The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-18

vas much harder work to get through
II then than IL IL low.
"Windfalls were everywhere with
no trail through 'em. and we just had
10 keep chopping logs right along TO
get OUT pack horses through. You
bet IL was tiresome. and when we
reached the south fork We were pref
ty nigh discouraged. We made camp
about two OF three hours before sun
set, somcwheres near the mouth OF
this canyon. so leaving the Connollys
to pitch amp and make supper. Dec
and / struck down the valley to do a
little ~pann,ng. My! but you ought 20
have seen the game in them days.
fresh trails running in every direc-
ton and punches Of elk and deer in
the little parks as we went along.
There they were. big antlered fellows.
nlbbling at the willows and quaking
asps. or snoOzing under the pine trees.
We washed out a good many pans
OF dirt. but all we got vas colors. until
at last we turned OF into a little ra-
vine with a steep cut bank on one side.
and Doc went panning. remember
there was a big white quartz boulder
Just below where he went to work..
but I forgot just how far IL was from
the main stream. I well remember
that the sun was still shining on the
highest mountain peaks. while down
where We were IL was get
ting pretty dusky. I was
looking at the mountain tops.
when all at once I heard Doc boiler.
oh. Frank. come here quick!' and I
knew that he'd struck Il. He didn't
need to say nothing more to me. for
] felt In my bonee as | ran over to
where he was that he'd struck IL at
last. Many n many a time when
I was out prospecting had I dreamed
Of making n rich strike. end what I
then saw made me feel as Il I was in
heaven. The bottom of that gold pan
was just covered with coarse gold and
50 was the next par. and the next.
We were both that excited We could
hardly stand. but to make n long story
short, we washed out about four
pounds OF coarse gold before We quit.
and then 1t vas the darkness that
stopped us. There was plenty more
gold there. because the last painful was
just as rich as the first. IL came on as
dark as a stack OF black cats. sudden
like. so with the dust tied up In a
buckskin sack we started for camp.
I asked Doc n he could reach camp
alone. and hungry as I was. ! would
build a fire and stay by the diggings
until morning. but he wouldn't iear
OF IL. I vas on the lead. picking my
way on the back trail. when suddenly.
as plainly as could be. we O heard
far on onc two. three. our shots.
Guess the boys must IA seen a bear
or a deer says Doc. or maybe they
think we're lost. and they're shooting
SOS we can locate the camp I didn't
make no answer. but from that mo-
ment I felt neasy II we'd had our
guns with us we'd have answered the
shots and I've often thought Il was a
good thing for us that we hadn't no
guns. Pretty soon q drop Of rain
QtrttnE ma In the fara Then another
and before long rain was falling In
sheets. Were you ever out without
shelter In a regular mountain rain?
Well. then. you know how q was with
us. We were both hungry. wet and
tired. and at last. rs luck would have
II. we accidentally turned of into a
wrong ravine In the darkness and lost
our way completely. I'll never forget
that night as long as I live-I thought
II never would come 90 al end. Before
morning the rain changed to snow.
and at last. too tired to stand up any
longer. we crawled into a hollow space
below an o~verhanging rock and lay
down. II I could only find that hol-
low place under the rock. I'm sure |
could nnd the d'ggings again. We had
no matches with us. and perhaps II
was lust as well hat we hadn't.
Morning broke at last. and as soon
as we could see to travel, stif and
chilled as we were. we struck out for
camp once more. Doc was ~ pet
cred out and was feeling as bad, when
all at once we came on a sight that
made our haid stand on end. They lay
one OF our pack horses dead in the
bushes. and close beside II vas the
body Of pool Pat Connolly. The sight
turned us both sick. but all I'll say
about Il IL that he'd been killed and
scalped. Then we knew the meaning
Of the shots we'd heard. but we hoped