Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 93 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

can do with their hun -——_ ___ A but they are few, and it cannot be wondered that a man should feel some reluctance at part- ing with it. tim verified the boast that he made; for on the morrow he began work so soon as it was bright, and toiled with scarcely any intermis- sion until nightfall, his net proceeds fully dou- bling those of the day before. Inwood, by this time, had managed to arrange a contrivance with the poles which materially assisted him. One of these being sharp-pointed, he was en- abled to wrench off goodly-sized nuggets, while with another arrangement, he was able to grapple and bring them to the surface, Still 2 third had a pan fastened to the end, by means of which he scooped up a large mass of sand, all flecked with gl g points, and abounding with riches. Edwin Inwood’s rincipal occupation, aside from attending to the animals, was to wander through the surrounding woods on the look- out for white men, who, as will be easily un- derstood, were more dreaded than anything else. On one occasion, he discovered a party of five miners encamped within a mile. He in- stantly made all haste back, and acquainted his friends with the startling fact. Labor was suspended at once, the gold care- fully concealed, and all three set themselves on the watch. The miners were prospecting, and were ignorant of the Enchanted Island and its history. They lingered for several days in the vicinity, and then to the great relief of the In- woods and Jim, they took their departure. Week after week passed away, and still the little party toiled as unceasingly as ever; but when a month had come and gone they saw that the supply was giving out. Still, as all of us would have done under the circumstances, they kept to work’as long as there was anything like a reward to be obtained for their labor. But the end finally came, and they stopped work and took an account of stock. As nearly as George Inwood could calculate, they were the.owners of something less than a hundred thousand dollars—all of it in virgin gold. They certainly had reason to be satisfied with this, and all were, with the exception of Jim, who, of course, growled about it, and Bape that they should hunt up some mwre “ Enchanted Islands” before going home; but then, had an- other proposed the same thing, he would have vehemently opposed it. All the gold they could conveniently carry was distributed about their persons, and the rest was concealed among the saddles on the backs of their animals. The old mule was not honored with a verge but carried the luggage and personal baggage. ' All being read; the little party turned their faces toward San Francisco, and on a bright summer morning started homeward. wy » "my ¢ - CHAPTER XIV. THE PERILS OF A NIGHT. OnrE hundred thousand dollars in gold, in one sense, is a comfortable sum, and yet, in another ‘t is the very reverse. A man who finds himself in possession of that amount, and attempts to carry it, will find that it weighs several hun- dred pounds, and is rather awkward to ye" If he tumbles a portion of;the nuggets into hi pantaloons pockets, their excessive weight is almost sure to send them through the bottom down into his boots, where they are certain to feel still more uncomfortable. If he flings the auriferous luggage over his shoulder, the bur- den is too great to be carried for any time; if the money is placed upon the strong back of a mule, there is the haunting terror of its being lost or stolen durin x some unguarded moment. Perhaps the best thing that any of ourreaders ed thousand dollars, is to put it in a strong safe, or in a good solvent bank, where it van be drawn out piecemeal and devoted to charitable objects; but it will be seen at once that neither of these plans were practi- cable for our friends while their cargo was in transitu for San Francisco, and when we say that they all felt uneasy, we but feebly express their feelings. ‘I tell you if it was know’d what a load we’s takin’ frough de mountains, dere’d be some fo’ks remarked Jim, as they toiled laboriously through the wild country. ‘Yes; we may meet with strangers, and if so st be very careful we must y that they don’t suspect we have so much gold with us. ‘¢ Yes: I’s been t gers am ’bout.” inkin’ dat I orter caution you an’ Ned ’bout keepin’ a close mouf when Ne | Sst | a ee ae The Boy Miners. -_- - -—--—--— *‘'You needn’t be afraid of me,” replied Ed- win. ‘‘If any one reveals it, 1am sure it will be you.” The third night after leaving the Enchanted Island, they encamped in a rocky gorge, close by a aah running stream, where immense precipitous walls rose on either hand, and at mid-day a twilight gloom rested upon the ground and stream. ine, tender green grass was growing in profusion; and picketing the animals within ear-shot, the gold was removed with the saddles, and placed close to the camp- fire, where it could Pana s be seen by every member of the party. ey had a fine plump bird shot, during the latter part of the after- noon, which Jim took in hand, and soon had sputtering and broiling over a small, brisk fire —‘‘doing” it with a skill that would have tempted the appetite of the most fastidious epi- cure. By the time this was disposed of, it was en- tirely datk, and the three gathered more closely about the fire, for there was a chilliness in the air which made its warmth pleasant and grate- ful. Jim found solace in his inevitable pipe, while the brothers chatted as usual, George lay with his head upon the saddles containing the gold, Edwin sat near him, while Jim was upon he opposite side of the fire, half-sitting and half- reclining in his listlessness. ‘‘Am dat a soft piller?” he asked, of the elder brother. ‘* [ can’t say that it is,” was the reply, ‘‘ but it would be pretty hard work to sleep with my head on anything else, so long as ‘ knew we had the gold with us,” ‘*T s’pose when folks have a big lot of gold, they’re apt to think a good ’eal about it. I nev- x res hefted dat ’ere pile. Jes’ let me heft it, The African passed over to where the three saddles lay,and Inwood having removed his head, poked them up, and held them suspended for a ew moments. ‘‘{ tell you gold am purty heavy—” The next instant, the whole pile dropped from his hand, the nuggets giving forth an un- mistakable chink, for there before all stood a stranger, his Sppeananee as sudden and unex- pected as if he had risen from the very earth. There were several bad things regarding the advent of this man, In the first place, he came at a moment when it was certain he had dis- covered that a large quantity of gold was in the possession of the little party. The words of the negro, and his sudden dropping of the riches, made it impossible that it should be otherwise. And again, the stranger had an evil look. He was in the costume of a hunter, but his scowlin features, keen eyes, low forehead, flat nose, an cunning expression were those of an outlaw from society—one whom it was exceedingly perilous to encounter, where the arm of the law was pec paren to protect or to strike terror. ‘* Good-evening, friends,” was the salutation, before the party had time to recover from their surprise. and indignation. ‘* Good-evening,” returned Inwood, who could not be rude even when under such great provo- cation. ‘*Like to know what you want?’ demanded Jim, as he seated himself upon the saddles, and defiantly looked at the new-comer. ‘* Me ?” grinned the other, as he also seated himself as coolly as if he were an invited guest. ‘*T can’t say that I want anything in particular. Happened to catch sight of your fire a little while ago, and I came down to see who you might be, Rather like your appearance.” ‘*We’re a company journeying alone,” said George Inwood, “and wishing you good-speed, you will let us say that we prefer to remain alone, and therefore ask you to pass on.” This was rather a palpable hint, but there seemed no disposition upon the part of the stranger to act upon it. e sat still a few mo- ments, and then also produced a pipe, which he lit with an ember from the fire. - ‘My name is Muffin,” said he, ‘‘and, as I told you a few minutes ago, I’m a hunter in this neighborhood. It isn’t often that I see a white man, and when I do, I must stick to him and enjoy his society all I can. couldn’t think of leaving you just yet.” It occurred to George Inwood that he had not only been discourteous, but had overdone mat- Oe eshogeyhar in manifesting such a prompt anxiety to get rid of Muffin, and he now at- tempted an impossible thing—namely, to undo his mistake. ‘* Are you alone?” he inquired. ‘Yes, sir; nobody goes with me. I live alone in these woods, except when I meet a friend, as I have met you to-night; but I never stay with So, of course, I 13 —— eee . —_ = them long, so you needn’t be anxious regarding 08 ‘cause Pll leave you as soon as it is day- ight,’ ‘his was intended to be reassuring, but it was anything but that, and made Inwood more un- easy than ever. His great fear was that there were others close at hand, and the darkness, gloom, and solitude gave opportunity for trea- chery. He did not see how he could rid him- self of his dangerous visitor; but Jim now spoke up: ‘See here, Mr. Buffin, I wants to ax you a question.” ‘*T am at your service, sir.” ‘Did you ’serbe me when I dropped dese saddles?” ‘*T noticed that you let something fall as I came up, but I didn’t pay attention. It was no concern of mine, you know,” ** You didn’t t’ink—dat is, you don’t t’ink dere be any gold about dat?” ‘Course not; why should I think so?” “All right, Mr. Buffer, I doesn’t want you to t’ink so—jes’ member dat if you please.” George Inwood was greatly irritated, but there was such an air of an pen about what Jim said, that it was impossible not to be amus- ed. When the African received the reply of Mr. Muffin, he seemed satisfied, and seated him- self upon the saddles. George saw that their visitor understood the precise condition of affairs, and that there was no further use of attempting concealment. ‘*T s’pose you’re miners?’ remarked Mr. Muf- fin, by way of initiating the conversation. ‘‘ Yes; we have spent several months amon the mountains, part the time hunting and par the time mining.” ‘What luck?” ‘Quite good I may say; we have toiled long and hard, and have made pretty good wages— so much, that we have concluded to return home,” ‘* Live in California?’ ‘* No; our home is in the Empire State, where I hope we shall shortly be.” ‘*Going to San Francisco?” Inwood answered in the affirmative, and then concluded that it was about time he asked a few questions, ‘Where are your friends?” But Mr. Muffin was too sharp to be taken off his guard, and, with a meaning smile upon his evil coun nance, he said: ‘The nearest I’ve got, I believe, are a couple of brothers in Sacramento City.” - "You hunt alone, do you?” ‘*T have done so for nigh onto five years—not quite that, howsumever. ‘That is a singular way of managing one’s affairs. A man isn’t apt to act in that manner unless he has a strong motive for doing so,” “What might be a chap’s motives?” demand- ed the other, removing his pipe and glaring up- on the speaker with an ugly took. ‘‘Sometimes a man has a natural taste for solitude, but it more generally happens that he leaves society for society’s own coody ‘* Do you mean to ’sinuate that that’s what I’ve done?” ‘“T don’t insinuate anything, because I know nothing about you; but I strong] suspect that you are some scamp who dare not return to the society of your people on account of crimes you have committed against them.” Mr. Muffin looked very angry, and Jim had strong panes that he would say or attempt some- thing bad, for he was eager to lay his hands upon him; but their visitor evidently concluded it unsafe to let his angry passions rise just then, and so held his peace, and smoked his pipe hard- er than ever. ‘*' When a man addresses me as I have address- ed you,” said Inwood, ‘‘ I quietly leave his com- pany, and have nothing more to do with him.” “Dat so,” added Jim, beginning to lose all patience at the impudence of their visitor. ‘If you know what’s best for yourself you'll c’lar out.” Mr. Muffin smoked in silence a few moments longer, and then arose to his feet. Glaring first at Inwood, and then at Jim, he shook his fist at Cont — ou’ll hear from me before |] o, bu ® 0 . You anon y me the last of me,” elt And the next moment he strode off in the The miners waited until they were sure of be- ing alone, when George said: ‘“‘T am sorry we saw anything of that man— he has had his eyes on our gold, and has made up his mind to have it.” “Yes; I am sorry you told him about it,” gravely remarked Jim. (E| 000)