The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-12-15
THE FLOODED GULCH.

warn't; but | come of great nation,
and when chap out our way says he'll
do thing, he does it. | said I'd 90 to
sea, and | went-and thar you are;
said I'd drop hunting, and take to min
ing, and thar | was; and that's how it
come about.
You see, we was rather rough out our
way, where Hez Lane and me went with
our bit Of tent and pickers, shooting
irons, and sech like, meaning to make a
pile of gold We went to Washoe, and
didn't get on; then we went to Fort
Laramie, and didn't get Oh there Last,
we went right up into the mountain,
picking our way amongst the stones, for
Hez SEES: Look here, old boss, let's
get whar no ones been afore If we get
whar the boys are at work already,
they've took the cream, and we gets the
skim milk. Let's you and me get the
cream. and let some o. the others take
the skim milk"
GOOD for YOU / says; and we
tramped on day arter day, till we got
right up III the heart O the mountains,
where no one hadn't been afore, and it
was so still and quiet, as it made you
quite deaf.
1t was a strange, wild sort of place
like as if one of them cOons called giants
had driven a wedge into mountain and
split it, making a place for a bit of a
stream to run at the bottom, and lay
bare the gold we wanted to find.
"This'll do, Dab" says Hez, as we put
up our bit of tent on a pleasant green
shelf in the steep valley place This Il
do DAB; thar's yaller gold spangling
them sands, and running in veins
through them rocks, and yaller gold in
the pockets of the rocks"
''Then let's call it Yaller Gulch," l
says.
Done, old hoss!" said Hez; and Yal-
Ter Gulch it IS
We set to work next day washing in
the bit of a stream, and shook hands on
our good luck.
"This'll do" says Hez. ave shall
make a pile here. No one won't dream
of hunting this out"
Say, strangerp' says voice as made
us both Jump. "Do it wash well?"
And if there warn't long, lean, ugly,
Ayaller-looking chap looking down at US,
as he stood holding mule by the bride.
Why, afore week was over, so far
from keeping 1t snug, | reckon there was
30 people III Galler Gulch, washing away,
and making their piles. Afore another
week was over some one had set up q
store. and next day there was a gam
bling saloon. Keep it to ourselvesl
Why, stranger, | reckon if there was a
speck of gold anywhere within five hun
dred miles our chaps'd sniff it out like
vultures, and be down upon it,
1t warn't no use to grumble, and we
kept what we thought to ourselves,
working away and making our ounces
the best way We could. One day pro-
posed we should 90 up higher in the
mountains; but Hez said he'd be blamed
if he'd move; and next day, if he'd
wanted me to 90, | should have told him
I'd be blamed if I'd move; and all at
once, from being red-hot chums, as
would have done anything for one an
other, Hez and me got to be mortal enc
mics.
Now, look here, stranger. Did you
ever keep chickens? P'r'aps not; but
If you ever do, just you notice this.
You've got, say, dozen young cocks
pecking about, and as happy as can be
smart and lively, an inherent as
chickens should be. Now, Just you 90
and drop pretty young bulletin among
EN-, and see if there won't be row.
Why, afore night there'll be combs
bleeding, eyes Knocked out, feathers torn
and ragged-a regular pepper-box and
bowie set-to, and all accuse of that little
smooth, brown pullet, that looks on 50
quiet and gentle, as if wondering who
made the row. Now, that's what was
the matter with us; for who should come
into the Gulch one day but an old store
keeping sort of fellow, with as pretty a
daughter as ever stepped, and from that
moment it was all over between Hez and
me.
He'd got away with him, you see, as /
hadn't; and they always made him well
kim at that thar store, when it was only
/" How do you do7" and Good morn
ing" to me. don't know what love is
strangers; but if Jael Burn had told me
TO 60 and cut one of my hands off to
please her, I'd ha' done it. I'd ha' gone
through fire and water for her, God bless
her! and if she'd tied one of her long,
yaller hairs round my neck, she might
have led me about like bear, rough as
am.
But it wouldn't do soon see which
way the wind blew She was the only
woman in camp, and could have her
pick, and she picked Hez.
l was bout starin' mad first time
met them two together-she a hanging
on his arm, looking up in his face, wor-
Shipping him rs some Of them women can
Worship great, big, strong he; and as