The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-16
CHAPTER XIV.
DRncDETTTNG


/ After the departure of Hardman jeff
! explained to Tim why he drove him
from their company. He told what
Frank had seen when crossing Lake
Linderman. and afterward how the fell
low when he thought all were alseep
within the tent. went out to meet his
/ confederate.
Il didn't want to turn him loose on
! the road added JEFF though I had
/ half a mind to tell him to hunt up his
! friends and join them. But he now has
the same chance as the rest of us and
must look out for himself"
'Begorra, but We are right, Jiff.' was
the hearty response of the Irishman;
I'm beginning to suspect that he didn't
intind to give back that money he
borrowed, that is. if he should liver lay
hands on the same"
jeff looked pityingly at his friend,
but reading in the expression of his
/ face that he was testing. he made no
response. Instead, he spoke impress
sively:
You never would have lost that
money If you hadn't beer in liquor"
That's the fact, Jiff, but how did We
find it out?"
my own common sense told me.
You've been looking round for the last
hour for a chance to indulge agin.''
"Ill admit" was the frank response,
that a dim idea of the kind has been
fiickerin' through me brain, but I cast
the temptation Indignantly behind me.
Do you know why?"
mo"
Nobody offered to pay for the drinks
and / haven't a clint TO pay for any
myself"
"And you won't get a cent from me:
you must earn it by taking out gold. If
you succeed it'll be yours and you can
do as you please with it,
Tim removed his cap and scratched
his head.
out it and I feel so much better that
I'm thinking of keeping up the good
work.
''I hope you will and prove yourself a
man of sense, but we have no time to
waste; we oughter be on our way
now"
The sentiment suited all and was fol-
lowed without delay. Amid the crush
and hustle it was impossible to hire
horse, mule, donkey or boat. Every
thing had been engaged long before and
there were hundreds of disappointed
applicants who, like our friends, were
Obliged to make the tramp eastward
on foot, carrying their utensils with
them and leaving behind all that was
mining.
During the brief stay at Dawson City
the four attentively studied such maps
as they could secure and gathered ell
information from the many who were
qualified and willing to give 1t. AS a
consequence when they started up the
Klondike they had a well defined idea of
their destination.
The first stream which flows into the
river. from the southwark is the Bo
nanza some % miles long. This itself
has numerous small tributaries empty
ing into it, but hearing that all claims
had been located. and not believing it
possible that any valuable ones had
been overlooked, they pushed on to-
Twelve Mile creek, also flowing from
the south. There the same facts con-
fronted them, and camping on the road
when necessary our friends finally
reached Too Much Gold creek, 35 miles
from Dawson.
Gold hunters were all around them,
and frequently the men and boys
tramped for miles in the company of
men whom they had never seen before;
but such a life levels social distinctions
and they were soon upon as friendly
terms as if they had come from Seattle
in company.
At the mouth of Too Much Gold creek
they encountered two grizzly miners,
each mounted on mule, that was so
covered with additional luggage that
little beside his head, ears and fore
feet was visible. They intended to cross
the Klendike and prospect on the other
side Jeff asked whether there was no
gold along the creek which they had
just descended.
ITS full of it," was the reply of the
elder, but were too late; all the
claims have been taken up"
Did you go to the headwaters?'
No; we didn't want to waste the
time when all the claims are gone.
There are other places as good as that,
and we'll strike one; so goodbye,
friends
Laughing and in high spirits, the two
miners struck their boot heels against
the ribs of their mules and were off.
1t may be worth recording that both of
them struck it rich within the follow
ing week, and a month later, started
for home, rich men.
TT amt likely" said Jeff. that there
are many claims left along this river,
but there must be some; anyhow we'll |
try it. I'm sure there are places among |