Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-26
that's all right. We've just got to go
higher. Tomorrow We'll move up
ctroomo

right angles to our former route and
followed up the bed of the canyon ten
or twelve miles toward the distant
main ranges.
About 4 o'clock we camped. The
fiat was green. Little clumps Of cedar
pushed out across it. The oaks had
given place to cottonwoods. We had
now to make acquaintance with new
birds.
The following morning we went pros
pecting again. My instructions were
for the dry washes in the sides of the
hills. Accordingly I scrambled up
among the powders in the nearest V
shaped ravine. I had hardly to look
at all. Behind a large bowlder lay a
little cuplike depression of stones in
which evidently had stood a recently
evaporated pool of water and which in
consequence was free from the usual
dusty rubble. In the interstices be-
tween the stones my eye caught a dull
glitter. l fell on my knees, dug about
with the point of my bowie knife and
so unearthed small nuggets aggregat-
ing probably a half ounce in weight.
&AAthOuSA AA4SALAly LSulpLCu W STAY
for more, I minded our agreement to
report promptly the first discovery and
started back to camp. Why 1 did not
come a header in that fearful bowlder
strewn wash I cannot tell you. Ger
tainly | took no care Of my going, but
leaped recklessly from rock to rock
like a goat. When 1 reached the fiat
l ran, whooping like an Indian. From
the river I could see Johnny and Buck
Barry running, too, and had sense
enough to laugh as it occurred to me
they must think us attacked by In
dams. Far down the stream l could
just make u figures l knew to be
Yank and McNally. They, too, SEEM
ed to be coming to camp, though I
could not imagine that my shouts had
carried so far.
1 burst in on Bagsby, who was smok-
ing his pipe and leisurely washing the
breakfast dishes, with a whoop, lifted
him bodily by the shoulders, whirled
him around in a clumsy dance. He
aimed a swipe at me with the wet dish
cloth that caught me across the eyes.
You tarnation young grizzly bari"
said he.
l wiped the water from my eyes.
Johnny and Back Barry ran up. Some
how they did not seem to be anticipat-
ing an Indian attack after all. Johnny
ran up to thump me IN the back.
isn't it CREATE" he cried. Fright off
the reel! First pop! Bagsby, old
sport, you're q wonder!!' He started
for Bagsby, who promptly rushed for
his long rifle.
I'm going to kill the first lunatic I
see" he announced.
Johnny laughed eXcitedly and turn
ed back to thump me again.
"How did you guess what it wasp"
asked.
Didn't. Just Numbered on it,"
What" I yelled. "IIave you struck
it too?"
First shovel" said Johnny. But
you don't mean
I thrust my three nuggets under his
eyes.
Say" broke in Buck Barry, eff you
fellows know where the whisky is hide
it, and hide it quick. If l see it I'll get
drunkv!'
Yank and McNally at this moment
strolled from around the bushes. We
all burst out on them.
See your fool nuggets and color
and raise you this" drawled Yank.
And he hauled from his pocket the
very largest chunk Of virgin gold it
has ever been my good fortune to be-
hold. 1t was irregular in shape, pitted
and scored, shaped a good deal like
an egg and nearly it's size. One pound
and a tiny fraction that great nugget
balanced when we got around to
weighing it. And then to crown the
glorious day which the gods were
trimming for us came Don Gaspar and
Vasquez, trailed by that long and sat
urnine individual, Missouri Jones. The
Spaniards were outwardly calm, but
their eyes snapped. AS 500 as they
saw us they waved their hats.
"Ah, also you have found the gold"
cried Don Gaspar, sensing Immediate
ly the significance of u presence.
"We too. 1t is of good color, there
above by the bend" His eye widened
as he saw what Yank held. "Madre
de Diosw! he murmured.
McNally, who had said and done
nothing, suddenly uttered a resound-
ing whoop and stood on his hands.
Missouri Jones, taking aim, spat care
fully in the center Of the fire, missing
the dishpan by a calculated and &C.
| curate inch.
"The country is just flowing with
gold," he pronounced.
Then we blew up. We Rugged each
other, we pounded each others backs,
we emulated McNally's wild Irish
whoops, finally we Joined hands and
danced around and around the re-
mains Of the fire, kicking up our heels
absurdly. Bagsby, a leathery grin on
his face, stood off n side. He still
held his long barreled rifle, which he
presented Mt who e neared him.
II tell you, look Quit" he kept say