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twg_000012581900 | 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, a... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581901 | 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 per... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581902 | 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 vol... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581903 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581904 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581905 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581906 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581907 | 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 wo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581908 | 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 t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581909 | 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.... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581910 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581911 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581912 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581913 | 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 f... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581914 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581915 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581916 | 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 co... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581917 | 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, be... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581918 | 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 t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581919 | 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 journ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581920 | 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 hi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581921 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581922 | 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 heari... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581923 | 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 r... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581924 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581925 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581926 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581927 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581928 | 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 redu... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581929 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581930 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581931 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581932 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581933 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581934 | 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 supp... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581935 | 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," ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581936 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581937 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581938 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581939 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581940 | 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-pa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581941 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581942 | 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 ro... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581943 | 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, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581944 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581945 | 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, Germ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581946 | 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 l... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581947 | 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, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581948 | 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, an... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581949 | 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, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581950 | 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 i... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581951 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581952 | 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, e... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581953 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581954 | 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 d... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581955 | 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 p... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581956 | 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 o... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581957 | 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, conver... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581958 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581959 | 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 st... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581960 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581961 | 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 inche... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581962 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581963 | 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 the... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581964 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581965 | 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 ja... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581966 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581967 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581968 | 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? Sur... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581969 | 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 general... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581970 | 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 cho... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581971 | 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 wa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581972 | 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 "Al... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581973 | and Company." +===================================================================+=====================+ |A rocker or cradle | pounds shillings | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+ |A spade, shovel, pick-axe, and two tin washing-pans | pounds shillings| +-------... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581974 | shillings| +-------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+ |Sum-Total | pounds shillings| +===================================================================+=====================+ When Joe Graddy heard the sum-total he looked very blank indeed, but, quickly recovering himse... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581975 | 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 lab... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581976 | 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 matte... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581977 | 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 refr... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581978 | 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, bein... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581979 | 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 w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581980 | 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 forti... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581981 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581982 | 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 v... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581983 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581984 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581985 | 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 fea... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581986 | 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 w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581987 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581988 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581989 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581990 | 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 ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581991 | 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 o... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581992 | 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 conse... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581993 | 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, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581994 | 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 | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581995 | 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... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581996 | 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 promp... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581997 | 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 follow... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581998 | 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 wh... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581999 | 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 int... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
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