Volcano weekly ledger., 1855-12-22

Tlne' Ills only SIN was love of whisky,
and liquor he would drink, if he could get it.
" never speak anything but the truth"
replied Counter, scrapng his saucepan to see
If he couldn't find another bean to fill his ra-
venous nav.
What did you say that you'd finished
your supper for, some half hour since ?" ask
ed Smith.
Because had"
But you are still eating'
" Do you suppose that what little slowed
away at supper was to last forever 2"
Smith made no reply. He knocked the
ashes from his pipe, silently reloaded it, light
ed it, took two or three whifls and then said
" | think myself, that better diggings can
be found higher up the river, but you must
recollect that we are not acquainted with that
part of the country, and think that the foot
of white man never touched the soil beyond
these mountains"
The more reason why we should explore
in that direction" replied Counter
True" answered the old man.
Who knows but we may find gold mine
few miles further up the river, where we can
pick the stuff up, without the trouble Of
breaking our backs by lifting huge rocks and
shoyeling dirt ?' said Counter.
But we may meet with something more
disagreeable than yellow metal"
"What?'
A grizzly bear" replied the Oregonian.
Counter removed his pipe and laughed loud
and scornfully "A man like you afraid of
bear !" said jim Shoot them, if they
cross your path"
" 1t is no easy work. replied Smith, calmly.
Not easy | can imagine nothing so very
difficult in the act. Let me make one of a
party of three, and we'll risk your bears"
Have you ever seen one p asked Smith
Well, no. not in a wild state, but then
I've looked at them pretty close in travel
ing menagerie, and they appeared sleepy and
dull"
Smith laughed in peculiar manner, as he
said
. So, if we undertake this prospecting tour
you wish to make one Of the party, Coun-
teri"
" should be delighted to 60"
well. then, you shall be gratified. will
make the second. Who is the third %
As 10 one else answered, | thought |
would
l will go, although | warn you that go
not to fight grizzly bears. have had enough
of their company
Humph," mnttered the old man. IL might
have had two better companions; for Im GER
tain that you'll both run, upon the first ap-
pearance of danger"
Speak for yourself, Smith, cried Coun-
ter, Indignantly. " am not in the habit of
shying at danger
knew the weakness of my legs, and kept
silent had made number of resolutions
while had been in the mines, and one was
to face a grizzly bear and kill him in single
combat. Yet my resolves were always for
gotten, upon the first appearance of the ami
NAL and instead Of turning to my rifle, al
ways preferred my legs | thought under
the circumstances would not boast.
Ny nerves have been tried by the sight
of the beasts" replied Smith. IL didn't
know but you might feel little weakness
about meeting one. We may test your cour-
age before we get back"
You'll find me all right, Smith. But
when shall we start 2'
" Tomorrow morning at daylight" replied
our leader
THAT is sudden
True, but we can start then as well as the
next day. Each Of you will have to carry
three days provisions, besides blanket and
rifle. You see that it is no light load you
will have TO carry"
But we have no provisions cooked said
jim.
How long will it take to boil few pounds
of beef ?"
"But we couldn't live on that !" cried
Counter, with CONSERVATION.
No, each one will carry three pounds of
ship-bread.p
"Well, | can do that like book. Now,
who is TO boil the pork 2" Jim cried in high
gee at the thought of the proposed prospect
ing tour.
go to your blankets" replied Oregon, 81
will have everything in readiness by daylight.
Long before tomorrow noon We must be
miles from here"
We finished our pipes and retired to our
hard couches, few branches of fir keeping
our bodies from the ground and forming the
only bed which we were accustomed to.
There was no signs of day when we were
called by Smith, who apparently had not been
to bed during the night A huge fire was
burning in front of the tent, and by the hiss
ing sound that greeted our ears, we knew th;t
breakfast was being prepared, SO as to start
as soon as light
"Why, Smith," yawned Counter, as he
seated himself before the fre-for the morn
ing air was cool--"I should think from APP
pearances that you had not slept during the
night
II had some balls to cast and few stitch