The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-10-21
Sflfrf Storu.
In Rattlesnake Gulch.

We hac finished the "digging" thai
day, washed all our dirt, added the las,
ounce Of shining gold dust to the plump
little bags that were buried in the corner
OF The cabin, and tomorrow we would
leave Red Water Run forever.
The "spurt" bad been good one for
Tom and me, but we were tired OF the
terrible loneliness CT the place and the
constant strain upon our ears for fear OF
he Utes,and so we had decided 10 cross
the range strike the trail, and join our
old comrades at Poker Camp before the
fall rains began. Two thousand dollars
in glitteriug dust lay hidden in buckskin
bags in our shanty, the. results of seven
weeks digging, and for us it was for
tune.
Supper was over-a dozen of hard
tack, bit of jerked venison and pot
Of tea-and with our Guilty pipes, short
and black, We sat at the door of the b 1t
smoking, while the sunlight slowly dis
appeared from the tall peaks Of the ST.
erras about us, and the gray shadows
crept up the narrow gulch. silent and
chill.
After q long pause, Tom took his pipe
from. his lips and spoke:
"Did ye see anything uncommon
down the run this afternoon, Dick-any
'sign'?''
"No." said I slowly; "not that re-
collect now. What was it-bear 2"
"Wuss nor that"
"Injuns ?"
"Wuss nor thas."
"Outlaws, then p
Correct; / figure it was Red Jim's
gang Ye know they've been working
the stage ronte from Winnemucca to Sill
yer Cliff, and now l reckon they're on
their wsy back to the towns to squander
their stealings. Sartin it is that dozen
mounted bosses crossed the run, just be-
low the old sluice, shutdown o last night,
for i saw the sign nigh about noon, an
it war fresh"
"That's bad news" said I soberly. IF
those cut throats knew that we were
here, nothing would please them better
than to roast us out, shoot US down and
carry off the yellow Itwould he hard
ending to our two months work."
"Ye're clus to right" returned the old
miner as he slowly re6lled his pipe; 'but
they must catch US before they shoot us,
an find the gold before they steal it,
Now don't reckon on either"
"Well, but how do you know" be-
began, when be stopped me.
+ II don't know, an that's just 1t. Bet
ter be sure nor sorry the Bible saws, an
1 propose to- light out to night, Twill
be moon up at IL; we know the trail an
ef we're gone an they come, all right;
an eff we're gone and they don't come,
we're so much further on our journey
by morrin' What dye say ?"
"Agreed!"
An hour later, with the gold divided
and safely hidden in the buckskin belts
about our bodies, our tools upon our
shoulders and our rifles in our hands,
Tom Blackburn and l looked for the last
time at the dark shadow of our little
cabin, as we mounted the ridge that lay
to the westward. Eggs ss.ss
"Good-by, old -shanty!" said Tom.
waving bis gun; "Tell auv visitors that
ye may have that we're out for the even
ing, and AK 'em to wait our return.
Good-byw
Our course was nearly due west, and
for time through rolling country,
thinly timbered and filled with little
streams, so that we were able to travel
rapidly; bus shortly after the moon rose
we struck some heavily wooded ridges.
rough and rocky, and our progress was
necessarily slow. We did not talk much,
but kept bright look out tor both out
laws and Indians, and we marked our
way by the stars that glimmered over
head.
The night was cool and still, the only
sound which broke the silence being the
grind OF the gravel under our feet,or the
occasional cry of some far-off wolf.
We had proceeded thus for perhaps
some four hours and had covered dog
en- miles or more, when we found our
selves at the entrance Of narrow canon,
through whose dreary shadows our
course lay. 1t was an "uncanny" place,
and instinctively / loosened my knife in
the sheath as we entered it's yawning
mouth, but old Tom tramped uncon-
sciousIy on, and ! must need follow
Deeper and deeper grew the darkness,
the towering walls fairly threatening to
meet forward, while more and more
rough grew the rugged path beneath
At length we we're obliged to crawl from
point to point, go thickly strewn with
masses of rock was the uneven floor,
Suddenly sharp turn opened before
us the unexpected vision of broad