The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-11-22
4 GOLD DIGGER'S ADVENTURE.

In the year 1858 Twas one of a part,
of six miners who were engaged in dig
ging for the gold in the gully known b,
the euphonious title of Peg Leg, in Hell
Maje>ty's Colony of Victoria. a Prov
ince of that third continent, Australia
Our claim was pretty well worked
out and two of our men were out each
day prospecting for new ground; but
nothing payable could we strike, and
we We're getting tired of working for
our food only. which was about all our
claim had given us for several weeks,
though it had paid well at first, and We
We're by no means "hard up One
evening rs we sat around our fire,
smoking and talking of our homes, and
of big tind>' of gold, one of the two
who had been prospecting that day
spoke up: "Come. boys, let's get out
o this. Peg Legs played out. I'm
going to make Il move for Black Jack S
tomorrow morning. Who says go?''
The proposition was duly discussed,
and resulted in our striking our tent
the next morning, shouldering our
"swags' Ohe diggers' term for any
thing a man carries on his back, and
all hands started across the country to
Black Jacks. under the guidance of
the mover of the expedition and COM
pass. Nothing occurred on the tramp
worth mentioning: and the second day
after leaving Peg Leg. at about ten
O'Clock in the forenoon, we sat down to
have Il rest and smoke.
We were quite near the workings on
Black Jacks. and had passed number
of prospecting holes within the last
mile or two. but as vet had met no par
ties at work. nor seen any indications
of men having been actually engaged
in washing out gold.
This is likely-looking place."
said one of our number; let's open a
hole here somewhere"
"Oh." answered another, Its no
use prospecting to-day; we may as
well 20 in among the shops. Jack
here. knows all the store-keepers. and
perhaps some of them may lay lis on to
some payable ground.
So it was decided to keep on for the
stores without stopping to prospect.
Shouldcring our swag>. we again start
ed on. expecting to shortly reach the
township, which Jack assured us was
not far off; but our leader suddenly
stopped. looked kcenly at his feet for II
moment. and then asked. DO you see
any pegs around here, boys?"
No stakes Cor pegs to mark the bound
AIRY of Il claim) could be seen, and so he
was told.
But why do YOU ask that" said
Look here said the first speaker;
somebody has been proSpectin. here,
and they We struck it heavy, (neaning
that rich gold had been discovcred):
they've gone for their mates most like
~. or perhaps for an extended claim.
Right where I'm standing is where they
put down the hole You can see where
they threw out the dirt on that side.
Now. they never put that dirt back so
carefully. and scattered these leaves and
ferns over it to hide it, for nothing. SO
here goes to see what they got for a
prospect. Peg out six mems ground,
boys: I'm goin" to dig at once
And suiting the action to the word,
he threw down his swag and commenced
to shovel out the gravel from the filled
up hole.
We pegged out claim. and then
gathered about the hole. AS our mate
threw out the loose dirt it became evil
dent that the hole had been but recently
filled up, for blades of grass and tree
leaves, thrown out from Il depth of sew
eral feet below the surface, were as fresh
and green as those still growing in the
vicinity.
Tell YOU what, bows said the
worker. as he rested ON his shovel for Il
moment, "this hole was sunk this morn
ing. Won't the chaps look when they
find us in it? But I'd have thought
they'd have pegged out their claim, any
way. But they didn't expect anybody
to find it,
..Get out of that hole and take a
smoke" said Jack; "let me have a 90
ut that shovel
Hold on Bit was the answer
I'm 90 down foot or two yet, and
then you can have chance. We shan't
have to sink very deep here, not more n
ten or twelve feet. But what the deuce
is that?'
His shovel had struck piece OF
wood. and, scraping off the loose dirt,
he disclosed what we at once knew to
be the handle of pickax.
That's a pick-handle,' said he, re.
plying to his own question, whats
it doing here? BY lingo, fellers, the,
must have got on something gOOd
when they've buried their tools in thu
hole; we're in luck this time, boys
As he had by this time uncovered the
handle and one point of the pickax, hi
laid his shovel out. of the hole and tool
hold of the buried tool to remove it out
IF his way, but it did not come easily
II 8 fast, some way" said he, taking
hold of it with both hands, and giving
heavy jerk. which brought Il up
IL got you,' said he, apostrophizins
the pickax. "Here, take this up GU
of the way, some of you," at the sam,
time holding its handle up to us .wh,
were on the surface.
His face suddenly changed its hope
full expression for one of perplexity an.
listrust, as he looked first at his hant
and then at the pick; then he climbed
hurriedly out of the hole
What's the matter?' asked we, il
chorus.
s. Something's the matter-I dom
know what. Look herey' at the sam,
extending his hand, on which appeared
to be stains of grease and blood
w nat CnaC! lnatS blood, believe
got it off that pick; and the chisel
point of it, the one that was stack dowr
in the hole, is Uorn. There's somethins
wrong, boys-there's something her
that won't bear the light. hut kee,
your eyes lifting; I'm going into tina
hole again to see what is there
We "kept our eyes lifting" lookins
suspiciously through the trees AM
bushes, and our mate again descende,
into the hole and recommended throw
ing out the dirt. In q few moments h,
ceased shoveling, stood his shovel NJ
in the corner of the hole, and, stoopinj
down, scraped away the gravel with hi
hands.
Look here, mates!' said he turn
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