[Dan De Quille, Luck: A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak, The Overland Monthly, February 1891]

 

LUCK: A PROSPECTOR STRIKES A QUEER STREAK.

 

            "YES," said Lucky Bill, quoting an old saw by way of comment upon a story of a lucky find in the old golden days, just told by a white-haired Argonaut, " Yes, Give a man luck, and you may throw him into the sea.' "

            " There is only one noted and authentic instance of the kind of luck you speak of," said Grizzly Ben, " and that constitutes the telling point in the story of Jonah."

            " And what then," triumphantly asked Lucky Bill, " what then becomes of the equally well-founded story of Arion, the Greek musician, who when cast into the sea by robber mariners was safely carried to land by a song-loving dolphin ? "

            "Oh, that is merely a fable of profane history," said Grizzly Ben. " I take my stand on Holy Writ, -- the Book of books."

            " I have read several accounts of sailors being carried on the backs of whales," said Daddy Bob.

            "Yes," said Grizzly Ben, "there's a notable instance of that kind in Baron Munchausen's book."

            " To come ashore again upon the good old stamping ground of the Golden State," said Dick Davis, " I 'll tell you a story of a double dose of luck that I once experienced."

            " Another story of a big find, I fear," growled Lucky Bill.

            " Well, it 's about one kind of a find," said Dick. "A man sometimes looks for what he does not want to find, and again finds what he is not looking for. My story is not one of the 'days of '49'; it goes back no farther than 1857."

            " Good boy ! " grunted Lucky Bill.

            "Even that will almost be ancient history in this year of our Lord 1890," remarked Daddy Bob.

            "Where was I?" asked Dick Davis, looking inquiringly upon the faces of the half dozen " old boys " seated about the table, within easy reach of the bean pot and pickles.

            " Where were you ? " cried Lucky Bill.

            " Why, you muggins, you have not yet begun your story! You've had your nose in your beer mug."

            "True enough!" cried Dick, looking quite surprised. "Well, now I 'm off."

            Well, as I was saying when I was interrupted, in the summer of 1857 I was footing it from the headwaters of the San Joaquin, where I had been prospect-

166 Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak.

ing, toward the northern camps. I was headed for Downieville, Sierra County, intending thence to go up the Yuba to Mooney's Flat or Lady's Cañon. I had prospected myself flat broke. I had tramped it through Hornitos, Coulterville, Big Oak Flat, Sonora, Columbia, and San Andreas without a 'splitter.'

            However, I wanted for nothing. In those days the present race of tramps was unknown. A prospecting miner was then heartily welcomed in every cabin from Kern to Siskiyou. He had only to lay his course along the Sierras about the snow line, where he would always be among the mining towns and brethren of his guild. In every miner's cabin he found room to spread his blankets for the night, and in every cabin, day or night, he was invited to "sit up" when the table was spread. In those times the latch-string was always out at the cabin of the miner. The wandering prospector, with his budget of news from a dozen different camps, was always welcome to the best the cabin afforded. Not unfrequently the broken miner who took to the trails in search of new diggings found himself the guest of an angel he had aforetime himself entertained unaware.

            As I have said, I had traveled as far north as San Andreas, through which town I had passed, and was trudging along the dusty highway, feeling rather blue on account of having lost nearly three months' work on my wild-goose chase. I had nothing in the world except my revolver, a big " Arkansaw toothpick," and a watch. At a time when I was flush and Mistress Fortune stood smiling at my very elbows as I swung my pick, I had bought the finest gold watch that $300 in gold would purchase. This watch was to give me consequence in the eyes of the girl who was waiting back in the States, and to sear the eyeballs of parents who stubbornly refused to recognize merit when not backed by wealth.

            [Just here Lucky Bill heard a great sigh.

            "Why do you sigh like that ? " asked Dick Davis, stopping the thread of his story to stare at Bill.

            "Alas !" said Bill, "the poor girl that was waiting ! "]

            As I plodded along the dusty road I felt that I was a regular out and-outer. I was out at the elbows, out at the knees, and the toes of my old boots were on the broad grin. The fact that I was ragged as an Indian did not much trouble me, however, as ragged men were then the fashion in the mountains. But the sand that entered at the open mouths of my boots did trouble me. My toes on the under side were not only worn to the quick ; but also holes had in several places been worn through the skin, and these were kept raw and bleeding by the sharp quartz sand that was constantly lodging in them and drilling them deeper, just as bowlders drill a "pothole " in the bedrock of a river.

            This being my dolorous case, you can imagine my delight when my limping steps brought me in sight of a pair of boots. The boots were lying in the center of the road, just as though placed there for my special benefit. " Providence, who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," thought I, " has had compassion on the poor old buck."

            The boots were of stout cowhide, and sound as a dollar. As they were tied together at the tops I conjectured that they had fallen off the back of a pack animal or off the roof of a stage-coach. I was not long in discarding my old boots, and installing my bleeding feet in the better ones that luck had lent me. The boots were just a fit, but I found them rather heavy, having been newly half-soled.

            Stamping to settle my heels fairly in my new footgear, I said :

                        " Matters at worst are sure to mend,

                        The Devil's wife was but a fiend !

            " Yes," here my luck takes a turn ! "

1891.] Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak. 167

            However, while exulting in my good fortune, I was not unmindful of the fact that all mankind is concerned in charity. The recluse who ate a handful of plantains as he walked, believing that in his pious humility he had made himself the poorest being in the world, was surprised at seeing that a wretch that followed was eagerly devouring the husks he threw away.

            With thoughts like these in my mind, I tied together the straps of my old boots and left them in the middle of the highway. The turned up toes gaped hungrily, but the poor man following me might be so forlorn as to interpret this as a pleasant grin, or he might be a wretch cursed with bunions.

            However, there is no pleasure without some pain, and in all our joys is found some alloy. As I trudged on toward the town of Jackson, in Amador County, I began to find myself leg-weary. My newly acquired boots, with their thick half-soles, were too heavy for much walking. They were only fit to be worn in a mine. On a long tramp they were a great weight to carry. Still they saved my blistered, bleeding toes, and promising myself to trade them for a lighter pair at some miner's cabin, I toiled on.

            I had traveled about five miles after picking up the boots, when I came to a small creek bordered with willows and occasional clumps of alder, and with a thick growth of young pines on the slopes of the hills on either side.

            Leaving the stage road I went up this creek several hundred yards till I found a pool big enough to afford room for a comfortable bath. Seating myself in the shade of a thick clump of willows in order to cool off before going into the water, I observed on looking at my boots that the under soles appeared to be quite thick enough for walking that apparently they were little worn when the new ones were put over them.

            With my " Arkansaw toothpick " I soon pried the half-sole off one of the boots, when to my astonishment out dropped three twenty dollar gold pieces. I was not long in prospecting the other boot, concealed in which I found the same number of double eagles as had tumbled out of the first.

            As I sat jingling the six big gold coins in my hand, I said aloud in my joy : "Ah, ha ! Did I not say that the Lord cares as much for the old buck as for the lambs ? "

            "He does indeed seem to take them into his special keeping," said a hearty and sonorous voice behind me.

            I turned my head, and found myself looking into the muzzle of a six-shooter that was not two feet from my eyes. The man who was holding a pistol thus dangerously near my head had a fierce look and blazing black eyes, yet he spoke calmly and softly as he said : " I am very sorry, my friend, to dash from your lips your cup of joy, but I must trouble you to hand over those six twenties."

            "Do you mean that ? " said I.

            "I mean just what I said," cried the stranger, somewhat elevating his voice. Then he added in a milder tone, " Do I look like a joker ? "

            It grieved me to the very core of my heart to part with the gold, which had not even so much as been warmed in my pocket ; yet I poured the pieces into the outstretched left hand of the fellow without delay ; for his right hand still presented the cocked revolver. As I did so I could not help saying, "There 's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip !"

            "Old, but true," said the fellow. " Now hand over your knife and pistol ; they might tempt you to a rash act that would cost you your life."

            "It appears, then," said I, "that I am in the hands of a regular road agent ? "

            " I am trying to proceed regularly," was the answer. " And now that I have your weapons, I must ask you to stand up. I dislike to be stooping ; it does not seem regular. Ah, now I see that you have a watch ; pass it out to me."

168 Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak. [Feb.

            I handed out my cherished gold watch, but it was the worst blow of all, -- it seemed to draw after it my very heartstrings as I handed it over to the robber.

            The fellow uttered a cry of surprise at sight of the watch. " By Jove ! '' cried he, "this is no common ticker. Why, my man, you are either rich or foolishly extravagant ! "

            I modestly said : " Sir, I have seen better days," then added, "and even better times than at the present moment," -- at which the fellow smiled.

            Encouraged by this indication that I was in the presence of a human animal, I allowed the sadness of my soul to become visible in my face. " Sir," said I, " I could endure the loss of my money without a pang, but that watch was the last gift of a dying mother to her only son."

            " Does your good father still live ? "

            " No, sir ; the good man has gone to his reward."

            "Then I am in the presence of one of God's orphans ? "

            "You are, sir, a full orphan."

            " How long may I ask, my poor boy, have you been in this forlorn condition ?"

            " Twenty years ! " cried I with much enthusiasm ; for I thought I was making the desired impression. Then pretending to brush away a tear with the sleeve of my shirt, I added , " The good man, my father, died before my mother, who passed away to the angels in giving me birth."

            " Sad, indeed," said the robber, your little story is so pathetic that I must beg to keep this watch in remembrance of your excellent mother."

            " Then, sir, you do not, in your business, respect the gift and last wishes of a dying parent ? "

            " My dear fellow, you touch me now. I swear to restore to you all your property ! I am only taking it for safe keeping ; borrowing it for a short time. Now, my friend, turn all your pockets inside out ; I do not wish to make any mistakes in the bit of business you and I have in hand ; we must proceed regularly."

            There being no coin among the traps that fell to the ground when I obeyed this order, the robber smiled and said : " Ah, now I see ! You were just making a draft upon your bank, -- you were replenishing ? ''

            At first I deigned no reply, for my heart was sore ; but seeing that the robber, though a daredevil looking man, had nothing brutal or ferocious in his countenance, I told him about finding the boots in the road and what an agreeable surprise it was to me -- I being dead broke -- to see the gold tumble out of them.

            "Yes, damn me, and it was an agreeable surprise to me also, as I stood looking over your shoulders to see what you were about. My friend, we were both surprised, -- we shared in the surprise.""

            I wish," said I sadly, " that we had also shared in the cause of it."

            " I could not think of doing anything of the kind. I shall insist upon you keeping the whole, when I return it to you. Why will you persist in looking at this bit of business in the worst possible light ? Don't I tell you that I am only borrowing your valuables? – yet you seem desirous of viewing it in no other light than downright robbery. You will think better of me when we become better acquainted."

            "I – "

            " What was the remark you thought of favoring me with ? "

            " Well, if you must have it," said I, a good deal annoyed, " I am quite content with the degree of ripeness to which our acquaintance has already attained."

            " You are generous, my friend. I, on the contrary, am so well pleased with you that it is my desire and intention to further cultivate your acquaintance. Thus you see, my friend, that I am ready to give you full credit for any degree of

1891.] Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak. 169

merit to which you may be entitled. I am more generous than you have shown yourself."

            " It is always safe to suspect some trick when the Devil turns preacher," said I snappishly, for having nothing more to be robbed of I felt rather independent.

            "A very true saying, my friend, and in order not to give the lie to it, I commend you to roll up your blankets and take a little walk up the creek with me. We have spent too much time here already at cracking our little jokes. It is time to get to business."

            " I beg your pardon, sir, but until now I had been under the impression that our business--  mine, at least – was thoroughly completed."

            " Never in your life were you guilty of falling into a more grievous error. My friend, take up your blankets and march. I will follow behind and guide you with my pistol. We are going up the creek to have a chat. You look sour now, but at our parting you 'll drop a tear."

            " Sir," said I, with a great sigh sticking in my throat, " if it 's all the same to you, I 'll drop it here, and not go up the creek."

            " What a bothersome fellow you are !" cried the robber, scowling at me. " I 'd shoot you here in your tracks, were it not that your freaks and fears are rather amusing. Now, damn you, march ! It pains me to speak harshly, but by God, you 've got to go !"

            One look at the blazing black eyes, and I was enthusiastic to set out on the expedition up the creek. I did not stand marking time; I marched at once. The footpad marched me half a mile up the creek, and then turned me aside and marched me to a dense thicket of evergreens about ten rods away. When we had penetrated the thicket a short distance I was halted. I instinctively looked about to see if my grave were ready dug and yawning for me.

            " Ha, ha ! " laughed the robber. " Ha, ha ! damn me if you are n't frightened at last."

            I said nothing, but gazed heavenward through an opening at a small patch of blue sky, thinking of my sainted mother, who was then still alive and quite spry for a woman of her weight of years.

            " Come, my friend, you look worst just when I am going to do best by you. Do I look like a robber ? "

            " Pretty is as pretty does," sighed I.

            " Bah ! You are as full of old saws as a second-hand lumber mill. Shall we ever get to business ! "

            " My wish at present," said I, " is to retire from business, and from such a place of business as you have brought me to."

            " In due time, my friend ; but I have a great favor to ask of you. I hope soon to find myself under great obligations to you. Now I do not want to be hard on a poor devil of a prospector, a broken one at that, into whose hands the fickle goddess has thrown a crumb or two to keep him in heart ; therefore I again tell you that you will get back every cent of your gold, your watch, your pistol, and all else."

            " What ! You will give back all my property ? "

            " All. I merely took your valuables to hold as security."

            " O, that is what Vasquez always says," said I, my heart sinking to zero.

            " Damn Vasquez ! I am not one of his kind. I have plenty of money of my own right here in this forest. I have only taken your valuables to hold them as a pledge from you that you will do me a kindness and not betray me. You will get back your gold and twice as much more, if you do what I shall ask you to do for me."

            " If it is nothing dishonest," I answered, " I will consider your proposition."

            " Dishonest ! Look in my face and tell me if you see a dishonest line in it."

170 Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak. [Feb.

            " Pretty is as pretty does !"

            " Back again to the old sawmill ! " said the man bitterly ; then continuing said : " I see that I must place myself in your hands and make a clean breast of my troubles. I was going to try to send you into Jackson to buy me a horse and some traps on some slighter excuse, but I see I must throw myself upon your compassion, -- must appeal to your generosity. My friend, I have killed a man. I am in trouble and in hiding. If I am found by the friends of the man I shot and killed, I shall be hanged to the nearest tree." All this was said in a sad tone, and the stranger at once seemed quite another man.

            "Did you kill the man in fair fight?"

            " No. No, sir, it was not in a fair fight. It was a very unfair fight. It was at Georgetown, where still linger some members of that vicious old clan of Georgians of the early days. The fellows I had trouble with came to drive me from a claim I had long worked in peace, capping up some sort of old title to it. They thought I had too good a thing. In the fight into which I was forced in the defense of my property, I killed one man and wounded two others, causing the attacking party to beat a retreat. That was two weeks ago, and I have been in hiding ever since.

            " I would have given myself up to the officers of the law, but I feared being taken from their custody by a mob of the clannish Georgians. Friends who concealed me for a day or two advised me to get out of the country for a time, as my enemies were scouring the whole neighborhood, armed to the teeth and swearing vengeance against me.

            " Such being the situation, I dug up my hoard of coin, packed it on the back of a donkey, and got out of the camp in the night. Now here I am. I have worked myself so far with my donkey, traveling of nights and hiding during daylight. I know the devils are on my track, for but two nights ago, when I ventured into Jackson to get something to keep me from starving, two of them came into the livery stable where I had lodged my donkey, and had a talk about me while I was crouched in a stall not five feet away. They were going down about Merced to look for me, therefore I shall strike for the valleys and go to Los Angeles, then to my old home in Sonora, Mexico, for a few months.

            " Now that I have trusted my life in your hands, will you try to assist me ? "

            " I will do what I can for you," said I, "but I must say that I don't like the way in which I have been treated by you."

            " No doubt I did wrong, but you see I had to have you."

            "You frightened me out of a year's growth."

            "That was doing you a favor. You are now a six-footer ; do you want to grow to be a giant ? But to tell you the truth, I was awfully frightened while ' holding you up.' How did I do it ? Was I regular, think you?"

            " Damnably like an old hand ! to say what I thought at the time."

            " Thank you, -- but I thought you the cool one. I was infernally afraid at one time that I had stumbled upon a professional, -- had caught a Tartar. See now how such affairs look to the two engaged in them, when both are quaking in every joint. Each thinks the other a man with the heart of a lion." And the stranger laughed merrily.

            " Yes, but you still hold on to my valuables all the same," said I dryly.

            " Yes, my friend, and I intend to hold on to them till I am ready to part with you. You do not yet more than half trust me, but when we part it will be with your best wishes for my safety ; aye, with your blessing. Now go to Jackson and buy for me a good stout horse, with saddle, bridle, and all else belonging to a good rig ; also, bring some hard biscuits and bacon, and some to-

1891.] Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak. 171

bacco for cigaritos. Can I trust you away from me with as much as $300 ? "

            " With any amount, sir. I must have back my watch."

            " Ah, yes ; the last gift of a dying mother to her only son. I did well to secure an article about which cling such tender recollections, and which you must have possessed ever since the moment of your birth."

            " You make very merry, sir, over a slip of the tongue when I was in fear of my life and greatly confused ; just at the moment, too, of asking of me a great favor."

            "Come, come, my friend. I touch no tender chord, as you well know. I saw through your little story as soon as you began it. Why, man, the cases of your watch are of California gold, -- gold not dug ten years ago. Forgive me if I am too merry, for your promise to get me a horse gives me great happiness. Let him be a good traveler ; a horse such as you would choose for yourself if about to flee, as I am, from enemies thirsting for your blood."

            "Where shall I find you, sir, on my return ? " said I, as the stranger handed me a handful of gold.

            " Come to the little bluff of rocks opposite here on the creek, and whistle three times as near like a quail as you know how."

            " Like this ? " I asked, and you would have thought an old cock quail perched above my head.

            " Beautiful ! Get me a Spanish saddle and rig ; big spurs and all. I have trusted you with $350."

            " Every cent shall be accounted for, sir, and I 'll be back about sunset. That will be about the hour real quail will be whistling, therefore I 'd better whistle four times."

            "A delicate way of boasting of your skill ; but four times let it be."

            I was off to Jackson a moment later. The distance was less than two miles, and before the sun was down I was safely back on the creek with a splendid and powerful Spanish horse and a beautiful rig. No matter what lies I told in the town, I passed for an honest miner who had made a good " find," and every word I uttered was believed. I bought every article I was sent for and had a few dollars left. I tried the paces of the horse on my way back to the creek. I found him swift and strong.

            On arriving at the rocks on the creek I stopped and gave the signal agreed upon.

            In a few moments thereafter a tall man wearing a stylish Peruvian hat and carrying a double-barreled shotgun on his shoulder made his appearance. I wished him in purgatory. He seemed a high-toned " greaser." Halting as he came up to me, and resting his gun on the ground, he said: "Buenas tardes, caballero."

            "Buenas tardes, sefior, Je me port sehr wohl," said I, trying to be decently sociable.

            " Habla Espanol, señor?" asked he.

            "Sehr wenig, monsieur; nicht poco mas, a great deal," said I. " Parlez vous nicht Americano?"

            "Muy poco, señor," said the stranger. " Lo entiendo un poco, pero no lo hablo."

            "Are you hunting, señor?"

            " Si, señor. Me think a me hear quail. You see some 'bout this place ? "

            " No, señor, not here ; but down the creek I just saw a big flock. Go at once and you 'll find them."

            " Fine horse you got. How much you sell ? "

            " Not for sale. Plenty, mucho quail down creek."

            " All very good. Me catch him poco tiempo. You see 'bout this place one tall Americano caballero ? "

            " No, señor, I have seen no man. But I saw many quail – "

            " Nonsense ! Let me talk of something besides quail. I am glad to see that you have no intention of giving me away."

172 Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak. [Feb.

            I stared at the fellow, a tall, dark man with a black moustache fiercely waxed out, and said: " So, I find you can speak English very well when it suits you?"

            " My friend, I am glad to find my disguise so perfect, and you so true to me. You have brought me a fine horse."

            " Not that I am aware of," I answered, still gazing at the fellow sharply, for I began to suspect that he was either a detective or a Georgian in disguise.

            " Here, my friend," cried the man stepping to my side, "you ought to know this," and he showed me my watch.

            " Yes, I know that is my watch."

            " Well, I am the man who took it from you, but I have disguised myself somewhat since you left me : shaved my chin, stained my face and hands, and made some alterations in my dress. Had any one come with you from town, -- you see I was not perfectly sure of you, -- you would not have seen your man in the Mexican quail hunter. Ha, ha ! the Georgians will not know me in this shape ! "

            I was now satisfied. " Well, I am here with what you sent for, -- what next ? " I asked.

            " Follow me," and my man started up the creek. I followed without a word. Going a short distance above the rocks the mysterious stranger left the creek on the side opposite that to which he had before escorted me at the muzzle of his pistol. He now led the way into the heart of a thicket so dense that in following him I was obliged to dismount and lead the horse.

            To my surprise we presently came to a camp, -- a brush shanty, lying about in which were cooking utensils and other traps.

            " You are now in the hole of the fox," said my captor. " Go now to the glade that lies a rod or two away straight before you, as you stand, and bring in a burro that you 'll see feeding there. It will be best to get him in before dark."

            I went as directed, and found a donkey that was as big as a medium-sized mule, -- the biggest I have ever seen.

            When I returned I found the stranger packing up such articles as he would require on a camping trip.

            " Put that pack-saddle on the burro," ordered my boss. " You understand packing?"

            " Perfectly well," I muttered.

            " I have one pair of blankets rolled up here to go on the horse ; also the other things that lie with the blankets go on the horse, but put your blankets and all else you see in the camp upon the burro. Throw the small tent you see there over the top of your load, and then rope on the whole firmly."

            I did as directed, the stranger sitting by, rolling and smoking cigarettes while I worked. Occasionally he consulted my watch -- out of pure deviltry, as I thought.

            "Now for a lunch," said my man, "and make it a hearty one, as I shall, for both you and I, my friend, must do some good traveling to-night."

            "And must I do mine on foot ?"

            " Yes, my friend ; your boots, are now light."

            I sighed.

            Lunch over, and it growing dark, the stranger began packing his horse. His roll of blankets was strongly corded at both ends. While he was trying to strap it behind his saddle, it slipped to my side of the horse. In lifting it to push it back to its place I involuntarily gave a cry of surprise at its great weight.

            "My little hoard of money," said the man ; " but also a considerable weight of ammunition and other such stuff."

            All being packed, my man, who had been thoughtful and anxious for some time, struck a match and again consulted my watch. Taking his horse by the bridle, he then moved out into the thicket, calling sharply to me : " Take the burro by the halter and follow ! "

            " What ! Am I to go with you ? "

            " You heard what I said ? "

1891.] Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak. 173

            "Yes, sir."

            " Then come along."

            I followed, sad at heart. We traveled slowly down the creek, for the dense forest darkened the rocky path. Soon after we had reached more open ground, where there was some light from the stars, the stranger halted. "Here," said he, "we first met, and here we part."

            I looked, and saw the clump of willows whence my captor had pounced out upon me.

            " Seat yourself ; we have plenty of time."

            We seated ourselves side by side on the ground. The Georgetowner then took out a book, and asking my name and address, wrote them down, saying, " You will often think of me as your good friend, and as you will wish to know whether I escaped the Georgians, I will send you a letter when I find myself out of their reach."

            I thanked him.

            " Now," said he, "now, as I took your property, and also took possession of your person, to your great distress of mind, I am going to do what is right by you. I am about to show you that I am not the bad, heartless fellow you have all along thought me. Here in this purse are your six twenties, with six double eagles on top of them to keep them warm in their nest ; here is your watch, also your pistol and knife. Now, besides, I give you my best friend, my faithful burro. Take good care of him. He understands camp-life as well as an Indian. I also give and bequeath unto you all the ' plunder ' now packed upon the burro's back, and turn over to you this fair fowling-piece, with which to defend yourself and belongings. That gun is another old friend ; use it well."

            As may be imagined, such a happy turn in my affairs quite overwhelmed me. It was an unlooked-for display of generosity on the part of my captor, for which I could hardly find words to express my thanks.

            " Never mind, never mind ! " cried my eccentric companion. " However, on second thought, if you can spare a thing so precious, you may drop on my hand the tear I spoke of a while ago"; and he laughed right merrily.

            "Also," said I, "you said I would send you forth with my blessing. Tears do not come at my bidding, but I can now honestly and heartily say to you, God bless and preserve you, my friend, wherever you go ! "

            "Thank you, my man. My blessing may be of little use to any one ; but, such as it is, you have it. Now for my last instructions to you. Wait here an hour or two until the people in Jackson are housed, then skirt the town and do not halt till daylight. It is best not to be seen on foot with a burro by any one who saw you buy this horse. It might start inquiries as to what you had done with the horse. It is always best not to be obliged to answer questions. After to-morrow morning travel as you please, -- take your own way to Downieville.

            " Now I am off, for I know you 'll not feel yourself perfectly safe while I remain." He then mounted his horse, and in starting said : " Tengo que marcharme. A Dios, senor ! Henceforward I am a Spaniard ! " and away he cantered down the creek toward the main stage road.

            I obeyed instructions so well that I did not travel openly by daylight until I was beyond Volcano, well on my way to Shingle Springs ; I wanted no more trouble through the affairs of the Georgetown man.

            In a day or two all my fears were left behind. Gayly as a second Sancho Panza, I jogged along. In due time I arrived at Georgetown. I made it my first business to inquire about the great claim fight and the killing of a Georgian. All told me that no such affray had occurred in the town or vicinity, and some laughed at me when I asked about the fight. " Some one," said they, "has been hoax-

174      Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak. [Feb.

ing you ; or you have run against a blowhard."

            There was no mistake about it : the mysterious stranger had lied to me. I was quite nonplussed -- confounded. What was the object of the man in telling me such a yarn ? Above all, what was his object in remaining in hiding ?

            At last a ray of light was flashed into my mind that seemed to illumine the mystery. I had caught some talk all along the road of the stage having been robbed within a mile of the town of Jackson. It was said that over $10,000 in gold had been taken ; coin which was being sent from San Francisco to a banker and dealer in gold dust in Jackson. Everywhere I had seen bills stuck up headed, " $2,000 Reward," but I gave no special attention to a thing so very common at that time. I did not feel that I was interested one way or another in a stage robbery.

            Now -- my suspicions being aroused -- I began to inquire about the robbery.

            The story was that the stage was stopped by three masked men, two of whom stood guard while the third, who was very tall and evidently an American, did all the talking and business. Wells, Fargo & Co's treasure box having been found in a vacant house in the outskirts of the town, it was pretty evident that the robbers were men belonging in the place, who had been studying and timing the shipments of dust to San Francisco and of coin to Jackson.

            Putting together what I had heard and what I had myself seen and experienced, I became well satisfied that I had helped in the escape of the chief of the party that had robbed the Jackson stage. Also, on comparing dates,  I found that the stage had been robbed just three nights before I was captured and made use of. I was now heartily glad that I had told no one the story of the rather singular and improbable looking transactions that had taken place between myself and the stranger.

            Everywhere my big burro was admired, and daily a dozen men asked me where I found him. I had at first merely answered, " Down in the lower country " ; now, however, I boldly asserted that he came from Sonora, Mexico. I also was rather nervous when my fine fowling-piece attracted notice.

            In fact, I now looked upon myself as the prize ass of all Christendom, for having been so completely taken in and used by a stage robber, whom I might have captured had I been really bright. Besides all this, I did not know what trouble I might get into were it known that I had assisted in the escape of the criminal.

            That I would be taken back to Jackson, were my story known, was a sure thing. My account of my connection with the robber would look very gauzy, and the money, shot-gun, burro, and other traps, would tell against me. I was sick of myself when I thought how nicely the fellow had bamboozled me when asking if he appeared to do his work something after the "regular" style, while he was operating on me.

            It may be imagined that when I reached Downieville and old friends, I kept to myself the most interesting episode of my journey. I was obliged to tell a thousand lies about my big burro and fine gun ; even the tent and other traps attracted the notice of my old mining chums.

            About three months after my return to my old camp at Mooney's Flat, Ike Mooney one day brought me from Downieville a letter bearing the postmark of the City of Mexico. I opened the envelope and found a long letter, beginning, " Richard Davis, Esq., Downieville, Sierra County, Cal." Then it started off with a familiar and friendly " Dear Dick."

            Although I destroyed that letter as soon as I had read it, yet to this day I remember almost every word it contained. It was a cunningly worded

1891.] Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak. 175

document. It started off with: "According to promise, I write to inform you that I escaped to this country safe and sound with the ' swag,' thanks to your kind and valuable assistance. As I was not in the humor to give you the whole racket while we were together hiding in the woods, I now make amends for what, at the time when we were 'working' together, may have seemed a lack of confidence in you, you, who have proved as true as steel to me. I will now tell you just how I 'worked the trick,' -- what occurred during our hiding in the woods and at the secret camp being well known to you."

            That is about the style of the first part of the letter. I saw at a glance that if it fell into other hands, it would be very likely to land me in San Quentin, and you may be sure that I took the first opportunity to put it into the fire. It almost made my hair stand on end. The fellow had evidently purposely, so worded the letter that I would be compelled, in self-defense, to destroy it at once. That letter would have been an awful thing to have been found among my effects had I met with a sudden death in my mine. It was one of my robber friend's neat little jokes. I cannot begin to tell you how smoothly it was worded or how often he called me " dear friend," and his "true and trusty friend." He also took special pains to ask about the health of "our noble burro," and to speak of the shotgun, tent, and all the other "traps."

            That part of the letter alone would have caught me in ten thousand lies. No doubt the fellow heartily enjoyed writing all these seemingly innocent and natural inquiries. It was just his style of joke. Yet, to give the devil his due, he had some heart and a generous streak or two. He ventured into a minute account of the robbing of the stage. He had worked all alone. Twice before, at points down near the valleys, he had stopped the same stage, but had missed obtaining the large booty he anticipated. Then, in various disguises, he had hung about Jackson in order to more closely study the dust and coin shipments. He said that he was all alone when he secured the big prize he had so long coveted ; that the two men, supposed to have stood guard, were the cheapest of dummies, -- only old shirts, pantaloons, and hats, stuck up on sticks.

            When the treasure box was thrown out by the driver, under the persuading influence of a leveled shotgun, and he had ordered the coach forward, he quietly gathered up his dummies (which were not even stuffed), piled the old clothes on top of the treasure box, and took all to a spot near at hand where "our noble burro " was tied. The old clothes were arranged on the pack-saddle ; on these was placed the treasure box, then over all the " tent we wot of " was spread and securely roped with a long lariat. Then, with his gun on his shoulder and the burro before him, he boldly took the road and followed the robbed stage into town.

            However, before he reached the town the alarm had been given. He met a posse of armed and mounted men, who halted and asked if he had seen three men anywhere down the road. He had seen no men. The posse dashed forward, and he (stripped of an over frock and dressed as an honest miner) quietly jogged on.

            It was only about 9 o'clock at night when he entered Jackson. All was excitement and the streets full of people. He went whistling along, and when he came near the first groups of people, began talking to his donkey, saying to him : "Courage, old fellow, your journey is about over now, and you shall have a big feed of barley ! "

            Several among the men in the street approached the supposed belated prospector, to ask if he had seen a gang of robbers down the road. He said he was a stranger in that camp and did n't know the robbers from the honest men, but

176 Luck : A Prospector Strikes a Queer Streak, [Feb.

he had met half a dozen armed men just outside of town, riding down the road as if the Devil was after them.

            Of course the people knew about those men, and they left the "fool prospector," and went in search of later news. Being thus deserted, the robber turned into a lonely cross street, and made his way to an old vacant house in the outskirts of the town. He had there secreted the tools he would need, and at his leisure he opened the box and secured the bags of coin, which he placed in the ends of a big grain sack, and slung across the back of his burro.

            Leaving the door of the old house ajar, in order that the rifled treasure box might be found early next morning, my robber friend then made his way to his secret camp in the evergreen thicket. His coin was soon buried and the burro turned out to graze in " our beautiful glade," when he sought his couch and enjoyed that sound sleep which is the reward of honest toil.

            He said he had at first thought of packing out of the country with the burro ; but after getting the prize he sought he found himself anxious to reach a place as quickly as possible where he could safely enjoy it. " But then," said he, "while I was watching by the creek to see if any officers were scouting out from the town, you, my friend, turned from the highroad and came to my assistance, rejoicing mine eyes as though you had been an angel sent from heaven. The wonders we did when we united our wits and worked together as two brothers, you well know."

            Thus he grappled me with " hooks of steel," until the very last word was written. The letter was signed, " Your old friend and pard, Ketchum Jackson." It would hardly have been made much plainer had he said, "Me ketch um, Jackson."

            Well, boys, you may be sure that after reading this letter I was not long in going down to the valleys in order to so dispose of my burro, gun, and other traps, that I would never again see or hear of them.

            " Thank God ! " cried Daddy Bob, "a mystery is now solved that has worried me for thirty-two years."

            " What is that ? " asked Grizzly Ben.

            "Why, I've a thousand times wondered who found those boots of mine, and whether the finder wore 'em out without discovering the six twenties. Now that I know that they fell into honest hands, I am sure of getting all back. But no interest -- I 'll take no interest. All I ask is that Dick call for another measure of beer."

            " Yes, Daddy Bob," said Dick, "you 're always ready to furnish the hook if some one else will find the bacon."

            " Peace, brawler ! " cried Lucky Bill. " Daddy Bob, you are wrong. ' The abbot must eat that sings for his meat.' Dick has kept us all wandering so long in the 'greenwood' that I've just ordered Fred to bring on ham sandwiches and another half gallon of his best brew, for,

                                                " ' 'Tis merry in hall,

                                                Where beards wag all !' "

Dan DeQuille.