The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-02-20

& the McXicCs ~ the Cree an Yet
I don't ,....rtth it none now that I've
! struck pay"
While they spoke two miners strug
/ gled with bowltier they had uneal;h
/ ed and. having Scrapcd and washed il
! carefully. staggered back 10 place 1t Oh
! the cleaned bedrock behind. One OF
/ them slipped and il crashed against 4
brace which held the Sluices in place
These boxes stand more than u man
! height above the bedrock. resting on
supporting posts and Inning full of
water. Should a sluice fall the rush
Ing stream carries out the gold which
has lodged in the rifles and floods the
bedrock. raising havoc. Too late the
partners saw the string Of boxes sway
and bend at the joint: then, before
they could reach the threatened spot
TO support It, Slapjack Simms. with a
shrek. plunged tapping down into the
cut and seized the f1ume. His great
height stood him In good stead now.
for where the Joint had opened water
poured forth n a cataract. He dived
under the breach unhesitatingly and.
STOPPING. lifted the line as near to Its
former level as possible. holding the
entire burden upon bis naked pate.
He sesticuiated wildly for help,
while over him poured the deluge Of
icy. muddy water. 1t entered his gap
ing wsistband. buig;ng ont bis yellow
trousers TIL they were fat and full and
the seams were bursting, while his
yavntng boot tops became as boiling
springs. Meanwhile he Chartered forth
profanity in such volume that the ear
acbed under It as must have ached the
heroic slaptack under the chill Of the
melting SHOW. He was relieved quick
", however, and emerged triumphant.
though blue and puckered, his wilder
ness Of whiskers streaming Ike timber
stalactites. his boots loosely ''sQuish-
ing" while oaths still poured from him
In such profusion that Dextry whis-
pered:
"Ain't be a ring tailed wonder? Its
plumb solemn an reverent the way he
makes them untamed cuss words sit
up an beg. It's privilege to be pres
ent That's gift. that is
You'd better get some dry clothes"
they suggested. and Slapjack proceed
ed few PAGES toward the tents. hob
bling as though treadlng on pounded
glass.
"Ow-w." be yelled. "These blasted
boots is full of gravel"
He seated himself and tugged at his
foot TIL the boot came away with
sucking sound; then. instead Of emp
tying the accumulation at random. he
poured the contents into Dextrys emp
ty gold pan, rinSing it out carefully.
The other boot he emptied likewise.
They held surprising amount Of sedi-
ment, because the stream that had
emerged from the crack in the sluices
had carried with it pebbles. sand and
all the concentration Of the rifles at
this point Standing directly beneath
the cataract. most Of It had dived fair
ly into his inviting waistband. follow
ing down the lines Of least resistance
into his boot legs and boiling out at
the knees.
Wash that" he said. You're apt
to get prospect"
With artful passes DeXtry settled it
In the pan bottom and washed away
the gravel. leaving yellow glittering
pile which raised yell from the men.
who had fingered curiously.
HE pans $40 to the boot leg" one
shouted.
How much do you run to the foot,
Slapjack:"
Hes reglar free milling ledge"
NO. he amt: he's too thin. He's
nothing but stringer. but he'll pay to
work"
The old miner grinned toothlessly.
Gentlemen. there amt no better
way to save fine gold than with under
currents an blanket rifles. III have
to wash these garments Of mine an
clean up the soapsuds cause there's a
hundred dollars in gold dust clingin'
to my person this minute" He went
dripping up the bank. while the men
returned to their work singing.
After lunch Dextry saddled his
broncho.
I'm goin' to town for pair Of gold
scales. but I'll be back by supper; then
we'll clean up between shifts. Shed
ought to give us thousand ounces the
way that ground prospects" He loped
down the gulch, while his partner re-
turned to the pit, the flashing shovel
blades and the rumbling undertone of
the big workings that so fascinated
| him.
1t was perhaps 4 o'clock when be
was aroused from his labors by shout
from the bunk tent, where a group OF
horsemen had clustered. AS Glenister
drew near be saw among them Wilton
Struye. the lawyer, and the big. well
| dressed tenderfoot Of the Northern,
| Mcnamara. the man Of the heavy
band. Struve straightway engaged
| him.
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