Year: 1875




that Billy Bent had arrived. Work
Immediately ceased, except in the
vicinity of the champions, and the
boys stuck.close to the Chapel, that
being the spot where the encounter
should naturally take place. Min
ers thronged in from fifty miles
around, and nothing but a special
mule express saved the camp from
the horror Of Pentecost's bar being
inadequate to the demand. Be-
tween straight bets and "hedg-
ings," most of the gold dust in
camp had been "put up" for bet
is the only Californian backing of
an opinion. AS the men did not
seem to seek each other, the boys
had ample time to "grind things
down to point" as the camp con-
cisely expressed it, and the matter
had given excuse for dozen minor
fights, when order was suddenly
restored one afternoon by the en-
trance of Billy and his neighbors,
just as the Judge and his neighbors
were finishing drink.


The boys Immediately and silent
ly formed ring, on the outer edge
of which had been massed all the
men who had been outside and who
came pouring in like flies before n
shower. No one squatted or hug
ged the wall, for it was understood
that these two men fought only with
knives, so the spectators were in q
state of abject safety.


The Judge, after settling the
drinks, turned for the first time and
saw his enemy.


"Hello, Billy!" said he, pleasant
ly, "let's take drink first"


Billy, who was a red-haired man
with snapping-turtle mouth, but
not vicious looking man for all
that, briefly replied, GAIL right"
and these two determined enemies
clinked their glasses with the un-
concern of mere social drinkers.


But, after this, they proceeded
promptly to business the Judge,
who was rather slow on his guard,
was the owner of badly cut arm
within three minutes by the bar
keepers watch, but not until he
had given Billy, who was parrying
thrust, an ugly cash ia his left
temple. There was a busy hum
during the adjustment of bets on
"first BLOOD" and the combatants
very considerably refrained from
doing serious injury during this
temporary distraction, but within
five minutes more they had chang
ed chest wounds, both too slight
to be dangerous.


Betting became furious-each
man. fought so splendidly that the
boys were wild with delight and
enthusiasm. Bets were roared
back and forth, when Pentecost, by
virtue of his universally conceded
authority, commanded silence,
there was great deal of finger
telegraphy across the circle, and
head-shaking in return.


Such exquisite carving had nev-
er before been seen at Hanney's-
that was freely admitted by all.
Men pitied absent miners all over
the State, and wondered why this
delightful lingering, long-drawn-
out system of slaughter was not
more popular than the brief and
commonplace method of the revol-
yer. The Webfoot rapturously
quoted DR.. Watts


"My willing soul would stay


In such place rs this,


And"


when suddenly his cup Of bliss was
dashed to the ground, for Billy
stumbling fell upon his own knife.
and received o severe cut in the
abdomen.


Wounds of this sort are general
ly fatal, and the boys had exper-
ience enough in such matters to
know it. In q minute the men
who had been calmly viewing o
life and death conflict bestirred
themselves to help the sufferer.
Pentecost passed bottle of brandy
over the counter half q dozen
men ran to the spring for cold wa.
ter; others hastily tore off coats
and even shirts, with which to soft
} en- bench for the wounded man.
, No one went for the doctor for
Il An