Year: 1874

ADVENTURE OF A DIGGER.

 It is not so many years back since my wife's brother died in Colorado. He had always been wild sort of fellow, fit only for life among miners, yet we liked him much, for he had many good qualities. He was injured by the fall ing of some rock, and the nearest doc- tor-shey had one not more than sixty miles away-said that although he might finger a good while, even months, perhaps, he must die from the accident. So Dick got comrade, who was going eastward, to send me tele- graphs existed, detailing what had hap pened, and begging me to go to him. I need scarcely say how little this was to my taste, but we did not hesitate mo- ment; we liked poor Dick, and I thought it very probable that he was lying on bed of pain without friend, and without a dollar. My wife was naturally even more solicitous about him than myself. ..', .

 The trip Westward has been told too often to need any description from me. I journeyed through what seemed almost interminable space, and at last reached that gathering of (then) mean habitations, called Denver. q was there again last year, and found it slightly changed). The place where Dick lay was, I found, about hundred miles from Denver; and I found also, that the best, if not the only way to get there, was on horseback and now the real horrors of my journey began. I traveled by myself, or if, by chance, I had companions for few miles, these were so rough, wild, and uncouth, that 1 was always heartily glad to be rid of them and the same when the mo- notony of the mountain track was bro- ken by descending teams, or parties of horsemen; their presence frightened me a great deal more than their ab- sence, yet I cannot recall single in- stance of even rudeness on their part |; but was scared generally.

 l had, of course, taken care to ascer- tain, before starting on my lonely ride, that there was no fear of Indians, who. had all, it seemed, temporarily left the district; so one great cause of fear was removed. Briefly, then, I reached In auguration Town, so called because of the day when the first tent was pitched there, and found it miserable place. A dozen log huts, five of them being saloons, and about forty tents, formed the "city," as it not unfrequently styled itself. In 8 wretched room at the back of the largest saloon, found poor Dick, in sad state. He was very glad to see me, but it was plain that he was not long for this world he knew this well enough, and talked of his death as calmly as though he had been speaking. of some one else. On one point I was quite surprised-so far from needing any help in money mat ters, he was really rich man, and handed me deposit notes amounting to some thousands of dollars, and made over to me the gold and valuables which were lying to his credit at the |" bank. !" Everything was done in a most inform al way; but complete answer to all my doubts and queries was given, by saying, that such was Miners Law ;" and anyhow, had the proceeds of the gold duly handed to me the day after Dicks death.

 When the poor fellow was gone, I had nothing to detain me at Inauguration Town, and so left it, as I had approach ed it, on horseback. could have had company, as the landlord of the saloon told me there was an "outft" starting for Denver on the next morning; and taking it for granted that I should em- brace the opportunity, he introduced several of the 'sboys'' to me at once ; but such wild, desperate-looking set ed with for the world. Very greatly to Sch al my horse, and rode off at midday, more companions than of my roadside enemies.

 I got on very we'll that day, and slept at house where had stopped on my upward journey. The citizen who dwelt there seemed glad to see me, after the apathetic fashion of these Western peo- pie, but seemed astonished, too, I thought, and when I was going away, he, in his rude way, complimented me on my courage; he said I had more grit in me than any Down-Easterhe had ever seen. In fact, boss, there's many Western man would be skeary at riding alone through this locality, now the Utes is back so thick, and so nasty as they are to ,; but" he went on. 'syou have the real grit, I can see." rode off, completely staggered by his speech and I doubt if any man in the world was ever so utterly cowed by a compliment on his courage. I resolved to ride very slowly, and allow the wild outfit" from Inauguration to over- take me but one can't control one's fate. I had not ridden half-a-dozen miles, before I saw winding up hill, to the brow of which had just climb ed, at least score of Indians. They were, luckily, at least couple of miles from me, and so there was every oppor- tunity for me to avoid them.

 did not like the idea of riding di- rectly back, so determined to take ad- vantage of 8 ravine which ran parallel to the road l was pursuing, and which latter was little better than ravine it. self, especially as, from from my ele- vated position, thought could see where it issued into the plain below. I hesitated no longer, but turned into the ravine, and was glad to find traces of a road and of travellers there; so, judging one way was used about as much as the other, I logged cheerfully n.

 I saw no house at which to get my midday meal, but did not mind that, as, from the rate at which I had been descending, I reckoned I should soon strike the plain. dismounted by the side of little spring, and with my flask and some crackers and sardines, man. aged pretty we'll. I had just lii ghted my cigar, and was lying under the shel ter of solitary tree, when, suddenly, 8 mounted figure came over little stony ridge just behind me. started up, and he started back. A more sus picious-leoking character 1t would bt