The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-28
but was refreshed by my rest. / was also

DIt WIS TtilfNucl DN MY ItSt was "i"~
made desperate by my surroundings.
had known from tho first that this old de
cayed seam Of quartz was gold bearing
vein; but there was nothing new or Of special
interest in that. for / had galloped my horce
many q time over mountains OF gold, md
never had once cared To get down and pics
IL up.
Gold was abundant here all up and down
this prccipitous vein. could see it in seams
wherever | turned my ewes. could feel 10
with hands as | climbed. 1t has a softer
touch than stone. and seems smooth and oily.
Al last, whom almost ready 10 abandon all
hope, when almost ready 20 let 60 my hold
and fall 10 the dark deep waters under me,
found another little resting place had not
gone far his last effort. Yet was entirely
exhausted And how far 10 the summit nowf
| was in utter despair The place where
rested was almost precipitous, and ! could
not rest lcng here. Beside being so very
steep, IL was very slippery from the smooth
OILS gold. made more smooth and oily by the
little rivulct that trickled down under my
feet.
should certainly slip and fall If re-
maincd. But could 60 onf | attempted Il,
and @ few feet further Oh found my way
literally barred with bars Of gold that
crossed the groove The quartz had de-
cayed and fallen away, and the waters had
washed and rounded and smoothed these
bars Of gold while thoy deepened the narrow
little vein where the dccayed rocl; had been.
These dreadful prison bars Of gold had only
been washed smooth and beautiful and
bright 10 shut me from the upper world for
ever These bars and cords Of gold were
stretched across ike the golden cords and
strings Of some mighty mountain harp OF
gold.
And now ] knew that ] must fall MOI.
did / dispair even now Of life. In fact re-
member perfectly well how precise and how
careful | was in my calculations | esti-
mated the distance, the depth Of the cold
dark waters below, where | should strike in
my fall. how deep would sink, how soon
should rise how far / should have TO swim,
and oil the terrible details. We think very
fast at such times.
had laid hold Of the two strongest and
longest bars Of gold which blocked my
progress. l felt certain that they could not
be very firmly fixed in the narrow vein Of
rotlon quart | shool; at them as | had
shaken at my prison bars when in a terrible
prison. fclt them surely begin 70 yield
Cool. calm and deliberate, decided not 10
attempt 20 leap but 10 hold on fast TO the
bars Of ,-Cld which felt were gradually Civ
ing way. liy fee. were slipping from under
me. This would throw my whole weight on
The bars Of gold They were surely, GER
tainly, fast giving way. When they no
LONGER held mo | should drop; down, down,
downl
had decided To- hold NY hands straight
and hard and fast and firmly above my head,
rs / was holding ,hcm at that moment
This would keep my body stiff and straight
in the descent ! should pierce the water be-
low like an arrow
When once deep and far down in the waters
| should let go TIE gold, dart up Ike cork
to the surface and be saved. did not have
long 10 wait did not have to wait ten sec
onds. The bars Of gold gave way! | could
not save myself Down, down! down! The
stars looked me in the face, full and tranquil,
as fell
] struck tine water straight as "A shot.
felt the cool. sweet waves in my face. ]
heard the waters crash above my head as |
went down, down, down, with my gold.
retained my senses. | am perfectly Ger
tain Of that did all things just as had
decided TO 90.
Nay. aid all things rs had intended TO
do. except jus; one thing And that was my
fatal mistake did NOS like to lei 90 of my
gold. ! would not, could not let go Of my
gold. And 80 ] wa drowned. Joaquin Nil
Ter m The Golden Era