The Ottawa free trader., 1886-05-15

| ltS up tucIc! utsuu I'LL uulttI, III
mighty rich, too"
heard him scrambling up the wall Of rocl
assisting himself by roots and bushes CROWN
In the creviccs. heard him pant All be
side was still-the stiffness of the Californi
summer noon day-nothing of life in sigh
save black buzzard wheeling above, hi
shadow floating along the ground.
Pratt had gained the top of the shelf. II
made his way directly toward the face of tn
precipice, He burst through the chapparal
| and was disclosed to him, seated on "a rock
about ten feet from the vein.
"Holloa!" was his involuntary exclamation
''you here~
"Yes, I'm here" replied
"Well, welln He was evidently at los
what next to say or do. "It's a hot day
isn't itf
pretty hot" remarked. thought il wa!
ar would Ike soon in every sense, and tn,
shadow of laugh came over me rs though
OF talking weather. at such a juncture.
Nr. Pratt sat himself also down upon q
rock. drew rusty red bandana, moppcd
with it his face and partly bald bead, anc
said "Whewl Then he poked the grounc
before him with the end Of his hammer, anc
1t was clear to me that Mr.. Pratt intended
TO stay here and wait for MY going. II wa
clear to me that | should remain--though
did not like so to do. The situation was
somewhat akin 10 thas in which two gentle
men calling on the same lady sometimes find
thcmselves-and OF all work sitting your man
out ranks among the hardest Both of us
recognized silence rs the factor most eftl-
cacious for the removal of his adversary
only while Mr. Pratt hoped that the dull
ness Of his company might remove me- had
no hope that my taciturnity would remove
Mr. Pratt from the vicinity Of the golden
mistress he knew was near
SO we sat one full hour, and the longest
hour Of my life. Pratt made the first move
He commenced examining the rock near the
solid mountain formation. Nearer he al.
yanced toward the place whore Broanor had
screened the worked portion Of the vein with
n layer of cut brush. He was in the at OF
removing this when ! called out; Don't
touch that brush, plcaseW
"Why notE said Pratt, looking back
Never mind why not Don't touch IT,
said, advancing toward him. feeling rs if on
my way TO the scaffold.
wen, buip IidLIli w you bNu lnlo Ilpull-
tain p he said
II own that brush, that's ALL" was my
reply
The brush was ranged against the white
streak Of rock for not more than ten or
twelve feet. Tratt passed it. His eye fell
on one end Of the n-untouched there by
the pick. He commenced chipping it with
his hammer
you must let that rock alone" sait,
going toward him
Pratt was now up and doing. The wa.
had commenced.
"Oh, comet" he exclaimed, don't YOU
fool around me any more. You must be of
your head. This mountains as much mine
as yours"
THAT'S my claim" | said "Let it alone "
Momentary wonder showed itself in Pratt's
eyes that any one else should know Of gold
in this form.
"Your claim" said he, "up here What
sort of diggings do You call these anyway"
Perhaps you know MS well a. |. But
that's my claim by right of discovery"
Where's your notices"
The written notice on the ground was then
10 hold claim. We had none
ID otlIcI Hui pun HvHc up hIlpNlLiS IL "Ouil
attract attention.
Where's your tools h continued
Tools left on claim were regarded rs
most important proofs of possession. Broener
had hidden away those he used-where |
knew not
No notices, no tools and no work done
and YOU call this claimr said Pratt deris-
vcly.
Clearly as to the mining rights Of the pc
riol Pratt had the best of me. | felt the
moral weakness Of the situation. Pratt
seemed also TO know his oHn strength and
my weakness in this respect. Meantime he
lad taken out his six-shooter and cooked it,
He stood facing me- and had the drop" on
me. | was powerless. "Now, young man"
,aii he, 81 give you while count ten to get
Dn this ground, and if you don't I'll put
lall through you. Dye hcari Get! Namos!
As he spoke he made
step backward, 1t was all a jumble Of rocks