The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-01-05

vance Dy Qlnt OF SHOUTS ana DiOWS,
the embryo miners bowled out of
the town, with no objective point in
view, save the, vague idea Of
''prospectin" somewhere, with the
possibility Of 'sstrikin' it," Do NOS
deride Eige and jim, reader. How
many of us, scarce better sailors on
life's wide sea, put forth in very SINH
lar crazy crafts, seeking fortunes on
uattainable shores, ever treacherous
waves which balk our childish ambi-
ton!
At first they ratified along in too
much rapture to talk: Deadwood
lay. far behind the little treasure
seekers, and the sun seemed scarcely
a foot above the long low range Of
hills before them, but they were well
aware that their parents would not
be anxious about them, and so they
took but little heed of time and dis
lance.
1t was Lige who broke the silence,
and suddenly pokitig Jim, ecstat-
ically exclaimed;-Look here jim,
mabbe we will strikei t, n then won't
we have nifty time ,S@jsst like, all
them rich fellers, Eth? Dye see thetii
piles o. rock n dirt?" pointing to
some hea ps Of mining refuse clustered
about the mouths of some aban-
doned shafts in the foothills now
near at hand. "Well, there's mines
where they found lots O. gold once,
n they say them fellows wot owned
'em took out heaps q pay dirt,
Mebbe we kin find some too, Ell? |
don't bleeve all that there dirt n
indercashuns is around fur nuthin.'
S'pos'n you'n me 'ud make a find
here to-day!" and with his voice
pitched up to the exultation of the
moment he shouted: "Wouldn'G We
fly high? OH, no! mebbe notp'
II bleeve | see some signs
now" Jim exclaimed, whereupon
both boys jumped out ofthe cart and
began prospecting ingOod earnest,
not even stopping to shy an occa-
sional stone, as usual; at the birds
which hoped about, SO intent were
| they with the business in hand. The
ground was sr rrrcyn with rocks, which,
to a. novice, might have hidden a
golden borianza in their embraces,
and the boys FAN bither and thither
picking up and thro wing down speti-
mems, as each new treasure outshone
the last, and talking sagely about
how "high" they would assay, and
how much to the ton the dirt would
..'ru1tS" Using the stray terms which
they had picked up from the miners
about the camp.
Presently, looking around, Jim
discovered that Lige was nowhere
to be seen. The little mule
was grazing contentedly near
by, but no Lige was visible.
Jim's first Thought, was that Lige
was hiding near BY I'll order TO
brighten him by suddenly jumping
out upon him, and so he looked
about, shouting for his comrade, and
threatening to "thump" him soundly
for playing possum" when it was
almost night and time to start for
home: .,
Suddenly, down to the right, hessw
footprints which he knew we'll to be
Iige's, the shoes that were not mates,
and were run over at the heel as no
other boy in Deadwood could run
over shoes. They led on and on, up
the rocky path, past the old
abandoned shafts, till they ended
abruptly at the edge of a deep, tlar=
row canon, overgrown with trees
and shrubs, to look down the dizzy
sides OF which made Jimmy sick with
fear. No need of looking farther for
Lige!
Jimmy's first impulse was to run
for dear life for assistance. How he
got back to town, driving Pansy
(who seemed to realize the necessity
for an extra burst of speed)oh
keen run, how he managed to gasp
out his story while his teeth chat
tered with fear, how he guided
party of brave, big-hearted min
ers, provided with ropes, to the spot
where Lige had disappeared, need
not be recounted. Suffice it to say
that when a stone miner was let
down to bring up Lige from the bot
ton of the awful chasm, Jimmy stood
by shivering with fear, and choking
his sobs as best he could waiting to
see what would come up. His little
countenance was past recognition
with the mingling of CRIME and tears.
What if his best and only friend was
badly injured, or, worse still, dead!
Terrible thought
At last the brave miner rose to
view, drawn by willing hands, with
Lige's limp, mud-splashed little form
in his arms. He was drenched and
shivering with cold, and one little
leg hung helplessly down.
"Bet yer sweetlife t'want no fun a
layin' down there in the snow" he
chartered. Twant any too warm,
nuther."
"Oh, Ligep' cried Jimmy, "You
amt hurt much, are your
Not by long shot," was the
rather shaky reply. 81 bleeve I'll
be able to thump you tomorrow,
jim"
At this Jim's tears broke out
afresh, but they were of downright
Joy. Love could not have framed
tenderer message to him, than
this characteristic remark OF his
partner.
Reviving stimulants were admins.
tered, the chilled little body wrapped
in the thick coats of several of the
miners, who willingly rendered them
for the purpose, and he was carried
tenderly to the carriage which was
waiting. And that is the way the
two little miners returned from
prospecting"
"Golly!" groaned Lige, ''iest think
o. ridin' home in this gallus rig like
the rich fellers we was 81 torkin'
erbout! Purity slick, eh, Jinn?" Jim
in spite of his grief at his friends
calamity, could not entirely stifie
his delight at riding for the first
time in "fy outfit" having as he
mentally termed it ga Jo-dandy
time"