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twg_000012581800 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581801 | 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 co... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581802 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581803 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581804 | 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 w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581805 | 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 h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581806 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581807 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581808 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581809 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581810 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581811 | 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. ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581812 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581813 | 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 fo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581814 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581815 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581816 | 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 clench... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581817 | 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, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581818 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581819 | 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, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581820 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581821 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581822 | 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 ex... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581823 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581824 | 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 acro... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581825 | 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, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581826 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581827 | 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 b... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581828 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581829 | 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, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581830 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581831 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581832 | 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 drearines... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581833 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581834 | 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, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581835 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581836 | 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 beca... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581837 | 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 h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581838 | 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; "w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581839 | 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_ | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581840 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581841 | 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 g... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581842 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581843 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581844 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581845 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581846 | 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 adva... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581847 | 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. Indee... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581848 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581849 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581850 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581851 | 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 h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581852 | 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 vanishe... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581853 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581854 | 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 anothe... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581855 | 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. "Hi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581856 | 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 drop... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581857 | 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, cho... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581858 | 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 ala... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581859 | 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 obli... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581860 | 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 am... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581861 | 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. A... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581862 | 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 towa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581863 | 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 w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581864 | 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, w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581865 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581866 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581867 | 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. ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581868 | 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 G... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581869 | 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 s... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581870 | 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 blo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581871 | 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 "ran... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581872 | 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 ranc... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581873 | 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 w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581874 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581875 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581876 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581877 | 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, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581878 | 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 b... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581879 | 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 distan... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581880 | 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 unce... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581881 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581882 | 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 resembl... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581883 | 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 w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581884 | 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 m... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581885 | 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 ammun... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581886 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581887 | 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 c... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581888 | 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, ano... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581889 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581890 | 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 In... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581891 | 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 wo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581892 | 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 crie... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581893 | 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, s... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581894 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581895 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581896 | 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 wi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581897 | 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 frequ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581898 | 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 grea... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581899 | 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, do... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
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