IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ M & 1.0 I.I |50 "«■ IIM 2.2 lis llll|^ 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 = — = -* 6" ► V] <^ /2 'cM ^l A# ^^ ^a^ .^"^^ V o^, ¥ 'kn^-i Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4S03 *'exemplaire filmi, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimAe sont filmAs rn commenpant par le premier plat at an terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. 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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd d partir de i'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'imqges ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ROI h SA ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD BY R.U X 1. i. ^ - t.^«^^C>^^!9lC^^^V>^=3"^-9 w . ' ' ', SAMPSON 1.0 W, MA^.hTON, SEAKl.E & RIVINGTON fAhvited • i i 1 ' I / 1891 • • • • • • • i • • . . • • • • • •• • • • • - • f • 1 • • • • ■ • • » • « • • • • ••• • • 9 ••• • • * • • » • « • • • • • • • 1 * • • • • • It * > « • • • , 1 • • < • * • • •1 • • • 9 • * • •. * . . • •• • CONTENTS. ■:o :- OH A I'. -Across the Western Ocean. PAOK :4 1-EAVING THK ARMY— RACING A FAILURE— ACROSS THE WESTERN OCEAN, .... II. — My Debut as a Canvasser. ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK— CANVASSING FOR A BOOK— . ITS CONSEQUENCES, .... III. — The Trotters. THE TROTTING STABLE— A VISIT TO FRIENDS IN UTICA — HIRE OUT AS A COURIER, .... IV. — A Courier Valet. ARRIVAL AT CHARLESTON — MEET SOME OF MY LOST TRIBE, ...... V. — From Valet to Guest. RESIGN THE POST OF COURIER— RETURN 10 NEW YORK, VI. — Another Branch of the Trotter Family. MEET ANOTHER OF THE LOST TRIBE— WORK IN A RAILWAY OFFICE, ..... VII.: — Al-fresco Travelling. LEAVE FOR CHICAGO — THE POORMAN's SLEEl'ER, viiL — A Strange Drive. ARRIVE AT I'ORKOPOLLS— SICKNESS— A CHICAGO ALDER- MAN— THE COUNTY HOSPITAL, ry C f^ ''-J ,n> 12 14 16 18 21 1, n 'f ': (•'. i VI CONTENTS. , } CHAP. IX. — Pauperdom. A TERRIBLE NIGHT IN PAUPERDOM — THE UAT's FROLIC, ..... X. — In the Prksence of Death. A DEATH SCENE IN THE SICK WARD — A HUIIRIEO FLKIHT, ..... XI. — The Bad Samaritan. A HARD-HEARTED JEHU — MY REVENGE, . XII. — A Friend in Need. A FRIEND IN NEED — A VERY OLD ACQUAINT- ANCE, ..... XIII. — How I Reached the Golden Gate. DICK — "nil DESPERANDUM," PAGE 26 30 36 40 46 XIV. — A Chicago Politician. MR WILLIAM KING, . . . . . .5 XV. — Running for Tax-Collector. CANVASSING THE FOURTH WARD— I'HALAN AND WHAYLAN, . . . . .55 XVI. DOTTIE. A LOVE LETTER — THE WIND RAISED — DICK AND I GO WEST, . . . . .63 XVII. — Setting out for a Buffalo Hunt. ARRIVE AT LARAMIE—SET OUT FOR A BUFFALO HUNT— PRAIRIE DOGS, . . .70 xviii. — I BECOME A Muleteer. MEETING WITH STRANGERS— SIOUX INDIANS ON THE WAR-PATH — COUNCIL OF WAR — AN OBSTINATE MULE, .... 74 CONTENTS. vu CHAl'. XIX.- -Attack and Defeat of the Red8K1N8. A HASTY RETREAT — FIOHT WITH THE INDIANS -RESCUED BY CAVALRY, XX. — MoNTK Dealers. ARRIVAL AT OGDEN — A VISIT TO SALT LAKE CITY — JOURNEY CONTINUED — FIOHT WITH ARD- SHARPER8— ARRIVAL AT 'FRISCO, XXI. — Slinging Hash. OAR50N IN NAME — DRUMMING FOR A LIQUOR STORE— A SLICE OF LUCK, XXII. — Old Tom White. SANOMA VALLEY — RKl'AIRING CASTLE REYNOLDS, . XXIII. — I WOULD BE A CaEPENTER. SAWING A TREE— PRUNING A VINEYARD — HOW TO MAKE A GATE, .... XXIV. — Friendship Betrayed. A FALSfe FRIEND — RETURN TO 'fRISCO— START FOR VANCOUVER ISLAND — ARRIVE AT VICTORIA, . l'A the pilot and a heavy fall of snow reached us tog(!ther. Nothing very interesting to relate occurred during the voyage. I was higldy annised at the stories reliited by the Yankies al)out the "Boys of the Bowery," and I was duly initiated into the mysteries of " ICuchre," greatly to the detriment of my finances. On my arrival at the gr(>at American capital 1 took u]) my quarters at a (;lieap hotel, recommended by on(^ of the passengers, where I remained for one week. As my means were limited, it was necessary for me to make every effort to obtain employment as quickly as jjossible ; so every morning I went carefully over all the advertisements in the New York Herald ; and, on the third day aftc^r my arrival, I saw one that I was in Iio^jcs might suit me. It read thus : — " Wanted a respectable gentlemanly young man, wages $15 per week ; apply at office 396 Broad vi- ay, of Messrs Hass & Davit." Dressed in the very latest London fashion, and armed with I IN NEW YORK. a pile of credentials that I had brought over from the old country, I i)roceeded to the office. On my arrival at the door, I was a little surprised at finding the other Irish passenger aboard the E(iy}>t, who had also come in answer to the advertisement. This gentleman was a tailor, and had been traveller for a large firm in Dublin ; and he was now be- moaning his fate for having foolishly given up a certainty for that which might prove unremunerative. We both entered the office together, but I had the luck to obtain the first interview with Mr Davit, whose duty, it seemed, was to engage the statt'. After some inquiries on the part of this member of the firm, {ind no end of explanations as to how I Avas to carry out my duties, 1 was finally engaged as a canvasser for a ClnhVs Illui^tratcd Ilidory 0/ ^???(??'/6'a, which was being [)ublislied in weekly numbers. My cfinvassing ground was to be across the river, at Jersey City, and my wages $15 per week. In order, however, to be in receipt of so large a we(,'kly stipcMul, it was necessary for me to get some thirty subscribers every week, for this " The grandest ChihVs Hidory of America ever brought before the })ublic," and in the event of my failing to obtain the afore-mentioned nmnber I was to receive no pay, and my time and trouble would go for nothing. This rather one-sided nu'thod of working for a living aj^peared to me not to be quite a fair deal. However, I made u]) my mind to give the business a trial ; so, taking the three copies of this wonderful work handed me by Mr Davit, I quickly made room for the tailor, and, leaving the office shortly aftcrAvards, I found myself in J(irsey City. Although Davit had given ww. no end of instructions as to how I was to proceed on my mission, wlien it cane to the point I was (piite at a loss how first to commence the task set before nu'-. After wandering about the streets for over an hour, I came to the conclusion that I had better either take action or return to my hotel to dinner. Seeing some 'S'i.' 6 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. nicely dressed children playing outside a well-appointed house, at one of the street corners, decided nie. There was a cake shop across the way, which I entered, and, having invested in a two-cent bun, I interrogated the young lady behind the counter as to what might be the name of the occupant of ^o. 1. The vendor of buns and lollipops was a communicative female, and I learnt from her that the occupier of No. 1 was a widow with four children. Her maiden name was Brown, but on marriage it became the still more familiar cognomen Smith. With this information I paid my small account, and bade her adieu. Crossing over the street to where the young innocents were at play, I questioned the eldest of the young hopefuls. This lassie (for it was a girl) told me h3r name was Eli^a Ann Fairbanks Smith; as also that her "Mar" >vas to home and in robust health ; and for this bit of information she received one cent in current coin. Rapping at the door the summons was answered by a neatly dressed domestic, who gave me to understand Madjpu was at lunch ; but, taking my card, she showed me into a nicely furnished drawing-room, where she left me to acc^uaint the widow of my arrival. I was left to my own meditations for a few minutes only, ■when Madam arrived on the scene. "You nnist pardon me, Mr Trotter," said she, seating herself in an arm-chair ; " your I'.ame is cpiite familiar to me, but your face is not. Are you one of the Trotters, my old friends who live at Utica ? " " No, Madam, I have not tliat honour ; I am one of the Trotters of Castle Trotter, (lalway, wliich is a sea-bathing I)lace on the other side of tlie Atlantic. I am not sur[)rised. Madam, that my face shoidd not be familiar to you, inasmuch as I am but four days on American soil. Neither can I) on my part, claim any acquaintance with your family; although I am on vciry intimate terms witli many of your illustrious name. The fact is. Madam," continued I, "in me V JERSEY CITY. 7 you see the sole representative, in the capital of the State of New Jersey, of the great Book Publishing Company of Hass & Davit, New York ; and I have called on you to ask you if you will permit me to place your name on our books as a weekly subscriber to one of the grandest child's "— " Stop sir," broke in the widow, now thoroughly roused, " I quite understand : you are one of those horrid book canvassers. I quite mistook the nature of your visit ; otherwise you would never have been admitted to my presence. I must request you to go ; otherwise I shall send for the police." " Your pardon. Madam, for just one moment. I am yet a stranger in your great country : wishing to get employment, I took what first offered. From your remarks I judge I must have mistaken my avocation. I shall therefore resign my position, and seek some more honourable course, whereby to earn an honest livelihood ; and I feel certain that you, as a lady, will grant me the privilege of presenting to your dear little girl this copy of her country's early history." Having gained her consent, the valuable copy was left ; and, making the widow a polite bow, I took my depar- ture. I did not attempt to make any further canvass in Jersey City, but took the first available ferry back to New York. On my way over I made a final effort? to persuade an old gentleman to become a subscriber ; but he also declined to entertain the idea. To him I presented copy No. 2. On my arriving at the office, my friend the tailor was descending the stairs, and, as was natural, I inquired how he had got along. " Oh ! begor this book business bates anything I ever dramed of. Ould Davit gave me a little Roman Catholic work to canvass for among the servant girls. Shure, man, dear, I had to go to all the back doors. I got a few of 'em to put down their names ; but the last house I went to they ^ !I t m n 8 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. set a dog at me, and, look here," said he, pointing to a big rent in his continuations, " it 's a mercy the savage baste didn't ate me. But how did you do yourself ] " " Me ! oh, I did splendidly ; I got, I think, close on fifty subscribers, had about three lunches, and no end of Bourbon whisky. But, what is better, an old chap I called on has given me a job in a bank. So, if you like, 1 11 hand you over my book ; you can make money if you persevere. This Child's History is a dandy to sell." " The devil a bit of me will have any more to do with it. I have enough money to pay my passage, and I'm going right back to ould Ireland." I did not wait for any further conversation ; but, ascenJing the stairs, went to old Davit to give an account of my stewardship. " Well, young man," said the boss, " and how did you get along? Your friend, for a beginning, did tolerably well; but he ought to have carried a stick to keep ofi" the dogs." " Oh, I did well enough, I gave one copy to a widow lady, and another to a gentleman on the Ferry, and there's No. 3," said I, flinging it at his head ; and you may believe I made quick time across the room and down the stairs. Once in the street I was quickly lost to sight, though, no doubt, to memory dear. When I arrived at the hotel I told some of the clerks in the office what had happened, and they laughed immoderately, telling me, at the same time, had I got a thousand orders I would never have received as much as one cent for mv trouble. This statement made me fearfully wroth, and I determined to have my revenge. As soon as I had partaken of some refreshment I walked down to the Herald office and wrote out the following advertisement, to be inserted in the morning issue : — " Wanted two good stout bootblacks at 396 Broadway ; apply to Messrs Davit & Hass between the hours of 10 and 11 a.m." The next morning myself and an ON THE HUDSON RIVER. 9 acquaintance repaired to the scene of action. Long before the hour appointed the young urchins had arrived. Taking up our position in a doorway across the street we watched the proceedings, and if there was not a row on Davit & Hass's stairway that morning, then surely there was never a row in New York City. For nearly two hours those street urchins fought like demons to gain an entrance, and I verily believe the battle would have lasted till sundown had it not been for the police, who finally dispersed the knights of the brush. There was a reward out the next day for any infor- mation leading to the conviction of the gentleman who had perpetrated the joke ; but that gentleman had for the time being dropped behind the scenes, and, I am thankful to say, was never discovered. I I CHAPTER III. The Trotters. the trotting stable — a visit to friends in utica — hire out as a courier. Stopping at the same hotel as myself was a racing man who koi)t trotting horses. Thinking I would like to try my iKxnd ill this line of business, I hired myself out to this individual, who was his own trainer, and the day but one after the bootblack business he and I left New York together for his headquarters at Ploughkeepsie, on the Hudson River. I did not remain at the training stable many days. Either riding or driving the horses I was equal to ; but, when the trainer informed me I would have to bear a hand in grooming the animals, this not being compatible with my tastes, I resigned the position. Thinking it would be indiscreet, as yet, to i •'':» * ■■:> ^. : ^, /- 10 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. ! ■ • revisit the city of New York, and recollecting that my acquaintance, the widow Smith, had mentioned the Trotters of Utica, I determined to run up to that city and make the acquaintance of that branch of the family. In past generations the Trotters must have been a prolific race ; and they do not appear at the present time to be on the decrease, for there is scarcely any part of the globe over which I have travelled where I have not come acroFs some one of the name. There also seems to be a kind of free- masonry among us, as, on each occasion when I had the pleasure of meeting some of the members of this ancient race, I invariably received the greatest kindness. The Utica Trotters were no exception to the general rule. My first night t^as spent at a hotel, and the next day I called on my distant relatives — not that I could trace any vlirect line of connection — but it is, nevertheless, strange that when I came to talk matters over with my newly-made friends in Utica, I was surprised to learn that their progenitors hailed from my own county in the Emerald Isle ; and although my American cousins had never been in the much distressed country, it is curious to relate that they were better acquainted with the names of places and people in the Irish county than I, who had but recently left it. Having received a polite invitation, which I gladly accepted, I took up my quarters with those worthy people, and under their hospitable roof I spent a very pleasant week ; and then, with, certainly on my part, nuch regret, I once more returned to New York. Finding hotels too expensive for my limited means, I hired a furnished room by the week, and boarded at a restaurant close at hand. Through the medium of an employment agency it was not many days before I succeeded ^ in obtaining a fresh situation. On this occasion I engaged with a gent'eman, as a kind of courier- valet, to travel south with him This was really not half a bad berth, as I received u .N.- ABOARD SHIP. 11 $45 a month, all my travelling and hotel expenses, and had but little to do but pack my employer's portmanteau and look after the baggage. My boss certainly did ask me if I could shave him every morning, which I agreed to do ; but the first experiment sufficed, and, it is needless to say, was not repeated. There were four of us in the party, which consisted of the boss, his daughter, her maid, and myself. Our destination was Charleston, South Carolina ; and thence it was their intention to proceed to Xew Orleans, and finally r to Galveston. The day before our departure from New York, my employer sent me to purchase return tickets for our journey by the steamer leaving for Xew Orleans ; and, I having packed up his clothes in good old military style, with which he was well satisfied, the baggage was la])elled and every- thing ready for a start. The following morning I Avas to enter on my regular duties, call him in good time, and shave him. Now, although I was perfectly competent to use a razor on my own face, I never had the pleasure of trying my skill on that of anotlier. It was finally arranged for that morning, as my razors — so I told him — required resetting, that I should send him over a professional barber. "We got away in good time to catch the steamer, which sailed out of the harbour about noon. Our accommodation on board was everything that could be desired ;, and, the weather being fine, I looked forward to having a good time of it. On the morn- ing of our second day out, the question of shaving once more cropped up. Thinking further excuses would be useless, I made up my mind to do the best I could. I succeeded in removing his growing beard from his cheeks without much difficulty, but when it came to the chin — oh ! that chin — I became so nervous, and my hand shook to that degree, that I nearly dropped the razor. However, the lather was on, so there was no help for it but to proceed. I was con- gratulating myself on my success, when, just at a critical II 12 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. moment, the ship gave a hirch, and, the razor at the same time sUpping in my hand, I gave my unfortunate boss a terrible gash. He jumped up from his seat as if his jugular vein had been severed, and for the si)ace of several minutes there was quite a scene. However, after a storm comes a calm. The blood was stanched and the wound was finally covered with sticking plaster. Luckily, there was a ship's barber, and his services were called into requisition during ^;he remainder of the voyage. chaptp:r IV. A Courier Valet. ARRIVAL IN CHARLESTON — MEET SOME OP MY LOST TRIBE. Arrived at Charleston we took up our quarters at the hotel of that name, and right ph^isnnt ones 1 found them. As the inmates of the hotel p'jrformed all the necessary duties required by the guests, 1 was virtually my own master, and was quite at liberty to go when and where I pleased. We had been in Charleston for somewhat more than a week, and in the course of a few days we should once more take the steamer and i)roceed to Xew Orleans. Chancing one morning to take up a city directory, which I found in the hotel reading-room, I inadvertently turned to the T's, and was rather more delighted perhaps than astonished to find the noble name of Trotter figuring in its i)ages as one of the leading city merchants. On making inquiries, I ascertained that this gentleman was one of considerable means, had an office in town, and a fine sugar plantation some little distance away in the country. This was an IN CHARLESTON. 13 : opportunity not to be thrown away ; so, hastily dressing my- self in my best suit of mufti, I repaired to the merchant's office. I found him a very nice old gentleman, and he received me most cordially. Having informed him I was in search of some of my family who had emigrated to America in days gone by, we commenced to compare notes ; and now I was truly astonished, for his family also came from my own county. He related the genealogy of the whole family tree, and referred to so many places that I was well acquainted with, that I began to think I must have discovered a long-lost relative or else must be going clean out of my mind. The merchant kindly proffered his hospitality to me, and I promised, before leaving, that I would pay him a visit at his country seat. Now, I really intended keeping my promise, and was fully determined that, on the day previous to our leaving Charles ton, I would hire a buggy and drive out in style. to call on ray namesakes. Of course, holding the subordinate position that I did at the time, and having given the merchant to understand I was a gentleman of wealth, travelling for my own amusement, I was cautious and naturally anxious not to be discovered in making false impressions or statements. I was, therefore, not a little disconcerted when, about noon on the following day, one of the hotel bell boys informed me there were some ladies in a carriage that wished to see me. Taking the card which the boy held in his hand, I thought I should have dropped when I read, " Mrs and the Misses Trotter, Holly mount." There was no hope for it but to meet the occasion bravely, although at the time I was ungrateful enough to wish my fair friends at Jericho. Mustering up what little courage I had left in me, I pro- ceeded to interview my guests. There were three ladies in the carriage, a very nice elderly lady and two charming damsels — Trotter mere et jilles. The usual introduction o^er, Mrs Trotter told me how her husband was delighted at * 14 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. meeting me, and how glad thoy would all he if I would come to Hollymount and spend some days with them. Indeed, so anxious were they to have a little of my society, that they offered, if agreeahle to me, to take me hack in their carriage. This, however, was out of the question ; so I was ohliged to make some rather lame excuse. Ma was going to do some shopi)ing, and, in the meantime, the young ladies were going to take a turn on the esi)lana(le ; so it was agreed that I should meet them in half an hour. Being always of a hospitable turn of mind, I of course asked my friends in to lunch, which was then proceeding. The offer was, however, politely refused, and I was very thankful when they drove away in the vehicle. " Here 's a pretty kettle of fish," thought I. " Here am I, a valet, thank goodness in disguise, about to be entertained by one of the good old aristocratic families of the Southern States." CHAPTER V. Fkom Valet to Guest, resign the post of courier — return to new york. At the stated time I met my new friends, and, had I not been unlucky enough to come face to face- with my employer, I should have spent a very pleasant afternoon. However, the rencontre passed off without any unpleasant results to my aspirations, although my boss and his daughter took rather a prolonged stare at us as we passed. When mamma had finished her purchases, she picked up my two fair cousins, and it was finally settled that, on the day but one following. AT HOLLYMOUNT. 16 I would drive out and spend a week with them. It was now necessary, in order to carry out my intentions, to give my boss warning that I intended to leave his service ; and I was very uncertain whether he would pay me the money that was due to me on so short a notice. It was not till the next day that I had an opportunity to speak with him, and I was very dubious as to the result. The next morning I took up some hot water to his room, and as I was about to make my exit, he remarked — " You have some high-toned friends in this city, Trotter." ••'Yes, sir; my relations, I believe, are well-to-do people. Those were my cousins that you saw me walking with yester- day. I never saw them before, and my poor old aunt and uncle have been lost to my sight for many a long day. They have a plantation out in the country, and, please sir," said 1, fumbling at the handle of the door, "if not very incon- venient, I should like to leave." The old gentleman took my resignation more pleasantly than I expected ; and when I explained to him how that a good position on the plantation had been offered to me, and that I was really a gentleman in reduced circumstances, he presented me with my whole month's wages. I procured him another valet (a coloured gentleman), and the next day my New York boss and his party sailed for New Orleans, while I drove out to the Trotter plantation and spent two weeks with this new found tribe of the lost Trotters. Then, after having promised to pay thenf another visit on a future occasion, I returned to New York. "^"n-yri ■ 16 ROUGHING TT AFTER GOLD. CHAPTER VI. Another Branch of the Trotter Fasiily. meet another of the lost tribe work in a railway OFFICE. A FEW days after my arrival in " Gotham," as it ia often called, I was scannin*^ tlu? columns of one of the daily papers when this paragraph met my eye : — " The Honourahlo Alexander Joshua Trotter, I'resident of the X.Y.Z. Rail- road, is stopping at the Hoffman House." " By George," thought I, " here 's anotlier member of our prolific family. I must call on this honourable gentleman and see if he cannot give me a position on the railway.'" Wasting no time, I straightway went to his hotel. He was out, so I left a note, of which the following is a copy : — "Dear Sir, — Seeing in the paper your arrival at the Hofi'man House, I take the li])erty of writing to you. This letter may somewhat surprise you ; n(3vertheless, I feel certain it will meet with your mature consideration. I have only lately arrived* from the old country, and I am endeavouring to discover the whereabouts of some of my relatives who emigrated to the United States many, many years ago. Without in the smallest degree imagining for one moment that in you I shall find- the head of the Trotter branch, of which I am now in search, I am in hopes that, from the position you hold, you may be able to afford me some assistance in attaining the object I have in view ; and as I am in possession of letters to some of the leading »\ ' IN A RAILWAY OFFICB. IT nionihcTS of socioty in this country, you need have bi ' li^*^8 hesitation in granting me an interview. — Youfb, &(. , jr TUOTTBII." V This letter I handed to the clerk in the hotel office, to be by liim delivered to the railroad magnate on his return. Piu'sona holding the position of the Honourable Alexander Trotter are so much sought after when they arrive in a largo oMys that I had but little hope that my third interview with one of the Trotters woukl turn up trumps. Indeed, I thought I stood but a poor chance of receiving any reply ; so the reader can imagine my surprise and delight when, on my return to my humble lodgings, I found on my table actually a telegram awaiting me, and on reading it I found it to be from the X.Y.Z. President, requesting my presence at his office the following morning. It is needless to say I was there at the appointed hour ; and, my credentials being satis- factory, I explained to him more fully as regards my missing relatives, and that, could I succeed in finding them, I felt certain they would use their influence in obtaining for me some employment on this occasion. However, the Trotter represeiitative did not hail from Ould Ireland. His family were of English extraction, and originally came over from that country in the " Mayflower." " I shall, however," said the President, " taking into con- sideration the high references you bring with you, use my endeavours to find you something ^o do. Would you have any objection to handle a truck ? " My reply was, " Not in the least." A few days later I received a letter telling me that, on the recommendation of the President of the X.Y.Z. Rail- road, my services had been accepted as one of the junior clerks in the Erie office, and I was to report myself at once. This I did, and I held this position for over two months. One day, however, the man who cleaned the windows and B 18 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. swept out the office was absent, I believe, ill. Being the junior, I was ordered to do his duties. This I unfortunately considered as an insult, and straightway went to the manager and took my discharge. Had I acted with more prudence my luck would have been in the ascendant, as I afterwards learnt that v;ithin a week the Honourable Alexander nad sent for me to work in his office. The news reached me too late, for I had left Kew York, and had been in Chicago over two weeks when the letter was forwarded ojSering me the appointment. CHAPTER VII. Al-fresco Travelling. LEAVE FOR CHICAGO — THE POORMAN's SLEEPER. It was in the merry month of May, early in the seventies, that, after a short sojourn in the great metropolis of the Western Continent, ISew York, I thought I would follow the advice of the cold-hearted, though long-headed, Horace Greeiy, whose everlasting cry to the emigrant, and those seeking employment, was, "Go West, young man, go West." The utterer of these words has joined the " great majority ; " but the echo still resounds " Go West," and so it is the living stream which has its source in the over-populated districts of the British Isles and other parts of the Old World, flow with a pertinacity only equalled by that known as the Gulf Stream, which, to navigators and others interested in the physical geography of the deep, still remains a mystery. Quick is the word and sharp the action across the Herring fV V F' ON "THE CARS." 19 Pond, so it did not take me long to decide, and having packed my belongings, and had them conveyed by an express to the Union Depot, I purchased my ticket, and with, I believe, a fair wind and no favour, started for " Porkopolis, ' otherwise called Chicago, the capital of the Far Far West. I had had but indifferent luck in the mighty " Gotham." However, my heart in those days was a bit lighter than it now is, many years having passed over my now scanty locks since then. Yes, I think I was as light-hearted as most young fellows would be under similar circumstances ; for although the contents of my pockets were very low down, an unknown quantity of privation and hardship staring me in the face, added to a decided want of knowledge of a Bohemian life, yet there still remained the dogged deter- mination to do or die, and bright visions of the future buoyed me up. It was my first experience of a rambling life, and everything in this newly-found world was novel — in fact, I was at this period of a rather eventful career, what the Yankee would term a decided "greenhorn;" for although I had no little experience in travelling previous to this epoch of my existence, yet it was under different and more ])ropitious circumstances. I spent the greater part of my last few dollars in luxurious transit, as I care* fully booked my living freight by Pullman Palace Sleeping Car. I have since learned to be satisfied with a much less expensive mode of conveyance, and have on more than one occasion been obliged to have recourse to what is jokingly called the " Poorman's Sleeper." This rather unique, and, I inay add, not over comfortable mode of transit varies accord- ing to circumstances ; sometimes the trip has to ])e made in an emi)ty freiglit car, whi(;li is not only fatiguing to the body but fearfully tedious, as all freight trains are shunted, or, as it is called, " switched off," to make way for express and other faster ones. Sometimes you are " sided " for hours, and it is therefore almost impossible to make any accurate \ " • :, I :tv;^ V« iS' 20 ROUGHING IT AFTZH GOLD. :i - '/. calculation as to what hour, or if the distance be long, what day, you are likely to reach your destination. There is, how- ever, a more accelerated means l)y which you can reach your hoped-for Eldorado, by travelling,' by the ordinary passenger train, and making use of that part of it, known to all Americans, more especially " Brokers," as the " Blind Bag- "ao^c." Let me here state for the benefit of the uninitiated that this rather jolting sedan lounge is the platform in front of the first car just in rear of the tender, and takes its name from the fact that the ct)m])artmt»nt of which the platform is itself a portion contains the belongings of the authorised passengers, and is duly ornamented with a window through which daylight never penetrates. On this stool of repent- ance, if you are lucky enough to find room, which is rather limited, you can amuse yourself by watching the coaling system as practised on American lines, and there is also con- siderable employment in the mere fact of keeping your seat, and, unless in warm weather, in keeping yourself from freezing. To add to this there is also a certain amount of gymnastics to be gone through, for, these " unreserved seats " not being on the schedule of existing fares, no charge is made ; but should any of the authorities at wayside stations behold your noble person v)n your perch you are quickly desired to descend therefrom, and either take an inside seat paying the fare, or as they say out West " Vamoose the Ranclie." In order, there far," one of the clerks under Avhosc care I was placed led me off to some small place of refreshment, where he regaled me with something substantial to eat, washed down by copious draughts of frothing lager beer, and notwithstanding my troubles and trials, my aches and pains, my appetite was sufficiently keen to permit me to do ample IN AN OMNIBUS. 25 justice to the provender set before mc. As the clock was striking the hour we arrived at the office of departure. The omnibus was ready waiting, so with a last farewell to my kind companion I took my seat in the conveyance, which, from its putward appearance gave one the idea that it was just as likely to arrive at a "County Jail" as a County Hospital. There were six passengers including myself, and judging from the appearance of my immediate right and left hand neiglibours we must indeed have seemed a curious lot. In the corner on my left sat a " lady." Yes, I will stretch a point and say lady. I invariably sympathise with females, especially those who are afflicted. Now, this one was very badly afflicted, for she was mad, not perhaps dangerously so, yet nevertheless so painfully imbecile as to be anything but a pleasant companion. Just imagine my feelings, I, an orphan, homeless, penniless, sick and dejected ; can any one picture to themselves anything more obnoxious to an invalid than to be fondled and caressed by a rather dirty badly- dressed lunatic. Such, however, was my fate ; she pinched me, poked me in the ribs, and finally, as it were to make up for the injury she had done me, actually — oh ! horror of horrors — put her arm round my neck, and owing to my rather weak state would finally have succeeded in pressing her ashen lips to mine, had it not been for the timely aid of my vis-a-vis, who, fortunately, turned out to be an hospital nurse, and had experience in dealing with individuals who, though wanting in intellect, made up their loss by an extra quantum of bodily muscle, I was thankful for the intervention, for strange fancies flitted across my mind. I suddenly got the notion into my head that the mad creature would bite, and that I should fall a victim to her vicious designs. The individual on my right was a man, or rather what was left of one ; he was a wreck in masculine apparel of what once mil/lit have constituted a well-framed and not bad-looking ~ h*,' r" /^ 5"'!' '^ n K f: ., ■ .f -■-> . 26 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. in' man. Alas ! now the saddened look, the pallid cheek, the wandering eye showed only too plainly how the ravages of time, poverty, and disease had told on a frame that at one time must have reached even to Herculean development. Alas ! the poor fellow was suffering from cancer in the neck, and what with the scanty covering he had to protect it from view, made him a most unpleasant neighbour. Of the remaining passengers there was nothing peculiar in their appearance or behaviour. After a tedious and sulibcating journey of some three hours' duration, we arrived at the gates of the County Hospital. CHAPTER IX. Pauperdom. A TERRIBLE NIGHT IN PAUPERDOM THE RAT's FROLIC. As the omnibus passed through the dismal entrance, a horrible spectacle greeted us, for, as we entered the prison- like walls from the outer world, coffins piled one on top of the other, till they reached a considerable height, bad(^. ycju welcome. " Why, them 's coffins, hain't they ? " said one of the sick travellers to the driver. " In the name of God Avhere are you taking us to ? the dead-house, or where ? " " Guess," replied Jehu, with a sneer. " You ought to know war y'ere goin' to, if you don't it 's tarnation (pieer. Why, man dear, this is the County Union, the Poorhouse, where all the past work, down sick blokes, in the whole State are sent. Yes, them *s coffins, as you say, right sure. Once you come in these ere gates ye seldom goes out till you IN THE COUNTY UNION. ■•,./•; 27 are carried out. Oh, aye, them 's coffins all right. Doctor has 'em all ready to hand, and he gets five dollars for every one he fills. It 's a good paying game, and, I '11 give you a pointer, he 's no slouch at the business neither." A minute or so later the van drew up at the door of the pauper wards. Here we were received in high state by the inmates, old and young, male and female, cripjjled, lame, blind, and otherwise disfigured. All seemed to take a kind of general delight in giving welcome to their new comrades. The children screamed, clapped their hands and danced round us in rings, whilst the elders of l)oth sexes interrogated us as to what was the matter with us, which finally became a tender inquiry as to whether we had any spare tobacco. I had tobacco but none to si)are, and said so. Soon after our arrival tea and cake, or rather jiotwash and corn bread, were served in the grand saloon. The repast not being to my fancy, the aroma from the so-called tea being quite sufficient for me, I withdrew from the salle-a-manger, and retiring in rear of the building solaced myself with a pipe of Virginia fine cut. Here I remained until a bell rang, which announced to the inmates that the hour had arrived for all concerned to repair to their sleeping cots for the night. On entering the ward to which I was told off' to pass my first night beneath the roof of pauperdom, everything to all outward appear- ance looked neat and orderly enough, but I must confess I felt rather disgusted when I was informed by a somewhat tyrannical Irish warder that, owipg to want of accommoda- tion, it would be necessary for me to share a bed with a fellow- pauper, and after some little delay I was assigned to the tender care of a resident of some years' standing, who was to l)e my sleeping partner for the night. " Is the bed clean?" anxiously inquired I. " Begor, then, it ain't too faulty," was the reply of my mate, who from his brogue at once declared himself to be a gentleman from Paddy's land. " There's nothin' amiss wid i "^^11 .tf,*Ty,».\j'-. ,T '/I"' 18 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. the bed ])ar the bugs, which are a caution, and faith I 'm thinking tliore 's some of the other little fellows too." Good heavens ! thought I, here 's a come down in the world. Here am I, a born gentleman, brought up in the lap of luxury and refinement, actually an inmate of a poorhouse, and obliged to share my sleeping cot with a stranger, who himself acknowledges that our litter was infested by insects both loathsome and disgusting. There were some forty cots in the ward scarctjly commodious enough to contain one person each, but which 1)y dint of pressure were made to hold double the numl)er. At the foot of each cot were wooden forms which almost touched the beds. Not feeling inclined to test the ferocity of th(> insects, I intended to take up my quarters for the night on one of the benches, and leave my comrade in entire possession of the bed, which by right of priority of tenure I considered him justly entitled to. My plans were however frustrated, for scarcely had I lain down when I was roughly shaken by a warder, who peremptorily ordered me to undress and join my comrade then in bed. As I did not immediately comply, but commenced to argue the point with him, he went otf, as I jiresumed, for assistance. " Joomp in quick," says my Hibernian bedfellow, " he 's gone for the boss, and if he catches you lying there it 's like enough he '11 shove you in the black hole for the night." Thinking that perhaps I might come to a worse evil I took my pal's advice, so without waiting to undress, turned in all standing, boots and all, much to the discomfort I should say of my com- panion. A few minutes later the boss and his lieutenant came on the scene, but owing to the stupidity of the latter, and my skilfully playing sleeping innocence, notwithstanding their making a minute search, I am thankful to say I escaped detection. I remained quite still for some considerable time. My partner was (piickly otf in his first sleep, dreaming probably of the old home and the fair colleen he had many years ago ^r. '"r^v IN iHE CASUAL WARD. 29 left behind him in the little green isle beyond the sea ; perhaps also his mind wandered back to the country fair, the dance at the " Pattern," the farewell embrace of an aged parent, and also the kind advice and parting words of liis spiritual adviser. Yes ; all these little incidents of days long gone by may have returned to his thoughts in a passing vision, as his slumbers, though sonor(3US, were anything but musical, and were at times intermingled with sobs and deep siglis, then a short laugh, followed by a kind of struggle. It must have been close on midnight ; the warders had long since made their final round and extinguished tlie lights in the dormitories, with the exception of one faint glinnner, when I once more determined to vacate my coueli and return to the bench at the foot of the bed for the remainder of the night. I felt I was not likely to be disturbed again by the officials, as the lazy hounds were much too fond of their own rest and comfort to turn out except under an alarm of fire, or other exceptional circumstances. 80 with my little bundle as a pillow, and my coat my only covering, being tired and wearied, I very quickly fell into a deep slumber. How long I remained in this state of forgetfulness I am unable to state ; I can well remember suddenly awak- ing ; that something was wrong I felt certain, but what it was I knew not. At first I imagined it was one of the warders tapping me on tlie body ; but no, I was mistaken, for no one was in view, and nothing broke the stillness of night but an occasional snore from one or other of the sleep- ing forms around me. Thinking I must have been dreaming, ami had some sort of nightmare, I once more turned on my side, and was soon again fast asleep. Alas ! my peaceful moments were to be of short duration, for it seemed to mo I had scarcely gone to sleep when I was aroused by the same creepy sensation I had felt before. I was in a tremble, my hair seemed to stand on end, and I was in a reg\dar bath of perspiration. Nervous I felt I admit ; but not being 'W •t> 30 KOUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. in any way siiiioratitious, I could not pormit niyaolf to fancy that a room with .some forty inmates could bo haunted. 80 groat was my const(U-nation that at first I did not niovo ; but again fooling tho- horril)lo tap, tap, tap on my sido and face, I quickly throw otf the coat which covered my face, and, springing up, wliat was my horror at beholding a whole army of rats s(!ampering over the forms and down the centre of tho room, till thoy reached the door at the head of the stairs, and vanished. It did not take me long to dress myself, as I was only partially undressed. So I slipped on my coat and quitted tho dormitory. All sloop had vanished ; so I descended into the court below, where I prowled about till the day dawned. CHAPTER X. In the Presence of Death. A DEATH SCENE IN THE SICK WARD — A HURRIED FLIGHT. The inmates of i)au[)erdoni are earlv risers, and bright Phoebus had s('arc(3ly jjoeped his golden head from behind the grey curtain of tho distant horizon, when tho inmates of tho County Union were once more on the move. I suc- ceeded in obtaining a bucket of water, with Avhich I made my ablutions and laved my aching temples. Breakfast was served in the same apartment as tho evening meal of the previous day ; but, hungry though I was, I coidd not bring myself to face tho uninviting 7nenu. So once more I had recourse to the soothing influence of "Virginia." At ten o'clock, tho fresh arrivals who wore not classified as paupers, IN THE SICK WAUD. 31 but camo for medical advice, were marched to the surgery and oxamimHl ])y the oilicer appointed for that duty, and his (h^ciaion finally determined whether you became an inmate of the sick ward, or were politely informed that your case, tliough bad, was one that must be treated in other quarters. Out of six, or rather five (for I must not count the nurse), members that made up the omnibus party, I was the only one wlio was considered by the doctor eligible for adn^ission. What became of the others I never knew, neither do I know why their cases were discarded, l)ut can only assume it was done on the lines, " that when many come few are chosen," and I have little doubt I should not have been of the elect, had it not been for a letter from such powerful quarters as a member of the City Council. Having duly passed the doctor's inspection, I was taken to the hospital ward by a male nurse, who, having introduced me to my sick and dying companions and allotted to me a sleeping cot, left me to my reflections. There were all sorts and conditions of men in the ward- -whites, blacks, half-castes — sick, very sick, and dying. 1 was, I suppose, considered only sick at the time. I really felt my days, nay, my houii, nimibered. To occupy my time I carefully examined my sleeping berth, and, finding the sheets in anything but a cleanly condition, inquired from one of the warders if I could be supplied with fresh ones. It may easily be under- stood how disgusted I felt when he informed me that on the previous evening a man had died between those very sheets, and that the bed linen was not changed regularly ; but he might manage to procure others if I could muster sufficient money, or, as he called it, " spondoolux," to stand treat for himself and the boss. As 1 was the proud possessor of tlie magnificent sum of 25 cents only, it is needless to say I declined the offer. For aught I know, those same sheets may still remain on that very cot. It matters not to me now, neither did it then, as things turned out, 1 I ff;:^ - 82 HOUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. for I am thankful to say I never used that cot. During the morning one of the assistants brought me a bottle of iodine and a small brush with which to apply it. There were full directions on the label, as also a caution that it was for external use ; but from the remarks made by the " Jehu " on the previous day, I have no doubt there would have boon no objection had I swallowed the contents of the vial, but not having reached that state of despondency I proceeded at once to paint my swollen limb, and test the efficacy of the lotion. Having accomplished this, in what I considered a good surgical style, I left the dormitory for the fresh air. In rear of the hospital was a grass plot of about half an acre, with i few shady trees here and there. This '' oasis " amidst the desert of misery was kept for the exclusive use of the sick, and those who were not quite prostrated or confined to their beds would on sunny days come out and enjoy the warmth and balmy breezes. Here on tlie green sward they could rest their wearj limbs, and, although forgotten by the world, could at least obtain repose undisturbed. As I arrived on the scene some were sleeping, but the majorit}^ were groiq)ed together talking and smoking. Th?. weather being sultry, I lolected the coolest spot avail- able and sat down, quite close to me being a man who had evidently seen better days. I entered into conversation with him, and he informed me he had been in hospital for some months with a broken leg, but was now rapidly approaching convalescence. He gave me a graphic description of hospital life, and although some of his stories were amazing, for the most part they tilled me with horror and dismay. As the clock in the hospital tower struck one a bell rang, which my companion informed me was for dinner. Being a member of the same ward as myself he tried to persuade me to come and partake of some refreshment, but jdthough he declared the food supiilied in the sick ward was far sujierior to that of the casual ward, an*.! that I really requircid sustenance, IN THE SICK WARD. 8S yet so great was r' • distaste to hospital diet that I preferred to fast. Being again alone, and left to my own meditations, owing, I suppose, to the wearisome night I had passed, sleep overcame me, and once more my troubles for the time were forgotten. At least t^^o hours must have passed ere I awoke. I felt greatly refreshed, and oh ! gleam of joy and liopo, I found that the effect of the iodine had greatly reduced my swollen limh. I at once tested my walking powers, and, although anything but perfect, were so far improved as to determine mo to make one desperate eftbrt to rid myself of the pauper hospital, and retrace my steps to Chicago, '•^• perish in the attempt. As the cool of the evening approachofi I made up my mind to risk the venture, and watching an opportunity when the warders would be out, and the inmates for the most part asleep, I once more stood at the door of the chamber of sickness and death, and peeping in I wit nessed a scene which thrilled my very soul and made my blood run cold. In the right-hand corner next the door lay one of the sick inmates who, I was given to understand in the morning, had l)ut a few shcit hours to live. As I peeped through the half -open door for the purpose of ascertaining if any of the officials were about, I beheld a man, half dressed, leaning over the prostrate form in the bed, now no longer breathing, and his liack being towards me I could watch his movements unobserved. Stealthily hr withdrew from l)enoatli the reclining head a pair of trousers, and taking from one of the jjockets a small bag, proceeded to empty its con- tents into a handkerchief. I heard the clink, clink, and knew it was money. Having replaced the empt}i bag and put the trousers into their former hirling-place, he made for his own bed on the other side of the room, but ere he could reach it with one bound I seized him round the waist witli one hand, whilst with tlie other I grasped the handkci'i'liief ; so sudden was the shock to his nervous system that at first I thought nc had fainte.d, and it C 34 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. was with no little difficulty that T snccacdod in getting Mm to his cot. After a little, however, he canio to himself, and seeing I was not, as Ik; supposed, an official, took courage and pleaded for mercy. " Scoundrel," said I, " you who are so close to the verge of death, would you roh the dying of a few paltry dollars?" " Spare me, oh, spare me ! " he replied. " I never would have done so, but that he wlio lies in yonder corner no longer requires the money. He is dead ; died not less than ten minutes ago. Here am I rapidly following him, and with- out any little comforts to soothe me in my last days ; surely the few dollars are better in my hands than in those of the thieving Avarders who will but sjiend it in drink." Passing over to i^u\ dead man's cot to .see that the culprit had really spoken tlie truth, 1 found it to be a fact. The gl «x.ed eye and fallen jaw too plainly indicated that the poor fellow had left this world of sin and sorrow — let us liope for those regions above wheve all is peace and the weary are at rest. Hearing the warders asc(Uiding the stsurs, I came to the conclusion it was time to decani}). " Let him keep it, poor devil," tliought I, " what good would it do me to peach on him V 1 had just time to get my small parcel of belong- ings, and slip into a snitdl room used by the sick inmates for washing purposes, when tlie warders entered. As there was a back staircase leading from tins roorii T felt pretty secure that I could make good a hasty re'^ieat shoidd it be necessary, and curiosity iiroiiijiting me I anxiously waited to hear what the warders would say and how act. Tlirough the chinks in the door I could see them j)ass over to the dead man's cot. "The old cha]) is gone at last, ]iill," said one to the othiu*. "We must collar what lie has got, (piick, before anyone comes. The lad in the far corner will never say nothin'. So here goes." Well, he went through the same [>erformunce ad IN THE SICK WARD. 35 the "lad," as he called him, had but a few minutes before. The result this time, however, was not so remunerative, as to their disgust the lucre was wanting. " Dog on the luck,' says the would-be thief. " Tarnation seize the red cent he has on him. Queer too ; for I '11 give my oath he had over fifteen dollars in the bag, besides tlie one I changed this morning when I got him the drop of brandy." "Told you so,'' said the mate. "Darn your chicken-hearted liver, we 'd have had the ' rhino ' all right if it had not been for your tomfoolery and want of pluck to take it when you were making up the bed. I guess some of those infernal sick beggars have played 'smart Alec,' and got away with the boodle. Let's, if we can, draw out the old 'un in yon corner. One of them pulled the sheet over the dead man's face, and then they both crossed over to interrogate the real cul- prit, who was long l)efore this safe in bed, and playing " pos- sum." After a good shaking they managed to make this individual understand that his evidence was required with respect to the deceased. " Do you know that that ere coon yonder is dead ? " " No." " Do vou know anything about his money ? Xow, don't lie ( r ii '11 tear the heart out of you, for I beli(;ve you took it." " Oh, my God ! liow could I ? Ye 's know I have not left my cot for weeks, and could not crawl to yon side if I could enter heaven for a-doing so. If the dead 'un had money and it's gone, it ain't me as is to blame ; that cliajt with the bad knee was up here awhile ago a-paintin' oi it. He was over yon side a-prowlin' about ; it 's he as has took it, and he ain't gone more than fifteen minutt!S." "(jod forgive you, you lying old scoundrel; if there is not a hot reception awaiting you in the great hereafter there ouglit to be," and without waiting to hear more, and discard- m ROIJGHTNG IT AFTER GOLD iiig tho orthodox moans of doscendinp:, I threw myself astride th(> l)annistois and slid down with the velocity of a shooting star. CHAPTER XI. Th. r Samaritan. A HARD-HEARTED JEHU — MY REVENGE. 1 QUICKLY reached the little grass plot, whicli I crossed, iind }»assing out throngli the iron gate which I liad entered only the previous day, shook the dust from off my feet and hade adieu to Poverty Hall and devils incarnate who dwelt tlierein. I felt cpiite uncertain ahout being followed by some of the officials and accused of stealing the money of the dead man ; so, walking as fast as my partially recovered liml) would permit, I did not ])ull up till the pauper buildings were lost to view. Even now, thought I, I don't feel quite safe, so shall just arm myself a little in case of attack. For this purpose 1 selected two smooth stones about the size of an egg ; these I placed in my right-hand pocket. I then slipped off my shoe, and taking off my sock put a stone into it, only not quite so large as the other two. This latter w(\ap()n was to be used as a slung shot, and a very dangerous one it is too at close (piarters. Having consigned it to my left-hand pocket, and procured a good stout piece of fence rail splintered off at one end, I felt I was fully prepared for any attack, and could make it hot for an enemy, unless he were armed with a six-shooter, which they were more than likely to be However, my precautions turned out unneces- sary. No hospital officials appeared ; so, f.iter a while, finding BY THE WAYSIDE 37 tliero would be no use for them, and being an extra weight, I discarded them. I can scarcely describe how light-hearted and gay I felt as I trudged along. To be once more in the open country, once more free, it gave me exquisite joy even in the midst of my misery, and so de(;}dy impressed me as to never be forgotten. Indeed, none but those who have passed through such an ordeal can imagine my feelings ; and I sincerely trust that none of my readers may ever have occasion to test their experience. Fearing that long marches might further inflame my knee, I determined to make my journey by short stages, resting at intervals. About an hour before sundown an individual overtook me driving in a buggy. Seeing that he was alone, and had a seat to s})are, 1 was aljout to request him to give me a lift. The wretch, however, forestalled me, and not only understood what I was about to ask him but also my destination, for as I was about to s])eak as he drove quickly by, he shouted out, " I 'm going to turn off into a byway a few yards further up or I 'd give you a ride ' Cap.' " This was a deliberate falsehood, as I saw his horse and buggy standing outside a puljlic-house five miles up the road, and as I entered to get some slight refreshment I saw him drinking at the bar ; but I could not help thinking to myself how much I would like to be even with him. As I turned and left the house little did I think that within the hour I should be so amply revenged. I had tramped along on my onward journey for perhaps a mile or so when I beheld a cloud of dust on turning round, and a few minutes later a horse and buggy came into view. There was no driver, and the horse came slashing along at full speed, as if the very devil himself was after it. To avoid being run over I got over the fence, and as the animal ran by I recognised it as belonging to my hard-hearted friend, and I am sorry to say I was highly delighted at his ndsfortune. I watched its onward liight, and at a bend in the road, some four or live 38 KOUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. ■i I ,^:i hundred yards further on, just as the corner was turned, the buggy capsized. I hurried on as fast as T could, and was not long in reaching the wreck. I found things were rather worse than I anticipated, for the conveyance was smashed into kindle wood, whilst the unfortunate horse had fallen head over heels into a wet ditch, and was deeply imbedded in the mud and slush. As I had made pretty good time I thought I would tarry on the road awhile and watch what happened. I did all I coidd to extricate the poor horse, not only as an act of kindness to the animal, but I had serious thoughts that he might aid me on my journey to the city. Seeing, however, that without help it was quite impossible, I gave up the attempt, and seating myself on the fence awaited the arrival of the owner. I was not kept waiting long, for in the course of a few minutes I spied my hero coming as fast as his short legs could carry him. Arriving at last at the scene of destruction, puffing and blowing like a grampus, he commenced bemoaning his fate and cursing his luck and the half-drowned horse that caused the accident. As soon as 1 could command his attention I thought I might as well have a little amusement at his expense. So putting on a bit of Yankee twang I informed him that that " ere quadrooped was a-sinking fast, and if he did not hurry up and procii'e help and a rope he was a gone goose certain." "Do you want to earn a quarter?" asked he of the com- pound fractured buggy ; '"cause I'll give you one if you run })ack and fetch me a rope or strong line from the saloon. Bah ! I '11 make it a half. Pshaw ! I '11 make it a cart-wheel, a whole dcjllar if you do it, and I guess that 's more than you have earned for many a day, I reckon." " Perhaps so," said I ; " but you see I am only out for a holiday airing now, so am not on the job. If you take this chicken's advice you will just scoot arter that there rope yourself, and be quick about it too. Shoo ! fly, there he goes," BY THE WAYSIDE. 39 and just at this moment the horse gave a violent plunge, which sent him deeper into the mire. " Nothing like leather, as a rule, boss," said I, determined to give him a good " bulldosing " when I was at it ; " but I reckon, on this auspicious occasion, a rope would take the cake. Jest see if ye had one now, how easy it would be to slip a loop over his two forelegs. Why, dang it all, we'd have him out in a jiff'ey ; but what is the use of talkin' when you ain't got none. Sorry I can't stop along with you to watch the animal. Should like to stay wid you all the summer if I could ; but, fact is, I have got an engagement to sup with the mayor of the city at eleven o'clock to-night, so as the time is getting on, guess I' 11 make tracks. I 'm think- ing I '11 be late now, and I hate to keep his honour awaiting for his wittles, as it might spile his digestion. If I can do anything for you in the city, give it a name and I '11 do it. I shall be back this way in about a week, and if you're any- where about, I '11 look ye up ; so good night, and good luck to you." I had managed to take a good rise out of him, so I took no notice of a whole volley of oaths he shouted after me, as I gradually increased the distance between us. I had my revenge, that was certain and sufficient. I?I1 ' 40 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. 1} 1 s CHAPTER XII. A Friend in Need. A FRIEND IN NEED — A VERY OLD ACQUAINTANCE. It was close on inidiiiglit Avlicn I reached the city, and as all I possessed m cash was ten cents, it Avas quite inipossil)le to procure a lodging of any kind. Being awfully thirsty, I invested my capital in a mug of beer, and moistened my parched lips with foaming lager ; and, as I did so, I turned over in my mind where it Avould be best to spend the re- mainder of the night. I might have remained in the saloon where I was, as it was open all night ; but then it was hot and noisy, and being tired I wanted to rest. Then I thought of the police station, that last resource of the " broker ; " but I had had quite enough of the society I shorld be likely to meet there, which caused nie to fight shy of making any further acquaintances of that description. As I vainly endeavoured to solve the sleeping problem, a happy thouglit flashed across my ratlnjr overtaxcid l)rain. I remembered on the day of my first arrival in the city taking a stroll in one of the parks. The Lake Park, as it was not enclosed, and there were plenty of seats, I saw no reason why I should not use it as an open-air bedroom for the night. Ho making my way thither 1 selected one of the most secluded benches on which to repose. I had, however, a kind of misgiving that I was infringing the rules, and was liable to be disturbed. My conjectures proved to be correct, for scarcely had I got myself into a reclining position, when a parkkeeper arrived IN LAKE PAUK. 41 on the scene, and informed me that the grounds, though not enclosed, were not open to the pubUc, except on special occasions, after the hour of ten o'clock ; and he further gave me to understand, should a i)oliceman see me, he would assuredly shove me in the " cooler " for the remainder of the night. " Well, my friend," answered I, " it matters very little to me Avhether he locks me up, or, for that matter, flings me in tlie lake. I have no money, no friends, no home. I have Imen ill, and have this day only come out of the County Hospital uncured. This evening I have walked from there, some fourteen miles, ratli(3r too long a distance for a man sick and without food for thirty-six hours. I pray you, therefore, allow me to rest here and die in peace." " Why, dang it all," says the k(;eper, peering into my face, " ain't you the young man I saw a few days since limpi'.ig round the park with the help of a stick?" "Yes; the same." " Ah ! I ken you weel now. You looked na weel then ; but, hoot mun, why you 're like the death now. Ye 're na lang from the auld sod, I reckon ; and from your clothes and talk ye 're na tramp neither. I '11 give my swear I 'm not the man to see an auld country lad who is sick die for the want of a meal of victuals. I 've been in a like fix myself ; so come ye alang of me, and I '11 put you up in the wee shanty yon for the nicht." This was indee.d a joyful surprise to me, and without any coaxing I followed him to his humble abode. On our arrival he lighted a candle, and made me a shakedown on the floor. " Ye can lie there," said he, " it 's the best I can do for ye ; but there no one will meddle wi' ye. I '11 gang noo and see if I canna find ye a bit to eat, and a drop of something to cheer ye up a bit." He was absent but a short time, and, on making his reappearance, came full-handed, for he brought me a small f 42 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. loaf of l)r(tii(l, some pickled })iga' foot, a lump of cheese, half a pint of whisky, and a billy-can of lager beer. " Thar ye arc;, friend," said he, i)lacing this load on the floor close to mo. " Now you can steam ahead, and eat and drink every jot and tittle of it. It's na too much for a famished man. When you have finished, turn over and tak' your rest. You won't see me the nicht again, as I am on AvatcJi and liave to go my rounds." I did am])le justice to the bill of fare set before me, by eating all the viands, and polishing oil' all the drinkables, not a bad performance for a dying man. Fatigue and the whisky soon caused me to forget my troubles, and the sim was some hours up when I awoke in the morning. My Scotch friend further extended his lios])itality to me, inas- much as he ])rovided me with breakfast, and having partaken of a hearty meal I bade him adieu. I sallied forth, being quite unacquainted with the geography of Chicago. I knew only the direction in Avhicli resided my Aldermanic friend, and this route I wished to avoid. Thus it happened that, travelling up one street and down another, neither knowing nor caring wlujre th(>y led to, I eventually found myself towards midday on the outskirts of the city. The day being warm, antl feeling tired after my ramble, I took advantage of the shady verandah of a small store, aid there being plenty of seats, was just the place for -^ weary traveller to rest. A wagon and horse stood in front of the building, having the appearance of a bread cart, and I took it for granted it contained that useful household commodity. I also further judged that, as no driver was to be seen, he was inside disposing of his goods. On both points I proved to be correct. 1 had not been seated more than a few minutes when the owner or driver made his appearance, basket in hand. He was a strapping, tine young fellow, and as he passed close to me I gazed on his comely features. A sudden feeling came over me that I had seen his face ON A * VERANDAH.' 43 before, l)iit \v1h!U or where, for tlio life of me, at t\w timo I could not say. He liad taken hold of the reins, or liu«'s, as they call them in the States, and was just on tlu^ i)oint of mounting to his driving-box, wh(;n, haj)j)ening to turn his face towards me, I called out "Hi!" and beckoned liini that I wished to speak to him. As I was a stranger, lu' was not a little taken aback; but after a slight hesitation he came over to where I was seated. As he approached I gave him " Good-day," and apologised for calling him back. I gave him Lo unoerstand that my reason for calling him was that, although I could not recall his name, yet something told me that, unless I was grcnitly mistaken, he and I were not strangers to one another. He eyed me attentively for a few moments, and then suddenly, as if bewitched, flung his hat in the air, and with a whoo hoop that would have done credit to the " Galway Blazers," exclaimed — " By the taring smash this, bangs Banagh(>r, bates the very divil entirely. "Why if you ain't Mr Joe Trotter you 're his ghost anyhow, and I 'm blind and a Dutchman ! Oh ! oh! tip us your flipper. How are you, Mister, loe? How is every bit of you 1 When did you leave the ould counthry t What brougiit you here anyway ? " His queries came in such quick succession, and being excited I could scarcely follow him. However, I replied that every bit of me was quite well. I had left the old country about five months ago, and had reached Chicago by train. " And now," said 1, " you that are familiar with my name, tell me yours, for, hang me, if I know who you are now." " Do you mean to say you don't know me ? Why, I am little Dick, Dick the ' Tearer,' as you used to call me, as used to be wid you out snipe shooting in the Killbraggan bogs in the ould counthry. That's who I am, and right glad I am to meet wid you." It was now my turn to be surprised, for Dick was without 44 ROUOHING IT AFTER GOLD. doubt growH from a stripling of a liul into us fine a spocimon of a man as you might wisli to auo. Yes, many and many a day had Dick and I travelled the l)ogH of old Ireland to- getlier when boys. He was the son of a tenant farmer on the old family (\state. Many years had passed since wo parted. Well do I remend)er the day when he took my luggage to the train that l)ore me on my way to India to jom th(! " Smashers ; " and he, ere I returned after an absence of some years, had, I learned from his poor old motluir, taker himscilf oif one fine morning to America to her great grief and sorrow, for she was a widow, and he her only son and support. Strange that after a lapse of so many years we should meet again luider such very different circum- stances. But such is life. My friend Dick proposed wo should wet the occasion, and being thirsty I was nothing loath. So we entered the little store where they dispensed beverages they called beer and whisky. But " what 's in a name?" The beer of which I partook at least quenched my thirst, Avhich was all I re(j[uired. Having nothing better to do, at the invitation I accepted his offer to take a drive with him and get an insight into the lucrative business of selling i)ies. He w^is working for a wholesale piemaker, and his daily duties consisted in driving the wagon on his rounds to supply tiie various customers, his weekly salary being twenty dollars, or about <£4 — not too bad for a working man. I)Ut tlu; position was a responsible one, and Dick was well worth the money. During the drive I informed my friend of my altered circumstances and somewhat awkward position. He seemed to think nothing of it, and remarked — " Ye 're dow^n to-day, up to-morrow ; and if you mind your pointers, and keep a stiff upper lip, maybe it's yourself will be the mayor of the city in less than six months." It may seem strange, but 'tis nevertheless true, that I never attained the exalted position referred to by Dick. As we made our final call for the day in the pie business, IN A nOARDING-HOUSE. 45 wc call(Ml at tho liarT^or'a Hhop, whero T had loft my himdle on n former occasion. We convcyiMl it to the " Tearcr'a " boar(Iin<,'-hoiiae, where I purpostul taking up my abode for tlie time being, and on liia intro(Ui(;tion tlie good hxndlady was kind enough to aay she would give me credit for a f(;w weeks till I either got employment or a remittance from home. I am thankful to say not many days had <3lapsed Ijeforc the letter which I was expecting arrived, and within the month I got a very fair position as clerk in the yearly (>.xhibition, which I held till it closed. During the second great fire in Chicago, which took place the same year, 1 had the opportunity of, in a measure, repaying the kuid- ness of my Scotch friend Sandy M'Dougal, the parkkeeper, as I was the means of saving his things from the destructive element, and possibly more than Ids goods. I introduced him to the "Tearer;" and many a talk and many a glass of "r>()urbon" we consumed as wo called to memory the i>A'(^ntful (at least for me) night in the Lakeside Park. 46 rou':jhing it after gold. CHAPTER XIII. How I Reached the Golden Gate. Dick. "ml desperandum." 'M I HAD been a resident in Chicago for nearly a year. I had arrived late in the spring of the preceding year, had endured tlie parching heat and dust of summer and fall months, and experienced the piercing cold oi an excessively severe winter. For the second time during my sojourn in Porkopolis, spring in all its loveliness liad once again burst forth, and was rapidly verging into summer. So as I did not wish to experience a repetition of such climatic extremes, I made up my mind that as soon as possible I would leave the City of the Lake and try my luck still further west on the Pacific Blope. San Francisco was my beau ideal of Avhat the Americans call a " live town ; " it Avas my Eldorado, my plum. My friend THrk and I had talked about it till we ^vere tired, we raved aT)out it ; indeed, so enthusiastic were we in the matter that 1 really Ijelieve we finally came to the conclusion that the streets were paved wi Ji gold. Oi the numerous plans we made, the countless schemes we concocted, it would be absurd Uj dwell on. That every one there was rich, Jind that we would make a fortune should we once succeed in reaching the Golden City was a certainty. We bought every ma]) and every i)lan of the route to the far distant city and of tlie city itself, and studied them so closely that we knew IN A BOARDING-HOUSE. 47 every yard of the road and every nook of the famous capital of the State of California long ere we had reached it, and found to my disappointment lio'«^'^ difiei-ent is the reality to imagination, and that "all that glitters is not gold." But how to reach the great " Bonanza," ah ! that 's the rub. Di 3k and I were both in receipt of good salaries, hut like many ethers we were not saving, and spent our money as fast as we earned it ; indeed, more than likely our weekly stipend would be mortgitged considerci,l:)ly before even it was due. We tried all sorts of dodges to retrench and save up money. We eschewed drinking saloons, and sent the girl of the house round the corner for a small billy-can of the cheapest. All change under five cents that we might happen to have at the close of the day was deposited in a kind of missionary box, l)ut this turned out a failure, as we each possessed a key and opened it at will. Then we tried investing a small sum in the Post-Office Savings Bank, but with no better result, for just as perhaps we had got a nice little sum placed to our credit, tmd as we hoped in safety, funds would be required for a picnic or something else, which we con- sidered our downright duty to patronise. Thus it was that all our castles, which we so carefully constructed, had but poor foundations, and invariably collapsed and came down with a crasix. And so it was week after week and month after month passed over our heads without bringing us the least l)it nearer to the goal we so tlesired. Indeed, our chances of ever reaching our Eldorado seemed more remote than ever, for, l)esides having no capital, the employer from whom I received my weekly payments had taken it into his head to attemi)t big speculations on the Corn Exchange, and his expectations having - *"tirly failed, he liad to retire from business and the world a ruined man. This, of course, upset all my caknilations, and with only a dollar or two in my pocket placed me on the list of the unemployed. In course of time there is little doul)t that I would have been successful < 'i: 48 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. in obtaining omployniont, as my crcdontialM were good, and I had made many friends and aecpiaintances amongst business men. This, however, would materially delay the carrying out of my pet hot^by, which I so earnestly desired. I might, however, have reached my " ])romis(Ml land " had I only the ])hick and determination of very much roughing it by "beat- ing " my way on freiglit trains and other means of convey- ance so familiar to the Anun'ican tramp, but I had experienced this dangerous and UK^re than uncomfortable mode of transit on a former occasion, so had neitlier the courage nor inclina- tion to repeat the exiKU'iment. Having carefully weighed the pros and cons of the alternatives left me, I decided that of two evils it would be b(>tter to choose the lesser. 1 there- fore abandoned the idea of leaving the Lake City, and had given up all hope of carrying cnit my long-cherished scheme, when an lUK^xpected evc^nt came to my rescue, and so replenished my exche({uer as to enable me to purchase tickets for myself and the ever-faithful Dick, and send us on our way rejoicing to tlu^ Goldcm Gate of the Golden City, 'Frisco. It is now n(>cessary that I should inform the reader who my friend Dick was, and for this purpose I must write a short biograpliy of tliat ])artner in my travels, who was more or less the means of furnishing the details on which this story is based. Dick and 1 had been mates ever since my arrival in the wcvstern ca})ital some six or seven months before. ^Ye had come across one another after a separation of years. In my boyhood days.. Ave had been companions, though on ditt'erent lin(>s. We had grown up together at the old country homestead, 1 ;is tlu^ son of a landed pro- prietor, he as the (^ifs])ring of a well-to-do tenant farmer, acting as my personal factotum, his usual occupation being to take my pony, or in later years my huntc^r, to the cover side. We rambled over the ])og.s in the old cimntry, ht; carryir. ' the bag which 1 endeavoured with sometimes indifferent luck to fill. The last service the lad performed IN A BOARDING-HOUSE. 49 for me being to take my baggage to the station, when having been gazetted as a full-blown ensign in the " Smashers," I got my orders to report myself at the depot in England. But times had changed with me since those happy days of " auld lang syne." Born as I was with a silver spoon in my mouth, the spoon being small (an egg spoon I should call it), it had melted quickly away, and in order to keep pace with the regimental extravagancies it ought really to have been of the dimensions of a good-sized soup ladle. Alas ! it was not. In the Emerald Isle I was always " Master Joe " or " Mister " as the case might be, now I was plain and simple Joe Trotter. Frontier life, and circumstances over which one has but little control, erase caste and obliterate the distinction which prevails in the older world. I was, however, satisfied, for what better friend could one desire than the friend in need. For the sake of the old happy days, the Irish country lad, now grown to manhood, had acted on more than one occasion with a delicacy and forethought which would put to blush many of my patrician acquaintances, who are often more inclined to kick the lame dog th lieip him over the stile. "Hallo! Dick," said I, returning ^'ue rnening after a ramble through the town. " I have scaiie good news to impart, which I have no doubt you will be glad to learii." " Well, what is it, Joe ? " " Nothing more or less than that I am off to 'I'risco by the train to-night." " Well," said he, " by Jt^ve, that 's pretty smart work. How did you manage to raise the wind, for you hi>'^ ■ idea of leaving yesterday morning ? If you 're going you surely ain't going to leave me behind, are you 1 " " Not a bit of it, old boss. I have got sufficient to pay the expenses of us both and to spare, and if you will give me time I '11 tell you how I have worked the oracle. Our mutual friend ' Billy King ' is the mainspring by whic,)i we are to jump the distance from here to the Golden Gate. D 50 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. Myself and others had a liand in the scheme, but Billy 's the boss of the show." So lighting my pipe and seating myself in the old oak chair, I related to Dick what I shall now endeavour to place before the reader. CHAPTER XIV. A Chicago Politician. MR WILLIAM KING. Mr William King, familiarly called " Billy," was the owner of a very small grocery store situated in one of the back streets in Chicago. He was an American, born of Irish parents, and, besides carrying on trade in groceries and stimulants, amused himself in his spare moments by the study of politics and discussing the political questions of the day with those of his customers who would listen to him. The boarding-house in which I took up my abode, although in a larger street, was yet quite close, and consequently con- venient for the purchase of lager and honey dew which we obtained there. He was nii old acquaintance of Dick's, and it was quite natural that in due course we should get to know each other ; and Billy, although a keen tradesman in his little business, was by no means bad hearted, and was ^ver willing to help those h 3 liked, more especially if by so doijig he saw his way to benefit himself without expending any large amoimt. It was on a warm, sultry day, towards the end of summer, having severed my connection with my boss the corn factor, that being out of employment I IN A GROCERY STORE. 51 sauntered into the little store to have a chat with the pro- prietor on the topics of the day. Having wished me " How do 1 " the voluble little grocer gave me to understand that he was aware of the smash up of my late employer. " It 's a bad business for him, as he 's a married man with a young family ; but as for you, what 's the odds, you can get (Mnployment elsewhere. Now, look here, from what I have lately learned from you, you have evidently a hankering after California, and if you are not too particular, and are still of the same mind, darned if I can't put you on to a lay by which you can get there, and that without much trouble." " Well, Billy, that 's the ground I want to tread this fall, if possible ; but as I have saved no money, how to obtain my desire at present is a mystery to me. However, if you have any scheme to lay before me, and there is nothing in it that I should not do, why I 'm your man, and my name is Starter." "All right; consider it as good as done. I'll not put you on any wrong track, I promise you ; so put on your best Sunday-go-to-meetings, be here not later than eight o'clock this evening, and I '11 give you full directions how to act." At the hour appointed I was once more on the threshold of the vegetable king, who I found ready dressed in the height of Western fashion — white shirt, coloured tie, wide- awake hat, and suit of broadcloth. As I entered he was counting some money, whicli Iv^. was about to transfer from its safe keeping mto li'^s «[ipac40ifs?p(jckef)e., "So you 're'.^nme, J'oe? :*,W'ell,*tiiaVWgo*Oi*» Hero, stick these in your fob" (at the '^akict'timo chuclmtg i^ie three V.'s 1i room, where avo shall be undisturbed, and I '11 put you on the country that you will have to follow to accomplish the 52 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. . *! 4. end I have in view. Now, listen ! There 's a box to sit on, there's some Bourbon, there's a tumbler and the water. It is close on five years since I took up my abode in this very shanty. I came from the East, brought a little capital with me, and started this business. At first I was only in the ordinary grocery business, but little by little I increased the commodities, till I finally obtained the licence for the sale of beer, wine, and spirits, and ran the concern on the lines you now see it. From the day I commenced till about eighteen months ago I did a very nice little trade, when I had the misfortune, at a mass meeting, to be introduced to a couple of politicians canvassing for a Republican representa- tive at the next Presidential election. As you are aware, I am a Democrat, heart and soul ; nevertheless, I was in no way averse to these gentlemen coming to my store to air their political knowledge and spend their money as freely as they pleased. Not I ; but I had no intention of allowing them to influence me, or interfere with any of my friends who held the same political views as myself, and on this understanding they patronised my saloon frequently. Well, one night the two of 'em turned up as usual. The house was full of customers, liquor flowing freely, and arguments for and against the nominee were hot and strong. I was behind the bar doing a roaring trade, when suddenly a regular shindy took place, — a report of a pistol, and a general stampede to the door ; and when I jumped across the bar counter to see^what was up, there was Phalan stretched on the fl(ior,rble6tiint liko il'pis?,* with VVliay Ian, his friend, stand jfl^ ©vei'.* h'hfi, ^ ' i^t*. first I' tlicfught the one had turned the pop*«dn the othier-' '{{nd all I could tell at the time was that they wei;e piy. canvj^ssing \i{^\ia-in5icVices — one badly woujncKid, »ViiibB i^l^e; otter, ljp(4d,|ils 'bleeding form. Whether tli0 Shot *was hred intentionally or by accident never was decided ; for at the trial several persons avIio were present at the time, and were arrested as being either IN A GROCERY STORE. 53 the actual perpetrator of the deed or in some way im- plicated, .were eventually discharged, the jury disagreeing. The shootin' turned out, however a migh^v noor affair for me, for Phalan (who, by the way, was more frightened than hurt) and Whaylan took it into their heads that I connived at the deed, and knew who had committed it. So de- termined were they to be revenged on some one that, I being the only one handy to get at, they trumped up a case against me ; and by swearing their very souls away, gained a case before the City Council, in which I was fined in costs to the tune of some $250 or $300, and the suspension of my licence for three months. The time has long since elapsed, and I am once again in possession of my trading certificate ; but I have been patiently biding my time to get even vvith these rascals. The time has arrived, the game is in my hand, and with your assistance the battle is won, and the indemnity will, I fancy, be paid by Messrs Phalan and Whaylan. And now, Joe, my boy, in order to carry out my designs to the bitter end, I am going to run you for tax-collector of the fourth ward. The berth is now vacant, owing to the sudden death of the old man, Jones. "William King," cried I, jumping up and trying to appear as grave as a judge, "may I ask if you have ini])ibed too much of your own rock and rye, or have you taken leave of your senses ; for in either case it is better for me to at once sing out for the nearest policeman. Why, hang it all, I am not eligible for any such position as tax- collector or any other Government collector. You'd want to run me for mayor of the city next, or perhaps you would like to start me as senator for the State. Why, my dear man, I have not been a whole year in the United States, to say nothing of the short time I liave resided in Chicago. I have not even taken out my first naturalisation papers, and even if I could run for the office and obtain it, I can 't see how it would enable me to leave for California 54 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. for many months to come, if ever. I must ask you, there- fore, if indeed you are sane, to explain matters, and point out liovv I am to benefit, and to what extent, by attempting to obtain a position that it would be impossible for me to hold even for a week, perhaps not twenty -four hours." "Well, Joe, if you have finished, and will give me a show, I will put you on the right track to California — that is to say, if you follow my directions. In the first place, you are partly right, and on the other hand you are altogether wrong, in your conjectures. I'll enter you for the race, but you will not start, for I will have you scratched and shipped west long before the appointed date for going to the post, or I shall say in this case, going to the ' pole.' No, siree, you will have skipped this city and gone where the woodbine twineth. As I told you, poor old Jones is gone, died the night before last. The tax-collector- ship of this ward is vacant. The election for the office comes off early next week ; there are three candidates. You are to be one, and who do you think are the other two ? Why, devil a one else but the two playboys Phalan and Whaylan. I '11 playboy 'em. A friend of mine who knows, has informed me of the game they 're about to play. They both have a certain amount of influence, and will canvass the ward independently ; any votes the one can't secure in the ordinary way, the other will olitain by bribery, both of them sharing the expense. It don't matter which of them gets in, as they mean to divide the salary between 'em. Neither of 'em knows there is a third party on the string, so we will be a-head, and one or other must buy you out, and with the dollars you can go to California or any other State in the Union tliat pleases your fancy. 80 now, me boy, we '11 make a move to the seat of war." N \ -■ ■•-■■•■■,■■ ,, I • i IN A SALOON. 55 CHAPTER XV. Running for Tax-Collector. canvassing the fourth ward — phalan and whaylan. Suiting the action to the word, Billy turned down the gas, and, followed by your humble servant, we sallied forth to canvass the electors of the fourth ward for my appointment as tax-collector. What the plan of campaign was to be at the outset I did not know, as Billy made no remarks as wo sauntered along through the streets, nor did I. However, it was not long before I was to receive my first political bai> tism, for, checking my onward progress with his hand, we pulled up before a well-lighted and furnished lager beer saloon. " Here 's No. 1," said Billy ; " so mind your points, and take the cue from me." As we entered, all eyes were at once turned on us. We marched up to the bar, behind which stood awaiting orders a jolly-faced corpulent Dutchman (Germans all go by this designation). " Good evening ! Mr Zimmerman," said the Irish-American, as he stretched out his hand across the bar to the smiling Teuton. " Vel, s' help me never, if dis ain't mein frind, Meistcr King ? By Jimniiny Crack, how you was ? a long time I no see you. Come, vot vill you and dis gentleman's have to thrink." I was introduced, and frothing lagers were soon placed < '> Vi 'I 56 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. before us. We chatted together on various topics for some minutes, when Billy, by occult signs known only to saloon keepers in America, made the boss understand that he would have a word with him in private. So they both sidled to the far end of the bar, leaving me to my own reflections, and to wait for further directions. I was not close enough to hear the whole of their conversation, but every now and again a few sentences, more loudly expressed than others, reached me, and gave me to imderstand that the coming election for the post of tax-collector for the fourth ward was the topic of conversation. Some twenty minutes or so elapsed ere they both returned to where I was standing. The German thi;n offered me his support in the contest ; and I knew then that the first shot had been fired in the campaign. There were, I should say, about five-and-twenty loungers in the saloon. Some were trying their skill at a game of American pool, whilst others, seated on chairs, smoked, talked, and looked on at the game. Others, wearied by the toils of the day, were enjoying semi-forgetfulness. The King of the fourth ward, who had evidently laid all his plans with much care, having once gained the key of the position, was not a man to throw away a chance by ft false move or want of energy ; so turning towards the players, he rapped loudly on the counter, exclaiming as he did so — " Come up boys and take a drink — come up every mother's son of you." The command acted as an electric shock. Cues were thrown down, sleepers awoke, and a general move made by the entire house, and in less time than I have taken to write it tive-and-twenty faithful followers of Bacchus were breast- ing the bar, each one facing his "schooner" of lager. The glasses were clinked in good old German fashion, and loud were the mingled ejaculations of " Gesundheit," and " Here 's another slanther," &c. I was then formally intro- duced to each member present, and the gay monarch, who IN A SALOON. 57 was now in his glory, made a neat little specu^h, in which ho contrasted my good qualities with those of the other candi- dates. He explained to tliem that altliough 1. was now a citizen of the greatest republic on (!arth, 1 was a native of Ireland, and that myself and all my relatives in the old country were Parnellites and Home Rulers to a man, to a woman, even to infants in arms ; in fact, he macU^ me out such a hero that when he asked for their support in the coming election the meeting declared they would plump for me to a man. The 'eute King was not, howc^ver, content with their verbal promise to vote for me, but pidling out a formidable-looking document which, when unrolled, dis- closed in largo red type, " Vote for Trotter, the jieople's friend. Gentlemen of the fourth ward. Trotter is the man for our next tax-collector," got each one of them to sign his name and register his address. Act No. 1 was con- cluded by my returning thanks in an appr«.>priate speech, in which I assured my constituents that, if elected, 1 would do all in my power to carry out the arduous duties connectetl with my office in as lenient and inolFensive a manner as pos- sible ; and trusted that, by a strict attention to business, and the study of the welfare of the fourth ward community, t(j gain their entire confidence and respect. Having ordered up a fresh round of drinks, and thanked my supporters again for their good wishes and i)r()mised aid, the King and I bade them " Good-night," and sallied forth to repeat the experiment in the next public-house. It would be quite useless to attempt Ji di'scription of each saloon we visited that night. Similar tactics were i)ursued, with the same good results in each case ; and, I well rtmiem- ber, it was early morning when " his majesty " and myself found ourselves once again in his little back-parlour, with a large enrolment of votes and a heavy consignment of — no matter what. Having partaken of supper, or rather Ameri- can lunch as it is called, and received final instructions from ■I' 58 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. the King, who informed me it was a dollar to a cent I would receive a visit from the two candidates, Phalan and VVhaylan, durin<5 the day, or certainly the day after, the manage- ment of whom he must leave entirely to my own ingenuity, I hade him " Good morning," and went home to bed. Boarding-house residents in America are for the most p.'irt early risers ; and notwithstanding the fact that the day was da'svning when I retired to rest, so great was my anxiety regarding the issues of the day, that I was the first to put in an appearance at the breakfast- table. Finding my land- lady, Mrs Crook — who, by the way, was a smart, shrewd American — I gave her to understand that I was expecting tM'O gentlemen on important business in the course of the day. Having made my plans, I had further to explain to her that, should the two gentlemen arrive together, I would interview them at the same time, but should they come singly, the one was to '^e kept in perfect ignorance of the other's presence in the house. They were to be shown into different rooms, and every precaution taken, on the arrival oj departure of either, to prevent their meeting. She was a smart little lady, and fully entered into the spirit of my little game. I was careful to impress on her the fact that, should she fail to carry out my instructions to the letter, the result would be disastrous to us both, inasmuch as I should be the loser of a very considerable amount of money, which would prevent my increasing her exchequer by paying up my indebtedness to her. This made her doubly cautious, and the result was she played her part in the little dranui to perfection, and to my entire satisfa(;tion. Breakfast over, and the board(;rs off to l)usiness, I was left the sole occupant of the little front parlour. Procuring a newspaper and light- ing my pipe, I cast anchor in an easy-chair, and awaited the result of my well-laid schemes. I had smoked several pipes, iinished the newspaper, and was just on the move round the corner for a refresher, when a tap at the door, and a IN THE FRONT PARLOUR. 59 "Come in" from mo, hronght the landlatly on tlie scene. " Gentleman arrived, asked for you, told him I would see if you were in, he is alone, this is his card." Taking it, I found tnat this was No. 1 — " Mr George F. Whaylan, architect and huilder." " Show him up, quick Kum go, this," thinks T ; " hope I shan 't make a big mess of it. Well, liere goes ; " and in stepped Mr Whaylan, architect, i^c. " Good day, sir ; please to Hka a seat. I see, sir," said Ij "Ijy your card that you are an architect and huilder. As I am not in that line, I presume you have learned from some of my clients that this is one of my recep- tion days at home here. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays I am always at home for consultation from ten till four ; on other days of the week I do a round oi calls in the country. Now, sir, if you need my profes- sional aid, and will state exactly what you require, or the nature of your case, I shall he glad to help you to the best of my ability. Fees according to requirements, but always five dollars in advance, with balance as may be agreed upon. Is it matrimony or divorce." " Matrimony or divorce ! Why, l)less my heart ! I must luive made some great mistake. Hiive I not the honour of addressing Mr Trotter, late of Islilligan Brothers, corn factors ? " " I am that enlightened individual. My name is Trotter. Fathers, mothers, and whole lot ever so far back were called Trotter. Never knew of any O's or Mac's or The's tackled on to any of my name. Joe Trotter, that 's the name I go by — that's the name I was entered l\y at Milligans', and that 's the name I sign to all cheques. Yes, sir, family name Trotter, christened Joe — pronounced long. It's true a few of my pals facetiously call me Globe Trotter, owing to a little weakness of mine to scamper about the world a bit. ■ i! 60 EOUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. Bless y're heart, I have done some big travelling in my time. J have started from the North Pole, and never lit up till I carved my name with my jack-knife on that of the South. Why, I have got chips oiT both poles in the New York Museum. I 'm the only man alive who has toed the line from east to west on the equator, or who has evv^r attempted to make the circuit of the world ci its outer edge. There 's P. T. Barnum, — he 'd give me thousands to travel with his bi?jf show ; but no, I would not travel for money, no how. But my travelling is novv^ over. I ha"* j journeyed on horseback, cow-bavik, camel-back, elephant- back, and every other kind of back that 's used by man, but I '11 travel nc more ; I 'm settled now here in Chicago for tlie balance of my days. However, Mr Whaylan, I don't suppose you came here to listen to my adventures ; so sir, if you please, we will resort to business, and you will -oblige me by being as concise as possible in stating the object of your visit to me to-day." "Certainly, Mr Trotter, I shall be glad to do so; but, froia what I can gather from your conversation, you have taken up the medical or legal profession, and neither of these, I am glad to say, am I at present in need of." "What! Hold on, my friend, you are altogether out in your calculations. The profession I now follow, and have done ever since I left Milligans', is that of matrimonial and divorce agent. If you want a wife I can procure you one in a week, charging 10 per cent, on her dowry ; if you require a divorce, I can get one in forty-eight hours, fee $50*25 down, and the balance to be lodged in Court, to l)e received on completion of business." " It strikes me, Mr Trotter, that we are working at cross purposes. So, to save further time, I may as well state that I have come to inquire if there is any truth in the rumour that you are a candidate at the next election for the tax- coUectorship of the fourth ward 1 " IN THE FRONT PARLOUR. Gl " Well, yes, it is true ; some influential friends of mine are desirous that I should run for that honourable position. At first I demurred, thinking my doing so would interfere with my present lucrative business, but it has been pointed out to me that it will in no way do so, so I have made up my mind to have a try for the appointment. Having said so much, perhaps you wiU enlighten me as to how my being a candidate can in any way interest you." "Certainly," replied my visitor. "My interest in the matter is simply this : that myself and a Mr Phalan are also candidates for the same position. Now, he and I were at one time the greatest friends, and our intention was to run for the office conjointly against any third party ; this we easily arranged by canvassing the ward, when we could at once determine which of us had the better chance of gain- ing the day. It was then simple enough for the one in a minority to resign and use his influence on behalf of the other, the party resigning to receiv<». a gratuity. Since this arrangement, however, Phalan has played me one or two dirty tricks, that I have determined to dissolve partnership. ' Diamond cut diamond,' thinks I. My object, therefore, Mr Trotter, in calling on you to-day is to ascertain if you are willing to enter into an agreement with me to run for the position on the same lines ; or, should you prefer it, I am prepared to pay you a certain sum down if you will at once M'ithdraw from the contest in my favour." " Your proposition, Mr Whaylan, has really taken me by surprise, and requires some consideration, or none at all. As far as I am personally concerned, it matters little to me whether I gain the victory or not. You must, however, perceive what a risky proceeding it would be on my part to accept your proposal and go back on my trusting friends ; for, should it come to their ears, as doubtless it would, that I had accepted a bribe, it would spoil my professional career. I must therefore decline your off'er." !■ • 1 I I 62 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. This rascal, who would bo smart if he knew how, was really as ignorant as tho pigs of old Ireland. He thought he had a Hat, but E tliink ho was mistaken. He let the cat out of the bag that the cash was ready, so I made up my mind to give him a stick and bleed him freely. For some minutes we sat in silence, eyeing one another, each trying to read the other's tlioughts. I surmised he was calculating how he could best ett'ect my resignation at the minimum of <;xpense to himself ; I was racking my brain to hit on the best plan to relieve him of his ready cash, and various were the schemes that Hitted tlu-ough my brain, but none of them seemed exactly suited to the occasion. I had almost made up my mind to come the injured innocent and kick the architect out of the house, and trust to my chance of mak- ing a "grand coup" out of Phalan, should he come on the scene, or else wash my hands of the whole affair. But I didn't, for just as I was in the act of hastening his depar- ture, the thought flashed aciross my mind that I might pos- sibly gain my ends by working on his vanity or trading on his fears of exposure. " I iiave been turning this matter over in my mind," said 1," once more breaking the silence; " and the more I think of it the less 1 like it. You will never succeed in placing me in such a false position with my friends as to accept a bribe. There is a plan, however, to which if you are willing to accede you can gain your object with honour to yourself and no discredit to me. You are perhaps aware that in tliit. city a society is being formed for the provision of lifeboats for use on the lak(\ I am the honorary secretary of this society. You liave already informed me that you would give mo a sum of money to withdraw. If, therefore, you hand me over the sum of $250 to go to the fund, I will imme- diately send in my resignation. This will be a noble and charitable donation on y(tur])art — one which I will take good care comes to the ears of my constituents, a id will afford me IN THE FRONT PARLOUR. 03 an opportunity of smoothing over their disappointment at my retiring from the contest. This is my ultimatum ; take it or leave it. Of course, if you refuse, I shall go straight to Mr Phalan and make him the same offer, and I have little doubt he will gladly avail himself of it." The architect began to see I had got him in " the nine hole ; " so, after some little haggling on his part and threat- ening on mine, he counted the money out on the table. I gave him a receipt, not on behalf of the Lifeboat Association, you may be sure, but for " value received by Joe Trotter." A few minutes later I had the satisfaction of seeing his vanishing form as he passed through the little garden gate. I was precious glad when the interview was over, and had little relish for 'No. 2, should he turn up. However, I made up my mind, as I had skinned one lamb, not to let the other go unshorn. t: CHAPTEK XVI. DuTTIE. A LOVE LETTER — THE WIND RAISED — DICK AND I GO WEST. Dinner over, I once more foiuid myself seated in the old arm-chair, the sole occujiant of the little parlour. 1 can't say I felt quite comfortable regarding my morjiing's work ; in fact, I felt rather disgusted at the part I had taken. Again and again 1 made up my mind to run up to the little store and pitch the dollars at the head of the uncrowned King and fly. But it was of no use ; the spirit of adventure, comliined with a little Irish devilry, urged me to see the game out to w 64 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. the bitter end. Time sped slowly on, and still no sign of No. 2. At last there was a tap at my door, and I made quite sure it was the aspirant for office ; but no, it was my landlady with a letter with the San Francisco postmark. The hand- writing was only too familiar, for I knew it at a glance. It was that of Dottie, one of the dearest and best little Irish girls that ever breathed. Dottie had been a resident in Chicago, where she was employed as a telegraph operator, but had left some months before for a better and similar position in 'Frisco. I shall not enter into any detailed description of her, as thinking of her brings back such painful recollections. I shall, therefore, give the reader the contents of the letter as she wrote it, which will be sufficient to show the relations in which we stood to one another : — "San Francisco, August 25, 18 . " Dearest Trot (poor darling, she always called me Trot. The boys used to say Dot and Trot, the happy couple), — What has become of you ? It seems years since last we met, and ages since I received your last loving letter from far far away. None but myself and God knows how I have missed you, and how I long for you to be once again with me, whispering in my ear that you love me. Oh, you love me still ! You will doubtless think me silly for writing as I do, but I feel so lonely, so very lonely. Darling, forgive me, but is it money that separates us and keeps you silent 1 If so, you can surely let the little Dot who loves you more than life itself be the means of helping you now even as she hopes to in the future. Pray, pray, don't wait to write but telegraph tliat you are on your way to your ever patient and loving "Dottie." Little did I think at the time that this was to be the last, the farewell letter — that never again should I gaze on the IN THE FRONT PARLOUR. 65 face or press the lips of the fair girl who had promised to be my ])ride. Long ere I reached the Golden Gate I learnt that she had gone to rest. 8he was one of a picnic party return- ing from Pataluma, whicli lay across the hay from vSan Fran- cisco, when the steam ferry, whicli was greatly overcrowded, had reached about midway a panic occurred on board. The boat was capsized, and she, witli many others, found a watery grave. Truly in the midst of life we are in death. Had I but known, this story, though begun, would never have been ended. I am, however, in advance of my story, and not being cognisant of the deep sorrow that awaited me, imme- diately sent off word to say that I was coming. I read poor Dottie's letter over and over again, and finally placed it in my pocket-book. The envelope still, however, lay on the table ; and as I looked at it the thought entered my mind that it might be useful for it to contain in lieu of a love letter one of business ; so I set to work and wrote to myself the following unofficial letter : — " 'Frisco, ^«/7?/8f ,18 " Dear Trotter, — I have been expecting to hear from you for some time, but no letter up to the present has reached me. I thought it better to advise you. I am now tlie teller in the Bank and Express Office of Wells, Fargo & Co. They are in immediate want of an escort agent. The billet would exactly suit you. I mentioned your name to the head of the firm, and I feel certain you can obtain the position ; so, if you are not better engaged, pack up your portmanteau iind come at once. Don't forget your credentials. " Ever your old pal, " Ben Carter." " r.S. — Wire if you can come." I had scarciely finished this fictitious document, and put it E 'TT 66 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. 'I I % in the envelope, when No. 2 suddenly made his appearance on the scene. I liad given Mrs Crook orders to show him up at once should he come ; so in he came sans c^Smonie, and liaving wished me good evening, and taken a seat, made the first move by explaining who he was, and his object in trespassing on my valuable time. He then proceeded to give a somewhat lengthened account of his differences with his late partner, Mr Whaylan, and calling him anything but his Christian name. All this time I was looking him over, as he rattled along. He was a commoner sort than No. 1, and would, I felt certain, give me more trouble to trap. " Go it ; take all the rope you want, you '11 hang yourself directly," thinks I. Presently he stopped short for want of breath. " So help me goodness," said I, when he had made an end of his oration. " I don't know what you are driving at. Are you married to your late partner's sister, and want to get a divorce ? If so, I am your man. Have it done in forty-eight hours. Charges, $25 down, and $25 on comple- tion of the business — latter lodged in Court to avoid mistakes." "Phew! married to his sister? Not I ; shouldn't like to be if she is anything like him. What I want is to get even on the hound ; and as I understand you 're a runnin' for the same office as myself, I want to go pards wi' ye, and beat him — dog on him. What do ye say if we do, or are you willing to take a trifle to withdraw from the 'lection altogether, doing all you can to help me ? Como, 1 '11 give you $250 if ye do it, just to spite him. Cuss him." By this time it was getting late, so I thought it would be better to make short work of him. "Well, Mr Phalan," replied I; "this is one of the strangest experiences of my somewhat eventful life. Here am|JI, doing a quiet little business of my own, assailed by two individuals, both having the same aim, viz., bribery, IN THE FRONT PARLOUR. 67 because some friends are desirous of running mo for an office that I care nothing about. Are you aware, sir, that your late partner, Mr Whaylan, has been already with me on a similar mission, the only difference being in the amount, his being $300, whilst you are only offering $250. As I have declined his offer, I 'm not very likely to accept yours. However, I made a proposal to him, and have given him till to-morrow morning at nine o'clock to make up his mind. The money he offered I considered sufficient had I intended to remain in this city on resigning my interest in the elec- tion for tax-collector ; but I have made up my mind to run for the position, or go to California. He and I differed about an extra $50 to defray my expenses to that state. My friends and myself have been put to no small trouble and expense already. It would scarcely pay me to accept of a,ny smaller sum than what I now name — $350. You will see by the contents of this letter," said I, reading it to him, " that I can either go or stay, as it pleases me ; but no amount of money will ever persuade me to withdraw with- out the sanction of my friend, Mr W. King, who has been my chief supporter." " Do you mean to say that that 'ere Whaylan has got ahead of me, and been here afore me? Darn my socks, that's good, and so you giv' him till to-morrow, has jel Are you willing to take the money from me this evening, fer I '11 give it you right away 1 " " Certainly ; but on the condition that Mr King will make no objection to my withdrawing from the contest ; so now if you are willing to ante up the dollars, and confront Mr King, the matter can be settled in ten minutes. I suppose you have the money with you '{ " " Yes, I have the dust all right, so now let us go." On entering the little store, which we quickly reached, we found the King in his usual place behind the bar. There happened to be no customers in, so tipping him the wink, I v,---< 68 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. rm said, " Mr King, this gentleman, Mr Phalan, ia a candidate for the same office as that which you liave l)een to so much troul)le to try and secure for me. I have tliis afternoon received this communication from San Francisco (handing him the letter) offering me a position in a hank. I accident- ally met this gentleman who has kindly offered to defray my expenses to the ahove city, and also refund the sum we have already expended, $350 in all. You, who know my case so well, and how necessary it is for me to obtain the highest wages possible to aid those depending on me, will you think it shabby if I withdraw from the election, and aid this gentleman all you can? by so doing you will increase the debt of gratitude I already owe you." " Well, Mr Trotter," replied the King, " this takes me truly by surprise. You know the trouble I have been to on your behalf, and what the boys in the Ward will say, Lord only knows. However, as you say, I am fully aware of your circumstances, and as you appear to have a good thing on in California, if this man here will hand over the cash to fur- nish the bill, I will stand to you and make it as right as I can with your supporters." The money was paid in cash, and we got rid of No. 2, who departed highly pleased that he had, as he thought, euchered No. 1. As soon as he had gone, I handed over all the cash to King. He was quite surprised at the way I had managed the business. The money received from No. 1 was to be given to the poor of the fourth ward. From the $350, from No. 2, he deducted our expenses for canvassing — $30 ; this left $320, which he handed over to me. The King would keep no further sum himself, and it was agreed that should I be in a position in time to come, this sum should be sent by me as a donation to the City Hospital. It did not take Dick and I long to put our belongings together, and with a well-filled hamper of grub and liquor we bade farewell to the King of the fourth ward, and Chicago. Of : '. -^ IN THE FRONT PARLOUR. 69 the many experiences we had across some 2000 miles of plain and mountain it is not my intention here to give any record ; I must leave them for another yarn, but I must inform the reader that we did eventually reach the Golden Gate of the Golden City. On my arrival, letters were await- ing me at the G.P.O., one of whicli was from the King, and I will wind up this chapter by giving its contents as written by him : — " Dear Joe, — I suppose you and Dick have arrived at San Francisco long ere this. You had not left the city twenty- four hours, when the two lads, who had evidently made up their quarrel, came to my store together, and kicked up an awful racket about the trick we played them. I gave them your address, and advised them to write to the bank president, who I felt sure would see them righted. I was obliged finally to take " Johnny " from the till drawer. At his appearance they withdrew, vowing vengeance, but I have never seen either of them since. The best of the joke is, that a third party, just at the last moment, was started as a candidate, and being very popular in the ward, headed the poll by a largo majority ; he is in office now, doing well and much liked. I hope you like bank work, and I trust to hear of your being president of one, or boss in the Mint. Should I ever require a job, and come across you when you are in either of these exalted positions, I hope you won't forget the poor little King, who started you for tax-collector of the fourth ward, Chicago. Kind regards to Dick. — Truly your friend, " Billy King." r ; ; , ;■' I .. .' 1 70 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. CHAPTER XVll. Setting out for a Buffalo Hunt. ARRIVE at LARAMIE — SET OUT FOR A BUFFALO HUNT — PRAIRIE DOGS. n It was the intention of myself and friend Dick, when we boarded tlie train at Cliieago, to push througli as quickly as locomotive engine would take us to tli«' ''acilic slope; and, had we used a little forethought and scretion, it would have been better for us to have done so. But the spirit of adventure was upon us, and we delayed several days en route. In the ordinary passenger train we sped through the lovely cultivated tields of the States of Illinois and Iowa, and, crossing tlie Missouri river at Counsel Bluff, we reached Omaha, the capital city, situated on the confines of the vast plains of the State of Nebraska. This was the eastern depot of the Union and Central Pacific Railways, which had but a few years been completed. Omaha itself, at the time I am now writing of, was a mere village, with a few streets of wooden buildings ; and it was the rendezvous of some half-civiiised Indians and numerous cowboys, who periodically visited the State capital to fling their hard-earned dollars to the publican, and for a limited period to enjoy themselves by, in cow])oy parlance, " painting the town red," and who, escaping the somewhat disagreeable hospitality of the calaboose, sometimes facetiously called the cooler — or, unless, as it not unfrequently happened, they became the victims of the deadly six-shooter — returned to the outlying / AT LARAMIE. 71 ranches poorer, tliough, I am sorry to aay, not alwaya wiser men. I have used the word "men;" but, de facio^ the ortlioilox cow])oy, whose ago varies from six years to sixty, nciver l)e- comes a man. In the more civilised Stjitcs of the United States, and perhaps in other parts of the world, the- (;ow])oy bears a bad name ; but they are not all so ])ad as fancy paints them : far from it. It is true they are luird drinkers — hard swearers, too, when under the intluenco of intoxicants ; but this is not their true nature, being only due to the fear- ful influence of what is calhnl in the West "tangle-foot whiskey," with which they are primed by greedy and un- principled licensed victuallers. My own exixu-ieucr of tho cowboy is one of kindly feeling, as I have always foinid him, away from drink, kind-hearted to a degree, sharing with you not only his last dollar but even his last crust, and ])rave in defending his comrade, even to death, shoidd it be necessary. My friend and I remained one night at this westin'u town, which, by the way, small as it was, was the only one of any note till you come to Sacramento. At noon the next day we proceeded in the emigrant t^'ain to the West. Tln^re were only two passenger cars attached to the train, which was a long one, the remainder being for freight. Our car contained males only, while No. 2 was s(!t ai)art for married couples and their children. We were a jovial crowd in our compiirtmeut — some good singers and som*^ good nnisicians. The weather was all that could be desired, being the very cream of the American season — " the Fall " — and, what with singing, dancing, yarning, shooting at prairie dogs, and periodical stretches on the boundless prairies whim the train pulled up at a wayside station, right merrily the time slipped by. Nothing of any particular moment occurred till we reached Laramie, which was a military outpost, and consisted of a suiall fort, the railway station, a good sized store, and a 72 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. r hotel. Here our train was run on to a siding to allow the limited mail to pass. In the course of conversation with some of tlie inhabitants who were lounging about the station, we were given to understand that buffalo abounded on the prairies and were now on the move to soutliern latitudes. Being passionately fond of sport, and never having ex- perienced the delights of very big game shooting, I proposed to Dick that we sliould take advantage of tlie privilege we were allowed and break the journey ; and he being as keen as myself on any kind of sporting adventure, readily acquiesced. Bidding adieu to our travelling companions, who continued their journey, we took our trai)S to the hotel. In so small a comnuuiity as was congregated together at Laranue, the news very quickly passed round that a l)race of Britishers had detrained, and were about to form a party and go on a buffalo hunt. Scarcely had we hung up our hats in our small apartments than we were besieged by visitors, offering their services as experienced hunters and guides. As we were perfect greenhorns in the matter of buffalorhuntiug and the navigation of boundless prairies, we took the hotel-keeper's son into our confidence, he being an authority on these matters. Dick and I had nothing ajiproaching to a sporting outfit, iiot even as much as a pistol ; but our young hotel friend was amply supi)lied with all the necessary appliances for camping out and the destruc- tion of wild animals ; and he agreed to furnish us with a couple of saddle-horses, guns and ammunition, as also to provide a pack-mule and Indian cook. The provisions we were to purchase at the general store, and the expenses of the trip were to be equally divided between the three of us. As the horses, guns, and the rest of the paraphernalia necessary were all on the spot, it took but short time to complete our arrangements. So the next morning we were up with the larls and ready for a start, and, without trumpet r -^ • -.. '■>>. -i ON THE PRAIRIE. 73 to sound boot and saddle, but with a final stirrup-cup, we set out on our hunting expedition. The young publican, whom I shall call Bob, led the van and steered us across the arido plains in a north-easterly direction. Our intention was to strike the North Platte River at the nearest point, and then run up it towards its source ; from thence cross over to Suada Lake, and back to Laranue by another track. This, Bob calculated, would take about a week, which was just the right length to suit our expenditure, and to give us a glimpse of Indian life, and, we hoped, a taste of buffalo hump. Of the former we received a superfluous dose ; of the latter, never a bit. On leaving Laramie our route lay through about as uninteresting a tract of country as can possiljly bo hiiagined. No vegetation, no trees, no distant mountains, — nothing but one vast yellow Sahara greeted the eye, with here and there cactus plants and a few tufts of dried-up grass. The monotony of the journey was, however, somewhat varied by the gambols of the prairie dogs, which abound in these parts in millions. Why they are called prairie dogs is and always has been a puzzle to me, for they no more resemble the ordinary specimens of the canine species than they resemble an elephant ; and the only reason I can assign for this misnomer is, that the tiny little animals (which are in fact a species of squirrel) make a noise, as they sit op their haunches at the mouth of their burrows, something like the yelp or whine of a new-born puppy. It may not be generally known, and perhaps may interest the reader to learn, that these little animals never live alone. I daresay the aforesaid reader will hesitate to give credence to what may appear an almost fabulous statement. It is, neverthe- less, a fact that the prairie dog in his kennel has as his associates a rabbity a snake, andl an owl; and how they all manage to agree is a mystery as yet, and likely to remain unsolv(id. wmm 74 f ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. CHAPTER XVIII. I BECOME A MULETBHR. MEETING WITH STRANGERS — SIOUX INDIANS ON THE WAR-PATH — COUNCIL OF WAR — AN OBSTINATE MULE. As we .iourneyed along. Bob, who was highly commimicativo, amused uis with his anecdotes of Indian and i)rairie life. '' I lather cotton on to you, Cap," said lie ; " you and your pard are made up of the right stuff, and I guess you have seen a bit of roughing it in your time. You 're a bit different from some of tliese 'ere coves that come c;-!' way, — all frills and collars. That style don't wash out here on the front. Why, last Fall we had a live lord out here. Ho weren't a bad shot; but as for biliiig a billy, making ti Johjiny cake, or following a trail, wiiy he weren't in it." " Ah ! well, mate, the silver-tails from the old country are mostly good shots, not afraid to rough it, bub, of course, lack the experience of you frontier men." " You won't hnd myself or Dick lack much in the ordi- iiiiry routine of roagli life. We have both had our ups and downs, and, I am thankful to say, up to the present have proved ourselves equal to the occasion." And so our tirst day's journey passed, till, tinally, we reached a small creek or branch of the Platte River, wlu're there were signs, or ratlier many signs, of veg(!tation. On the banks ots, pans, and provisions, seemingly had the most utter dislike to being freighted with a liuman cargo. I liad scarcely got into the w 78 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. saddle when he commenced operations; and although I made strenuous efforts to retain my seat by holding on, as a sjiilor would say, " with a fore and aft grip," I was eventu- ally dislodged, and struck the ground a little bit harder than what I bargained for. " Guess you ain't used to buckin' mules, Cap," remarked my hotel friend, as I arose and shook the dirt off my hat and clothes. "Takes one of us out-westers to ride them 'ere sort." *' I don't believe any one could ride such a brute as that," said T, highly mortified at being so ignominiously brought to earth. "Oh, it's all right, Cap; I'll ride him, or else I'll kill him." I wish to heavens you would, thought I, as then the loss would be only your own. "Mount him quick, boss, and ride him if you can ; if not, for goodness sake, do kill him. These buck-jumping experiments may prove fatal, and I have not the slightest wish to be turned into a dainty dish for Indian Bucks, or soup for their squaws and popooses." Bob made no further reply, but mounted the mule, which at once began a regular prairie pantomime. The play was, however, concluded in one short act ; for by the persuasive influence of a pair of long Californian spurs, and a very severe kind of whip, which is termed a "quirt," Bob finally mast(U'ed the quadruped, and made him travel at a some- what more livc^ly pace than he had hitherto done. On and on we journeyed, every now and again turning round to sec if our pursuers were gaining on us. Our horses began tt) show decided signs of weariness ; and, as it was now quite dark, we (h^cided Uy camp at the Lust place where we should strike water, l)cfore arriving at Laramie, which was yet a good hard day's ride distant. The grass was now once again beginning to be of inferior quality ; and it was absolutely necessary that the animals sliould have both rest and food ; ON THE PRAIRIE 79 for, if in the hour of need they failed us, it was a moral certainty that we should be overtaken by the Indians, and this, of course, meant nothing less than death. Having reached a suitable 2)lace, we again camped until the moon should rise, which, unfortunately for us, would not be till nearly early morn. The services for the niglit of the Indian cook, who was only equalled in laziness ])y the mule, and who,, Bob considered, might, on a pinch, not prove quite reliable, were therefore discarded. Dick, Bob, nnd myself determined to keep watch and watch sibout, leaving the half- breed to take it out in sleep. It may not be out of place here to state that the noble- minded Indian depicted by some writers is either ^a myth, or must entirely have died out before my time. My experi- ence in Labrador, and in British North-West America for some years, never in any way disclosed to me the nobility of the Redskin ; and the half-breed, who combines the cunning (without the bravery) of a pure bred Indian, with all the vices of his white parent, is in evTy way inferior to the "brave" in war paint and feathers. The half-breed is more useful in many ways, and that is about all you can say in his favour. I have come across one or two reliable Indians among the Hydras on Puget Sound, but they were few and far between. The hiring of Indians, either half })reed or otherwise, is a mistake, unless for mme special purpose , and it rather reminds me of a remark made by a Southern American, whom I met on my travels, as regards the hiring of niggers. "Niggers, sir," said this Individual, "are all very well in tboir way. You hire them to do a bit of work; you then hire; a mulatto to boss 'em ; and y- n have to sit up half the iiifcjlit to watch the lot." 80 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. CHAPTER XIX. Attack and Defeat of the Redskins. A HASTY retreat — FIGHT WITH THE INDIANS — RESCUED BY CAVALRY. But to resume my narrative. By mutual consent the first watch was to be mine, as it would not require so much care- ful watching. I badly needed rest, as, besides the constant riding, I was somewhat shaken by my fall from off the mule. There is no use in denying it, but I certainly felt nervous as regards our safety ; and I was very thankful when my hour and a half was up and I could call Dick to relieve me. Not- withstanding my anxiety, when I once got rolled up in my blanket, with my saddle for a pillow, I qui(;kly fell into sweet slumber. The time must have passed rapidly away, as it seemed to me but a few minutes since I had lain down, when I was aroused by Dick, ^vlio whispered in my ear : — "Get up quick. Bob says he has seen a light away back, and the Redskins can't be iuore than a few miles off." In the meantime Bob and the lialf-breed were getting the horses ready, Avhich was soon a(;complished ; and once more we W(ire in the saddle. To lighten the burden on our animals, v'c pitched away our blankets ; and my horse, which was the worst of t])(? lot, was turned loose on the prairie, I taking I^ob's horse, wliile he again mounted the mule, which, on this occjision was, I am glad to say, quite docile. Wc wasted no time at breakfast, but, taking the ON THE PllAlRIE. 81 fraginoiits of bacon and Johnny-cake, made tlieni into im- l)roniptu saiidwiclies, and ate them as we cantered al(jng. "AV(i sliall have a narrow squeal for it, old pard," reniarkc^d BoIj to me, as we jogged along; "they ain't many miles behind us by the distant light I saw. If tlu^y bo lilackfeet they have some sniiirt ponies ; and as they always have plenty of 'em, too, I 'm thinking we will have our work cut out with these tired quads, to reach the settlement 'ere these red devils overtake us. AVell, if they do, there is no help for it. Stick close together and earth 'em before they get to close quarters with their bows and arrows. This little creature," said he, holding up the Winchester he had in his hand, " is good for a dozen of 'em any way. I guess you and your mate have been under fire before now, so I reckon you won't scare." "Well, Bob, I don't know about the scare part; but I '11 promise you both Dick and I will stand by you as long as there's a shot in the locker. How about yon half-breed ? " " Oh ! he will be all right. lie knows me too well to play any smart trick when I 've my eye on him. If he did I 'd down him, first act." After about two hours hard riding daylight gi'adually began to appear, and a little later on the sun in all its western splendour broke forth in the distant horizon. "We have a good start of 'em. Cap," remarked Bob; " but they have been up and about some time, and are once more following up our trail. Look at yon dust ! That 's tlicim ; and see, by heavens, there 's more of 'em," said he, })ointing to the east; "tlie cunning devils must have fol- lowed up the ti'ail to the spot where we parted company with the two hunters ; some of 'em must have then separated from tlie trilic and run on their tracks. Those two men, however, were welJ mounted ; s(i the Kinlskins evidently gave up that chnsc;, and are now trying to cut off our retreat. We may thank ct paradise. Vineyards and orchards abounded outside the city, while the 4reets within were neat and regular. Rows of olives and other trees were planted along the sidewalks, and rivulets flowed througli the i)rincipal streets. Dick and I visited the Tabernacle am many other places of note in the town. The king of the Moriix »ns, Brigham Young, was away from home, so we had not the iiomoir of seeing him ; but we got an out- side view of the house in which he reigned supreme. As my friend and I were bachelors, 'ud as every one in Salt Lake City appear^'d to be very mucii married, we decided to remain but the one night ; so after being comfortably housed and fed during our short stay, the next morning w(} decamped, and af^ Photographic Sciences Corporation :3 WeST MA»N STREET WEBSTE:„r Y. U580 (716) 877-4503 'i ¥i 86 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. I I went smoothly till we reached a small station called Battle Mountain. At this place fresh troubles commenced. Some well-known cardsharpers — three-card "monte" players — came aboard the cars. The conductor and train officials evidently connived in their thieving conspiracies, as although owing to their disguises as farmers r,nd countrymen the unfortunate emigrants mistook their avocation ; yet, as we finally dis- covered, these very officials, who ought to have been a safe- guard to us, were actually standing in with the " Forties," as they are called, to defraud the travelling public. There were three passenger cars attached to this train, and the centre car in which Dick and I were was the one selected for carrying on the game. At first there was only a little manoeuvring on the part of the cardsharpers to select gullible victims after starting from Battle Movmtain, and the boss of the gang — who was dressed as a common country bumpkin — in order to make his disguise more complete and less like that of a professional gambler, limped about the aisle of the car on crutches, as if to give the impression that he was recovering from an accident. At the end of our car were a lot of Germans, lately hailing from the "Vaterland," and here the scoundrels trusted to find their victims. The man just described rejoiced in the name of Slim Jim, and his right-hand man, who dealt the cards, was a notorious " monte " dealer, Canadian Bill. There was one other noteworthy individual in the crowd, Slippery Bill, and one or two others less famous, made up the sharpers' party. A green baize cloth and cards were produced, and at first the sliarpers played among themselves. Big Jim, the countryman, being the winner, and acting his part to p(^rf('ction. After some tinu> Slim Jim, who was the cashier and partner of the Canadian, was, by the rules of the game, completely bankru]>t, but the Canadian came to the rescue with his watch which he laid down against part of the spoil that the c(nnitryman had already annexed. This IN THE TRAIN. 87 time the Canadian won ; but they had a mock dispute over it, and, after some high words on both sides, it was finally left to the arbitration of the unfortunate German onlookers. Thus, after some time, the unwary foreigners were gradually drawn into the game, and one unfortunate Dutchman was eventually fleeced of all his ready cash. He also, thinking to recover his losses, was in the act of mortgaging his watch and chain for a final effort, but his travelling companion persuaded him not to make the venture. This interference caused a general row, for Slim Jim jumped up and gave the unsuspecting foreigner a terrible blow on the side of the head. The latter, however, who was a powerful young fellow and did not lack courage, was just in the act of returning the blow, when Slippery Bill drew his six-shooter, and, placing it against the victim's temple, threatened to send him to eternity if he moved a hand. I was seated in the centre of the car, watching the game at a distance ; and when, soon after the fracas commenced, the group of " monte " players with the two Germans came up the aisle, I thought there was going to be a free figlit. I was just in the act of moving, when a sight caught my eye which made my heart almost cease to beat. The weather being hot, the windows at the ends of the cars were open, and, as I glanced towards the rear car, I caught sight of a gentleman quietly taking aim with a shot-gun at the " monte " players. I quickly dropped behind the seat in front of me, and not one second too soon ; for, although the gentleman aimed at the bull's-eye, owing to a sudden jerk on the part of the train, he made an outer, and nearly the whole of the charge of his gun was lodged in the back of the seat that I had just vacated. This led to a general stampede on the part of the sharpers, some of whom re- ceived one or two pellets in their persons. A lot of miners who were in the front car rushed in with loaded revolv<3rs, and the " Forties " made a bolt for the conductor's caboose, 88 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. i:f. where they took refuge for a time only. The conductor stopped the train, and the scoundrels made their escape; but as they were left some hundreds of miles away from civilisation, they must have had a lively time of it. The passengers, however, made the conductor pay the penalty ; for they locked him up, and one of the miners took charge of the train till we arrived at Reno, on the borders of California. There, in spite of all remonstrance, the conductor was thrust off the train for good ; and if I am rightly informed he never regained his position. This was also the last trip of the "monte" players on the Pacific Railroad, as they had to fly for their lives to the wilds of Montana. I may here state that these villains had already sacrificed the lives of over three hundred emi- grants. Their favourite mode of operation was to persuade the traveller to come and sit in the cool on the platform outside the car; and then, watching their opportunity, to shove their unsuspecting victim off the car. They would then proceed to the next station, where they would leave the train and obtain horses to ride back and rob the unfortunate dead or badly-mutilated traveller. These land- pirates eventually came to fearful deaths; but, with the exception of Canadian Bill, I never beheld one of them again. After leaving Reno the train quickly brings you across the borders of California, thence it takes its wending track through the Mountains, passing over trestle bridges, which cross tlie caflons and mountain passes. Quickly you flasli by the old trail, over which so many pioneers steered their way to death or wealth during the first out- break of the gold fever in '48 and '49. Reaching Sacra- mento, you pass througli the valley of the same name on to Stockton, in the vicinity of which town are the remains of the once famous alluvial diggings, with their sluice-boxes and wing-dams still remaining as monuments of the labours IN FRISCO. 89 of the daring miners. Finally, the train comes to its tor- minus at Oakland, where, taking the ferry, you are quickly landed in the golden city of 'Frisco. i CHAPTER XXT. Slinging Hash. GAR^ON IN NAME — DRUMMING FOR A LIQUOR STORE — A SLICE OF LUCK. On our arrival at the Californian cai)ital, owing to our Buffalo expenses and other extravagances on the trip, Dick and I found our monetary resources very greatly reduced. We had, however, sufficient funds to carry us on at some cheap hotel for one week. This hotel we found, and having paid for our accommodation in advance, it hohooved us to make every exertion to obtain employment at short notice. Dick, being more of an expert than myself in turning his liand to the first chance that offered, succeeded without much difficulty in securing a job in a livery stable ; but poor I, after making every effort to obtain some kind of gentle- manly jiosition, was finally reduced to the alternative of becoming a waiter at a hotel, or waiting some considerable time* for something better. There was no help for it ; so I hired out as what is called, in western phraseology, a "hash- slinger." I am not likely to forget my first experience in that capacity. Of course, under existing circumstances, I had to pretend that I was quite au fait in the business ; but the hotel steward thought otherwise. So I was told off 1-1 JC > ic 90 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. k n \H M to wait on the "Hoosiers" (farmers), only the swells being attended to by the more expert waiters. My debut on the first evening at 6.30 dinner was a decided failure, inasmuch as owing to my awkwardness in bringing up some dishes from the kitchen, whence I had to ascend several steps, I slipped, and the dishes and their contents were numbered among the fallen. My second attempt was even worse, for, on entering the dining-saloon with two plates of soup, after very careful manipulation in my ascent, I had succeeded in serving one plate, but in setting down number two the gentleman whom I was al)out to serve bobbed his head to one side. His cranium coming in contact with the dish, the scorching hot fluid was upset, and, much to his annoyance, was discharged down the back of his neck. This caused a fearful row, and thinking it was best to retire, I did so as quickly as possible and took refuge in the pantry. Of course, I felt quite certain I should be ignominiously dis- missed; but the steward was a good sort of fellow, and taking compassion on my inexperience, he placed me in the responsible position of boss of the pantry. My duties in this capacity were easy, and very much more to my taste than those of waiter. My business now was to take charge of and clean the silver and glassware, to arrange the flowers and dessert on the table, and to bear a hand, on a pinch, in the dining-room. By gradual and incessant practice I became quite handy in my vocation, and so far improved in handling dishes that I was quite able to take the onus of serving one or two guests at a time without making any particular faux pas. I had held my position as pantryman for close on two months, when, to my surprise, one morning I was told by the steward that the hotel pro- prietor wished to see me in his office. I was indeed highly delighted when the boss informed me that, if I could read and write, and keep a few accounts, he could give me a little better position. I told him I had been well educated, ' V'*^ f- IN FRISCO. m and, to prove my abilities, I wrote him a letter as a specimen of my handwriting and orthography. The sample being satisfactory, he informed me that the night-clerk in the office was leaving, and I could fill the vacancy if I chose. This was an unexpected rise, and a very fair berth, the salary being |60 (equal to £12) per month, with plenty of good food and a nice bed to sleep in. This billet, however, I did not hold very long ; for, as luck would have it, after a month's service in the office the pro- prietor's brother died, and the deceased having made a con- siderable sum of money, which he bequeathed to the hotel- keeper, the latter determined to leave the business, which was therefore sold, and a fresh landlord took possession. Whether it was that I did not suit the new boss, or that he did not suit me, matters little ; but, within a week after his taking the reins, I resigned my position and left. During my sojourn at the hotel I had made a few friends, or perhaps I had better call them acquaintances. Now, the height of my ambition was to obtain employ- ment as a commercial traveller, or, as they are called in America^ a " drummer." To obtain my object, I entered into negotiations with a wine merchant to make me his traveller, should a vacancy occur. As he had promised faithfully to keep his word, I went to his office on leaving the hotel. I told him how I was situated, and I was glad to hear from him that the chances of my being sent on the road were good, as his traveller was about to leave him in about three weeks' time. " Meanwhile, Joe," said the merchant, " as you are out of a job, if you don't mind a little hard work, I have a large consignment of goods coming from Europe, and I want a man to help my foreman ; wages, $3 '50 per diem." "Oh! that's good enough forme, boss; I'll accept your offer, with thanks, and will endeavour to give you satis- faction." W: ¥ 1 V ■'^ p* . . 92 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. •I i i tf'- 1 I worked away for over two weeks, till the goods were unpacked, repacked, and put away ; and, just as I had com- pleted my job, the traveller left. Of course I felt certain that I should at once step into his shoes ; but in this I was sadly mistaken, inasmuch as, on making my application, the wine merchant informed me he was awfully sorry, but a former traveller of his had applied for the billet, and, as that gentleman knew all his old customers, he had to give him the preference. This I considered to be very sharp practice, and I made up my mind that, if an opportunity occurred, I would have my revenge. That opportunity came sooner than I expected. An Englishman who kept a saloon, whose house I used to patronise for my daily allowance of Lager beei and bread and cheese, was the medium through which I had become acquainted with the wine merchant, and he was one of the latter's best customers. Strolling up as usual about lunch time to the saloon, I informed the proprietor how I had been treated, and he fully concurred with me that the wholesale dealer of wines and spirits had not acted quite on the square ; so it was settled between myself and him that the merchant should suffer for his breach of faith. On making inquiry of his bar-tender, my saloon-keeper learned that he was in immediate want of a fresh supply of brandy ; so he at once gave pie an order for a hogshead, telling me to receive my commission (which would be about £12), and to get the liquor where I pleased, as long as it was three-star Hennesey, cash on delivery. Armed with the order, I at once proceeded to the office of my late employer, whom I met at the entrance of the store, and who, after politely saluting me, told me he had no opening for me that day. "Oh! it's all right, boss," said I. "I'm not seeking a job now ; I 'm working on my own hook — got a kind of roving commission — and I 've just come round to see if you would like to fill an order I have on hand." >i.i IN FRISCO, 93 " Oh ! certainly, Joo, if it's all right." " Oh ! it 's all right enough, and I guess you will say so when I tell you the order comes from W. A. Hughes of Clay Street. He wants a 63-gallon hogshead of brandy sent up at once, c.o.d." " Oh ! yes, he 's all right, Joe, and the brandy shall be sent up at once, and thank you very much." " Oh ! no thanks required, boss ; it 's only a matter of business : how about my little commission ? " " Why, my good man, you don't suppose I 'm going to pay you anything on orders from W. A. Hughes ? He is one of my best and oldest customers, and I always call on him myself." " All that may be true, boss, but you missed this time ; and I want 60 dollars, hard cash ; otherwise don't send it, and I will order it elsewhere." I was just about to move out of his store, when he called me back ; and, of course, in the end I got the dollars. What was more, a friend of mine in the liquor trade took a holi- day, and, being well known in the city, introduced me to the proprietors of several saloons. I succeeded, during the course of the afternoon, in obtaining some sixty orders for case goods, quite a number of which proved to be those of old customers of my late employer ; so I took them to him to show him that I was a competent traveller. He was anxious to execute one and all of the orders, and offered all kinds of inducements to me to be permitted to do so. But I had made up my mind he should not have them, and he was quite furious when I informed him that I had already made arrangements, and intended taking them to another firm. By working independently I gradually got up quite a nice little trade, and in a few months had some five hundred dollars to my credit at the bank. It was at this period of my chequered career in America that an opening occurred which, had I taken advantage of S :l 94 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. !■ 4 ill .13 I, it, might have led to my becoming, if not wealthy, at least tolerably independent. At the time I am now writing of, the silver mines at Virginia City, Nevada, were by far the richest then known in the western hemisphere, or perhaps in the world. The firm of Messrs Mackay, Faire, Flood, and O'Brien, who controlled the famous Comstock Lode, was now at the very zenith of its prosperity; and, pro- bably, since the early days of '49 there was no such specula tion in mining operations offered to the public as the Stock Exchange at 'Frisco afforded in '74. Indeed, everyone in the Golden City was more or less interested in the rise and fall of shares in the different mines — from the millionaire to the bootblack, from the wife of the former to her cook and her general help or m.'ud-of-all-work. All were dabling in shares or mining scrip of some sort or another. The wealthy found themselves ruined, and the poor suddenly awoke to tind themselves enriched. It was at the close of the year aforementioned that one day, on going into the saloon for lunch, as was my wont, and having had refresh- ment, I was surprised by the proprietor beckoning me into his little office. "Trotter," said he, "I have asked you in here to make a proposition for your welfare. Outside my business in the saloon, I speculate a bit on the Stock Ex- change. Some old friends of mine have just arrived from Virginia City, and, on the quiet, they have given me to under stand that Crown Point Stock is about to run up. I have already invested some few thousand dollars in the mine, and if you have a little spare cash wliicli you are willing to in- vest, I think I can give you a chance of making some money. The stock is now selling at about two dollars a share, and, according to the information I have received, is likely to go up within the next few weeks." As I placed implicit con- fidence in my friend's statement, I immediately sat down and wrote him a cheque for $500. In less than three weeks I found myself the lucky possessor of $7500, or a ■: ?--' IN FRISCO. 95 littl(! over £1500. This bit of success, of course, higlily elated me, and, had I followed the advice of my friemi, there is no doubt that I should have made considerable profits. But success did not suit me, and now, having some means at my command, and, like many others, think- ing I knew all about mining speculations, I foolishly made up my mind to act independently. Thus, to my sorrow, I invested my gains, and some few pounds as well, in the Emma Mine. This, I considered, was a good speculation, Jts it was placed in the English market by one of the most influential financiers at that time in the old country. Alas ! it proved to be a bubble, and after vain endeavours to pay the various calls that were levied on me, I eventually had to abandon my rights, and I once more found myself penniless. CHAPTER XXII. Old Tom White. SANOMA VALLEY — REPAIRING CASTLE REYNOLDS. This last disaster caused me to be very much down on my luck, and what to do n?xt I knew not. I was thinking of once more trying my hand as a waiter, when an unexpected help came to my rescue, in the shape of an old man-o'-wars man. Tom Wliite was one of the right sort, with a big heart — alas ! there are no such hearts in these days. We both frequented the same saloon for a midday meal, and many a yarn had the kind old man spun to me of his sea- faring life and his early experience in California when 1 i M--'^ 96 K..jaHINa IT AFTER GOLD. ho arrived at tho diggings in '49. Wo becamo fa.it frionds, and to him I related all my troubles. "Bless your heart," said tho old salt ; " that 's nothing. I Ve been In'oke scores of times since I came to California. Many and many 's the time every stitch of canvass I possessed has been carried away, and I have had to run under ])are poles. This old craft has experienced some heavy gales ; but I always managed, somehow or other, to wetither the storm and reach land in safety at last. Look here," continued the old sailor, " I 've got a few dollars, not nuiny, but sufficient to keep us both for a while. I 'm going into the country to-morrow. The pruning season is now on. What say you ? will you come along and do a bit of vine-trimming ? " Wearied of city life, this new idea quite delighted me, so the next morning found old Tom and myself crossing the bay in a steamer. Having landed at Pateluma, we took the coach which was awaiting our arrival, and the same evenmg we were comfortably housed in the village inn at Sanoma. This antiquated place, with its few wooden shanties and old Mexican adoby or mud-hciises, takes its name from the county of which it is the capital, situated in one of Cali- fornia's fairest valleys, surrounded by gently sloping hills, covered with vineyards from base to summit, with, here and there scattered, lovely clumps of cedar, and pearly streamlets, dashing from the hill-sides and falling into a larger stream, which seems to dance along as it wends its way to the sea. This beautiful panorama of nature gives to the weary traveller the idea of perfect peace. It did so to me, and I felt happy. Tom White had a friend in tlie village, an old English merchant captain. Having partaken of supper, we took a stroll to call on him and his hospitable wife. Warm was the meeting betweei these two old salts, and they seemed to revel in the delight of recalling to their memories the '' . -T »i ■ IN SANOMA. 97 (lays of their early life. The dear old couple invitr . Tom and myself to share their humble board, till such time aa wo should succeed in obtaining employment. So, the next day, we took up our abode with them. The sea captain was old, in fact too old to work, so it was decided that, for our board and lodging, Tom and I should set his little home in order. The old captain was unable to do it himself, and, with his scanty means, he could not afford to pay a liired hand ; consequently the little place was sndly n(»glecte(l and out of repair. I and my mate here will soon set everything straight, " for you, Reynolds," said old Tom, aa the three of us vvalked round the pi niises, Tom taking an inventory of what had to be done. The next morning my mate and I were up with the sun and commenced work gaily ; wo laboured togetlier, day by day, till at the end of a fortnight you could scarcely recognise the old ramshackle dwelling and its surroundings, so greatly was it changed by the ingenuity of the old seaman. The fence was straightened up and whitewashed, t^ 3 orchard and tiny vineyard pruned. The creepers on the house were trained, and neatly arranged on the trellis-work of the little home, and many other improvements were made in the general surroundings. I can see the old sailor's smiling face, as he glanced at the work as it proceeded : "There, Joe, that's ship-shape ; ain't iti Can't beat an old navy man for setting things to rights." How he used to storm at poor me when I was awkward, in upsetting a white-wash bucket, letting the brush fall on the ground, or letting go a guy-rope too soon. But of this T took but little notice. IS^othing would raise his wrath more than when he used to sing out : " That 's the way we do in the navy," and I replied, " Ah ! I had a diffe^rent way of fixing these tilings when I was in the army." " How was that 1 you lobsters are all duffers alxmt painting, ])olishing up, and hauling on a pulley." " Simply this, Tom, whenever there was any need of O V, <4 .J f 98 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. i» , polishing up, as you call it, I generally used to get another fellow to do it for re, and quietly look on." At these words the angry looks would instantly vanish, and the old Salt would brighten up. The honest hand would be ex- tended, and the sailor, who was a gentleman by nature, would apologise for having hurt my feelings. Tom "White knew my early career in the service. Sometimes people passing by and seeing our handiwork would come and com- pliment us on the improvements we were making, and ask us, when we got through this job, to come round to their places and fix them up. "I'll tell you what it is, Joe," said he to me, one day, after we had been interrogated as to prices, &c., "I believe you and I can make a good business at this kind of work." "Oh ! yes," said I, " Tom, you and I will form a syndicate or a limited liability company of two. No capital and no risks. We will contract and remodel every homestead in the neighbourhood." This to me was a delightful idea, but our hopes were never realised ; as, when we went round to some of the parties who had made inquiries of us, they put us off. Some had not the money just then, others would wait a bit, and so on. Thus our schemes came to naught; and having finished the adornment of Castle Reynolds, it behoved us to trespass no longer on the hospi- tality of our present entertainers. Those were halcyon days to me ; but, like a dream, they quickly passed away. IN SANOMA VALLEY. 99 CHAPTi:R XXIII. I WOULD BE A Carpenter.' SAWING A TREE PRUNING A VINEYARD — HOW TO MAKE A GATE. Through the influence of Ids friend Captain Reynolds, Tom, who was very wise in the rearing and bringing up of chickens and other domestic fowls, was offered a position as boss of a small chicken ranch e, wdiich he accepted. I there- fore bade adieu to my kind host and his wife, and took up my abode at a small inn, in the village, which was frequented by the labouring classes. I felt very very lonely at being separated from my good old partner ; and I was not sorry when, two days later, a farmer from the country drove into the village and hired me to help his boy to saw up a large fallen tree. " You can handle a cross-cut saw, I suppose," said the farmer, as he drove me in his cart. " Oh yes, sir ; I 'm right good in timber, I was brought up in the backwoods in Ireland." " In Ireland ! why, I thought as how it 's all bogs in that country." " That 's true, sir ; but in these very bogs flourish the finest trees that grow. You must have heard of the famous Irish bog oak. It 's precious costly timber, I can tell you ; worth from $1 to $1'50 per inch. That 's the kind of lumber I 've been used to work in." "Oh ! well ; my bit of a job won't require so much care ; so I guess you and the boy will be able to saw up an old red W7^ 100 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. wood tree." The next morning, immediately after breakfast, the boy and myself, accompanied by the farmer, repaired to the fallen tree. It was a big tree, several feet in diameter ; and I must say I did not half like the look of it : in fact, I quite dreaded the carving of it up. The cross-cut had been sharpened and reset for the occasion, and the farmer and the boy commenced operations. In their skilful hands, the saw seemed to glide through the timber with surprising ease, and within the space of a few minutes a deep incision had been made. The farmer, who had other duties to look after, finally relinquished his end of the saw to me, and I was very thankful when, having given his last injunction to be careful not to bend the teeth, he took Idmself off. Going to work with a will, for a time, the saw moved smoothly enough ; but gradually, I presume through my pressing on it too much, it commenced to drag ; until finally it was only by means of t,errible tugs we could get it to go at all. " Something the matter with this blessed saw, mate," said I, pulling up, quite out of breath with over-extrtion. " Teeth gone wrong, and have to go to the dentist, I 'm thinking, before we can do any more. Guess you ain't used to cross- cut saws, are you ? " " I was just thinking the same of you," said the boy sharply. "That's where you're out, my lad. I'm used to all kinds of saws, from the ordinary hand-saw to the machine buz-saw. It's no use," said I, making another desperate lunge to try and get th(; instrument to glide through. " You 'd better take it to the boss, and tell him it 's got the toothache, and wants resetting." " Shan't do nothing of the sort. Go yourself," said the boy, now breaking into a whimper. To the boss I took it, and maybe he did not kick up a row as lie glanced his eye down the row of teeth. IN SANOMA VALLEY. 101 a " Why, dang it ! I only had it set this morning, and now it's all out of gear, and as crooked as a ram's horn." " Yes," said I, "it went all right for a while, but wo struck a knot, and so injured it." The end of it was that the saw was taken to the black- smith's and once more reset ; and, by careful manipulation and plenty of grease, the tree was eventually cut up into blocks. On the ensuing Saturday night I fully expected to receive my walking papers ; but, on receiving my week's wages, I was agreeably surprised when the boss inquired if I could prune, and would undertake to cut his vineyard. Of course I replied in the affirmative ; but as my knowledge of vines was limited, how to set about the work on the follow- ing Monday I knew not ; and the only way I could see out of the difficulty was to go into town, spend Sunday th(U'o, and endeavour to get some instructions. This plan jiroved a success, as the innkeeper with whom I stayed fortunately had a few vines in his back garden ; and early on Sunday morning he quickly initiated mo into the mysteries of prun- ing them. " You 're working with ]\Ir Downs, ain't you ? " said the publican. " Yes." " Well, before you go to work, ask him if he wants a real good crop this year, or if you are to cut 'em so as to have a moderate one and a better one the next vintage. lie in only a yearly tenant, and will give up the farm after next harvest. He is certain to wish for the former, and this will give you more scope to hack away at the vines and make him think you know all about the business." On Sunday evening I returned to the farm, so as to bo ready to set to work the next morning. I followed the advice of the publican, and interrogated the boss as to his wishes ab(jut the vines. The publican proved to bo quite right in his conjectures; and a good crop at the coming JI.IIIJ lll 102 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. grape-picking being the most desirable, I proceeded to strip the vines of their superfluous tendrils. I was getting along, as I considered, first rate, when the boss came along to watch my handiwork. " Why, darn it all ! ye 're aplayin' the mischief with them vines ! Why, ye 're a cutting of 'em all to pieces ! they '11 grow nothin'." " Well, boss, I don't know how you folks work vineyards in this country, but in the south of France, where I worked for some time, this is the method used to ensure a big single crop." Well, the upshot of my pruning dehut was that he per- mitted me to finish the work, wliich took me about ten dayc. I then left, and never saw him again ; but many months afterwards I was rather surprised to hear from old Tom AVhite my pruning had turned out quite a success. I was now not only getting pretty handy at the ordinary routine of farm life, but was also becoming pretty well known in the neighbourhood. So I was not many days out of employ- ment. I rested for a short time and then hired out to another farmer, an ex-Southern judge. With him I had very com- fortable quarters ; and he being a gentleman of the good old Southern type, treated his employee with all due respect. The work I had to do was, however, arduous, and especially trying to the hands. My daily task was to point stakes to be driven into the ground, and to wlii(;h were tied the grow- ing vines. I suffered very much from lilisters caused by the continual use of the hatchet ; but I stuck to the work man- fully, and gave my employer every satisfaction. So pleased was lie with the way in which I and another man, named Brookes (who wjis also engaged at the same work), had com- pleted our task, that, when we had finished all that he had for us to do, he got us immediate employment with another farmer to ])ut \\\) about two miles of post and plank fencing. IN SANOMA VALLEY. 103 This gentleman was immensely wealthy, and, besides owning a large farm, was also the sole proprietor of the Sanoma Bank. It is curious how he came to be worth so much money ; but the history of his obtaining it was simply this. Some few years back he had emigrated with his wife from the State of Missouri. By hard work and prudence he had put together a few dollars, and shortly after his arrival he saw an opening in which to invest his capital. Leaving San Francisco he and his wife travelled south, and hogs being cheap he bought up every one he could get hold of ; and he and his wife together drove their swine back to the city, and sold them at an immense prolit. With this money he bought his farm, and, still having a surplus, he lent out the remainder at large interest to the surrounding community. Thus it happened that, at the time I entered his service, this man, who could scarcely read or write, was to all intents and purposes the owner of at least one-third of the lovely valley of Sanoma. He was shrewd and saving, but I can't sav he was a hard taskmaster ; inasmuch as he fed us well, housed us well, and as long as we did what he called the square thing, never pushed us in our work. Brookes and myself had been engaged on the plank fence some few days, when, one fine morning after breakfast, the agricultural banker informed me he had another job he wanted done. " In the lower field, Joe, there is a gap in the fence which is stopped up with a few rails. I want these removed and a gate put up. The posts are all ready set in their proper places, and the top bar for the roller is nailed on j so there won't be much trouble in hanging the gate." " Oh, no, sir ; I think I can do that much. But where is the gate ? " " Oh ! that 's just it ; there 's none at present, but there is lots of spare lumber and plenty of tools, and I want you to make one. The old judge in liis note to me told me as how p .04 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. you and Brookes were pretty liandy in timber, so I suppose you can execute the job." This was a regular stumper. I could manage to drive a nail into a plank, but when it came to any mechanical work, why, of course, I was clean out of the hunt. However, 1 told my boss that I would do my best, and, as he was going away to spend the day at a neighbouring village, I was in •hopes I might be able to influence Brookes — who was really a smart hand — to construct the gate. Having seen the banker off the premises, I immediately laid bare to my fellow- labourer my trouble ; but he, for reiisons best known to him- self, refused point-blank to move in the matter. Left to my own resources, I collected the requisite lumber, as it is called in America, and with a box of carpenters' tools — scarcely any of which I knew how to use — I sauntered down the road to inspect the gap. How I hated that gap, and longed for the timely aid of good old Tom White ; but he, unfor- tunately, was some miles oflF, looking after his hens and roosters. I sat down and commenced to turn over in my mind the best method to begin the work in contemplation. But it was no use ; practical knowledge was wanting, and not for the life of me could I hit on any fixed plan. I had almost made up my mind to chuck up the sponge, and inform my employer, on his return in the evening, that the task he had set me was beyond the scope of my mechanical capacity, when on glancing across the road I beheld a gate which was exactly the kind my boss required, " By George ! " thought I, " I 'm blessed if 1 don't take that for a sample ; and, if I am not much mistaken, I shall yet succeed." Crossing over I carefully examined the gate ; but 1 was much put out when I found that in order to take the true dimensions it would be necessary to take the gate down. However, I was not to be done ; so, putting on as bold a face as possi])le, I trip})ed over to the neat little cottage, which was I it a few yards oft'. On my tapping at the door. IN S A NOMA VALLEY. 105 a prim, clean-looking widow lady answered the summons, and she was not a little astonished when I informed her of the nature of my errand. At first she refused my request ; but, on my explaining to lier who I was, and that my employer, the banker, had taken a fancy to her gate, and had ordered me to make one exactly like it, she — chancing to bo a little on the wrong side of the banker's books — finally consented. " You must block up the entrance, and put the gate back before dark," said she, as I was turning away, which I pro- mised to do, and I kept my word. Having so far gained my ends, I now set to work with a will. I copied that gate with the exactness of the Chinaman, who, when ordered to duplicate an old oil painting, did so, including dilapidations. By sundown the work was completed, which, in the hands of any ordinary carpenter, would have been accomi)lishod in a few hours. Of course the boss asked me on his return in the evening if I had made the gate, and I felt rather proud to be able to answer liim in the alfirmative. The next morning he came down to inspect the fruits of my previous day's labour, with which he was highly pleased. I, how- ever, felt precious small ; and maybe he was not rather astonisln^d, when we came to hang the gate up, to lind that although of the projjer height, it was just about a foot too long. "Why ! dash it all, this gate's no good; it don't fit, and must be made over again." As he was returning to the house he told me he would send Brookes down to help me, and he expected between us the gate would be up l^y dinner-time. Now I was vexed with Brookes for not helping me, and I determined he should not assist me now. So, as soon as I got the boss off, I once more stepped over to the old lady, and borrowed a spade. I dug up one of the posts, cut off the necessary lengths from the planks of the fence, and, quickly making 106 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. a fresh post hole, with the help of a boy who chanced to be passing, in a very short time had the gate up and in running order. Presently the banker reappeared on the scene, accompanied by Brookes, and when he saw the gate up, I explained to him that I had never made one before, and, not knowing how to begin, had taken a true copy of the old lady's gate over the way. But, instead of being angry with me, as I fully expected, he leaned against the fence and roared with laughter. I remained with the banker for some weeks longer after this event, but when the fence was finished, he having no further employment for us at the time, Brookes and I were paid off. be ne. f IN SANOMA VALLEY. 107 id, )ld Lth nd ne he CHAPTER XXIV. Friendship Betrayed. A FALSE FRIEND — RETURN TO 'fRISCO — START FOR VANCOUVER ISLAND — ARRIVE AT VICTORIA. As luck would have it, just at this time I received intima- tion that a remittance had arrived for me from the old country ; so 1 determined to return to 'Frisco, and endeavour to obtain a berth as a reporter on one of the local journals. It was on a Saturday evening when I took leave of my em- ployer, and, as there was no boat till Monday morning crossing the bay, Brookes and I took up our old quarters at the village inn. My fellow-labourer and myself, although we had received very good wages, neither of us having practised economy during our stay in the valley, had no very large sum to our credit. Indeed, when we had paid up our few liabilities, I had but about $25, equal to £o, and Brookes very little more. We both oc(?upied the same room, and during the course of conversation he gave me to understand he was a cousin of the once famous actor of that name, who went down in the "London." He also informed me he held a certificate as second mate stowed away in a box which the proprietor of a boarding-house in 'Frisco, Avhere he lodged for a while, had detained, he not being able to pay his bill. The sum he now lacked to redeem his sea-chest was about $15. He had been anything but kind to me during our short acquaintance ; nevertheless, out of my hard earnings, I proffered him the amount. He, however, declined the offer. I had in my possession a warm jacket that I had ;l vl 'A n SI ¥ 108 ROUOHINO IT AFTEK GOLD. I brought from tho old country, and on Sunday morning lie cumo to mo iind borrowed it, tolling mo that ho intended calling on the manager of the Buena Vista Ranche, where ho was told there was a chance of further employment ; but he would be back by supper-time. This was the last I ever saw of the rascal, or the coat either. The Sabbath passed slowly away and no Brookes turned up, and eventually, tired of waiting, I took myself off to bed. My little savings were in my vest pocket, which lay on a chair beside the bed ; and it aj)peared to me that, during the night, some one entered the chamber, but by morning I had forgotten all about it. Hastily dressing, I descended to the bar, and, some of my old associates being present, I invited them to partake of a farewell glass ; but, on searching my pockets to pay for the refreshments, I was horribly surprised that I had not as much as one cent left. " You had plenty of money last night, going to bed," said the landlord ; "where is your partner, Brookes'?" " Don't know ; Jemmy have never seen him since he started for the ranche yesterday morning." " Well, I did. He returned about one o'clock, and went to your room. I thought he was in bed ; it 's he that has robbed you, and slipped off." This theory was corrob(irated by the roadmaster, who just then drove up in liis buggy, and who, on hearing the conversation, told me he had met the thief walking as fast as his legs would carry him in the direction of Nappa. So much for gratitude. The innkeeper, however, would not see me delayed on account of my loss, and kindly lent me suffici(»nt money to defray my expenses back to 'Frisco, which, on my arrival, I honourably returned. I was successful in obtaining employment on the staff of one of the dailies; and it was in the capacity of "local itemist " that I became acquainted with one of the best and truest pals I ever had the luck to meet during my rambles ON THE S.S. "PACIFIC. 109 n> on the American continent. He was clever, annisinf,', generous to a degree ; and, moreover, seemed never at a loss how to act on an emergency. We became fast friends, and made up our minds that we would rough it, and face the world together. In the spring of 1875, hearing wonderful accounts of the Cassiar Mines, as also that there would he plenty of employment on the survey of the then contem- plated Canadian Pacific Railway, my friend Vivian and myself made up our minds to leave California, and seek a fortune in British Columbia. It did not take two old Bohemians like ourselves long to make our preparations. Having purchased our tickets, which, by the way, nearly cleared us out of ready cash, one fine morning in the month of April found us aboard the ill-fatcnl ship "Pacific," Ijound for Victoria, Vancouver's Island. On the voyage my attention was drawn to a face that seemed particularly familiar to me, but whose it was, and where I had seen it, I was p(?rfectly unabl(> to determine. This face belonged to a gentleman who, in a suit of navy blue, waited behind my chair as one of the under stewards. Thinking I might be mistaken, I questioned him as to where I might have met him, but ho gave evasive answers to my inquiries, so for the time I was none the wiser. On reach- ing Victoria, however, when too late, I found out who he was. It was none other than Canadian Bill, the cardsharjx'r. Two detectives came on board to receive him with open arms, but Canadian Bill was one too many for them, for ere the "I^icific " had entered the harbour the bird had flown. Although diligent search was made for him, he could not be found ; so it was supposed that, as we sailed along tlie coast, he must have slij)ped over the side and either r(\iched land in safety, and taken to the backwoods, or else he had iierished in the attempt. That he was not drowned at the time is, I think, pretty certain, for scarcely two years ago, if so long, when away in the back blocks of northern Queensland, T took up IT i I 110 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. a not very old edition of an American paper, and, curious to relate, one of the first items that caught my eye was, "Canadian Bill, the outlaw, has just died in Montana." I felt extremely annoyed wuon I learnt from the detectives that there was a reward of $2000 offered for the apprehen- sion of my friend the cardsharper. That nice little sum would have come in pretty handy just then, and if ever a man deserved hanging that man was the Canadian "monte " dealer. It was seven o'clock in the morning when we landed at Victoria. The custom-house officers gave us no trouble, and, indeed, did not even condescend to question us about the contents of our baggage. There were no cabs to meet the steamer, only a few express wagons. As our capital on land- ing was only 50 cents between us, it behoved my chum and I io study strict economy ; so, each of us armed with a bag, and carrying a huge portmanteau between us, we marched up the town to the Angel Hotel. On our arrival we found that the boss, being rather a sleepy angel, was not yet up, and the cherub who was in charge of the office could give us no information regarding accommodation. Being hungry and tired, we determined to leave our baggage and try elsewhere. A loafer in the street recommended us to the American Hotel, and we bent our steps in the direc- tion pointed out by him. On turning the corner of the street which was our destination, we encountered a gentle- man in a tall hat, swaggering along as if the whole town belonged to him. I took him to be the head of the detective force in mufti. Vivian, however, maintained that he was either the harbour-master, or perhaps the captain of the port, just returning home from seeing the " Pacific " come in. But we were both out in our calculations, for lie turned out to be the proprietor of the very hotel we were seeking. Could he accommodate us ? Rather ! And he did ; and right royally too. AT YALE. Ill Fortunately for us I came across an old friend w" ^n> ^ hai* known when ho was a youngster in the navy. He ....^ ooe: settled on the island for some time, and now held a good government position. I got him to come over to the hotel and guarantee my bona fides, and he also lent me a few dollars as pocket money to carry me on. The town was full of miners on tlieir way to Cassiar, Caraboo, and other well-known mining districts, and the staff, with quite a number of Canadian axemen had just arrived from Ottawa to commence the survey of the railroad. I was in great hopes that Vivian and I would get on one of the parties together ; but, fortu- nately for him, through the influence of a friend whom he knew in Canada, he obtained a first-rate billet as purser of a river steamer running up the 8tickeen. My mate got his sailing orders within a week of our arrival on the island, and I can't say I relished the idea of being once more' alone. However, after he had taken his departure I had but little time to waste in brooding over the loss of his companionship. The various survey parties were being rapidly formed, and as there were hundreds of appli- cants in the field, 1 had to bestir myself a little in order to make quite certain of obtaining employment myself. Through the influence of my old naval acquaintance, together with what I shall call a considerable amount of push, I was finally successful. ^ ' ■■ — . ^m V' '. i 112 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. CHAPTER XXV. In Government Employ. THE CANADIAN PACIFIC SURVEY — FRASER RIVER — THE GOVERNMENT OUTFIT — ON THE MARCH. JjY tlu' lirst of May of tlio your '75 I was duly enrolled as a surveyor, with the rank and ])ay of liead-chairnian. It was a lovely hright spring morning as we steamed out of the harl)()ur, and I felt as gay as a lark at heing once more in some employment. The same evening wc; reached New Westminster, on the nuunland, at the mouth of the Erase r Riv^er. This town was at one time the seat of governnient for the colony of British Columhia, hut the ollieials have long since taken up their present quarters in Victoria, V.I. Here we diseml)arked and were billeted on the few hotels the town afforded. Early the next morning we were once more afloat on the river boat on our way to Yal(\ an inland town of no small pretensions. Here the river, owing to the course it takes through canons and mountain gorges, becomes (piite unnavig- able ; and we therefore had to ccmtiuue our journey by coach, which was waiting our arrival. Leaving Yale, we followed the course of the river for manv miles, the road (which was origiiudly the old Government trail) running along its very banks, being totally unjmjtectcd from the surging waters that ran many feet below, whilst, on the opposite side, were straight cliffs, rising to a great heiglit mmtm AT SODA CREEK. ii;i Iv' above our heads. As one rattled along, the driver would point out the various objects of note ; among others the most distant point reached by Lady Franklin, as she pro- ceeded in a canoe up the river in search of some trace of her lost husband. He then related how, in the early days, hundreds of reckless and inexperienced pioneers had lost their lives in their endeavours to ascend the rapids in canoes. Occasionally he would vary the scene at the same time by tickling up the ear of one of the leaders with his whip, in order, I suppose, to show his expertness as a jehu — or he would drive so alarmingly close to the unprotected bank of the mighty Fraser — which, by the way, owing to undercurrents, never gives up its dead — as to cause one's blood almost to run chill. "That 'ere leader there, on the offside, is a greenhorn. !N"ever been in harness before to-day ; in fact, none of 'em have ever run together till they were hitched up this morning." In this strain he continued for some time ; but, as we were mostly old hands, and he found we would not take the bait, he finally desisted. After a while, we left the course of the river, and the road wound its Avay over mountain passes and through valleys ; and, having passed through the inland villages, Lytton and Lillooet, we finally strike the Fraser again at Soda Creek. Here we finally alighted from the coach. Here travellers e?i route for Caraboo again take the steamer, as the river at this point widens out ; and at the head of the navigation they stiike the trail which takes them to the mines. At Soda Creek we crossed the river in boats and went into camp. iVt this point we were joined l)y the mule-train, which came up from the Government reserves at a place called Kamloops. The stores and other requisites for the trip were quickly got together and packed ; and witliin forty- eight hours after alighting from the coach, the mules were packed, and the party had commenc(id its long march. There were several parties out, making difierent surveys, H 114 KOUGHING IT AFT^.K GOLD. ■*1 4 n It both on the mainhind and the island of Vancouver, each having its own engineer and an efficient staff, over which was a travelling boss, or, as he was called, the " Head Tyee," whose duty it was to periodically visit each camp and report progress to the authorities at Ottawa. Besides the officials I have mentioned, the party consisted of axemen, rodmen, picketmen, pegmakers, chainmen, muleteers, cook and baker, and last, though perhaps not least, the boss's Indian boy, whose duties consisted in pitching the staff tents and hunting the game, which abounded, for the use of the camp. To say that the Canadian Government were liberal in the Commissariat Department would be to throw a slur on their generosity. It was simply immense ! Tinned fruits, jams, California butter, potatoes, bacon, rice, and many other luxuries too numerous to mention, were provided. They also supplied a tent for every two men, warm blankets, medical comforts for the sick, and even stamps and stationery wherewith to communicate with your distant relations. There was fish in the rivers, and game abounded in the hills and valleys ; and, to make doubly sure that a constant supply of fresh meat sliould always be on hand, a small herd of cattle was bought and v" :iven along from camp to camp. Surely, with such a supply, and with the excellent menu our good cook invariably set before us, there should have been no grounds for complaint ! and yet, there were some who growled, and a few who actually came to tlie conclusion they were half starved. Many is the day, in after years, I would have been glad of some of the fragments that were then thrown away ! Our first day's march was but a short one : about fifteen miles. The workmen, among whom your humble servant was classed, went on foot ; the staff were mounted, but they were by no means selfish as regards the horses they rode, for on seeing any of their subordinates wearied or in : AT SODA CREEK. 115 distress, one of tlieni would at once dismount and ^nvi? the sub a spell on the quadruped. We camped early that even- ing, which was to be the last within tin; pale of civiliHiitioii till we reached Ihite Inlet on Paget Sound. Close to where our tents were pitched was the log home of a cattle-rancher, and with him our boss invested some Canadian dollars in the purchase of beeves for our trip. T\w, next morning found us once again on tlie trail betimes, moving in tlie same order of horse and foot, the Indian boy, armed with a Winchester rifle, acting as light artillery. The half-wild steers, so lately purchased, were jnit in the charge of the commissariat othcer. This gentleman, how- ever, although tirst-rate with the pen, was anything but efficient with the stock whip. At last the hearts broke away, and some of them commenced the ascent of tlio mountains. I can see him now vainly endeavouring to follow them ; l)ut the cattle were somewhat too agile for him, and he finally gave up the chase. However, one of the staff (the leveller), who had vast experience in droving in the wilds, I believe, of South America, came to the rescue, and after much difficulty succeeded in rounding up the animals, but not without the serious loss of three head. On the fourtli day's march from the Eraser River we again camped early in a lovely fertile valley on the banks of as pretty a trout-stream as one could wish for. it was at this pouit that the boss informed us that, on the coming morn, we were to have everything in readiness to commence the permanent survey of the Great Canadian Pacific; Kail- way. Without much delay the grindstone was up and in grinding order, the axes were sharpened and the chains tested, and the stall' adjusted their instruments. in ^\ i no UOU(niIN(J IT AriEll (iOLI). ClIAITKU XXYl. An Kxcni'iNO Dkkii-hunt. A NAUUOVV KHUAIMC — WOlA'KH. To oxp(»(liU> th(> work our ]>!irly was formod into two divisions, {\\v first of which, undtM* Uio ])orsoniil coininjUKl of tho boss himself, acted as an atlvanco guard, exploring the country and cutting a trial line, from which division number two, \nuler the su|»(M'vision of the Transitman, following in its wake, was to locate th(» ]iermanent survey. As each nuMuber of the party had liis own especial daily duties to piM'form, the work itself would have been mono- tonous indeed, liad it not l)een for tlie glorious uncertainty, and the possibility of adviMitures to be encoiuitered in passing through an \ni(>xplorod country. Through fertile valleys, over hills and grassy mountains, we wandered, crossing glacier str(>ams and morasses, scaling jirecipices, and hacking our way through heavy timber ami thick untb'rbush : such were the daily and hourly obstacles the hardy surveyor had to contend with. The first little adventure M'orth recounting on our travels occurred after we had been out about a month. It was a beautiful sinnmer's evening towards the end of .June that Ave were camped in the forest. Owing to the thickness of tlie trees the t^Mits were scattered here and there in its midst. A yoinig gentleman, who was the leveller's assistant as rodman, luring anxious t(^ try his skill as an axeman, commenced cutting into a small tree close to where myself •^•■JiiT' ," - '-,:■ .•'.♦•.: /ryv. IN THE HACK WOODH. 117 and niato Imd ])itc,}i('y RedHkiiiH, and we hotli yelled like liendM. TliiH, of eour.se, woke up th»i (Mitini eauj)), and ev(!ryho(ly ruslied out of th(ur tents en (leHhahille to H(!e what was wrong. Aft(T Hotne little delay we wor« extricated, and (;v(u\y one joiiuMl in a hearty laugh. It, however, gave my partner and niyH(^lf a pretty good fright, for liad tlie tr(H> fallen a few fe.et either way to the right or l(!ft, one or tlu^ other of uh niUHt have met with an untimely end. There was no repetition of this wiekeil waste of en(!rgy in a homieidal direction on the- part of our young friend during the remainder of the trij). It was (luring the month of duly tliat a second adventure occurred, and this time I was the sole actor in the drama. Wo were campcul close to a small lake, and during the after- noon, whih; at work, I had noticed tlu! fresh tracks of deer, made on tlieir way to water. It was on a Saturday, nnd the next day ])eing a (ficK tutn^ I determined to try n»y luck. After supi)er I proceeded to the lake, iirmecl with a Win- chester, and placing myself in aml)ush, awaited the arrival of tlie deer. It was a lovely moonlig'it night, and I had waited j)atiently for over an hour, hut without any result. I had very nearly fallen aslcu^p, when suddenly I was awakened from my reverie hy the sound of wliat s(;emed to me the yelj) of dogs. I>y (leorge ! thought J, this must he some daring I>ritisher out for a mooidight hunt with his hounds. I'resently, crash through the underwood, close to where I was seated, came a splcMidid hwk. 1 was about to raise my rifle and fire, but this I considered unsportsman- 118 •■ , "■ I - '. '■ ' . ' / KOUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. like, so I desisted, and the frighted deer plunged into the lake. Momentarily I expected the huntsman and his hounds to appear ; but as the distance between myself and the pursuers diminished, and the yelping of the animals more distinct, full well I knew that I was mistaken. They were not hounds, but wolves. I was seated at the time beneath a goodly pine, and jumping up, if ever a fellow swarmed up a tree in a hurry, I did then. Scarcely had I reached a place of safety when the savage brutes came racing down to the spot where the deer had taken to the water. Here, for a second or more, there was a check, of which, taking advantage, I fired. My aim, owing to ex- citement, must have been wide of the mark, for not one wolf fell to the shot. It, however, scared the pack; for instead of further pursuit after their victim, they imme- diately wheeled about, and were quickly lost to view in the thick scrub. I remained on my perch of safety for some considerable time, but event\ially took courage and de- scended. The deer must have reached the opposite shore of the lake, being no longer visible in tlie water, and, having had sufficient hunting for one night, I returned to the camp. n ■7 vces ii^^ainst the rocks. The mate, who was the skipper's son, vv 8 in the bow, and immediately seeing how things were, l.i^ very quickly took possession of the deserted wheel ; and, after great difficulty and no end of bumps, he succeeded in running the boat on to the banks, where she had b(^on berthed ])ut a few hours ])efore. Here we again camped for the night. Next morning, the mighty rush of water having considerably a1)ated, a second attempt was made to pass through the canon, and this time we were successful. Tlu^ worst part of our passage was now over, and we finally readied the head of the navigation without further mishap. Here we took the trail ; and, for two fellows who luul I 130 HOUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. been leading a rather luxurious life for the past six months, it required a little bit of pluck to face a 1 25-mile tramp with over 70 lbs. each to carry. On our way ujd we met a Gcjvernment working jmrcy putting up bridges. As luck would have it, the cook who had been out on the survey party >vitli me during the previous summer was now officia- ting for this crowd ; and from him I obtained all the pro- visions I required, as well as a few dollars to put in my pocket. On arrival at the end of the trail, at Dease Lake, the usual method of reaching the mines was by boat : but tlie ice, even at this advanced period of th<. year, had not yet quite disappeared i ^-^ we had to continue our journey by a cattle-trail, which , only occasionally used for the transit of these animals. This was by far the roughest part (.>f our march ; but by dint of perseverance we eventually reached the head mining camp at Dease Creek. ON THE LIAllI) IIIVEH. 181 CHAPTER XXX. Between Life and Death. UP the LIARD river — wreck in a Ca5}()N — NO NIGHT — A LATE BREAKFAST. My mate wasted no time in getting to work ; and witliin a day or so of our arrival in the mines he was l)usily engaged in the accounts of a mining company. I also was successful in finding employment in one of the claims ; and, liad I stuck to it, the wages being $10 per diem, I miglit pos.sibly have made a good stake, as it is called. In jDlacer-diggings, however, every one likes, if possible-, to ]j3 his own boss and work for himscilf. It so lia[>pened that I learnt that a certain village blacksmitli, who had taken up the calling of a digger, had, on tlie previous season, been up to the head waters of the Liard River ; and, after finding some fine specimens of gold, had returned to the head camp for a stock of provisions. I tlier(>fore made uj) my mind to join his party. For reasons unknown, the blacksmith never returned to his Bonanza, but Avent south instead. However, the party he had formed set out ; and they had already started some days before I heard of their exodus. Nevertheless, having once made up my mind, I determined to go at all risks and see the elephant. 80, one day, meeting an old acquaintance of mine, who was an expert in gold digging, I asked him how ho would like to make the venture, "Nothing stops me, Cap, but the nuMins," was the reply ; so as I knew I could get jdl the necessary su]i])lies I-IT 132 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. < i from the storekeepers, with whom I was well acquainted, I bade my friend and his mate hold themselves in readiness to make an immediate start. I liad, as I anticipated, no difficulty in procuring everytliing I required in the way of provisions from the merchants, who willingly took my note of hand for the amount ; and through the generosity of Vivian I got sufficient money wherewith to purchase a boat. As luck would have it, there was another small party just at this time starting for th(^ same destination as ourselves, so I made arrangements for us all to travel together. This was likely to facilitate matters very greatly ; as, in case of need, one party would help the other. Everything being arranged, one fine summer's morning the boats were launched, and amid the cheers and waving of hats of our friends who came to say farewell, we entered the stream and were rapidly carried along by the current. Quickly we glided down Dease and Nahany Rivers, and on the afternoon of our second days' trip came to the junction of the Liard, which flows into the Great Slave River that takes its rise at Lake Athabasca, and these two when united form the great Mackenzie River, which flowing north eventually empties itself into the Arctic Ocean. Our course lay up the Liard, which may be regarded as the head-waters of the Great Mackenzie, its source l^eing our ultimate destina- tion. It was now that our troubles commenced, for so rapid was the stream, and our ])oat so heavily laden, that it was quite impossible with oars only to make any headway against the current. We, therefore, had recourse to the tow-rope ; even by this method, owing to the numerous obstacles we had to contend with as we walked along the bank, our pro- gress was but slow. However, the two little bands, who were full of life and hope, manfully persevered ; and, despite the thorny bushes, and the everlasting torment of blood- thirsty mosquitoes, which even in these northern latitudes baffles all description, we toiled along Avithout a murmur. ON THE LIAllD RIVEK. un It was, I think, on our fifth day after leaviii<;- the main river that, while seated on the bank for our midday meal, we could hear the not far distant roar of mighty waters, and we knew from the sound that we must be gradually apprcjaching a large canon. This surmise proved to be quite correct ; for early in the afternoon we reached the mouth oi the canon. Tying up our boats we proceeded along the bank to inspect the gorge. We soon satisfied ourselves that, whatever chance we might have of getting the Ijoats through this formidable torrent on the opposite bank of the river, it would be quite impossible to do so by the bank we were then on. We decided, therefore, that it would be necessary to cross, which we succeeded in doing in safety, although we were carried down stream for some considerable distance. However, we once more set to work with a will, and, after some hard tugging, again brought our boats back to the entrance of the gorge. Once again we tied up our boats, and inspected the foaming waters. The bank on this side not l)eing so high as that by which we had come, we made up our minds to make the attempt. The plan adopted was that the one party should man their own boat, in order to keep it off the rocks, while the other party hauled on the tow-rope, which was passed round the bluff from the heights above. This plan proved successful with the first boat, which, though with great difficulty, was finally hauled through in safety. Unfortunately, however, this was not the result with my craft, which was the smaller and by far the heavier laden. In the hope of avoiding accidents, I took out about 5 cwt. of flour, but even this proved insufficient. I was posted in the stern of the boat, while my two mates took up their positions, one in the centre and the other in the bow. While we shoved out into the stream the party on the bank began to haul on the rope. Somehow or other the boat got broadside on across the stream and quickly filled. Just as she was sinking, the stern came in contact witli a small i»innacle of ■k H m^'' IS: I 1 I 11 i' (? n 134 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. rock, on which, with the agility of a monkey, I quickly threw myself. Nothing but the bare top of the rock was exposed to view above the gurgling water, and, with my body in the river, and my arms clutching the rock with a death-like grip, there I lay, until I was finally rescued by one of the party from the bank. This, as I afterwards learnt, was accom-' plished with the utmost difficulty. They had to take every- thing out of the boat that still remained, and then, putting one man in to guide her, the other two, holding the rope, let her glide down until she came close enough to me for the man to seize me. Twice in his attempts to save me he nearly capsized the boat ; and he had the greatest difficulty in making me loose my hold. Indeed, as lie afterwards informed me, he was very nearly driven to cut off my fingers with his jack-knife ; bat in the end he managed by great exertions to slip my arms over the pointed rock. On being brought to the bank I lay for hours quite unconscious, and when at last I came to, it was only to learn that my unfor- tunate companions and the l)oat had been swept away in the mighty torrent. Although diligent search was made during a whole day, nothing w^as ever found but one oar. I am never likely to forget this terrilile accident, and, although years have now rolled over my head, I sometimes awake from my slumbers fancying I can hear the noise of the rushing waters. My mates and boat now being gone, I had no alternative but to proceed with the remaining party, they having kindly offered me a place in their boat. My few sacks of flour, which was all I now had left to me, were " caclied " till we should be returning. There being no more canons to pass, and there now being an extra hand on the tow-line of the remaining boat, we proceeded more rapidly. We had now arrived at the time of year when in these northern latitudes there is, for a short time, perpetual sun. As the summer was advancing we were all anxious to arrive at our journey's ON THE LIARD RIVER. 135 am end, to try our luck before the winter. How many hours a day we used to toil it was quite impossible to say. One of my poor mates had been the only one in the crowd wlio possessed a watch, and this he had on him when he met his untimely end ; so that we finally lost all record of time, and indeed did not even know the day of the week or month. This was verified a day or so before our arrival at th(5 mythical Bonanza at the Liard head waters. Seated on the banks, as we thouj^ht at breakfast, one day, after sleeping a number of hours of which we had lost all count, we espied coming down stream a man in a canoe. This gentleman turned out to be one of the blacksmith's party who, having his own skiff, was returning, having had, as he expressed it, enough of it. As he hauled up his little craft on the sand, we invited him to partake of breakfast ; and we were not a little astonished when he laughingly exclaimed, " Boys, ye are rather late risers, or else off your chump. Why ! dang it rl\ continued he, pulling out a timepiece, "it's arter four o'clock in the evening." In further conversation, the traveller tried to disuade us from proceeding any further, telling us there was no paying gold and the blacksmith ought to be horsewhipped for misleading people. As he was a stranger we thought he might be taking us in ; so we determined at all hazards to go on, and see for ourselves ; so bidding him adieu we once more manned the tow-rope, and proceeded. )ass, the 13() ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. CHAPTER XXXI. A Bogus Bonanza — A Turn of Good Luck. DISAPrOINTMENT— down THE RIVER — A KIND FRIEND — IN CHARGE OF A PRISONER. We had now got into a part of tlie world where, for those requiring what is called in England perfect quiet, it would, I should say, be just the place for them to find it. Not an animal or tree of any kind was to be seen ; not a fish to be caught in the river ; no notes of birds ; in fact, with the ex- ception of the buzzing of mosquitoes, the rippling of the water, and now and again the crash of a land-slide caused by the melting snow, everything was as still as death itself. Two days later than our meeting with the stranger, we reached our destination. Here we found the remainder of the blacksmith's party, who also vowed vengeance against him. They, too, had liad a rough time of it, and had lost one or two members of their mess from the r.»vages of scurvy. We remained at this mining camp for over a month, and although we worked hard and found some gold, yet at the end of that time we also had had quite enough of it. So the claims were abandoned, and all hands once more paddled down stream wiser but very much poorer and sadder men. We spent several days e?i route, prospecting for gold in the sand bars and up some of the creeks. Everywhere the colour, as it is called, could be found, but not in any- thing like sufficient quantities to cause much excitement. II I ON THE LIARD RIVER. 137 On repassing thrfuigh the ciifion where I had lost my mates, I could distinctly see the rock to which I liad clung, which was now high out of the water, the river being low. It gave me quite a cold shiver to look at it, and I was thankful when we had passed it and I should see it no more. Of my five sacks of flour, that 1 had Icit behind me, two were com- pletely destroyed by mice ; the others, being intact, were placed in the boat for my future benefit. After passing through the canon, we had some capital fishing, and caught several large White and Arctic trout. We had also some rare good fuTi cliasin^,' wild geese which Indeed in these latitudes, and which, from moulting their wing feathers, are unable to fly at this season of the year. We finally reached the camp at Dease Lake in safety, towards the end of September. Here I disposed of my flour, for which I received $60 ; but as I, of course, had to pay for the provisions lent to me by my companions when my own were lost, I had but little left out of the proceeds. I was rather calculating on being able to borrow sufficient money from my friend Vivian to defray my expenses back to Victoria ; but he, poor fellow, liad also had some bad luck. He bought a claim and hired men to work it for him ; but as it did not even pay expenses, he was just as hard up as I was myself. Some of the miners, who knew of my misfortunes, kindly volunteered to get up some money for me by subscription ; but although I felt grateful to them, I declined their offer. The darkest hour of night is just before the dawn — so goes the old saying — and really it seemed that, when my darkest came, something or somebody invariably turned up to once more set aie on my feet. During my stay in Victoria I became acquainted with several miners, and among others an Irishman who, like poor George, hailed from my own county. Shortly after my return to the lake from my adventurous expedition, I met this worthy digger in one of the stores. He expressed great sorrow for my heavy losses, and kindly invited me to come 138 HOUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. Up and jKirtnko of some supper witli him at liis little shanty that evening,'. As it was close on tlie hour for that meal when wo met, T ae(;ordin^ly accompanied him, and having feasted on all the luxuries a mining camp affords, and also talked over my adventures, I was ahout to hid him good- night. As I was in the act of doing so, he unlo(;ked a small wooden h(^x, from which he drew forth two small chamois- leather hags ; and well I knew that they were the receptacles used by all miners for carrying gold (hist. These he pre- sented to me, telling me there was $50 worth in each. " You need not be the least uneasy about accepting it, Joe, I have plenty. I don't tell everybody, but the brother and I have ' struck it rich.' For five-and-twenty long years he and I liave lieen mining together with indifferent luck ; but this has been a grand season for us, for we have cleared over $30,000 by our two claims ; and you see," continued he, " after so great a success, it would l^e hard if I could not lend a helping hand to an old countryman. You must never think of offering it me back. If you do, I shall be offended. T hav<> heard all about you, and full well I know that, should you by any chance find me once more down the ladder, you would be the first to come forward to help me up again." This was, indeed, an unexpected piece of good fortune ; but there was a " run on the colour," and my luck w\is in. A couple of days later the sailing cutter would be leaving for tlie head of the lake. It was now October ; and as the miners' season was nearly over, nearly all the diggers were about to proceed south. 8o Vivian and I made up our minds to go south also. When the morning of our de- parture arrived, as I was passing through the street of the little mining village, I was rather taken by surprise by one of the clerks in the merchants' store (from whom I had pur- chased the provisions for my late trip) coming over to me with a request from one of the firm that I would come and AT CASSIAR MINES. 1^0 pre- m. HQO. hiiii. For the time I was Hoiiiewluit diHconecrtcd, tliink- iii«; it was money he wantecl on my l)ills. However, I was |L,'reatly (h'Hghted when 1 found that, instead of asking for money, he was actually going to put some into my pocket. In th(^ mines at Cassiar there was no regular convoy for taking down the gold dust to civilisation ; neither was there, strange to say, any hank. Money itself was scarce; goods l)eing paid for in gold l)y w(;ight. The merchants, therefore, at the end of each sejison, had some thousands of ounces which have to be sent to the hanks at Victoria by some trustworthy person going to that city. This now, luckily for mv, was to be my mission. I can't exactly state the nund)er of ounces consigned to my care, but I knew it was a valuable little cargo. The dross was all propt^rly packed and labelled, and Hnally placed in leather pouches. It was agreed that I should have a horse o ride, and another tm which to pack the cargo, and that for my trouble I should receive mining wages ($10 per day), and my expenses, till I delivered the same at the bank in Victoria. Everything being ready, and all hands aboard, the cutter weighed anchor, and, with a fair wind, and without any aciddents, that evening we landed at the head of the lake. Here there was a small shanty, or public-house. A pack- train was about to start the next day, so I hired three horses, for myself, Vivian, and the freight. Now, it so happened tliat the visiting judge had been on Dease Creek during the past month trying cases of various kinds, and among others was one of serious assault on the sheriff, who acted in that ca]>acity as well as chief-constable. The culprit, who, from having ii red head, was called Brick Top, was duly tried and convicted, and sentenced by the learned judge to be incar- cerated in the A''ictoria Prison for the term of seven calendar months. This individual and his escort, we found, were staying at the wayside public, where they had arrived a few days previously. The prisoner himself, in spite of his un- r^^^m Hii' !i i: 'I <<; ii.-'i 140 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. ornamental bracelets and leg shackles, looked the very picture of health; but I can't say so much for the special constables who were guarding him. These gentlemen, two in number, seemed to have lately ha^l a pretty rough time of it. One of them was quite hors de combat, while the other shewed decided evidence of having come out of a rather unequal scrimmage. From the information that. I gathered from the proprietor of the shanty, the escort had given the prisoner a little too much law, and he, taking advantage of their kindness, had watched his opportunity, seized a rifle which one of them had carelessly set down by a tree, shot one of them through the arm, and clubbed the other with the butt end of the gun. It was lucky for tliese constables that the prisoner's legs were fettered ; otherwise it is more than probable they would have been numbered among the slain. Brick Top, however, slipped, and help arriving at this critical moment, he was eventually over- powered and handcuffed, ivf either of the constables being now lit for further duty, they had sent word by au Indian his Honour the Judge for instructions, and were now to awaiting hi^ orders. : ills, ; ■ III' ' 'i-l -' '1: ' i I ! AT CASSIAR MINES. 141 CHAPTER XXXII. On Escort Duty. ON THE TRAIL — DEATH OF AN OLD MINER ONCE AGAIN AT VICTORIA. The next morning, before I was uy), the Judge's boat, with tlie Head Constable, had arrived on the scene, and I was aroused from my shimbers by the boss of the shanty, who told me I was wanted. I immediately arose, and having made a hasty toilet, went out to interview the official, who, having asked me if my name was Trotter, handed me a paper, and informed me that the Judge had deputed me and my friend Vivian, as special constables, to take charge of the prisoner ; and at the same time presenting me with a brace of revolvers, he said that the Judge's orders were for us to take the prisoner down to Victoria, dead or alive. I had really no wish to become an officer of the law ; nor did I much relish the idea of having charge of so desperate a character. But the Sheriff said the order was imperative ; and as I should receive all my ex[^enses, and $10 a day till the end of the trip, I naturally assented, and Vivian and I were duly sworn in, and took over the charge of the prisoner. The pack train was now ready to move down the trail ; so, bidding the Sheriff Jieu, off we started. Durmg the journey we treated Brick Top with every consideration ; but as my friend and I had no intention of allowing him to commit a murderous attack on us, we watched him carefully, pi'!' n 142 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. ,;i 111! J m ,J!I 1 ■(it and further," gave him fully to understand that if he tried on any of his games with us we woidd put a bullet through him without the slightest compunction. This threat, I am tliankful to say, neither of us had occasion to carry out. We reached the head of the navigation in about five days without accident ; and here we were delayed for nearly a week on account of the non-arrival of the steamer. Finally, we received word that, owing to the shallow water at pre- sent in the river, the boat had made its last trip for the season, and in a few days would sail for Vancouver's Island. Further delay being useless, I chartered a large canoe, and my party, accompanied by a few miners, proceeded down the river. During this, my tinal trip on the Stickeen, a sad event took place. One of the ])assengers, who had been an old miner, but who, owing to ill-health, had taken to gambling for a living, died. He was in the last stage of consumption, and looked fearfully ill when we started. We buried him on the Ijank, and he is now long forgotten, and the site of his lonely grave, I should say, unknown. I had met this poor fellow the previous year when I returned from the survey- ing expedition ; and well do I remember that one night he and his mate, who had arrived from the Caraljoo mines with considerable gold, quarrolli'd in one of the principal streets of Victoria. T am sorry to say both were under the in- fluence of li(|U()r, and not l)eing able to settle their dispute by a stand-up tight, they peppered one another with dollar pieces, till finally they were taken up by the police. Sad to relate, this unfortunate man's sole worldly wealtli the evening we laid him in his last resting-place was just one quarter of a dollar, or a little more than a shilling. On once mor<} reaching the sea-coast at Fort Wningle, we found the steann^r all ready to set sail ; and as a secure compartment had been constructed for the especial accom- modation '^f the prisoner in the stern of the vessel, we AT VICTORIA, B.C. 143 had little or no further trouble with him. Notliiug of any particular moment occurred on this, the last part of our long expedition, with the exception that one evening a heavy fog set in, and the passengers were rather alarmed, Avlien a brave Irishman, who had been relating some of his courageous adventures with Indians, came down to the cabin where we were seated, and informed us that Ould Billy, the captain, had lost his way, and there was every likelihood of the vessel running on to the rocks. There was a regular panic for a few minutes, every one rushing on deck clothed in life-preservers. Presently the fog cleared away, and the ship proceeded ; and in due course wt; were once more all safely landinl on the wharf at A'ictoria. Here I was met by the jxtlice authorities, who took over Ihick Top ; and having de- livered my parcel of gold dust to the merchant's clerk, who was also there to receive "ue, I immediately made my way to the American Hotel. Could we have afforded it, Vivian and I woidd liave liked to liave taken up our old qTiartcrs at tlif Jhnigalow ; but although for the last thret 'rks, at $20 ;i day, l had earned a considerable sum of ; in outlying rocks and the perpendicular clift's of the shore, knowing fidl well that the slightest error of judgment on our part would be fatal. Truly, it was an anxious time ; and 1 can solennily declare that for the space of three weeks thcu-e was scarcely one K i.:ii , ii' m^ .4! .Hjf. m I i 146 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. day that our lives wer(? not in imminent danger. There was one day, in part.'oular, just before we reached Clayoquit Sound, that in ro\niding one of the numerous headlands the canoe nearly capsized. Owing to the cliffs rising sheer from the water, there were but few landing-places. The weather had been quite moderate when we started, but as usual, as the hour of noon drew nigh, it would become rough and rougher, until at last, towards evening, it blew a r*»gular gale. We had to make a long reach out to sea to clear the last headland we would have to pass prior to our arrival in the Sound. All our canvas was set, and we were s(!udding before the wind at a rapid rate, when suddenly a. heavy sea struck us amid-ships, and we all but capsized. The Indian and I were both at the moment at the helm, which consisted of a long oar, and 1 had also hold of the main sheet. Without giving me any warning, the Siwash hit go his hold on the sweep, and burst out crying. It wiis a critical moment, l)ut, still keei)ing my grip, I managed to pidl out my revolver, and i>lacing the muzzle to his forehead, threatened to fire if he did not instantly resume his post. This had the desired effect ; and after much difficulty we weathered the })oint and ran the (;anoe on shore on a narrow sand bar. It was on Christmas Kve that we once more rejoined our companions, who had gone ahead witli our provisions. As we had by this time considerably reduced our stores, we had no further use for tin; extra Indians and their canoe, so their services were dispensed with. In the afternoon of this day, leaving our own especial Indian in charge of our camp, we started off in our canoe to do a little prospecting on a creek where, w^e were informed by the Indians, gold had l)een traced. On our way, as usual, the wind got up, and so violently did it ])low that we were thankful to take refuge on a small island, not more than twenty yards square. On this little piece of rocky land there was one solitary tree, IN A CANOE. 147 was and under its shade we passed tlie night, as also the whole of Christinas day and night. As it had been onr intention when we started to return to our camp early, v.'c had brought no food, and of course no ])lankets ; and, as it rained in torrents, the few matches that we had were soon thoroughly wet, so that a fire was out of the question. Our first night we spent standing under the poor shelter of the tree, and it was lucky for us that we had our oilskins with us. When morning came the rain had passed off, but it was still blow- ing a regular hurricane. We did not sjjend what one would call a very happy Christmas Day, neither did we partake of the good old English cheer usually spread at this festive season. No ! our menu was decidedly limited, and consisted of mussels, which we picked off the rocks, with an 0(!- casional chew of plug-tobacco. These concomitants were washed down with good old rain-water, which we lapped up out of the crevices of the rock — simply, I suppose, be- cause drinking utensils were not in vogue on this island. However, bad weather, like everything else, must have an end ; and on the morning of the 26th, the wind moderating, we once more set sail, and in a couple of hours were back at our camp. On leaving Clayoquit vSound, myself and the Indian once more took charge of the canoe, the remainder of the party proceeding as before, by land. After a tempestuous voyage of rather more than a week we landed at Nootka Soimd. E)2 route to this inlet we met several canoes with Nootka Indians on their way to Berkeley Sound, where they were going to have what is termed in Chinook Indian (the lan- guage spoken on the coast by the various tribes) " a Hy-ifi time," and J3resent a " Potlatch " to their distant brethren. Tlie potlatch is rather a curious custom among the coast Indians. The visitors g(nierally bring with them large sup- plies of dried venison and salmon, also furs and blankets. The viands are consumed by all hands, amid the discordant f 148 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. :ii! :.i:|iii Mi (II M music of the tom-tom, iind otlier equally unmusical soiuicls. The blankets and furs are then presented in great state by the guests to the Tyee, or chief of the tribe visited. Some months later the call is returned, and the feast having ])een again repeated, the original furs and blankets are once more placed in the custody . of their owners, the donors on the first occasion. Thus it happens that the same goods are continually changing hands between the natives. Strange to say, the coast Indians are great gamblers. To those accustomed to play at cards or handle the dice it might appear but i)Oor sj)ort ; nevertheless, the Indian game is exciting to them, and in its Avay highly speculative. On one occasion our Indian, who was a confirmed gambler, returned to our camp, after a night's dissipation, with such a load of furs which he had won that he could scarcely carry them. But he, like the many who frecpient Monte Carlo, knew not when to stop, and he finally lost all his winnings and several pounds of tobacco as well. The game is very simple, and consists of two pieces of wood, one of which is at first held in each hand. The pieces are then passed from one hand to the other with great rapidity, and finally both the pieces are together in one hand. The Indian who, either by luck or quickness of vision, discovers the hand which f(jr the time contains the two, takes the pot. ■M IN A CANOE. 149 ► CIIAJTKR XXXIV. Conclusion. loss of a canoe — an accident — return to victoria — back to the old country. Into Xootku 8oui)d flows a good-sized streani, (;alled tlio (>iaguiiiii ; this w(Ml(itCTiiiiiit3d to explore and prospect for minerals. Owing to the rapidity witli wliich the water Hows we Jiad to tow the canoe. Havhig readied up as far as it was possible to go, the canoe was hauled up the steep l)ank to a considera])l(i height, while the stores were carried up to a plateau abov(\ The miners, with two days' rations, and accompanied by the Indian, proceeded up-stream on foot, while I remained l)ehind to look after the cami). During the night it rained a jierfect deluge, and it was lucky for me that I had pitched my tent so as to be out of all danger, as the river, in thc^ course of a, few hours, rose some twenty f(>et. The following morning I found our canoe had been carried away by the mountain torrent and dashed to pieces (^n the rocks. Th(i bow end, which had been attached by a rope to a, tree, was all that r<'niained. On the return of the party from tluMr trip, tliere was no alternative but to pack our provisions and carry them down to the coast. This ])ortMge we accomjilished with the aid of some Indians with whom we fell in. It was during tliis short trip, of some three miles only, that an accident befel me that (iventually was the cause of my being obliged to give up any further exploration with the 1 50 HOUOHTNr, TT AFTER GOLD. I!' '/A ■.''■'I party. I "vvas carrying a sack of flour on my ])ack ovqr a very roiigti trail, and in stop])ing over a fallen log my foot sli})ped, and 1 fell, my knee at the same time coming in con- tact with a In'oken bough, which jjierced my flesh consider- ably, making a nasty wound. By the time wo arriv(id at tlie coast my leg was so swollen as to be quite painful. Having procured another canoe, we left tlie soinid and crossed over t(t another Hudson Uay post on Nootka Island. On our arrival we found that one of the company's cutters had arrived, and was leaving for Victoria tlu^ next day. As f was now crippled and utterly us(dess, 1 bade my comjmnions (lod-spcM'd, and sailed in her. During the voyage we had another 'terrible gale, and we were obliged to run into siielter, owing to which delay, and liaving to call in at one or two trading stations besides, the vessel was three days overdue when we eventually arrived at Victoria. It was a tm-rible shock to me to learn on landing that, on the evening of the very day when 1 sailed from Nootka Island, the plucky little party that I had so lately left hale and heai'ty had all been lost. At first 1 i-efused to believe the sad ncnvs ; Init a few days later a trader arrived at Victoria, and from him T learnt that my late comrades had foolishly discharged their Indian, and, late in the evenin|j;, the three miner's had set out to round the lighthouse |)oint, wlierc they intended to camp, and do somt^ ])rosp('cting. They were evidently caught in the same gale that wo had experienced, and, none of them being ex])crt canoeists, the boat must have been ca})sized by a heavy s(piall. Tlu^ men in cliarge of the lighthouse could hear their cries for help; Init, alas! no timely aid was at hand, so my j)oor mates were drowned, and no trace of their lifeless bodies could subse(piently be iliscovered, although the canoe was afterwards found som<' distance down the coast, bottom uj)wards. Thus on AT HOMl-:. 151 tlireo occusions, witliin a litth; over two years, did it [>l(ui8e a Divine Providence to spare me, while all my (•()mi>anions were taken, I remaincid but two wei^ks in Victoria, during,' whidi time 1 was kept under the doctor's hands. I had seen enough of rough life to last me for sonic little time ; so on receipt of letters, and a day or so later a cablegram, from the old country, 1 said good-bye to my kind Victorian friends, and started for dear old Ireland, where I was duly landed in safety hi March 77. Of my old pals, whose names figure in this narrative, but few, if any, remain, as I have heard nothing of them for many years. I received but one letter from Vivian after his arrival in 'Frisco, telling me that he was going to South America as purser of a vessel. This ship was lost some months later ; and as I never heard from my friend again, there is no doubt he was among those who perished. The souls of old Tom White and his sailor comi)anion, Captain Reynolds, have long since gone aloft to join Tom Bowling. Dick wrote to me at Victoria, J>.C. He had saved some money, got married, and was then the landlord of a small hotel in the suburbs of 8an Francisco. I have now given the reader a true account of some of the principal adventures that I experienced during my first three years' visit to the AVestern Continent. Had I exer- cised as much caution as I did perseverance, there is but little doubt that I would have made an independent fortune ; l)ut, like many more, I was in too great a hurry to ])ecome rich, and was therefore continually killing the goose that laid the golden egg. To those of my readers who may con- template trying their luck in search of gold in one or other of the distant Colonies, my advice is — if you are young, strong, willing to work, and steady, take the first ship an,l go. If, liowever, you are weak, sickly, or past the heyday 152 ROUGHING IT AFTER GOLD. of life, I stroiif^ly advise you to rpiiiaiu at lioiiie. Tint — be ye old or yoiin^ — take warning by my example, and remember that there is a very true moral attached to the good (jld adage- ** 8I0VV ami steady wins the race." "And all that glitters is not GOLD." I'lUNTED BY NEILL AND COMPANY, EDINBUKGH, -i be ye in])Br 1 old