to each of those who had water, and offered
+all that he possessed of the former for one mouthful of the latter.  His
+flushed face, glassy eyes, and haggard air, told how terrible was his
+extremity; but although some might have felt a touch of commiseration
+not one was moved to relieve him.  The law of self-preservation had
+turned the hearts of all to stone.  Yet not quite to stone, for there
+were one or two among them who, although nothing would induce them to
+give a single drop to a comrade, were content to do with _less_ in order
+that they might relieve a friend!
+
+One man in his desperation attempted to lick the bodies of the mules,
+hoping to obtain relief from the exudations of their skins, but the dust
+on them rendered this unavailing.
+
+Suddenly Bradling darted at the water-skin hanging by the side of the
+guide's mule, and swore he would have it or die.
+
+"You'll die, then," observed the guide quietly, cocking a pistol and
+presenting it at his head.
+
+Bradling hesitated and looked at the man.  There was a cold stony stare,
+without the least excitement, in his look, which convinced him that his
+attempt, if continued, would end in certain death.  He fell back at once
+with a deep groan.
+
+Onward they pressed, hour after hour, until, in many of them, exhausted
+nature began to give way.  They became slightly delirious, and, finding
+that they could not keep up with the party, a few determined, if left
+behind, to keep together.  Among the number was Bradling, and terrible
+were the imprecations which he hurled after the more fortunate as they
+parted.  It seemed cruel; but to remain with them would have done no
+good, while it would have sacrificed more lives.  Bradling seemed to
+regard Frank as his chief enemy, for he shouted his name as he was
+moving off, praying God to send down the bitterest curses on his head.
+
+A sudden impulse moved the heart of Frank.  He turned back, poured about
+half a wine-glassful of water into a tin can and gave it to the
+unfortunate man, who seized and drained it greedily, licking the rim of
+the can and gazing into it, to see that not a drop had escaped him, with
+an eagerness of manner that was very painful to behold.
+
+"God bless you," he said to Frank with a deep sigh.
+
+"Do you think," said Frank earnestly, "that God will curse and bless at
+your bidding?"
+
+"I don't know, and don't care," replied the man, "but I say God bless
+you.  Go away and be content with that."
+
+Frank had already lost too much time.  He turned and hastened after the
+others as fast as possible.
+
+"They won't last long," said the guide harshly, as he came up.  "The
+wolves or the redskins will soon finish them.  You were a fool to waste
+your water on them."
+
+"You are a fool to give your opinion to one who neither asks nor cares
+for it," retorted Frank.
+
+The man took no notice of the reply, and Frank afterwards felt somewhat
+ashamed of being so hasty, for at night, when they encamped, the guide
+advised him, in a friendly way, to keep a sharp look-out on the water,
+as those who had finished theirs during the day would be not unlikely to
+make an attack on those who had any left.  Frank thanked him; but being
+too much fatigued to mount guard, he and Graddy, with his Yankee friend
+Jeffson, slept together, rolled in their blankets, with pistols in their
+hands and the water-bottles attached to them.  Nothing disturbed them,
+however, during the night, save the howling of wolves, and the imploring
+cries, irritated exclamations, and angry discontent of the suffering
+men, which latter sounds were far more terrible than the cries of wild
+beasts.
+
+A little before day-break some who could not rest sprang up and
+continued their journey, walking at their utmost speed until they
+sighted the woodland.  Then, indeed, did a new sensation of delight fill
+their souls as they gazed upon the green verdure.  Even the mules,
+though their eyes were bandaged, seemed to know that water was near.
+They snuffed the breeze, pricked up their ears, and neighed loudly.  On
+reaching the woods, and sighting the river, a momentary halt was called
+to cast off the burdens of the mules.  This was speedily done, and then
+they all rushed--men and mules together--deep into the stream and
+luxuriated in the cool water!
+
+When they had slaked their thirst to the uttermost, Graddy proposed that
+a party should be sent back to the relief of those left behind, and
+offered to join it.  Frank seconded this proposal, and the Yankee,
+Jeffson, volunteered to join it.  A German named Meyer, who had borne
+his sufferings with great fortitude, also volunteered, as did a
+Scotchman named Douglas.
+
+"You may propose what you please," said the guide, when he heard them
+talking, "but _I_ will not wait for you."
+
+"Why not?" inquired Frank somewhat angrily.  "Because I was not hired
+for such work.  It is my business to push on to the mines, and push on I
+will, follow who pleases."
+
+"Bot fat if ve compel you for to stay?" asked the German with an
+indignant air.
+
+"Then you will guide yourselves as you best may, I will refuse to go a
+step further.  Is it fair that I should be hired for a special job and
+then be asked to turn aside and risk my life for the sake of men who
+have chosen to throw their own lives away, and who are no doubt dead by
+this time?"
+
+A number of the travellers applauded this sentiment, and it was evident
+that the philanthropists were very much in the minority, but here Frank
+stepped in and turned the scale, at least to some extent.
+
+"Men," said he, raising his clenched fist, "I know not what your notions
+of humanity may be, or your ideas of justice, but this I know, that the
+man who has the power to help a fellow-mortal in deadly distress and
+holds back his hand, is worse than a beast, for he has reason to guide
+him, and a beast has not.  I and my comrade Joe Graddy, at least, will
+remain behind, even though we should be left alone, but I am convinced
+that we shall _not_ be left alone.  Meanwhile," he added, addressing the
+guide, "I shall pay you my share of what is due, after which you may go,
+and I shall wish you no worse luck than that your conscience may go with
+you and be a lively companion."
+
+"There is more to be said than that," observed the Yankee at this point.
+"You are so very fond of fulfilling your duty, mister guide, that I
+have concluded to relieve you of some of it.  One of these mules is
+loaded entirely with my goods.  Now, I guess, I'll remain behind with
+Mister Allfrey, and keep the mule at a reasonable valuation."
+
+"I'll not part with him at any price," said the guide with a sneer.
+"I'll carry your goods to the diggings or I'll unstrap them, stranger,
+and let you carry them the best way you can, but I'm not bound to sell
+my mules to you."
+
+"Now, men," cried the Yankee, springing forward and addressing his
+comrades, "I appeal to you all in the name of fair-play!  Here am I,
+willin' to pay this man a fair price for his mule.  There's not a pick
+or shovel belongin' to any one else on its back, so I'm doin' damage to
+nobody by the proposal.  This critter is bent on refusin' me out of
+spite; now, I propose to settle the question here with the rifle or
+pistol or bowie-knife.  He is welcome to choose his weapon--it matters
+nothin' to me, and whichever falls loses the day."
+
+There was a burst of laughter at this, and the majority insisted that
+the guide should give in, while a few, who were fond of excitement,
+suggested that the two should be allowed to fight it out, but this the
+guide refused to do; and when his comrade, the second guide, stepped
+forward and said he would join those who wanted to remain, he
+grumblingly agreed to part with the mule for its full value.
+
+The bargain was soon made.  The one party continued their journey; the
+other, with an abundant supply of water, returned to those who had been
+left behind, and reached them in time to save their lives.
+
+That night, as Frank and Graddy lay together under the same blanket, the
+latter observed that, "he had travelled a goodish bit over the univarse,
+but that he had niver before comed across nothin' like the experiences
+of the last two days; and that, if the end of their diggin' for goold
+woe to be as bad as the begginin', the sooner they set about diggin'
+their graves the better!"
+
+With which sentiment Frank Allfrey heartily agreed, and thereafter fell
+asleep.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+DESCRIBES AN INCIDENT OF DEVOURING INTEREST, AN UNEXPECTED VISIT, AND A
+VIOLENT ASSAULT.
+
+Next day our gold-hunters and the rescued men reached the forest, and
+after resting a short time to recruit, continued their journey to the
+diggings.
+
+The particular part towards which their steps were directed was Bigbear
+Gully, a small and comparatively unknown, because recently discovered,
+gorge, opening out of the great Sacramento valley.  On the way they
+passed through a country the very reverse of that which had so nearly
+cost them their lives.  It was well wooded and watered, and abounded
+with game of various kinds, particularly hares, deer, quails, and other
+creatures; shooting these afforded pleasant pastime to the sporting
+characters of the party, and consuming them was enjoyed by all without
+exception!
+
+Rance, the guide, now that he was separated from his comrade, turned out
+to be a capital fellow, and, during the remainder of the journey, did
+much to make the travellers harmonise.  The party now consisted of our
+hero and Joe Graddy, Jeffson the Yankee, Douglas the Scot, Meyer the
+German, and Bradling; all of whom, excepting the last, were good and
+true men.  As for Bradling, no one could make out what he was, for at
+times he was amiable and polite, while at other times he was savage and
+morose.
+
+One night the travellers reached a part of the mountains which was
+densely covered with wood.  As there was no moon, and it was almost
+impossible to see a step before them, Rance called a halt.
+
+"We must sleep here," he said to Jeffson.  "I had half expected to make
+out Bigbear Gully to-night, but the road is not safe; too many
+precipices and steep parts, which require to be passed in daylight."
+
+"Very good, Rance; then we had better set about encamping."
+
+"'Tis a dreary-looking place," said Frank Allfrey, glancing round him.
+
+"'Twill look more cheery when the fire is kindled," said Jeffson.
+
+"Dismal enough to give a man the blues just now, anyhow," observed Joe
+Graddy.
+
+This was undoubtedly true.  There is, perhaps, nothing more desolate,
+more cheerless, more oppressive to the spirits, than the influence of
+the woods at night.  They are so dark, so black-looking and dismal, that
+one is led irresistibly to contrast them with home and its bright
+fireside and well-remembered faces--just as the starving man is led by
+his condition to dream of rich feasts.  In both cases the result is the
+same.  The dream of food makes the starving man's case more terrible,
+and the thought of home makes the dreariness of the dark wilderness more
+dismal.
+
+But what magic there is in a spark of light!  The first burst of flame
+drives all the sad lonesome feelings away, and the blaze of the
+increasing fire creates positively a home-feeling in the breast.  The
+reason of this is plain enough.  Before the fire is kindled the eye
+wanders restlessly through the dim light that may chance to straggle
+among the trees.  The mind follows the eye, and gets lost among
+indistinct objects which it cannot understand.  The feelings and the
+faculties are scattered--fixed upon nothing, except perhaps on this,
+that the wanderer is far, very far, from home.  But when the bright
+glare of the fire springs up, everything beyond the circle of light
+becomes pure black.  The thoughts and feelings are confined within that
+chamber with the ebony walls, and are forcibly attracted and made to
+rest upon the tree-stems, the leaves, the flowers, and other objects
+that glow in the ruddy blaze.  Thus the thoughts are collected, and the
+wanderer feels, once more, something of the _home-feeling_.
+
+It was not long before our travellers realised this agreeable change.
+The depression of their spirits vanished with the darkness and rose with
+the leaping flames, until some of the members of the party became quite
+facetious.  This was especially the case when supper had been disposed
+of and the pipes were lighted.  It was then that Rance became chatty and
+anecdotal in his tendencies, and Jeffson told marvellous stories of
+Yankee-land, and Douglas, who devoted himself chiefly to his pipe,
+became an attentive listener and an awkward tripper up of the heels of
+those who appeared to be "drawing the long-bow," and Meyer looked, if
+possible, more solid and amiable than at other times, and Frank enjoyed
+himself in a general way, and made himself generally agreeable, while
+Joe Graddy became profoundly sententious.  Even Bradling's nature
+appeared to be softened, for he looked less forbidding and grumpy than
+at other times, and once condescended to remark that a life in the woods
+was not such a bad one after all!
+
+"Not such a bad one!" cried Joe Graddy; "why, messmate, is that all
+you've got to say about it?  Now I'll give 'e my opinion on that head.
+This is where it lies--see here."  (Joe removed his pipe from his mouth
+and held up his fore-finger by way of being very impressive.) "I've
+travelled pretty well now in every quarter of the globe; gone right
+round it in fact, and found that it _is_ round after all,--'cause why?
+I went in, so to speak, at one end from the west'ard an' comed out at
+the same end from the east'ard, though I must confess it all appeared to
+me as flat's a pancake, always exceptin' the mountainous parts of it,
+w'ich must be admitted to be lumpy.  Hows'ever, as I wos sayin', I've
+bin a'most all over the world--I've smoked wi' the Turks, an' hobnobbled
+with John Chinaman, an' scrambled through the jungles of the Indies, an'
+gone aloft the Himalayas--"
+
+"What, have you seen the Himalayas?" asked Jeffson, with a doubtful
+look.
+
+"How could I be among 'em without seein' of 'em?" replied Joe.
+
+"Ah, das is goot--vair goot," said Meyer, opening his huge mouth very
+wide to let out a cloud of smoke and a quiet laugh.
+
+"Well, but you know," said Jeffson, apologetically, "a poor fellow
+livin' out here in the wilderness ain't just always quite up in the
+gee-graphical changes that take place on the airth.  When was it that
+they cut a ship canal up to the Himalayas, and in what sort o' craft did
+ye sail there?"
+
+"I didn't go for to say I sailed there at all," retorted Joe; "I walked
+it partly, and went part o' the way on elephants an' horses, and went
+aloft o' them there mountains pretty nigh as far up as the main-topmast
+cross-trees of 'em; I've also slep' in the snow-huts of the Eskimos, an'
+bin tossed about in a'most every sort o' craft that swims, but wot I've
+got to say is this, that of all the things I ever did see, travellin' in
+Californy beats 'em all to sticks and stivers."
+
+"You've got a somewhat indefinite way of stating things," observed
+Douglas.  "D'ee mean to say that it beats them in a good or a bad way?"
+
+"I means wot I says," replied Joe, with a stern expression of
+countenance, as he relighted his pipe with the burnt end of a piece of
+stick.  "I means that it beats 'em _both_ ways;--if ye haven't got
+schoolin' enough to understand plain English, you'd better go home again
+an' get your edicashun completed."
+
+"I'd do that at once, Joe, if I could only make sure o' finding the
+schoolmaster alive that reared _you_."
+
+"Ha! goot," observed the German.  "Him must be von notable krakter."
+
+Further conversation on this point was cut short by the sudden
+appearance within the circle of light of an Indian, who advanced in a
+half-crouching attitude, as if he feared a bad reception, yet could not
+resist the attraction of the fire.
+
+At that time some of the tribes in the neighbourhood of Bigbear Gully
+had committed numerous depredations at the diggings, and had murdered
+several white men, so that the latter had begun to regard the Red Men as
+their natural enemies.  Indeed some of the more violent among them had
+vowed that they would treat them as vermin, and shoot down every native
+they chanced to meet, whether he belonged to the guilty tribe or not.
+The Indian who now approached the camp-fire of the white men knew that
+he had good ground to fear the nature of his reception, and there is no
+doubt that it would have been an unpleasant one had it not been for the
+fact that his appearance was pitiable in the extreme.
+
+He was squalid, dirty, and small, and so attenuated that it was evident
+he had for some time been suffering from starvation.  He wore no
+clothing, carried no arms of any kind, and was so utterly abject, and so
+evidently incapable of doing harm to any one, that none of the party
+thought it worth while to rise, or lay hands on a weapon.  When he
+appeared, Joe Graddy merely pointed to him with the stem of his pipe and
+said--
+
+"There's a beauty, ain't it? another of the cooriosities of Californy!"
+
+"Starvin'," observed Rance.
+
+"Poor wretch!" exclaimed Frank, as the man advanced slowly with timid
+steps, while his large sunken eyes absolutely glared at the broken meat
+which lay scattered about.
+
+"Give him von morsel," suggested Meyer.
+
+"Give him a bullet in his dirty carcase," growled Bradling.
+
+The Indian stopped when within ten paces of the fire and grinned
+horribly.
+
+"Here, stop up your ghastly mouth wi' that," cried Jeffson, tossing a
+lump of salt-pork towards him.
+
+He caught it with the dexterity of a monkey, and, squatting down on the
+trunk of a fallen tree, devoured it with the ravenous ferocity of a
+famishing hyena.  The piece of pork would have been a sufficient meal
+for any ordinary man, but it quickly vanished down the throat of the
+savage, who licked his fingers, and, with eyes which required no tongue
+to interpret their meaning, asked for more!
+
+"Look out!" cried Joe Graddy, tossing him a sea biscuit as one throws a
+quoit.
+
+The Indian caught it deftly; crash went his powerful teeth into the hard
+mass, and in an incredibly short time it was--with the pork!
+
+The whole party were so highly amused by this, that they "went in," as
+Jeffson said, "for an evening's entertainment."  One tossed the poor man
+a cut of ham, another a slice of pork, a third a mass of bread, and so
+they continued to ply him with victuals, determined to test his powers
+to the uttermost.
+
+"Try another bit of pork," said Douglas, laughing, as he threw him a cut
+as large as the first; "you've finished all the cooked meat now."
+
+The Indian caught it eagerly, and began to devour it as though he had
+eaten nothing.
+
+"He's tightening up like a drum," observed Jeffson, handing him a greasy
+wedge off a raw flitch of bacon.
+
+"Him vill boost," said Meyer, staring at the Indian and smoking slowly,
+owing to the strength of his amazement.
+
+"Jack the Giant Killer was a joke to him," muttered Graddy.
+
+"A bottomless pit," observed Rance, referring to his stomach.
+
+The Indian, however, proved that Rance was wrong by suddenly coming to a
+dead halt and dropping the last morsel he was in the act of raising to
+his mouth.  He then heaved a deep sigh and looked round on the whole
+party with a radiant smile, which was literally sparkling by reason of
+the firelight which glittered on his greasy countenance.
+
+"What! stuffed full at last?" exclaimed Jeffson, as they all burst into
+a fit of laughter.
+
+"Ay, chock full to the beams," said Joe Graddy; "moreover, hatches
+battened down, topsails shook out, anchor up, and away!"
+
+This was indeed the case.  Having eaten as much as he could hold, the
+poor Indian attempted to rise and walk off, but he suddenly fell down,
+and rolled about groaning and rubbing himself as if in great agony.  The
+alarmed travellers began to fear that the poor little man had
+absolutely, as Joe said, eaten himself to death.  He recovered, however,
+in a few minutes, rose again with some difficulty, and went off in the
+midst of a splendid burst of moonlight which appeared to have come out
+expressly to light him on his way!  His gait was awkward, and he was
+obliged to sit down every twenty or thirty yards like a man resting
+under a heavy load.  When last seen on his diminutive legs he looked
+like a huge bloated spider waddling into the obscurity of the forest.
+
+"How disgusting!" perhaps exclaims the reader.  True, yet not _much_
+more disgusting than the gormandising which goes on among too many
+civilised men, who, besides possessing better knowledge, have got
+dyspepsia to inform them that they daily act the part of the Californian
+savage, while many learned doctors, we believe, tell them that it is not
+so much quality as quantity that kills.
+
+That eventful night did not terminate, however, with the departure of
+the Indian.  Another scene was enacted, but, unlike the popular mode of
+theatrical procedure, the farce was followed by a tragedy.
+
+Before lying down to rest, the fire was drawn together, fresh logs were
+heaped upon it, and a great blaze was made to scare away the wolves.
+Frank, Jeffson, and Douglas, then rolled themselves in their blankets,
+and lay down with their feet towards the fire and their rifles beside
+them.  The others lighted their pipes for a finishing whiff--a nightcap
+as Joe styled it.
+
+They had not sat long thus, making occasional quiet remarks, as fatigued
+and sleepy men are wont to do before going to rest, when they were
+startled by the sound of heavy footsteps in the woods.  Rance, whose
+duty it was to keep watch the first part of the night, instantly leaped
+up and cocked his rifle, while the sleepers awoke, raised themselves on
+their elbows, and looked about somewhat bewildered.
+
+Before any one had time to act or speak, a man, clad in the flannel
+shirt, heavy boots, etcetera, of a miner, strode into the circle of
+light, with the air of one whose intentions are peaceful.
+
+"Evening, strangers," he said, looking round and setting the butt of a
+long rifle on the ground; "I've got lost.  You'll not object to let me
+rest a bit by your fire, I daresay--hallo!"
+
+The latter exclamation was uttered when the stranger's eyes fell on
+Bradling, who was gazing at him with the expression of a man who had
+seen a ghost.  At the same time the stranger threw forward his rifle,
+and his countenance became unusually pale.
+
+For two seconds each looked at the other in profound silence, which was
+only broken by the sharp click of the lock as the stranger cocked his
+piece.
+
+Like a flash of lightning Bradling plucked a revolver from his belt,
+pointed full at the man's breast and fired.  He fell without uttering a
+cry, and his rifle exploded as he went down, but the ball passed
+harmlessly over the heads of the party.
+
+For a few seconds the travellers stood as if paralysed, and Bradling
+himself remained motionless, gazing sullenly on his victim.  Then Frank
+Allfrey leaped upon him, and grasping him by the throat wrenched the
+pistol out of his hand.
+
+"Murderer!" he exclaimed, tightening his hold, as Bradling struggled to
+release himself.
+
+"I'm no murderer," gasped Bradling; "you saw as well as I did that the
+fellow threatened to shoot me.  Besides, he is not dead."
+
+"That's true," said Joe Graddy, turning towards the fallen man, whom
+Rance and some of the others were examining, and who had showed some
+symptoms of returning consciousness; "but his wound is a bad one, and if
+you ain't a murderer yet, pr'aps it won't be long afore ye are one."
+
+Hearing this Frank flung Bradling violently off, and turned to examine
+the wounded man.  As he did so the other pointed his pistol deliberately
+at Frank's back, fired, and then sprang into the woods.  Before he had
+quite disappeared, however, each man who could seize his gun or pistol
+in time fired a shot after him, but apparently without effect, for
+although they examined the bushes carefully afterwards no marks of blood
+could be found.
+
+Fortunately the miscreant missed Frank, yet so narrowly that the ball
+had touched his hair as it whistled past his ear.
+
+The wounded man was as carefully tended as was possible in the
+circumstances, but neither on that night nor the following day did he
+recover sufficiently to be able to give any account of himself.  He was
+left at the first "ranch" they came to next day, with directions from
+Frank that he should be cared for and sent back to Sacramento city as
+soon as possible.  Our hero was unable of course to pay his expenses,
+but he and all the party contributed a small sum, which, with the gold
+found on the stranger's person, was sufficient to satisfy the ranchero,
+who appeared to be a more amiable man than the rest of his class.  To
+secure as far as possible the faithful performance of his duty, Frank
+earnestly assured him that if he was attentive to the man he would give
+him something additional on his return from the diggings.
+
+"That's very good of you, sir," said the ranchero with a peculiar smile,
+"but I wouldn't promise too much if I were you.  Mayhap you won't be
+able to fulfil it.  All gold-diggers don't make fortunes."
+
+"Perhaps not," said Frank; "but few of them, I believe, fail to make
+enough to pay off their debts."
+
+"H'm, except those who die," said the ranchero.
+
+"Well, but _I_ am not going to die," said Frank with a smile.
+
+"I hope not.  All the young and strong ones seem to think as you do when
+they go up; but I have lived here, off an' on, since the first rush and
+all I can say is that I have seen a lot more men go up to the diggin's
+than ever I saw come down from 'em; and, of those who did return, more
+were poor than rich, while very few of 'em looked either as stout or as
+cheerful as they did when passing up."
+
+"Come, shut up your potato-trap, old man, and don't try to take the
+heart out of us all in that fashion," said Jeffson; "but let's have a
+feed of the best you have in the house, for we're all alive and kicking
+as yet, anyhow, and not too poor to pay our way; and, I say, let's have
+some home-brewed beer if you can, because we've got a German with us,
+and a haggis also for our Scotchman."
+
+"You have forgotten roast-beef for the Englishman," said Frank,
+laughing.
+
+"I daresay you won't want sauce," observed the host with an air of
+simplicity; "my meat never seems to want it when there's a Yankee in the
+room."
+
+Saying this the worthy ranchero went to work, and speedily supplied the
+travellers with a meal consisting of hard biscuit and rancid pork, with
+a glass of bitter brandy to wash it down; for which he charged them the
+sum of eight shillings a head.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+THE TRAVELLERS MEET WITH INDIANS, AND ARE LED TO WISH THAT THEY HAD NOT
+GONE SEEKING FOR GOLD.
+
+It was the evening of a hot sultry day, when our travellers, fatigued
+and foot-sore, arrived at the entrance of a small valley not far distant
+from the intended scene of their future operations.  Here they
+determined to encamp for the night on the margin of a small stream,
+where there was grass for the mule and shelter under the trees for the
+men.  On making their way, however, to the place, they observed an
+Indian village down on a plain below, and, being uncertain as to the
+numbers or the temper of the natives, they were about to cross the
+stream and continue their journey a little further, when a party of six
+Indians suddenly made their appearance in front, and advanced
+fearlessly, making signs of friendship.
+
+It was found that they understood and could talk a little Spanish, which
+Rance spoke fluently.  After a short conversation, the guide thought
+that it would be quite safe to stay beside them.  The encampment
+therefore was made, and supper prepared.
+
+While this was in progress Frank and Joe went to the top of a
+neighbouring mound to survey the village.  It was a curious residence
+for human beings.  Joe's remark that it resembled "a colony of big
+moles" was not inappropriate, for the huts, of which there were about
+forty, were not unlike huge mole-hills.
+
+These huts, it was found, they formed by excavating circular holes in
+the earth, about twelve feet in diameter and four feet deep, then
+bending over these a number of stout saplings, which they bound together
+with tendrils of the vine, they formed a dome-shaped roof, which was
+plastered with a thick coat of clay.  An opening in one side of each
+formed a door, through which entrance could be made by creeping.  On the
+roofs of these curious dwellings many of the natives were seated,
+evidently awaiting the result of the deputation's conference with the
+white men.
+
+The main object that the Indians appeared to have in view was the
+obtaining of fire-arms, and it was observed that they cast longing eyes
+upon the rifles which leaned on the trees beside the fire.  Rance
+therefore advised every man to look carefully after his weapons, while
+he talked with the chief, and told him that he had no guns or ammunition
+to spare.  In order to please him, however, he gave him an old rusty
+carbine, which was bent in the barrel, and nearly useless, in exchange
+for a few fresh fish.
+
+"My white brother is liberal," said the delighted savage in bad Spanish,
+as he surveyed the weapon with admiration, "but it is necessary to have
+black powder and balls."
+
+"I have none to spare," replied Rance, "but the settlements of the white
+men are not far off.  Besides, the Indian chief is wise.  He does not
+require to be told that white men come here continually, searching for
+gold, and that they bring much powder and ball with them.  Let gold be
+offered, and both may be obtained."
+
+The chief took this remark for a hint, and at once offered some
+gold-dust in exchange for powder and shot, but Rance shook his head,
+knowing that, if obtained, the ammunition would in all probability be
+used against himself.  The chief was therefore obliged to rest content
+in the mean time with the harmless weapon.
+
+Meanwhile, another party of seven or eight Indians had gone towards
+Frank and Joe, and by signs made them to understand that there was
+something worth shooting on the other side of a cliff not fifty yards
+off.  Our hero and his nautical friend were both of unsuspicious
+natures, and being much amused by the ludicrous gesticulations of the
+savages in their efforts to enlighten them, as well as curious to
+ascertain what it could be that was on the other side of the cliff, they
+accompanied them in that direction.
+
+The moment they had passed out of sight of the camp a powerful savage
+leaped on Frank from behind, and, grasping him round the throat with
+both arms, endeavoured to throw him, while another Indian wrenched the
+rifle out of his hand.  At the same moment Joe Graddy was similarly
+seized.  The savages had, however, underrated the strength of their
+antagonists.  Frank stooped violently forward, almost to the ground, and
+hurled the Indian completely over his head.  At the same time he drew a
+revolver from his belt, fired at and wounded the other Indian, who
+dropped the rifle, and doubled like a hare into the bushes.  The others
+fled right and left, as Frank sprang forward and recovered his weapon--
+all save the one whose unhappy lot it had been to assault Joe Graddy,
+and who was undergoing rapid strangulation, when Frank ran to his
+rescue.
+
+"Have mercy on him, Joe!" he cried.
+
+"Marcy! why should I have marcy on such a dirty--lie still, then," said
+Joe sternly, as he pressed his knee deeper into the pit of the Indian's
+stomach, and compressed his throat with both hands until his tongue
+protruded, and both eyes seemed about to start from their sockets.
+
+"Come, come, Joe; you volunteered to be my servant, so you are bound to
+obey me."
+
+Saying this, Frank seized the angry tar by the collar, and dragged him
+forcibly off his victim, who, after a gasp or two, rose and limped away.
+
+"He has got quite enough," continued Frank, "to keep you vividly in his
+remembrance for the rest of his life, so we must hasten to the camp, for
+I fear that the Indians won't remain friendly after this unfortunate
+affair."
+
+Grunting out his dissatisfaction pretty freely, Joe accompanied his
+friend to the camp-fire, where their comrades were found in a state of
+great alarm about their safety.  They had heard the shots and shouts,
+and were on the point of hastening to the rescue.  The chief and his
+companions, meanwhile, were making earnest protestations that no evil
+was intended.
+
+When Frank and Joe appeared, Rance turned angrily on the chief, and
+ordered him and his men to quit the camp instantly.  This they hesitated
+to do for a little, and the chief made fresh efforts to calm the
+irritated guide, but Rance knew that he had to deal with treacherous
+men, and repeated his order to be off at the same time throwing forward
+his rifle in a threatening manner.  Whereupon the chief flew into a
+violent rage, and, after using a good deal of abusive language, returned
+to his village, where he immediately summoned a council of war, and, by
+his violent gesticulations and frequent looking and pointing towards the
+camp, left no doubt on the minds of the travellers as to his intentions.
+
+Rance therefore made the best preparations possible in the circumstances
+to repel an attack.
+
+Their position was very critical, for the Indians numbered about a
+hundred men, while their own party consisted only of six.  But they had
+the one great advantage over their enemies--the possession of fire-arms,
+and felt much confidence in consequence.
+
+"Get out all your weapons, big and little," said Rance, as he loaded his
+rifle, "and fire 'em off to begin with.  It will show them that we are
+well prepared."
+
+Accordingly they commenced letting off their pieces, and what with
+rifles, double shot-guns, double and single barrelled pistols, and
+revolvers, they made up the formidable number of fifty-three discharges,
+which had a very warlike effect when fired in quick and regular
+succession.
+
+Carrying these in their hands, and disposed round their persons,
+intermixed with short swords and long bowie-knives, the whole party
+mounted guard, bristling like human hedge-hogs, and, placed at equal
+intervals on each side of the camp, marched about for an hour or two,
+without seeing or hearing anything more of their enemies.
+
+At last their mule became a little restive, putting them on the alert,
+and shortly afterwards an arrow whizzed past Joe's ear.  He instantly
+presented his carbine in the direction whence it came, and fired.  The
+shot was answered by a perfect shower of arrows, which pierced the
+clothes of some of the white men, and slightly wounded Douglas in the
+left arm, but fortunately did no further damage.  The discharge was
+followed by a quick movement in the bushes, rendered audible by the
+crushing of dried leaves and breaking of branches.  This guided the
+whites in their aim, and a volley was poured into the bush, followed by
+several random shots from revolvers.
+
+Soon after all noise was hushed, and a brief examination of the
+surrounding bushes was made, but it could not be ascertained that any
+damage had been done to the Indians, who always make it a point, when
+possible, to carry off their dead to prevent their being scalped--a
+dishonour they fear almost as much as death.
+
+"Now, one half of us may sleep," said Rance, when the party was again
+collected round the fire.
+
+"Sleep!" exclaimed Frank.
+
+"Ay, there's nothing more to fear from the rascals to-night, if we keep
+a good look-out--and that may be done as effectively by three of us as
+by six.  If we each get a wink of an hour or two, we shall be quite fit
+to travel or to fight in the morning.  So let me advise you to lose no
+time about it.--Not badly hurt, sir, I hope?" he added, addressing
+Douglas.
+
+"Nothing to speak of," answered the Scot, "only a graze of the skin."
+
+"Well, get away to rest.  You can take the second watch, and it is not
+likely they will disturb you before morning.  If they do, you won't
+require to be called, so keep your weapons handy."
+
+As Rance prophesied, so it turned out.  The Indians had got an
+unexpectedly severe repulse, and did not attempt to interfere with the
+travellers during the night, but in the morning they were found to have
+posted themselves on the opposite banks of the stream, evidently with
+the intention of disputing the further progress of the party.
+
+Nothing now but prompt determination could save them from being cut off
+by overwhelming numbers, for if they were to hesitate, or waver in the
+least, the Indians would be encouraged to make an attack.  They
+therefore calmly and deliberately blew up the fire, boiled their kettle
+and had breakfast, after which the mule was loaded, and the party
+prepared to cross the stream.
+
+Before doing so, however, Rance and Jeffson, being the best marksmen,
+advanced to the edge of the bank with two of the largest rifles and took
+aim at the Indians, hoping by that means to frighten them away without
+being obliged to shed more blood.  In this they failed, for, the
+distance being fully five hundred yards, the natives evidently believed
+that it was impossible for a ball to tell at such a distance.  On seeing
+Rance point his rifle at them they set up a yell of derision.  There was
+nothing for it, therefore, but to fire.  This Rance did, and one of the
+Indians fell.  Jeffson also fired and hit the chief, who reeled, but did
+not fall.  The savages immediately began a hurried retreat, and the
+travellers refrained from firing, in order to convince them that all
+they desired was to be allowed to go on their way unmolested.
+
+The crossing of the stream was then effected.  On mounting the opposite
+bank it was found that the Indians had taken up their position, fully
+armed, on the top of their huts, with an air of quiet resolution that
+showed they apprehended an attack, and were prepared to defend their
+homes to the death.
+
+This, however, they were not called upon to do, for the travellers
+turned off to the right, and pursued their way as if nothing had
+happened.  But two of the Indians had been badly hit, perhaps killed,
+and the thought of this dwelt much on the minds of Frank and his friend
+Joe all that day.  Another thing that distressed them much was the
+well-known custom of the natives to take their revenge at the first
+favourable opportunity.  It was a rule among them to take two lives of
+white men for every redskin killed, and they were known not to be
+particular as to who the whites might be,--sufficient for them that they
+were of the offending and hated race.  The fact that the innocent might
+thus suffer for the guilty was to them a matter of perfect indifference.
+
+The route over which the whites travelled that day chanced to be
+unusually picturesque and beautiful.  The path, or "trail,"--for there
+was scarcely anything worthy the name of path,--wound through a sycamore
+and white-oak grove that fringed the river, the sloping banks of which
+were covered with an infinite variety of shrubs and evergreens, bearing
+flowers and blossoms of most delicate beauty and exquisite fragrance,
+amidst which tangled festoons of the indigenous vine drooped with
+pendant bunches of purple grapes.  Arbutus shrubs of immense size were
+seen, and the landscape was in some places interspersed thickly with
+manzanita rushes, the crimson berries of which are much in favour with
+the Indians, also with the grizzly bear!  Some of the plains they
+crossed were studded with magnificent oaks, devoid of underwood, such as
+one is accustomed to see in noblemen's parks in England.
+
+But all this beauty and luxuriance made comparatively little impression
+on Frank and Joe, for they could not forget that human life had probably
+been sacrificed that day--a thought which filled them with sincere
+regret that it had ever entered into their hearts to go digging for
+gold.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+ARRIVAL AT THE GOLD-FIELDS, AND LESSONS IN GOLD-WASHING RECEIVED.
+
+At last Bigbear Gully was reached, and our travellers--especially those
+of them who, being new to the work, were all enthusiasm--pressed eagerly
+forward, anxious to begin without delay.
+
+Bigbear Gully--so named because of a huge grizzly bear that had been
+shot there at the commencement of digging operations--was a wild and
+somewhat gloomy but picturesque mountain gorge, the first sight of
+which, with its lights and shadows, stupendous cliffs and clumps of wood
+clinging to the hill-sides, called forth a burst of delight and
+admiration from Frank Allfrey, whose mind at once leaped with loving
+desire to the brush and the colour-box; but as these implements were at
+that time packed among the baggage on the mule's back, and as the love
+of art was not sufficiently strong in the guide to induce him to permit
+of a moment's delay in the journey, our hero was fain to content himself
+with visions of future indulgence in his favourite study.
+
+The "diggings," which they first got sight of in the afternoon of a fine
+and sunny but cool day, were at the mouth of a deep gorge at the lower
+end of the gully, having an abrupt mountain acclivity about eight
+hundred feet high on one side, and on the other a plain bounded by
+mountains.  Here numbers of tents of all sizes and various shapes were
+pitched on the slopes and near the banks of the river that brawled down
+the centre of the little valley.
+
+No sooner had the travellers entered the camp than the diggers left
+their work and flocked round them to ask the news, and, more
+particularly, to ascertain what provisions had been brought to the
+valley,--for the necessaries of life at that time were getting scarce,
+and the party from which Frank and his companions had separated, strange
+to say, had not arrived.
+
+Great anxiety was manifested by the diggers on hearing of this
+separation, because on the safe and speedy arrival of that party they
+depended almost for their existence, and deep as well as loud were the
+expressions of disappointment and discontent when they were told that,
+if all had gone well, they should have been at the gully some days
+before.
+
+Soon, however, the diggers had exhausted their queries and returned to
+their work, leaving the new arrivals to look after their own affairs.
+This they proceeded to do promptly.
+
+"Now, friends," said Jeffson, "our journeying together has come to an
+end, and it remains for you to settle whether you shall keep together
+and work in company, or separate.  As for me, my business compels me to
+leave you.  Yonder white tent, which you see about half a mile up
+the river, belongs to me and my partner.  It is the great
+economico-universal store of Jeffson and Company, which supplies diggers
+liberally on the most moderate terms, giving credit as long as it seems
+advisable to do so.  When Jeffson is absent, Company takes charge of the
+concern, and it is my opinion that Company will be kind o' glad to-night
+to see the head of the firm come back safe and sound with fresh
+supplies.  You see, gentlemen, I feel it sort of incumbent on me to make
+you a farewell speech as a fellow-traveller, because I mean to become a
+host for to-night, and ask you to come up to the store and partake of
+our hospitality.  I am quite sure that you will acquit me of the
+unworthy motive of wishing to attract you as customers, when I tell you
+that I am already certain of your custom, seeing that there is no other
+store in the gully, and I guess you won't be inclined to go down to
+Sacramento for supplies for some time to come."
+
+There was a general laugh at this, followed by a hearty expression of
+thanks from all the party, who forthwith adjourned to the store, where
+they found "Company" (who was an Irishman named Quin) barely able to
+keep his legs, in consequence of a violent attack of dysentery which had
+reduced him to a mere shadow.  The poor man could scarcely refrain from
+shedding tears of joy at the sight of his partner, who, to do him
+justice, was almost as much affected by sorrow at the miserable
+appearance presented by his friend.
+
+"Sure it's dead I am intirely--all but," said Quin, as he wrung
+Jeffson's hand again and again; "if ye'd bin a day later it's my belaif
+I'd have gone under the sod."
+
+"Well, you do look like it, Quin," said Jeffson, stepping back to take a
+more critical view of him.  "What on airth pulled all the flesh off yer
+bones in this fashion?"
+
+"Sickness, no less.  Faix, there's more than me is in the same fix.  Jim
+Dander, down at the cross creek, has got so thin that it's of no manner
+o' use looking at him sideways, he's not quite visible till he turns his
+flat front to ye.  And Foxey is all but gone; and there's many a man
+besides as is on the road to the grave, if not there already.  Sure, the
+doctor's the only man that makes money now, though he kills more than he
+cures.  The baste called to try his hand on mysilf, but I flung my big
+boots at his head, an' saw no more of him."
+
+"That's a bad account of things," said Jeffson; "however, here I am back
+again with fresh supplies, so cheer up, man, and we'll weather the storm
+yet.  I've brought some fellow-travellers, you see, and hope you will
+receive them hospitably."
+
+"That must not be," said Frank Allfrey, advancing, "it would be unfair
+to put your friend to unnecessary trouble, considering the state of
+weakness to which--"
+
+"Waikness, is it?" exclaimed Quin, seizing Frank's hand and shaking it;
+"well, now, it's little I thought I'd iver live to be called waik!
+Howsever, it's too thrue, but me moral strength is wonderful, so you're
+heartily welcome, if ye can slaip on a plank floor an' ait salt-pork an'
+paise.  There, now, don't be botherin' a sick man wid yer assurances.
+Just make yerselves at home, gintlemen, an' the head o' the firm will
+git yer supper ready."
+
+Saying this, the poor man, who was quite worn out with excitement and
+the exertion of welcoming his partner, flung himself on his couch with a
+deep sigh.  As Jeffson also pressed his friends to remain, they made no
+further objection.
+
+While supper was being prepared, Frank and Joe went out to look at the
+diggers.
+
+"Now," said the former as they sauntered along the bank of the river,
+"the question that you and I must settle at once is, are we two to work
+by ourselves, or are we to join with our late friends, and work in
+company?"
+
+"Jine 'em, say I," replied Joe.  "I'm fond of Meyer, and I like the
+Scotchman too, though he is rather fond of argification; besides, it
+strikes me that from what we have heard of diggers' ways, we shall be
+the better of being a strong party."
+
+"Four men don't form a very strong party, Joe; however, I agree with
+you.  It would be well that we four should stick together.  So, that's
+settled, and now we shall go and ask yonder fellow in the red shirt and
+big boots something about our prospects."
+
+The scene in the midst of which they now found themselves was curious,
+interesting, and suggestive.  For two miles along its course the banks
+of the river were studded with tents, and on each side of it were
+diggers, working at short distances apart, or congregated together,
+according to the richness of the deposits.  About twenty feet was the
+space generally allowed at that time to a washing machine.  Most of the
+diggers worked close to the banks of the stream, others partially
+diverted its course to get at its bed, which was considered the richest
+soil.  At one place a company of eighty men had banded together for the
+purpose of cutting a fresh channel for the river--a proceeding which
+afterwards resulted in a fierce and fatal affray with the men who worked
+below them.  Elsewhere on the sides of the mountains and in "gulches"
+formed by torrents, men toiled singly and in twos or threes, with picks,
+shovels, washing-pans, and cradles.  All were very busy, but all were
+not equally hopeful, for, while some had been successful in finding the
+precious metal, others had failed, and were very desponding.
+
+"Have you had good fortune to-day?" asked Frank, stopping at the edge of
+the hole in which the miner with the red shirt toiled.
+
+"Not very good," replied the man, whose voice betokened him an
+Englishman.
+
+He was an immensely powerful, good-looking fellow, and paused in his
+work to reply to Frank's question with a hearty air.
+
+"Have you to dig very deep?" inquired Frank.
+
+"Not very," he replied; "the depth varies in different parts of the
+diggings.  Here it is seldom necessary to go deeper than four feet.
+Indeed, a white rock usually lays about the depth of two feet under the
+soil.  It is difficult to cut through, and does not pay for the
+trouble."
+
+"Do you find gold on the surface?" continued Frank.
+
+"Almost none.  Being weighty, it sinks downwards through the loose
+earth, and settles on the rock.  I see, gentlemen, that you are
+strangers, and, if I mistake not, Englishmen.  I am a countryman,
+hailing from Cornwall, and, if you have no objection, will accompany you
+in your inspection of the diggings.  My experience may be of service to
+you, perhaps, and I can at all events guard you from the scoundrels who
+make a livelihood by deceiving and cheating newcomers."
+
+Frank thanked the Cornish miner for his kind offer, and accompanied by
+this new and intelligent friend, he and Joe continued their ramble.
+
+One of the first men whom they addressed happened to be one of the
+sharpers referred to.  He was a Yankee, and although the Yankees were by
+no means the _only_ scoundrels there, for there was no lack of such--
+English, Scotch, Irish, German, and Chinese--they were unquestionably
+the "'cutest!"
+
+This man was very busy when they approached, and appeared to be quite
+indifferent to them.  Observing, however, that they were about to pass
+by, he looked up, and, wiping his brow, said, "Good-evening."
+
+"Good-evening," said Frank, "What luck?"
+
+"Luck enough," replied the man, "I'm tired of luck; the fact is, I have
+made my pile, and want to make tracks for home, but this is such a
+splendid claim that I can't tear myself away from it.  See here."
+
+He struck his shovel into the ground as he spoke, and lifted a quantity
+of earth, or "dirt," into a basin, washed it out, and displayed to the
+astonished gaze of the "greenhorns," as newcomers were called, a large
+quantity of gold-dust, with several small nuggets interspersed.
+
+"Splendid!" exclaimed Frank.
+
+"You'll make your fortin," said Joe Graddy.
+
+"It's made already, I reckon," said the Yankee, with the air of a man
+who was overburdened with success.  "The truth is, I want to get away
+before the rainy season comes on, and will part with this here claim for
+an old song.  I'm half inclined to make you a present of it, but I don't
+quite see my way to that.  However, I've no objection to hand it over
+for, say a hundred dollars."
+
+"H'm!" ejaculated the Cornish man, "will you take a shovelful from the
+_other_ end of the claim and wash it out?"
+
+The Yankee smiled, put his finger on the side of his nose, and, wishing
+them success in whatever line of life they chose to undertake, went on
+with his work.
+
+The Cornish miner laughed, and, as he walked away, explained to his
+astonished companions that this was a common dodge.
+
+"The rascals," he said, "hide a little gold in a claim that is
+valueless, and, digging it up as you have seen, wash it out in the
+presence of newcomers, in the hope of taking them in.  But here we come
+to a party who will show you a little of legitimate gold-washing."
+
+They approached, as he spoke, a bend of the river where several men were
+busy at work--some with pick and shovel, some with the cradle, and
+others with tin washing-pans.  Here they stood for some time watching
+the process of gold-washing.
+
+At the time of which we write, only the two simple processes of washing,
+with the pan and with the cradle, were practised at Bigbear Gully, the
+more elaborate methods of crushing quartz, etcetera, not having been
+introduced.
+
+The most simple of these was the _pan_ process, which was much in
+favour, because the soil, or "dirt" was so rich in gold-dust that it
+"paid" well, and it only required that the miner should possess a pick,
+a shovel, and a tin pan.  With this very limited stock in trade he could
+begin without delay, and earn at least a subsistence; perhaps even make
+"his pile," or, in other words, his fortune.
+
+One of the men connected with the party above referred to was engaged in
+pan-washing.  He stood in a hole four feet deep, and had just filled a
+flat tin dish with dirt, as Frank and his companions stopped to observe
+him.  Pouring water on the dirt, the miner set the pan down, dipped both
+hands into it and stirred the contents about until they became liquid
+mud--removing the stones in the process, and operating in such a manner
+that he caused some of the contents to escape, or spill, off the top at
+each revolution.  More water was added from time to time, and the
+process continued until all the earthy matter was washed away, and
+nothing but a kind of black sand, which contained the gold, left at the
+bottom.  The separation of the metal from the black sand was an after
+process, and a more difficult one.  It was accomplished in some cases by
+means of a magnet which attracted the sand.  In other cases this was
+blown carefully off from a sheet of paper, but a few of the miners, who
+managed matters in a more extensive and thorough manner, effected the
+separation by means of quicksilver.  They mixed it with the sand, added
+a little water, and stirred it about until the gold amalgamated with the
+quicksilver, converting it into a little massive, tangible, and soft
+heap.  It was then put into a buckskin cloth, through the pores of which
+the quicksilver was squeezed, leaving the pure gold behind.  Any
+trifling quantity of the former that might still remain was afterwards
+evaporated on a heated shovel or pan.
+
+An expert worker in average ground could gather and wash a panful of
+dirt every ten minutes.  There were few places in Bigbear Gully that
+would not yield two shillings' worth of gold to the panful, so that in
+those early days, while the surface soil was still fresh, a man could,
+by steady work alone--without incidental nuggets--work out gold-dust to
+the value of between five and six pounds sterling a day, while,
+occasionally, he came upon a lump, or nugget, equal, perhaps, to what he
+could procure by the labour of a week or more.
+
+Many, however, of the more energetic miners worked in companies and used
+cradles, by means of which they washed out a much larger quantity of
+gold in shorter time; and in places which did not yield a sufficient
+return by the pan process to render it worth while working, the cradle
+owners obtained ample remuneration for their toil.
+
+The cradle, which Frank and his comrades saw working not far from the
+pan-washer, was by no means a complex affair.  It was a semi-circular
+trough hollowed out of a log six feet long by sixteen inches diameter.
+At one end of this was a perforated copper or iron plate, with a rim of
+iron or wood round it, on which the dirt was thrown, and water poured
+thereon, by one man, while the cradle was rocked by another.  The gold,
+earth, and small gravel were thus separated from the larger stones, and
+washed down the trough, in which, at intervals, two tranverse bars were
+placed; the first of these arrested the gold, which from its great
+weight sunk to the bottom, while the gravel, and lighter substances,
+were swept away by the current.  The lower bar caught any particles
+that, by awkward management, might have passed the upper one.
+
+Having satisfied their curiosity, and learned from an obliging miner the
+method of washing the gold, our adventurers returned to Jeffson's store,
+and there spent the night in discussing their plan of procedure.  It was
+decided, first of all, that they should stick together and work in
+company.
+
+"You see, mates," observed Joe Graddy, after the others had given their
+opinions, "this is how it stands.  I must stick by Mister Allfrey,
+'cause why, we've bin pullin' in the same boat together for some time
+past, an' it's nat'ral for to wish to continue so to do.  Then Douglas
+and Meyer ought to stick to us, 'cause we have for so long stuck to
+them, an' they ought to stick to one another 'cause they're mootooally
+fond o' misty-physical jabberin' on religious subjects, which is greatly
+to our edification, seein' that we don't onderstand it, and finds it
+highly amoosin' while we smoke our pipes after a hard day's work, d'ye
+see?  So, on them grounds, I votes that we j'ine company an' go to work
+at seven o'clock to-morrow mornin'."
+
+"Das ist goot advise," said the German, slapping Joe on the shoulder,
+"an' I vould add mine vott, vich is, to make you commandair of de
+forces."
+
+"Very good, then I command you to shut your mouth, and go to bed."
+
+"Unpossabil," replied Meyer, "for I do snor, an' always do him troo de
+mout'."
+
+"I prefers to do it through the nose," remarked Joe, rolling his blanket
+round him and lying down on the hard boards with his head on a sack.
+
+Expressing a hope that they would restrain their snoring propensities as
+much as possible, the remaining members of the new co-partnery lay down
+beside them, and were speedily in the land of dreams.  Need we add that
+their dreams that night were of gold?  Surely not, and perhaps it were
+equally unnecessary to observe that their slumbers were profound.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+GIVES THE RESULT OF THE FIRST DAY'S DIGGING, AND SHOWS THE POWERFUL
+EFFECT OF LYNCH-LAW.
+
+Next morning Frank and his friends went out to choose their claim.  As
+we have said, the Bigbear Gully was not at that time generally known.  A
+comparatively small number of diggers had set to work in it, and they
+were careful to avoid giving much information to "prospecting," or
+searching parties, because they knew that if the richness of the soil
+were known, there would be a general rush to it from all quarters.
+There was therefore no lack of unoccupied ground.
+
+A suitable spot was chosen in a pleasant grove on the banks of the
+stream where it swept round the base of a magnificent precipice, not far
+from Jeffson's store.  Here Douglas, Meyer, and Joe set to work to build
+a kind of hut of logs, branches, and mud, while Frank returned to the
+store to purchase the necessary tools.  Having little money left, he was
+compelled to take credit, which Jeffson readily granted to him, knowing
+full well that there was little fear of the account remaining long
+unpaid.
+
+In order that the reader may have an idea of the charges made at the
+diggings in those days, we subjoin the list of purchases made at the
+commencement of operations by the firm of "Allfrey, Douglas and
+Company."
+
++===================================================================+=====================+
+|A rocker or cradle                                                 |6 pounds 5 shillings |
++-------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
+|A spade, shovel, pick-axe, and two tin washing-pans                |3 pounds 15 shillings|
++-------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
+|12 pounds weight of biscuit, 12 pounds weight of salt-pork and beef|                     |
++-------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
+|4 pounds weight of lard, and 6 pounds weight of flour              |10 pounds 8 shillings|
++-------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
+|A frying-pan, sauce-pan, and four tin mugs                         |2 pounds 12 shillings|
++-------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
+|Sum-Total                                                          |23 pounds 0 shillings|
++===================================================================+=====================+
+
+When Joe Graddy heard the sum-total he looked very blank indeed, but,
+quickly recovering himself, insisted that they should leave off
+house-building, which, in the fine weather, he said, wos o' no manner o'
+use, and it was a matter o' prime importance to go to dig at once, an'
+pay off their debt without delay.
+
+Joe was overruled, however, and when it was explained to him that the
+fine weather might not last long, that it was essential to health that
+they should have a roof of some sort to keep off the dews, and that
+digging might be commenced in right earnest on the morrow, he consented
+to continue his labours at the hut.
+
+That night they slept sounder than usual, and, on the following morning,
+began to dig for gold.
+
+They commenced within a few feet of the water's edge.  Joe handled the
+pick and spade; Meyer carried the "dirt" on his broad shoulders to
+Douglas, who rocked the cradle, while Frank washed out the auriferous
+matter in one of the tin pans, until nothing but pure gold and black
+sand remained.  It was reserved for evening to separate the sand from
+the gold, and ascertain the result of their day's labour.
+
+At noon, in accordance with the universal custom at the mines, they
+threw down their tools and went up to the hut for an hour's rest and
+refreshment.  Of course they discussed while they dined, and hoped
+largely! but their jaws were more active than their tongues, and the
+moment the hour was completed they returned vigorously to work.
+
+When the shades of evening began to descend, they returned to the hut,
+and, kindling a fire, commenced to fry blacksand and gold, being anxious
+to ascertain the result of the first day's work before supper!  As each
+panful was dried and blown, the gold was weighed and put into a small
+white bowl, the bottom of which was soon heaped up with shining
+particles, varying in size from the smallest visible specks to little
+lumps like grains of corn.
+
+A neighbouring miner, who had offered to weigh the result for them,
+pronounced this first day's work as an unusually successful one, being,
+he said, a little over thirty-six pounds sterling.
+
+"How much?" exclaimed Joe Graddy in amazement.
+
+"Thirty-six pounds sterling," repeated the miner.
+
+"You _don't_ mean that?"
+
+"Indeed I do," replied the miner, smiling.
+
+"Then our fortins is made a'ready--all but--"
+
+"Not quite; you forget the price of our outfit," said Frank.
+
+"No doubt, I did," answered the seaman, a little subdued.
+
+"And the price o' grub," added Douglas; "not to mention clothing, which
+we shall want very soon, I fear, for the tear and wear of this kind of
+work is considerable.  Why, I found to-day, when I took a stroll at
+noon, that they charge five pounds sterling for a flannel shirt, and
+four pounds for a pair of boots, and everything else is in proportion;
+so, you see, our thirty-six pounds won't do much for us at that rate.
+However, I admit that we have reason to be satisfied with the day's
+work."
+
+"You certainly have," said their friend the miner; "for it is very
+seldom that beginners do so much.  And now I would give you one piece of
+advice before I go, which is, that you appoint one of your number to
+cook for the rest.  More men are killed, I believe, by eating
+half-cooked victuals, than by hard work.  They come in fagged and wet at
+night, cook their grub hastily, bolt it, and then lie down to sleep in
+damp clothes.  Of course they soon break down.  Our party have kept very
+fair health in the midst of great sickness; and I believe it is chiefly
+owing to the fact that, on first setting to work, we appointed one of
+our number, who had a talent that way, to attend to the cooking
+department.  We relieved him of a great deal of the hard labour, but
+gave him his equal share of the profits.  The consequence has been that
+we are all in first-rate health, and dig more energetically than our
+neighbours."
+
+"Has there then been much sickness here of late?" asked Frank.
+
+"A great deal, and I fear there will be much more when the rains set in;
+but let me urge you again to take my advice about appointing a cook."
+
+"That," said Joe Graddy, "is just wot we means to do, Mister
+wot's-yer-name?"
+
+"Stewart," said the miner.
+
+"Well, Mister Stewart, I'll ap'int myself cook to our party, havin', if
+I may say so, a nat'ral talent that way, w'ich wos deweloped on my first
+voyage round the world, w'en our cook died of a broken heart--so it's
+said--'cause the doctor knocked off his grog, and put him on an
+allowance o' lime juice."
+
+Saying this, Joe heaved a deep sigh, seized the frying-pan, and
+commenced his self-imposed duties.  Our hero took up the bowl of
+gold-dust, and was about to leave the hut, when Douglas arrested him
+with--
+
+"Hallo, Frank, where away?  I shall have to shout `stop thief' if you go
+off like that with the gold."
+
+"I'm going to pay our debt to Jeffson," said Frank, with a laugh.  "I
+have great belief, Douglas, in the plan of paying as one goes.  Debt is
+a heavy weight, which I never mean to carry if I can help it.  A good
+old aunt of mine used often to din into everybody's ears the text `owe
+no man anything,' and I really believe she has caused it to take a
+strong hold of me, for I can't rest till I square off Jeffson's
+account!"
+
+Frank hastened away, and soon after returned with the balance, thirteen
+pounds, which, as Douglas observed when they began supper, was the
+nucleus of their future fortune; while Joe remarked that "he didn't know
+wot nooklius wos, but if it meant the _beginnin'_ of their fortin, it
+wasn't a big un, as things went at the diggin's."
+
+The proceeds of the next day's work were nearly equal to those of the
+first, and the spirits of the diggers were proportionally high; but on
+the third day they did not wash out much more than half the quantity of
+gold.  They were therefore somewhat depressed; and this condition of
+mind was increased by one of those events which were at times of
+frequent occurrence there.  This was the murder of one miner by another,
+and the summary application of Lynch-law to the criminal.
+
+It occurred about noon, when the miners were at dinner.  A man named
+Higson, who was noted for swearing and brutality, was standing near
+Jeffson's store, when a young miner named Elms came up, greatly excited,
+in consequence of having just found a large nugget, which he wished to
+have weighed.  To the surprise of all, and the indignation of Elms,
+Higson suddenly snatched the nugget out of his hand, and swore that it
+had been got in a claim to which Elms had no title, and that, being
+alongside of his own, and included in the line he had marked off, the
+nugget was his by rights!
+
+The young man sprang upon Higson, and a struggle ensued, in the midst of
+which the latter drew his bowie-knife and stabbed Elms to the heart.
+When he fell, Higson attempted to run, but a stout German tripped up his
+heels, and a cry of wild anger arose from those who had witnessed the
+deed.
+
+"Lynch him!" they shouted furiously.
+
+Frank Allfrey and his friends heard the shout, and ran to the spot; but
+the administration of justice was so prompt that, before they reached
+it, the murderer was swinging by the neck to the branch of a tree.
+
+"Surely you have been too hasty," exclaimed Frank, advancing without any
+settled intention, but under an indefinable sense that wrong was being
+done.
+
+At this several miners leaped forward, and drawing their revolvers,
+swore with a terrible oath that they would shoot any man who should
+attempt to cut the murderer down.
+
+As one of the miners here explained hastily why it was that justice had
+been meted out with such promptitude, our hero drew back and left the
+spot, feeling, however, that Judge Lynch was a very dangerous character,
+seeing that he might be just as prompt with the innocent as with the
+guilty, although he would find it rather difficult to recall life if he
+should find out afterwards that he had been mistaken in his views.
+
+This event was followed two days after by another incident, which caused
+considerable excitement in Bigbear Gully.  With the increase of miners
+there had been a considerable increase of crime, as might naturally have
+been expected in a country where, while there were undoubtedly many
+honest men, there were also thousands of scoundrels of all nations who
+had been attracted thither by the dazzling accounts given of the new El
+Dorado in the West.  Rows, more or less severe, in reference to claims
+and boundaries, had become frequent.  Cold-blooded murders were on the
+increase; and thefts became so common that a general sense of insecurity
+began to be felt.
+
+This state of things at last wrought its own cure.  One day a youth went
+into the hut of a neighbouring digger, a Yankee, and stole a coffee-tin.
+He was taken in the act, and as this was the second time that he had
+been caught purloining his neighbours' goods, those in the vicinity rose
+up _en masse_ in a furore of indignation.  A hurried meeting of all the
+miners was called, and it was unanimously resolved--at least so
+unanimously that those who dissented thought it advisable to be silent--
+that Lynch-law should be rigorously put in force.
+
+Accordingly, several of the most energetic and violent of the miners
+constituted themselves judges on the spot, and, on hearing a brief
+statement of the case, decreed that the culprit was to be subjected to
+whatever punishment should be determined on by the man whom he had
+injured.  The Yankee at once decided that the rims of his ears should be
+cut off, and that he should be seared deeply in the cheek with a red-hot
+iron; which sentence was carried into execution on the spot!
+
+It happened that while this was going on, another of the thieving
+fraternity, who did not know of the storm that was gathering and about
+to burst over the heads of such as he, took advantage of the excitement
+to enter a tent, and abstract therefrom a bag of gold worth several
+hundred pounds.  It chanced that the owner of it happened to be ailing
+slightly that day, and, instead of following his companions, had lain
+still in his tent, rolled up in blankets.  He was awakened by the thief,
+sprang up and collared him, and, observing what he was about, dragged
+him before the tribunal which was still sitting in deliberation on the
+affairs of the community.  The man was instantly condemned to be shot,
+and this was done at once--several of the exasperated judges assisting
+the firing party to carry the sentence into execution.
+
+"Now men," cried a tall raw-boned Yankee from the Western States,
+mounting on a stump after the body had been removed, and speaking with
+tremendous vehemence, "I guess things have come to such a deadlock here
+that it's time for honest men to carry things with a high hand, so I
+opine we had better set about it and make a few laws,--an' if you have
+no objections, I'll lay down a lot o' them slick off--bran' new laws,
+warranted to work well, and stand wear and tear, and ready greased for
+action."
+
+"Hear! hear!" cried several voices in the crowd that surrounded this
+western Solon, while others laughed at his impudence.  All, however,
+were eager to see the prevailing state of things put right, and glad to
+back any one who appeared able and willing to act with vigour.
+
+"Wall then, here goes," cried the Yankee.  "Let it be decreed that
+whatever critter shall be nabbed in the act of makin' tracks, with what
+isn't his'n, shall have his ears cut off, if it's a mild case, and be
+hanged or shot if it's a bad un."
+
+A hearty and stern assent was at once given to this law, and the
+law-giver went on to lay down others.  He said that of course murder
+would be punished also with death, and for several other offences men
+should be flogged or branded on the cheeks with red-hot irons.  Having
+in little more than ten minutes laid down these points, he enacted that
+thenceforth each man should be entitled to a claim of ten feet square,
+which, being multiplied by the number of his mess, would give the limits
+of the allotments in particular locations; but that, he said, would not
+prevent any man from moving from one site and fixing on another.
+
+To this proposition, however, some of the miners demurred, and the
+law-giver found that, although in criminal law he had been allowed to
+have it all his own way, in civil matters he must listen to the opinion
+of others.  However, after much wrangling this law was agreed to; and it
+was also arranged, among other things, that as long as any one left his
+tools in his claim, his rights were to be respected.
+
+This meeting had the most beneficial influence on the miners.  Rough and
+ready, as well as harsh, though their proceedings were, they
+accomplished the end in view most effectually, for after several
+terrible examples had been made, which proved to evil-doers that men
+were thoroughly in earnest, stealing, quarrelling about boundaries, and
+murdering were seldom heard of in that district--insomuch that men could
+leave bags of gold in their tents unwatched for days together, and their
+tools quite open in their claims without the slightest fear of their
+being touched!
+
+The reader must not suppose here that we are either upholding or
+defending the proceedings of the celebrated Judge Lynch.  We are merely
+recording facts, which prove how efficacious his severe code was in
+bringing order out of confusion in Bigbear Gully at that time.
+
+It is not necessary that we should follow the varied fortunes of our
+hero and his friends, day by day, while they were engaged in digging for
+gold.  Suffice it to say that sometimes they were fortunate, sometimes
+the reverse, but that on the whole, they were successful beyond the
+average of diggers, and became sanguine of making their fortunes in a
+short time.
+
+Nevertheless Frank Allfrey did not like the life.  Whatever else might
+arouse his ambition, he was evidently not one of those whose soul was
+set upon the acquisition of wealth.  Although successful as a digger,
+and with more gold in his possession than he knew what to do with, he
+detested the dirty, laborious work of digging and dabbling in mud from
+morning till night.  He began to see that, as far as the nature of his
+daily toil was concerned, he worked harder, and was worse off than the
+poorest navvy who did the dirtiest work in old England!  He sighed for
+more congenial employment, meditated much over the subject, and finally
+resolved to give up gold-digging.
+
+Before, however, he could carry this resolve into effect, he was smitten
+with a dire disease, and in a few days lay on the damp floor of his poor
+hut, as weak and helpless as a little child.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+FRANK AND JOE TAKE TO WANDERING; SEE SOME WONDERFUL THINGS, AND HAVE A
+NARROW ESCAPE.
+
+Before our hero became convalescent, his comrade Douglas was "laid down"
+with dysentery.  In these circumstances, the digging went on slowly, for
+much of the time of Meyer and Graddy was necessarily occupied in
+nursing--and truly kind and devoted, though rough, nurses they proved to
+be in that hour of need.
+
+Gradually, but surely, Douglas sank.  There was no doctor to prescribe
+for him, no medicine to be had for love or money.  In that wretched hut
+he lay beside his sick friend, and conversed, as strength permitted, in
+faint low tones, on the folly of having thrown his life away for "mere
+gold," and on the importance of the things that concern the soul.  As he
+drew near his end, the name of the Saviour was often on his lips, and
+often did he reproach himself for having neglected the "great
+salvation," until it was _almost_ too late.  Sometimes he spoke of
+home--in Scotland,--and gave many messages to Frank, which he begged him
+to deliver to his mother, if he should ever get well and live to return
+home.
+
+There was something in that "if" which went with a thrill to Frank's
+heart, as he lay there, and realised vividly that his comrade was
+actually dying, and that he too might die.
+
+One evening Joe entered the hut with more alacrity than he had done for
+many a day.  He had a large nugget, just dug up, in his hand, and had
+hastened to his companions to cheer them, if possible, with a sight of
+it.  Douglas was just passing away.  He heard his comrade's hearty
+remarks, and looked upon the mass of precious metal.
+
+"Joe," he whispered faintly, "Wisdom is more to be desired than gold;
+`The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.'"
+
+He never spoke again, and died within an hour after that.
+
+At last Frank began to mend, and soon found himself strong enough to
+travel, he therefore made arrangements to leave Bigbear Gully with his
+inseparable friend Joe.  Meyer, being a very strong man, and in robust
+health, determined to remain and work out their claim, which still
+yielded abundance of gold.
+
+"Meyer," said Frank, the evening before his departure, "I'm very sorry
+that we are obliged to leave you."
+
+"Ya, das ist mos' miserable," said the poor German, looking
+disconsolate.
+
+"But you see," continued Frank, "that my remaining, in my present state
+of health, is out of the question.  Now, Joe and I have been talking
+over our affairs.  We intend to purchase three mules and set off under
+the guidance of a half-caste Californian, to visit different parts of
+this country.  We will continue our journey as long as our gold lasts,
+and then return to San Francisco and take passage for England,--for we
+have both come to the unalterable determination that we won't try to
+make our fortunes by gold-digging.  We have sufficient dust to give us a
+long trip and pay our passage to England, without making use of that big
+nugget found by Joe, which is worth at least 200 pounds; so we have
+determined to leave it in possession of Jeffson, to be used by you if
+luck should ever take a wrong turn--as it will sometimes do--and you
+should chance to get into difficulties.  Of course if you continue
+prosperous, we will reclaim our share of it on our return hither."
+
+"Ah, you is too goot," cried the warm-hearted German, seizing Frank's
+hand and wringing it, "bot I vill nevair use de nuggut--nevair!  You
+sall find him here sartainly ven you do com bak."
+
+"Well, I hope so, for your own sake," said Frank, "because that will
+show you have been successful.  But if you get into low water, and do
+not use it, believe me I shall feel very much aggrieved."
+
+Next day about noon, our hero and Joe, with Junk, their vaquero, mounted
+their mules and rode away.
+
+"A new style o' cruisin' this," said Joe Graddy, one fine day, as they
+pulled up under the shade of a large tree, at a spot where the scenery
+was so magnificent that Frank resolved to rest and sketch it.
+
+"New, indeed, and splendid too," he exclaimed enthusiastically, leaping
+off his mule.  "You can go shoot squirrels or bears if you like, Joe,
+but here I remain for the next three or four hours."
+
+As Frank had been in the habit of treating his friend thus almost every
+day since starting on their tour, he was quite prepared for it; smiled
+knowingly, ordered the vaquero to tether the mules and accompany him
+into the forest, and then, taking his bearings with a small
+pocket-compass, and critically inspecting the sun, and a huge pinchbeck
+watch which was the faithful companion of his wanderings, he shouldered
+his gun and went off, leaving the enthusiastic painter to revel in the
+glories of the landscape.
+
+And truly magnificent the scenery was.  They had wandered by that time
+far from the diggings, and were involved in all the grandeur of the
+primeval wilderness.  Stupendous mountains, capped with snow, surrounded
+the beautiful valley through which they were travelling, and herbage of
+the richest description clothed the ground, while some of the trees were
+so large that many of the giant oaks of old England would have appeared
+small beside them.  Some of the precipices of the valley were fully
+three thousand feet high, without a break from top to bottom, and the
+mountain-ranges in the background must have been at least as high again.
+Large tracts of the low grounds were covered with wild oats and rich
+grasses; affording excellent pasturage to the deer, which could be seen
+roving about in herds.  Lakes of various sizes were alive with
+waterfowl, whose shrill and plaintive cries filled the air with wild
+melody.  A noble river coursed throughout the entire length of the
+valley, and its banks were clothed with oaks, cypresses, and chestnuts,
+while, up on the mountain sides, firs of truly gigantic size reared
+their straight stems above the surrounding trees with an air of towering
+magnificence, which gave them indisputable right to be considered the
+aristocracy of those grand solitudes.
+
+Of these firs Frank observed one so magnificent that, although anxious
+to begin work without delay, he could not resist the desire to examine
+it closely.  Laying down his book and pencil he ran towards it, and
+stood for some time in silent amazement, feeling that he was indeed in
+the presence of the Queen of the Forest.  It was a pine which towered to
+a height of certainly not less than three hundred and sixty feet, and,
+after careful measurement, was found to be ninety-three feet in
+circumference.  In regarding this tree as the Queen, Frank was doubly
+correct, for the natives styled it the "Mother of the Forest."  The bark
+of it, to the height of a hundred and sixteen feet, was, in after years,
+carried to England, and built up in its original form in the Crystal
+Palace of Sydenham.  It was unfortunately destroyed in the great fire
+which a few years ago consumed a large part of that magnificent
+building.
+
+But this was not the only wonderful sight that was seen that day.  After
+Frank had finished his drawing, and added it to a portfolio which was
+already well filled, he fired a shot to recall his nautical comrade and
+the vaquero.  They soon rejoined him, and, continuing their journey,
+came to a waterfall which, in some respects, excelled that of the
+far-famed Niagara itself.
+
+It had sounded like murmuring thunder in their ears the greater part of
+that day, and as they approached it the voice of its roar became so
+deafening that they were prepared for something unusually grand, but not
+for the stupendous sight and sound that burst upon them when, on turning
+round the base of a towering precipice, they came suddenly in full view
+of one of the most wonderful of the Creator's works in that land.
+
+A succession of wall-like mountains rose in two tiers before them into
+the clouds.  Some of the lower clouds floated far below the highest
+peaks.  From the summit of the highest range, a river, equal to the
+Thames at Richmond, dropt sheer down a precipice of more than two
+thousand feet.  Here it met the summit of the lower mountain-range, on
+which it burst with a deep-toned sullen roar, comparable only to eternal
+thunder.  A white cloud of spray received the falling river in its soft
+embrace, and sent it forth again, turbulent and foam-bespeckled, towards
+its second leap,--another thousand feet,--into the plain below.  The
+entire height of this fall was above three thousand feet!
+
+Our hero was of course anxious to make a careful drawing of it, but
+having already exhausted the greater part of the day, he was fain to
+content himself with a sketch, after making which they pushed rapidly
+forward, and encamped for the night, still within sight and sound of the
+mighty fall.
+
+"D'you know, Joe," said Frank, leaning back against a tree stem, as he
+gazed meditatively into into the fire after supper was concluded, "it
+has often struck me that men are very foolish for not taking full
+possession of the splendid world, in which they have been placed."
+
+Frank paused a few moments, but the observation not being sufficiently
+definite for Joe, who was deep in the enjoyment of his first pipe, no
+reply was made beyond an interjectional "h'm."
+
+"Just look around you," pursued Frank, waving his hand towards the
+landscape, "at this magnificent country; what timber, what soil, what an
+amount of game, what lakes, what rivers, what facilities for farming,
+manufacturing, fishing,--everything, in fact, that is calculated to
+gladden the heart of man."
+
+"Includin' gold," suggested Joe.
+
+"Including gold," assented Frank; and there it all lies--has lain since
+creation--hundreds of thousands of acres of splendid land _unoccupied_.
+
+"Ha! there's a screw loose somewhere," said Joe, taking the pipe from
+his lips and looking at it earnestly, as if the remark were addressed to
+it, "somethin' out o' j'int--a plank started, so to speak--cer'nly."
+
+"No doubt of it," said Frank; "and the broad acres which we now look
+upon, as well as those over which we have lately travelled, are as
+nothing compared with the other waste but fertile lands in America, on
+which hundreds of thousands of the human race might live happily.  Yet,
+strange to say, men seem to prefer congregating together in little
+worlds of brick, stone, and mortar, living tier upon tier above each
+other's heads, breathing noxious gases instead of the scent of flowers,
+treading upon mud, stone, and dust, instead of green grass, and dwelling
+under a sky of smoke instead of bright blue ether--and this, too, in the
+face of the Bible command to `go forth and replenish the earth.'"
+
+"Yes, there's great room," said Joe, "for the settin' up of a gin'ral
+enlightenment an' universal emigration society, but I raither think it
+wouldn't pay."
+
+"I know it wouldn't, but why not?" demanded Frank.
+
+"Ah, why not?" repeated Joe.
+
+As neither of them appeared to be able to answer the question, they both
+remained for some time in a profound reverie, Frank gazing as he was
+wont to do into the fire, and Joe staring through smoke of his own
+creation at the vaquero, who reclined on the opposite side of the fire
+enjoying the tobacco to the full by letting it puff slowly out at his
+nose as well as his mouth.
+
+"Joe," said Frank.
+
+"Ay, ay, sir," answered Joe with nautical promptitude.
+
+"I have been thinking a good deal about our affairs of late, and have
+come to the conclusion that the sooner we go home the better."
+
+"My notions pre-cisely."
+
+"Moreover," continued Frank, "I think that we have come far enough in
+this direction, and that it would be a good plan to return to Bigbear
+Gully by a different route from that by which we came here, and thus
+have an opportunity of seeing some of the other parts of the diggings.
+What say you to that?"
+
+"I'm agreeable," answered Joe.
+
+"Well then, shall we decide to commence our return journey to-morrow?"
+
+"By all means.  Down wi' the helm, 'bout ship an' lay our course on
+another tack by daylight," said Joe, shaking the ashes out of his pipe
+with the slow unwilling air of a man who knows that he has had enough
+but is loath to give up; "I always like to set sail by daylight.  It
+makes one feel up to the mark so to speak, as if one had lost none of
+the day, and I suppose," he added with a sigh which resolved itself into
+a yawn, "that if we means to start so bright an' early the sooner we
+tumble in the better."
+
+"True," said Frank, whose mouth irresistibly followed the example of
+Joe's, "I think it will be as well to turn in."
+
+There was a quiet, easy-going lowness in the speech and motions of the
+two friends, which showed that they were just in a state of readiness to
+fall into the arms of the drowsy god.  They rolled themselves in their
+blankets, placed their rifles by their sides, their heads on their
+saddles, and their feet to the fire.
+
+Joe Graddy's breathing proclaimed that he had succumbed at once, but
+Frank lay for a considerable time winking owlishly at the stars, which
+returned him the compliment with interest by twinkling at him through
+the branches of the overhanging trees.
+
+Early next morning they arose, remounted their mules and turned back,
+diverging, according to arrangement, from their former track, and making
+for a particular part of the diggings where Frank had been given to
+understand there were many subjects of interest for his pencil.  We
+would fain linger by the way, to describe much of what they saw, but the
+limits of our space require that we should hasten onward, and transport
+the reader at once to a place named the Great Canon, which, being a very
+singular locality, and peculiarly rich in gold, merits description.
+
+It was a gloomy gap or gorge--a sort of gigantic split in the earth--
+lying between two parallel ranges of hills at a depth of several hundred
+feet, shaped like a wedge, and so narrow below that there was barely
+standing room.  The gold all lay at the bottom, the slopes being too
+steep to afford it a resting-place.
+
+The first diggers who went there were said to have gathered vast
+quantities of gold; and when Frank and Joe arrived there was quite
+enough to repay hard work liberally.  The miners did not work in
+companies there.  Indeed, the form of the chasm did not admit of
+operations on a large scale being carried on at any one place.  Most of
+the men worked singly with the pan, and used large bowie-knives with
+which they picked gold from the crevices of the rocks in the bed of the
+stream, or scratched the gravelly soil from the roots of the overhanging
+trees, which were usually rich in deposits.  The gorge, about four miles
+in extent, presented one continuous string of men in single file, all
+eagerly picking up gold, and admitting that in this work they were
+unusually successful.
+
+But these poor fellows paid a heavy price for the precious metal in the
+loss of health, the air being very bad, as no refreshing breezes could
+reach them at the bottom of the gloomy defile.
+
+The gold at that place was found both in very large and very small
+grains, and was mixed with quantities of fine black sand, which the
+miners blew off from it somewhat carelessly--most of them being "green
+hands," and anxious to get at the gold as quickly as possible.  This
+carelessness on their part was somewhat cleverly taken advantage of by a
+keen old fellow who chanced to enter the hut of a miner when Frank and
+Joe were there.  He had a bag on his back and a humorous twinkle in his
+eye.
+
+"Well, old foxey, what do _you_ want?" asked the owner of the hut, who
+happened to be blowing off the sand from a heap of his gold at the time.
+
+"Sure it's only a little sand I want," said the man, in a brogue which
+betrayed his origin.
+
+"Sand, Paddy, what for?"
+
+"For emery, sure," said the man, with a very rueful look; "troth it's
+myself as is gittin' too owld entirely for the diggin's.  I was a broth
+of a boy wance, but what wid dysentery and rheumatiz there's little or
+nothin' o' me left, so I'm obleeged to contint myself wid gatherin' the
+black sand, and sellin' it as a substitute for emery."
+
+"Well, that is a queer dodge," said the miner, with a laugh.
+
+"True for ye, it _is_ quare, but it's what I'm redooced to, so av you'll
+be so kind as plaze to blow the sand on to this here tray, it'll be
+doin' a poor man a good turn, an' costin' ye nothin'."
+
+He held up a tin tray as he spoke, and the miner cheerfully blew the
+sand off his gold-dust on to it.
+
+Thanking him with all the fervour peculiar to his race, the Irishman
+emptied the sand into his bag, and heaving a heavy sigh, left the hut to
+request a similar favour of other miners.
+
+"You may depend on it," said Frank, as the old man went out, "that
+fellow is humbugging you.  It is gold, not sand, that he wants."
+
+"That's a fact," said Joe Graddy, with an emphatic nod and wink.
+
+"Nonsense," said the miner, "I don't believe we lose more than a few
+specks in blowing off the sand--certainly nothing worth speaking of."
+
+The man was wrong in this, however, for it was afterwards discovered
+that the sly old fellow carried his black sand to his hut, and there,
+every night, by the agency of quicksilver, he extracted from the sand
+double the average of gold obtained by the hardest working miner in the
+Canon!
+
+At each end of this place there was a hut made of calico stretched on a
+frame of wood, in which were sold brandy and other strong liquors of the
+most abominable kind, at a charge of about two shillings for a small
+glass!  Cards were also to be found there by those who wished to gamble
+away their hard-earned gains or double them.  Places of iniquity these,
+which abounded everywhere throughout the diggings, and were the nightly
+resort of hundreds of diggers, and the scene of their wildest orgies on
+the Sabbath-day.
+
+Leaving the Great Canon, our travellers--we might almost term them
+inspectors--came to a creek one raw, wet morning, where a large number
+of miners where at work.  Here they resolved to spend the day, and test
+the nature of the ground.  Accordingly, the vaquero was directed to look
+after the mules while Frank and Joe went to work with pick, shovel, and
+pan.
+
+They took the "dirt" from a steep incline considerably above the winter
+level of the stream, in a stratum of hard bluish clay, almost as hard as
+rock, with a slight surface-covering of earth.  It yielded prodigiously.
+At night they found that they had washed out gold to the value of forty
+pounds sterling!  The particles of gold were all large, many being the
+size of a grain of corn, with occasional nuggets intermixed, besides
+quartz amalgamations.
+
+"If this had been my first experience o' them there diggin's," said Joe
+Graddy, as he smoked his pipe that night in the chief gambling and
+drinking store of the place, "I would have said our fortin wos made, all
+but.  Hows'ever, I don't forget that the last pair o' boots I got cost
+me four pound, an' the last glass o' brandy two shillin's--not to speak
+o' death cuttin' an' carvin' all round, an' the rainy season a-comin'
+on, so it's my advice that we 'bout ship for home as soon as may be."
+
+"I agree with you, Joe," said Frank, "and I really don't think I would
+exchange the pleasure I have derived from journeying through this land,
+and sketching the scenery, for all the gold it contains.  Nevertheless I
+would not like to be tempted with the offer of such an exchange!--Now,
+I'll turn in."
+
+Next morning the rain continued to pour incessantly, and Frank Allfrey
+had given the order to get ready for a start, when a loud shouting near
+the hut in which they had slept induced them to run out.  A band of men
+were hurrying toward the tavern with great haste and much gesticulation,
+dragging a man in the midst of them, who struggled and protested
+violently.
+
+Frank saw at a glance that the prisoner was his former companion
+Bradling, and that one of the men who held him was the stranger who had
+been so badly wounded by him at the camp-fire, as formerly related.
+
+On reaching the tavern, in front of which grew a large oak-tree--one of
+the limbs of which was much chafed as if by the sawing of a rope against
+it--the stranger, whose comrades called him Dick, stood up on a stump,
+and said--
+
+"I tell you what it is, mates, I'm as sure that he did it as I am of my
+own existence.  The man met his death at the hands of this murderer
+Bradling; ha! he knows his own name, you see!  He is an escaped
+convict."
+
+"And what are you?" said Bradling, turning on him bitterly.
+
+"That is no man's business, so long as I hurt nobody," cried Dick
+passionately.  "I tell you," he continued, addressing the crowd, which
+had quickly assembled, "I found this fellow skulking in the bush close
+to where the body was found, and I know he did it, because he all but
+murdered me not many months ago, and there," he continued, with a look
+of surprise, pointing straight at our hero, "is a man who can swear to
+the truth of what I say!"
+
+All eyes were at once turned on Frank, who stepped forward, and said--
+
+"I can certainly testify to the fact that this man Bradling did attempt
+to shoot the man whom you call Dick, but I know nothing about the murder
+which seems to have been perpetrated here, and--"
+
+"It's a young feller as was a quiet harmless sort o' critter," said one
+of the bystanders, "who was found dead under a bush this morning with
+his skull smashed in; and it's my opinion, gentlemen, that, since this
+stranger has sworn to the fact that Bradling tried to murder Dick, he
+should swing for it."
+
+"I protest, gentlemen," said Frank energetically, "that I did not
+_swear_ at all!  I did not even _say_ that Bradling tried to murder
+anybody: on the contrary, I think the way in which the man Dick handled
+his gun at the time when Bradling fired was very susp--"
+
+A shout from the crowd drowned the remainder of this speech.
+
+"String him up without more ado," cried several voices.
+
+Three men at once seized Bradling, and a rope was quickly flung over the
+bough of the oak.
+
+"Mercy! mercy!" cried the unhappy man, "I swear that I did not murder
+the man.  I have made my pile down at Bigbear Gully, and I'll give it
+all--every cent--if you will wait to have the matter examined.  Stay,"
+he added, seeing that they paid no heed to him, "let me speak one word,
+before I die, with Mr Allfrey.  I want to tell him where my gold lies
+hid."
+
+"It's a dodge," cried one of the executioners with a sneer, "but have
+your say out.  It's the last you'll have a chance to say here, so look
+sharp about it."
+
+Frank went forward to the man, who was trembling, and very pale, and
+begged those who held him to move off a few paces.
+
+"Oh!  Mr Allfrey," said Bradling, "I am innocent of this; I _am_ an
+escaped convict, it is true, and I _did_ try to kill that man Dick, who
+has given me provocation enough, God knows, but, as He shall be my judge
+at last, I swear I did not commit _this_ murder.  If you will cut the
+cords that bind my hands, you will prevent a cold-blooded murder being
+committed now.  You saved my life once before.  Oh! save it again."
+
+The man said all this in a hurried whisper, but there was something so
+intensely earnest and truthful in his bearing that Frank, under a sudden
+and irresistible impulse, which he could not afterwards account for,
+drew his knife and cut the cords that bound him.
+
+Instantly Bradling bounded away like a hunted deer, overturning several
+men in his flight, and being followed by a perfect storm of bullets from
+rifles and revolvers, until he had disappeared in the neighbouring wood.
+Then the miners turned with fury on Frank, but paused abruptly on
+seeing that he and Joe Graddy stood back to back, with a revolver in
+each hand.
+
+Of course revolvers and rifles were instantly pointed at them, but
+fortunately the miners in their exasperation had discharged all their
+fire-arms at Bradling--not a piece remained loaded!
+
+Several therefore commenced hurriedly to re-load, but Frank shouted, in
+a voice that there was no misunderstanding--
+
+"The first who attempts to load is a dead man!"
+
+This caused them to hesitate, for in those times men, when desperate,
+were wont to be more prompt to act than to threaten.  Still, there were
+some present who would have run the risk, and it is certain that our
+hero and his friend would have then and there terminated their career,
+had not a backwoods hunter stepped forward and said:
+
+"Well now, ye air makin' a pretty noise 'bout nothin'!  See here, I know
+that feller Bradling well.  _He_ didn't kill the man.  It was a Redskin
+as did it; I came up in time to see him do it, and killed the Redskin
+afore he could get away.  In proof whereof here is his gun, an' you'll
+find his carcase under the bank where the murder was committed, if ye've
+a mind to look for it.  But Bradling _is_ a murderer.  I knows him of
+old, an' so, although he's innocent of this partikler murder, I didn't
+see no occasion to try to prevent him gittin' his desarts.  It's another
+matter, hows'ever, when you're goin' to scrag the men as let him off.
+If ye'll take the advice of an old hunter as knows a thing or two,
+you'll go to work on yer claims slick off, for the rains are comin' on,
+and they will pull ye up sharp, I guess.  You'll make hay while the sun
+shines if you're wise."
+
+The opportune interference of this hunter saved Frank and Joe, who,
+after thanking their deliverer, were not slow to mount their mules and
+hasten back to Bigbear Gully, resolved more firmly than ever to wind up
+their affairs, and bid a final adieu to the diggings.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+When they arrived at Bigbear Gully they found the condition of the
+people most deplorable, owing to scarcity of provisions, prevailing
+sickness, and the total absence of physic or medical attendance.  To
+make matters worse, there were indications that the rainy season was
+about to set in; an event that would certainly increase the violence of
+the disease which had already swept away so many of the miners, not a
+few of whom fell down in the holes where they were digging for gold, and
+thus, in digging their own graves, ended their golden dreams, with
+gold-dust for their winding-sheets.
+
+In California there may be said to be only two seasons--a wet one and a
+dry.  The wet season is from November to March, during which period
+foggy weather and cold south-west winds prevail.  During the remaining
+months of the year, arid scorching north-east winds blow so frequently
+and so long that everything green becomes parched and shrivelled up.  Of
+course this state of things is modified in different localities by the
+proximity or absence of mountains, rivers, and sandy plains, and there
+are various periods throughout the year during which the climate is
+delightful; but on the whole it is considered bad--especially during the
+rains, when water comes down in such continuous deluges that
+gold-digging and all other work is much interfered with--sometimes
+stopped altogether.  At midday in this season there is frequently July
+heat, while in the morning and evening there is January cold.
+
+Anxious to escape before the weather became worse, Frank went at once to
+Jeffson's store to obtain supplies, settle up accounts, and inquire for
+his friend Meyer.  He found Jeffson looking very ill--he having recently
+had a severe attack of the prevailing complaint, but "Company" had
+recovered completely, and was very busy with the duties of his store,
+which ("Company" being a warm-hearted man) included gratuitous
+attendance on, and sympathy with, the sick.
+
+"It'll ruin us intirely," he was wont to say, "for we can't stand by and
+see them die o' sickness an' intarvation mixed, an' the poor critters
+has nothin' wotever to pay.  Hows'ever, vartue is its own reward, an' we
+makes the tough miners pay handsome for their supplies, which makes up
+for the sick wans, an' kapes us goin' on hearty enough."
+
+"And what of Meyer?" asked Frank, somewhat anxiously.
+
+Instead of answering, Jeffson put on his hat, and bidding him follow,
+went out of the store.  He led him and Joe towards a large pine-tree, at
+the root of which there was a low mound, carefully covered with green
+turf.  Pointing to it, the Yankee store-keeper said with some emotion--
+
+"There he lies, poor fellow; and a better, more kind-hearted, or
+honester man, never drove pick and shovel into the airth."
+
+In compliance with the request of Frank, who was deeply moved, Jeffson
+told how that, after the departure of his friends, the poor German's
+spirits sank; and while he was in this state, he was prevented from
+rallying by a severe attack of dysentery which ended in his death.
+
+"I trust that he was not pressed by poverty at the last," said Frank.
+
+"He would have been," replied the Yankee, "if he had been allowed to
+have 'is own way; for, being unable to work, of course he ran out o'
+gold-dust, and nothing would persuade him to touch the nugget you left
+in my charge.  I hit upon a plan, however, which answered very well.  I
+supplied him all through his illness with everything that he required to
+make him as comfortable as could be, poor fellow, tellin' him it was
+paid for in full by a friend of his, whose name I couldn't and wouldn't
+mention.  `Jeffson,' says he, startin' up like a livin' skeleton, and
+lookin' at me so serious with his hollow eyes; `Jeffson, if it bees
+_you_ dat give me de tings, I vill not have dem.  I vill die first.  You
+is poor, an' ve cannot expect you keep all de dyin' miners vor noting.'
+
+"`Well,' says I, `I won't go for to say I'm over rich, for times _air_
+raither hard just now; but it ain't _me_ as is the friend.  I assure you
+I'm paid for it in full, so you make your mind easy.'
+
+"With that he lay down an' gave a long sigh.  He was exhausted, and
+seemed to have dismissed the subject from his mind, for he never spoke
+of it again."
+
+"I rather suspect," said Frank, "that you did not tell him the exact
+truth."
+
+"I guess I did," replied the Yankee.
+
+"Who, then, was the friend?"
+
+"Yourself," said Jeffson, with a peculiar smile.  "I intend to keep
+payment of it all off your nugget, for you see it _is_ a fact that we
+ain't in very flourishing circumstances at present; and I knew you would
+thank me for not deserting your friend in his distress."
+
+"You did quite right," said Frank earnestly; "and I thank you with all
+my heart for your kindness to poor Meyer, as well as your correct
+estimate of me."
+
+Frank did not forget that his own resources were at a low ebb just then,
+and that he had been counting on the nugget for the payment of his
+expenses to the coast, and his passage to England, but he made no
+mention of the fact.  His comrade, Joe Graddy, however, could not so
+easily swallow his disappointment in silence.
+
+"Well," said he, turning his quid from one cheek to the other--for Joe
+was guilty of the bad habit of chewing tobacco,--"well, it's not for the
+likes o' me to put my opinion contrairy to yourn, an' in coorse it's all
+very right that our poor messmate should have been looked arter, an I'm
+very glad he wos.  Notwithstandin', I'm bound for to say it _is_ raither
+okard as it stands, for we're pretty nigh cleaned out, an' have got to
+make for the coast in the rainy season, w'ich, it appears to me, is very
+like settin' sail in a heavy gale without ballast."
+
+"Come, Joe," interposed Frank, "we're not quite so hard up as that comes
+to.  There is a little ballast left,--sufficient, if we only turn to,
+and wash out a little more gold, to take us home."
+
+"Sorry to hear you're in such a fix," said Jeffson, still regarding his
+friends with a peculiar smile on his cadaverous countenance; "but I
+think I can get ye out of it.  See here," he added, leading them to
+another grave not far distant from that of Meyer; "can you guess who
+lies under the sod there?  He was a friend of yours; though perhaps you
+would scarcely have acknowledged him had he been alive.  You remember
+Bradling--"
+
+"What! our old travelling companion!" exclaimed Frank.
+
+"The same."
+
+"Why, I saved his life only a few days ago."
+
+"I know it," said Jeffson, "He came here late one night, all covered
+with blood; and, flinging himself down on a bench in my store, said that
+he was done for.  And so he was, I guess,--all riddled with bullets,
+none of which, however, had given him a mortal wound; but he had lost so
+much blood by the way that he had no chance of recovering.  I did my
+best for him, poor fellow, but he sank rapidly.  Before he died he told
+me how you had saved him from being scragged, and said that he wanted to
+make you his heir."
+
+"Poor fellow," said Frank with a sad smile, "it was a kind expression of
+gratitude that I did not expect of him, considering his reputation."
+
+"I s'pose," said Joe Graddy, with a sarcastic laugh, "that you'll be
+goin' to set up your carriage an' four, an' make me your coachman,
+mayhap?"
+
+"I think I may promise that with safety," replied Frank.
+
+"Indeed you may," said Jeffson, "for Bradling has been one of the most
+successful diggers in Bigbear Gully since you left it, and has made his
+fortune twice over.  The value of gold-dust and nuggets left by him in
+my charge for you is about ninety-six thousand dollars, which, I
+believe, is nigh twenty thousands pounds sterling of your money."
+
+"Gammon!" exclaimed Joe.
+
+"You are jesting," said Frank.
+
+"That I am not, as you shall see, if you will come with me to the store.
+When he felt sure that he was dying, Bradling asked me to call together
+a few of the honest and trustworthy men in the diggings.  I did so, and
+he told us the amount of his gatherings, and, after explaining how you
+had helped him in his hour of need, said that he took us all solemnly to
+witness that he left you his heir.  He got one of the miners to write
+out a will for him and signed it, after which he directed us to a tree,
+under which, he said, his gold was hid.  We thought at first that he was
+raving, but after he was dead we went to the tree, and there, sure
+enough, we found the gold, just as he had described it, and, on weighing
+it, found that it amounted to the sum I have named--so, Mr Allfrey, I
+guess that I may congratulate you on your good fortune.  But come, I
+will show you the will and the witnesses."
+
+Saying this he led them into the store, where he showed the will to
+Frank and Joe, who were at first sceptical, and afterwards began to
+doubt the evidence of their senses.  But when the witnesses were called,
+and had confirmed Jeffson's statements, and, above all, when the bags of
+gold-dust and nuggets were handed over to him, Frank could no longer
+question the amazing fact that he had suddenly come into possession of a
+comfortable fortune!
+
+Need we say, reader, that he insisted on sharing it with Joe Graddy,
+without whose prompt and vigorous aid the rescue of Bradling could not
+have been effected? and need we add that the two friends found their way
+to the sea-coast as quickly as possible, and set sail for England
+without delay?  We think not.  But it may be as well to state that, on
+his arrival in England, Frank found his old uncle in a very sour
+condition of mind indeed, having become more bilious and irascible than
+ever over his cash-books and ledgers,--his own special diggings--without
+having added materially to his gold.
+
+When Frank made his appearance, the old gentleman was very angry,
+supposing that he had returned to be a burden and a bore to him, but, on
+learning the true state of the case, his feelings towards his
+_successful_ nephew were wonderfully modified and mollified!
+
+It was very difficult at first to convince him of the truth of Frank's
+good fortune, and he required the most incontestable proofs thereof
+before he would believe.  At length, however, he was convinced, and
+condescended to offer his nephew his hearty congratulations.
+
+"Now, uncle," said Frank, "I shall build a house somewhere hereabouts,
+and live beside you."
+
+"You could not do better," said the old gentleman, who became suddenly
+and wonderfully amiable!
+
+"And I don't intend to bother myself with business, uncle."
+
+"Quite right, my boy; you have no occasion to do so."
+
+"But I intend to devote much of my time to painting."
+
+"A most interesting occupation," said the tractable old gentleman.
+
+"And a good deal of it, also," continued Frank, "to the consideration of
+the cases of persons in sickness and poverty."
+
+"H'm! a most laudable purpose, though it has always appeared to me that
+this is a duty which devolves upon the guardians of the poor.
+Nevertheless the intention is creditable to you; but I am surprised to
+hear you, who are so young, and can have seen so little of poverty or
+sickness, talk of giving much of your time to such work."
+
+"You are wrong, uncle, in supposing that I have seen little.  During my
+wanderings in foreign lands I have seen much, very much, of poverty and
+sickness, and have felt something of both, as my friend Joe Graddy can
+testify."
+
+Joe, who was sitting by, and had been listening to the conversation with
+much interest, bore testimony forthwith, by stoutly asserting that "that
+was a fact," and slapping his thigh with great vehemence, by way of
+giving emphasis to the assertion.
+
+"The fact is, sir," continued Joe, kindling with enthusiasm, "that your
+nephy has gone through a deal o' rough work since he left home, an' I'm
+free for to say has learned, with myself, a lot o' walooable lessons.
+He has made his fortin at the gold-mines, kooriously enough, without
+diggin' for it, an' has come for to know that it's sometimes possible to
+pay too high a price for that same metal, as is proved by many an' many
+a lonely grave in the wilds of Californy.  Your nephy an' me, sir, has
+comed to the conclusion that distributin' gold is better than diggin'
+for it, so we intends to set up in that line, an' hopes that your honour
+will go into pardnership along with us."
+
+Mr Allfrey, senior, received Joe's invitation with a benignant and
+patronising smile, but he did not accept it, neither did he give him any
+encouragement to suppose that he sympathised with his views on that
+subject.  There is reason to believe, however, that his opinions on this
+head were somewhat modified in after years.  If report speaks truly, he
+came to admit the force of that text in Scripture which says, that as it
+is certain man brings nothing into the world, so he takes nothing out of
+it, and that therefore it was the wisest policy to do as much good with
+his gold as he could while he possessed it.
+
+Acting on these convictions, it is said, he joined the firm of Allfrey
+and Graddy, and, making over his cash-books and ledgers to the "rising
+generation," fairly and finally, like his new partners, renounced his
+ancient habit of digging for gold.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Digging for Gold, by R.M. Ballantyne
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