The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-08-06

gler. "When L was on the North Fork
of the Yuba, in 81, got six ounces
once out of twenty-five buckets. Them
was the times, though"
"There's about two bits here, 1
guess" said Sims. "Well, that's bet
ter than nothing, and we amt beholden
to any one for it either. L like a gold
claim for one thing; it pays you just the
same whether you're Jew or Gentle,
Catholic or Protestant, Republican or
Democrat. l say, Tom, if those China
men start to cross the river in that old
boat of Wang Chu's, they'll drown"
The boat had started, and was gliding
up an eddy in direct opposition to the
course of the stream. For the immense
mass of water rushing down and striking
the rocks at the narrow entrance of the
Big Canon, caused a portion nearest
shore on either side to be sent directly
back full three hundred yards. For
| this distance there were two smooth cur
rents running up; between them, foam
ing, surging current, rushing down.
By taking advantage of these upward
eddies skillful boatman could land his
craft on either side nearly opposite the
point from which he had started.
Wang Chu and his passengers sailed
smoothly along until the upper eddy be-
ing reached, the boats head was turned
into the mid current. Then it seemed
as if seized by monster. 1t was whirled
around like a top, shot for a second on
the top of great surge, and shot down
again out of sight and under. There
was momentary glimpse of the five
men, padding wildly and half rising
from their seats; the next they were all
gone. A hundred yards below, like a
whale shooting out of water to blow,
came the boat, bottom up from the
depths, and chnging to her was Wang
Chu. 1t was dashed against the Black
Rock, and pressed under by the current.
Wang Chu sprang on the rock. The
rest were never seen. Sims and the
straggler gazed like men i'll dream.
There, before them, were still the rush
ing, roaring stream, the sun shining, the
birds singing all going on and having
gone through it all as though nothing was
happening or had happened, and, in five
seconds, four human beings snatched
from life to death
But Wang Chu must be rescued.
There was the poor, half-submerged
/ vi iOCh, Vic lCt-COlu
at times dashing clear over him, and
striving, as it We're, to tear him from his
hold ; and between him and the shore
the merciless stream, which could as
easily sweep away a thousand men as
/ one.
There he remained until near night.
! Gradually the population of Texas Bar
and Bixel's Flat accumulated on the
spot All measures to float him line,
by which he might be hauled on shore,
proved abortive.
"Ill swim off and take line to him."
Mt last said Sims.
No, don't CO." said some one among
the crowd sits certain death 20
" [ will !" said Sims.
"No, you won't-not if I can help it, ="
said jim Freemantle. "You're wrong
to try it and if You do, we're going to
stop you. We've as good right to
stop man from committing suicide as
murder"
There was a murmur of assent from
the bystanders. Sims turned away and
walked toward his cabin. When again
he emerged, it was with a cooked six
shooter in his hand. He came straight
! lONdIu TIE group anu spoke
a" You say you will stop me from swim
ming off to the Black Rock. L do not
intend that you shall. You have sue
ceeded in making my life thoroughly
miserable on this Flat by injustice,
taunt and abuse, and now that there's a
chance of getting rid of it you want to
stop me. You see you have made q mis-
take. You've put me up for man with
out grit. Well, I'm going to show
/ you that courage runs in streaks, and it
takes different circumstances in different
men to draw it out. I'm courageous
enough now to own that have backed
down before some of your six-shooters,
because didn't think my life was worth
yon dirty little claim. But any of you
would risk your lives in dispute over a
| pack OF cards, because you've got fight
ing reputation to keep up at any cost,
and you dare not live to be called coward
by some hound who would pick your
pockets had he a chance. Not one Of
you dare go near Tom Wilson's cabin,
when / nursed him through the small
pox. Not one of you dare go prospect
ing as L did on the headwaters of the
! Ovens river and camp out for weeks
| uiOhN, lIOlu tllt uc'uceb
ment. And I'm not afraid of the river,
savage rs it looks for the roar of its
waters, as I've listened to them many a
long night in my cabin, has been a
kinder voice than any of yours, and if /
down, want the Stanislaus TO bury me
somewhere deep down in its channel,
where your hands at least may never
drag me out. Let me pass -
They made way for him. His face
was white, hard, firm and desperate.
He walked with proud step, like a
king going to the scaffold. All the
shrinking timidity, the baffied hesitation
of former days, had disappeared. 1t
was another man who passed through
the crowd, another being who had, as it
were, suddenly risen up and usurped the
body of Timid Sims.
He's got the sand, by -" said
Alick Ware.
Jim Freemantle walked hastily little
ahead of the rest. "Look here, Sims,
said he, with more kindly intonation
in his voice than ever he had used in