The Argosy, Vol. XI No. 20 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

$2U ‘*T hope you did not repay their hospitality as you did ours.” **No, no. I obeyed the promptings of my better nature. And now, how have you prospered ? Hf&ve you been to the mines ?” ** No, I have been employed in a restaurant.” ‘In a restaurant! Oh, how the word moves me! have not tasted food for twenty four hours." ** Come with me, then, and I will see that you have a dinner.” He took Silverthorn to the restaurant and authorized him to order what he liked. Mr. Silverthorn was by no means backward in accept- ing the invitation, and Grant had a dollar to pay. **I feel better!” sighed Silverthorn, ‘‘ Do you think I could get employment here ?” ‘* No; my place is taken.” ‘* And how are my old friends, the Coopers ?"’ ‘© Mr. Cooper is running a blacksmith shop, and Tom is at Howe’s Gulch, where I am going.” ‘*Could you—you are so kind—pay my expenses to the mines? I should so like to see my friend Tom.” **No, I couldn't,” answered Tom bluntly. ‘“*T thought I would ask," said Stverthorn, by no means abashed. ‘Tell Mr. Cooper that b will soon call at his shop.” **] don't think he will care to see you,” thought Grant. Ah, Grant, I CHAPTER XXIII. THE FIRST DAY AT THE MINES. BOUT three o'clock in the afternoon the stage from Sacramento arrived at Howe’s Gulch. Among the other passengers Grant descended, his limbs sore from rattling over the roughest kind of roads, and, stretching himself, he looked around him, The stage had drawn up in front of the hotei, but it was not such a hotel as the reader is accustomed to see. It was a long, low frame building, with what might be called an attic overhead, which was used as a veneral dormitory, with loose beds of straw spread over the floor. Here twenty five persons slept ina single room. Down below, rude meals were supplied for those who could afford to pay the price. But Grant felt little interest in the hotel. He expected to meet Tom Cooper, and looked out for him. He had not long to wait. ** How are you, Grant ? Delighted to see you. How's the folks ?”’ Grant turned, and in the bearded, roughly dressed miner found it difficult to recognize his friend of the plains—Tom Cooper, His face lighted up as he grasped Tom's hand cordially. ** Your father and mother are well,” he said, ‘‘ and so is Mr. Silver- thorn.” “What! have you seen that scoundrel ?" “DT left him at Sacramento. He wanted me to pay his fare out here.” * You declined ?” ‘Yes; I thought he would be company for your father. adopt Silverthorn in your place.’”’ ** He's welcome to if he likes. Grant. How do you feel ?” “Sore enough, I thought I should be shaken to pieces over the rough road.” 4 ‘You are hungry, I reckon. dinner.”’ Nothing loath, Grant followed Tom into the dining room, where dinner was laid in readiness for the stage passengers. It was not such & meal as an epicure would enjoy, but Grant ate with great relish. ‘So you have been doing well, Tom?” said Grant between two mouthfuls. ‘ ‘Yes; you didn’t tell father what I wrote you 2?" “Noy you told me not to.” ‘What did he say about me ?” ** He said he didn’t believe you were doing much; that he thought you had better come back to Sacramento and help him in the shop." Tom laughed. | ET think EU) stay here a little longer,” he replied. ing ?™ “ Finely. He may It's good for sore eyes to see you, Come into the hotel, and we'll have ‘« How is dad do- He is making ten dollars a dav.” “Good for Inn! He wouldn't do for mining. mother. He's better off where he ts.” “Where do you sleep, Tom ?” Besides, there's THER ARGOSY ‘*Up stairs. I havea pair of blankets up there, and a pillow, and I don't need anybody to make my bed.” ‘* |] suppose I ought to have a pair or blankets.” ‘‘1'll buy you a pair. There’s a chap going to leave today, and we can buy his. Now come out and see the mines.” Leaving the hotel, Tom led the way to the mining claims. There was a deep gulch half a mile distant, at the base of which ran a creek, and it was along this that the claims were staked out. They were about twenty feet wide, in some cases more. Tom led the way to his, and showed Grant the way he worked. He used a rocker, or cradle. A sieve was fitted in at the top, and into this the miner shoveled the dirt. TTom rocked the cradle with one hand, after it was filled, and poured water on the dirt from a dipper. Gradually the dirt was washed out, and if there was any gold it would remain in smal) gleaming particles mixed with black sand. ‘‘ Isn't that rather a rough way of working, Tom ?” asked Grant, after his tour of inspection. “Yes; Ihave been thinking of getting what they call a ‘long tom’ (no pun intended).” “What is that?” | I won't give Tom's answer, but quote a more accurate description from an English book published in 1857: ‘* A ‘long tom’ is nothing more than a wooden trough from twelve to twenty five feet long, and about a foot wide. At the lower end it widens considerably, and the floor of ét is a sheet of iron, pierced with holes half an inch in diame- ter, under which is placed a flat box a couple of inches deep. Tie long tom is set at a slight inclination over the place which is to be worked, and a stream of water is kept running through it by means of ahose. While some of the party shovel the dirt into the tom as fast as they can dig it up, one man stands at the lower end, stirring up the dirt as it is washed down, separating the stones and throwing them out, while the earth and small gravel fall with the water through the Sieve into the ripple box. This box is about five feet long, and is crossed by two partitions, It is also placed at an inclination, so that the water falling into it keeps the dirt loose, allowing the gold and heavy particles to settle to the bottom, while all the lighter stuff washes over the end of the box along with the water.” The dirt taken out of the ripple box has to be washed out after- ward, so as to leave the gold particles. ‘Where is the claim vou have bought for me, Tom ?" asked Grant. ‘*A little further down the creek. I will show you.” ‘* Lend me your cradle, and see if I can work it.” Grant took the cradle, and, under Tom's direction, shoveled in some dirt, and proceeded to rock it. He was quite delighted when, as the result of his labors, a few specks of gold appeared at the bottom. ‘* How much does it amount to, Tom ?” he asked, gathering it into his hand. ‘* Perhaps a dime.” Grant looked rather disappointed. ‘It would take some time to get rich at that rate,” he said, rather ruefully. “Yes ; but there is always a chance of ‘striking it rich,’ what keeps our spirits up. make to you.” “What is it, Tom ?” ‘* Suppose we work together. Wecan take turns in digging, shov- eling in the dirt, and rocking the cradle. That will be more sociable, and we can divide equally whatever gold we obtain.” ‘That will suit me exactly, Tom; but, as you are more experienced than I, you ought to have more than half.” ‘“No, Grant. It shail be share and share alike. advantage. It will save petting an extra rocker." ‘*] am ready to begin at once.” ‘Are vou not too tired 2?" ‘' No, Tom. IT want to feel that I have begun to work. tired I can sleep better tonight.” They worked for two hours, when they knocked off for the day. The work was done on Grant's claim. Tom estimated the result at a dollar, ‘* That is fifty cents apiece,” he said. ‘“T don't mind, Tom. am a miner." At six o'clock they went to the: hotel »which was a general: lounging place for the miners. That is By the way, Grant, I have a proposal to There is another If I get ‘* Tomorrow we'll do better.” I have made a beginning. Now I feel that I (70 be continued.) econnicoooks COUNT