Weekly Trinity journal., 1872-11-09

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papers, among which found this. Read
it +; no explanation is required"
lie handed me folded sheet of paper,
on which letter had been begun, in a
cramped, ungainly, but still legible hand.
Here it is:
SAN Francisco, CAL,
October 26, 1859.
Dear Cousin II had hoped to see you
| before this, but the end has come sooner
than l had expected. l dreamed Of that
cabin, in the wilds Of Oregon, last night,
and saw poor Harry fall again before tho
cowardly shots OF those skulking Shastas;
and | think it is nearly over. | must
write what l intended to have spoken,
and endeavor to give you such directions
as will enable you to find the cabin, for
you must find it, Theodore and enjoy its
hidden gold. The first part of your course
is plain enough start from jacksonville
and keep the California road
Here the hand of death stayed the re-
vealing pen, and there remained only q
black and shapeless inlI-blot, as fit en-
blem of the mystery that wrapped the
whereabouts of the lost cabin, turned
from the paper and looked at Harper
for such was the name by which he had
introduced himself to me.
THAT is all know about it," said he
"and here is my proposition: let us joint
ly purchase an outfit and spend the Sum.
mer in the wilds of southern Oregon
With the clue we have, verify believe
that we shall find the cabin"
:" | am with you )" and l gave him +
steadfast grip.
Harper flushed with pleasure, at the
prompt and hearty acquiescence, and We
sat talking over the details of our expe.
dtion until the gray eye Of dawn looked
in, and, with cold and unsympathizing
stare, admonished us that our sitting had
been unnaturally protracted.
1t was the middle of May, when, deem.
ing the southern mountains clear Of snow
and the rivers passable, our final prepar
tions were completed, and we were ready
for the road.
My books-consisting of a little law, il
calf, and much Patent Office, in muslin
were consigned to common grave il
dry goods box, and the key of the of
fee gracefully resigned to its owner.
We had saddle horse apiece, two
pack animals, and provisions for 81,
months. After several days Of unevent
ful travel, we reached jacksonville. Thii
point was the beginning and the end o
the written instructions Of James Wilson
; and we looked wonderngly toward tin
south, where Wilderness of mountains
wales, and rivers-much Of it yet untrod
den by the foot of civilized man-stretch
ed away under the serene sky.
There was the ink-blot Of the unfinished
letter
We were not to be frowned back, how
ever, by the difficulties that stood in oul
way; and after a days rest, we agar
took the California road, with the inten.
tion of following it for one day longer.
This brought us to point, where, in
all probability, the party OF prospectors
headed by the Wilson's had borne off from
the beaten track, into the chartless re-
gions to the southeast.
Even adopting this general direction
as the axis of exploration, the field to be
surveyed was hopelessly wide. The
Wilson party undoubtedly made a con
siderable departure from their intended
course, in order to avoid the actual theatel
of the Indian war but, with this solitary
concession to prudence, must have sought
to reach that portion Of the country which
both rumor and the geological outlines O
the earth's surface indicated as gold bear.
ing. Careful inquiry put us in possession
OF these latter facts, and we, too, turned
to the southeast, but at no great angle
| q Al