Richland beacon., 1878-09-28
THE FLOODED GULCH.

I'LL lLOODlLD w LOlls
l warnt never meant for no sailor,
l warn't. but come Of great na-
,ion. and when a chap out our way
says he'll du a thing. he does it l
said Id 20 10 sea, aud ! went-and
thar you are. l said I'D drop hunt
ing take to mining, and thar was
and that's bow it come about.
You see, we was rather rough out
our way. where Hez Lace and me
went with our bit of tent and pickers,
shooting irons, and sech like. meaning
to make o pile of gold. We went to
Washoe, aud didn't get on; then We
went to Fort Laramie, and didn't get
on there. Last, we went right up
into the mountain, picking our way
amongst the stones. for He4 scs,
Look here, old boss, let's 60 %bcre
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 Of the others take
the skim milk"
Good for sou." | says; and we
tramped on day after day, till we got
right up in 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 q strange, wild sort Of place.
like as If one of them cOons called
giants had driven a wedge into a
mountain and split it, making place
for bit of stream to run at the
bottom, and lay bare the gold we
wanted to lind.
.This'll do, pab," says Hez. as We
put up our bit Of a tent on pleasant
green shelf in the steep valley place.
"This'll do, Dab; tbar's yaller gold
spangling them sands, and running in
veins through them rocks. and yaller
gold in pockets of the rock"
Then let's call it Yaller Gulch,"
says.
Done, old bossl" says Hes; and
Yaller Gulch 1t is.
We set to work next day washing
10 the bit of stream and shook hands
on our good luck
"Tbis'll do" SAYS Hes. I'VE shall
make pile here. No one will dream
of bunting this out"
Say, stranger I" said voice thai
made US both jump. :Do it wash
well Z"
| And If there warn't q long, lean
ugly, yailer-lookink chap looking dowr
at us, as be stood bold.ng a mule BY
the birdie.
Why, afore q week was over, 80 fai
from US keeping it snug. l reckon
there was fifty people in Ialler Gulcb
washing away, and making their piles
Afore another week was over some
) one bad set up store. and next day
there was a gambling saloon. keef
it to ourselves! Why, stranger.
reckon if there was one speck of golt
anyw here within FIVE hundred miles
our cbaps'd sniff it out like vultures
and be down upon it.
1t warn't no use TO grumble, ant
we kept what We though, to ourselves
working away ana making our ounces
as best We could. One day / pro
. posed We should go up higher in th
mountains; but Hez said he'd b
darned if he'd move; and next day
if he'd wanted me to 60, l .houl'
have told him Id be darned if II
move, and. all at once, from being re,
hot chums, as would have done any
thing for one another, Hez and %
n got to be mortal enemies.
b. Now. look here, stranger. Did 20
ever keep chickens? P'raps not; bu
if you ever do. just you notice this
You've got, say, dozen young cock
pecking about. aud as happy as ca
be-smart aud lively, and inuerceu
as chickens should be. Now, jus
a You 20 drop a pretty young pullet i
among 'em. and see if there wont b
row. Why, afore night there'll b
combs bleeding, eyes knocked ou
n feathers torn and ragged-a regia
pepper.box and bowie set-to. aud q
acause of that little smooth, brow
pullet, that looks on so qniet and gel
tie, as II wondering who made tt
row. Now, that's what was the ma
?, m ter With Us, for who should come iu'
}" the Gulch one dsv but an old stor
keeper sort of a fellow. with as pret'
= daughter % ever stepped. and fro
that moment it was all over with II,
and me.
He'd got . way With him, you sc
as l hadn't. and they always mat
him welcome st their store, when
h. was only "How do you ~" 81
re Good morning" to me. / don't kno
Iy what love is. strangers; but if ia
Burn bad told me to 60 and cut o.
of my hands OF to please her. I'D b
done it. I'd ba' gone through b
and water for her, God bless her! a.
if she'd tied one Of her long, yal'
hairs round nv neck, she might ba
d, q, led me about like bear, rough as