"THERE IS THE GOLD, SEE IT SHINE.' 
 
THE 
 
 BOYS OF THE SIERRAS; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE YOUNG GOLD HUNTERS. 
 
 A STORY OF CALIFORNIA IN '49. 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 WALTER MONTGOMERY, 
 
 FULLY ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 ESTES AND LAURIAT, 
 
 301-305 WASHINGTON STREET. 
 1884. 
 
Copyright, 1883, 
 BY ESTES AND LAURIAT. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 I. THE JOURNEY PROPOSED ll 
 
 II. THE DEPARTURE 
 
 III. SAN FRANCISCO 
 
 IV. THE LETTER 
 
 V. THE GAMBLING-HOUSE 
 
 VI. THE WEAPONS . . . 
 
 VII. THE SAVAGES ..... 
 
 VIII. THE BANKRUPTCY 
 
 IX. THE GOLD-SEEKERS . . . 
 
 X. THE BUSHRANGERS 
 
 XL THE NUGGET 
 
 XII. THE GHOST 
 
 XIII. THE WOUNDED MAN 
 
 XIV. THE VAQUEROS . 
 
 XV. THE DIGGINGS 
 
 XVI. THE GOLD-DIGGERS 
 
 M111379 s 
 
6 CONTENTS. 
 
 XVII. LYNCH LAW 141 
 
 XVIII. THE GRIZZLY BEAR 148 
 
 XIX. THE WILDERNESS 157 
 
 XX. EL DORADO 167 
 
 XXI. THE WELL . 176 
 
 XXII. THE CORPSES . . 198 
 
 XXIII. DESPAIR 210 
 
 XXIV. THE RETURN 232 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 " THERE is THE GOLD ! SEE IT SHINE." .... Frontispiece 
 
 DONATUS SAVED BY A SAILOR I/ 
 
 " HAVE PITY ON A POOR FLEMING ! I AM GOING TO DIE ! " . 23 
 
 JAN READING DONATUS' LETTER 36 
 
 THE ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH THREE-MASTER . . . , , . 59 
 " THERE! THERE!" REPLIED KWIK : "A WHOLE BAND OF BRIG- 
 ANDS ! " . . . . . . 69 
 
 DONATUS LEVELS HIS GUN . . . . . . ... 75 
 
 "GOLD! GOLD!" I HAVE FOUND A TREASURE!" . . .. . 81 
 
 DONATUS WALKS BY THE MULE'S SIDE ....... 89 
 
 THE WOUNDED ENGLISHMAN . .101 
 
 ROOZEMAN CAUGHT BY A LASSO . ICX} 
 
 THE GOLD-SEEKERS DESCENDING BY THE TORRENT-BED . . .119 
 
 THE MULE GALLOPING OFF WITH KWIK 139 
 
 THE GRIZZLY BEAR CLIMBING THE TREE . . . . . . 153 
 
 DONATUS' JOY AFTER DISCOVERING GOLD .... . 169 
 
8 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 DONATUS IN THE POOL 1 79 
 
 VICTOR AFTER BEING FULLED OUT OF THE POOL . . . .185 
 
 THE GOLD-SEEKERS MAKING AN EMBANKMENT 193 
 
 DONATUS DISCOVERING THAT THE GOLD HAS BEEN STOLEN . . 201 
 
 CREPS CREEPING ALONG THE GROUND . . . . . .21$ 
 
 DONATUS KVVIK WITH ALL THE GAME HE COULD PROCURE . . .221 
 THE MEXICAN PREPARING A DRAUGHT FOR VICTOR .... 227 
 THE BETROTHAL OF VICTOR AND LUCIA 237 
 
THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE JOURNEY PROPOSED. 
 
 ONE morning in the month of May, 1849, a young clerk was 
 sitting alone before his desk, in the office of a small commer- 
 cial house at Antwerp. 
 
 He was tall and fair-haired; there was a dreamy look in his deli- 
 cate face, though hope and vigor shone in his bright blue eyes. 
 
 He was busy writing: but he often stopped in his work to cast his 
 eyes upon a newspaper which lay open on the desk before him. Its 
 contents seemed to have a strange charm for him, for he was plainly 
 vexed with himself, he so often turned his attention away from his 
 work. In the paper he read 
 
 "Gold is found there almost on the surface of the earth, and in 
 such abundance that one has only to stoop down to pick up treasures. 
 A sailor lately found a nugget of gold weighing more than twenty 
 pounds, and worth at least twenty-five thousand francs." 
 
 The clerk looked up sadly. 
 
 Some one opened the office door; it was a strongly-built young 
 man, with ruddy cheeks and black sparkling eyes a picture of 
 health and good humor. 
 
 "Jan, my friend, you will catch it!" said the clerk at the desk. 
 "Our master has been to the office, and showed his vexation at your 
 absence." 
 
12 : W> , V ^ ^'t u cc l THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 'A I ^- Mat's itot ntatt6rv to me, my good Victor," replied Jan. " It's all 
 settled; I am going to say good-by to the trade of quill-driving, and 
 to this gloomy prison where I have so foolishly wasted some of the 
 best years of my life. Hurrah! I am going to roam over the world, 
 free as a bird, and owning no other masters but God and Fortune! " 
 
 " What do you mean ? " asked his companion. 
 
 w This is what I mean," said Jan, drawing a folded paper from his 
 pocket. w Here is the prospectus of a French company, ' The Cali- 
 fornian,' which is having all sorts of tools and implements made to 
 work the best mines in California. Any one who likes can become 
 a shareholder. For two thousand francs we get a free passage, 
 second class, in one of the company's ships, and receive two shares, 
 which give a right to a double portion of the gold obtained. In 
 California one has nothing to care for; the Company procures for its 
 shareholders good food and comfortable wooden houses. As a third- 
 class passenger one pays only twelve hundred francs, and receives 
 but one share. My father has consented to sacrifice two thousand 
 francs, so I shall become a shareholder in the ' Californian Company.' 
 The ship, the "Jonas," will sail from Antwerp in a fortnight, for the 
 gold land. Four other vessels will be sent by the Company to Cali- 
 fornia; among them one from Havre, with the tools and the direc- 
 tors, who ought already to be at sea to receive the shareholders when 
 they arrive." 
 
 Victor gazed at his friend with sparkling eyes. What he had just 
 heard filled him with wonder. 
 
 * You are starting for the gold country ? You are going to Cali- 
 fornia?" he said. 
 
 :c Yes, old fellow; within a fortnight." 
 
 *You you, Jan! Has the thirst of gold so suddenly taken hold 
 of you?" 
 
 :? Why, you, Victor, have yourself turned my head, by always talk- 
 ing about the strange country which has just been discovered. In 
 
THE JOURNEY PROPOSED. 13 
 
 the voyage I see a good way of escaping from the stifling office life. 
 Ah! to-morrow I shall be free! to-morrow I shall become a share- 
 holder in the Company! to-morrow I shall secure my berth on board 
 the "Jonas!" 
 
 "How lucky you are!" said Victor, sighing. "I wish I could 
 become your companion! " 
 
 ''You have only to express the wish, Victor. Has not Lucia's 
 uncle said twenty times that he would lend you the money required 
 if you liked to risk a voyage to California?" 
 
 " And my mother, Jan ? " 
 
 " Yes, your mother. But you know all parents are the same. If 
 one did not make some effort to jump out of the nest they would keep 
 us under their wings till one's hair began to turn gray." 
 
 " Why, Jan, the very thought of such a plan makes my mother 
 tremble! Lucia's uncle, when he comes to see us, talks of the long 
 voyages he has made as a skipper, and then my poor mother turns 
 pale. She has always been so good to me that I cannot plunge a 
 dagger into her heart." 
 
 "But remember, it is the only way of winning Lucia. The cap- 
 tain is a rough fellow; he hasn't much respect for a man who passes 
 his life bent over a desk, and who has only seen a little corner of the 
 world. I reckon that if you go to California he will gladly give you 
 his niece's hand on your return." 
 
 " He has promised his consent, as soon as my salary reaches two 
 thousand francs." 
 
 * You will have to wait a long time, then. Why, the chief said 
 yesterday that he should be forced to reduce our salaries! " 
 
 Victor did not answer. 
 
 "Perhaps you are afraid of such a long voyage?" said Jan. 
 
 "Oh! If I could go with you, I should thank God for His good- 
 ness with all my heart." 
 
 " Make another effort then, Victor. Think that otherwise you 
 
14 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 condemn yourself to remain all your life growing paler and paler 
 before that wretched desk: your youth passing away as sadly and 
 regularly as an old clock. Man's happiness consists in liberty, in 
 seeing the world, and gazing on new wonders ever}' day. And then, 
 after two years of independence, to return to our native land with gold 
 enough to enrich all those we love! There's a glorious prospect for 
 you ! " 
 
 "Yes, yes! " cried Victor, with excitement. "I'll ask her again. 
 I will beg her consent on my knees; I will entreat her by all she holds 
 dearest in the world." 
 
 " And to-day I will go and see Captain Moreels, and tell him he 
 must help you. Let me arrange it. ... A good idea! We will 
 share all together out there as we have done here good and evil." 
 
 "Hush, Jan!" said Victor in a whisper. "I hear our master 
 coming into the office." 
 
 " Don't say a word to him about my departure. My father might 
 change his mind before to-morrow: one can't say." 
 
 The two clerks took up their pens, and when the door opened 
 their heads were bent in silence over their paper, as if they had been 
 for hours absorbed in their work. 
 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE DEPARTURE. 
 
 IT was on a hot, sunny afternoon in the month of June when a large 
 crowd had assembled on the banks of the Scheldt, watching a fine 
 
 brig which, with flags floating in the wind, lay moored in the 
 port, ready to sail. It was the "Jonas," fitted out by the French Cali- 
 fornian Company, the first ship to make a direct voyage to the newly- 
 discovered gold land. 
 
 A couple of boats lay alongside the quay to take on board any. 
 laggards who were spending their last hours in the town. Towards 
 these three persons were hastily making their way a tradesman 
 with his two sons, who had just come from a street which led on to 
 the quay. 
 
 * Look, look, father! " said the elder of the two young men; "there 
 is the ' Jonas,' ready to be off ! " 
 
 " May God protect her! " said the old citizen, with a sigh. 
 
 " Surely you are not going to be sad now, father?" said the young 
 man, laughing. * What are two years in a man's life ? I have wasted 
 six at least before that stupid desk. Don't be anxious, but happy and 
 confident. I shall return with heaps of gold and treasure, and it will 
 be my pride to have won for my father and mother a happy and 
 peaceful life. Don't be anxious therefore: you will never have any 
 reason to regret this voyage. But where is Victor? Is he lagging 
 behind now that the very nick of time has come. 
 
 " His mother and he have so many things to say to each other," 
 said the old citizen. 
 
X 6 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " Look, Jan, there they are coming," said his brother. '< There is 
 poor Lucia Moreels; she is trying to appear happy, but the captain's 
 servant told me a week ago that when she is alone she does nothing 
 but cry." 
 
 "Well, that is a proof that she loves my friend Victor, so I am glad 
 of it for his sake." 
 
 The persons whose arrival had been announced by Jan's brother 
 soon appeared at the corner of the street. They were an elderly lady, 
 who walked by the side of a young man, whose hand she pressed with 
 anxious tenderness as she spoke to him. 
 
 Behind them came a man with sunburnt cheeks and large whiskers; 
 on his arm was a young girl, whom he was trying to persuade that a 
 sea voyage was not more dangerous than a little excursion to Brussels 
 by railroad. 
 
 !? Victor, Victor! make haste! they are already weighing anchor! " 
 cried Jan, who stood up in one of the boats; "there is no time to 
 lose." 
 
 When the widow saw from the banks of the Scheldt the frail skiff 
 which in a few minutes was to bear perhaps forever her beloved 
 son from her arms, tears ran down her cheeks, and she pressed him 
 sobbing to her heart. Victor was deeply moved by the tender em- 
 brace, and he did all he could by soothing words to comfort his 
 mother. 
 
 The old captain had at last to drag him from her arm, while Jan 
 called out again that the boat could not wait any longer. 
 
 Victor took Lucia's two hands in his, and his earnest, loving gaze 
 seemed to ask her, " Will you wait for me ? will you remember 
 me?" 
 
 Once more he embraced his mother, whispering words of love 
 into her ear. "Well, since God wills it," she said, sobbing, "go, 
 my son; I will pray for you every day. Do not forget your 
 mother." 
 
DONATUS SAVED BY A SAILOR. 
 
THE DEPARTURE. 19 
 
 Victor went down into the boat. The oars dipped into the river, 
 but at that moment a young man was seen running in the distance, 
 waving his arm above his head, and calling out: 
 
 * Wait an instant, I implore you! I am Donatus Kwik. I have 
 paid for my passage ; I must go to the gold country, too ! " 
 
 Fie seemed to be a peasant: the long blue coat reaching nearly to 
 his heels, his bronzed face, and his large hands and brawny limbs, 
 told that he had left the labor of the fields in pursuit of fortune. 
 
 His first step was not a happy one. In his fear lest the party 
 should start without him, he had jumped in such blind haste on the 
 gunwale of the boat that he lost his balance and fell head first into the 
 water. One sailor seized him by the hair; another, helped by Jan, 
 dragged him into the boat, amid shouts of laughter and applause from 
 the crowd on the quay. 
 
 The peasant looked round him with confusion, rubbed his head, 
 and as he spat the water from his mouth he mumbled, 
 
 * There is too much salt in that soup, comrades. You need not 
 have torn out half of my hair; I can swim like an eel." 
 
 But as the boat bounded onwards beneath the quick stroke of the 
 oars, Donatus Kwik sank down in the boat, and held on to the gun- 
 wale. 
 
 Victor had scarcely noticed this incident. His eyes were still 
 fixed on the spot where his mother and Lucia were making cheering 
 signs to him, as if they thought, dear souls ! that he was more unhappy 
 than they were. 
 
 Jan stood up on a bench. He shouted one last farewell to his 
 father and brother, waved his hat, and raised a loud hurrah. 
 
 These joyful cries had a strange effect upon Donatus Kwik. He 
 jumped up, threw himself upon the neck of the merry young man, 
 and pressed him in his arms with such force that Jan felt the cold 
 water wet him to the skin. He angrily pushed away this rude trav- 
 elling companion, exclaiming, 
 
20 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 w I say, my good fellow, are you mad or drunk ? " 
 
 w I think, perhaps, I have had a little too much ; the Antwerp beer 
 is very strong." 
 
 " Don't you see that you have wetted me and spoilt my clothes? " 
 
 "Ah! I had forgotten the cold bath. Never mind, comrade, we 
 can buy as many clothes as we like out there barrows full of 
 gold!" 
 
 w What part do you come from ? To hear you talk, one would say 
 from Mechlin? " asked Jan. 
 
 " You have guessed nearly right. I am Donatus Kwik, son of a 
 peasant at Natten Haesdonck, in Brabant My aunt is just dead. I 
 have come in for her money: but there is not enough to please me, 
 so I am going to seek for gold. On my return I shall marry Helena, 
 the notary's daughter, or Trina, the burgomaster's, or the young lady 
 of the castle. I shall pick up so much gold that I shall be able to 
 buy the whole village! " 
 
 Jan, shrugging his shoulders, turned away to his friend Victor, 
 whose eyes were still fixed on the quay, and began to joke him about 
 Lucia's love for him. 
 
 Donatus broke in on their conversation by showing them a piece 
 of printed paper. 
 
 "Comrades, look here! " he said. 
 
 'You are a bore, and somewhat too familiar with your 'com- 
 rades,' " said Jan, in an angry tone. 
 
 ''Well, I will say 'gentlemen,' as you wish it, though I am not at 
 all poor. Come, will you tell me, gentlemen, what this is which I 
 hold in my hand ? " 
 
 " It's an English five-pound note," replied Victor. 
 
 T Yes, but how much in francs? " 
 
 " Rather more than one hundred and twenty-five francs." 
 
 " I was afraid that the Jew with whom I changed my money had 
 cheated me with these papers." 
 
THE DEPARTURE. 21 
 
 "Have you many of them?" asked Victor, smiling. 
 
 Looking askance at the sailors, the peasant whispered into the 
 ears of the two friends, 
 
 "I have four of them, the remnant of my legacy. I could have 
 put these five hundred francs out at interest with our village banker, 
 but it is well to be prudent, as one can't tell what may happen out 
 there. Supposing we were taken in and didn't find any gold after 
 all? Donatus then would not be the first to die of hunger! " 
 
 The boat now reached the ship, on board which the new-comers 
 were quickly welcomed. 
 
 Then the "Jonas" weighed anchor, and spread her sails. She 
 was soon moving onward before a fresh breeze. 
 
 She fired a farewell salute to the city of Antwerp, which was 
 replied to by the guns of the port. The sailors on the yards waved 
 their caps, the passengers filled the air with their shouts, the quays 
 resounded with the good wishes of the crowd as the "Jonas " glided 
 over the waters. 
 
 The next moment the "Jonas," born along by a fresh breeze, was 
 sailing down the Scheldt. Most of the passengers on the deck were 
 more excited than on the previous day. They had partaken of their 
 first dinner on board; an abundant meal, consisting of roast beef and 
 fresh vegetables for all, and even some roast fowls for the more 
 delicate of the two first classes. After this they had their ration of 
 wine or spirits, under the influence of which some had become quite 
 drunk, and others wild and flighty. 
 
 The mate tried to restore some order on the deck, but the passen- 
 gers only laughed at him. Very angry at this, he went up to the 
 helm, where the captain with a grim smile was watching the merri- 
 ment among the passengers. To his complaint he replied, 
 
 " Let the noisy folk alone, Nelis. Do you see those clouds rising 
 over the sea? The wind will soon get up, and as soon as the c Jonas ' 
 begins to dance there will be an end to all this bluster." 
 
22 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 At this moment Donatus Kwik, pale and haggard, ran up to Jan 
 and Victor, threw himself on his knees before them, lifting up his 
 hands in a supplicatory manner. 
 
 " I pray you," he cried, " have pity on a poor Fleming! I am going 
 to die I am poisoned ! " 
 
 The kind-hearted Victor, thinking this might be possible, took his 
 hand and raised him up, inquiring what had happened. 
 
 "Ah! good Mr. Roozeman! ah! Mr. Creps! I was not well, you 
 know, as I told you," groaned the peasant. : ' They did not under- 
 stand me down below. They laughed at my sufferings. Some one 
 went to look for a doctor, and a man came with a large red nose. He 
 poured about a quart of salt-water down my throat, and a red powder 
 Cayenne pepper, I'm sure. Alas! alas! I'm poisoned : it is all over 
 with me! Help! help!" 
 
 "Don't you see, gentlemen, that that fool is sea-sick?" said a Ger- 
 man, who passed by at that moment. 
 
 The two friends smiled at this remark, and tried to persuade 
 Donatus that his illness would soon pass away; but the poor fellow 
 was in great pain, and putting both hands to his chest hurried down 
 below to hide himself. 
 
 As the captain had predicted, the sky was soon covered with 
 clouds, and the wind, though still favorable, increased in force, and 
 the "Jonas " began to dance on the waves which hastened to meet her 
 from the open sea. 
 
 The captain went up to the mate, and said, " The end of all this 
 folly has come now, Nelis. There are twenty of them yonder with 
 their heads over the side." 
 
 The songs and merriment, indeed, were soon silenced. Half the 
 passengers were terribly sick, and many of them were ignorant of the 
 cause of this mysterious malady which had so suddenly prostrated 
 them. 
 
 Victor was one of the first to be attacked by sea-sickness; Jan, 
 
"HAVE PITY ON A POOR FLEMING! I AM GOING TO DIE!" 
 
I 
 
 -orce, 
 ^ meet 1 
 
 all 
 
 er - 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
THE DEPARTURE. 25 
 
 however, did not suffer at all: so he took his friend by the arm, led 
 him to his cabin, and helped him get to bed. 
 
 At last only about twenty passengers remained on deck, and 
 these were not altogether at their ease. They gazed silently at the 
 waves, which, with a monotonous roll, beat against the sides of the 
 ship. 
 
 The sea, indeed, was very rough for four days, growing worse 
 as they went down the channel, where they had contended with 
 contrary winds. All this time the passengers kept in their cabins, 
 fearing to move, loathing the sight of food, and suffering from all the 
 misery of sea-sickness. 
 
 At night, when they left the channel to enter the Atlantic, the wind 
 had fallen and the waves became calmer. While the "Jonas" con- 
 tinued her voyage under a clear and starry sky, the passengers felt the 
 influence of this favorable weather. For the first time they enjoyed 
 some sleep, which seemed to give them renewed life. 
 
 Next day they appeared one by one upon the deck, and now 
 their face was almost as cheerful as on the day of their departure. 
 Creps and Roozeman were especially happy. Victor, seeing 
 himself surrounded by a boundless horizon, raised his arms to 
 heaven, and thanked God for having brought them so far on their 
 way safely. 
 
 On the sixteenth day of the voyage the passengers were sitting at 
 their mess-tables. For the last forty-eight hours the weather had been 
 wet, and the sun hidden behind a thick curtain of fog, but now the sky 
 began to brighten, and some one announced with joy that the Peak of 
 Teneriffe was to be seen, though the steersman said that it was still 
 twenty-five miles distant. 
 
 Our friends went on deck and gazed towards the horizon, \vhere 
 the Canary Islands seemed to float on the surface of the ocean at the 
 foot of the gigantic peak, whose summit, covered with eternal snow, 
 pierces the clouds and seems to reach the heavens. 
 
26 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 From that time forward for weeks the voyage was devoid of inci- 
 dent, and for a long time nothing occurred to break the monotony. 
 
 The "Jonas," however, had a severe trial to undergo, and once 
 death stood between her passengers and the promised land of 
 gold: so threatening was the danger, that all on board fell on their 
 kness, and, with hands stretched out to Heaven, implored God's help 
 and mercy. When rounding Cape Horn they were assailed by long 
 and terrific storms, one night they saw through the darkness that they 
 were surrounded by immense icebergs, and the sailors themselves, 
 giving up all hopes of safety, wished to lower the boats and abandon 
 the ship at this dreadful crisis. But the Lord had pity on these poor 
 frightened creatures, and the captain, by his coolness, was able with 
 marvellous skill to avoid the icebergs; thus the gold-seekers again 
 escaped from the tomb which yawned before them. At last they 
 reached the Pacific Ocean, between Valparaiso and Tahiti. 
 
 Nearly five months had elapsed since the day they left Antwerp ; 
 another forty days of fair weather and they would set foot on the 
 shore of the wonderful land, the one object of their desires, and the 
 reward of all the hardships they had suffered: all hearts beat with ex- 
 citement, all eyes glistened with hope and impatience. 
 
 During this latter part of the voyage only one incident disturbed 
 the peace which reigned on board the "Jonas." Very early one 
 morning Donatus Kwik ran howling upon the deck crying for help. 
 To those who inquired what was the matter, he replied, 
 
 "The captain! quick! quick! my money-has been stolen! Cheat! 
 rogue! I am robbed! Oh! my poor money, my poor money! " 
 
 When the captain understood what had made Donatus so desperate, 
 he took up the matter very seriously. According to the peasant's 
 story, some one had, during the night, broken the lock? of his travel- 
 ling-bag and stolen from it four English bank-notes. 
 
 All the third-class passengers were summoned on deck and 
 minutely searched by the sailors. Then all their boxes and trunks 
 
THE DEPARTURE. 2j 
 
 were opened and examined, but no trace was found of the missing 
 bank-notes. 
 
 Poor Kwik cried like a child, tore his hair, and filled the air with 
 his complaints. His friends, Creps and Roozeman, tried to comfort 
 him with the assurance that he would find his notes at last; and when 
 this seemed to have no effect upon him, they told him that, once in 
 California, he would not need any money, nor know what to do with 
 it, for immediately on their arrival the agents of the Company would 
 provide them with good food, comfortable lodgings, and, in fact, all 
 that they required. 
 
 It was nevertheless quite impossible to draw Kwik from his state 
 of dejection. Roozeman, whom old Captain Moreels had not allowed 
 to start without any money, took a bank-note from his pocket-book 
 and offered it to the poor fellow. Donatus gratefully accepted the 
 gift, and appeared a little consoled by it; nevertheless, from that day 
 forward he led a doleful life on board the ship. Whenever he was down 
 below or on deck he played the part of spy on everybody; he slunk 
 off to listen to the most private conversations; followed all the move- 
 ments of the passengers' hands, and it was plain that he never looked 
 at any one without the thought in his mind that the thief might be 
 before him. The passengers, irritated by this suspicion, ill-treated 
 him, and pushed him out of their way; he defended himself by kicks 
 to the right and left, but the odds were so great against him that he 
 scarcely ever appeared on deck without a black eye or a bruised 
 nose. It was a Frenchman with red moustaches who persecuted him 
 the most. Donatus had taken it in his head that this man was the 
 robber of his notes, and the Frenchman could read this suspicion in 
 his eyes. One day, after he had struck the poor fellow in the face, 
 Victor ran up to defend his fellow-countryman; Creps had also inter- 
 vened, so a violent struggle took place on deck. 
 
 The captain, after hearing explanations from both sides, ordered 
 the Frenchman to prison for two days. Henceforth the red moustache 
 
2 8 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 cherished a furious hatred against Kwik, and incited his companions 
 to plague and annoy him in every possible way. 
 
 The winds were still favorable to the "Jonas." At last, when the 
 captain announced that they were close to the Gulf of San Francisco, 
 a fever of excitement took possession of the passengers. 
 
 One cloudy afternoon our two friends were sitting with Donatus 
 Kwik in the second-class cabin, talking, as usual, about the approach- 
 ing termination of their long journey, and their landing on the gold 
 country, and the grand and generous projects they would carry out 
 when they once more returned to their native land. Suddenly their 
 conversation was interrupted by a joyful hurrah which burst from the 
 deck. They hastened up. There they heard the triumphant cry 
 
 of,- 
 
 "Land! land! California! San Francisco! Hurrah!" 
 The fog had dispersed, and the shores of California lay open to 
 their astonished gaze the two sides of a strait, which they were told 
 was the " Golden Gate," or the entrance to the Bay of San Francisco. 
 To the north and south they beheld an immense chain of mountains, 
 extending far away into the misty horizon. In front of these the 
 Monte Diavolo raised its summit, crowned with gigantic cedars. 
 
 As mute with delight they were gazing at the lighthouse which 
 marked the end of their voyage, the "Jonas" reached the Golden 
 Gate and entered the Bay of San Francisco, studded with numerous 
 islands, and large enough to contain all the fleets of the world. They 
 cast anchor amid hundreds of vessels of all sizes and of all nations, 
 and the passengers, almost crying with joy and full of enthusiasm, 
 rushed in crowds to the side of the ship which was nearest the shore. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO. 
 
 SEVERAL boats came and went from the w Jonas " to the shore 
 to land the passengers. 
 Sixty of them were actually on the quay, with their boxes 
 and trunks, waiting for the directors or agents of the Californian Com- 
 pany, whom they expected to remove their luggage, and to take 
 them to the huts, or wooden houses, which had been prepared for 
 the shareholders. 
 
 All this time our two friends and Kwik were staring at the strange- 
 looking people standing by or passing near them. It was not the 
 Mexicans with their brilliant costumes who most attracted their atten- 
 tion, nor the Chinese with their long coats and pig-tails, nor the 
 mulattoes with their broad, chestnut-colored faces, nor even the half- 
 savage natives of California. What was the most strange to them 
 was the appearance of the Europeans, who, probably like themselves, 
 had left their native land in search of gold. Most of them were dirty 
 and ragged, with hair and beard neglected and in disorder! But mis- 
 erable as was their dress, all carried a revolver or a long knife in their 
 belts, and walked with head erect, casting proud looks to the right 
 and left. Persons might be seen, too, walking about, whose dress and 
 manner told of an easy position and a distinguished education, yet who 
 seemed on a footing of perfect equality with those whose faces wore 
 the impress of vice and wretchedness. They saw men whom we 
 would take for beggars or thieves shake hands with one who had the 
 
 29 
 
o THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 air of a nobleman, or brutally push away, pistol in hand, those who 
 had merely touched them as they passed. 
 
 "What a repulsive look all these people have! "said Roozeman. 
 " I should never have taken them for anything else than a band of 
 brigands. How dirty and savage they are! " 
 
 " My head feels quite giddy," said Kwik. w Here, they say, one 
 has nothing to do to get gold but to pick it up; it seems to me it 
 would be better for those men to pick up new trousers and new 
 shoes. I begin to fear we shall have to repent of our voyage. Oh! 
 if I only had my five hundred francs! " 
 
 "You look at everything on the dark side," said Jan, laughing; 
 " it stands to reason that all who come to California are not rich at 
 once. These people are probably travellers just arrived, like our- 
 selves. They have not had time or opportunity yet to go to the gold 
 mines; not being, as we are, shareholders of a company which pro- 
 vides for their maintenance, they suffer no little misery and distress. 
 Observe, nevertheless, how the hope or certainty of soon becoming 
 rich swells their hearts, and makes them proud. This is the fulfil- 
 ment of that dream which the noblest hearts in Europe so ardently 
 desire, fraternity and equality among all men and all nations, without 
 any distinction of blood or rank." 
 
 :r Yes, but fraternity with all those pistols and long knives inspires 
 me with very little confidence," replied Donatus. " If those fellows 
 with their tangled beards who stare at us so strangely are my brethren 
 well, I should prefer not to meet any of those members of my 
 family alone in a wood! " 
 
 *You don't understand," answered Jan; "the arms in those men's 
 belts are signs of liberty and independence. Have you not heard 
 that in the United States of America no one goes out without a 
 revolver? But that is a powerful and civilized nation, which gives 
 the best example of liberty and independence to the whole world. 
 You will experience it" 
 
SAN FRANCISCO. 31 
 
 Just then a tolerably well-dressed gentleman, with a proud and 
 noble countenance, approached Creps, and offered to carry their 
 luggage to the town. The Flemings gazed at him^ with wonder, and 
 Jan answered in English that they did not at the moment require his 
 services, as they were expecting people from the town to take charge 
 of their luggage. Roozeman asked him very politely how it was that 
 such a gentleman as he appeared to be was obliged to resort to such 
 hard work as that to earn a few shillings. 
 
 "A few shillings!" repeated the other, smiling. "It isn't such a 
 bad employment as you think. I earn eight and sometimes twelve 
 dollars a day by it." 
 
 "What does he say?" cried Kwik, who during the voyage had 
 picked up a little English. r < Twelve dollars! sixty francs a-day! 
 Oh, what a charming country! To carry baggage one does not 
 require much wit. Now I fear nothing. At Natten-Haesdonck I had 
 to work like a horse, and I scarcely earned two dollars a month, with 
 my board and lodging." 
 
 And he laughed and clapped his hands as if the certainty of 
 escaping such misery had made him mad with joy. 
 
 The Englishman, who thought he was making fun of him, put his 
 hand to his knife, and cast a threatening look at the amazed Donatus 
 as he turned away. 
 
 "A very touchy brother that," murmured the frightened Kwik 
 between his teeth. " A little mere and he would have stuck me like 
 a pig. Say what you like, gentlemen, all these fellows here are like 
 a band of brigands, who are trying to pick a quarrel with you in 
 order to rob or murder you." 
 
 Thus saying, he took up his bag, pressing it tightly to him, as if 
 he feared lest it should be stolen. 
 
 "Since you lost your bank-notes you see robbers everywhere," 
 said Jan. "That gentleman did not understand you, he thought you 
 were laughing at him: no wonder that he was annoyed." 
 
o 2 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 He was interrupted by a great noise, and by the complaints of the 
 passengers who, like himself, were waiting beside their luggage. 
 They had been informed that neither directors nor agents of the 
 California Company had yet arrived at San Francisco. The "Jonas" 
 was the second of the Company's vessels which had appeared in the 
 bay, and, doubtless, that containing the directors and instruments of 
 labor had been detained by contrary winds. Next day it would 
 probably be sighted. Besides this, no one knew anything about the 
 " California Company," and all that the passengers could do now was 
 to act upon the American proverb, " Help yourself." 
 
 Night was coming on ; they must therefore seek a lodging, or, at 
 all events, some shelter. 
 
 Two men ran up together to carry Victor's trunk, which was 
 rather large. Both had their hands on it; one pushed the other away 
 violently, and with coarse language. One drew his knife and threat- 
 ened to stab the other, but he jumped on him like a furious tiger, tore 
 away his knife from him, throwing it a long distance off, and then 
 struck him on the face with such force that the blood streamed from 
 his nose and mouth, and, revolver in hand, he cried that he would 
 blow out his brains if he came a step nearer. 
 
 "Odd sort of brothers! " murmured Donatus, pale with fright. 
 
 " He is a tiresome fellow," said the victor in French, as he put the 
 box on his shoulder; "one of these days I shall be obliged to put a 
 ball in his head. Where do you gentlemen wish to go? " 
 
 "But I say, where is my trunk?" cried Creps suddenly; "it was 
 here beside me just now." 
 
 "Ah! you speak Flemish, do you?" asked the porter. "From 
 your accent you are from Antwerp. I am a Brusseller." 
 
 "But my trunk! my trunk! " repeated Creps, anxiously; "where 
 can it be ? " 
 
 " Probably it is stolen," replied the Brusseller. 
 
 "What am I to do, then?" 
 
SAN FRANCISCO. 33 
 
 " Nothing. You'll never hear of it again." 
 
 "Run to the burgomaster! to the police! " cried Donatus. 
 
 "There are no police here," observed the Brusseller. "Every one 
 is free here to do what he likes. All the worse for those who are 
 not strong enough, or sly enough." 
 
 " And if the mad fellow just now had stabbed you with his knife, 
 would there have been no justice to avenge the murder? " 
 
 " None. Justice would have plenty to do if it existed here. At 
 the least word, blood flows between the best friends: the thirst for 
 gold makes the heart cruel and pitiless. I was a mild, gentle fellow 
 when I came to California, and seven months' work in the mines here 
 have taught me that a sheep, in order to live among wolves, must 
 become a wolf himself. In Belgium I did not like to shoot a rabbit, 
 now I would kill ten men with my revolver without being more 
 moved than when I brush off the gnats which are trying to sting me." 
 
 Victor and Donatus shuddered when they heard these words. Jan 
 went some distance off, looking everywhere for some trace of his 
 trunk. 
 
 " Useless trouble, comrade," said the Brusseller. f You won't see 
 it again. Make haste, or you will have to pay me double, for you 
 make me waste my time. I can earn four dollars more before night." 
 
 " So you say," said Creps, " that no justice exists in the country." 
 :? That is to say," replied the porter, " that no one meddles with 
 fights or murders; but if a thief is taken in the act, those who are pre- 
 sent you or I, for example sometimes take him and hang him on 
 the nearest tree, without any trial or sentence. This is what is called 
 Lynch law here. You will soon become acquainted with this strange 
 sort of justice. But walk a little quicker, please; and take care of the 
 mud, of which there is always plenty in San Francisco after rain." 
 
 ? Well, plainly enough, all my lamentations won't bring me back 
 my trunk ! " sighed Creps. " It's a good thing that I put my bank-notes 
 in my pocket." 
 
34 
 
 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " Don't talk in that way for people to hear you," said the Brus- 
 seller. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "Don't you understand? If I, for example, was desirous to pos- 
 sess your bank-notes, what is to prevent me from stabbing you to the 
 heart with my knife, and then taking your bank-notes." 
 
 " You! " cried the three friends at once. 
 
 " No, I am not so far gone as that, thank God ! I am only giving 
 you good advice. But you have not yet told me where you mean to 
 pass the night. There are hotels of all prices. To sleep one night be- 
 neath a roof one pays ten, five, three, or two dollars a head : even for 
 one dollar you can sleep on the ground under a sail. Well, which 
 will you choose? " 
 
 " Five francs to sleep on the ground under a sail! " exclaimed the 
 Flemings. 
 
 "Are you rich? Have you much money?" inquired the Brus- 
 seller. 
 
 "Much money? No, certainly not! but enough to sleep for one 
 night in a tolerable bed." 
 
 * Very well; I see you are inclined to follow my advice. The best 
 thing you can do is to give three dollars a head. The inns are all 
 full at San Francisco, but I know one rather out of the way where 
 four or five beds are to be had." 
 
 On the way Kwik asked their porter, 
 
 c Tell me, comrade: you have, you say, been some months in the 
 mines; have you found much gold?" 
 
 "Oh, yes! a great deal." 
 
 ;c How is it, then, that you carry luggage like some poor unfortu- 
 nate fellow, instead of living on your income? " 
 
 " Because I have no longer any gold." 
 
 "You have been robbed?" 
 
 " No." 
 
SAN FRANCISCO. 
 
 35 
 
 "You have lost it?" 
 
 * Yes; lost it gambling. I was too eager; I wished to double my 
 treasures, and fortune took all from me. I must soon return to the 
 mines, and' then I shall be wiser. Here is your hotel, gentlemen. 
 Open up your purse: two dollars for my trouble." 
 
 : ' What!" cried Jan, amazed. "Ten francs for carrying this trunk 
 some three hundred yards? You are joking, surely? " 
 
 "Two dollars, I tell you!" 
 
 " And if I refuse to be thus imposed upon ? " 
 
 w I shall force you to pay me, even if I resort to my knife." 
 
 " I laugh at your knife! " cried Jan. 
 
 :? You are wrong, comrade ; if you were not my fellow-countryman 
 you would repent those rash words. Come, no dangerous quarrelling. 
 Two dollars!" 
 
 Roozeman, who feared that his companion would pick a serious 
 quarrel with this ferocious person, did not hesitate to pay him the 
 price he demanded. 
 
 " Let this teach you to bargain beforehand for the price of every- 
 thing," said the Brusseller, very seriously, as they entered the hotel; 
 and added, " Good evening, gentlemen; if you want me, you will find 
 me on the quay. For a dollar an hour I am at your service." 
 
 The hotel servants took the trunk, and led the travellers to a wide 
 room up-stairs, where there were four beds. 
 
 " Will you sup, gentlemen? " asked a waiter. 
 
 Notwithstanding their amazement at all they had seen and heard, 
 our friends determined to have a good supper, and even to indulge in 
 a bottle of wine, that they might forget the everlasting salt meat of the 
 ship. They were served immediately they entered the dining-room. 
 The table was a very long one; at one end were four or five people 
 playing at draughts. Two others were seated near the Flemings, and 
 were talking in French about the gold mines, and of the varied suc- 
 cess they had had during the past season. 
 
36 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 After supper, being tired, the friends resolved to go to bed at 
 
 once. 
 
 The waiter showed them to the door of their room, handed them 
 a candle, and wished them " Good-night." 
 
 Kwik went in first; but scarcely had he glanced round than he re- 
 treated with a suppressed cry, pointing out to his companions some- 
 thing which terrified him. 
 
 Upon one of the four beds a huge man was stretched. His face 
 was almost entirely covered by a disordered beard; his clothes were 
 coarse and in rags; they saw the end of a revolver under his pillow, 
 and in his sleep he put his hand to a long knife which he had in his 
 belt. 
 
 The Antwerpers laughed at Kwik's fear, trying to convince him 
 that this person was, like themselves, a guest of the house. 
 
 w Speak low, Mr. Creps ! " whispered Donatus. " Perhaps you are 
 right; still it may be dangerous to awake that ugly giant. Oh, what 
 a country! Three dollars to have one's throat cut in a brigand's den! 
 Oh that I was only in our hay-loft at Natten-Haesdonck! " 
 
 The others agreed that it would be best not to awake the stranger, 
 so they spoke in a whisper. 
 
 Suddenly an angry expression was heard, and a hollow voice ex- 
 claimed in English, "Be quiet there! Put out the candle! " 
 
 Trembling with fright, Kwik extinguished the candle, and stam- 
 mered, 
 
 "O! get into your beds, and talk no more! " 
 
 Victor and Jan took his advice. Creps was soon asleep; Rooze- 
 man was alarmed and out of heart at the savage life, at the rudeness 
 and coarseness of the inhabitants, and he remained awake a long time, 
 thinking of the events of the evening. As to Donatus, he dreamed all 
 night of assassins with long, tangled beards, huge knives, and six-bar- 
 relled revolvers. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE LETTER. 
 
 KWIK was the first to awake in the morning, but he had scarcely 
 opened his eyes when an anxious sigh escaped him, and he put 
 his head back under the blanket as if he had seen a phantom. 
 The bearded man was standing in the middle of the room, his 
 piercing glance fixed upon the poor fellow, just as he awoke from his 
 heavy slumbers. Trembling with fright, Donatus secretly grasped 
 Creps' hand, who was snoring beside him, and shook it so that he be- 
 gan to rub his eyes and grumble, while he gazed with amazement at 
 the stranger, who was washing his hands, and said in English, smil- 
 ing? 
 
 w Good morning, gentlemen ; have you slept well ? " 
 
 * Tolerably, thank you, sir," replied Jan. 
 
 w You must be terribly tired," replied the man, as he continued to 
 wash himself and comb his thick beard. w I thought that you were 
 probably strolling players." 
 
 Donatus, who had now raised his head,, stared at the man with 
 mistrust and amazement. 
 
 " Strolling players ! " exclaimed Creps, who had got out of bed : 
 w we are gold-seekers, like most of the population of San Francisco." 
 
 * You see, gentlemen, that young fellow there, who seems to be 
 afraid of me, has been talking, singing, crying, flinging his arms about 
 all night, like a comedian learning a part. I jumped out of bed, ran 
 to his aid, for I thought one of you must be killing him." 
 
 Jan burst out laughing, and told the stranger the scene they had 
 witnessed the previous evening. 
 
 37 
 
^8 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 "You are new-comers here," said the other; "I can well under- 
 stand that you are afraid at the sight of blood, but that won't last. 
 While waiting here I advise you to talk as little as possible with 
 strangers, to be short in your words and careful in your actions, 
 neither meddling with nor offering assistance to anybody." 
 
 While they were dressing Jan continued his friendly talk with the 
 big man. He was by no means so repulsive in countenance nor so 
 ragged as the Flemings had taken him to be by candle-light. On the 
 contrary, he appeared to be an honest and well-educated young man. 
 He turned to Jan and remarked, 
 
 " The sky is blue, it will be fine to-day. It is Sunday, too." 
 
 w Sunday! ah, so it is! " exclaimed Donatus. " I should like to go 
 to church and pray: we have many reasons for doing so. Mr. Creps, 
 ask that gentleman where the church is." 
 
 Shrugging his shoulders, the stranger replied with a bitter smile: 
 w In California there is no other God than the god of gold; his temples 
 are the gambling-houses that you have seen, and will see no religion 
 but the worship of self and thirst for gain." 
 
 Saying these words he lighted a cigar, then he offered his case to 
 the friends, and insisted on their each taking one; then, wishing them 
 " Good-day," he left the room. 
 
 The friends all agreed that their first impression about this gentle- 
 man had been quite wrong, and that he was by no means so formida- 
 ble as Donatus especially had thought. 
 
 As this was the day they had fixed for writing letters, they asked 
 the waiter, after breakfast, for paper and ink, and then retiring to their 
 room set to work. There was no table. Roozeman and Creps had 
 to stand and write against the wall. Kwik sat on the ground before 
 Victor's trunk, on which he placed his paper. 
 
 Creps had finished first. After waiting some time, and amusing 
 himself by watching Kwik, he said to Roozeman, 
 
 "Come, Victor, make haste and finish! it is quite possible to write 
 
JAN READING DONATUS' LETTER. 
 
THE LETTER. 4! 
 
 a volume about our voyage, but in that case it would take you till to- 
 morrow morning." 
 
 "I have done," said Victor; "but I have had trouble to arrange 
 my words so that my mother shall not guess all the misery we have 
 had to endure." 
 
 When Donatus had at last finished his letter, he approached 
 the two friends, holding his paper in his hands, and exclaimed in 
 a triumphant tone: ''When Anneken's father receives this he will 
 believe that I must already be terribly rich to dare to write thus to 
 him." 
 
 " Let me see," said Jan, taking the letter. w It is rather long." 
 " So it ought to be; I have been toiling at it for a quarter of a 
 day." 
 
 Creps tried to decipher the letter, and read aloud, 
 w ESTIMABLE FATHER OF ANNEKEN, This is to acquaint you 
 that I have arrived in California, happy and in good health, and hope 
 this finds you the same. In a few days I go to the gold-well to take 
 ^ corn-sack full of it ; and if you will keep your Anneken for me till my 
 return I will make you as rich as the Scheldt is deep at Natten-Haes- 
 donck. You know that Anneken does not hate me, and that, poor 
 child! she has been half distracted since you showed me the door. 
 You have not a grain of compassion for your daughter or for the un- 
 fortunate Donatus; but if you dare to give Anneken to another whilst 
 I am in the gold country, I will have you turned out of your post as 
 garde-champetre, and to your great grief you will see me married to 
 the young lady of the castle that you might have lived in yourself had 
 you wished. You have your choice now; consider it well. Give 
 my compliments to all friends. 
 
 w I have the honor to be, 
 
 w DONATUS KWIK, 
 
 w Gold-seeker in a great hotel in San Francisco, California" 
 
4 2 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 All laughed heartily at this threatening letter, and Roozeman tried 
 to persuade the peasant that it would be better to soften the terms a 
 little. Donatus would not change a word, and his reason was that 
 the garde-champetre was an obstinate man, from whom nothing could 
 ever be got by gentleness. 
 
 While Jan and Victor were addressing their letters, Kwik ex- 
 claimed, 
 
 w Oh, gentlemen, I have something on my mind. I am eating and 
 sleeping here without troubling myself who is to pay. Everything 
 here costs enough to ruin a man. Ten francs to carry a box for five 
 minutes ! Perhaps they will ask us a hundred francs for those hard 
 morsels of cow-flesh they served us yesterday under all sorts of odd 
 
 names." 
 
 " Do not be unhappy about that; we will pay for everything." 
 " You are very kind, and I thank you; but I am not a leech. This 
 afternoon I shall look out for another inn, and if I have to sleep under a 
 sail I must do so. It seems that economy is more necessary in this gold 
 country than in Belgium; and I think excuse me for saying it 
 you'd do best too, gentlemen, to seek more modest quarters. If you 
 don't you too may be obliged to carry travellers' trunks on your 
 heads." 
 
 The Antwerpers acknowledged that Donatus was right, so they 
 called the waiter and asked for their bill. In a few minutes it was 
 handed to Creps; it was no less than one hundred and forty francs for 
 beds and supper, but Victor and Jan were each able to pay the sum 
 demanded, and they even resolved to stay another night at the hotel, 
 ruinous as it was. They had thirteen hundred francs in bank-notes 
 still left. They had slept very badly last night, but were now in a 
 house where the people were honest and civil. It might be very 
 different elsewhere. Donatus should remain with them till the mor- 
 row, when they must seriously ponder what course to pursue until the 
 irrival of the directors of the " Californian Company." 
 
 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE GAMBLING-HOUSE. 
 
 THE three Flemings walked about all the next day through the 
 streets of San Francisco, gazing into the shops and stores, and 
 wondering at the motley crowd of strange figures in the midst 
 of whom they lived. Although at that period more than fifty thousand 
 men of all nations of the earth elbowed each other there, San Fran- 
 cisco only consisted of one-storied wooden houses, together with a 
 few tents and canvas sheds, which extended like suburbs into the 
 country. 
 
 In the evening, on their way back to the hotel, they passed a 
 gambling-house with the sign ' The Verandah.' A brilliant light 
 shone from it into the street. 
 
 " Why should we not go in ? " asked Creps. 
 
 :? Yes, why should we not see what is going on there ? " asked 
 Donatus. 
 
 " Into a gambling-house ! " murmured Victor, hesitating. 
 
 "Come, come! we needn't gamble. We can get off with a 
 dollar. We mustn't leave San Francisco without seeing what a 
 gambling-house is like." 
 
 Victor let himself be persuaded, and followed his friends into the 
 gambling-house, where they sat down on a bench in the corner. 
 They were in a large hall, splendidly lighted, but filled with tobacco- 
 smoke and crowded with men. Some few looked like honest men, 
 but most were ruffians in appearance. There was a deafening noise of 
 voices, too, heard above that of the band; which, however, only con- 
 
 43 
 
A/L THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 TT 
 
 sisted of one man, a flageolet at his mouth, a drum at his back, brass 
 cymbals in his hands, and a stick with bells upon his head, but he 
 made more noise than a whole orchestra of musicians. 
 
 At the end of the room was the wide gambling-table, behind 
 which sat the banker with his numerous assistants. The game they 
 were playing was a Mexican one called " Monte," which was very 
 fashionable at San Francisco. Heaps of gold-dust were placed 
 before the banker, as well as nuggets of gold, bundles of bank-notes, 
 and gold coins. 
 
 The gamblers stood round the table. Some in a few hours lost all 
 the gold they had won in the diggings, others were marvellously 
 favored by fortune. One, who had begun to play by staking only 
 five dollars, had already gained twenty thousand in less than an 
 hour. 
 
 "This is a true gold mine for him who has luck," said Donatus: 
 "who knows if I were to venture that I might not have a chance? 
 Two dollars will not make much difference one way or the other." 
 
 "Do not play, I beg you," said Victor, in terror. 
 
 "Only two dollars: if I lose them I stop at once." 
 
 " A few dollars will make no difference to us," remarked Creps. 
 " I should like to try my hand at this game, too." 
 
 Victor remained seated, watching his friends, who approached the 
 table. 
 
 When, half-an-hour after, they returned, Jan was laughing with an 
 air of triumph, while Donatus grumbled that he had lost seven 
 dollars out of the twenty-five which Victor had given him on board 
 the "Jonas." Creps had been luckier; at one moment he had 
 actually had more than three thousand francs, but fortune being at 
 last declared against him, he had on the advice of an American left 
 the table with still about five hundred francs in his pocket. 
 
 Jan now bought wine for his friends with the money he had won. 
 While they were drinking he urged Roozeman to risk a couple of 
 
THE GAMBLING-HOUSE. 
 
 45 
 
 dollars, just to see whether fortune would favor him or no. He 
 laughed at his friend's horror of gambling. Victor, vexed at this, 
 suddenly got up, and said, "Well, if you wish it, I will play; but on 
 this condition I shall take out ten dollars only, and when I have lost 
 that money I insist that we all return to our hotel without staying 
 here a minute longer." 
 
 * Yes, but if you win ? " 
 
 " I shall lose." 
 
 "You can't be certain of it." 
 
 " But, Jan, why try to keep me here ? " said Roozeman, sadly. 
 " This gambling-house terrifies me ; whether I win or not if you 
 refuse to follow me to the hotel I shall go alone." 
 
 "Come, don't be angry; we will accept your condition." 
 
 The three friends approached the table. Matters went as they 
 often do; fortune declared herself in favor of him who at heart hoped 
 to lose. Roozeman won several times, and as he laid more and more 
 on the table to get rid of the money, pieces of gold and bank-notes 
 ^were heaped up before him in a surprising manner. This wealth at 
 last blinded him, and he continued to play as if he did not know 
 what he was doing. 
 
 As to his friends, Creps continued to lose, but Donatus had a good 
 heap of dollars before him. Fortune was favoring Victor in such 
 an extraordinary manner that the banker grumbled as he threw hand- 
 fuls of gold and bank-notes to him. All surrounded the lucky fellow, 
 and envious eyes were cast on the riches he had won. Victor was 
 too absorbed in the game to observe them; he had almost forgotten 
 that his friends were at his side. Suddenly^he heard Creps utter a 
 cry of rage. 
 
 "I have lost all, I have not a single dollar left!" he muttered. 
 "Quick, Victor, lend me a couple of hundred francs! " 
 
 But Roozeman, horrorstruck at his friend's wild look, put the bank- 
 notes and gold which he had won into his pocket, and said to Jan, 
 
46 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 "No, no! let us flee from this house. Don't play any more. I 
 am off." 
 
 Saying these words, he rushed to the door of the room, his friends 
 followed grumbling, and they left the gambling-house together. 
 
 There was a strange hesitation then among the gamblers. It 
 seemed as if the disappearance of the lucky young man had cooled 
 the ardor of most of them. Many left the place. 
 
 The Flemings, meanwhile, passed through the dark streets. It 
 was very late, and they met scarcely anybody. Roozeman, it was 
 thought, could not have made less than forty thousand francs, and 
 Donatus had still about eight hundred. Notwithstanding Creps' loss 
 there was no reason then to be dissatisfied with the evening's results. 
 Roozeman himself began to rejoice in his ill-gotten treasure, for gold 
 had seared his conscience; but yet he declared that he should look 
 upon his gains as belonging to a common stock. 
 
 " It is true," said Jan, " that when the directors of the company 
 arrive at San Francisco we shall not want for anything, but mean- 
 while we can live comfortably and remain at our hotel. Besides, this 
 money will enable us to hasten our return to our native country." 
 
 "Forty thousand eight hundred francs!" murmured Donatus: 
 "that makes thirteen thousand six hundred francs each! Well, if it 
 goes on like this I don't see why I shouldn't buy either the Castle at 
 Natten-Haesdonck or a large house in the town." 
 
 He skipped about and was beginning to sing with glee when a 
 blow behind threw him down. With the sudden thought that he was 
 to be robbed of his money, he put his hand into his pocket and rapidly 
 slipped his money into his boot. 
 
 Both his friends had been attacked at the same time. Victor was 
 held down to the ground by three or four men while two others rifled 
 his pockets. He had succeeded in getting his arms free from them, 
 and had seized hold of one of the thieves, when a dagger penetrated 
 his side, and he was obliged to let go his hold. 
 
THE GAMBLING-HOUSE. 47 
 
 But just then voices were heard, proceeding from a side-street. 
 At the sound the brigands all disappeared in the darkness. 
 
 Jan hastened to Victor, and helped him to rise, but when he felt 
 the warm blood on his hand he cried, 
 
 "Oh Victor! are you wounded?" 
 
 " Slightly; it will be nothing," was the reply. 
 
 "Where? where?" 
 
 "In the side, with a dagger; don't be anxious." 
 
 Creps, terrified, wished to knock at the first house to seek for 
 help, but Victor said he had quite enough strength, and insisted on 
 going directly to the hotel. 
 
 Supported by his friends they reached the hotel. 
 
 Jan made his wounded friend sit down, and begged that a surgeon 
 should instantly be sent for. 
 
 A waiter said that a surgeon lived a few yards from thence, and 
 that he would call him. 
 
 Though the blood was flowing from Victor's wound, yet he 
 laughed and tried to make his friends understand that they need not 
 be alarmed, as his wound was not dangerous. 
 
 The surgeon now arrived, and began to dress the wound. Then, 
 when he had helped his patient to dress again, he held out his hand 
 towards Jan, saying, 
 
 " There, gentlemen, the matter is plain enough. One night visit 
 an ounce of gold sixteen dollars, please." 
 
 " Sixteen dollars! Very well. But tell us, at least, what we have 
 to fear or hope." 
 
 !C There's nothing to fear. Half-an-inch higher up and the young 
 gentleman would now have been in trie other world; but, as it is, 
 there's nothing serious in the wound. An ounce of gold sixteen 
 dollars. I have no time to lose, and I wish to go to bed. 
 
 Roozeman searched his pockets. The brigands had taken every- 
 thing gold and bank-notes. Jan, in confusion, besought the sur- 
 geon to give them a little time, only out of pity for their misfortune. 
 
.g THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 "Pity!" replied he, laughing. "Where do you come from? 
 
 Pity in California! What a joke! Come, come, make haste! If I 
 
 am not paid in ten minutes I shall ask double! " 
 
 "But we have nothing; we have been robbed of all." 
 
 "You have probably a watch; let me see it, I will take it as a 
 
 pledge." 
 
 Creps felt for his watch; but that had also disappeared. 
 
 Donatus had listened silently to this conversation, and was trying 
 to understand the sense of the English words as much as possible. 
 When he saw the surgeon stamp with rage, while the hotel-keeper 
 declared that he would no longer lodge people without money, but 
 would turn them out of doors, Donatus came forward and said : 
 
 " I have money. I pay." 
 
 He stooped down, took a handful of gold out of his boot, and 
 handed the surgeon the sixteen dollars. The hotel-keeper was sud- 
 denly most amiable and polite. 
 
 "Ah, Donatus! " said Jan, "why did you leave us so long in diffi- 
 culty? Didn't you understand what was going on?" 
 
 "Certainly," he replied, with a cunning smile; "but I am begin- 
 ning to understand that one can't get on in California without paying 
 people back in their own coin. If the surgeon had gone without 
 his money we should now possess the sixteen dollars we have just 
 lost." 
 
 Now came the waiter and asked for the five dollars he had been 
 promised for going to fetch the surgeon. Creps reluctantly had to 
 ask Donatus to advance this sum. 
 
 He did so with a grumble. 
 
 " Come along, let us go to bed," said Jan. w Notwithstanding all 
 our misfortunes we have still reason to consider ourselves lucky. The 
 wound of our dear friend Victor is not dangerous, thank God. We 
 have seen enough of the evil of gambling, and let us resolve never to 
 enter one of these houses again." 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE WEAPONS. 
 
 WHEN Creps awoke next morning he seized his friend's 
 hand and anxiously asked him how he was, for Victor's 
 paleness, caused by loss of blood, alarmed him. 
 
 Victor answered gayly that he hoped to be well in a few days, and 
 to confirm his words he leaped out of bed; but this rapid movement 
 caused a cry of pain to escape from him. 
 
 " Oh, Victor, surely you are hiding your sufferings so as not to 
 alarm me! This misfortune which has befallen you has taken away 
 all my courage. If I had received the wound I should not care so 
 much; but you! that breaks my heart. Oh, that we had only stayed 
 in Belgium, in that land of liberty, of justice, and security!" 
 
 w Do not trouble yourself, Jan," answered Roozeman; w in jumping 
 out of bed I have moved the bandages, thereby causing myself a little 
 pain." 
 
 :r This morning another doctor shall carefully examine the wound," 
 murmured Creps. 
 
 "It is altogether useless; and, besides, we have not the money to 
 pay the surgeon." 
 
 "But Kwik has some," said Jan; and in saying so he turned his 
 eyes towards Donatus' bed. w Why, the bed's empty! " he exclaimed. 
 
 w He got up early and dressed quietly so as not to awake us," re- 
 plied Victor. :? When I asked him where he was going, he said, ? To 
 look for the end of his ear! ' 
 
 Creps suggested that as Donatus had now got some money he did 
 not care to pay to support them and, had, therefore, quietly taken 
 
 49 
 
5 
 
 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 himself off. Roozeman was indignant at the accusation; he asserted 
 that though Kwik might be coarse and stupid sometimes, that he was 
 grateful and good-hearted. 
 
 "We shall see," said Jan; "but remember, that every one for 
 himself is the law of California, and that we breathe in this horrible 
 sentiment with the air." 
 
 Victor still defended poor Kwik, and then they talked long and 
 sadly over their future prospects. As they were thus chatting Dona- 
 tus himself opened the door. 
 
 The Antwerpers were struck with amazement at his appearance as 
 he stood before them, a red sash around his waist, through which 
 were passed a dagger a foot and a half long and two revolvers. He 
 carried under his arm two other daggers of the same length, and two 
 red woolen sashes; he held his head erect, and tried to give himself a 
 martial appearance. 
 
 :c Where do you come from ? What does all this mean ? " ex- 
 claimed Creps. 
 
 " It means," replied Donatus, drawing out his long knife from his 
 belt, " it means, that the first man who threatens me I will stick as if 
 he were a sucking-pig. I met the Red Moustache of the ' Jonas' in 
 the street, and I took good care to hustle him; but he pretended not 
 to recognize me, otherwise my cold steel would have entered his skin^ 
 as into a white cheese." 
 
 " But where did you get these arms from? " 
 
 ''Why, I bought them, of course! They only cost a trifle of 
 three hundred and seventy-five francs. For that I could have pur-j 
 chased the whole stock of a gunmaker at Mechlin." 
 
 :f What a waste of money! " said Creps, reproachfully; "just at the 
 time when poor Roozeman is wounded and needs all our help." 
 
 "Oh! but I have not forgotten that," Donatus interrupted; "but to 
 eat is not the chief affair in this country as it is with us. The first 
 thing that is necessary is a revolver. This long knife is enough for 
 
THE WEAPONS. 51 
 
 me; the revolvers and the other knives I have bought for you. Take 
 them and praise my foresight: you will get more profit out of them 
 than from a good dinner and a soft bed. I have thought of every- 
 thing. Here are the belts to put the pistols in. Now, at all events, 
 we can go about the streets in the midst of these rascals, with head 
 erect and ready to defend our lives, our ears, and our purses." 
 
 "Have you no more money?" asked Victor, anxiously. * We 
 owe nine dollars for our lodging here." 
 
 w I have thought of all that," said Kwik, with a cunning smile; " poor 
 Donatus isn't so stupid as he looks. No! no! I've done a good stroke 
 of business this morning. Mine's a long story; listen while I tell it 
 you. I dreamed all night," he continued, "about men armed with 
 revolvers and knives; and in my dreams I howled with rage because 
 I had not arms to defend myself with, for I do not see why we should 
 allow ourselves to be slaughtered like sheep by these Californian 
 murderers. So I decided that we should be properly armed. One 
 revolver is wanting, because I had not enough money. I am not so 
 imprudent as you think me; before leaving the hotel I gave the land- 
 lord nine dollars for our lodging for to-night, and another three hun- 
 dred francs to pay for Mr. Victor during the next week." 
 
 ;c Thank you! thank you, Donatus! you have a good heart! " cried 
 Creps. And he held out his hand to him, deeply touched by his 
 kindness. 
 
 w Let me go on," said Kwik. " In California one has to be cau- 
 tious, and act quickly two. I went to look for the Brusseller. I 
 promised him two dollars to go with me and give me his advice. I 
 learned a heap of useful things from him. He has San Francisco and 
 California at his fingers' ends. I asked him what we had best do, so 
 as not to die of hunger. In the harbor there's little stirring now, and 
 most of our fellow-passengers of the ? Jonas-' have got employment 
 there; the nobleman of our mess carries deal planks on his back, 
 the German banker draws a hand-cart and drags bales of merchandise, 
 
^2 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 together with the newspaper editor and the ex-magistrate. Red 
 Moustaches picks up bits of broken crockery, bottles, and dirty shirts 
 for an old Jew, who, as a rag-merchant and store-dealer, has already 
 amassed a fortune! A new cotton shirt costs a dollar, and for washing 
 it one must pay half a dollar. Everybody, therefore, wears his shirt as 
 long as he can, and then throws it away. The Jew picks them up, 
 washes them, and puts them up for sale again. And the same with the 
 empty bottles, which one is in the habit of throwing out of the window. 
 The gambling-houses buy back the bottles from the Jew. If I could 
 not find a better employment I should myself become a Jew, that 
 is to say, a rag-merchant. But I have lost the thread of my story. 
 The Brusseller knows a great many people at San Francisco. He 
 went about with me to seek some situation for you and for myself. I 
 am accepted as a washer-up of dishes and plates in a refreshment- 
 room at five dollars a-day, in addition to my board and lodging in a 
 kind of kennel among the provisions; so I certainly shan't die of 
 hunger. As to Mr. Creps, I have found something better for him, 
 assistant to a butcher." . . . 
 
 "A butcher's boy! " exclaimed Jan. " I would rather harness my- 
 self to a hand-cart, like the German banker! " 
 
 "But it seems that the butchers do a strange sort of business here. 
 
 o 
 
 Before the door of one I saw a great, ugly, gray beast, with terrible 
 teeth. I was thinking that perhaps bullocks had hair like that in Cali- 
 fornia, but the Brusseller told me it was a bear. They eat bears' 
 flesh here! I am not surprised now that the people are so wicked. 
 You will not be a butcher's assistant then, Mr. Creps ? But I have 
 some other posts for you to choose from. There is a good place as 
 assistant in a gambling-house, with eight dollars a day. I know of 
 another as cleaner of boots, washer of bottles, and lamplighter in an 
 hotel, facing the harbor, seven dollars a day, without board and 
 lodging." 
 
 Creps shook his head impatiently. 
 
THE WEAPONS. 53 
 
 f You oughtn't to be so particular, Mr. Jan," remarked Donatus. 
 ' ? You will find many of our first-class travelling companions employ- 
 ing themselves in more menial offices. Besides, seven dollars! 
 What's to hinder you coming to sleep at the hotel here, till Mr. 
 Roozeman gets better? Three out of seven dollars, and four re- 
 
 main." 
 
 : 'You are right," said Jan, suddenly. "Well, I will be a boot- 
 cleaner." 
 
 " And have you found nothing for me ? " asked Roozeman. " You 
 don't think I am going to live on the profits of your labors! " 
 
 "I have got an easy and good place for you," said Kwik! "but 
 probably you will laugh at it, that of a shop-girl. I mean to say, a 
 clerk at a fruiterer's! " 
 
 The two friends burst out laughing. 
 
 "It is serious. quite serious," resumed Kwik. "There is a large 
 tent where they sell oranges, lemons, figs, and other kinds of fruit. 
 The proprietor wants some one who knows how to write French and 
 English. He gives six dollars without board and lodging. At the 
 request of the Brusseller, who has procured him many customers, he 
 will keep the place vacant for five days. You will then be nearly 
 well, Mr. Roozeman. This is, at any rate, a pleasant and honorable 
 post." 
 
 " I thank you, Donatus," said Victor, " I accept it with pleasure.'* 
 
 " Cleaner of boots in a hotel! " said Jan, sneeringly. 
 
 " Plate-wiper in a dirty public house! " murmured Donatus. 
 
 " Clerk at a fruiterer's ! If my mother and Lucia only knew 
 it!" said Victor. 
 
 :? What does it matter?" said Kwik. "As soon as we see the 
 mines and are able to pick up gold in handfuls all this will be forgot- 
 ten; and how many stories I shall have to tell to Anneken and my 
 children!" 
 
 : ' Well, we won't be cast down," said Creps. " Our friend Rooze- 
 
CA THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 man is better and cheerful; that is the chief matter. Perhaps the 
 directors may come this very afternoon; however, I shall go presently 
 to my hotel, where I am to begin my work as shoeblack. This 
 afternoon, at two o'clock, I shall be washing plates and dishes dab- 
 bling in greasy water, with bare arms." 
 
 " If we had only breakfasted," said Creps, " I should then feel more 
 courage." 
 
 " I paid for breakfast before I went out this morning," said Do- 
 
 natus. 
 
 " You are a marvel of foresight and kindly feeling! " said Jan, gayly 
 slapping him on the shoulder. " I thought you were playing us false, 
 friend Kwik." 
 
 "Possibly," answered Donatus: "but if Mr. Victor had not been 
 ill, Donatus probably would not have remained awake all night to 
 reflect on what he had best do. For Mr. Roozeman I would do any- 
 thing." 
 
 Roozeman took his hand and pressed it gratefully. 
 
 " Come, let's breakfast, then," said Jan. 
 
 " Not till you have put on the belts and revolvers," said Kwik. 
 " These weapons must not leave you for a moment now. The Brus- 
 seller told me so. In fact, you might even want them during your 
 sleep. And what would be the good of them if you hadn't them 
 ready at the moment of danger?" 
 
 "Not even to go to breakfast?" exclaimed Victor, who seemed to 
 regard the arms with horror. 
 
 "Not even to go to breakfast," said Donatus. "Those villains of 
 last night may still be at the table, and eager to pick a quarrel with 
 us. But come along now; I would give a week's wages to fall in 
 with that scamp who ran off with the tip of my ear! " 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE SAVAGES. 
 
 SOON after Victor had taken his place at the fruiterer's counter; 
 his wound was rapidly healing, and caused him very little 
 trouble. Creps cleaned the boots, rinsed the bottles, and 
 lighted the lamps. Donatus washed the cooking utensils and helped 
 the cook of the refreshment-room in his large tent. 
 
 The three friends always met very late in the evening at a coffee- 
 shop, where they passed an hour or two of their leisure time. Jan 
 Creps always laughed very much at the post which Kwik had got for 
 him. He appeared the least content of the three, and confessed that 
 the blush of shame often rose to his brow when another servant flung 
 a whole heap of dirty boots at him and told him roughly to make 
 haste and clean them. His only comfort was that his fellow-shoe- 
 black was a Frenchman, who had driven in his carriage in Paris, and 
 was really a very well-educated and honest man. 
 
 The three friends had money enough, not only to live very well, 
 but to save a good many dollars. 
 
 The Brusseller often came to spend the evening with Creps and his 
 friends, and they listened eagerly to all he had to say about the gold- 
 fields. The pictures he drew of bandits, wild beasts, and especially 
 of savage natives who scalped their victims, were by no means en- 
 couraging. 
 
 At the request of the Flemings, and especially of Donatus, Pardoes, 
 the Brusseller, told of his conflict with the terrible savages, and in such 
 thrilling words that Kwik listened with beating heart and bated breath. 
 
 Pardoes had first gone to the mines in the south. He had suffered 
 
 55 
 
cj6 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 unusual misery, and had little success there. Then he went to those 
 in the north; there he found plenty of gold. He would not have left 
 them if the rainy season had not made the gold-seeker's labors impos- 
 sible. He intended to return when the season was more advanced, 
 and when he had made enough money; for he wasn't like his auditors, 
 a shareholder of the Californian Company. He had to make his own 
 living, therefore, and by hard labor earn the money necessary to 
 return to the gold-fields. The friends promised to help him as soon 
 as the directors arrived, for they would have no other use for their 
 
 savings. 
 
 Of all the stories and adventures which Pardoes had told them, 
 that which made the greatest impression on Kwik was a narative of a 
 battle he had had with the Californian savages, and their cruel cus- 
 tom of scalping the heads of their vanquished enemies. Perhaps the 
 loss of the end of his ear had something to do with his fear. He 
 often referred to the story of the savages, and finished by putting a 
 number of questions to the Brusseller. 
 
 "And these savages have they really red skins? " 
 
 " Of course; that is why they are called ' Red Men.'" 
 
 " Yes ; but red ? really red ? " 
 
 " Deep red almost brown." 
 
 " And are they ugly ? " 
 
 "Horrible!" 
 
 "And do they shoot with poisoned arrows?" 
 
 r They are said to dip their arrows in the juice of a poisonous herb." 
 
 " And they really cut off the crowns of men's heads, with all the 
 hair and skin on them? Oh! when I think of it I shudder to my very 
 marrow." 
 
 T Wait," said Pardoes, " I will show you how the savages scalp 
 people; for that is the name which they apply to the friendly treatment. 
 Remain quite quiet, Kwik, and lower your head. There, this is how 
 they do it! " 
 
THE SAVAGES. 57 
 
 Thus saying he seized Donatus' thick hair as if he would tear it 
 out, and with his thumb-nail he traced a circle round the terrified 
 young man's head. Then he cried, " There, you have no longer any. 
 skin on the top of your head! " 
 
 Donatus, who feared that this was only true, raised an agonizing 
 cry, gazed vacantly round him, and trembling, looked at the Brus- 
 seller, who pretended to be hiding something behind his back. 
 
 A long peal of laughter arose, and Donatus himself shared in the 
 general mirth after he had felt his head and assured himself that it 
 was all fun. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE BANKRUPTCY. 
 
 A OUT a week after the arrival of the "Jonas," a great crowd 
 rushed down to the port with eager demonstrations of joy. 
 It consisted of the passengers of the "Jonas" and two other 
 vessels which the Californian Company had sent to San Francisco. 
 A three-master with a French flag had been signalled, and the report 
 had spread that the directors of the company had arrived at last, with 
 the tools and everything necessary to conduct the shareholders to the 
 diggings. When, after a long delay, a boat's crew landed in the 
 harbor, a cry of despair and rage burst from the crowd : The Califor- 
 nian Company had failed, and no longer existed! All the money paid 
 to it was lost, and the shares which the passengers held were not 
 worth a halfpenny. Was it a gigantic swindle ? or had the company 
 really been unfortunate? However that might be, the four or five 
 hundred members of it at San Francisco must help themselves out 
 of their difficulty the best way they could. Most of them had no 
 money; many, who had been too lazy or too proud to work, had 
 hitherto lived very miserably, and slept in the open air like a lot of 
 beggars. 
 
 That evening the Antwerpers met the Brusseller again : they nat- 
 urally talked of the bankruptcy of the company, and of the new posi- 
 tion in which the bad news had placed them. 
 
 w I think of making you a proposal," said the Brusseller, " if you 
 have courage to accept it. Donatus is not a hero, I know, but he is 
 strong, and inured to fatigue a great advantage in the diggings. 
 58 
 
THE ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH THREE-MASTER. 
 
THE BANKRUPTCY. 6 1 
 
 As to you, Creps, I have no doubt of your powers; but Roozeman, 
 though robust enough, does not seem to me cut out for a life at the 
 mines: he might get ill and become a burden to the others." 
 
 "What are you saying?" exclaimed Kwik. "Mr. Victor has 
 more courage than all of us. If you had seen him at work you would 
 alter your mind, I know. Still waters are deep, friend Pardoes." 
 
 "Whether there is truth or not in what you say," said Victor, 
 somewhat hurt, to Pardoes, " I mean to go to the mines, even had I 
 to go alone, and were the dangers a hundredfold greater than they 
 really are. You seem to look upon me as weak both in mind and 
 body. Can't a man have courage unless he swears and speaks 
 coarsely? " 
 
 * Well, let that be," replied Brusseller, "but I wish to do some- 
 thing for you: so listen to me. There are two roads to the mines: 
 that to the south is shorter and easier, but there are more savages to 
 be met with on it, which our friend Kwik, I am sure, won't relish; 
 that to the north is longer and more arduous, but the diggings are 
 richer and more difficult. What urges me to return thither is an im- 
 portant secret which I will now disclose to you. Three months ago 
 I was washing gold on the banks of the Yuba river. I had to leave 
 because the rainy season made work there impossible. On my return 
 one of my companions happened to be a Swiss, who was ill and 
 wished to return to Europe. I rendered him every service on the way, 
 and on one occasion I saved his life by receiving in my own. arm a 
 blow from a dagger which was dealt at him in a conflict with a band 
 of highwaymen. My wound was severe; but the Swiss, w r ho wore 
 under his clothes a leather belt full of nuggets and gold-dust, was 
 deeply grateful, and to reward me for my protection he told me that 
 he had found his gold in a place hitherto unknown, where the nug- 
 gets were so abundant that they could be picked up with scarcely 
 any labor. This spot is situated on very high ground near to Sierra 
 Nevada. He described it so minutely that, knowing the country so 
 
2 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 well as I do, I can easily find it. Well, I propose to form a company 
 among us, and to go together to these mines. Do you accept this 
 proposal?" 
 
 "Yes! yes!" all cried with joy. 
 
 " Very well, then, I will look out for one or two strong compan- 
 ions for we ought to be six to work there : two to dig the earth up, 
 two to carry it to the river, and two to wash the gold." 
 
 "Oh, Pardoes! let us start to-morrow! " cried Donatus. 
 
 "Not in such a hurry: the favorable season has not come yet, and 
 we are not ready." 
 
 "But why lose time?" said Victor. "More than two hundred of 
 the shareholders cheated by the Californian Company will start to- 
 morrow, either to the north or to the south, most of whom don't pos- 
 sess five dollars: we shouldn't be worse off than they will be." 
 
 "Let them go," said the Brusseller, with a strange smile; "they 
 don't know what they are about. Many will never reach the dig- 
 gings, and I shan't be surprised if we come upon their skeletons in 
 our way to bear witness to their folly. You seem to think that one 
 goes to the mines as easily as from Brussels to Antwerp. You will 
 learn by experience. Even if the season were favorable and we were 
 ready, I should postpone our departure until these fellows without 
 money, provisions, or necessary tools were well out of our way. 
 Hunger and misery will turn many of these men into robbers and 
 murderers, for here there is no law but violence, and the strong takes 
 from the weak whatever he wants. So I shan't start this time till 
 each of us has his gun. Revolvers are all very well for fights at the 
 diggings, but on a journey one is oftener attacked by bullets from a 
 distance, and guns are needed for defence. Many other things, too, I 
 shall have to provide, as axes, hatchets, spades, dishes, plates, sauce- 
 pans, blankets to sleep in, a sail to cover our tent, and many other 
 things besides; all of which I must look sharp for chances of pur- 
 chasing cheap." 
 
THE BANKRUPTCY. 63 
 
 "But when shall we start, then?" grumbled Kwik, discon- 
 tentedly. 
 
 " As soon as the weather is better and we have money enough to 
 get what we need. You have not saved much yet, I think?" 
 
 " I have forty-eight dollars," cried Kwik, striking his pocket. 
 'Yes! but Creps and Roozeman ? " asked Pardoes. 
 
 " I have thirty." 
 
 "And I twenty-eight," they each replied. 
 
 * You are richer than I thought. But there is a means of adding 
 to your dollars. Roozeman has a trunk, probably well furnished 
 with fine shirts and other linen. Donatus has a bag, too. Give me 
 the contents of both and I will sell them at a very high price. No 
 one wears linen at the diggings, nothing but a blue or red flannel shirt, 
 and one never changes one's clothes there: woollen material is good 
 both against cold, damp, and heat. Well, it's getting late, and I am 
 tired. Each of you had better give me ten dollars, that I may 
 begin to make my purchases to-morrow." 
 
 -Jan and Victor gave him the money without a word. Donatus 
 fumbled about in his pockets and boots, and could not find it, and 
 said at last, " I'm sorry, but I must have left my money in my shed. 
 You shall have it to-morrow." 
 
 "Ah! ah! " said the Brusseller, laughing, "you are not quite sure 
 of your man! you fear I shall run off with your dollars, don't you?" 
 
 "Everything is possible in California, you said yourself," said 
 Kwik, getting up quickly. 
 
 The Brusseller struck the peasant's pocket, and the dollars were 
 heard distinctly. 
 
 " Come! come! Yes, I have them, after all. Take them! " 
 
 " Now," said Pardoes, " we must save as much as possible to be 
 the sooner ready to start. Don't tell any one of our plans, or about 
 anything which I have told you. If it was discovered that we were 
 going to some unknown and rich diggings they would either go before 
 
64 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 us or follow us, and violently dispute our possession of the spot. 
 There is every chance of our returning from the mines with a good 
 load of gold. Good-by, then, till to-morrow." 
 
 That night our three heroes had pleasant dreams of the heaps of 
 gold they were about to find, and of the rich and happy lives they 
 would lead when, their toils and troubles over, they were once more 
 comfortably settled in their native land. 
 
 i 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE GOLD-SEEKERS. 
 
 RV.THER more than a month after this six weary travellers were 
 walking through a wide and solitary valley to the east of the 
 Sacramento river. They carried heavy knapsacks, and were 
 laden with provisions, axes, spades, blankets, etc.; one carried the sail 
 which was to cover the tent, another the great saucepan to boil the 
 water, and another the large trough or sieve in which the earth con- 
 :aining gold was to be washed. Each had a gun slung behind him, 
 is well as a revolver and a knife in his belt. They must have been 
 several days on the road, for they were dirty and muddy from head to 
 bot, and from their bent backs and staggering gait it was easy to 
 *uess that they had walked several leagues that day. 
 
 The place where we find them is the eastern extremity of the Sac- 
 amento valley. On their left extends avast plain, on their right hills 
 ind mountains, whose summits were covered with cedars, cypresses, 
 ind pines. Some leagues behind these may be seen rising the peaks 
 >f the Sierra Nevada, covered with eternal snow and ice. 
 
 The travellers have reached a spot where they must leave the 
 -alley to ascend through a defile between two hills to the eastward. 
 s[ow the sun is shining, and it is very hot; but it has been raining .for 
 everal days, and the muddy and slippery ground increases the diffi- 
 ulties of the march. These men are no other than Pardoes, with his 
 riends Creps, Roozeman, and Kwik, and two new comrades. The 
 irst, who keeps mostly at Pardoes' side, is an Ostend man, who had 
 ailed nearly all round the world in an American ship; from which, 
 .owever, he ran away at Callao in order to seek for gold in California. 
 
 65 
 
66 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 This fellow is very much like a bear, coarse in language, with a nar- 
 row mind, and without any generous feeling. He is quarrelsome by 
 nature, for he is always boasting of his skill in combats with the knife. 
 He has lost the little ringer of his left hand in one of these encounters. 
 The Brusseller had chosen him owing to his great bodily strength, 
 which would enable him easily to bear the hard life at the mines, 
 though he had no money. The second was a French gentleman of 
 about forty, tall, thin, and with regular features, evidently a man of 
 high birth; in his gait, manner, and expression of countenance there 
 was something which showed that he was well-bred and well-edu- 
 cated, and which contrasted strangely with the coarse and ignoble 
 face of the Ostender. Still the Frenchman was not an interesting 
 companion; he only spoke when he could not politely remain silent, 
 and then his words were bitter. He might often be heard talking to 
 himself, as if troubled by his thoughts or by an uneasy conscience, 
 which caused Donatus to remark that he had a screw loose in his 
 brain. 
 
 Pardoes had admitted the Frenchman to their company because 
 he had offered him all the money he possessed to join them, and as 
 this was enough to purchase the arms they still required, the Flemings 
 had accepted his proposal with joy. 
 
 Victor was the only one who showed any sympathy for this gen- 
 tleman; the Ostender was Pardoes' constant companion; Creps ap- 
 peared to get on equally well with all, and so did Kwik, for although 
 he carried the great trough on his back, as well as the heaviest burden, 
 he often made the others laugh heartily by his comic and witty 
 remarks. 
 
 As they ascended the valley Pardoes, who always went first, looked 
 round on all sides as if he feared a hostile encounter, examining the 
 ground too, and looking for the traces of footsteps; but the others paid 
 no heed to him, as he had done it from the first day, and talked as if a 
 new danger was to meet them at every step. Just at this moment the 
 

 THE GOLD-SEEKERS. 67 
 
 Frenchman slipped down on the wet ground, and seemed to bend 
 more than ever under his burden. 
 
 * Well, well, Baron," cried Donatus, in bad French, " not good 
 with that knapsack on the back? More good at Paris in the carriage; 
 isn't it?" 
 
 But the Baron did not appear to have heard his remarks. 
 
 r? It seems he can't understand my French," murmured Donatus; 
 "these gentlemen can never forget what they have been! " 
 
 Slackening his steps, he w r ent up to Victor, and said, 
 
 " Mr. Roozeman, why won't you let me carry your hatchet and 
 blanket? it will be a pleasure to me if you will relieve yourself a little 
 by the use of my back." 
 
 "Nonsense, Donatus!" said Victor, with a smile; rc you are 
 already laden like a mule. That great basket makes you look like a 
 ship without a sail. I'm looking at you because it will be my turn to 
 carry the baskets to-morrow." 
 
 f You won't have them." 
 
 " No nonsense, Donatus! I am grateful for your kindness to me, 
 but I must do as the others. It's useless, therefore, to speak of it. 
 What makes Pardoes look so eagerly round on all sides?" 
 
 "Oh, nothing, I believe! What lies that Brusseller has told us 
 since we started! With his long stories of highwaymen, bears, and 
 savages I never thought we should be alive for three days; yet all the 
 time we haven't seen a living creature yet, except a hare now and 
 en in the distance, or small stags with black tails. I tell you what 
 t is, Mr. Roozeman, the Brusseller wants to increase his importance; 
 he walks before us, leads us, commands us like a general, and boasts 
 how needful he is to us. I wouldn't mind running about here alone 
 for ten years. But look, what has Pardoes found?" 
 
 They approached him; he was gazing on the ground without mov- 
 ing, and said in a whisper, 
 
 w Hush! danger threatens us! " 
 
58 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " Do you see any gold? " asked Donatus; " for my part I see noth- 
 ing but grass and yellow flowers." 
 
 " Hold your tongue! " said Pardoes; and making a sign for them 
 to halt, he advanced a few steps, still crouching on the ground. Then, 
 turning to his companions, he said, 
 
 " Get your guns ready at all hazards." 
 
 "Well, well! what is going to happen? I don't see a soul about 
 anywhere. Those pine-trees, surely, can't be going to eat us! " 
 
 "None of your nonsense, Kwik; it's a serious matter. Don't you 
 see, gentlemen, those footsteps on the grass before you, and on that 
 damp place? After some experience in such matters one is able to 
 guess what sort of people have passed by here, and how many they 
 were. Look, the impression is not so large as of our feet, and there 
 is no trace of nails. Mexicans have passed by here. The front part 
 of the foot is deeply marked more than the heel. They were running, 
 then. Peaceable travellers don't run. They are then Salteadores, or 
 highway robbers." 
 
 "But, look," said Victor, "the footsteps are turned towards us. 
 The fellows, then, must have passed behind us, and are going away." 
 
 " Scarcely an hour has elapsed," said Pardoes, in a grave voice, 
 " since these footprints were made, and as I have not observed them 
 before, the Salteadores have probaby scrambled up somewhere among 
 the hills; so hold your guns ready to fire, and as you walk, look to 
 the right, to the left, behind, and before you; and, above all, keep 
 silence." 
 
 They walked for nearly half an hour without hearing a sound. 
 The valley had opened out, but they were again about to enter a 
 narrow defile. 
 
 "Let us rest a few minutes here," said the Brusseller, halting. 
 " I entreat you, comrades, to keep a strict lookout, and to pay atten- 
 tion to the least noise. We have encountered no dangers hitherto, 
 because I have taken care to avoid the usual gold-seekers' route, but 
 
THERE! THERE!" REPLIED KWIK, "A WHOLE BAND OF BRIGANDS! 
 
THE GOLD-SEEKERS. 7 I 
 
 now that has become impossible. In this valley the paths cross each 
 other. If there are Salteadores or bushrangers about we may fall in 
 with them at any moment. Be always ready, then, to defend your- 
 selves, especially when our road is commanded by hills or woods, as 
 it is now, and will be for some time." 
 
 They continued to advance, meeting nothing till they reached the 
 end of the defile. Then Kwik suddenly jumped behind with a cry 
 of terror. 
 
 "What is it? what do you see? " cried the others. 
 
 " There! " there! " replied Kwik; "a whole band of brigands! " 
 
 All halted and got their arms ready, for they saw before them, 
 partly hidden by the foot of a hill, four men leaning against the trees, 
 two of them holding long guns. 
 
 "Well, what shall we do?" said Creps; "we can't remain here: 
 they are only four, why be afraid ? " 
 
 *Yes, but prudence is as needful as courage; they are perhaps 
 more than we think: let us watch them for a moment. It is strange! 
 they certainly have observed us; and, if I don't mistake, they are 
 laughing." 
 
 "Come, let us advance," said Roozeman; "retreat is impossible. 
 If these men want to attack us, they can do so in any case." 
 
 " Are you afraid, Pardoes ? " asked Creps. 
 
 "No, no: but I am prudent. You don't know the country. But 
 there is no other way. Forwards, then; but at the least hostile move- 
 ment we must fire." 
 
 They continued their road. When they passed by the supposed 
 brigands, about forty paces off, these did not stir, but remained lean- 
 ing on their guns without saying a word, and only replied by a short 
 grunt and a slight nod of the head to the "Good-morning" the Flem- 
 ings addressed to them. Scarcely were they half a gun-shot off when 
 Donatus exclaimed, with surprise, 
 
 " I could scarcely believe my eyes ! There was the Red Mous- 
 tache of the c Jonas ' among them! " 
 
* 2 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " You made a mistake, I am sure," said Victor. 
 
 " Yes, there he was, flesh and bones, but without his thick whis- 
 kers, which he probably had cut off at San Francisco. He was one 
 of those without guns. So this red-haired rogue has become a high- 
 wayman! I always said he deserved the rope." 
 
 "They are not robbers," said Victor, laughing; "don't you see 
 they are only men resting a little ? " 
 
 " Not robbers ?" replied the Brusseller, still looking behind him. 
 "One can easily perceive it is the first time you have travelled in 
 California. If these men were going to the diggings they would be 
 charged with tools as we are; if they were returning, they would 
 certainly carry provisions; besides, I can tell by their dress. You 
 may believe what you like," he continued, "but they are robbers; and 
 these strange-looking fellows are probably only a portion of the band. 
 Rogues of their profession rarely attack travellers going to the dig- 
 gings, because they have no gold then; but I conclude they are wait- 
 ing on the lookout for gold-seekers returning from the mines. At 
 all events, their presence here is a bad sign. Let us advance a little 
 quicker, keeping a sharp lookout; for any tree, any bend in the hill, 
 any cleft of a rock, may hide enemies, who may rush down upon us 
 at the moment when we least expect it. Above all, keep silence; 
 you, Donatus, pay attention to this. I must act like a commander in 
 war time, and if you don't hold your tongue I shall punish you by 
 making you do double night duty as sentinel. Forwards, then, and 
 be on your guard ! " 
 
 Silently, and with hasty steps, the travellers followed their guide. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE BUSHRANGERS. 
 
 A an hour before nightfall the Flemish gold-seekers were still 
 marching onwards; but their backs were more bent, and they 
 seemed almost wearied out. They had had a hard day, and 
 longed to pitch their tent and rest till to-morrow. But Pardoes had 
 refused to grant the general wish of his companions, for their route 
 was too much overlooked by hills and rocks, from which they might 
 easily be attacked unawares. 
 
 They had reached avast plain; here they had an extensive view 
 on all sides except to the left, where bushes and fir-trees stood. A 
 clear brook ran through the midst. It seemed a good spot to encamp 
 for the night and to prepare the supper. Pardoes was the only one 
 who had any fear of danger. 
 
 The knapsacks were taken off, and while Creps and the Baron re- 
 mained to guard the provisions and tools, the others went to collect 
 firewood. 
 
 The latter soon returned, and in a short time the tent was erected, 
 and Donatus, whose turn it was to cook, had kindled a fire, over 
 which hung a saucepan full of water. 
 
 While Donatus was busy over the fire the others were stretched 
 on the ground under the sail, each wrapped in a blanket with his 
 knapsack as a pillow. The Brusseller and the sailor were smoking 
 their pipes, the Frenchman seemed asleep, Jan and Victor were 
 watching Donatus, and laughing at his awkward movements as he 
 made coifee and fried bacon. 
 
 73 
 
4 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 Night was coming on, and the horizon had already disappeared in 
 the twilight. When the smell of the bacon rose to Donatus' nostrils 
 his mouth watered, and he began to sing a Flemish song with no little 
 
 glee. 
 
 Then raising a tin plate in the air, he showed the rasher to those 
 who were lying under the tent, exclaiming, 
 
 " Look, gentlemen ! I came from the land of dainties ! Who could 
 make me so brown, so fat, so " 
 
 But a pistol-shot was heard a few steps from the tent; a bullet 
 pierced the tin plate in Donatus' hand, and he, raising a loud cry, let 
 the bacon fall into the fire. 
 
 The others sprang up, their weapons in their hands, hastening out 
 of the tent to defend themselves against the attack which the pistol- 
 shot had announced. 
 
 "Yonder! yonder! " cried the sailor; "between the trees! a man 
 running away! " 
 
 " Stay here, Donatus, your gun in your hands and ready cocked," 
 said the Brusseller, as, followed by the others, he ran towards the 
 wood to keep the fugitive within gun-shot if possible. 
 
 Kwik, completely stupified, stood before the fire, his gun in his 
 hand. His head turned, and he grumbled angrily between his 
 teeth, 
 
 " A fine feast, truly! Oh if I were only at Natten-Haesdonck! " 
 
 Suddenly he began to tremble all over; he seemed to see right 
 before him, in the twilight, some men approaching him, bending 
 down among the thick wild-mustard plants. Soon there was no doubt 
 about it; one of his foes now stood erect. Donatus levelled his gun, 
 and raising his eyes to heaven said, " O God ! pardon me : it is not 
 my fault." After this short prayer he fired ; a piercing cry was heard, 
 and the man fell backwards. 
 
 The other robbers rushed forward to attack Donatus, but he fired 
 so sharply upon them with his revolver that they seemed to hesitate. 
 
DONATUS LEVELS HIS GUN. 
 
THE BUSHRANGERS. 
 
 77 
 
 At this moment two or three shots were heard from among the 
 trees, and several bullets whistled through the air over the heads of 
 the surprised bushrangers. They, seeing that their attack had failed, 
 and that they had to contend with superior forces, fled hastily through 
 the tall grass, and disappeared among the brushwood. 
 
 It was Donatus' comrades, who had hastened up when they heard 
 him fire, and by their timely appearance had driven away the 
 robbers. 
 
 "My poor Kwik, are you wounded?" asked Victor, as he saw the 
 peasant's sad and dejected air. 
 
 "No, Mr. Roozeman," sighed Donatus; "worse than that! I have 
 killed a man, alas! one of God's creatures like myself. That will 
 weigh upon my conscience like a block of lead." 
 
 "What! killed a man? Where?" asked Pardoes. 
 
 " He fell down yonder, about fifty paces off, in the midst of that 
 tall grass." 
 
 "Well, take us there; we shall see whether you haven't been 
 dreaming." 
 
 -Arrived at /he spot they found that some one had really fallen 
 there, for the moisture on the ground was likely enough to be blood. 
 
 The Brusseller ran to the tent, returning with a lighted pine- 
 brand, which, flaring, showed the blood on the ground. 
 
 "Follow the tracks with me," said he; "but keep a good lookout 
 on all sides, and hold your guns ready. See; there were three, and 
 two supported a wounded man. The blood has dropped all along by 
 their footsteps; the fellow was probably wounded in the arm." 
 
 " The poor man isn't dead, then ? " asked Kwik, with great joy. 
 
 "No; for he was able to run." 
 
 "Thank God! " said Donatus. 
 
 "It is useless to go any further," said the Brusseller, turning 
 round; "the rascals have fled into the wood with their wounded 
 companion, and they are probably already a long way off; so come, 
 
ng THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 and let us return to our tent. Tell me, Kwik, had these robbers 
 guns?" 
 
 "Two of them had, and each of them fired at me. A bullet 
 grazed my hair." 
 
 "Plainly enough they were four, then," said Pardoes; "two only 
 had guns. They are the same men that we saw this afternoon under 
 the trees. They followed our footsteps at a distance that they might 
 surprise us in our tent." 
 
 "They must be bold fellows," remarked Creps; "they knew that 
 both as to numbers and arms we were stronger than they, and yet 
 they were not afraid to attack us." 
 
 "Yes; but you don't know their cunning tricks," said the Brus- 
 seller, " and I was stupid enough to be caught when I ought to be up 
 to them. The man who fired the pistol-shot close to the tent only 
 wanted to alarm us and draw us after him far from our encampment. 
 Fortunately, I left Donatus on guard, otherwise this decoy-bird's 
 comrades would have pillaged our tent during our absence. This is 
 an old trick of poor and famished gold-seekers, who thus try to 
 obtain provisions, tools, and blankets. Our friend Kwik has proved 
 himself a good and brave sentinel." 
 
 On returning to the tent, Donatus resumed cooking his fritters, 
 while the others drank hot coffee in tin saucers, in which they soaked 
 the little biscuit which remained to them. 
 
 Kwik grumbled over his cooking. He thought over the double 
 danger which had threatened him, to have to shoot down a Christian 
 like a dog or to receive a bullet in his own head. The first alter- 
 native filled him with horror, the second did not please him much 
 better. Good as the smell of the fritters was they no longer tempte< 
 him. 
 
 "Horrid cookery!" he muttered: "to come thousands of miles 
 to eat fritters peppered with bullets and sprinkled with human blood! 
 IX . * fa* I Donatus, my boy ! you are a stupid ass ! What are yoi 
 
THE BUSHRANGERS. 
 
 79 
 
 doing here ? Natten-Haesdonck is an earthly paradise in comparison 
 with this nest of brigands; cooks can work in peace there." 
 
 But at last supper was ready; each took his portion. The Baron, 
 who mounted guard, was relieved after a few minutes by Creps. 
 When they retired to rest under the sail the Brusseller said, 
 
 "Try to get a good night's rest, my friends, for at dawn to-morrow 
 we must be on foot. The rascals who attacked us are no longer to be 
 feared. If no other dangers arise we shall not be disturbed all night. 
 You know your turns to mount guard. After the Baron, Roozeman, 
 then the Ostender, and so on, hour by hour. The Baron will give 
 his watch to his successor. Take care not to make any noise, and 
 only wake your comrade whose turn it is to act sentry. Keep your 
 eyes and ears well open. If you see or hear anything fire at once, 
 and each of us will jump up, ready to act on the defensive. Silence, 
 now. Good-night; sleep well." 
 
 Notwithstanding the excitement of the day the gold-seekers soon 
 yielded to their fatigue, and slept so soundly that their snorings made 
 their tent sound like a den of bears. 
 
 Donatus alone kept turning in his blankets, and moving about 
 restlessly, unable to sleep. After an hour and a half's discomfort he 
 heard Jan Creps, who was sleeping close to him, sneeze twice. 
 
 "Ah, Mr. Jan, are you awake?" murmured Kwik, in a piteous 
 tone. 
 
 "What's the matter, Donatus; are you ill?" asked Creps, 
 sleepily. 
 
 w I can't close an eye." 
 
 " Bah ! you must sleep." 
 
 " I can't, Jan." 
 
 "Try, and you will at last." 
 
 "All my ribs feel as if they were broken; I am wriggling like an 
 eel on a gridiron." 
 
 ''What are you thinking about to make you feel thus? " 
 
8o 
 
 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " I keep thinking and thinking to myself, sleep is all very well if 
 I knew that I should awake alive in the morning! " 
 
 w Leave me alone, you bother me, Donatus." 
 
 "Very well," said Kwik, sighing; "if it cannot be otherwise 1 
 will say another ' Our Father,' and then, by God's mercy, perhaps I 
 shall get some sleep and begin to snore like the others." 
 
"GOLD! GOLD! I HAVE FOUND A TREASURE!' 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 THE NUGGET. 
 
 THE next day, at sunrise, after having taken some coffee and 
 eaten some lard cakes, the gold-seekers started off. The 
 greater part of the day passed without anything particular hap- 
 pening. Their road led them across a dreary valley and mountains, 
 sometimes giving place to a vast plain, at others narrowing so as to 
 form a defile in which the rocks seemed ready to crumble down upon 
 the travellers. 
 
 In the afternoon, whilst his companions, after having laid down 
 their knapsacks, were resting upon the ground to take a little repose, 
 Donatus went to a stream about a hundred paces off. He was thirsty 
 and wished to drink. As he was bending dow r n to the brook, clear 
 as crystal, he saw something glittering in the water. It was a pebble 
 as large as his fist, which appeared to be split in the middle. 
 
 The young peasant's heart began to beat violently; he turned pale 
 and remained completely still, gazing at the glittering object. Never- 
 theless, he seized the pebble, examined it thoroughly, kissed it with 
 transport, then ran back to his companions, raising cries of joy, and 
 cutting all kinds of capers and antics. 
 
 "Gentlemen," cried he to them from afar, "thank God I have 
 found a treasure! Gold! gold! a block of at least ten pounds weight! 
 enough to buy a castle! " He stumbled and fell down head foremost. 
 
 "Gold! ten pounds weight! Is it possible?" asked Victor. 
 
 "Certainly it is possible," answered the Brusseller; "it is thus that 
 the largest nuggets are often found. If only Kwik had discovered a 
 rich field!" 
 
 83 
 
34 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 "Make haste, make haste, dear Kwik!" cried Creps, with joyous 
 impatience. 
 
 Donatus ran up breathless and gasped, "Look! look what a 
 large block! Ah! heavy, heavy! heavier than lead! " 
 
 At these words he gave the golden pebble to the Brusseller, who, 
 after having examined it, threw it w T ith all his might into the plain, 
 saying, with contempt and disappointment, 
 
 " Triple fool that you are, Kwik! " 
 
 "Was it not gold?" the other asked. 
 
 "Gold? It was a piece of sulphur-stone of the kind called pyrites, 
 and it only contained iron and sulphur." 
 
 "You oughtn't to be so angry with me for that," pleaded Donatus, 
 as they took up their knapsacks to resume their journey. " I lose by 
 it as much as you. Surely others than I have been deceived, too. 
 Why, is there not a proverb, ' All that glitters is not gold ? ' Come, 
 come, we are not poorer than we were before. If there are no nug- 
 gets here we shall find some further on." 
 
 They soon recovered this disappointment. After about four miles 
 further walk they reached a forest of thorny brushwood, scarcely high 
 enough to conceal a tall man standing upright. 
 
 Suddenly the sailor stopped, and raised his gun as if about to fire. 
 
 * What do you see? " asked the others in surprise. 
 
 rf There! a human head, some one watching us and hiding in 
 the bushes!" 
 
 " Where ? We see nothing." 
 
 The sailor's only reply was to take aim and send a bullet among 
 the trees. 
 
 A cry of agony was heard, and immediately after from the brush- 
 wood arose a pitiful voice, weak and gentle as if of a woman or child. 
 
 'You have done some mischief," cried Victor, touched to the 
 heart by the sound of the voice. " Come, come, friends, let us hasten 
 to the assistance of the poor victim." 
 
THE NUGGET. 85 
 
 They all hurried into the brushwood, with the exception of the 
 sailor, who probably said that they were acting imprudently, and re- 
 mained where he was. 
 
 The others found in a small open space among the bushes the body 
 of a man whose forehead had been pierced by a ball. Bending over 
 the corpse was a lad of fourteen or fifteen, who was embracing the 
 dead man, shedding tears upon his disfigured face, and was so thor- 
 oughly maddened by grief and despair that he did not at first remark 
 the presence of the strangers. 
 
 By their costume they perceived at once that these people were 
 Mexicans, and as the lad kept repeating in a heartrending tone the 
 words w Pobre Padre!" they knew that he was weeping over his 
 father's corpse. 
 
 The Baron, who understood a little Spanish, asked him how it was 
 that they were travelling thus alone and unarmed in this dangerous 
 country. 
 
 The Baron could not very well understand the short and broken 
 words in which the young Mexican replied, but he made out that 
 these unfortunate people had already been attacked and plundered, 
 and that they had lost their companion in their flight. 
 
 The boy was out of his senses with grief and rage against the as- 
 sassins of his father, whom he regarded as thorough highway robbers; 
 for he spoke with great rapidity and violent gestures, pointing with 
 his finger to heaven, while his flashing eyes were turned now on to 
 the lifeless body, now on the group of travellers, whom he loaded 
 with curses. 
 
 : ' What does he say? " asked the Brusseller. 
 
 " He is calling down the vengance of heaven upon us, assuring us 
 that his father's spirit will follow us, and never leave us a moment's 
 rest till our deathbed." 
 
 " May God have mercy upon us! " sighed Donatus. " More trou- 
 bles in store for us! We have already had to fear evil men and 
 
86 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 ferocious beasts, and now spirits too are to be banded against us! To 
 think of sleeping quietly with such terrible curses on our heads! " 
 
 "Don't stand there so terrified," cried the Brusseller; "take up 
 your spade: we must bury the unfortunate Mexican." 
 
 The boy sat crouching in the grass, and with glassy eyes watched 
 the motions of those whom he regarded as bandits. Tears flowed 
 down his cheeks, while his thirst for vengeance seemed a little cooled. 
 Perhaps the care of the strangers in not leaving his father unburied 
 made him doubt whether these were really enemies who surrounded 
 him, and who tried to comfort him with words of sympathy. 
 
 Donatus with horror turned away his eyes from the dead man's 
 face. When he had to help to lay the corpse in the trench he trem- 
 bled from head to foot. Overcome by his trouble, he fell on his knees 
 beside the tomb, and began to pray, while the others covered the body 
 with stone and earth. 
 
 When the grave was filled up the Brusseller asked, w Well, com- 
 rades, what shall we do with this child?" 
 
 " Do with him? " replied Victor; w why, we must take him with us 
 to the diggings, take good care of him, and when we have a chance 
 find means for him to return to his home." 
 
 * That will be a great burden to us." 
 
 * What does that matter? After having killed his father we could 
 not be so cruel as to leave this poor boy in the wilderness a prey to 
 wild beasts. Even had I to carry him on my shoulders I should do 
 so till I brought him to a place of safety." 
 
 " It is troublesome, but you are right. Baron, make him under- 
 stand that he is to follow us." 
 
 The young Mexican got up and obeyed; he walked with his head 
 bent down, and seemed indifferent to his fate. However, when he 
 reached the plain he pointed his finger at the sailor and uttered some 
 words in Spanish, which gave them to understand that he recognized 
 his fathers murderer. But he soon grew calm again, turning his 
 
 - 
 
THE NUGGET. 87 
 
 fiery eyes downwards, and followed his guides with apparent sub- 
 mission. 
 
 "Come on, gentlemen," said Pardoes; w don't trouble yourself any 
 longer about that boy: we must make up for the time we have lost." 
 
 They were continuing on their road, when suddenly the young 
 Mexican sprang among the bushes, and, raising a triumphant cry, dis- 
 appeared with a dagger or pocket-knife in his hand. But attention 
 was soon turned away from the fugitive by a cry of pain which at the 
 same moment escaped from the sailor. 
 
 The Ostender, holding his hand to his side, said that he had been 
 stabbed by a poniard. The others helped him to take off his clothes; 
 all feared that he had been mortally wounded by the son of his 
 victim. 
 
 When they had uncovered his side, they perceived with joy that he 
 had only received a slight wound. He said himself that it was not seri- 
 ous enough to stop their march for a minute. 
 
 They took up their knapsacks again and walked on silently through 
 valleys and up mountains, their minds filled with gloomy thoughts. 
 Donatus especially thought of nothing else but of the spirit of the 
 murdered man, whom he feared would follow them till their last 
 hour. 
 
 "What a horrid fellow that sailor is with his shot! " he grumbled 
 to himself. " Now he has made us at war with the other world I 
 shan't be able to close my eyes in peace all my life." 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE GHOST. 
 
 A hour or two later, as they were passsing near a forest, the 
 Brusseller suddenly stopped and looked down with surprise. 
 It seemed that the plants all round had been trodden down 
 in a strange manner, and traces of horses' hoofs might be seen on the 
 ground. 
 
 " Something has happened here," said Pardoes. 
 
 "Look, here is the place! there has been firing here horses, 
 too!" 
 
 "Here is a pool of blood, as if they had been slaughtering an ox," 
 cried Kwik. 
 
 * We've got into a bad road," said the Brusseller; " it will, I think, 
 be best to turn some miles to the northward, then perhaps we shall 
 reach a less dangerous country." 
 
 They left the plain on the left. 
 
 :? What a land," murmured Kwik, " when at each step one meets a 
 new horror! " 
 
 They had scarcely walked half an hour when Donatus in terror 
 exclaimed, 
 
 "Help! help! a wild beast! a lion! a bear!" 
 
 !? Where ? " cried the others, raising their guns. 
 
 :? There, among the branches. A mouth, sirs, and eyes oh, 
 eyes!" 
 
 see nothing." 
 
 "Are you blind, then? Don't you see those two horns rising and 
 falling among the bushes? Help! help! it is coming! " 
 88 
 
DONATUS WALKS BY THE MULE'S SIDE. 
 
THE GHOST. pj 
 
 k 
 
 "Stupid fellow! " cried the Brusseller, laughing. "It is a couple 
 of donkey's ears you see there. Keep still, friends; heaven is perhaps 
 sending us valuable aid. This mule probably belongs to the party 
 who were attacked at the spot where we saw the blood. But we 
 must be quiet for a minute; some treacher} 7 may be hid under the ap- 
 pearance of this animal." 
 
 "A good comrade for you, Donatus," grumbled the sailor; "there 
 will be a couple of you now." 
 
 It seemed as if Donatus was of the same opinion, for he ran to- 
 wards the bushes while the others watched him. A minute or two 
 after he appeared in t;he plain, holding in his hand the bridle of a mule, 
 who quietly allowed himself to be led. Kwik seemed delighted; he 
 caressed the mule, addressing it in the tenderest words. The Brus- 
 seller said that it would render them good service, and relieve them 
 of a good portion of their heavy baggage. 
 
 The spades, axes, saucepans, and blankets were at once placed on 
 the animal's back, as well as the large trough. 
 
 "Donatus, I shall make you muleteer," said the Brusseller, drolly. 
 
 "I was born one," replied Kwik. "Have confidence in me: I 
 shall take as much care of the mule as if he were my own brother." 
 
 All walked more cheerfully now. It was a great relief to be 
 delivered from the heavy burdens beneath which they had groaned 
 so long. Donatus walked by the mule's side, his hand on the beast's 
 neck in token of friendship; he kept up, too, a long conversation 
 with his new friend, to whom he related many passages of his past 
 life, telling it stories of mules he had known in his native country, 
 and, of course, dilating largely on the charms of Anneken, the police- 
 man's daughter at Natten-Haesdonck. 
 
 Donatus would probably have continued this practice for hours, 
 but he was interrupted by his friends halting, as if they did not mean 
 to go any further that day. 
 
 " Comrades," said the Brusseller, " I propose to pitch our tent 
 
92 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 here; we are on a height, and can see a good distance off. There is 
 water in the brook down below, and a little further on pasture for our 
 mule. It is still daylight, and we might walk on another half-hour, 
 but we are not sure of finding another so favorable a spot. Put down 
 your knapsacks; here we will pass the night." 
 
 He loosed the mule's girths and unloaded it; then gave the poor 
 animal two or three pokes in the ribs, which made it run off gayly 
 towards the pasture. 
 
 "Oh, dear! Jan Mule! Jan Mule!" cried Donatus. w He will be 
 lost! " and was making after him. 
 
 But Pardoes held him back, saying, " Don't be afraid, Donatus. 
 That is what we always do with mules here. He will eat and sleep 
 peacefully during the night. To-morrow morning we shall find him 
 again. The bell on his neck will tell us where he is. He won't 
 stray; he is used to it." 
 
 It was Jan Creps' turn to be cook to-night: while he was making 
 the fire he said to Kwik, 
 
 * Take the saucepan, Donatus, and run to the bottom of the hill 
 and fetch me some water; the coffee will be all the quicker made." 
 
 Kwik took the saucepan and hastened off. 
 
 " We shall get a better night's rest, I hope, than we did last night," 
 said the Brusseller; "we must go to bed early, too, that we may be 
 off in good time in the morning. If we are not lazy we shall soon 
 reach the mines of Yuba." 
 
 "Soon? When, then?" asked the sailor. 
 
 " In three or four days we shall be there. We can rest a littl< 
 then and renew our provisions in the stores there before we go to our 
 diggings." 
 
 While they were talking about the stores and what was sold by 
 them, they were interrupted by the arrival of Donatus, who almost 
 let his kettle of water fall on the ground, as with pale cheeks and 
 uplifted arms, he stuttered out, 
 
THE GHOST. 93 
 
 " I have seen down yonder something so ugly, so horrible, that I 
 have almost lost my head with fear." 
 
 "Tell us what you have seen! " grumbled Pardoes, impatiently. 
 
 r 'Yes; but let me get my breath. Yonder, behind the mountain, 
 close to the water, a man is hanging from a tree, his legs still quiv- 
 ering. He would certainly cry out, but he can't, for he is hung by a 
 slip-knot in a rope." 
 
 "Come! come! let us go and see what it is." 
 
 Donatus led them to the foot of the hill, and showed them in 
 reality a man hanging from the highest branch of a tree. The wind 
 blowing through the gully made the corpse swing; this movement 
 had made Kwik imagine that the man might still be alive. 
 
 Victor, approaching nearer to the tree, remarked that a tin plate 
 had been nailed against its trunk. Donatus stopped, trembling, and 
 dared not approach the corpse, but the jeers of the sailor at last made 
 him follow the others. 
 
 On the tin plate the following inscription was written with an iron 
 point, in English. Victor read it aloud: 
 
 " Respect Lynch law. Jack Kalep here murdered his bosom 
 friend in order to steal his gold." 
 
 "Look! close to the tree here is a little cross of wood in the 
 ground," said the Baron ; " this must be the victim's grave." 
 
 "'Well, these are matters which don't concern us," said the Brus- 
 seller, turning away. " Come, let us return to our tent." 
 
 "Are you going to leave that man hanging there? " asked Kwik, 
 with disgust. 
 
 " He has been hanging there certainly for the last six weeks." 
 
 "And you won't bury him? He was perhaps a Christian like 
 
 us." 
 
 Victor tried to make him understand that there must be limits to 
 his compassion. The dead man was a horrible assassin, who had 
 well deserved his punishment. But Kwik murmured, 
 
94 
 
 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " I'd rather sleep in the cemetery of Natten-Haesdonck than here 
 though that wouldn't be pleasant at midnight. What a country! 
 what a horrible country! " 
 
 The coffee and fritters were soon ready. Supper over, Victor 
 acted as sentry, and the others went to rest under their tent. 
 
 Donatus was even more restless than he had been on the previous 
 night. He kept his eyes closed, for whenever he opened them the 
 darkness assumed for him all sorts of terrible forms. He saw the 
 corpse of the Mexican, then that of the hanging man, and afterwards 
 of his victim, pass before his eyes, each threatening him. But what 
 struck him with the most abject terror was -the thought that in the 
 middle of the night he would be called to relieve the sentinel on 
 guard. Then he would be alone in the darkness. His comrades 
 were snoring under the tent. How he envied their tranquillity! 
 Gladly would he have given a nugget of gold as big as an apple to be 
 able to forget the ghosts as they did. He began to pray fervently, 
 and whether it was that bis prayer diminished his fear, or that he at 
 last gave way to the fatigues of the journey, he finally fell asleep. 
 
 Towards the middle of the night he felt some one pulling his legs 
 and pinching his calves. He jumped up and said with a groan, his 
 hair standing erect on his head, 
 
 "Oh! a ghost! a ghost!" 
 
 "Silence!" growled the sailor; "it's your turn to mount guard 
 it's eleven o'clock." 
 
 c Yes," murmured Kwik, as he went out of the tent, " thus an un- 
 happy mortal falls into one pit after another." 
 
 "Here is the watch," said the Ostender; "at midnight you mu 
 wake the Baron to relieve you." 
 
 " Have you seen nothing in the darkness ? " asked Kwik, in an 
 anxious tone. 
 
 r Yes, Donatus, my boy: something horrible out yonder." 
 
 " What did you see ? " 
 
THE GHOST. 
 
 95 
 
 w See! why, a ghost with a white sheet on its back," said the sailor, 
 in a hollow voice; " it spoke to me." 
 
 "Come, come! is it true? and what did it say?" 
 
 ? Is there not an idiot among you named Kwik? ' it asked. ? Yes,' 
 I replied, * he will mount guard about the middle of the night.' 
 ' Very well,' said the ghost; ' that will be a very good time to wring 
 his neck.' Good-night, Donatus." 
 
 When poor Kwik found himself alone in the darkness, his legs 
 trembled under him with fear. He would have liked to keep his 
 eyes shut, but among all his weaknesses he had many good qualities, 
 and one of them was that he wished faithfully to do the duty which 
 had been intrusted to him. He remembered that he was posted there to 
 watch over the lives of his companions, and especially over Roozeman. 
 
 He looked round on all sides. Trees, rocks, clouds, all assumed 
 fearful forms in his eyes. 
 
 Hitherto he had been brave enough not to quit his post, but his 
 terror increased as the fatal hour of midnight approached the hour 
 at which, according to the stories he had heard in childhood, ghosts 
 wandered about seeking vengance. 
 
 Suddenly he raised a stifled cry; he saw, or thought he saw, in the 
 distance, a human shadow with a white sheet on its head rise from the 
 ground. 
 
 He retreated to the fire, and had to lean against the cooking-pole 
 to prevent himself from falling. There a happy thought came into 
 his mind. He took the watch from his pocket, opened it, bent over 
 the flame, and with trembling fingers put the hands on about three- 
 quarters of an hour; then he slipped under the tent, pulled some one 
 by the legs, and said, 
 
 "Baron, Baron, awake! twelve o'clock. It is your turn mid- 
 night!" 
 
 JC What! twelve o'clock?" murmured the Frenchman, coming out 
 of the tent. "It is scarcely half an hour since I heard you called." 
 
96 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 "Come, come!" stuttered Donatus, in his bad French, "when 
 asleep, not know whether twelve o'clock or not. Look, the clock 
 marks exactly that! " 
 
 The Baron took the watch and mounted guard. Donatus, rolling 
 himself up in his blanket, mumbled, "It's not honest I know it; but 
 I will make it up to him, if I have to mount guard for him ten times 
 another day. I am not afraid, I am brave enough, but to fight with 
 ghosts no, no ! " And he let his head fall back on his knapsack. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE WOUNDED MAN. 
 
 "Y "Y THEN the gold-seekers awoke next morning and looked at 
 X/V/ tne watch, they were not a little surprised that the sun rose 
 an hour later on the previous days. All sorts of conjec- 
 tures were made, and the sailor suggested that it might be caused by 
 in earthquake, which had moved the earth out of its axis. Donatus 
 <ept his eyes on the ground, and pretended to have a cold in his head, 
 vvhich made him sneeze incessantly. The Baron looked at him sus- 
 piciously, but Kwik's air was so innocent that he soon thought no 
 norc of the matter. 
 
 Whilst they were seated at breakfast, Creps remarked, rubbing his 
 lands, 
 
 * We- must make good progress to-day; we have slept well 
 laven't we, Kwik? " 
 
 :r Yes," grumbled Donatus, w pretty well; but all night I have been 
 >eset over and over again by four or five ghosts." 
 
 ? You must get the better of your silly imagination, friend Kwik," 
 aid Victor. " God has protected us so far, and we must believe that 
 le will continue to watch over us." 
 
 :? Well, Mr. Roozeman," replied Donatus, with a sigh, * I am curi- 
 us to know what new horrors we shall see to-day? " 
 
 "Come! come! don't let us lose more time," cried Pardoes; "up 
 /ith your knapsacks. Donatus, go and fetch the mule: he is down 
 ,iere by yonder pine-tree." 
 
 A few minutes after and they were on the road. Donatus had be- 
 
 97 
 
98 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 come very polite to the Baron, and was most anxious to carry his 
 knapsack and gun, but the Frenchman, who had no idea of the cause 
 of this sudden change in his manner, refused his offer coldly and 
 haughtily. 
 
 Kwik, thus repulsed, returned to the mule, by the side of which he 
 trudged onwards, his only consolation being in relating to the animal 
 the story of last night's troubles, and deploring to it his foolish depart- 
 ure from the happy pastures and peaceful homesteads of his native 
 land. But it happened that in the middle of this attractive recital the 
 mule, stung by a gnat, gave a violent kick, which threw Kwik pros- 
 trate on the ground. 
 
 He must have had a hard head, for before the others had had time 
 to run to his aid he was on his feet again, and had assumed his place 
 by the mule's side, to whom he now preached a long sermon on the 
 friendship, gratitude, and obedience which a mule owed to a kind- 
 hearted master. 
 
 But he was interrupted by a shout from the Brusseller, 
 
 rc Your guns ready! there are a number of men ahead of us." 
 
 " There, we are in for it again ! " sighed Donatus. " I wouldn't 
 give a pipe of tobacco for our lives! " 
 
 All halted and made ready to fire; they saw a number of men 
 coming, but couldn't make out what sort of people they were. 
 
 As soon as this band perceived Pardoes and his part} 7 they stopped, 
 too, and got their guns ready. 
 
 " Alas, comrades ! " murmured Donatus, w if we can't do other- 
 wise let us fight, and may God be with us; but there are at least 
 twenty of them, and there is a wood close by us to flee unto. Th< 
 pastor of Natten-Haesdonck once said " 
 
 " Hold your tongue, fool! " cried Pardoes. " I don't believe there 
 is anything to fear here; these men are laden with heavy burdens. 
 They are gold-seekers returning from the diggings. Look, they are 
 making friendly signs to us." 
 
THE WOUNDED MAN. 
 
 99 
 
 The two groups now slowly approached each other, and when 
 they were mutually satisfied that they were only simple travellers 
 meeting each other, they exchanged in the distance shouts of salu- 
 tation. Still each company kept on their guard. 
 
 The Brusseller recognized a Frenchman whom he had met last year 
 at the mines. He went to chat with him for a minute or two, while 
 his companions exchanged a few words with the other gold-seekers, 
 from whom they tried to get information about the diggings. They 
 did not tell them much, for these men seemed very suspicious and 
 reserved. When Donatus asked one of them, in his bad French, " Is 
 for you much gold in this sack?" they all seemed angry, and looked 
 at him with threatening eyes. 
 
 The Brusseller now shook hands with the Frenchman, and said, 
 "Farewell." 
 
 The others looked at Pardoes, hoping that he would tell them 
 something that he had heard, but he shook his head with evident 
 anxiety, and remained silent. 
 
 " Have you bad news, Pardoes ? " asked Creps. 
 
 :? Yes, bad news," he replied. 
 
 "Ah! something new again?" grumbled Donatus. "We have 
 not had any savages yet! " 
 
 " And it is savages that we may encounter," said Pardoes. 
 
 "Well, you can do as you like," cried Kwik, angrily, "but I shall 
 resign my post of gold-seeker and return home. I have lost half an 
 ear in this enchanted country, and I don't want to arrive at Natten- 
 Haesdonck with my head bare and shining like one of my plates 
 here." 
 
 " Hold your tongue, Donatus, and listen to me. This is what the 
 Frenchman told me. Between us and the Yuba diggings a large 
 band of Californian savages has appeared. The news has come to 
 the stores that four days ago they attacked a party of travellers. The 
 men we have just met have seen these Californians in the distance. 
 
100 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 The Frenchman advised me to turn to the westward for an hour or 
 two, thus to avoid meeting the savages. We will begin to follow his 
 advice at the foot of this mountain. Keep yourselves ready for any 
 emergency." 
 
 After turning in a westward direction, Pardoes continued, 
 
 " But, on the other hand, there is good news from the mines. New 
 diggings have been discovered higher up, near the source of the Yuba, 
 which are richer than those hitherto found. The Frenchman, to 
 whom last year I rendered some service, has given me precise 
 explanations about them, and as these new diggings are on our route, 
 my opinion is that we should do well to try our fortune there for a 
 day or two. There are stores a few miles from them, where we can 
 rest and refit if necessary." 
 
 Donatus did not listen to him; he could think of nothing but the 
 savages. It was plain to him that in this terrible California we must 
 always expect the worst. Every now and then he put his hand to his 
 head, pulling his hair to assure himself that he was not already bald. 
 Suddenly a piercing cry escaped him, and he said, turning pale, 
 
 " There they are! there they are! " 
 
 A strange noise was heard among the bushes, and his companions, 
 equally astonished, halted, listening intently. It was a voice moaning 
 and calling for help. At first they could not make out in what lan- 
 guage it spoke, but then they distinctly heard the word "God." 
 
 "Is it possible?" cried Victor: "A Fleming in this country! Let 
 us go and see: it is probably an unfortunate fellow-countryman." 
 
 "Keep together," said Pardoes; "your hands to your guns, for 
 anything may hide a snare. Donatus, try to follow us among the 
 bushes." 
 
 Guided by the cry, they found a young man seated against a tree. 
 He was pale, with hollow cheeks, and one of his feet was bound up 
 with rags, as if he had torn his clothes for the purpose. His first; 
 words proved him to be an Englishman. Victor's mistake had been 
 
THE WOUNDED ENGLISHMAN. 
 
THE WOUNDED MAN. 103 
 
 caused by the fact that the word " God " is the same in Flemish as in 
 English. 
 
 He related that he and his companions had been attacked by bush- 
 rangers, and that he was wounded by a bullet in the foot. His wound 
 was much inflamed, and his foot much swollen; he could not walk, 
 and had been crawling about in the wood for four days, living on 
 plants and roots, and looking forward to a horrible death. With 
 clasped hands he implored the strangers, for the love of God, not to 
 leave him alone in that desert. His father kept a large store at the 
 Pen River diggings, and he would liberally reward his deliverers. 
 
 Victor and Jan talked of putting the young man on the mule, but 
 the sailor declared that he wasn't, for the sake of this Englishman, 
 going to take that mule's load upon his back. 
 
 As the dispute between Roozeman and the Ostender was growing 
 very warm, Pardoes said, 
 
 "Come aside with me for a moment, gentlemen: let us discuss 
 the affair quietly." 
 
 When they had moved about twenty yards off he remarked, 
 
 " We have had the good luck to find a mule, a most valuable aid 
 to us, helping us to get on much quicker towards the goal we are all 
 longing to reach. If we put this wounded man on the mule we shall 
 have to carry again on our own backs our tools and the trough; we 
 shall be much hindered in our journey. As to the reward he 
 promises us, don't trust to it. Once in safety, he will say, " I am 
 much obliged to you, good-by." 
 
 "But are we then pitilessly to leave a Christian, our neighbor, to 
 die in this desert?" cried Victor. "Go on, then, continue your 
 journey; if need be I will remain alone with this unfortunate fellow, 
 and carry him if I can." 
 
 The wounded man, who was looking at them from afar, saw very 
 plainly that the young man was pleading his cause, so he stretched 
 out his hands to him, gazing at him imploringly. 
 
104 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 w Well, I am decidedly opposed to Roozeman's absurd proposal," 
 said the sailor; "let they who like carry the tools, I won't touch one 
 of them." 
 
 :c Very well, then we will carry them all; won't we, Jan? " 
 
 " Certainly! such cruelty is horrible! " 
 
 " And you, Donatus? " 
 
 " Me! why to save a man's life I would carry all the tools and the 
 trough to the other end of the world. Perhaps, too, God will regard 
 us more favorably afterwards, and not allow those savages to come 
 
 near us." 
 
 w And what do you say, Baron ? " asked Pardoes. 
 
 w I think," was the reply, " that a man's life isn't worth making 
 such a fuss about, but as the poor fellow is young I am willing to 
 carry my share of the tools." 
 
 Victor and his friends had already unloaded the mule; now they 
 cautiously lifted the wounded man on to the beast's back. He 
 thanked Victor, with tears in his eyes, and said that to the last day of 
 his life he would remember his generosity. 
 
 According to their promise, Creps and Roozeman carried the 
 larger portion of the tools, while the trough was bound upon Donatus' 
 back. 
 
 They resumed their journey. On the way the Englishman related 
 how this misfortune had happened to him. 
 
 " My name is John Miller," he said. " I was going to Sacra- 
 mento to buy some flour for my. father. As no mules were to be had 
 at the Pen River, I went on to the Yuba diggings, where, after some 
 days, I found the muleteers I wanted. We rapidly descended the 
 mountain. All went well till the third day, on the afternoon of which 
 we saw at the foot of the mountain which commanded our road a man 
 bent down and tottering, like one very much fatigued. As he was 
 alone, and had no other arms than a revolver, we did not suspect any- 
 thing. To our questions he replied that he had started from San 
 
THE WOUNDED MAN. 
 
 I0 5 
 
 Francisco to go to the mines of the north, that he had lost his way, 
 and was dying of hunger. We gave him a few biscuits and a piece 
 of salt meat. This man had large red moustaches and strangely 
 small" - 
 
 "Was he a Frenchman?" asked Victor, astonished. 
 
 ? Yes, a Frenchman; two of our party were able to talk to him." 
 
 "The Red Moustache of the ' Jonas! '" said Victor. w Donatus 
 was not wrong, then." 
 
 " I should not have examined his face so narrowly," the wounded 
 man went on; w but it struck me that he was scanning us one by one 
 from head to foot, and counting our weapons. He had got up and 
 continued on his road; we, after having shown him the way, resumed 
 our march in the opposite direction. As I did not trust him, I made 
 my companions stop for a moment, and we climbed up a mountain to 
 watch the fellow. He had disappeared, and as he couldn't be hidden 
 anywhere in this plain he must be somewhere among the bushes, or in 
 the wood. We feared an attack of bushrangers, of whom there are 
 many about just now, but after we had marched on quietly for an hour 
 and a half, and had met no one, we stopped for our animals to rest and 
 graze, and to prepare our own dinner. We had scarcely mounted our 
 mules again when several men appeared in the mountain above us, and 
 fired four or five bullets at us. We returned the fire, but the brigands 
 burst upon us down from the mountain before we had time to load 
 again. One of our party cried, 'Fly! fly! ' and I saw my companions 
 spur on their mules. I wished to do as they did, but the same man 
 with the red moustaches took aim at me, and the bullet went through 
 my foot. My mule made a spring, which threw me to the ground, 
 and then galloped after the others. The bushrangers followed my 
 companions; for a long time after I heard shots in the wood. I have 
 been lying here for the last four days; my foot is so inflamed that I 
 could scarcely move, and I was looking forward to a terrible death 
 when God heard me, and sent me unexpected deliverance." 
 
106 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 Victor and Jan talked for a long time about the part which the Red 
 Moustache of the "Jonas " had played in this story, and Jan declared 
 he would send a bullet through the wretch the first time he came in 
 his way. 
 
 After they had reached their halting-place for the night, and while 
 supper was being prepared, Victor took the bandages ofTthe young Eng- 
 lishman's foot, carefully washed the inflamed wound, and then bound 
 it up in clean rags. This dressing greatly relieved the poor fellow's 
 sufferings. He grasped Roozeman's hands, and tears of gratitude 
 trickled down his cheeks. 
 
 Donatus gave up his blanket to the wounded man, and though at 
 first he refused to take it, Kwik insisted on sleeping on the bare 
 ground. That night all slept soundly under the guard of their sen- 
 tinel. Donatus, happy at having been able to perform a good action, 
 did not dream, and slept so well that when his turn came to mount 
 guard he had to be shaken several minutes before he would awake. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE VAQUEROS. 
 
 THE Englishman's presence seemed to have brought good luck 
 to the travellers; for a day and a half they continued their 
 journey without meeting anything to disturb them. 
 
 In two days more they hoped to reach the Yuba diggings. They 
 laughed at Donatus' fears, telling him that, notwithstanding apparent 
 dangers, they were now approaching the end of their journey 
 without any real harm having happened to them. He shook his 
 head doubtfully, replying that one must not sell a bear's skin till the 
 animal has been caught and slain, and that we ought not to hold a 
 harvest festival till the corn has been stored in the barn. 
 
 On crossing avast plain next morning, in the midst of which stood 
 some isolated rocks, Pardoes suddenly stopped, and said, 
 
 "Halt, friends! there is treachery behind those hills!" 
 
 Pointing with his finger he added, "Yonder, above the rocks, hats 
 are moving. Those hats are Mexican sombreros. The men who are 
 
 o 
 
 behind those rocks mean to attack us as we pass. Be ready to fire at 
 the first appearance of these brigands." 
 
 While he was speaking the hats were raised, and three balls 
 whistled over the Flemings' heads. 
 
 These all fired together upon their enemies, but immediately after 
 four or five men on horseback appeared from the rock, who, without 
 giving the gold-seekers time to reload their weapons, rushed upon 
 them at a gallop with shouts of triumph. 
 
 'The revolvers!" cried the Brusseller: "they are vaqueros 
 throwers of ropes! Beware of the lasso! " 
 
 107 
 
108 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " May God have mercy on us! " moaned Donatus. 
 
 He had scarcely uttered the words when the lassos cut the ail 
 with a hissing sound, and repeated shots from revolvers sounded 
 rapidly through the valley. So as not to be trodden down by the 
 horses the gold-seekers had separated, each taking a different direc- 
 tion. 
 
 A lasso had caught Roozeman round the waist, and was pressing 
 his arms tightly against his body. The horseman to whose saddle 
 the end of the terrible rope was fastened spurred his horse, threw the 
 unfortunate Fleming down, and dragged him along the ground in hij 
 rapid course. 
 
 Kwik, who was tiring in a way which proved how dearly he woulc 
 sell his life, was the only one to remark Victor's critical position 
 He rushed to his friend's assistance. Throwing down his revolver 
 he drew his large Catalonian knife out of his belt, and struck the 
 Mexican at the very moment when he was about to fall upon hi< 
 victim. 
 
 Kwik plunged his knife with such force into the horse's side tha 
 the poor animal fell mortally wounded. The vaquero, who hac 
 sprung from his saddle, and had fallen on his knees, drew out i 
 dagger, and aimed a blow at Donatus, unhappily wounding him; bu 
 the exasperated Fleming seized the vaquero by the hair, and plunged hif 
 knife up to the hilt in his breast. Then, running up to Roozeman, he 
 cut the lasso, and ran to the scene of the combat; blood flowed dowr 
 his face, and he waved his terrible knife above his head. When he 
 had rejoined his friends he sent the Mexicans flying in the directior 
 of the solitary rocks. Without turning round he ran after therr 
 alone, though the Brusseller shouted after him as loudly as he 
 could to stop. 
 
 Kwik turned back. Victor ran to meet him, called him hii 
 deliverer, and showed the greatest anxiety at the sight of the blood 
 which flowed down the poor fellow's cheeks. But Donatus assurec 
 

 ROOZEMAN CAUGHT BY A LASSO. 
 

 THE VAQUEROS. Ill 
 
 him it was not serious; the vaquero had wished to strike the dagger 
 into his heart, but he had turned the weapon aside, which had struck 
 his head, giving him a large gash above his ear. 
 
 Creps, the Brusseller, and the Frenchman seized his hand, prais- 
 ing him loudly for his courage in the encounter. He replied, 
 modestly, " I am not a braver hero than I was yesterday. But Mr- 
 Victor was in danger of death; that maddened me. I did not know 
 what I was doing. May God pardon me such words, but if I had to 
 kill a hundred Mexicans to save Mr. Roozeman I think I should 
 do it." 
 
 "Now you have murdered a Christian!" growled the sailor; "the 
 ghost " 
 
 "Ghost! that wretched Mexican!" cried Donatus, with a fresh 
 outburst of fury. " He was about to assassinate Mr. Victor; his 
 ghost may appear if it likes; I will stab the spectre with my knife, 
 
 too." 
 
 All this time the others were telling what had happened to them. 
 The Frenchman had also been caught in the lasso, and dragged some 
 distance off, but Creps had darted forward and cut the cord. The 
 Brusseller had plunged his knife into the thigh of one of his foes; 
 another must have received a bullet in his body, for they had seen 
 him fall from his horse, and it was owing to his shrieks and hasty 
 flight that his companions had left the field of battle. 
 
 " It was I," said the sailor, " who sent the bullet into that vaga- 
 bond's heart." 
 
 "Indeed! where were you? I didn't see you once during the 
 conflict," asked Creps. 
 
 ''You think of nothing," replied the Ostender. ''To prevent our 
 poor wounded man from having his neck broken I tied the mule's 
 bridle to my belt, to hinder the beast from running away. Protected 
 against the lasso, I was able to load my gun repeatedly and take good 
 aim at these wretches. It was my bullet which struck the vaquero 
 
 
112 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 in the chest. Had it not been for my presence of mind we should 
 probably all be dead at this moment." 
 
 " Come, that wasn't a bad idea," said Kwik, laughing: "next time 
 we are attacked I will get behind the mule, too! " 
 
 Deeply stung by this sneer, the sailor sprang forward, brandished 
 his .knife, and would probably have struck Donatus, had not Creps 
 seized his hand, and while he held it in an iron grip exclaimed, 
 
 " If you value your life don't touch a hair of his head! " 
 
 Pardoes and Victor rushed in between them. Donatus humbly 
 asked the sailor's pardon, asserting that he had no intention of insult- 
 ing him, and proclaiming aloud that the hasty flight of their assail- 
 ants was all owing to the skill and courage of the Ostender. This 
 calmed the sailor, and he even shook hands with the man whom a 
 moment before he had wished to strike. 
 
 On examining the wounds of Donatus and the Frenchman they 
 found that neither of them was sufficiently serious to prevent them 
 continuing their journey. 
 
 The sailor wished to go and search for the dead vaquero^ and his 
 horse, doubtless to see if any valuables were to be found; but Pardoes 
 held him back, saying, 
 
 "No, leave him. Forward, gentlemen; don't let us lose any more 
 time. We are not safe in this plain. Mexicans are full of revenge, 
 and I shan't be surprised if the brigands return in large numbers. 
 We must hurry on to gain those heights yonder, where the horses 
 can't reach us." 
 
 Donatus walked along by the mule's side, carrying in his hand a 
 leather cord made of three thin straps plaited together, more than 
 twenty feet long, and with a slip-knot at the end. 
 
 * That's a lasso you've got in your hand, Kwik." 
 
 * Yes, I know it is," he replied, "but I am puzzling my brains to 
 make out how they can catch a man with it. Those fellows must be 
 wonderfully well practised in throwing the lasso." 
 

 THE VAQUEROS. 1x3 
 
 : 'Yes, they are well skilled in it, certainly; but it's not without 
 difficulty that they acquire the habit. I was shipwrecked during a voy- 
 age on the Mexican coast, and thus had a good chance of observing the 
 vaqueros. No sooner are the children of these people able to walk 
 than they begin to fling a lasso; first they seize cats and dogs, then 
 mules, and finally, oxen and horses; for the real use of the lasso is 
 only to capture the latter." 
 
 Towards evening they perceived in the distance three or four large 
 tents, and as many fires. They halted to try to make out whether 
 they were friends or foes. 
 
 r? They are muleteers," said the Brusseller, " carrying a supply of 
 flour from Sacramento to the diggings. I hear, too, the bells of their 
 mules. Come on boldly, we have nothing to fear." 
 
 The muleteers seeing this band of men in the distance, seized their 
 weapons and placed themselves on the defensive, but on perceiving 
 that they were only gold-seekers they saluted them in a friendly 
 manner. 
 
 John Miller, whose foot was now, thanks to Victor's care, much 
 better, recognized the head muleteer as having carried flour and other 
 provisions more than once for his father. When he expressed his 
 astonishment at seeing him there, wounded, wandering among the 
 mountains, the young Englishman told with much gratitude how his 
 companions had taken him up when he was half-dead in the wood, 
 and had given him their only beast of burden to save him. Upon 
 this the Flemings were invited to pass the night at this spot. In 
 their honor the muleteers prepared the best of their provisions for 
 them. They ate and drank so well that a fresh vigor seemed to flow 
 into the veins of the weary gold-seekers. 
 
 What most rejoiced them was the certainty that to-morrow after- 
 noon they would reach the first diggings of the Yuba. It was decided 
 that John Miller should remain with the muleteers, as they were wil- 
 ling to take him in a few days to the Pen River. He wished to give 
 
 
114 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 money to his deliverers, but as they refused to accept of it he made 
 them take a fresh stock of flour and salted lard. This he thought 
 might be necessary for them, as, since the fresh influx of gold-seekers, 
 everything in the mines was scarce and dear. The Flemings might 
 have continued in company with their new friends, but as their mules 
 were heavy laden they could only proceed slowly, and as Pardoes 
 could brook no delay, it was agreed that they should start by them- 
 selves at sunrise. 
 
 After John Miller had once more warmly thanked his deliverers 
 and shaken Creps, Roozeman, and Kwik by the hand, they all slipped 
 under their tent and soon fell into a profound sleep. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE DIGGINGS. 
 
 THE sun had risen gloriously on the horizon and promised a 
 splendid day. The gold-seekers had started early, and went 
 on quickly without taking any rest on the road. The thought 
 that each step brought them nearer to the diggings gave them courage, 
 and as the mule carried all the heavy luggage and the tools they were 
 light in body and joyous in spirit. 
 
 When towards the close of the afternoon they thought they had 
 -walked far enough to have arrived at the diggings, and did not see 
 them, they became melancholy, fearing lest they had lost their way 
 and might have to pass another night in the mountains. After they 
 had been silently ascending a high mountain for more than an hour, 
 Jan Creps, who was in front of them, turned round and cried out with 
 
 " Praise God, my friends! there they are! down there! Hurrah! 
 the diggings ! " 
 
 His companions rushed up, and raising their arms towards the sky, 
 shouted, 
 
 "Hurrah! hurrah!" 
 
 "See! see! " said Donatus. "Are those the diggings? It is like 
 a nest of ants. Where do all those men come from, if they are men? 
 I think one could count more than a thousand. Let us descend 
 quickly, my friends; if all those fellows scratching at the earth down 
 there like moles are to get a load of gold there will not remain much 
 for those who come later." 
 
110 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 Without heeding what Donatus said ? the others had seated them- 
 selves on the slope of the mountain to rest a little, and to enjoy at the 
 same time the view of the diggings, which they all, with the excep- 
 tion of the Brusseller, saw for the first time. From the place where 
 they sat the bare and uneven rock plunged many hundreds of feet into 
 a plain, of which the soil was visibly composed of mud and stones. 
 Half a mile right in front of them rose a rocky mountain, equally 
 steep; and between these two huge ramparts flowed the Yuba, wind- 
 ing through the middle of the valley. 
 
 This plain, on whichever side one looked at it, was covered with 
 a swarm of gold-seekers, which, as Donatus had said, was not unlike 
 an ant's nest. 
 
 Thus one saw them drawing the auriferous sand from hundreds of 
 holes, pierce the soil with spades and pick-axes, carry the earth to the 
 river, sift and wash it. The diggers and the washers worked with a 
 surprising zeal; their movements were rapid; they ran rather than 
 walked. 
 
 On each side of the river, at the foot of the high mountains, the 
 tents of the gold-seekers were planted; all separated at some distance 
 from each other, but presenting, nevertheless, the regular aspect of a 
 military camp. Most of these tents were covered with canvas or a 
 sail, but one saw some which were only composed of the green 
 branches of pine trees. On the left, at the foot of some high rocks, 
 where the soil was a little raised, the stores were placed. They con- 
 sisted of about twenty tents, and amongst them some six or seven 
 were distinguished by their size. A crowd swarmed round the stores 
 more numerous than in the plain; all these people were huddled 
 together, and the Flemings heard, even at that distance, the wild 
 songs and confused cries which rose from the multitude. 
 
 The Brusseller explained to his companions what they saw, for he 
 knew this digging, where he had worked for some weeks. Pardoes 
 replied to an exclamation of Donatus, who could not restrain his im- 
 
THE DIGGINGS. 
 
 patience, and wished to run down into the valley to begin at once to 
 collect the gold, 
 
 * There is probably nothing for us to do here; all the valley has 
 already its proprietors, and there is not any room for more." 
 
 : 'What! what did you say?" said Kwik. "Proprietors. The 
 soil in California belongs to no one; we are masters here as much as 
 those who are collecting down yonder the good gold." 
 
 *You are wrong at least partly so," replied Pardoes. "It is 
 true that there are no written laws here, but there are more or less 
 among the gold-seekers certain rules, which must be observed by 
 every one if he does not wish to draw upon himself the vengeance of 
 all. It is accepted here that those who first occupy a place to seek 
 for gold are proprietors of that place upon a zone of thirty feet between 
 the river and the beginning of the high rocks. This tongue of earth 
 is called a claim. Each company of gold-seekers possesses one. 
 Supposing the claim is bad, or is exhausted, they are obliged to look 
 for another that does not belong to anybody. In this valley there will 
 be nothing for us to do, my boy." 
 
 " Where shall we go, then ? " 
 
 "Observe how those rocks on either side of the river approach 
 each other, and enclose the plain like a basin. Further on the valley 
 widens, but the soil still contains more or less gold. We must ascend 
 higher up the river till we come to a favorable spot which is not 
 already taken. I think we might succeed two or three leagues away 
 from this valley. There we shall find the digging the Frenchman 
 told me about. But we had better pitch our tents here till to-morrow 
 morning." 
 
 "Here on the mountain?" grumbled Donatus; "why not lower 
 down, near the others? Oh, I long to sleep upon gold! " 
 
 " We shan't find any free spot down there. There is very little 
 wood and our mule will find no pasture. Why go down when to- 
 morrow we shall be obliged to ascend this mountain to resume our 
 journey? " 
 
Il8 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " However, I should like to see what is going on at the diggings," 
 said Roozeman. " I propose we draw lots. Two of us shall remain 
 here to pitch the tent and guard our baggage and tools; the other four 
 can go to the diggings and stores. Here there is not much to fear, 
 and especially when one has not any gold." 
 
 The proposal was accepted. The lot fell on Creps and the sailor 
 to remain. The others hastened to throw aside their knapsacks, gave 
 their guns to their comrades to take care of, and tried to find a place 
 from which they could reach the valley. 
 
 The Brusseller soon found a dried-up torrent-bed; by this, fearing 
 at every instant to break their necks, they at last gained the valley, 
 along which they slowly made their way. 
 
 As they passed by an abandoned well the Baron picked up a hand- 
 ful of the earth; and after examining it he exclaimed, 
 
 "Gold! I see gold!" 
 
 "Gold? Oh, let me see it! let me see it!" cried Kwik. "It is 
 true! it is gold! gold glistening among the sand! " 
 
 :f Why can't we remain here?" asked Victor. 
 
 " Certainly we must, as we can pick up gold with our hands," 
 added Donatus. 
 
 * This well belongs to the claim of some men who have been busy 
 before us washing the earth in water," said Pardoes. * They won't 
 allow us to work here. Hark! they are crying after us that we must 
 go on. Come, come; don't let us lose any more time. What the 
 Baron holds in his hand is sand which has already been washed. It 
 contains nothing of any value. Gold-dust is everywhere mixed with 
 the earth here, but the difficulty consists in finding a spot where the 
 sand contains gold enough to yield a good reward for one's labor." 
 
 They soon reached the river, where they remained for some time 
 watching four men who were busy shaking a great sieve full of earth, 
 while two others constantly poured water upon it. 
 
 When at last the sieve was opened that the washed gold might be 
 taken out of it, Donatus drew back in amazement. 
 
THE GOLD-SEEKERS DESCENDING BY THE TORRENT-BED. 
 
THE DIGGINGS. 121 
 
 "I declare," he cried, w it is all gold inside it! Hitherto I have 
 always believed that we were cheated, but now I must believe what I 
 see with my own eyes. Ah! ah! Anneken! a sack of gold! a castle! 
 Hurrah! hurrah! " 
 
 And he began to cut foolish capers and clap his hands with as 
 much noisy delight as if he already possessed the treasures he dreamed 
 of. The gold-seekers looked at him with a somewhat contemptuous 
 smile, but did not stop in their work. 
 
 A joyful expression appeared for the first time on the Baron's face, 
 whose eyes sparkled. 
 
 " These men are, indeed, not altogether unfortunate," said Pardoes; 
 w but don't deceive yourselves as to the amount of gold you saw 
 glitter in their trough. It is not worth more than from fifteen to 
 twenty dollars. It is, too, the fruit of half-a-day's labor. There are 
 five, so each has made scarcely four dollars." 
 
 Our friends walked on for a long way among men employed in 
 digging and washing gold. The Brusseller now and then stopped to 
 question them as to the chance of finding a free claim in the valley. 
 
 Some men, who seemed to be finding a great deal of gold, were 
 desirous of selling their claim for a thousand dollars, but as Pardoes 
 and his friends only possessed fifteen dollars among them they were 
 obliged to refuse this offer. 
 
 They reached the stores, and standing at some distance from the 
 crowd, watched for a few moments the strange population which 
 swarmed here. All were very dirty; their uncombed beards almost 
 entirely concealed their faces. The only clothing which most of them 
 wore was a red or blue flannel shirt, and a pair of trousers fastened 
 with a strap round the loins. Some had high bootsj others thick 
 shoes; many were barefooted. But no one was without a belt with 
 two or three revolvers or a big knife at least stuck in it. 
 
 It was evident that most of these men were excited by drink; 
 
 many of them had to be dragged along by their friends. Here curses 
 
 > 
 
122 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 might be heard, there knives glittered, further on the report of a revol- 
 ver told probably a double murder 5 but no one even turned his head, 
 and all went about their business without troubling themselves about 
 the affairs of others. 
 
 "What a set of brutes we have fallen among!" cried Kwik. 
 rc The people of San Francisco are angels compared with these! Tell 
 us, Pardoes, when shall we get out of this? I should like to live long 
 enough to pick up plenty of gold, but" 
 
 "Are you afraid? "said Pardoes, laughing. " I thought you only 
 feared ghosts." 
 
 :? Well, one needs no stretch of the imagination to take these hor- 
 rible-looking fellows for ghosts." 
 
 " I think, friend Pardoes," said Victor, " that Kwik is right, 
 don't feel much inclined to mix with that rough set." 
 
 " Well," said the Baron, " we must go and see what is going on at 
 the stores. It may be dangerous, but, if needful, we must use our 
 revolvers." 
 
 " Don't speak to any one, then," said the Brusseller, approaching a 
 shop; " do as the others do that is, pass on your way without turning 
 round; and don't interfere with other people's business." 
 
 They found themselves close to a money-changer's. It was a can- 
 vas tent, open in front. At the entrance stood a wooden table, made 
 of coarse planks, and resting on two tree-trunks, from which the bark 
 had not been stripped. A pair of scales, a few little heaps of dollars 
 and piastres, three big nuggets, some gold-dust, a sheet of white 
 paper, and two revolvers, lay on the table. 
 
 Behind it sat a lean man in spectacles. He leant forward, one 
 hand rested on the scales, the other on a revolver. He spied the 
 crowd, motionless and silent, like a fox watching his prey. 
 
 Two gold-seekers approached the counter; one drew from his 
 breast a little leather bag, which hung from his neck by a string, 
 emptied the contents on a sheet of paper, and said in French, 
 
THE DIGGINGS. 
 
 I2 3 
 
 " Here, Papa Crochu, weigh this for me and give me piastres for it; 
 but don't rob me or I will upset your shop! " 
 
 :? Who wants you? " grumbled the banker. JC Take your gold and 
 go elsewhere." 
 
 "Come, come! no more words! Weigh this gold, I tell you! I 
 won't turn my eyes away from your crooked fingers." 
 
 The money-changer plunged his hand into the little heap of gold- 
 dust, and pretended that the metal was not pure; the other swore to 
 the contrary. While they were disputing about it the changer 
 weighed the gold and counted out a certain sum in piastres. The 
 gold-seeker left the shop, saying he was a cunning fox, who knew 
 very well how to cheat. 
 
 When they were some distance from the money-changer's tent, 
 Pardoes said, 
 
 w I know that Papa Crochu; he is the greatest rogue to be found in 
 all America. He passed ten years at the galleys in France for forg- 
 ing bank-notes. You think he has not cheated that simpleton? He 
 has done him three times. In the first place his weights are false, 
 heavier than they ought to be; secondly, he has not given him nearly 
 the proper price for his gold; and thirdly, he pilfered a good deal of 
 the gold through the paper." 
 
 ' ? Through the paper! " exclaimed Donatus. " How can gold pass 
 through paper? " 
 
 "In this way: there are two or three sheets, one above the other; 
 in the middle of each is a slit which you can't see. While they are 
 talking and disputing the changer plays with his fingers in the gold, 
 pretending to find out whether it is pure, but he is moving the sheets 
 of paper in such a way that these slits open, and a portion of the gold 
 passes through. In this way he stole about an ounce of gold." 
 
 ;? Why didn't you tell that poor fellow how he was being cheated? " 
 said Victor. 
 
 "Oh, we can't do that sort of thing at the diggings," said Pardoes; 
 
124 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 r? we should get into no end of a scrape. Every one for himself; so 
 much the worse for him who allows himself to be cheated. If I had 
 said a word the changer would have called by a whistle, a cry, or 
 some other sign, the men from the neighboring stores, and we should 
 have been instantly surrounded by about twenty threatening vaga- 
 bonds. The proprietors of the shops have made a sort of alliance for 
 their general defence. Without this means they could not hold them 
 long." 
 
 They passed at this moment before one of the stores, where corn, 
 lard, and other provisions were being sold. 
 
 "A ham! " cried Donatus. " My friends, there is a ham! Pardoes, 
 let us buy it; we shall have a feast. It makes my mouth water. Ham, 
 my friends! it is a treat when one has eaten nothing for such a long 
 time, except badly-cooked lard cakes! " 
 
 * What a fool you are! " said the Brusseller. r 'This ham would 
 cost, perhaps, four ounces of gold." 
 
 " Four ounces of gold? it would be a good thing to keep pigs here. 
 Four ounces of gold! and there are four hams to one pig! " 
 
 " No, but let us buy some tobacco; we have scarcely any, and we 
 must not be without this comfort." 
 
 They approached the shop. Pardoes took up a packet of tobacco 
 which might weigh about two pounds, and asked the price. 
 
 "Five dollars," was the reply. 
 
 fr More than twenty-six francs," grumbled Donatus. ''At that 
 price I could buy a whole cart-load of tobacco in Natten-Haesdonck." 
 
 r? There's nothing to be said, my friends," remarked Pardoes. 
 " The prices rise and fall here more than in the Exchange. We have 
 come at a bad time; there is little tobacco in the stores. If we wait 
 till to-morrow we shall probably have to pay double for it. Come, 
 let us drink a glass of grog in this large tent." 
 
 " It would be better to drink a bottle of wine," said the Baron, who 
 appeared in a very good humor. 
 
THE DIGGINGS. 
 
 I2 5 
 
 " A bottle of wine! why, that would cost at least an ounce of gold, 
 and we've scarely ten dollars among us all!" 
 
 "Very well; the grog, then, as the wine is too costly for us." 
 
 The tent they entered was full of men standing upright with 
 glasses in their hands, for there were no seats: so as soon as the 
 Flemings had drank their grog, for which useless luxury they had to 
 pay four dollars, they left the place, where they shuddered at the 
 coarse language of the drunkards whom they saw staggering about 
 on all sides, and where they were stifled by the thick cloud of tobacco- 
 smoke which almost prevented them from breathing. 
 
 " Come," said Pardoes, " we have had enough of this. We must 
 not forget our friends yonder, who also will want to pay a visit to the 
 stores. We have still six dollars; we must give two to Creps and the 
 Ostender, that they may each indulge in a glass of grog." 
 
 But now they stopped before a spacious tent which seemed full of 
 -people, and whence a loud noise proceeded, as if a quarrel were tak- 
 ing place. 
 
 "What are they selling in there?" asked the Baron. 
 
 " It's a gambling-house," replied Pardoes. 
 
 *Yes, I see that plainly enough," said Roozeman. "Look at that 
 unhappy fellow coming out; perhaps in one hour he has lost the for- 
 tune which he won from the earth after six months of labor." 
 
 "An idea strikes me," said the Brusseller: "the few dollars we 
 possess may still be very useful to us. Shall we try our luck with 
 them at the gaming-table? a large fortune is often won in a few 
 
 minutes." 
 
 " No; I wouldn't go in there, not for a lump of gold as big as my 
 fist," exclaimed Donatus. " I don't want to lose the lobe of my other 
 ear!" 
 
 "And our companions on the mountain, too," urged Victor; "shall 
 we go and lose the money which belongs to them? Moreover, they 
 are fighting in there " 
 
 
126 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 He had scarcely uttered the words when a pistol-shot was heard 
 from the tent; then the groups of gamblers opened to allow some men 
 to pass who were carrying out a dead man by the arms and legs, 
 while above their heads threatening knives were glittering and ter- 
 rible imprecations filled the air. The victim they carried out had 
 been shot in the breast, and the blood was still flowing from the hor- 
 rible wound. No sooner had the bearers disappeared behind the tent 
 than all within w r ent on just as before, and the voice of the croupier 
 was heard above the murmur of the gamblers. The Flemings, much 
 shocked, continued on their road in silence. 
 
 ''What will they do now with that unhappy man's corpse?" in- 
 quired Roozeman. 
 
 :f They will dig a hole at the foot of the rock and cover it with 
 earth and stones." 
 
 * Without any religious ceremony?" 
 
 w None whatever." 
 
 w And is there no clergyman here to say one prayer at the grave ? " 
 asked Donatus. 
 
 "A clergyman?" repeated Pardoes; "a priest at the diggings? 
 There was one when I was here before. He came with good inten- 
 tions; he spoke seriously to the men, and wished to remind the gold- 
 seekers that they were Christians. And what happened to him? Th< 
 poor clergyman, in order not to die of hunger, was forced to dig foi 
 gold like the rest. No one would associate with him, because by hi: 
 exhortations he tried to restrain the wild liberty which is looked upoi 
 by all here as the one great advantage of life at the diggings. He wai 
 obliged to engage himself as a laborer in the service of a gold-seeker. 
 What became of him afterwards I don't know." 
 
 This story, and the sad scene they had just witnessed, so affecte< 
 Donatus that he had to rub his eyes with the sleeve of his long coal 
 to wipe away the tears which dimmed his sight. Roozeman tried t( 
 cheer his friend with the hope that God, who had hitherto protectei 
 
THE DIGGINGS. 
 
 I2 7 
 
 them, would still watch over them, and at last bring them back 
 safe and well to happy Belgium. Kwik was soon comforted; and 
 before they reached their bivouac was chatting merrily about his dear 
 Anneken, and the castle in which they were both to live when he had 
 made his fortune at the diggings. 
 
 The sailor grumbled, and was very angry with them for staying 
 away so long; he also wanted to visit the stores, and as night was 
 coming on he pretended that he would now be deprived of that pleas- 
 ure. But when he heard that grog was to be had he demanded a dollar, 
 and asked Creps to go with him. But he refused, on the plea that he 
 was too tired and sleepy; so the Ostender went alone. The friends, 
 after they had. supped and posted their sentinel, went under their tent 
 and wrapped themselves in their blankets. A quarter of an hour after 
 all snored so loudly that they might be heard a hundred yards off. 
 
 Towards eleven o'clock, Donatus, as sentinel, was walking up and 
 down beside the tent. It was bright moonlight, though the moon was 
 only in her first quarter; he tried to forget the thought of ghosts and 
 spectres, as well as of the horrible sights he had seen and sounds he 
 had heard during the day; he gazed down at the valley at his feet, 
 where hundreds of fires were still burning, and where, by the lurid 
 light of the flames, he could distinguish the sentries beside the tents. 
 
 Suddenly his attention was aroused by the sound of a hoarse voice 
 which proceeded from the bushes. It sounded as if men were dis- 
 puting there, for he heard terrible words and furious threats. Seeing 
 some one approach among the pines, he raised his musket and ex- 
 claimed, "Who's there?" 
 
 "I will soon wring your neck, Yankee!" replied a harsh voice, 
 which sounded like the growl of a bear. 
 
 "Oh, it's you, Ostender, is it?" cried Kwik, laughing. "This 
 way, comrades, this way! " 
 
 "What do I hear?" howled the other, who was still in imagina- 
 tion struggling with invisible men. ' You dare say I am a coward? 
 Say it once more! then die, rogue! " 
 
128 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 A ball whistled close by Donatus' ear. 
 
 "Come, come, Ostender! " he stammered out; "I am not an 
 enemy; I am Kwik, your friend! " 
 
 But he had scarcely finished the words when the sailor threw him- 
 self upon him with the whole weight of his body, seizing him by the 
 throat, as if he would strangle him. Both fell over and rolled on the 
 ground. 
 
 The pistol-shot had made their companions spring out of the tent; 
 they found poor Kwik nailed to the ground by the sailor who was 
 kneeling on his chest and yelling like a madman. 
 
 "Americans silence me! I will crush the heart of the strongest 
 Yankee!" 
 
 At this moment his friends flew to the aid of Donatus, and dragged 
 him from the grasp of the sailor, who, however, did not recognize 
 them, and wanted to fight with them all; they took away his weapons 
 and did all they could to calm him, but he kicked, struggled, and bit 
 like a madman. 
 
 "The lasso! the lasso!" cried the Brusseller. 
 
 Donatus hastened into the tent, and handing it to Pardoes, he ex- 
 claimed, 
 
 " Here it is! here it is! He should be bound up like a wild beast. 
 Quick! quick! he will draw down upon us a punishment from Heaven 
 by his horrible words ! " 
 
 Pardoes tied up the sailor with the lasso. The drunkard struggled 
 a little longer, then he fell heavily back on the ground, motionless. 
 He roared like a lion; his curses re-echoed through the valley. 
 
 " Give me his blanket," said the Brusseller, " and don't trouble 
 yourselves about him any more; he is drunk, and to-morrow he won't 
 know anything that he has done. Go back to the tent, comrades; I 
 will mount guard and watch over him for a couple of hours. In ten 
 minutes he will be fast asleep." 
 
 This terrible incident deprived poor Donatus of sleep for some 
 
THE DIGGINGS. 
 
 I2 9 
 
 time; he tried to talk to Creps, but the only answer he got was a 
 heavy snore. He let his head fall back on his knapsack, and said 
 sadly, 
 
 " Happy fellows! they sleep and snore as if they were on a feather- 
 bed at Antwerp. Why isn't my heart as hard as the case in which 
 the good God has enclosed it? Gold! gold! I would rather fight 
 against a seven-headed dragon." And he, too, overcome by fatigue, 
 sank into a heavy slumber. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE GOLD-DIGGERS. 
 
 N"EXT morning, at breakfast-time, the sailor was still snoring 
 beneath a couple of blankets on the ground. They were 
 obliged to roll him to the right and the left to make him open 
 his eyes. He got up and rubbed his stupefied head like one who 
 does not know where he is, or what is going on. His companions 
 reminded him of his conduct on the previous evening, and did not 
 spare their reproaches; the Baron was especially indignant, and his 
 bitter words deeply angered the sailor. He excused himself by say- 
 ing that he was drunk, and had had a quarrel with some Yankees who 
 were also tipsy. Gambling was the cause of it all; he had staked 
 his dollar and won fifteen, all of which he had spent in drink. He 
 asserted, too, that the grog had been drugged. As his friend Pardoes 
 took his part the incident was pardoned and forgotten. 
 
 "Don't let us lose any more time," said the Brusseller; "go and 
 load the mule, Donatus; we will take up our tent and get ready for 
 our journey. We shall have to walk for three hours to-day through 
 a difficult country. We will try as far as possible to follow the course 
 of the river. I know pretty well where are the diggings which the 
 Frenchman told me about. We have enough provisions for a week, 
 and we shall find some stores higher up the river, where we can buy 
 fresh ones with the gold we hope to find." 
 
 They wound among the defiles and bendings of the mountain 
 chain; twenty times they approached the river, and left it again to 
 avoid the deep beds of dried-up torrents; at last they reached a 
 130 
 
THE GOLD-DIGGERS. 
 
 height whence they saw a little valley, in the midst of which flowed 
 the Yuba. 
 
 Pardoes for a moment gazed into the valley, then he said, 
 
 "Comrades, we are there. That is the place which the French- 
 man left. Let us cut down here the wood we require for pitching 
 our tent, for setting up our trough, and making our fire. Then we 
 will go down and find a suitable place for beginning our work: we 
 are quite alone, and have nothing to fear from other gold-seekers." 
 
 Happy at having at last reached the end of their journey, they 
 began to cut down the wood, and in a short time had all they required 
 for the day. They wished at once to look for gold, but Pardoes made 
 them set up their tent, to store their provisions and arms in it, order- 
 ing Donatus to lead the mule towards a part of the valley covered 
 with green herbs. 
 
 w Come now," he said, as soon as they had done this, w take up 
 your spades, shovels, and a tin plate." 
 
 As they followed him eagerly, scanning earth, river, and rocks, to 
 find a favorite spot, he added, 
 
 "Don't be too impatient, friends; it's not certain that we shall 
 find any gold-earth to-day. It is often found twenty feet below the 
 surface, but you mustn't be discouraged for that. I think we shall 
 do well to dig at the spot where we now are; it is in the same line 
 as those hollows where the Frenchman and his companions found so 
 much gold." 
 
 They set to work with vigor. The Baron made the wildest haste; 
 but after a couple of hours his delicate hands were covered with 
 blisters, and he proposed to rest for a quarter of an hour. 
 
 The sailor, who had not forgotten his harsh reproaches for his 
 drunkenness, exclaimed that they would not hear of such a thing; 
 they had not come to California to be lazy, and that noble and peasant 
 must work alike. 
 
 The Baron, stung by this speech, uttered some sharp words. A 
 
132 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 violent dispute arose, which would have ended in blows had not 
 Pardoes intervened. 
 
 After resting for a while they set to work with renewed ardor. 
 
 Every half-hour Donatus inquired of the Brusseller, " Are we not 
 there yet? Here is a handful of earth. Look well if gold does not 
 glisten in it." 
 
 The others were not less impatient, closely examining the little 
 pebbles and clay which their spades threw up, hoping to discover the 
 glittering grains of gold; but Pardoes told them they might spare 
 themselves the trouble, for they would not find any gold till they had 
 worked through a bed of gray or red sand. 
 
 Night was coming on, they had already dug so deeply that they 
 now saw nothing but the sky above their heads. Discouragement 
 began to cool their enthusiasm and was making them feel their 
 extreme fatigue, when Pardoes exclaimed with joy: 
 
 "Here we are! we have reached the gold! " 
 
 Frantic shouts replied to this news, and a three-times-three hurrah 
 arose from the yawning pit. 
 
 "Quick, give me a couple of spadesful of that reddish sand; I 
 will wash it in the river, and then I can judge what we are to expect 
 from it." 
 
 All came out of the pit with feverish curiosity and beating 
 hearts, following Pardoes, who dipped the tin plate into the river, 
 shook and washed the earth that was in it in such a way that it flowed 
 away with the water, while the gold and stones, which were heaviest, 
 remained at the bottom of the plate. Then he removed the stones as 
 well as he could, and went on washing till he was able to judge of 
 the quantity of the gold. This labor lasted a long time, and the night 
 was already so far advanced that Pardoes could hardly see what was 
 at the bottom of the plate. 
 
 rr Well, well," said Donatus, trembling with impatience, "what 
 have we found? Is there gold much gold?" 
 
THE GOLD-DIGGERS. 133 
 
 w There is gold," said the Brusseller, showing them the plate. 
 " Look at the grains glittering in the sand. Much or little I cannot 
 judge, because of the darkness. Let us light the fire and we shall 
 
 see it." 
 
 They all followed him to the side of the tent. Donatus was half- 
 mad with joy. He had no doubt that they would find in a short time 
 great treasures, and that he would soon be able to quit a country 
 where everything was bad and horrible the gold excepted. When 
 the fire was lighted, and they could see by the flames from the resin- 
 ous wood what was in the plate, Pardoes grumbled, 
 
 ' There is the gold, you see it shining;- but the quantity is small. 
 If we do not find earth which contains more numerous and larger 
 grains we shall not gain enough to buy our daily food at the .stores. 
 Do not be discouraged by a first attempt, this bed of sand is perhaps 
 thick, and it may become very rich at the bottom." 
 
 His companions took up the plate by turns and looked with aston- 
 ishment at the little grains, almost without any weight, which shone 
 at the bottom in the light of the flames. 
 
 "Come, let us continue to work an hour or two," said the sailor; 
 " the darkness will not hinder us making a deeper hole." 
 
 *Work? work again now?" exclaimed the Baron, showing his 
 hands, one of which was red with blood. 
 
 " No, no, let us sup, and then lie down as usual," said Pardoes. 
 " It is not prudent to exhaust in a single day all our strength, nor to 
 risk making ourselves ill; we ought to work so as to be able to work 
 a long time." 
 
 There was nothing to reply to this; the supper was prepared and 
 eaten with ferocious appetites. They placed the sailor as sentinel, 
 and all the others drew themselves under the tent and went to sleep, 
 dreaming of the gold that they would find on the morrow. 
 
 On the following day, early in the morning, they carried the trough 
 to the bank of the river and placed it upon wooden supports, so that 
 it could be easily moved. 
 
THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 This instrument has somewhat the form of a small boat. The 
 upper part consists of a coarse sieve; below it, near the ground, are 
 nailed several laths, crossed over each other, in the middle of which 
 is an opening. The earth with which the gold is mingled is placed 
 upon the sieve, and much water poured upon it; it is then violently 
 shaken. The sieve retains the stones and pebbles, only allowing the 
 dust and auriferous earth to pass through. This earth by the mixture 
 with the water is changed into liquid mud; and with the coarser part 
 of the gravel it passes through the opening below, while the grains of 
 gold mixed with a little sand remain behind in the laths. This re- 
 mainder is dried in the sun on a plate, then, on blowing strongly, the 
 sand is dispersed, and the fine gold remains in grains, which some- 
 what resemble a fish's scales. 
 
 That morning they worked as eagerly as on the previous day, ex- 
 citing each other by joyous cries; they ran with their load of earth 
 from the pit to the river, shaking the trough violently and pouring 
 torrents of water in the sieve. Pardoes was the least sanguine of the 
 party. When his companions clapped their hands with delight, and 
 Donatus danced for joy, he shook his head, and a doubtful smile 
 passed over his lips. When the sun had risen high in the heavens 
 and the dinner-hour had arrived, he ordered the work to cease, and 
 began to separate the sand from the gold-dust by blowing upon it. 
 His friends were disappointed to see how the glittering grains were 
 reduced by this operation. The Baron sighed, the sailor grumbled, 
 Victor looked down despondingly, Donatus pouted, while Creps 
 laughed at them all. However, after they had washed several plates- 
 ful of sand they obtained a quantity of gold-dust, which Pardoes valued 
 at about two ounces, for which they would receive at the stores in 
 money, or in goods, twenty-eight dollars, or about one hundred and 
 fifty francs. 
 
 Kwik expressed contentment, but Victor said, sadly, " It doesn't 
 promise well. At this rate, with this rude labor and this doglike life, 
 
THE GOLD-DIGGERS. 
 
 '35 
 
 I 
 
 we shall in six months have amassed fifty thousand francs. Not even 
 ten thousand francs for each of us ! " 
 
 w Don't lose heart, Victor, my boy," cried Pardoes. ' You bother 
 me with your childish calculations. Why, nothing at all would re- 
 main for us at the end of six months. Do you imagine we shan't eat 
 anything? Why, to keep in good health and preserve our strength, 
 in fact, to buy what we require for our food and other wants, we 
 ought to find at least half an ounce of gold a day each. You appear 
 surprised! Look, my shoes are worn out, I must buy a new pair; 
 how much do you think a pair of bad shoes costs at the stores? Two- 
 thirds of an ounce of gold, more than fifty francs! It would be a 
 good thing if we each had a pair of water-proof boots, to prevent our 
 getting cold by standing with our feet constantly in the river. Such 
 boots cost about ten ounces of gold, five hundred francs! " 
 
 All bent down their heads in gloomy disappointment. Donatus 
 muttered, 
 
 "Ass that you are! here is the well-merited reward of your silly 
 eagerness for wealth! Here you must sit pining away, thousands of 
 miles from happy Natten-Haesdonck " 
 
 w Come, let's go to dinner," said the Brusseller. rc I'm dying of 
 hunger." 
 
 They ate their dinner in silence, but with the appetite of famishing 
 wolves. Pardoes remarked towards the close of the meal, 
 
 f You are wrong to be discouraged, comrades, because we have 
 not hit on a lucky spot. Gold-seeking is like a lottery; there are 
 people who work for months and find nothing, and then suddenly, in 
 a single day, light upon a large fortune. I knew a man whose only 
 companion was his son, and who in a couple of months drew sixty 
 thousand francs worth of nuggets from the same hole. We must have 
 patience. If we don't find gold in sufficient quantity here, we won't 
 waste our time, but go on to the unexplored digging of the Pen river. 
 There there are plenty of nuggets, and large ones." 
 
136 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " But are you certain to find the place ? " asked Creps. 
 
 " Quite. The French gold-seeker described it minutely, and 
 sketched out for me on a piece of paper, which I have in my pocket, 
 the road thither from the Yuba river." 
 
 "Why not start at once, then? " asked Kwik. 
 
 "Start there!" cried Pardoes. r 'To go to an unknown digging 
 we must have provisions enough to keep us for a whole month. 
 It is at least a week's journey from here, and there are no stores 
 there; so we can't go there till we've saved some hundreds of 
 dollars." 
 
 '* Well, let us then make a virtue of necessity, and continue our 
 work with fresh courage," said Creps. Following his advice, they 
 shook the sieve so vigorously that by the evening they had collected 
 six ounces of gold as the result of their day's work. Though it was 
 not a brilliant success, yet their hopes were revived, and they resumed 
 their work next morning full of confidence. 
 
 But by noon they had obtained scarcely anything, and most of them 
 wished to go to some other part of the valley; but Pardoes would not 
 consent; he said they must dig down as deeply as possible to see if 
 they could reach the subterranean rock, where they might possibly 
 find nuggets and be rewarded for their labor. 
 
 So they worked on for two whole days, but with such ill-success 
 that when on the fifth day they collected all their gold into a tin plate, 
 it was found to be only about a pound's weight less than enough 
 for them to live upon for a week. 
 
 More and more discouraged they worked on silently and in ill- 
 humor. Now and then they exchanged sharp and angr}^ words with 
 each other. Suddenly Victor, who was in the pit below, called his 
 companions. All hastened up, fearing lest Roozeman might have 
 been buried by the earth falling in, but their hearts beat violently 
 when he held up in his hand' a nugget as big as a bean, exclaiming, in 
 a voice choked by emotion, 
 
THE GOLD-DIGGERS. 
 
 w Rejoice, comrades! the treasure is found! I've several pieces of 
 gold like this shining down here in the pit! " 
 
 Donatus uttered a cry and sprang wildly down into the pit, at the 
 risk of breaking his legs, knocking violently against Victor's shoulder. 
 
 The Baron laughed in a strange way, and talked in a whisper of 
 Paris, treasures, and horses. 
 
 They had reached the rock, and Pardoes' prediction was realized, 
 for ten nuggets were found in a stratum of chalky stones. Now they 
 searched on with feverish ardor; they laughed, shouted, sang their 
 joy knew no bounds. The nuggets they found were for the most part 
 very small, the largest about the size of peas. 
 
 Towards evening, when the pit was quite emptied out, they ex- 
 amined the nuggets they had collected, and asked the Brusseller to 
 value them. He estimated their worth to be at least eighteen hun- 
 dred francs. 
 
 The others received this announcement with noisy applause. 
 Kwik and the sailor, notwithstanding their fatigue, began to dance 
 and sing as if they were at a village fair. 
 
 w Cease that folly! " cried Pardoes, w and listen to what I have to 
 say. It is as foolish to be carried away by excess of joy as it is to 
 hang down your heads at the least reverse of fortune. We have 
 worked this week like horses, we can't continue to do so; suppose we 
 reckon these five days of work as six; with our gold-dust and nug- 
 gets together we have amassed two-and-a-half pounds of gold, that is 
 forty ounces. If we use twenty ounces a week for our provisions, 
 coffee and tobacco included, twenty ounces remain to us. That at the 
 end of a season of six months would only make seven thousand 
 francs apiece. You see there is no reason for this great rejoicing." 
 
 r ' But we know the nuggets are there under the ground, and we 
 shall unearth them," murmured the sailor. 
 
 ''Very well, that's my idea, too; but remember, we may have to 
 work for a whole week to reach them, and possibly not find any after 
 
138 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 all. The place may not be good enough for us to make our fortune 
 here, still it may supply us with the necessary resources for our jour- 
 ney to the unexplored diggings of the Pen river." 
 
 After supper was over the Brusseller remarked further, 
 " To-morrow, friends, we will repose. They don't work on Sun- 
 day at the diggings. The gold-seekers on that day generally visit the 
 stores and have a better dinner than usual. It is their custom, too, to 
 divide the gold they have found equally among them; but as we have 
 in our party some who drink more than is good for them, I propose 
 that you let me take charge of the gold for as long a time as we are 
 near the stores, otherwise our good resolution to save may come to 
 naught." 
 
 The sailor grumbled a little, for he knew the measure was directed 
 against himself; but he submitted at last, and the others quite ap- 
 proved of Pardoes' proposal. 
 
THE MULE GALLOPING OFF WITH KWIK. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 LYNCH LAW. 
 
 IT was late when they breakfasted next morning, but a long sleep 
 had done them much good, and they were all in a very cheerful 
 humor. 
 
 Just as they were about to start for the stores, Donatus went to look 
 for the mule, which he said he would ride, to give it a little exercise. 
 The others had nothing to say against it, so five of them started, the 
 lots having decided that the Baron should guard the tent. 
 
 The mule, which had for five days been grazing in a good pasture, 
 -was very lively, and showed a strange disposition to gallop. Donatus 
 had no little trouble to hold him back, and was always a long way 
 ahead of his friends. After walking about half-an-hour they reached 
 the road which led from the different diggings to the stores; 
 here were many gold-seekers, either going in the same direction or 
 returning to their tents laden with provisions. They seemed for the 
 most part quiet and good-humored. This so emboldened Donatus 
 that he allowed the mule to gallop for some minutes, and thus got at 
 least a quarter of a league in advance of his companions. 
 
 This arrangement was to have a most unexpected result. The 
 mule, having reached a certain spot, turned his head on all sides as if 
 he smelt or heard something extraordinary. Then he began to gallop 
 without heeding either the bridle or the voice of his rider. Notwith- 
 standing all Kwik's efforts the obstinate animal flew rapidly onwards. 
 
 On turning round a mountain-side, Donatus saw the stores and the 
 great crowds assembled before them. He cried and pulled at the 
 mule to stop it; but the beast, listening to nothing, led him right 
 
 141 
 
142 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 through the crowd up to a corn-dealer's store, where he suddenly 
 stopped. 
 
 * What can the stupid animal have in his head ? " grumbled Kwik. 
 " Suppose he wants to have some dry provender, but that shan't come 
 under his nose; he would like to eat two ounces of gold worth." 
 
 Saying these words he jumped off the mule, and tried to drag it 
 away from the store; but at that moment a hideous woman appeared 
 from the further end of the tent, and raising her arms, she exclaimed 
 in English, 
 
 "I declare! it is our old Uncle Jack! Here is our poor cousin 
 William's murderer! The animal knows his stable he has betrayed 
 the wretch!" 
 
 And whilst Kwik, who did not understand a word, was gazing 
 about with an astonished air, she cried and howled so loudly that a 
 crowd of men hastened up from the other stores. 
 
 The woman related with tears in her eyes, that a fortnight ago her 
 cousin had started for Sacramento, with two other muleteers, to buy 
 flour; that on the way they had been attacked by brigands, who had 
 treacherously murdered her Cousin William. William's mule now 
 stood at the tent-door, and doubtless his murderer too. 
 
 A man sprang upon Donatus, seized him by the collar, and shook 
 him rudely, while he whispered in his ear in French, 
 
 "Ah, rogue! I was sent through you into the ' Lion's Den' on 
 board the f Jonas! ' Now your last hour has come! " 
 
 And then he began to shout in English, w Lynch law! lynch law! 
 a rope! a rope! to the gallows with the murderer! " 
 
 Kwik tried to justify himself in all the languages he knew. 
 
 tf I bon gar$on good boy. Donderwetter, Christian, I, Donatus 
 Kwik." 
 
 His strange jargon made some of those present laugh; but the vin- 
 dictive woman brought a rope, and in the twinkling of an eye the Red 
 Moustache had thrown a slip-knot round the poor fellow's neck. 
 
LYNCH LAW. 
 
 "Bring that empty barrel!" he cried: "we will hang him on that 
 pole yonder! " 
 
 Kwik was thrown upon the barrel. The Red Moustache stood up 
 behind him and tied the end of the rope to the cross-bar on the top 
 of the pole. 
 
 Donatus, when he saw that it was a serious matter, and that he 
 could not defend himself against the furious crowd, which demanded 
 his immediate death, threw himself on his knees upon the barrel, and 
 began to pray, raising his eyes, filled with tears, to heaven. 
 
 When he felt the knot round his throat he murmured, 
 
 "O Lord, have pity on my poor soul! Adieu, Anneken! adieu 
 until we meet in another world! " 
 
 This attitude, and the devotion that could be read upon the wretched 
 face of Donatus, inspired some of the bystanders with pity. Five or 
 six advanced and cried to the Red Moustache, 
 
 "Stop! stop! it is not thus that Lynch law should be applied! 
 Give the unfortunate man time to justify himself." 
 
 " Hang him! hang him! " cried other voices. 
 
 But those who were opposed to the immediate execution drew out 
 their revolvers, and said, 
 
 "According to Lynch law the people judge. We are the people, 
 and we will judge! " 
 
 The Red Moustache, who feared a bullet, remained standing on 
 the barrel with the rope in his hand. 
 
 Donatus was questioned in two or three different languages by his 
 protectors to try and find out how he got possession of the mule; but 
 the only thing they could make out from his answers was that he had 
 found it. The terrified young man wept and sobbed aloud, and his 
 strange language did not thereby become any plainer. 
 
 Suddenly the brother of the murdered William rushed in from a 
 distant store, and demanded in furious terms the immediate death of 
 the guilty man. 
 
144 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 His protectors, convinced that they could not obtain any satisfac- 
 tory explanations to clear the accused, ceased to defend him, and 
 retired. 
 
 In an instant the Red Moustache had tied the rope to the post, and 
 had already raised his foot to launch his innocent victim into eternity, 
 when suddenly a terrible cry of horror burst from behind the crowd 
 of spectators. A young man with light hair, followed by three other 
 tall fellows, jumped into the circle, drew by a movement quick as 
 lightning a knife out of his belt, cut the rope, and pressed in his arms 
 the supposed assassin with signs of affection. 
 
 "Ah! ah! " cried Creps, pointing his pistol at the Red Moustache, 
 "you would be the executioner of this poor Donatus! Make the 
 slightest movement, and I will stretch you dead on the earth, like a 
 dog that you are ! " 
 
 There was a great disturbance in the crowd; some would like to 
 see Lynch law take its course; others took the side of Donatus and 
 his comrades. 
 
 It was very probable that knives and pistols would be brought out, 
 and that a bloody combat was about to ensue. 
 
 But Roozeman, who still held his friend in his arms, was deeply 
 moved at the danger which threatened him. He advanced into the 
 centre of the circle, and said in very good English, 
 
 " Gentlemen, I pray you let me speak for a moment. You will, I 
 know, be grateful to me afterwards; for I shall save you from doing 
 an act of injustice which men of honor like you would not deliberately 
 commit. You shall judge; we will quietly submit to your decision. 
 May I speak ? " 
 
 His hearers were touched, less by what he said than by the pleas- 
 ant tone of his voice. 
 
 " Speak! speak! " they cried from all sides. 
 
 Then Roozeman, in short but telling words, related with touching 
 eloquence how they had found the mule on their journey; how they 
 
LYNCH LAW. 
 
 H5 
 
 had saved John Miller from a certain death, and how they had seen 
 the very man who was now standing on the barrel about to wreak his 
 vengeance on an innocent victim by acting as his executioner in the 
 society of a band of bushrangers. He told them, too, how John 
 Miller had declared to them that it was the same man who had shot 
 him in the foot. 
 
 This speech, although it did not actually prove the innocence of 
 the accused, made a favorable impression on most of those present; 
 but a half-drunken fellow now got up to speak. With many jokes he 
 excited general laughter among the crowd, and asserted that all that 
 was to be gathered from the words of the previous orator was that 
 there were now two bushrangers to hang instead of one. Most of 
 those present applauded this sentiment. Ill-omened cries arose from 
 all sides, and there was a decided wish to hang Donatus as well as the 
 Red Moustache. 
 
 Suddenly a man, whose costume showed him to be a muleteer, 
 pushed his way through the crowd, and shouted, in a voice which 
 overpowered every other sound, 
 
 "Gentlemen, I was with poor William when the bushrangers 
 attacked us. The fellow who shot my poor friend through the breast 
 was none other than that rascal with the red moustaches. I remem- 
 ber him well, and I will stake my life on the truth of my words." 
 
 A storm of cries for vengeance arose from the crowd. 
 
 "The executioner to the gallows! Kill the Red Moustache! To 
 the rope with the bushranger! " sounded on all sides. 
 
 Perceiving that Creps had turned his eyes away from him, the Red 
 Moustache sprang to the ground and fled among the tents; but a 
 great number of the gold-seekers followed him, shouting, and just as 
 he reached the foot of the rocks he fell lifeless, pierced by ten bullets. 
 
 The crowd now rapidly dispersed, and each man went on his way, 
 as if nothing remarkable had happened. 
 
 Donatus was very sad; he had, he said, by a special intervention 
 
146 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 of Providence, preserved his life; but he had lost his beloved mule, 
 as its owners ' ad led it away into their tent. He saw the animal in 
 the distance, gazing sadly after him. 
 
 His friends had no little difficulty to make him follow them. 
 Tears started to his eyes as he murmured a sad farewell to the mule. 
 
 rf What are we to do?" said Victor; "how can we pursue our 
 journey to those unexplored diggings without a beast of burden to 
 carry our stock of provisions for a whole month? Shall we ask if 
 we may buy the mule?" 
 
 "Impossible; it would cost too much," said Pardoes. 
 
 Just then a man clapped him on the shoulder, and said, 
 
 "Gentlemen, my wife don't want that mule any longer; it reminds 
 her too much of poor William, who was so miserably murdered. 
 Buy it; you shall have it for thirty dollars." 
 
 "Done! " said the Brusseller, following the man to his store to pay 
 him. 
 
 Before the money was paid Donatus hastened up, weeping with 
 joy, with his friend now restored to him. He talked to it and caressed 
 it with such delight that the storekeeper could not contain himself, 
 and burst out laughing. 
 
 The Flemings purchased a week's provisions at the same store, 
 with which they loaded the mule, which had now a better bridle. 
 To pay for all this Pardoes was obliged to open his leather belt and 
 take out a few nuggets; but he concealed them as much as possible, 
 for he heard cries of astonishment around him, and he saw the eyes 
 of four or five men glaring enviously at his hands. 
 
 " Comrades," he said, " we shall do well to return to the tent at 
 once. The Red Moustache may have friends, and a pistol-shot is soon 
 fired; moreover, I observe many faces here that don't please me. 
 Come, let us be off." 
 
 His advice was followed. At half a league from their encamp- 
 ment he stopped, and said in a low tone of voice, 
 
LYNCH LAW. 147 
 
 " I believe those three men walking behind us yonder are follow- 
 ing in our footsteps." 
 
 "They are only three," remarked Creps; "they would be very 
 foolhardy if they dared to attack us." 
 
 w If they are really following us," said Pardoes, w that is not their 
 intention. I think I recognize one of them as a fellow who was 
 standing beside me when I was paying at the store. What they want 
 is, to know where we found our nuggets. If they succeed in this we 
 shall have them for our companions to-morrow. We have plenty of 
 time; we won't make for our tent yet, but wander here and there 
 among the mountains, and thus tire out our spies. Come along; this 
 way!" 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 
 
 N"EXT day, while the Flemish gold-seekers were digging a new 
 pit, they suddenly perceived about thirty men, with sacks 
 and tools on their backs, tall fellows, advancing towards 
 them. 
 
 "Didn't I tell you so?" growled Pardoes. "Here are our new 
 companions; those spies tracked us yesterday, notwithstanding our 
 efforts to mislead them. Nothing can be done; they are in the 
 right. We can only demand a claim thirty feet long." 
 
 The new band at once pitched their tents at the foot of the rocks. 
 It was composed of five or six companions, each of which chose a 
 claim and began to dig. This did not hinder Pardoes and his friends 
 from actively continuing their work. It was night before they reached 
 the gold-earth, but next day they obtained pretty fair results. This 
 pit was richer than the former one, and they got more gold out of the 
 sieve. On the fourth day they reached the rock, where, to their 
 great delight, they found a great many little nuggets, which altogether 
 were of considerable value. 
 
 But they were annoyed by the constant increase of new-comers to 
 their diggings. Nearly every hour a fresh band descended the rocks. 
 Since Monday morning this valley had swarmed with gold-seekers, 
 and now at night, revolver in hand, they were obliged to make the 
 limits of their claim respected. It was not a large valley, and a great 
 portion of it was too elevated and too stony for any possibility of 
 getting gold out of it. The crowd of diggers was, therefore, con- 
 148 
 
THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 149 
 
 fined to a comparatively small space. Here and there quarrels arose, 
 pistols were fired and knives brandished, for some of the new-comers 
 tried to penetrate to claims already occupied, and they were naturally 
 driven back by the owners. The Flemings were closely surrounded, 
 and as they found that their claim was only productive at a certain 
 distance from the river they felt sure it would soon be exhausted. 
 They only hoped that they would be fortunate enough to collect 
 sufficient resources to undertake their journey to the unexplored 
 diggings. 
 
 On the pretext that their mule did not find sufficient forage in the 
 valley they pitched their tent on a height, and out of sight of the 
 other gold-seekers. They began to purchase their provisions secretly, 
 one of them going alone every day to the stores by circuitous paths, 
 bringing a load of corn, salt meat, and lard. 
 
 These precautions were needful to hide their intentions from the 
 others, for had these suspected that they were preparing for a long 
 journey into the interior many would have followed them. In fact, 
 as they knew they had been the first to discover the present spot, they 
 might fancy that they had some experience in such matters or 
 possessed peculiar information to guide them. 
 
 The last provision brought to their tent was a stock of salt, and 
 enough gunpowder to fill each of their flasks. 
 
 Next morning, an hour before dawn, the mule was loaded in the 
 wood, the tent was taken down, and the Flemings began their journey 
 quietly and without noise. No one had any suspicion of their 
 departure. 
 
 For two days they tried to ascend the course of the Yuba, then 
 they forded it, and marched northward to reach the Pen river. It 
 was very difficult to keep in a certain direction, for their route was 
 very often interrupted by mountains, thousands of feet in height, and 
 :>y torrents of great depth and force. Often they lost hours in seeking 
 or a way through these mountain chains; sometimes they had to 
 
 ; 
 
THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 unload the mule to allow him to descend a dangerous precipice or 
 scale some steep rocks. 
 
 They made, therefore, but slow progress, and on the seventh day 
 were convinced that they had not advanced more than forty leagues 
 from the Yuba stores. 
 
 The Baron, who was much fatigued, began to grumble, and 
 accused Pardoes of rashness; but the latter, who was certain that he 
 was in the right, laughed at his remarks, and said that he would soon 
 acknowledge that he had done well in undertaking the voyage. 
 
 Roozeman and Kwik showed more confidence and courage. They 
 felt that the spot to which Pardoes was leading them might enable 
 them to realize those hopes which had led them to California, 
 hopes of making happy and independent those who were clearest to 
 them in the world; this gave them courage to contend with the diffi- 
 culties and dangers of the way. They were glad, too, to be far away 
 from the crowd of wild and savage men, from whose lips they heard 
 little but curses and blasphemies. 
 
 For five days they had seen no one; they were certainly in a 
 desert which had not been explored by the crowd of gold-seekers, 
 for they had seen no traces but of wild animals. The only noise they 
 heard, and which rather frightened Donatus at first, was the howling 
 of coyotes, a sort of wild dog, which at night made the valleys 
 re-echo with their dismal yells. But Pardoes had explained to him 
 that these cowardly animals never attack man, and still less approach 
 a fire. Donatus, too, was getting more inured to danger, and was not 
 now so easily frightened. 
 
 Exhausted, weary, footsore, on the tenth day they pitched their 
 tent an hour before nightfall in a wide valley, upon the confines of a 
 thick forest, so that the mule could find abundant forage during the 
 night. 
 
 It was now not the Baron only who murmured against Pardoes. 
 Creps and the sailor had joined with him, expressing their discontent 
 
THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 151 
 
 in bitter words. The Brusseller had told them that they would reach 
 these diggings in a week, and they had now marched ten days with- 
 out stopping, yet there seemed no signs of reaching their journey's 
 end; perhaps, indeed, they would never find the place which Pardoes 
 had been told about. 
 
 Pardoes defended himself by saying that it was impossible to fix 
 within a day or two when mountains and valleys increased the length 
 of a journey. He was sure they must be in the right direction, 
 because the gigantic chain of the Sierra Nevada bounded the horizon 
 to trie eastward. They must not be discouraged, but await for three 
 or four days the result of their enterprise. 
 
 They had nothing to fear with regard to the exhaustion of their 
 provisions, for, in case of necessity, they could in a country which 
 abounded with game support themselves by the chase. Up to this 
 moment he had forbidden his companions to fire, so as not to betray 
 their presence. 
 
 They were never sure whether there were not enemies around 
 them, either robbers or Californian savages; but if it were necessary 
 they would shoot birds, hares, or deer, and thus save their pro- 
 visions. 
 
 Whilst they were discussing their position they suddenly heard in 
 the forest, at about fifty paces off, a howl so formidable that the whole 
 valley seemed to tremble. It was a hollow growl, dull and prolonged, 
 like the distant rumbling of thunder. 
 
 All turned pale, jumped up, and stared at the Brusseller, as if to 
 learn from his mouth what new and terrible danger threatened them. 
 
 "They are lions!" stammered Donatus. 
 
 "No, it is a grizzly (the gray bear of California) which is 
 attacking our mule, and which has perhaps already begun to de- 
 vour it. 
 
 "Come, come! " said Kwik; "bear or no bear, I will not leave the 
 poor beast to be murdered." 
 
THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 But the Brusseller took him by the shoulder and held him back, 
 growling out, 
 
 "Keep still! hold your tongue, stupid! " 
 
 "That is all very fine," said Victor; "but tell us at least what we 
 ought to do." 
 
 R What we ought to do? I confess I do not know myself. It is a 
 dangerous animal. He will sometimes remain alive and in full 
 strength with ten bullets in his body. Keep as quiet as possible, my 
 friends; perhaps the monster will have enough in the mule to satisfy 
 himself, and will return to his lair after having dined." 
 
 "But which of us can sleep with such a terrible neighbor?" 
 
 A new and more terrible howl resounded through the forest, as 
 if the bear were approaching the tent. 
 
 "Wait," said Pardoes, "I know a way! I will walk on in front, 
 and climb up a tree, from whence I will fire at the bear; he will 
 come after me and stand upright against the tree to seize me. At 
 that moment you must fire all together, aiming at his head; then you 
 must all rush upon him, draw your knives and plunge them up to the 
 hilt in the breast or stomach of the bear. Follow me about ten paces 
 off, and do not fire too quickly, nor retreat a foot's breadth, or else 
 there will be two or three deaths among you." 
 
 He slipped off into the wood, trying to judge of the distance by 
 the growls, and climbed up a certain height on a pine-tree. His 
 comrades were hidden about six yards distant in the bushes, holding 
 their fingers on the triggers of their guns. 
 
 Soon the report of a gun was heard; the ball had evidently done 
 its work, for a howl of pain and rage resounded in the forest, and 
 immediately afterwards the shrubs were pushed aside, as if broken by 
 a furious and gigantic animal. 
 
 In fact the grizzly bear had discovered its enemy, who, to awake 
 its attention, was waving his hat in the air. 
 
 With one bound the bear reached the tree, stood up against it. 
 
THE GRIZZLY BEAK CLIMBING THE TREE. 
 

THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 
 
 putting out his claws, raising a horrible growl, and licking the bark 
 of the tree with his terrible red tongue, as if he already scented 
 another victim. 
 
 Now a loud report was heard, and five bullets struck the monster, 
 who fell back with pain and surprise; but he recovered himself 
 quickly, cast a look of fury at his new foes, and rushed howling upon 
 them. The sailor, for whom the bear was making, was seized with 
 fright, and fled to take refuge in a tree. The furious animal, covered 
 with blood, seemed as if he feared not the glittering knives, and ran 
 after the sailor. 
 
 He came up to him just at the foot of the tree, and seized him 
 between his large forepaws to strangle him, with a horrible roar, 
 when happily, at the same instant, five knives were plunged into his 
 sides at the same moment, and doubtless Donatus, with his long 
 Catalonian knife, had reached his heart, for the grizzly bear turned 
 round again as if about to seiz^e him, but fell on the ground, where he 
 remained stretched in death. 
 
 Donatus ran to the spot where they had first heard the growl ings, 
 and found the half-devoured remains of the poor mule in a large pool 
 of blood. He shed many tears over the unhappy animal's body, and 
 then returning to his companions told them with bitter lamentations 
 of the sad end of his faithful companion. 
 
 All were much affected; they felt what a. narrow escape they had 
 had, and the loss of the mule deeply troubled them. In the midst of 
 a desert, perhaps a hundred miles from any inhabited spot, with their 
 strength exhausted, they would now have to carry their tools and 
 provisions on their backs. Sad and difficult as their journey had 
 hitherto been, how much more painful and discouraging was the 
 prospect before them now! 
 
 An hour after all were rolled up in their blankets under their tent. 
 The Brusseller acted as sentinel, and carefully kept up the fire to 
 frighten away the savage beasts, if there were any still in the 
 
156 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 neighborhood. He glanced into the tent to be sure that his com- 
 panions were still asleep. By the light of the fire he saw that 
 
 Donatus' cheeks were wet and shining. 
 
 "Simple fellow!" he muttered, "crying in his sleep at the death 
 of an animal! It mighi: be at the prospect of having to carry the 
 trough on his back; but no, it is out of pure affection." 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 A CORDING to their custom, he whose turn it was to cook got 
 up an hour earlier than the rest to prepare the breakfast, and 
 did not wake his companions till that meal was ready. 
 
 It happened that it was Pardoes' turn that morning. He was 
 specially careful to make no noise, lighted a large fire, and hung the 
 saucepan over it. He smiled and chuckled to himself as if he had 
 some secret. When he saw that the fire was burning well, he drew 
 his knife from his belt and went towards the wood. 
 
 When he reached the bear's carcass he cut off its four paws, 
 hastily skinned them, and then hung them over the flames, suspended 
 to the branch of a tree, to grill them, powdering them well with salt 
 and pepper. He was very merry, rubbed his hands, and licked his 
 lips, murmuring, 
 
 "How surprised they'll be when they wake up! Bear's paws for 
 breakfast! It is a royal dainty. In the desert they will eat it with 
 better appetite than at the best hotel in Brussels." 
 
 When the 'bear's paws were properly cooked he cried at the 
 opening of the tent, w Get up! get up, friends! the table is laid. I 
 have got a piece of game for you, which will make you lick your 
 fingers afterwards, I'm certain." 
 
 They all got up. 
 
 "What is it that smells so good?" muttered Kwik, as he rubbed 
 his eyes. " Have you caught a hare, Pardoes?" 
 
 * Yes; such a big hare that his paws are enough to give you an 
 indigestion." 
 
158 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 But when Donatus glanced at the tin plate he recoiled with dis- 
 gust, exclaiming, 
 
 "Why, those are bear's paws! the horrible animal who was about 
 to devour us yesterday! How cruel of you, Pardoes, thus to mock 
 our poor stomachs ! I feel ill at the sight of it." 
 
 The Brusseller tried to convince his friends that nothing could be 
 more delicious than the dish he had prepared for them. The Baron, 
 the sailor, and Creps were persuaded to partake of it, and asserted 
 that it was excellent bear's flesh. Victor at last was also overcome, 
 and accepted half a paw, which Creps pressed upon him; but Donatus, 
 seizing him by the arm, said imploringly, 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Roozeman, I beg you don't eat any of that horrible animal! 
 he wished to devour us; he has probably already eaten other men." 
 
 ''You are really very silly, Kwik," said Victor, smiling. "Meat 
 is meat, and this is very good and not unwholesome." 
 
 "Not unwholesome!" exclaimed Donatus. "Eat it, you will 
 see. Without knowing it you will become malicious, ill-tempered, 
 cruel" 
 
 All burst out laughing. 
 
 rf What absurd ideas come into your brain ! " said Pardoes. " Men's 
 characters changing according to the food they take! We haven't 
 eaten anything but bacon lately, so we ought to become as dirty and 
 unclean as pigs." 
 
 Kwik examined his companions and then himself from head to 
 foot, and then replied, grumbling, 
 
 " I do not know whether the bacon is the cause of it, but it's 
 certain that in Belgium they wouldn't touch us with a pair of tongs. 
 I looked at myself yesterday in the Baron's pocket-mirror; the savage 
 I saw then had an ugly, stubbly beard, and dust and grease were so 
 mixed together on his face that I nearly let the little glass drop with 
 disgust. If Anneken, of Natten-Haesdonck, met such a terrible 
 fellow, she would run away crying out for help! " 
 
THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 "Gome! come! eat a bear's paw," said Creps; "it's really very 
 good." 
 
 " I eat of a monster that devoured my poor mule ? I would rather 
 starve," cried Kwik. He hastily fried himself a piece of bacon, while 
 his companions devoured the bear's paws to the very bone. 
 
 "You may laugh, gentlemen," said Donatus, "but you will see I 
 shan't be surprised to see you tearing out each other's eyes even to- 
 day. I warn you, that you may fight; I shall not mix up in your dis- 
 putes. The Ostender has no need to eat of that monster to" 
 
 "Rascal! how dare you say that?" roared the sailor, darting up, 
 his knife in his hand. 
 
 >f There, gentlemen, is an example of it already!" groaned Kwik. 
 " He does not know what I was going to say, and yet he wants to 
 murder me ! " 
 
 All burst out laughing; but Pardoes now put an end to this joking 
 by reminding his companions that they must resume their journey. 
 The sun was already shining in a cloudless sky, it would probably be 
 very hot towards noon. 
 
 Each took a portion of the tools on his back. It was Roozeman's 
 lot to carry the sieve, but Donatus, notwithstanding Victor's protesta- 
 tions, insisted on carrying it. 
 
 They were tolerably cheerful for a couple of hours. The Baron 
 alone was silent, and seemed full of sad and gloomy thoughts. About 
 noon they were all very much fatigued; they had arrived at the foot 
 of a chain of steep mountains, which barred their route as far as they 
 could see. There was nothing else to be done, these heights must be 
 crossed. After resting about a quarter of an hour they looked for the 
 easiest spot, and then scrambled over enormous rocks to the summit 
 of the mountain, where they sank down breathless with exhaustion. 
 When they arose to continue their journey, a secret horror seized 
 them. They saw before them a range of mountains, several leagues 
 in breadth, whose rocky soil seemed burned by subterranean fires, or 
 
l6o THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 by the rays of the sun, for, as far as the eye could reach, not a flower 
 or a tree was to be seen in this vast desert. 
 
 "What is this?" sighed Donatus. "lam frightened! Have we 
 arrived at the end of the world ? " 
 
 " Pardoes, did the Swiss gold-seeker tell you about this desert?" 
 asked Creps. 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Then we have lost our way! Pleasant news! " 
 
 "We can't lose our way here," replied Pardoes; "as long as we 
 have the gigantic chain of the Sierra Nevada to our right we must be 
 on the right road. By constantly advancing we cannot fail to reach 
 the diggings. It is situated on a large river, which descends from the 
 Sierra Nevada, and so it must be on our way; we could not avoid it 
 if we tried. There is certainly something in this desert to inspire 
 fear, and under this burning sun we shall probably suffer from the 
 heat; but as we have come so far, we must keep on our way steadily. 
 Perhaps we shall find some ravines, which we can't see from here. 
 Come friends, don't lose courage; to-morrow we shall perhaps reach 
 the gold-field, and then be amply repaid for all our sufferings." 
 
 Again they set forth through the bare and solitary wilderness. 
 The sun dashed his fiery rays down upon their heads, which, radiating 
 from the bare rock, redoubled the heat, and made the air feel like a 
 furnace. 
 
 After two hours' weary march the travellers were well-nigh ex- 
 hausted; silent, gloomy, and discouraged, they slowly advanced over 
 the plain. The Baron appeared ready to sink beneath his burden; and 
 absorbed in his sad thoughts he often forgot himself, and remained 
 behind. The sailor took a cruel pleasure in mocking at and annoying 
 him. He had only replied to these insults by a smile of contempt, 
 but when he reproached him with his high birth and his bodily weak- 
 ness the gentleman could stand it no longer. 
 
 He turned pale, threw down his knapsack, seized his revolver, and 
 cried in fury, 
 
THE WILDERNESS. l6l 
 
 " Stop, gentlemen, I command you! " 
 
 "Well! well! what is the matter? what do you want?" stam- 
 mered the others with amazement. ''What are you about to 
 do?" 
 
 "This coarse fellow is making fun of my sufferings; he thinks that 
 a gentleman in the position in which I unfortunately find myself can 
 be insulted with impunity. This is not the case. I might kill him 
 with a bullet, I should only have to make a slight movement of my 
 ringer to do it, but I recoil from committing a murder. I defy him. 
 He shall fight a duel with me, however. One of us two shall leave 
 his bones in the desert." 
 
 The others ran in between them to prevent the fight, but the 
 Baron several times repeated the word " coward," and the sailor, 
 held back by Pardoes, declared that he would tear the gentleman 
 in pieces. 
 
 "No pistols!" roared theOstender; "a conflict to the death with 
 knives is best. It will last longer, and more blood will flow." 
 
 "Very, well, knives then!" replied the Baron, whose cheeks were 
 deadly pale, and whose fiery eyes seemed as if they would start out 
 of their sockets. 
 
 "Alas! alas!" cried Donatus; "they are about to murder each 
 other in this terrible wilderness! The Baron, who was patience itself, 
 has lost his senses, and become mad. This dreadful affair all comes 
 of eating bear's flesh." 
 
 "To arms! to arms!" cried Pardoes; "here are Californian 
 savages ! " 
 
 This terrible exclamation made them forget their quarrel; each 
 one hurriedly seized his gun and looked with surprise, mingled with 
 uneasiness, in the direction where the Brusseller pointed. 
 
 "Savages!" cried Kwik, trembling like a reed. "Savages! ah, 
 where can we hide ourselves? None can help us but the good 
 God." 
 
1 62 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 In fact, they perceived, several miles off, on their right, about ten 
 men walking among the crags of the mountains, and Pardoes knew 
 them to be savages by their long, floating hair, and almost naked 
 bodies. He gave his friends long explanations, and tried to persuade 
 them that these men were a threatening danger to them. His wish 
 was to turn the thoughts of his companions from their quarrel; but 
 the Baron perceived this, and said, - 
 
 * These savages are more than two leagues' march from us; they 
 have not seen us, and they will disappear behind the mountains. 
 Take your knife in your hand, Ostender! " 
 
 "Ah, you will massacre each other, even at this moment, when we 
 are threatened by an attack from Californian savages! Very well, we 
 shall see," said the Brusseller, in great rage. " Roozeman, Creps, 
 Donatus, are you going to obey me to save our lives?" rf Yes." 
 "Point your guns at the sailor; I will guard the Baron." 
 
 Saying this, he advanced some paces, and said with an air of 
 authority, 
 
 "Baron, you made an agreement with us; you are not master of 
 yourself; I declare to you that this duel is a breach of our contract, 
 because it must deprive us of one of our comrades at a moment ! 
 when the lives of all may depend upon the help of one. The 
 first of you who again defies the other I will kill without mercy, 
 This, at least, will be a means of not losing any more precious tim< 
 here." 
 
 Pardoes exchanged a few angry words with the sailor in a low 
 voice. This seemed to quiet him; he walked towards the gentleman, 
 and said, 
 
 " Listen, Baron, I do not wish to put my friends in danger of death* 
 To satisfy you, I admit that I was wrong, and I ask pardon for my 
 hasty words." 
 
 Victor took the Baron by the hand, and tried to calm him by 
 proofs of his esteem and friendship; Donatus joined him, and they 
 
THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 i6 3 
 
 both besought him so earnestly that he was overcome at last and 
 said, 
 
 "Be it so! let us speak no more of it. This rude man will not 
 insult me any more." 
 
 " Come on then, my friends," said the Brusseller. 
 
 " I remain here," said the Baron, sitting down on the ground. 
 
 "Have you gone mad?" grumbled Pardoes. 
 
 "No," replied he, "I am at the end of my strength, my feet are 
 one large sore; I must rest. You can continue your road, gentlemen; 
 it is the same to me whether I am killed by the Californian savages 
 or perish like a beast under a burden which I cannot carry any 
 longer." 
 
 He took ofF one of his shoes, the blood was really flowing from 
 his foot. 
 
 " Well, remain there! " said Pardoes, angrily. 
 
 " I shall not move from here without our companion," said Victor, 
 who had pity on the gentleman's condition. " If you or I, or another 
 of us fell ill, or could not walk, we should not abandon him, or leave 
 him to certain death like men without any feeling." 
 
 " I shan't move either," said Donatus. 
 
 "We will all stay here then," said Creps in his turn. 
 
 "Well, let us rest a little, then," said the Brusseller. "Before 
 coming to California folk ought to know whether they have legs 
 strong enough to take a journey." 
 
 Victor began to wash the Baron's foot and to wrap it up in a piece 
 of rag. 
 
 The Baron, after a short interval of rest, declared that now, thanks 
 to his kind friends, he thought he could continue his journey; so they 
 all shouldered their knapsacks again and advanced into the desert. 
 
 The gold-seekers now were all weary and silent; they only spoke 
 to lament the lack of water, for they had nearly emptied their leather 
 gourds, and there was scarcely half a pint left among them. In the 
 
164 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 afternoon even this was exhausted, while the sun continued as 
 scorching as ever, and the atmosphere so suffocating that they could 
 scarcely breathe. The boundless desert still stretched before the 
 travellers, not a tree was to be seen, and not a trace of water on the 
 parched and barren ground. 
 
 Every now and then they had to stop to rest. Then they would 
 murmur loudly against Pardoes. 
 
 Towards evening, though it was not so hot, their fatigue had 
 increased, and all were suffering terribly from thirst: perceiving no 
 limits to the wilderness, they feared they must pass the night upon 
 this plain without any hope of quenching their thirst, and then have to 
 begin their journey next day under a torrid heat, and without a drop 
 of water. 
 
 In fact the sailor, the Baron, and Creps, refused to go any further. 
 Pardoes asserted that they could not be far from a river; there was a 
 visible downward slope in the soil now, and calculating from the 
 direction of the mountains, which on all sides bounded the horizon, 
 he predicted that in a couple of hours they would doubtless find 
 water. 
 
 Holding out this hope to his companions, he succeeded after a 
 long rest in persuading them to go on. 
 
 After another half-hour's painful march Pardoes, raising a cry, 
 suddenly threw himself on the ground. The others rushed towards 
 him, thinking that he had a fit, but he said in a trembling voice, 
 
 "Silence! silence, friends! let me listen!" 
 
 After having applied his ear to the ground for several minutes, he 
 sprang up and exclaimed, 
 
 "Hurrah! hurrah! water! water!" 
 
 "Where? where?" stammered the others, not understanding what 
 Pardoes meant. 
 
 ? Yonder, before us a cascade; I hear it falling from the 
 mountains." 
 
 
THE WILDERNESS. 165 
 
 Donatus now put his head to the ground. " It's true ! it's true ! 
 The good God be praised! " 
 
 The gold-seekers now hurried on in the direction where they 
 hoped to find water. 
 
 Kwik, who was in front, suddenly started back with a cry of 
 horror, falling heavily on his back. 
 
 "What is it? what have you seen?" asked the others, terrified. 
 
 "Oh, friends," stammered he, "a precipice! If my guardian angel 
 had not held me back I should now have been lying some six hundred 
 feet below." 
 
 They had come to a fearful precipice, out of which, about fifty 
 yards from them, the cascade rushed from a crevice in the rock, and 
 fell into the narrow valley below. 
 
 But the travellers regarded this with transports of joy, for, not- 
 withstanding the darkness, they saw a large stream which came from 
 the waterfall shining along the valley like a silver streak. 
 
 " Might not this be the Swiss gold-seeker's diggings ? " asked the 
 sailor. 
 
 "No," replied Pardoes; "it is situated in a broad valley, and there 
 is no cascade near it; but this stream is a sign that we are approach- 
 ing it, for it probably flows into the river on the banks of which the 
 diggings are. In any case there is water down yonder, which is 
 more valuable to us than gold. The most difficult thing is to find a 
 way by which to get down this huge precipice. Come, I think I 
 have found it. There, near the trees, we shall probably find a 
 passage." 
 
 Pardoes was right. At the spot to which he pointed a great por- 
 tion of the mountain had crumbled down into the valley, and had 
 formed a slope by which they might attempt a descent. 
 
 The darkness made this very dangerous; they had scarcely gone a 
 few steps when the sailor slipped on the rock, and he would have 
 fallen over the edge had not Creps seized him by his clothes. The 
 
1 66 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 same accident happened to the Baron, and he was saved by Donatus. 
 After great difficulties they at last succeeded in reaching the bottom 
 of the ravine, and all rushed to the stream. 
 
 When they had quenched their thirst they pitched their tent at the 
 foot of a lofty rock, and enjoyed their usual supper. 
 
 Victor was the first to mount guard; the others, lulled by the 
 sound of the falling water, soon forgot their sufferings in sleep. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 EL DORADO. 
 
 WHEN the sailor returned to the tent after being the last to 
 mount guard he pulled Kwik by the leg and woke him 
 up, reminding him that it was his turn to get breakfast 
 ready, and that it had been daylight for the last hour. 
 
 Though the twilight round the tent made Donatus think that the 
 sailor was wrong, he, nevertheless, went out and seized an axe to cut 
 down the wood which was necessary for the fire. He was filled with 
 wonder at the grand spectacle around him. 
 
 The place where he stood was a narrow valley, surrounded on all 
 sides by walls of rock thousands of feet in height, some scarred and 
 riven, others crumbling down towards the valley as at the spot where 
 they had descended the previous evening. In the hollows of these 
 rocks, pines, cedars, and cypresses were growing. Through the 
 vine, over a rocky bed, flowed the small, clear river. 
 
 But that which struck Donatus with most amazement was the 
 magnificent cascade, which fell with one bound from a height above, 
 more than four hundred feet, forming a cataract as large as a river, 
 and which roared like distant thunder. For some time he stood 
 watching it, trembling and motionless. 
 
 1? What a height it is!" murmured he. w If a man fell down from 
 up there, there wouldn't be much left of him when he got to the 
 bottom. . . . Am I dreaming, or am I awake? I'm sure I don't 
 know; I don't seem bigger than an ant! O my good God! if it is 
 Thy work I see here, what are all the men of this world in comparison 
 with Thee ? " 
 
 167 
 
 " 
 
1 68 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 Then he went up to the foot of the rocks and cut down some large 
 pieces of wood. With as little noise as possible, so as not to awake 
 his companions, he lighted a fire, stopping every now and then in his 
 work to gaze at the roaring cataract, or at the gigantic wall of rock, 
 clasping his hands in wonder and admiration. 
 
 Then taking up the saucepan, he was about to go direct to the 
 stream, but he strolled in a dreamy way by the side of the cascadr, 
 whose noise seemed to attract him. He came to a spot where the 
 rock jutted out into the bed of the river, and forced it to take a sharp 
 curve; at the end of this projecting rock the torrent had hollowed out 
 a pool. 
 
 It was into this pool that Donatus was about to plunge his sauce- 
 pan, but suddenly a shrill cry escaped him and he bent over the water 
 motionless, with the saucepan in his hand. Then he sprang up, raised 
 his arms above his head, began to jump and caper, rolling himself on 
 the ground, dancing, laughing, talking of Anneken, and acting like one 
 who had suddenly gone mad. He then ran to the tent. 
 
 Before he reached it his friends, alarmed by his shouts, got up and 
 placed themselves on the defensive, their guns in their hands, ready to 
 repulse the attack they expected. 
 
 f < What is it? What do you see? Where?" they all cried. 
 
 But Donatus, without replying, flung himself on his friend Ro< 
 man's neck, stuttering forth confused words, while tears fell from his 
 eyes; then he ran to Creps, Pardoes, and the Baron, and was about to 
 throw his arms round the sailor's shoulders; but he, thinking that he 
 was mad, shook him off, giving him to understand that he would not 
 stand such pranks. 
 
 "Come! come!" stuttered Donatus, in a voice half choked by r\- 
 citement. "Come! Castles! treasures! Anneken Lucia happi- 
 ness victory! My head is turned! I have lost my senses! . . . 
 Come! come! " 
 
 Thus saying he seized Victor's hand, and dragged him to the spot 
 where he had left his kettle. The others followed. 
 
DONATUS' JOY AFTER DISCOVERING GOLD. 
 
EL DORADO. 
 
 171 
 
 w Look! look! " cried Kwik, pointing with his finger into the well 
 which had been hollowed out by the water. 
 
 "Oh! gold! much gold!" they all cried. 
 
 They threw themselves on the ground before the pool, plunged 
 their arms into the water, and began to scratch under the water as 
 eagerly as famishing tigers, who at last grasp in their claws a long- 
 awaited prey. 
 
 Then, drawing their hands full of gold out of the water, they all 
 began to jump, dance, and sing. Their eyes sparkled, their hands 
 trembled, their voices were hoarse; they all talked at once like mad 
 folk. Again and again they plunged their arms into the water, and it 
 was not until they were exhausted by fatigue, and their hands and 
 pockets were full of gold, that they sat down on the ground to rest. 
 
 In the Baron an extrordinary change had taken place; he appeared 
 even more mad than the rest, but they were too eager in their search 
 for gold to take any notice of him. 
 
 Creps, who was not so thoroughly bewildered by this wonderful 
 discovery, began to fear that a new calamity had fallen on his com- 
 panions just at the moment when they had reached the end of all their 
 sufferings and miseries. He remembered hearing Pardoes say that it 
 sometimes happened that gold-seekers were seized at a moment of 
 unexpected good fortune with incurable madness. What he saw now 
 was indeed enough to alarm him. He had never witnessed anything 
 similar to the extravagant wildness of his friends. 
 
 * We have found a real treasure indeed, friends," he said; "a most 
 fortunate matter, for which we have good cause to rejoice; but if you 
 don't try to master your excitement you will lose your reason, and 
 what would be the use of gold to a madman? " 
 
 w Let us see! let us see! Give me the gold! " cried Pardoes. "I 
 will weigh it to see how much we possess already." 
 
 They threw all their gold lumps into the tin saucepan; the Brus- 
 seller weighed it, and then exclaimed, 
 
172 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 "Nine pounds! nine pounds of gold! More than fourteen thou- 
 sand francs in ten minutes! Ah, the world is ours! We shall be 
 millionaires! millionaires!" 
 
 Roozeman, seizing Donatus by the hand, exclaimed, 
 
 "Ah, my friend! how good God is to us! The happiness of my 
 mother, the joy of my life ! Lucia! Anneken! Providence bestows 
 everything upon us in a moment! Thanks be to Thee, O Supreme 
 Disposer! We thank Thee for our sufferings; we thank Thee for 
 Thy favors!" With upraised and trembling hands he offered to 
 Heaven his fervent thanksgivings. 
 
 " Up, comrades ! let us set to work ! Perhaps before evening we 
 shall be rich with treasures! "exclaimed the sailor. 
 
 *Yes, to work! Gold! gold!" cried the others. 
 
 They would not listen to Creps' advice. Discontented and mur- 
 muring, he had crossed his arms on his breast, whilst his companions, 
 leaning over the pool, continued to gather up the gold, notwithstanding 
 the icy cold of the water, which stiffened their arms and benumbed 
 their muscles. But he, too, was obliged to dig w r ith his hands in the 
 well, for Pardoes and the sailor said that any who refused to work 
 should forfeit his share of the gold, and be excluded from their 
 company. 
 
 At length, by Creps' advice, they agreed to stop work for an hour 
 and breakfast, to restore a little heat and strength to their stiffened 
 arms. 
 
 They returned to the tent, walking along the river's bank, their 
 eyes fixed on the water, hoping to see gold perhaps glisten among 
 its stones. Pardoes suddenly clapped his hands together and ex- 
 claimed, 
 
 "Look, friends! yonder in the crevices, sparkling, that is gold! 
 Fortune has not deceived us: by crossing the water we can reach 
 those crevices. There is gold in the whole bed of the river. A field 
 perhaps large enough to enrich a thousand men. Let us breakfast 
 
 
EL DORADO. 173 
 
 hastily. We probably don't know yet the extent of our good 
 luck!" 
 
 The Baron appeared more and more excited; hitherto he had 
 only spoken to himself; now he seized Pardoes by the hand, and 
 began a long harangue, in which he related his past history; how 
 he was the heir of the illustrious house of Alteroche, how he had 
 squandered the inheritance of his ancestors and dishonored his name. 
 But now he could hope once more, new blood was flowing into his 
 veins; he told them of the brilliant figure he would again make in 
 Paris, in his splendid carriage, with his servants in green and gold 
 livery the envy and admiration of all, who would shout, " Stand 
 back! room for the Baron of Alteroche! " 
 
 At these words the sailor burst into a loud laugh, while the others 
 stared at the Baron with amazement. Their looks recalled him to 
 his senses, and casting a glance of contempt on the Ostender, he said, 
 calmly, 
 
 "Pardon me, gentlemen; I saw the future before my eyes. It is 
 an illusion indeed, but it will become a reality." 
 
 " Come ! come ! " cried Pardoes, w every hour is perhaps worth 
 thirty thousand francs to us. Let us to work! " 
 
 They followed him to the river; they tucked their trousers up to 
 their knees and entered the stream; they shivered from the icy cold 
 of the torrent; but so strong was their thirst for gold that they braved 
 this painful sensation, and walked on through the water, here and 
 there picking up nuggets among the stones. This did not last long, 
 for the pain in their legs made them leave the water one after the 
 other, and all asserted that the strongest man could not stay more 
 than a few minutes in the current. In fact, the water was only 
 melted snow descending from the Sierra Nevada, probably through 
 clefts in the mountains, on which the sun never shone. 
 
 Disappointed in this attempt, Pardoes said that they had better 
 return to the well, and get out of it as much gold as it was possible 
 
174 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 to reach. Following his advice they worked on all day; now and then 
 one of them ran to the base of the torrent and forded the stream to 
 look for nuggets. This attempt was generally more or less success- 
 ful, but had to be given up, owing to the coldness of the water. 
 
 At night, when they retired to rest, the gold was again weighed. 
 They estimated the day's product at twenty-two pounds, or about 
 twenty-eight thousand francs. 
 
 As they were sitting round a large fire after supper, with a plate 
 full of their nuggets before them, Creps remarked, 
 
 " I should like to make a proposal, but I don't think you are any 
 of you prudent enough to adopt it. You have nearly all lost your 
 heads." 
 
 "Let's hear it," the sailor said. 
 
 * Well, I propose that it shall be forbidden to work after certain 
 hours, which shall be determined on. At the rate we are now work- 
 ing, and which will probably be continued to-morrow and the follow- 
 ing day, none of us will get to the end of the week without severe 
 illness." 
 
 " Bah! what is there to be afraid of? " cried Kwik, laughing, and 
 beginning to cut capers again. "Look! I feel as fresh as if I had 
 just awoke from twenty-four hours' sleep! " 
 
 "As to yourself, Donatus, you may be right; but it is not every 
 one who is as strong as you are. My health and that of my friends 
 is worth more than gold; and I don't wish to be buried in this lonely 
 ravine, or to see any of our party buried here." 
 
 Pardoes agreed that Creps' advice was good. They resolved to 
 live exactly as they had done at the Yuba diggings, and tc take their 
 meals and rest regularly, and that no one should be allowed to seek 
 for gold except at the appointed hour. 
 
 " Let us divide the gold now," said the sailor. 
 
 "Divide the gold! " answered Pardoes. "That maybe all very 
 well when we have not much gold, but I suppose that in a few days 
 
 
 I 
 
EL DORADO. 
 
 J 75 
 
 we shall possess sixty pounds, shall we then each run about with a 
 weight of ten pounds round our necks? "Who could work thus? " 
 
 w Never mind," grumbled the sailor; "let us share the contents of 
 the plate." 
 
 !f Yes, yes I " replied Donatus. K That will give us strength and 
 courage when as we work we feel the gold weighing on our necks." 
 
 ? You are mad ! " replied Pardoes. * We are nearly sure to find 
 in a short time gold enough for us to possess at least one hundred 
 thousand francs. That would be a weight of twenty-four pounds for 
 each of us to wear always on our necks. Try to look at matters with 
 a little common sense. Suppose we were attacked by bushrangers, or 
 by Californian savages, they would take all the gold we had upon us. 
 We must be wiser and more cunning. I propose to seek for a hole 
 in the rock, some cleft or hidden spot, a little distance from our tent. 
 There, from to-morrow, we will store all the gold we find. None 
 may touch it till the majority consent, and then only in the presence 
 of the others. lie who without permission lays a finger on the com- 
 mon treasure, even only out of curiosity, gives his companions the 
 right to shoot him at once, and he who wishes to spare him shall be 
 looked on as his accomplice. These severe measures are necessary 
 for our safety. You ought to accept them, for there are no other 
 
 means." 
 
 After a certain amount of grumbling from the sailor, all consented 
 to the proposed law. They stepped into the tent, rolled themselves 
 up in their blankets, and fell asleep with happy hearts. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE WELL. 
 
 DAY had scarcely dawned before the excited gold-seekers were 
 already on their legs. Their sleep had been restless, for the 
 certainty of soon possessing heaps of gold had had a most 
 disturbing effect on their nerves. Their eyes were red, their features 
 haggard, and their arms stiff and painful. After breakfast, having 
 warmed themselves at a large fire, they felt ready to begin work. 
 
 They first sought for some cleft in which to conceal their gold, 
 and soon found a suitable spot about thirty yards from their tent; it 
 was a cavity under a mass of rock, scarcely large enough to thrust 
 one's hand into, but which was broader lower down, and so deep 
 that one could not touch the bottom, except by a long stretch of 
 the arm. 
 
 Pardoes put all the gold into this hole, reminded the others of the 
 law they had adopted, then went towards the pool, and after having 
 looked into the water for a moment he said to his companions, 
 
 ^ The dream which disturbed my rest during the night is there. 
 The water which descends from this gigantic mountain loosens in its 
 course stones which contain gold, breaks them, and dashes them into 
 the abyss, during the rainy season. Then the violence of the swirl- 
 ing waters here rubs off a portion of the gold, and throws it up here, 
 We should see it spread about in larger quantities in the river if that 
 well did not stop it and swallow it up. The proof is, that we have 
 found in the clefts and crevices of its jagged walls more than twenty 
 pounds of nuggets. I believe if we could reach the bottom of that 
 well that we should find heaps of gold. 
 
 176 
 
THE WELL. 
 
 177 
 
 " We must empty the well," said the Ostender. 
 
 "No, that won't do; the river falls into it." 
 
 "It shall be emptied, even if we have to drink its contents! " cried 
 Kwik. *To have thousands of pounds of gold, and not" 
 
 " Come, no foolery! " interrupted Pardoes. "Let us cut down a 
 tall fir-tree, we will measure with it the depth of the pool, and we 
 shall then see if there is not some way of reaching the bottom." 
 
 Having got a very long pole they plunged it into the water, till 
 they felt the bottom at about thirty feet. They raised a cry of joyful 
 surprise, convinced that, as the well was not deeper, they would be 
 able, by some means or other, to reach the gold. But when they 
 questioned each other as to this means, no one had any feasible plan 
 to propose for emptying the pool. Discouraged and perplexed, the 
 gold-seekers stood on the bank gazing into the water. At last Kwik, 
 scratching his head, remarked, 
 
 " Let us dive into the well, and pull up the gold with our hands." 
 
 "We might, indeed," said Pardoes, "perhaps obtain in that way 
 nuggets to the value of several millions. But who would venture into 
 
 _ oo 
 
 that whirlpool ? " 
 
 "Who? I will! " cried Donatus. "Bind the lasso round my body; 
 let me down to the bottom, and pull me up when I shake the rope." 
 
 Roozeman wanted to dissuade him from this dangerous enterprise, 
 but Kwik said he knew how to dive and swim like a rat, and that 
 there was nothing to fear from the whirlpool, as one could always get 
 up again by the aid of the rope; and, besides, if one wished to become 
 a millionaire, one ought not to flinch before a little danger. 
 
 His proposal was adopted, and it was decided that if this first 
 atttempt was successful the others should descend into the well 
 according to lots. That their feet and legs might not be cut by the 
 sharp points of rock, it was best to wear their shoes and trousers, but 
 their other clothes were to be taken off. The lasso was bound under 
 Donatus' arms, and lengthened by a thick rope which they had with 
 
178 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 them. When all was ready for the descent Kwik, after putting his 
 finger in the water, said, laughing, 
 
 "I am going; good-by, my friends! I shall bring you news from 
 the other" 
 
 Saying these words he had descended to the middle in the water, 
 holding on to the bank with his hands: but his voice stopped; he 
 breathed in a strange way, while his eyes seemed to stand out of his 
 head. 
 
 :c Well! what's the matter? Go down, then," said Pardoes. 
 
 "Bah! comrades," he stuttered; " I am frozen! I am burning with 
 the terrible cold! Let me get used to it. Now hold the rope tight, I 
 am going down." 
 
 Then he let go his hold on the bank, and dropped down into the 
 deep pool. His companions kept their eyes fixed upon the bubbling 
 water. On the result of this attempt might depend their future for- 
 tune; all hands were passed round the rope to pull up the diver at 
 the slightest signal. 
 
 ' They hadn't long to wait; a second or two after Donatus had 
 descended into the water the lasso received two or three violent 
 shakes. Kwik was pulled up and lifted on to the bank. 
 
 "Well! well! did you touch the bottom?" they asked. 
 
 But Donatus seemed as if he neither saw nor heard; his teeth 
 chattered, his limbs shivered, he tottered on his legs, and stammered, 
 gasping, 
 
 "Oh this cursed gold for which a man must expose his life! I 
 don't know where I am. I believe my heart is frozen in my body." 
 
 "But gold! have you found any gold? " asked the others. 
 
 " A stone, or gold, or a piece of ice, I don't know which," he 
 murmured. " Here! look at it; it's all the same to me. I shall run 
 to the fire to thaw myself." 
 
 At these words he opened his hand and let something fall at his 
 friends' feet, and then ran staggering towards the tent. 
 
 I 
 
E 
 
 DONATUS IN THE POOL. 
 
THE WELL. 
 
 "Incredible!" cried Pardoes; "a nugget of pure gold, six pounds 
 weight at least! What marvellous treasures must this pool contain! 
 One piece six pounds! there are, perhaps, thousands of similar pieces, 
 which in the course of centuries have been heaped up at the bottom 
 of this pool! Oh! what a happy, good fortune! " 
 
 He hastily broke off five grass-blades of different lengths, holding 
 them to the others to draw lots. It was evident enough that a dive 
 into the well, cold as ice, frightened them, for they hesitated to take 
 the grass-blades, disputing who should draw first. 
 
 The lot decided that the sailor should be the first to descend, then 
 Creps, Pardoes, the Baron, and lastly Victor, after which they would 
 begin again with Kwik, and so on in rotation. Without hesitation 
 the Ostender went down into the water, but he very quickly shook 
 the lasso, and when he was pulled out he had brought up three or 
 four nuggets, weighing altogether about a pound. He threw the gold 
 on the ground without saying a word, and ran grumbling to the tent, 
 where Donatus was making a fire big enough to roast an ox. 
 
 Creps bravely descended into the pool, but he found no gold. 
 Pardoes was luckier, bringing back at least two and a half pounds of 
 nuggets. Both, with chattering teeth and shivering violently, ran 
 towards the fire, so that Roozeman and the Baron remained above at 
 the pool's mouth. 
 
 The Baron seemed strangely upset; while Victor bound the lasso 
 under his arms he trembled. 
 
 "Come, Baron, don't be afraid," he said; "it must be horribly 
 cold in there; but it is only a disagreeable moment; I will pull you 
 up as quickly as possible." 
 
 The Baron took a step backward, murmuring with anxiety, 
 
 " I am afraid I can't swim." 
 
 * You must take a long breath first, fill your chest with air, and 
 then keep your mouth well shut. There is no danger; take 
 
 courage." 
 
182 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 "Courage?" repeated the Baron. r 'The day before yesterday I 
 should have seen death approach me with pleasure. Now that fate 
 restores me fortune and hope life seems precious to me. Ah! if this 
 abyss should be the end of me! " 
 
 The sailor shouted that they must fairly go on with the work as 
 agreed, and as he saw that no attention was paid to his cries he ran 
 up, seized the rope from Victor's hands, and grumbled out, while his 
 teeth still chattered, 
 
 r 'You are trembling, Baron? No foolery! each must take his 
 share in the trouble as well as in the profit. It is a horrid bath, it is 
 true: but the illustrious Baron Alteroche may fear as much as he 
 likes, his noble bones as w r ell as" 
 
 The Baron cast a bitter look upon his insulter, and jumped so 
 hastily into the water that the rope nearly escaped from the Ostender's 
 hands. 
 
 After a few moments Victor exclaimed, seizing the rope, 
 
 "Pull up! pull up! he can't swim; he will be drowned!" 
 
 "He hasn't given the signal yet; wait till he does," said the sailor, 
 resisting Roozeman's efforts. 
 
 There was a struggle on the banks of the pool, till the Ostender 
 himself acknowledged that the Baron had been longer under the 
 water than the others, before he pulled at the rope. They drew it 
 up now, the Baron was hanging to it, his eyes closed, his body like 
 that of a dead man. 
 
 Hastily they dragged him on to the bank; the sailor began to roll 
 him on the ground, but Victor seized the drowned man by the 
 shoulders and said, 
 
 "Quick! take him by the legs; let us carry him to the fire; he 
 will revive perhaps yet Poor Baron! to die thus by so terrible a 
 death in the desert, far from his country! " 
 
 The others got up. Donatus began to weep and lament at the fate 
 of the unfortunate Baron. Jan fetched the blankets and wrapped 
 
THE WELL. 
 
 1*3 
 
 them round him; then they tried all possible means to restore feeling 
 to the lifeless body. Pardoes and the sailor, considering these efforts 
 useless, stood by the fire and took no part in them; the latter even' 
 began to talk of burying the body at once at the foot of a rock. 
 
 " He lives! thank God, he lives! " cried Donatus. " I felt a move-i 
 ment in his hand." 
 
 "Yes! yes! he lives!" said Victor; "look! look! he breathes!" 
 
 "All the worse for him and for us! " growled the Ostender, 
 
 Movement had indeed returned to the Baron's stiffened body- 
 Then he opened his eyes and rubbed his forehead for a moment, as 
 one waking from a heavy sleep. Gradually a smile came over his 
 face, and he began to speak of his happy return from California, and 
 of the gold he had found there. 
 
 A cry of amazement escaped from his companions; the sailor 
 alone laughed. Victor took the Baron's hand, and tried to remind 
 him of his condition and where he was; but he took no notice of 
 what he said, and began to address his groom, ordering his horses 
 and carriage to be ready to take him to the palace. He raved also 
 about a duel he was going to fight. 
 
 Then his head sank back on the blanket; he closed his eyes and 
 appeared really asleep. Jan, Victor, and Donatus were deeply 
 grieved at the Baron's condition. Pardoes told them that he was 
 suffering from a sharp attack of fever. 
 
 Looking on the poor Baron, the gold-seekers trembling with cold 
 sat round the fire, and big as it was they still shivered as if they had 
 the ague. 
 
 Victor alone suffered no inconvenience, as had not yet been under 
 water. It was not long before the sailor began a violent attack upqn 
 him, asserting that the Antwerper was trying to shirk his dive. But 
 Roozeman got up, and said, 
 
 " Come, come ! what others have done, I mean to do too. I am 
 ready. Who will hold the rope ? " 
 
184 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 "No, no! let us talk no more of this mad project," said Creps; 
 "we have already drawn up one of our party almost dead. It would 
 be a crime to begin again this dangerous experiment. 
 
 A violent quarrel arose. Creps and Kwik were opposed to Rooze- 
 man going down. The sailor and Pardoes asserted that he had no 
 right to escape the work. 
 
 "Well, I say that he shall not dive," exclaimed Kwik. "For all 
 the gold in the world I would not go into that well again; but to save 
 Mr. Victor from an illness, or worse, is a different matter. Put the 
 lasso round my body. I will be frozen once more to the blood in the 
 place of Roozeman. I am strong; God will protect me! " 
 
 But Victor put an end to the dispute by expressing his firm resolve 
 to be even with his companions. Though Donatus told him how 
 painful was the sensation, he declared he would make the attempt, 
 and requested Pardoes and Creps to hold the rope. 
 
 Without hesitation he let himself be lowered into the pool. He 
 was scarcely in the water when Donatus, who held a hot blanket all 
 ready, began to shout, 
 
 "Pull up! pull up!" 
 
 "Hold your tongue, idiot!" growled Pardoes. "He is the hero; 
 let him do his work." 
 
 But half a minute after he said to himself, 
 
 "He is a long time without giving the signal; we will pull him up." 
 
 When Victor came up on dry land he was utterly stupefied. 
 Donatus threw the warm blanket over his shoulders, and was about 
 to carry him to the fire; but Pardoes, who had seen something glisten 
 among the diver's fingers, opened his fists, from each of them fell 
 some pieces of gold, weighing about two pounds. They picked up 
 the nuggets, ran to the fire, and stretched themselves beside it, while 
 Donatus did all in his power to restore heat to his friend's shivering 
 limbs. It was very necessary. Victor had remained longer under 
 the water than the others; his lips were blue, his eyes were strangely 
 
VICTOR AFTER BEING PULLED OUT OF THE POOL. 
 
THE WELL. 187 
 
 glassy; he trembled so that he tried in vain to say an intelligible 
 word. Gradually, however, he got better, and though the poor fellow 
 was still terribly weak, he seemed cheerful, and thanked his friends 
 for their generous care. 
 
 The Baron was asleep; he appeared to be breathing freely, though 
 now and then he made nervous gestures, and muttered excited words. 
 Meanwhile the sailor and Pardoes were busy examining and weighing 
 the nuggets, and they announced with joy that at least twelve pounds 
 of gold had been drawn from the well: thus the common treasure had 
 been raised in a day and a half to forty-five thousand francs. 
 
 The others expressed no pleasure in hearing of their brilliant 
 success. On the contrary, Creps' lips curled with a smile of contempt. 
 Donatus declared that, if the gold had made his poor friend ill, he 
 would curse the moment when he had seen it; the two invalids 
 remained utterly indifferent. At last Pardoes asked if any one was 
 of opinion that they should resume diving into the well, and if not, 
 what were they to do to continue seeking gold with success. 
 
 None of them not even the sailor dared to think, without 
 horror, of a second descent into the pool; and all acknowledged that 
 they must give up the attempt unless they wished to risk their lives. 
 Pardoes then expressed his intention of passing the rest of the day 
 wading in the river seeking for grains of gold and nuggets, but Creps 
 would not hear of working any more that day. He remarked, that in 
 any case two of their party must stay beside the fire to recover, that 
 they were all tired enough to require some hours of rest, and that 
 they would be mad to exhaust their strength by more labor. Pardoes 
 received this advice shrugging his shoulders, while the sailor burst 
 into a furious passion against the weakness and idleness of his com- 
 panions, as he called it. He even uttered the word " coward." Creps 
 jumped up and exclaimed in an angry tone, and with such fierce 
 gestures that all were amazed, 
 
 w I won't stand your impertinence any longer. Do you think that 
 
1 88 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 I have come to California to ruin my health for you, or to die like a 
 dog in this wilderness, with my hands full of gold? You talk and act 
 as if you were the master and we were the servants; but I will teach 
 you that it is nothing of the kind. We have formed a company on 
 the footing of complete equality. I speak now in the name of the 
 majority. We decide not to work any more to-day; this decision 
 each must obey, whether he likes it or not; so you had better make 
 up your mind to submit." 
 
 "I shall take my share of the gold, and dissolve the company, 
 then," growled the sailor, springing forward to run to the treasure." 
 
 But Creps drew his revolver, and exclaimed, 
 
 "Stop, fellow! respect the law! Another step, and you are dead! " 
 
 Pardoes made a sign that they should stand still; and then, seizing 
 the Ostender by the middle of his body he tried to drag him back and 
 quiet him. He said that Creps was right, and that as the majority 
 sided with him the others must submit. He regretted that they had 
 to lose half a day close to so much gold; but they would be all the 
 stronger on the morrow, and would probably make up for lost time. 
 
 The sailor, though still grumbling, submitted at last, and resumed 
 his seat by the fire. 
 
 Pardoes, fearing lest the quarrel might be renewed, led off the 
 sailor to examine the bed and course of the river. They also tried 
 to see if there was any chance of game in the neighborhood, for they 
 remembered that in four days their stock of bacon would be ex- 
 hausted. They ascended, with their guns, among the clefts of the 
 rock, and soon disappeared out of the sight of their companions. 
 
 Creps, silent and mournful, sat gazing at the bacon and his friend 
 Victor; the idea lest the latter should, in consequence of his dive into 
 the well, be attacked with a dangerous illness filled him with grief 
 and anxiety. He wished that he had never decided to come to Cali- 
 fornia. In bitter words he reproached himself for his folly. What 
 had they gained hitherto by leaving their happy country? 
 
THE WELL. 
 
 189 
 
 He concluded by asserting that they must leave this place as soon 
 as possible, before misfortunes or unforeseen disease made some of 
 their companions incapable of returning to San Francisco. But 
 neither Victor nor Donatus would hear of such a proposal. They re- 
 minded him that they had attained the object of their arduous journey, 
 and that their happiness, and that of those dear to them, was about 
 to be realized. A few days of courage and patience might put them 
 in possession of the treasures they had so long dreamed of. 
 
 But Creps was bitter and out of temper, and he would have re- 
 mained so had not Roozeman convinced him that he was quite cured, 
 and that he felt a pleasant warmth circulate through all his limbs. 
 Meanwhile the Baron awoke, and sat up in his blankets. The Flem- 
 ings asked him kindly how he was, but he neither knew nor under- 
 stood them. He believed himself to be in a mansion at Paris, 
 surrounded by his servants, to whom he was giving orders for a 
 princely dinner. 
 
 Sadly did his companions listen to him; all these efforts to dispel 
 his illusions were in vain. 
 
 When, an hour before nightfall, Pardoes and the sailor returned to 
 the tent, they showed their companions two water-birds they had 
 killed. They could easily have brought back a dozen, but they had 
 spent most of their time exploring the river to see if it contained gold. 
 But they had seen scarcely any. They must, therefore, confine their 
 labor to the valley in which their tent was pitched. Pardoes' plan 
 was to dam up the bed of the river at some favorable spot, empty 
 some of the shallower pools, and thus obtain the nuggets they con- 
 tained, without being obliged to dive into icy water. It would be 
 slow work, but the success would be certain. Pardoes, who wished 
 to raise his friends' sinking spirits, spoke of the probably brilliant re- 
 sult of their enterprise. 
 
 Donatus became so excited on hearing Pardoes' words that he 
 shouted, "Long live Baron Kwik! Long live Anneken, the baroness! 
 Hurrah! hurrah!" 
 
190 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 A cry of pain from Victor brought him to his senses; he read in 
 his friend's eyes that he thought he was as mad as the Baron, so he 
 went up to him laughingly, and whispered in his ear, 
 
 "Don't fear for me, good Roozeman; I am a poor simpleton, no 
 doubt, but the little sense I have is not so easily disturbed; my brains 
 are well screwed into my head." 
 
 The two birds were soon roasted. Creps proposed to give one of 
 them to Victor and the Baron, as they were ill. All consented, 
 except the sailor, who demanded his full share. They gave it to him, 
 and then he pretended it was too small. His mates, to appease his 
 selfishness, gave him more than his share; this did not prevent him 
 from grumbling against those who ate but were too lazy to work. 
 
 Next day the gold-seekers were early at work; they had decided 
 to make a semi-circular embankment in the river, so as to completely 
 lay dry a portion of its bed. Pardoes did not think it would be 
 finished till after twelve days' hard labor. The spot they had fixed 
 on included many small crevices and cavities, in which they saw gold 
 glittering; and if they were successful, they would doubtless obtain 
 many nuggets. This hope gave them courage. They carried or 
 rolled large blocks of stone from the rock to the river, which they 
 piled up in the water to form their embankment. 
 
 The Baron was completely insane. Now and then he seemed to 
 understand that they were working thus to get gold, but most of the 
 time he imagined himself at Paris, where a superb mansion was being 
 built for him. He would then work with activity, carrying heavy 
 stones on his shoulders; this was to give an example to the workmen, 
 so that his magnificent residence might be more quickly finished. 
 
 For some time the gold-seekers had to contend with the torrent, 
 which ten times in one day overthrew their work, carrying away the 
 stones they had heaped up. But they overcame this obstacle by 
 dragging up an enormous mass of rock, a labor which for forty- 
 eight hours demanded their united strength and all their skill. They 
 
THE WELL. 
 
 succeeded at last, by using trunks of cedars as levers and supports, 
 in placing this huge stone in the middle of the river, where it served 
 as the central point of the embankment which was to be raised 
 around it. 
 
 It was slavish work; but the comrades were all blinded by the 
 thirst for gold. As they were forced constantly to walk through icy 
 water their feet were nearly frozen, while their heads, exposed to the 
 sun, burned as if their brains were on fire. 
 
 Victor Roozeman did not seem well; ever since his dive into the 
 pool his face had been deadly pale. However, he assured his friends 
 he was in good health, and capable of working as much as they did. 
 
 The Ostender's continual persecutions had wrought an unfavorable 
 change in the Baron's condition. He no longer dreamed of the castle 
 that was being built for him; his fixed idea was that he was the victim 
 of a cruel tyranny. He seemed, too, to have lost all courage now, 
 and he continued to work on in mournful silence. 
 
 As to Donatus, he was always in a good humor. He worked on 
 bravely, cheering his mates by his jests, and talking about his castle 
 and Anneken. 
 
 Pardoes had asserted that their work would be done in twelve 
 days, but they had already been working ten, and at least a third part 
 of their embankment remained to be constructed. Whilst they were 
 at dinner on the twelfth day, Pardoes told them that on the following 
 day their stock of bacon would be exhausted, and that there would 
 be very little flour left. It was necessary, therefore, that one or 
 other of them should go every day out hunting to obtain food for the 
 rest. That their work should not suffer, Pardoes proposed to send 
 Victor and the Baron on the morrow; it would be an amusement tor 
 them and good exercise. 
 
 The sailor grumbled, and demanded that lots should be drawn. 
 According to him, w Every one for himself," was the law of California; 
 and if any one was sick or crazy all the worse for him. 
 
192 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 Creps and Donatus flew into a passion with him, but as Victor re- 
 fused to accept any privilege they drew lots. It fell to the Ostender 
 and Kwik to go first to hunt. They returned at nightfall with three 
 little birds, and an animal like a rabbit. It was not much, still it 
 gave them hope that they would not starve in this place. 
 
 Next day, when Creps and Pardoes returned from a ten-hours' 
 chase, weary and exhausted, they only brought back a couple of birds 
 something like partridges. Every succeeding day they were less suc- 
 cessful; there was probably very little game in the country, and their 
 shots had frightened and driven away the few animals that were about. 
 Besides, the gold-seekers did not dare to go far from their tent, ex- 
 cept along the banks of the river, for fear of losing their way. 
 
 When all their provisions were exhausted they saw themselves 
 with terror threatened by famine, and more than once they had to go 
 to bed with almost empty stomachs. They became very ill-tempered 
 and quarrelsome with each other. Creps again insisted that they 
 ought to quit this fatal spot; but as the embankment was nearly 
 finished he was persuaded to wait two or three days longer. 
 
 When they arose on the following morning they saw with horror 
 and grief that the torrent had during the night overthrown more than 
 thirty feet of their embankment. Thus an entire week's work was 
 lost The sailor was furious; he reproached his companions, and 
 behaved like a madman. The others, vexed and despondent, gazed 
 on the remains of their painful labor. 
 
 t? Well, friends," said Pardoes, at last, w the disaster is great indeed, 
 but it is limited to the loss of five or six days of work. We are too 
 impatient, and ask too much of fortune. This place that we are try- 
 ing to enclose contains gold enough to repay us tenfold. We must 
 carry on the embankment straight to the shore, it will be completed 
 in two days. Three of us must constantly go hunting, while the other 
 three work. In this way we shall not lack food." 
 
 When Creps exclaimed in a fit of fury that they should depart at 
 
THE GOLD-SEEKERS MAKING AN EMBANKMENT. 
 
THE WELL. 
 
 once, Pardoes replied bitterly that it would be thorough cowardice to 
 give up the struggle against Nature, when they were sure of wrestino- 
 from her, within three days, treasures which she was vainly trying to 
 keep from them. Donatus and Victor took the Brusseller's part, so 
 Jan withdrew his opposition. 
 
 Creps, Donatus, and Victor started off to forage; Pardoes and the 
 Ostender set to work to carry pieces of rock to the river; in this labor 
 they obliged the Baron to help them. 
 
 During their dinner-hour the Baron was seated by the fire, gnawing 
 the remains of a bird. The sailor was, as usual, standing close to the 
 well whence they had drawn so much gold; he was scratching his 
 head, stamping his feet, and making gestures of impatience. Pardoes, 
 who was walking at the foot of the rocks, had kept his eye fixed on 
 the Ostender; he now approached him and said, joking, 
 
 " The gold below yonder has bewitched you. Are you dreaming 
 of some means by which to get at it? " 
 
 "Dreaming!" repeated the other, in a strange tone; "dreaming! 
 I will get that gold, as sure as I live, I tell you! " 
 
 " Do you mean to risk the dive again ? I would not advise you to 
 make the dangerous attempt." 
 
 The sailor took him by the hand and said, " Pardoes, you are my 
 friend; I could keep for myself all the gold enclosed in that pool, but 
 I don't wish to. I will share it with you. Consent! and we are 
 millionaires several times over!" 
 
 "I don't understand you; what do you mean? "asked the Brus- 
 seller, amazed. " Do you know any plan of getting hold of the gold 
 down there? Say if you do, and we will try it! " 
 
 A laugh of contempt curled the Ostender's lips as he said, 
 
 " If two brave men alone knew the existence of this treasure, if 
 they had gold enough to buy at Sacramento the necessary tools, 
 would they not find gold enough here to lade two or three mules ? " 
 
 "I have already thought of that," replied Pardoes; "we have gold 
 
196 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 enough; we will return here as you say, and work the pool with the 
 proper instruments." 
 
 " And our lazy, weak companions ? " 
 
 * They will soon return, they are weary of gold-seeking. We will 
 go with them as far as to Sacramento valley, and while they are tra- 
 velling to San Francisco we will go back and seek the necessary 
 tools at Sacramento." 
 
 ''These cowards," said the sailor, "were born to be our ruin! ' 
 
 "How so?" 
 
 ? They will deprive us of our treasure." 
 
 " What a foolish notion! " 
 
 " Foolish! you think it? Let them only go to San Francisco and 
 the vast fortune which belongs to us is lost. They will live there in 
 luxury with their gold, and when their health and strength are restored 
 they will forget the miseries they have endured. Then their thirst 
 for gold will revive, they will choose other companions, and return to 
 this spot." 
 
 "Don't fear that," said the Brusseller, laughing; "for all the trea- 
 sures in the world Jan Creps would never return here, and without 
 him his friends would not move an inch. Roozeman is seriously ill, 
 be sure of it! " 
 
 rc That is all the worse," growled the sailor. " Stupid as they are, 
 they will tell the secret, and hundreds of greedy men will come to 
 dispute our treasure. Who knows if on our return we shan't find the 
 place invaded by others ? " 
 
 "Possibly; but what else can we do?" 
 
 "Oh! I know a way," said the sailor, as he put his mouth to his 
 friend's ear; "certainly they would never come back here, and would 
 still less speak about it in San Francisco ... if they had to leave 
 here without gold, without arms, Hunger, robbers " . . . 
 
 The Brusseller turned pale, and withdrew his hand from that of 
 his companion. 
 
THE WELL. 
 
 197 
 
 ''What do I hear?" he exclaimed. "Is it a miserable robbery 
 that you propose ? " 
 
 " A robbery! " repeated the other, laughing; "we shall only take 
 what belongs to us ; for without us "... 
 
 "What! " said Pardoes. "Betray our friends in such a cowardly 
 way! If you had not always been my friend I should send a bullet 
 through your head." 
 
 The sailor was alarmed at the violence of Pardoes' anger. 
 
 :? Why do you fly into such a rage ? " said he, with feigned calm- 
 ness. "What I said was only an idea which came into my head. I 
 would undertake nothing without you; I shall always remain your 
 faithful friend, and I shall never do anything that you don't approve 
 of. I was wrong, of course. As the plan doesn't please you we will 
 say no more about it. It would be cowardly, perhaps, but I believe 
 most people would betray their own father and mother for the sake 
 of gold." 
 
 Pardoes replied sharply; but the sailor acknowledged that he was 
 wrong with such humility that the Brusseller promised to forget his 
 infamous proposal, and not to breathe a word of it to the others. 
 
 All that day the sailor was very cheerful at his work. Even when 
 Creps and his friends returned from the chase, only bringing five little 
 birds, he neither swore nor grumbled, merely saying that he hoped 
 that Pardoes, who was a capital shot, would bring them in a good 
 stock of game on the morrow. 
 
 The supper was very sad, for there was not near enough to satisfy 
 the famishing gold-seekers. 
 
 The sailor's strange conduct made Pardoes very anxious ; there 
 was something unnatural in it; it probably concealed evil intentions. 
 On the other hand, he might wish to acknowledge sincerely how 
 wrong he had been. Pardoes, who had a warm friendship for the 
 rough sailor, tried to put his suspicions out of his head; but he re- 
 solved to keep his eye on his friend, especially when towards morning 
 it would be his turn to mount guard. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE CORPSES. 
 
 THE morning dawn was descending like a gray mist from the 
 summits of the mountains when suddenly the gold-seekers* 
 sleep was disturbed by a cry of agony. 
 
 They all rose together, felt about for their weapons; but they shud- 
 dered with terror when they found that their guns had disappeared. 
 
 "Treason! treason!" shouted Creps. ''The revolvers, friends! 
 let us defend ourselves!" 
 
 They rushed out of the tent, looking round on all sides to find the 
 weapons which had been taken from them. 
 
 " Where are the sailor and the Brusseller?" murmured Donatus. 
 "It seems to me that this smells of savages! " 
 
 But a groan of pain arose in the darkness some thirty yards off. 
 They walked cautiously in that direction to the foot of the rock. 
 Pardoes lay there stretched on his back, the blood was flowing from 
 a large wound in his breast. Creps and his friends sank down by the 
 side of the wounded man, raised his head, and tried to close the 
 wound. Pardoes still breathed, and he seemed even to regain con- 
 sciousness, thanks to the attentions of his companions, for he made 
 efforts to speak. 
 
 The Baron did not seem to know what was going on ; the poor 
 madman raised shouts of laughter and cries of joy; but his com- 
 panions were far too overcome to pay any attention to his strange and 
 wild behavior. 
 
 Creps and Donatus lifted up the wounded man and carried him to 
 the tent, while Victor held a piece of linen to the wound to stop the 
 
 198 
 
THE CORPSES. 
 
 I 99 
 
 blood as much as possible. The blankets were arranged with all 
 the care they could under the circumstances, to form a couch on 
 which the Brusseller was placed, while his chest was wrapped and 
 bandaged up. 
 
 It was not daylight yet; the Flemings knelt beside the bed of 
 their unfortunate friend, and with heavy hearts kept their eyes fixed 
 on his face to discover any signs of life. At length Pardoes half 
 opened his eyes, looked at his comrades, and moved his lips as if he 
 wished to speak. Then he stammered out, gasping, 
 
 " Sailor . . . stolen the gold . . . guns in the well . . . assassin 
 . . . God . . . my mother , . . Brussels "... 
 
 After these words he closed his eyes and remained motionless, 
 as if he had sunk under this last effort to explain matters to his 
 comrades. 
 
 Donatus raised a cry and ran out. In a few moments after he 
 returned with a handful of nuggets, and groaned out with tears in 
 his eyes, 
 
 "Alas! alas! the gold is indeed stolen! This is all that the 
 rascally felon has left in the hole or dropped in his haste. Three 
 pounds! not more than three pounds! The robber! the wretch! He 
 has fled into my castle. Alas! I must become a farm-servant again. 
 But my Anneken, my poor Anneken! What will she say to me on 
 my return ? " 
 
 After a few moments' thought, he exclaimed suddenly, 
 
 "The sailor cannot be far off; let us climb the rocks, we shall 
 overtake him, and get it all back from him. I will blow out his 
 brains! I must have my gold. Come! come!" 
 
 Creps dashed the nuggets out of his hand, and said angrily, 
 
 " Hold your tongue ! I won't take a step to get that horrible metal 
 which changes men into tigers. Let the sailor go, he carries his own 
 curse upon his head. Remain, I tell you; enough blood has been 
 shed!" 
 
200 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 Donatus picked up the nuggets, putting them into a little leather 
 bag which hung round his neck. 
 
 "Gold is gold," he mumbled: " the less one has the more precious 
 is it. We can't tell what use it may not be " 
 
 Whilst the others had turned awa} T from the wounded man for a 
 moment, the Baron was sitting close to Pardoes' head. A gleam of 
 intelligence lighted up his features. With a strange smile, however, 
 his eye remained fixed on the pale face of the dying man, while now 
 and then he uttered words of triumph. His comrades looked at him 
 with amazement, and listened trembling. 
 
 Then he looked with an imperious air as he gave orders to his 
 companions, whom he took for his servants, as to his approaching 
 funeral, which he desired should be conducted with the utmost state, 
 and as grand as that of a king: at last he grew calmer and sat down 
 again. 
 
 "Horrible! horrible!" murmured Victor. 
 
 " This spot is enchanted," said Donatus ; " the gold here is guarded 
 by invisible demons? Don't let us delay, let us start at once!" 
 
 "Start! " Roozeman said. ' ? We can't leave our poor friend Par- 
 does in this condition! We must wait until we see him buried, 
 if he dies." 
 
 " But what are we to do with a dying man and a madman? " cried 
 Donatus, in terror. " No food, no guns, we shall die of hunger; and 
 on the road, bushrangers, savages, bears! Now I understand the 
 Baron; Pardoes is indeed the happiest! It is all over with him. 
 Alas, poor Kwik! why did you ever leave happy Natten-Haes- 
 clonck?" 
 
 Jan Creps arose and said resolutely, 
 
 "Our lot is a horrible one, my friends; yesterday we scarcely ate 
 anything. If we don't make an effort to get food famine will soon 
 make an end of us. ' Help yourselves, and God will help you/ 
 says a proverb invented by men in as desperate plight as we are." 
 
DONATUS DISCOVERING THAT THE GOLD HAS BEEN STOLEN. 
 
THE CORPSES. 
 
 20 3 
 
 And turning towards the Baron he asked, 
 
 "Baron, will you watch over poor Pardoes? will you give him 
 drink when he is thirsty? You will not forsake him?" 
 
 "Forsake him? Never! never!" replied the madman. "I will 
 stay with him always! " 
 
 " Will you make a fire ? " 
 A large fire." 
 
 " Come, then, don't let us lose a moment, comrades. The revolver 
 is a bad weapon, we shall have difficulty enough in shooting down 
 our game; but we must hesitate no longer, necessity is an iron law, 
 and we must obey it." 
 
 It went against Victor's heart to abandon poor Pardoes to the 
 Baron's doubtful care; he expressed his desire to remain near the 
 tent; but Creps had for some time remarked that his friend was 
 thoroughly upset, and very pale, and he thought it best to get him 
 away from this sorrowful scene. They once more enjoined the Baron 
 to pay attention to the slightest movements of the wounded man, and 
 then all three climbed the rocks in search of game, though at every 
 step to encounter fresh danger. 
 
 They only saw a few birds, and, moreover, found that it was 
 impossible to take proper aim with a revolver. After wandering 
 about for two hours and discharging their revolvers twenty times 
 they had not got a single bird. Gloomy and despondent they 
 reached the verge of the wood. Roozeman was especially silent; he 
 scarcely replied to his friends' encouraging words. Creps was deeply 
 troubled at this; however, he concealed his anxiety. 
 
 At last Donatus hit a wild pigeon. 
 
 Creps gave it to Roozeman, saying, 
 
 "Take it, Victor; go straight to the tent and cook it. We will 
 follow you through the woods to see if fortune will smile on us a 
 second time. Make haste; we are dying of hunger." 
 
 When Victor descended the rocks he saw the flames of the fire. 
 
204 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 This sight cheered him; it made him think that the Baron had care- 
 fully performed his duties. With hasty steps he approached the tent, 
 eager to learn poor Pardoes' state; but a cry of agony escaped him: 
 the tent was empty, even the wounded man had disappeared! 
 
 Roozeman remained motionless for a moment. He thought of 
 wild animals, and of Californian savages; but that was only for a 
 second, for nothing was touched in the tent, everything was in its 
 place, and everything else appeared just as they had left it. 
 
 He went out and called the Baron with all his strength; but the 
 only reply was the echo of his own voice. Then he thought he 
 observed on the grass -traces as of a heavy body which had been 
 dragged along the ground: these marks led him to the foot of a 
 precipitous rock. Then he 'suddenly drew back with a shriek of 
 horror; for his gaze fell on two human bodies. He fell back fainting 
 on the ground. 
 
 A few minutes after he came to himself, and ran in the opposite 
 direction beyond the tent, where he met Creps and Kwik returning 
 from the chase without any game. 
 
 "What is the matter?" both exclaimed. 
 
 "Come! come!" replied he. "It is horrible! incomprehensible! 
 The Baron and Pardoes have disappeared from the tent. They are 
 lying on their backs, mutilated, crushed! " 
 
 Arrived at the foot of the rock, they stood transfixed with horror 
 at the dreadful sight. 
 
 'They have fallen from above; all their limbs are broken," said 
 Kwik, with trembling horror. 
 
 " The curse of God hangs over this place," cried Creps. " Let us 
 flee from it; the gold will devour us. I will not die here! You, 
 Victor, must not stay beside these horrible corpses. Return to the 
 fire. Cook the bird. Obey me. We will bury the corpses, then we 
 will depart from this cursed land, where famine stares us in the face. 
 Go, I tell you, and make all haste with our meal ! " 
 
THE CORPSES. 
 
 205 
 
 Victor obeyed. Creps and Kwik dug a grave at the foot of the 
 rocks, rilling it up with earth and large stones to protect the remains 
 of their unhappy friends against savage animals. Donatus tied a 
 piece of wood to the branch of a tree in the form of a cross, which 
 he placed over the grave to show that those who rested beneath this 
 heap of stones were Christians. 
 
 Then both knelt down, uttered a prayer, and, weeping, returned to 
 the tent. 
 
 The roasted pigeon was divided and eagerly devoured. On Creps 7 
 order they hastily removed the canvas from the tent, and got all 
 ready to start. As they were putting on their knapsacks Donatus 
 exclaimed, 
 
 "We are not certain that we shall ever see a human being again. 
 
 o o 
 
 Still there is a chance for us. I mean to dive once more into that 
 pool. Who knows if I shan't fish up my castle again ? " 
 
 "Not another word about it!" cried Creps. ' ? Take up your 
 knapsack! " 
 
 :? Yes, but," remarked Donatus, " I have an idea that if I were to 
 dive in with the saucepan I could, perhaps, fill it with nuggets." 
 
 "No, no! don't do it, Donatus; you will probably risk your life," 
 said Victor, implc.lngly. 
 
 ' f There's much to risk, indeed, in such a life!" murmured Kwik. 
 T The savages, hunger, or the pool, what do I know? But if you 
 don't wish it, I give it up. Let us be off." 
 
 "Jan Creps, without listening to him, had already started, and was 
 beginning to scale the rocks with Roozeman. It was plain that the 
 latter had more courage than strength; for although he struggled 
 against the difficulties of the road, he often stopped to take breath, 
 scarcely being able to climb the mountain side. Donatus kept beside 
 him, supporting and helping him, till they had reached the upper 
 part of the valley, where they halted to rest, and to ascertain which 
 would be the best way to go, either to ascend the mountain or keep 
 in the valley. 
 
206 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 After glancing at the mountain for a moment Creps observed, 
 
 "We must choose our road, friends. To return to the Yuba dig- 
 gings by the barren desert does not seem advisable to me, even were 
 it possible. I think we should do well to descend towards the valley, 
 turning away from the Sierra Nevada. Perhaps in four or five days 
 we may reach the Sacramento valley, and meet some people. Our 
 lot is terrible, but let us keep up our courage, and hope to the end. 
 On the way we must try and shoot some game. If we don't succeed 
 we must eat roots and herbs; but let us make haste. On the delay 
 of a few hours our safety may depend. Forward, then! let us 
 descend the mountains as much as possible to the end of the wood, 
 and may God be with us, and preserve us under this accumulation of 
 miseries! " 
 
 They began the long and painful journey, and walked without 
 stopping till noon, then they resolved to rest an hour. Victor re- 
 mained with the knapsacks, while his friends went into the forest to 
 look for game. There were birds, indeed, on the trees, but they fired 
 without hitting them. At the least noise all the game flew away to a 
 great distance. 
 
 Silent and despondent they returned to their friend. 
 
 "Poor Victor!" said Kwik, sighing. "It is worse for him. 
 Haven't you noticed, Mr. Jan, that he has scarcely any strength ? He 
 doesn't complain, but he seems very ill." 
 
 " I see it, indeed," replied Creps. " His state alarms me more than 
 all the dangers which threaten us. Still we must march and march 
 on until we sink or meet with our deliverance. To rest is only to 
 await starvation." 
 
 "If we could only procure for Victor a little strengthening food! 
 but without eating how can he hold out for half a day? What shall 
 we do if we find nothing? Victor must not die. Even were I to 
 
 o 
 
 give him my own blood to drink I would rather die than he. Ah ! 
 silence! silence! I saw something there under that thick tree-root 
 an animal ! " 
 
THE CORPSES. 2O7 
 
 At these words he approached, bent down, and plunged his arm 
 up to the elbow in the hole. He raised a sharp cry; his eyes seemed 
 to start from his head. 
 
 ;r What do you feel ? what has happened to you ? " asked Creps. 
 
 " It bites! it scratches! Ah! oh! " cried Donatus. 
 
 Let it go." 
 
 ^ Let it go ! no ! it may devour one of my hands. I shall drag it 
 out by the other. Let it go, indeed ! perhaps poor Victor's life de- 
 pends upon it. Ah! I've got it by the neck; I am strangling it. 
 Here it is! Look!" 
 
 And he displayed an animal about the size of a rabbit, with very 
 strong teeth and sharp claws, which resembled a weasel and had a 
 very nasty smell. Blood flowed from Donatus' hands, but he shook 
 it off, and holding the animal up in the air, exclaimed, 
 
 "Smell as bad as you like, old fellow! in a quarter of hour you 
 will go into Bread Street! It is true that not a dog at Natten-Haes- 
 donck would touch you; but starving men can't be so particular." 
 
 Giving the animal to his companion, he began to cut down wood 
 with his knife. Then he made a fire, while Creps skinned the animal. 
 
 Donatus had become quite merry again. He had such a light 
 heart that in the most painful situations he could laugh and joke as 
 soon as the smallest ray of light pierced the cloud of his sorrow. He 
 tried to raise Victor's courage by the hope of a dainty meal, and 
 talked of dear and happy Belgium, as if he were certain of seeing it 
 
 again. 
 
 The animal was soon cooked. It was very nasty; hungry as they 
 were they could scarcely eat it. Roozeman showed little appetite; 
 his friends had to tell him that he would never be able to preserve his 
 strength without food. He was silent and depressed; however, he 
 did not complain, and even smiled at Kwik's efforts to amuse them. 
 
 They resumed their journey. They had many steep mountains to 
 climb. Each time they reached a summit they gazed around on all 
 
208 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 sides in the hopes of discovering something encouraging and consol- 
 ing; but they saw nothing but endless ridges of mountains and 
 valleys. 
 
 After they had walked for three or four hours it was plain, though 
 he would not confess it himself, that Victor's strength was exhausted. 
 
 They agreed to rest again, and make another attempt to get food; 
 but just at the moment when they halted Kwik picked up something 
 from the ground, and cried, 
 
 " Men have passed here ! This is an arrow a strange arrow, too, 
 with a piece of sharp stone at the end." 
 
 c You know what Pardoes told us; it is a weapon of the Califor- 
 nian savages," answered Creps. 
 
 "Savages! savages!" groaned Donatus, turning pale. "I would 
 rather die of hunger than have the skin of my head torn off by those 
 horrible men. Don't let us stay here! I will carry Mr. Victor on my 
 back if need be." 
 
 Creps agreed that it would be prudent to move as quickly as pos- 
 sible from a wood which mi^ht serve as a shelter for savages. 
 
 O o 
 
 Donatus made Roozeman lean on his arm, and he supported him so 
 well and carefully that, worn out as his friend was, he managed to 
 walk on for another league and a half before begging them not to 
 go any further that day. 
 
 They were in a broad valley, through which a river had flowed 
 during the rainy season. Now it was dried up to a little brook which 
 they could step over. As soon as the tent was pitched, Creps and 
 Donatus went to the wooded part of the valley to seek for game. 
 After looking about for an hour they lost courage. 
 
 " Let us cease these useless attempts," said Creps. " Rest is as 
 needful as food; moreover, it is getting dark; we shan't find any 
 game if there is any. For once an empty stomach won't hinder us 
 from sleeping." 
 
 " Nevertheless I mean to eat," said Donatus. w A hungry horse 
 
THE CORPSES. 
 
 209 
 
 will eat thistles. I have seen many mustard plants round the tent. 
 I am going to make soup of them, as my mother used to do for our 
 cow. It may be nasty and bitter; I don't care. Our cow didn't die 
 of it; perhaps I shall thrive on it. We'll try it, at all events." 
 
 He gathered an armful of mustard-plants and put them on to the 
 fire in the saucepan filled with water. 
 
 When it boiled he began to eat, inviting his companions to follow 
 his example. It was so nasty that they could only swallow a mouth- 
 ful. Donatus, however, devoured the whole, rubbed his hands, and 
 said, laughing, 
 
 " Certainly, pork-chops and cabbage would be better; but so long 
 as a ship has ballast enough it matters little of what the ballast 
 
 consists." 
 
 Overcome by fatigue, they all three soon fell asleep. 
 
 In the middle of the night Donatus was awoke by a piteous groan. 
 He listened anxiously; it came from Victor. 
 
 " Mr. Roozeman, what is the matter? are you ill?" he asked. 
 
 "Give me drink! drink!" said Victor; "I am burning with fever. 
 But don't make any noise; don't disturb Creps' rest." 
 
 Kwik put his water-bottle to his lips. When he had taken a long 
 draught he said, 
 
 " Sleep now, good Donatus; my sufferings are relieved." 
 
 " How your forehead burns ! You are shivering and trembling. 
 Poor Victor! Oh, that I had the fever and not you! " 
 
 " It is nothing," murmured Roozeman : w the excitement, the fright. 
 Don't be anxious; it will be over to-morrow. Give me the bottle. If 
 I want your help I will call you." 
 
 With beating heart Donatus listened for a long time; but, as 
 Victor was quiet and his breathing seemed natural, he soon fell sound 
 asleep. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 DESPAIR. 
 
 IT was broad daylight when Creps awoke. He saw that Rooze- 
 man, too, had opened his eyes already, and knowing nothing of 
 the severe fever which he had suffered during the night, he 
 rejoiced at his apparent good health. 
 
 Both arose and went out of the tent, with the firm hope of finding 
 Donatus near the fire; but the fire was out, and though they looked 
 in all directions they could see nothing of their companion. They 
 grew very anxious. What could have happened to him? Had he 
 gone out in the night to fetch water and been devoured by a wild 
 beast? Now they felt how great was the worth of the simple peasant, 
 who, with the appearance of ignorance and indecision, bore in his 
 heart a treasure of strength and courage. What was to become of 
 them without his help? 
 
 For a few moments they remained crushed beneath the terror with 
 which such a loss inspired them. Creps fired his revolver in the air 
 as a sign to Kwik if he were within hearing. 
 
 Sounds in the distance, which they thought they recognized as 
 Kwik's voice, answered to the shot. They looked round them; but 
 though they heard the voice again several times they could not dis- 
 cover whence it came. 
 
 They walked towards some lofty pines and cypresses on the moun- 
 tain side; another cry made them look up, and they now saw their 
 friend in the top of one of the highest pines. At first they scarcely 
 recognized him, for at three hundred feet above the valley he did not 
 look bigger than a rabbit, but he waved his hat to them. 
 
 210 
 
DESPAIR. 2II 
 
 Before they reached the foot of the tree he came running to meet 
 them; laughing, jumping, capering, and holding something in his 
 hands whose possession seemed to fill him with the wildest joy. 
 
 "Oh! a breakfast! a nourishing breakfast! " he cried. "We shall 
 have quite a feast." 
 
 And he displayed to them a bird's nest, in which were six eggs a 
 little larger than pigeons' eggs. 
 
 " Come," said he, " come to the fire. This will do us good and 
 refresh us. I have just climbed such a high tree that I daren't look 
 down from it. The earth turned and danced round me. If I hadn't 
 shut my eyes I shouldn't have been hungry any more, I assure you." 
 
 They told him how his absence had alarmed them. 
 
 "Ah! I never thought of that," he said; "but I thank you for your 
 good friendship. The mustard plants didn't agree with me, and I 
 couldn't sleep. I was up before daylight, and in hopes of getting 
 some game I went into the wood. I saw nothing but two large birds 
 flying round and round the top of a tree. By their cries I knew their 
 nest was there; so up I climbed, and stayed there a long time, hoping 
 to catch the father and mother, or both; but I did not see them 
 
 ag-ain." 
 
 The eggs were soon boiled in the saucepan. Kwik said the eggs 
 belonged to him, and he would divide them as he liked; he insisted 
 on Victor taking three, and Creps two, while he kept one for himself. 
 
 His friends would not accept this sacrifice; but he was firm. 
 
 " Come, come," he said, " don't let us lose any more time. You 
 can't eat green meat as I can. The mustard plants are not nice; still 
 they are satisfying; so if I were now to eat as many eggs as you I 
 should be doubly nourished, which would not be fair." 
 
 His comrades at last consented to accept the eggs. 
 
 Donatus looked anxiously at Victor's face, in which the fever had 
 left ill-omened traces. In one night the poor young man seemed to 
 have got thinner, and his cheeks hollow and yellow, and his eyes 
 bloodshot. 
 
212 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 Though inclined to be silent, Victor answered his friends' ques- 
 tions as cheerfully as he could, assuring them that he was able to 
 continue the journey. 
 
 They had walked about an hour across mountains and valleys 
 when they reached a wide vale covered with clumps of trees, 
 small thickets, and high grass. The aspect of the vegetation here 
 resembled what the gold-seekers had seen in the Sacramento valley. 
 They were cheered by their hoping that they had taken the right 
 direction, and had descended the Sierra Nevada, on the side of the 
 sea-shore. 
 
 Victor did not say a word; he was extremely tired, and accepted 
 Donatus' help without resistance, who held him with so much 
 strength that he sometimes quite lifted him from the ground. Jan 
 remarked how terribly weak his unfortunate companion had become; 
 but convinced that their only hope of safety depended on the rapidity 
 of their march, he concealed his pity and anxiety and tried to inspire 
 him with courage. 
 
 Their joy was greater when they discovered traces of human foot- 
 steps on the grass. It was plain that quite a troop of travellers had 
 passed along there but shortly before. 
 
 They implored Victor now to summon up all his strength. They 
 would follow these footsteps as quickly as possible, and perhaps 
 before night overtake the travellers ahead of them. They walked on 
 for a couple of hours more. 
 
 As they were turning into a little wooded valley, Donatus, 
 who walked first, started back with a cry of terror, and stuttered 
 out: 
 
 "A man! I have seen a man! He is there against a tree, straight 
 before us! He is half naked! I believe it is a savage! What shall 
 we do?" 
 
 " Stay here behind the shrubs and hide yourselves," said Creps ; 
 " I'll go and see what it is! " 
 
DESPAIR. 
 
 Cautiously Creps moved along the ground up to the edge of the 
 wood. After a few minutes he returned to his companions, and 
 said, 
 
 "It's horrible! The man you saw is dead; he seems bound to 
 the tree. Come, let us go nearer! " 
 
 Kwik was in no great hurry. He followed slowly. 
 
 Silent and trembling, they gazed on the corpse, which the numer- 
 ous wounds with which it was covered made it impossible to recog- 
 nize. 
 
 "How that poor man must have suffered! " said Creps. 
 
 "Shall we dig a grave for the unhappy man?" asked Victor. 
 
 " Dare I believe my eyes ? " cried Creps. " What we see here is 
 the justice of God! This corpse is the sailor! " 
 
 "Impossible! You make a mistake! " stuttered Kwik. 
 
 "No! look! the little finger is wanting on the left hand!" 
 
 "Who has done it? " cried Donatus. 
 
 * Who ? the Californian savages, of course ! God has chosen thus 
 - to avenge Pardoes' murder! " 
 
 Donatus could not listen to another word. He seized Creps by the 
 arm, and murmured, "I have had enough of this terrible spectacle! 
 Come away! We are in a den of savages. Come, or I shall run 
 away alone as fast as my legs can carry me." 
 
 The others were obliged to follow him. After walking on for 
 some time, Victor implored for a rest. 
 
 * What a terrible punishment! What a horrible death!" sighed 
 Creps. 
 
 "He was a cowardly vagabond," said Kwik; "but such a fate 
 seems hard even for him. Do these savages treat people thus for 
 their pleasure? " 
 
 " It's their custom, as we've been told, to bind their prisoners to a 
 tree, and make them the mark at which they shoot their arrows. God 
 knows how many hours this sailor heard these arrows whistling about 
 his ears before he died! What a horrible end! " 
 
214 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " And what can have become of our gold ? " said Donatus. 
 
 "The Californian savages know the value of gold. You see they 
 have taken everything from their victim, even his clothes." 
 
 "Pleasant, indeed!" growled Kwik. ''We have dived into an 
 icy pool which a white bear might have been afraid off; we have 
 risked our lives for a little gold; and why? To enrich these savage 
 monsters! " 
 
 Creps took up his knapsack again. Donatus followed his example, 
 offering his arm as before to Victor. 
 
 On leaving the forest they saw before them an extensive plain, 
 with a few patches of green on its rocky soil, but no trace of a tree. 
 Kwik, still fearing the savages, hesitated to risk himself in the open 
 space, where they could be seen afar off and from all sides; but 
 Creps would not diverge from the direction he had decided to take, 
 so they continued their march. 
 
 The sun was scorching, and the air stifling. Every quarter of an 
 hour they had to stop to let Victor rest they perceived how ex- 
 hausted he was, and that his legs had scarcely strength to carry him. 
 They could not remain where they now were, for there was neither 
 wood nor water, and so no hope of finding anything to eat. About 
 half a league before them they saw a thick wood. If they could 
 reach it they would pitch their tent there and rest till the morrow. 
 They encouraged their poor friend, supporting him on both sides, 
 thus dragging him slowly along, weak and worn out as they were 
 themselves. 
 
 Suddenly they felt how heavily Victor weighed upon their arms; 
 they stopped and asked him if he felt ill. He had not strength to 
 reply. His head fell on his breast, his arms hung motionless at 
 his side. 
 
 His companions laid him on the ground, and with his head in their 
 arms, they moistened his forehead and lips with water. 
 
 Victor lay before them in a faint, pale as a corpse. Notwith- 
 
CREPS CREEPING ALONG THE GROUND. 
 
DESPAIR. 217 
 
 standing all their efforts to revive him he remained motionless, as if 
 he could never awake from this deathlike slumber. 
 
 Donatus threw himself on his friend, and appeared so distracted 
 that Creps did not feel less pity for him than for Victor. 
 
 A cry of joy arose from the poor fellow's heart when at last he 
 saw Roozeman open his eyes; he lifted up his hands, and ex- 
 claimed, 
 
 "Oh, thanks! thanks, most merciful God! Do unto me as thou 
 wilt; heap any sufferings upon me; but he has a mother! Oh, let 
 him live!" 
 
 After gazing at his companions for a few moments, like a man 
 awaking from a deep sleep, Victor tried to calm them. He said he 
 had had an ordinary fainting fit. He was extremely tired and ex- 
 hausted, but there was nothing else the matter with him. Creps and 
 Kwik did not believe him at first, but when they saw him smile their 
 fear decreased. 
 
 They were very near the wood; so their tent was soon pitched, 
 and Kwik announced that he meant to spend the rest of the day look- 
 ing for food. Commending Victor to Creps' care, he disappeared 
 among the trees. 
 
 In less than a quarter of an hour after Roozeman showed a strong 
 desire to sleep. Creps threw his own blanket on the ground, and ar- 
 ranged a sort of bed for him as well as he could. In a few minutes 
 Victor was in a deep slumber. 
 
 Creps sat near the fire, his head on his hands, weighed down by 
 the saddest thoughts. It was nearly dark when Kwik returned with 
 an armful of mustard plants. He had been only able to shoot two 
 little birds; but this small success pleased him, for it would serve at 
 least as a meal for poor Victor. 
 
 The birds were roasted at once, and they awoke Roozeman to offer 
 him the inviting food. He replied in a very weak voice that he was 
 not hungry that all he wanted was to sleep quietly. They must 
 keep the birds for to-morrow's breakfast. 
 
2l8 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 They returned to the fire. Creps did not seem to hear what Dona- 
 tus said to him as he boiled the mustard plants in the saucepan. 
 
 However, he partook of some of the food; but they were both 
 soon disgusted w 7 ith it. Even Donatus could not digest it. 
 
 After a long silence, Kwik asked his gloomy companion anx- 
 iously, 
 
 " Mr. Jan, you are quite different from usual. Are you really 
 afraid that our poor friend will die in this wilderness?" 
 
 "What assurance have we that any of us will leave it alive?" he 
 replied sadly. " Our fate is terrible, but we have deserved it. It is a 
 punishment for our folly and ingratitude to God. We lived in a free 
 and happy land. We had parents, friends; we were not even poor. 
 Yet we despised all these bounties of Providence insane as we were, 
 renounced them all you for gold, I for independence! You have 
 gold now; can it restore strength to our poor friend? Can it prevent 
 us from dying of hunger? I am free and independent yes, like a 
 wild beast who has all nature for his enemy, who feeds on plants, and 
 is devoured by animals of his own species. Our folly has led us into 
 this misery and ingratitude to God." 
 
 Donatus took Creps by the hand, and said calmly, 
 
 " Come, come, Mr. Jan, don't lose courage. Very likely our ter- 
 rible fate is a just punishment from heaven. But look, our friend is 
 sleeping quietly now; perhaps he will be better to-morrow. With 
 the exception of his illness I don't think we have so much to complain 
 of. We haven't yet met with any wild beasts, bushrangers, or sav- 
 ages. For this I think we ought to thank God. Come, Mr. Jan, I 
 know it is only Victor's sickness which makes you so sad; but take 
 courage, he will get well, I tell you. As long as there's life there's 
 hope; but we must bear our lot to the end." 
 
 Jan remained silent for a few moments; then he got up, and 
 said, 
 
 " Go and lie down, Donatus; I will watch and attend to our friend 
 
DESPAIR. 
 
 2I 9 
 
 if he requires anything. In a couple of hours I will wake you, and 
 you shall take your turn." 
 
 :c You alarm me," cried Kwik; " do you think then that Mr. Victor 
 is dangerously ill." 
 
 rf No, but he must not be left without being watched. Go to rest, 
 I pray you." 
 
 Victor had only slept a couple of hours; then a burning fever 
 had shown itself, which seemed as if it would consume the poor 
 young man. His head was burning, his breath weak he was 
 quite unconscious. The only word he could articulate was, "Drink! 
 drink!" 
 
 Creps and Donatus sat beside him in the tent, a bottle in their 
 hands. Towards midnight the fever seemed to decrease a little, and 
 their hopes revived; but it was not for long; the fever soon returned 
 with redoubled violence. By-and-by he began to talk wildly about 
 Belgium, his beloved mother, and Lucia. He thanked God for bring- 
 ing him back a happy millionaire to his native land. 
 
 Each of these words cut his friends to the heart. 
 
 For a long time he continued thus talking, till his voice grew 
 weaker and weaker, and he sank at last into a peaceful sleep. 
 
 "Ah! the terrible fever has ceased, ' exclaimed Donatus; "there 
 is some hope, Mr. Jan, some hope! " 
 
 " Hope! " murmured Creps. "And if he did recover it would be 
 of no use! Oh, what will become of us? I am tormented with 
 hunger." 
 
 Donatus took up something in the darkness, and said, "Come! 
 come! eat this! " 
 
 "What, the birds? his food? " cried Jan. " I would rather die." 
 
 "Eat, I tell you; I will go into the wood; yes, I will find some- 
 thing else, even if I have to burrow into the ground. It isn't quite 
 
220 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 dark outside. Come, take the birds or I will run away, and you 
 never will see me again." 
 
 " Hunger is a cruel tyrant! " groaned Creps,. "But you must eat 
 one of the birds, too." 
 
 w I ? " cried Donatus. w I didn't pretend I'm not hungry, but I can 
 wait some hours longer. Watch beside Victor. Possibly I shan't be 
 back till dawn. This time I won't stop my hunt till I have game 
 enough to provide us with a plentiful dinner. Farewell ! " 
 
 With these words he disappeared. 
 
 Victor appeared asleep and did not move. Creps sat beside him 
 till daylight entered the tent. He had eaten one of the birds, and put 
 the other aside in his knapsack. He looked at it often with eager 
 eyes, scarcely being able to resist the temptation of taking that, too; 
 but the idea that Donatus might return with empty hands, and that 
 Victor on awaking might ask for a mouthful of food, prevented his 
 touching it. 
 
 The sun had risen when Kwik appeared and asked anxiously how 
 Victor was. He had been disappointed in his hope of game, but he 
 brought back enough to keep them from starvation for half a day. In 
 one hand he held an animal like a rat, in the other a bird like a crow. 
 
 No sooner were these animals cooked than they were devoured 
 with a ferocious appetite. They kept, however, the best and tenderest 
 parts for Victor. 
 
 rr This meal has restored me my reason and courage," said Creps. 
 Yes, there is still some hope of deliverance. We must start, and 
 walk on till we get out of the desert. We must carry Victor and rest 
 very often." 
 
 Just then they saw Victor standing up in the tent resting on the 
 pole which supported it, and looking at them with a quiet smile. 
 
 Their pleasure was of short duration. When poor Roozeman 
 wished to take a step forward his legs gave way beneath him, and he 
 fell back heavily on the ground. The others ran to him, took him in 
 
)ONATUS KWIK WITH ALL THE GAME HE COULD PROCURE. 
 
DELIVERANCE. 
 
 22 3 
 
 their arms, addressing him in kind words of encouragement and com- 
 fort. They trembled with alarm; Victor's face was pale as death. 
 He took his companions' hands, and said, in a weak but clear voice, 
 " My good friends, listen to me, I have one prayer to make to you, 
 a last kind act to implore of your friendship. Promise me you will 
 
 consent." 
 
 "Everything, even to our lives," they both replied. 
 
 "Look at me, my life is near its end. Nature within me may 
 struggle for hours, perhaps for another day, against death; but I shall 
 never see the Sacramento valley again." 
 
 Donatus wished to close his mouth, the tears poured down Creps' 
 face. 
 
 " No, listen. I can scarcely speak," he went on. :f You are wrong, 
 friends, your love can help me but little. I am only a hinderance to 
 you. In wishing to save me you sacrifice yourselves. Oh! I implore 
 you, don't leave me to die with the terrible conviction that I am the 
 cause of your deaths. Leave me to my fate ; fly from this wilderness, 
 and save your precious lives." 
 
 His friends declared that they would perish together or escape 
 with him from the terrible fate which threatened them, but he con- 
 tinued as if he had not understood them, 
 
 * You love me, I know; but do you doubt of my love for you? 
 Why should there be three victims when fate only asks for one ? Be 
 reasonable. Return to your fatherland; take to my mother my last 
 farewell; tell her tell Lucia that I died with their beloved names 
 on my lips, that my last sigh was a prayer for their welfare." 
 
 Creps and Kwik, in their despair, knelt in silence beside their sick 
 friend. 
 
 Suddenly Donatus arose, seized the lasso and the axe, and said to 
 Creps, 
 
 "Ah! it isn't with tears that we conquer misfortune; remain with 
 Victor, try and comfort him; I will seek a way of saving him." 
 
224 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 Half an hour after he returned with something which resembled a 
 ladder on his back. It consisted of two long, straight branches of a 
 tree, connected together by several cords of the lasso, over which 
 smaller and more flexible branches were placed. Taking it from his 
 shoulder, he said, 
 
 " Here is the way. This is a litter. Over it we will stretch the 
 sail of our tent, and make a pillow of our blankets. Yes, Mr. Victor, 
 you can't refuse, you are not the master. We will try and carry you 
 out of this desert, and you shall be with us so long as your heart 
 continues to beat. Come, Jan, every minute is precious to us. 
 Forwards ! forwards ! " 
 
 Notwithstanding his protestations Victor was placed on the litter. 
 The least shake seemed to cause him pain, but his friends were not 
 kept back by this, and they crossed the forest as if they were being 
 pursued by slave-drivers. 
 
 Every time that his friends stopped to rest did Victor implore 
 them, with clasped hands, to save themselves and abandon him. He 
 said that the litter caused him unbearable pain. After they had 
 advanced some two leagues, and with much difficulty had reached a 
 wide plain, the poor fellow groaned. 
 
 w Ah! you torture me pitilessly. Stop, stop, or I shall die!" 
 
 They put down the litter. Victor continued, 
 
 * Take me off it! I can go no further! Oh, friends, don't be so 
 cruel, let me die in peace." 
 
 Creps uttered a cry of despair, and said, 
 
 * We are powerless! God wills it, this desert must be our grave! 
 Well, let us die together here." 
 
 Suddenly Donatus sprang up. 
 
 "What is it? What do you hear?" asked Creps. 
 "Silence, silence, all! I am not wrong; listen down there a long 
 way off yes, mules' bells! Oh, God be praised! deliverance! " 
 And quick as an arrow Donatus disappeared from his friends' sight. 
 
DELIVERANCE. 
 
 225 
 
 Turning his steps in the direction of the bells, he saw in about a 
 quarter of an hour a troop of at least fifty mules, forming with their 
 muleteers a long chain. When he reached the head of the troop he 
 fell down on his knees with uplifted arms, and in a supplicating voice 
 invoked the aid of the amazed muleteers. Though he tried to explain 
 his distress in four or five languages no one understood a word. 
 They took him for a madman. Some pitied, others laughed at him. 
 
 They formed a circle round him. With all sorts of gestures the 
 poor fellow tried to make them understand his meaning. 
 
 Suddenly a young man, who walked lame, came towards him, 
 looked at him for a few minutes, and then pressed him in his arms. 
 
 Oh, what happiness!" cried Donatus. "John Miller, the English- 
 man! God himself has sent you. He who once saved your life, 
 Victor Roozeman, is at the point of death, beyond yonder hillock. 
 Come, come! return his good deed. Perhaps you will yet be able to 
 save him." 
 
 John Miller called an old muleteer, exchanged a few words with 
 him, gave some orders to those around him, and then hurried across 
 the plain with Kwik. All the mules followed. 
 
 When they arrived at the foot of the hillock Kwik shouted out 
 with all his might, 
 
 "Hurrah! hurrah! God is almighty! Here is help! here is 
 deliverance! Our friend, John Miller!" 
 
 After shaking Creps warmly by the hand, the Englishman bent 
 over the poor sick man, trying to rouse in his heart the hope of re- 
 covery. In their party was an old Mexican, who knew well all the 
 sicknesses of California, and the remedies used to cure them. 
 
 This Mexican already stood beside them, with some ten others, 
 and three or four mules. 
 
 "Well, Pablo," said John Miller, "examine this young man. If 
 you succeed in saving him I will give you a hundred piastres." 
 
 Pablo for some minutes kept his eyes fixed on the invalid. 
 
226 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 "Strange!" he muttered, shaking his head. "I don't understand 
 it. Perhaps that gentleman who speaks English will tell me how his 
 companion fell ill, and how long he has been in that state? " 
 
 Creps told him of all their misery, of their hard labor, and their 
 dives into the icy pool. 
 
 At hearing this the Mexican exclaimed, 
 
 " I have it! I will cure him! " 
 
 The Mexican began by spreading on the ground near Victor four 
 or five blankets, one above the other, so as to keep out the cold of the 
 ground. On this they placed him, covering him with so many others 
 that they threatened to stifle him. Then they brought hot wine in a 
 tin bowl. Old Pablo poured into it a powder which he called Ex- 
 tracto de la quina, and put a spoonful of the hot liquid to Victor's 
 lips, whom he forced to take a great quantity of it. Creps and 
 Donatus joined their prayers to his efforts; at last the Mexican ex- 
 claimed with joy, 
 
 :t Very good! all right! leave me alone with him now. Go away 
 a little; I shall win my money; he will recover." 
 
 Meanwhile the muleteers had unloaded their beasts. Some were 
 putting up the tents, others were making a large fire and preparing 
 the dinner. They had heard of the starving condition of the poor 
 Flemings, and they now invited them to have a good meal. 
 
 All Kwik's gay ety had now returned; he ate so fast and plentifully, 
 making such curious gestures all the time, that the muleteers could 
 not help laughing at him. There seemed to be no end to his 
 appetite. 
 
 While the party were watching him in amazement, he suddenly 
 jumped up and began to cut a number of merry capers, saying, 
 
 w It's worth being well-nigh starved to be able afterwards to enjoy 
 such a meal as that. I feel after this that I could carry a mule on my 
 back. But I must go and see if our invalid is not better." 
 
 Victor seemed to sleep; his face was red, the perspiration streamed 
 
THE MEXICAN PREPARING A DRAUGHT -OR VICTOR. 
 
DELIVERANCE. 
 
 22 9 
 
 down his forehead, his bed steamed as if he were placed over a vapor- 
 bath. The Mexican was seated by his side between Creps and 
 Miller. 
 
 Victor remained for nearly three hours in the same state. After 
 placing his hand on his heart, the Mexican got up and said, 
 
 "He is saved! I have won my hundred piastres! He will re- 
 cover. He will be very weak for some time. In about a quarter of 
 an hour he will be cooler; he will awaken; then bring him a little 
 flour boiled in water! " 
 
 By-and-by the invalid opened his eyes and gazed around him with 
 wonder, and muttered, 
 
 " Give me something to eat. Oh! I am fainting with hunger." 
 
 Creps thanked God in a loud voice. Donatus cried, 
 
 "Hold me! bind me! I am half mad! Oh! dear old Mexican, 
 let me embrace you! " 
 
 They now brought the plate with the boiled flour for the invalid. 
 Though he begged for more, the Mexican would only allow him a few 
 spoonfuls, promising him that in an hour he should have some more, 
 and a little piece of meat. 
 
 Victor informed his friends with joy that he only suffered now from 
 fatigue; he felt neither pain nor sickness. Meanwhile, some men of 
 the party were arranging a sort of easy seat on a mule's back. The 
 invalid was now taken up, wrapped up in the warmest clothes, and 
 put on the mule. 
 
 Creps and Kwik walked on each side of Victor, encouraging him 
 5 as they talked to him of their beloved country. 
 
 Before nightfall Victor had eaten twice. He was no longer ill, 
 and enjoyed that night a refreshing slumber. Some days later they 
 reached the little town of Sacramento. John Miller lodged his friends 
 in the best hotel, and did not let them spend a single dollar. He 
 charged the muleteers, who were to return to the diggings on the 
 Pen river, with a letter for his father, in which he told him how he 
 
230 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 had found the Flemish gold-seekers, his preservers, and that he 
 would remain for some days at Sacramento to watch over them. 
 
 As soon as Victor felt himself strong enough to undertake a fresh 
 journey, he urged their departure for San Francisco. Creps and 
 Donatus were not less eager for the moment when they should be 
 able to bid farewell to the shores of California, and set sail for their 
 native country. John Miller conducted them to the steamboat, 
 which twice a-week made the voyage between the two capitals of 
 Northern California. 
 
 When they arrived at San Francisco they went directly to the 
 harbor, and inquired if there was any ship about to sail for Europe. 
 They met an English captain who was going to start in a week for 
 London, and who consented to take them at a reasonable price. 
 
 John Miller wished to pay their fare, and assured them that his 
 father would be very much annoyed if he did not give this slight 
 proof of gratitude to those who had preserved his only son's life. 
 
 Creps and Roozeman refused this last kindness, because the three 
 pounds of gold which Kwik carried in his breast would be more than 
 enough. Upon the earnest entreaties of their generous protector they 
 at last consented, on the condition that Kwik kept the gold he had as 
 his own personal property. What they might spend in London to 
 dress themselves suitably should be only a loan, and they would re- 
 turn it to their comrade after their arrival in Belgium. 
 
 When this was settled Kwik secretly rejoiced at an arrangement 
 which put him in possession of more than three thousand francs, 
 without his friends having lost anything thereby. At the sight of 
 such a sum the police-officer might perhaps grant him the hand of 
 his Anneken. 
 
 Victor employed the week which they spent at San Francisco in 
 writing a short and faithful account of their adventures in California. 
 He added a letter to his mother, in which he told her that he and his 
 friends would stop two or three days in London to provide themselves 
 
DELIVERANCE. 
 
 231 
 
 with fresh linen and clothes, and from thence he would inform her of 
 the exact hour of their arrival in their native city. Creps wrote a 
 
 letter to his father, and Donatus scribbled a few lines to Anneken and 
 to her father. 
 
 On the appointed day, when the ship weighed anchor and the sails 
 swelled with a fair wind, they took an affectionate farewell of their 
 generous friend, John Miller. Favored by wind and tide, the vessel 
 rapidly passed through the Golden Gate, and the Flemish friends 
 raised their loud hurrahs over the ocean, whose waters also bathed 
 the shores of their beloved Belgium. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE RETURN. 
 
 THE steamboat, the Soho, performing the service between Lon- 
 don and Antwerp, was going up the Scheldt as usual. Pas- 
 sengers stood on the deck eagerly gazing towards the city. 
 Their attention was more than once diverted by the extraordinary 
 delight of three young men, with faces bronzed by the sun, who stood 
 near the bows. 
 
 It is needless to say that they were our old friends, Donatus Kwik, 
 Jan Creps, and Victor Roozeman. 
 
 The steamer had approached the city, and Donatus' noisy joking 
 was interrupted by a cry of joy from Victor, who exclaimed, quite 
 beside himself, 
 
 "There! there! my mother, Lucia, and her uncle! " 
 
 "And my old father!" cried Creps. :f They see us; they are 
 making signs to us; they are waving their handkerchiefs; the Captain 
 is calling out his welcome to us, making a speaking-trumpet of his 
 hands." 
 
 The young men waved their hats, sending back a loud hurrah to 
 the quay. They were wild with joy. 
 
 Amid these gestures of delight the steamer touched the quay. As 
 soon as it was possible to land, Mrs. Roozeman was in the arms of 
 her beloved son, who pressed her to his heart. With equal affection 
 Creps embraced his old father. Kwik said nothing, but he sympa- 
 thized in his friends' happiness. 
 
 Lucia stood trembling as she waited for Victor's greeting. The 
 232 
 
THE RETURN. 
 
 233 
 
 young man stammered an excuse in his mother's ear, and hastened 
 towards her. 
 
 "Lucia! my good Lucia! " cried Victor. "Thanks! thanks! you 
 have not forgotten me. I have suffered so much; death has stared 
 me in the face; but what are all these pangs and sorrows now that I 
 have the happiness of seeing you again?" 
 
 The girl spoke some hardly intelligible words of joy; then, as if 
 glad to find a pretext to change the subject, she exclaimed, 
 
 :r Victor, where is the good Donatus? Next to God it is to him 
 that we owe your preservation." 
 
 " Here is my deliverer! " replied Victor. 
 
 Lucia grasped the honest fellow's hand with the warmest gratitude. 
 Victor's mother, the Captain, and Crep's father, also heartily shook 
 him by the hand. The young man was quite overcome, but he 
 managed to say that he did not deserve these marks of kindness; that 
 indeed Mr. Victor had really helped and protected him during the 
 journey. 
 
 The happy party left the steamer to go to their own home. 
 
 When Kwik saw his friends turn down a side-street, he pressed 
 Victor's hand, and said, 
 
 "Now, Mr. Victor, good-by; yonder is my road." 
 
 "What do you mean, Donatus? Where are you going?" 
 
 " Can you ask? To Natten-Haesdonck." 
 
 " No, good Donatus, come with us," said Roozeman's mother. 
 "We have prepared a good dinner to celebrate Jan and Victor's 
 return. You, their best friend, must not be absent from the feast. 
 Stay and sleep at our house; to-morrow morning you can start 
 early." 
 
 "Impossible, ma'am!" said Kwik sadly. "I shan't have a mo- 
 ment's rest till I know at least whether she is still alive she for 
 whose sake I went to that horrible country California." 
 
 " Anneken of Natten-Haesdonck ? She lives ! " 
 
234 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 " Ah ! you know her, ma'am ? " 
 
 " Certainly. Since I received Victor's first letter I have been four 
 times to her father's house." 
 
 " Is she married, ma'am ? " 
 
 "No, not yet." 
 
 "God be praised!" cried Kwik; "what a weight is taken off my 
 heart!" 
 
 "She has been ill, the good girl," said Lucia; "but now she is 
 well again." 
 
 "Ill, miss? dangerously ill?" 
 
 " Rather so, Mr. Donatus. She is always thinking of you, and is 
 very sad. Her father wishes to marry her to the blacksmith's eldest 
 
 son." 
 
 "And she has refused out of love for her poor Donatus!" cried 
 Kwik. "Thanks! ihanks to the brave girl! " 
 
 Victor's mother sighed, 
 
 "What do you mean by that sad sigh?" cried Donatus. 
 
 "Nothing, good friend; only this policeman is a very obstinate 
 man, and it is by no means certain that he will give you a friendly 
 welcome at first; but don't lose courage." 
 
 Kwik looked thoughtful. He muttered, 
 
 "Ah, indeed! the blacksmith's son! He is a famous fellow; his 
 father has money. Alas! alas! " 
 
 Lucia took him by the arm, and tried to restore his hope and con- 
 fidence. They had reached Mrs. Roozeman's dwelling; they passed 
 through the shop into a large room, where quite a feast was pre- 
 pared. 
 
 Mrs. Roozeman sat between her son and Donatus, the Captain and 
 his niece opposite, Creps and his father on either side. All did full 
 justice to the repast. A hundred questions were put to the travellers 
 about their adventures. 
 
 Victor, as he gazed on Lucia, was now and then troubled by an 
 
THE RETURN. 
 
 235 
 
 anxious thought. He had come back without a fortune, without gold. 
 The Captain would without doubt hold to his first conditions, so that 
 Victor would have to begin his long probation again, and the dearest 
 wish of his heart could not be realized until he was independent. 
 However, he tried to drive away those gloomy thoughts, and give 
 himself up to the joy which filled all around him. 
 
 Jan Creps replied seriously to a remark of his father: 
 
 w Listen, good father. I have returned poorer than when I started. 
 This voyage, however, has taught me that one ought not to run after 
 fortune in foreign lands, and that our own dear country offers enough 
 happiness to him who tries to obtain it by work and industry. The 
 folly of youth has now passed away. I shall look out for a fresh post 
 in an office. The desk shall no longer weary me. Be certain of this, 
 you will have no fault to find with me." 
 
 His father did not seem to think much of these fine promises, and 
 replied with a smile, that they would settle that business later. 
 
 At dessert Captain Moreels said that he wished to propose a toast; 
 and he spoke as follows, 
 
 w My young friend Roozeman, I was the cause of your departure 
 to California. I have attained my object; you have seen the world, 
 and become a man of experience, with a strength of mind and with a 
 beard on your chin. But as I was at the same time the cause of all 
 the dangers and suffering you endured, it is but just that I should do 
 something to discharge my debt towards you. Come, friends, drink 
 to the health of Victor Roozeman and his betrothed, Lucia Moreels. 
 In six weeks the wedding shall take place! To my arms! to my 
 arms ! " cried the Captain. 
 
 Scarcely were the words out of his lips when Victor and Lucia 
 were clasped to his breast, while they blessed and embraced him. 
 Freeing himself from them he said, laughing, 
 
 "Come, come, that will do! You need not choke me. I know 
 very well that you love me sincerely, and that you will be happy." 
 
- 
 
 236 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 Creps' father now got up, as he too wished to make a speech. 
 Turning to his son, he said, 
 
 "Jan, you promised me just now that you would work zealously to 
 win an independent position in the country. This has pleased me, 
 for it doubles the value of the good news which I have to tell you. 
 My trade has been very flourishing during your absence, and I can 
 now make some sacrifice to insure my son's happiness. I have 
 agreed with Captain Moreels; we shall unite between us the neces- 
 sary capital to establish a house of colonial produce. We place this 
 capital in the hands of those dear children whom God, after so many 
 pains and trials, has brought back in safety to our arms. Well, friends, 
 I wish the prosperity of the new house of business about to be founded 
 under the firm of Jan Creps, Victor Roozeman, and Co." 
 
 Loud applause followed these words; and Creps was especially 
 delighted that this arrangement would link his fortune with that of 
 Victor Roozeman. 
 
 But now Donatus hung his head over the table to hide his tears. 
 All did their best to console him. 
 
 It was some time before Kwik could master his feeling and raise 
 his head. Then he said, 
 
 "Well, I was thinking of my poor Anneken, but I must not be un- 
 happy; the joy of my dear companions should console me. God is 
 good, but the lot of all cannot be equally prosperous." 
 
 * We are forgetting the good Donatus," said the Captain. " A 
 happy thought strikes me! At Aertselaer, not far from Natten-Haes- 
 donck, I have a small farm, which might be increased in time. It is 
 good, fertile land. The farmer is dead, and his widow leaves the 
 farm next month. Would our friend Donatus like to rent this farm 
 of me? If so, he shall have it on reasonable terms. I will help him 
 by every means in my power. In the hope that he will accept, I wish 
 all success to Master Donatus, farmer of the Blue Farm." 
 
 Every one applauded, and congratulated Kwik. When silence 
 was restored, he said, 
 
THE BETROTHAL OF VICTOR AND LUCIA. 
 
THE RETURN. 
 
 2 39 
 
 "I don't know how to thank you! You are too kind, my good 
 friends. But without Anneken I can do nothing; without Anneken 
 I won't stay in this country; but I shall go to Holland and enlist as a 
 soldier for Batavia." 
 
 The servant came in and said to Victor's mother, " There is a man 
 in the shop, ma'am, who insists on speaking to you. He is dressed 
 like a police-officer." 
 
 " If it were only Anneken's father how I should dance with joy! " 
 cried Donatus: " Oh, how I wish it might be! " 
 
 Madame Roozeman left the room. Donatus was pale with 
 anxiety. 
 
 The door opened, and he exclaimed, "Anneken! dear Anneken!" 
 
 "Donatus! Donatus! " was the reply. 
 
 And Kwik jumped up from the table, throwing two plates and 
 three glasses to the ground, and ran to press Anneken in his arms. 
 
 But the police-officer stood between them, and pushed Donatus 
 back, saying indignantly, "What boorish manners these are! Do 
 you know where you are? Behave properly! " 
 
 His severe look made poor Donatus turn pale, as if he foresaw his 
 sad fate. Holding out his trembling hands, he stuttered, " Dear sir, 
 have pity on me and on your good Anneken! " 
 
 " Everything must take its course regularly and properly," said the 
 police-officer. " I wish to say something to you, Donatus, which will 
 give you pleasure; but I shall first, as it is proper to do, ask per- 
 mission of these ladies and gentlemen." 
 
 ? Yes, yes! make him happy, the good Donatus! We shall all be 
 grateful to you! " exclaimed everybody. 
 
 "Donatus Kwik, said the police-officer, "you have brought three 
 thousand francs in gold back from California; have you not? No, 
 no, leave it; I believe what you say. You will be brave, honest, 
 industrious? Well, then, make my Anneken happy; I accept you 
 for my son-in-law. 
 
240 THE BOYS OF THE SIERRAS. 
 
 Kwik threw himself into the arms which were opened to him, and 
 embraced his future father-in-law. 
 
 He ran to Anneken, and pressed her also to his heart; but the 
 police-officer separated them, blaming him for his rude manners. 
 
 " Pardon me," he cried, " I can't help it; I am mad. Am I awake 
 or in a dream? No, no, it's all true! Anneken, the good Anneken, 
 is to be my wife! I am to be the husband of Anneken! Ah, Mr. 
 Victor, who could have hoped for this day when we dived into that 
 abominable pool of icy water?" 
 
 Then he added, " My friends, I pray for the health and long life 
 of my Anneken, the farmer's wife of the Blue Farm at Aertselaer! I 
 bless God, who has brought us safely back from all the dangers into 
 which our wicked thirst for gold led us, and who makes us now so 
 happy with the prospect of honest work in our own dear fatherland." 
 
 Here we leave our heroes, whose fortunes we have followed 
 through many terrible scenes, into which their Mammon-worship had 
 led them. These scenes, repulsive and savage as many of them have 
 been, are not overdrawn pictures of the reckless wickedness into 
 which the maddening thirst for gold leads its victims, and the purpose 
 of the story is to encourage lads to be content to do their duty in such 
 commonplace work as falls to their lot, and not to be too eager for 
 money; remembering the proverb in the Divine Word, "They that 
 make haste to be rich shall not be innocent." 
 
 Boston Stereotype Foundry, 4 Pearl Street 
 
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
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