Weekly Trinity journal., 1872-11-09

rades, until IL was agreed, nnally, that
they should have the greater part of the
provisions, ammunition, etc., and contin-
ue in their search, while the others would
retrace their steps by the shortest and
safest route.
"On the morning of parting, James
Wilson rose in his stirrups, and, swing
ing his rifle aloft with an arm splendidly
muscular, exclaimed: Good-by, boys
and good luck to you, but we can't go
back. There is gold somewhere yonder
behind that smoky line of mountains,
and we are going to dig it out, though all
the Redskins of the wilderness stand
guard over it ! Wen come back rich as
kings, boys or leave our bones to bleach
there it's glorious battle-ground =
"This high speech fired the hearts of
the retreating party for a moment, and
some of them turned, as though they, too,
would fain peril their lives for that with
out which life is more bitter than death :
but the momentary flash of heroism went
down, and, shaking their heads in denial
they rode away, shouting back rude words
of cheer.
"They never met again. The main
division reached Jacksonville after many
days of wearisome and perilous travel,
and waited in vain through lengthening
months for some tidings of the Wilson's.
Their story is sealed to all, save me. l
owe my own knowledge of their further
progress and final fate 20 the fact that we
were cousins and confidential friends
With this word of explanation, l will
give you so much of the history of the
brothers as came to me in the letters ol
James, written at San Francisco, in the
year 1859. have them here "-and, as
he talked, he drew forth a packet Of per
haps dozen letters, much worn, creased
and soiled, and held them in his hand
"but have no need to recur to them, as
have read them many times.
"Well, from the point of separation
the Wilson's continued in a south easter
ly direction. They at first Travelled with
every precaution against surprise, but fl
nally relaxed their vigilance, as they
were seemingly beyond the range of the
hostile tribes.
"At last they reached green and mar
row valley, walled in by precipitous
mountains, around which meandered over
and among powders of richly-colored
rock and across beds of smooth and shin
ing pebbles, the limpid waters of snow
fed stream. Here they determined tC
rest and recruit themselves and theil
jaded animals, while they leisurly and
thoroughly prospected for gold the re-
gion Immediately about them.
" Desiring to remain in the valley foI
some time, they concluded to put up q
rude og-cabin, which would protect theil
camp equipage, and, pierced with some
loop-holes, fort fashion, would serve as {
defense in case of an Indian attack.
son the morning after their arrival
Henry began to cut timber, out of which
to construct the temporary home anC
fortress while James went forth, gun il
hand, to replenish their impoverished
; larder. About ten o'clock he killed {
deer, which he shouldered and started
for camp. He reached the little stream
perspring and thirsty, for the day was
warm, and threw his limp burden dowr
upon pebbly bar while he stopped tC
get drink.
mo sooner had his lips touched th'
water than his eye was arrested by thu
sparkle of certain small objects scattered
among the gravel of the bottom. A mine
is ever upon the alert; and so, plunginj
his hand into the peucid waters, he drew
forth handful of the gravel for exam
nation.
at was gold
Eyes, there it was, in coarse yellow
grains and lumps-richer than a dream
He dropped suddenly to examine the ba
on which he stood it, too, was gorgeC
with the glittering metal, and he aros
with whoop of joy that made the wood
echo, and brought Henry running to tn
spot-for he had heard it and recognized
his brothers. voice, on the other side o
the little valley. You can imagine thei
? ecstacy. They had known poverty al
their lives, and there before them wa
wealth sudden, splendid, exhaustless
But | must not linger. Working to
gether they finished the cabin that day
and the next began to gather the gold
The labor was not great, and within tw,
weeks time they had heaped together
marvellous quantity of it, and began Il
contemplate return.
"Life was now precious, and, afte
thinking it over and weighing the chance
for and against the practicability of get
ting back unmolested, they were con
vinced that it was best to remain where
they were until the volunteer forces un
der General Lane, which they knew
were on the way, had reached the hostile
country and relieved the hard paths o
lurked upon every step. Having mad
an excavation in the center of the cabin
floor, they lined it carefully with rock
? and, in the vault thus formed, deposited
their treasure, tied up in bags of driet
and undressed deer-skin. This was don,
in case an attack from the Indians should
compel them to fee, when, of course, i
would be impossible to carry the heavy
metal.
"But no attack was made, and, afte