The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-26

were generally bearded, tanned with working in this binding sun and plas- tered liberally with the red earth. We saw some queer sights, however, as when we came across jolly pair dressed in what were the remains of ultra fashionable garments up to and including plug hats! At one side, work ing some distance from the stream, were small groups of native Califor nians or Mexicans. They did not trou- ble to carry the earth all the way to the river, aSlt, after screening it rough Iy, tossed it into the air above a can vas, thus winnowing out the heavier pay dirt. I thought this must be very disagreeable.
 As we wandered about here and there among all these men so busily engaged and with our own eyes saw pan after pan show gold, actual metal lie guaranteed gold, such as rings and watches and money are made of, a growing excitement possessed us-the excitement of a small boy with a new and untried gun. We wanted to get at it ourselves. Only we did not know . how.
 Finally Yank approached one of the busy miners.
 Stranger said he, "Ne're new to this. Maybe you can tell us where we can dig little of this gold ourselves"
 The man straightened his back to ex- hibit rowing humorous blue eye, with which he examined Tank from top to toe.
 'tIf,' said he, ''it wasn't for that eighteen foot cannon you carry over your left arm and a cold gray pair of eyes you carry in your head I'd direct you up the sidehill wonder and watch you sweat. As it is, you can work anywhere anybody else isn't working. Start in!''
 Gan we dig right next to you, then?'' asked Tank, nodding at an un- broken piece of ground just upstream.
 The miner cla-1bered carefully out of his waist deep trencR, searched his pockets, produced pipe and tobacco.l After lighting this he made Yank a low bow.
 Thanks for the compliment; but, I warn you, this claim of mine is not very rich I'm thinking of trying somewhere else.''
 Don't you get any goId?" EtOh, few ounces a day.
 ''That suits me for a beginning said Tank decidedly. Come on, boysr' The miner hopped back into his hole, only to stick his head out again for the purpose of telling us: Mind you keep fifteen feet aWayT' With eager hands we slipped pick and s9aovels from beneath the pack ropes, undid our iron bucket and with out further delay commenced feverish- ly to dig.
 Johnny held the pail, while Yank and I vied with each other in being the first to get our shove1fuls into that receptacle. As a consequence we near | 1y swamped the pail first off and had l to pour some of the earth out again. Then we all three ran down to the | river and took turns stirring that mud 1 pie beneath the gently flowing waters l in the manner of the pot banners l we had first watched. After a good | deal of trouble we found ourselves pos l seSsed of a thick layer of rocks and l coarse pebbles.
 we forgot to screen it, I pointed out.
 ~'We haven't any screen,' said l Johnny.
 1 Let's pick 'em out by hand" sug- l gested Yank.
 | We did so. The process emptied the l pail. Each of us insisted on examin- 1 Ing closely, but none of us succeeded In creating out of our desires any of that a1luring black sand.
 %I suppose we can't expect to get color every time," observed Johnny
 1isappointedly. "Lets try her again.