"Joshua," said Joe, some three months after their arrival, "have youtaken account of stock lately?"
"No," said Joshua, "but I'll do it now."
After a brief time he announced the result.
"I've got about five hundred dollars, or thereabouts," he said.
"You have done a little better than I have."
"How much have you?"
"About four hundred and fifty."
"I owe you twenty-five dollars, Joe. That'll make us even."
Joshua was about to transfer twenty-five dollars to Joe, when thelatter stayed his hand.
"Don't be in a hurry, Mr. Bickford," he said. "Wait till we get tothe city."
"Do you know, Joe," said Joshua, in a tone of satisfaction, "I amricher than I was when I sot out from home?"
"I am glad to hear it, Mr. Bickford. You have worked hard, anddeserve your luck."
"I had only three hundred dollars then; now I've got four hundred andseventy-five, takin' out what I owe you."
"You needn't take it out at all."
"You've done enough for me, Joe. I don't want you to give me thatdebt."
"Remember, Joshua, I have got a business in the city paying me moneyall the time. I expect my share of the profits will be more than Ihave earned out here."
"That's good. I wish I'd got a business like you. You'd be allright even if you only get enough to pay expenses here."
"That's so."
"I am getting rather tired of this place, Mr. Bickford," said Joe,after a little pause.
"You don't think of going back to the city?" asked Joshuaapprehensively.
"Not directly, but I think I should like to see a little more ofCalifornia. These are not the only diggings."
"Where do you want to go?"
"I haven't considered yet. The main thing is, will you go with me?"
"We won't part company, Joe."
"Good! Then I'll inquire, and see what I can find out about otherplaces. This pays fairly, but there is little chance of gettingnuggets of any size hereabouts."
"I'd just like to find one worth two thousand dollars. I'd start forhome mighty quick, and give Sukey Smith a chance to become Mrs.Bickford."
"Success to you!" said Joe, laughing.
CHAPTER XXXIII
A STARTLING TABLEAU
Joe finally decided on some mines a hundred miles distant in asouthwesterly direction. They were reported to be rich and promising.
"At any rate," said he, "even if they are no better than here, weshall get a little variety and change of scene."
"That'll be good for our appetite."
"I don't think, Mr. Bickford, that either of us need be concernedabout his appetite. Mine is remarkably healthy."
"Nothing was ever the matter with mine," said Joshua, "as long as theprovisions held out."
They made some few preparations of a necessary character. Theirclothing was in rags, and they got a new outfit at the mining store.Each also provided himself with a rifle. The expense of these madesome inroads upon their stock of money, but by the time they wereready to start they had eight hundred dollars between them, besidestheir outfit, and this they considered satisfactory.
Kellogg at first proposed to go with them, but finally he changed hismind.
"I am in a hurry to get home," he said, "and these mines are a surething. If I were as young as you, I would take the risk. As it is,I had better not. I've got a wife and child at home, and I want togo back to them as soon as I can."
"You are right," said Joe.
"I've got a girl at home," said Joshua, "but I guess she'll wait forme."
"Suppose she don't," suggested Joe.
"I shan't break my heart," said Mr. Bickford. "There's more than onegirl in the world."
"I see you are a philosopher, Mr. Bickford," said his oldschoolmaster.
"I don't know about that, but I don't intend to make a fool of myselffor any gal. I shall say, 'Sukey, here I am; I've got a littlemoney, and I'm your'n till death if you say so. If you don't wantme, I won't commit susancide."
"That's a capital joke, Joshua," said Joe. "Her name is Susan, isn'tit?"
"Have I made a joke? Waal, I didn't go to do it."
"It is unconscious wit, Mr. Bickford," said Kellogg.
"Pooty good joke, ain't it?" said Joshua complacently. "Susan-cide,and her name is Susan. Ho! ho! I never thought on't."
And Joshua roared in appreciation of the joke which he hadunwittingly perpetrated, for it must be explained that he thoughtsusan-cide the proper form of the word expressing a voluntarysevering of the vital cord.
Years afterward, when Joshua found himself the center of a socialthrong, he was wont to say, "Ever heard that joke I made aboutSusan?" and then he would cite it amid the plaudits of his friends.
Mr. Bickford and Joe had not disposed of their horses. They hadsuffered them to forage in the neighborhood of the river, thinking itpossible that the time would come when they would require them.
One fine morning they set out from the camp near the banks of theYuba and set their faces in a southwesterly direction. They had madethemselves popular among their comrades, and the miners gave them ahearty cheer as they started.
"Good luck, Joe! Good luck, old man!" they exclaimed heartily.
"The same to you, boy!"
So with mutual good feeling they parted company.
"We ain't leavin' like our friend from Pike County," said Mr.Bickford. "I often think of the poor critter trottin' off with faceto the rear."
"I hope we shan't meet him or any of his kind," said Joe.
"So do I. He'd better go and live among the wildcats."
"He is some like them. He lives upon others."
It would only be wearisome to give a detailed account of the journeyof the two friends. One incident will suffice.
On the fourth day Joe suddenly exclaimed in excitement:
"Look, Joshua!"
"By gosh!"
The exclamation was a natural one. At the distance of forty rods aman was visible, his hat off, his face wild with fear, and indangerous proximity a grizzly bear of the largest size doggedlypursuing him.
"It's Hogan!" exclaimed Joe in surprise. "We must save him."
CHAPTER XXXIV
A GRIZZLY ON THE WAR-PATH
It may surprise some of my young friends to learn that the grizzlybear is to be found in California. Though as the State has increasedin population mostly all have been killed off, even now among themountains they may be found, and occasionally visit the lower slopesand attack men and beasts.
Hogan had had the ill-luck to encounter one of these animals.
When he first saw the grizzly there was a considerable space betweenthem. If he had concealed himself, he might have escaped the noticeof the beast, but when he commenced running the grizzly became awareof his presence and started in pursuit.
Hogan was rather dilapidated in appearance. Trusting to luck insteadof labor, he had had a hard time, as he might have expected. Hisflannel shirt was ragged and his nether garments showed the ravagesof time. In the race his hat had dropped off and his rough, unkempthair was erect with fright. He was running rapidly, but was alreadyshowing signs of exhaustion. The bear was getting over the groundwith clumsy speed, appearing to take it easily, but overhauling hisintended victim slowly, but surely.
Joe and Bickford were standing on one side, and had not yet attractedthe attention of either party in this unequal race.
"Poor chap!" said Joshua. "He looks most tuckered out. Shall Ishoot?"
"Wait till the bear gets a little nearer. We can't afford to miss.He will turn on us."
"I'm in a hurry to roll the beast over," said Joshua. "It's a cruelsight to see a grizzly hunting a man."
At this moment Hogan turned his head with the terror-stricken look ofa man who felt that he was lost.
The bear was little more than a hundred feet behind him and wasgaining steadily. He was already terribly fa
tigued--his breathingwas reduced to a hoarse pant. He was overcome by the terror of thesituation, and his remaining strength gave way. With a shrill cry hesank down upon the ground, and, shutting his eyes, awaited the attack.
The bear increased his speed.
"Now let him have it!" said Joe in a sharp, quick whisper.
Mr. Bickford fired, striking the grizzly in the face.
Bruin stood still and roared angrily. He wagged his large head fromone side to the other, seeking by whom this attack was made.
He espied the two friends, and, abandoning his pursuit of Hogan,rolled angrily toward them.
"Give it to him quick, Joe!" exclaimed Bickford. "He's making forus."
Joe held his rifle with steady hand and took deliberate aim. It waswell he did, for had he failed both he and Bickford would have beenin great peril.
His faithful rifle did good service.
The bear tumbled to the earth with sudden awkwardness. The bullethad reached a vital part and the grizzly was destined to do no moremischief.
"Is he dead, or only feigning?" asked Joe prudently.
"He's a gone coon," said Joshua. "Let us go up and look at him."
They went up and stood over the huge beast. He was not quite dead.He opened his glazing eyes, made a convulsive movement with his pawsas if he would like to attack his foes, and then his head fell backand he moved no more.
"He's gone, sure enough," said Bickford. "Good-by, old grizzly. Youmeant well, but circumstances interfered with your good intentions."
"Now let us look up Hogan," said Joe.
The man had sunk to the ground utterly exhausted, and in his weaknessand terror had fainted.
Joe got some water and threw it in his face.
He opened his eyes and drew a deep breath. A sudden recollectionblanched his face anew, and he cried:
"Don't let him get at me!"
"You're safe, Mr. Hogan," said Joe. "The bear is dead."
"Dead! Is he really dead?"
"If you don't believe it, get up and look at him," said Bickford.
"I can't get up--I'm so weak."
"Let me help you, then. There--do you see the critter?"
Hogan shuddered as he caught sight of the huge beast only twenty-fivefeet distant from him.
"Was he as near as that?" he gasped.
"He almost had you," said Bickford. "If it hadn't been for Joe andme, he'd have been munchin' you at this identical minute. Thingshave changed a little, and in place of the bear eatin' you you shallhelp eat the bear."
By this time Hogan, realizing that he was safe, began to recover hisstrength. As he did so he became angry with the beast that haddriven him such a hard race for life. He ran up to the grizzly andkicked him.
"Take that!" he exclaimed with an oath. "I wish you wasn't dead, sothat I could stick my knife into you."
"If he wasn't dead you'd keep your distance," said Joshua dryly. "Itdon't require much courage to tackle him now."
Hogan felt this to be a reflection upon his courage.
"I guess you'd have run, too, if he'd been after you," he said.
"I guess I should. Bears are all very well in their place, but I'drather not mingle with 'em socially. They're very affectionate andfond of hugging, but if I'm going to be hugged I wouldn't choose abear."
"You seem to think I was a coward for runnin' from the bear."
"No, I don't. How do I know you was runnin' from the bear? Maybeyou was only takin' a little exercise to get up an appetite fordinner."
"I am faint and weak," said Hogan. "I haven't had anything to eatfor twelve hours."
"You shall have some food," said Joe. "Joshua, where are theprovisions? We may as well sit down and lunch."
"Jest as you say, Joe. I most generally have an appetite."
There was a mountain spring within a stone's throw. Joshua took atin pail and brought some of the sparkling beverage, which he offeredfirst to Hogan.
Hogan drank greedily. His throat was parched and dry, and he neededit.
He drew a deep breath of relief.
"I feel better," said he. "I was in search of a spring when thatcursed beast spied me and gave me chase."
They sat down under the shade of a large tree and lunched.
"What sort of luck have you had since you tried to break into myrestaurant, Mr. Hogan?" asked Joe.
Hogan changed color. The question was an awkward one.
"Who told you I tried to enter your restaurant?" he asked.
"The man you brought there."
"That wasn't creditable of you, Hogan," said Joshua, with his mouthfull. "After my friend Joe had given you a supper and promised youbreakfast, it was unkind to try to rob him. Don't you think soyourself?"
"I couldn't help it," said Hogan, who had rapidly decided on hisdefense.
"Couldn't help it?" said Joe in a tone of inquiry. "That's rather astrange statement."
"It's true," said Hogan. "The man forced me to do it."
"How was that?"
"He saw me comin' out of the restaurant a little while before, andwhen he met me, after trying to rob me and finding that it didn'tpay, he asked me if I was a friend of yours. I told him I was. Thenhe began to ask if you slept there at night and if anybody was withyou. I didn't want to answer, but he held a pistol at my head andforced me to. Then he made me go with him. I offered to get in,thinking I could whisper in your ear and warn you, but he wouldn'tlet me. He stationed me at the window and got in himself. You knowwhat followed. As soon as I saw you were too strong for him I ranaway, fearing that he might try to implicate me in the attempt atrobbery."
Hogan recited this story very glibly and in a very plausible manner.
"Mr. Hogan," said Joe, "if I didn't know you so thoroughly, I mightbe disposed to put confidence in your statements. As it is, I regretto say I don't believe you."
"Hogan," said Joshua, "I think you're one of the fust romancers ofthe age. If I ever start a story-paper I'll engage you to write forme."
"I am sorry you do me so much injustice, gentlemen," said Hogan, withan air of suffering innocence. "I'm the victim of circumstances."
"I expect you're a second George Washington. You never told a lie,did you?"
"Some time you will know me better," said Hogan.
"I hope not," said Joe. "I know you better now than I want to."
CHAPTER XXXV
THE NEW DIGGINGS
When lunch-was over, Joe said:
"Good day, Mr. Hogan. Look out for the grizzlies, and may you havebetter luck in future."
"Yes, Hogan, good by," said Joshua. "We make over to you all ourinterest in the bear. He meant to eat you. You can revenge yourselfby eatin' him."
"Are you going to leave me, gentlemen?" asked Hogan in alarm.
"You don't expect us to stay and take care of you, do you?"
"Let me go with you," pleaded Hogan. "I am afraid to be left alonein this country. I may meet another grizzly, and lose my life."
"That would be a great loss to the world," said Mr. Bickford, withunconcealed sarcasm.
"It would be a great loss to me," said Hogan.
"Maybe that's the best way to put it," observed Bickford. "It wouldhave been money in my friend Joe's pocket if you had never been born."
"May I go with you?" pleaded Hogan, this time addressing himself toJoe.
"Mr. Hogan," said Joe, "you know very well why your company is notacceptable to us."
"You shall have no occasion to complain," said Hogan earnestly.
"Do you want us to adopt you, Hogan?" asked Joshua.
"Let me stay with you till we reach the nearest diggings. Then Iwon't trouble you any more."
Joe turned to Bickford.
"If you don't object," he said, "I think I'll let him come."
"Let the critter come," said Bickford. "He'd be sure to choke anygrizzly that tackled him. For the sake of the bear, let him come."
Mr. Hogan was too glad to
join the party, on any conditions, toresent the tone which Mr. Bickford employed in addressing him. Heobtained his suit, and the party of three kept on their way.
As they advanced the country became rougher and more hilly. Here andthere they saw evidences of "prospecting" by former visitors. Theycame upon deserted claims and the sites of former camps. But inthese places the indications of gold had not been sufficientlyfavorable to warrant continued work, and the miners had goneelsewhere.
At last, however, they came to a dozen men who were busily at work ina gulch. Two rude huts near-by evidently served as their temporaryhomes.
"Well, boys, how do you find it?" inquired Bickford, riding up.
"Pretty fair," said one of the party.
"Have you got room for three more?"
"Yes--come along. You can select claims alongside and go to work ifyou want to."
"What do you say, Joe?"
"I am in favor of it."
"We are going to put up here, Hogan," said Mr. Bickford. "You can doas you've a mind to. Much as we value your interestin' society, wehope you won't put yourself out to stay on our account."
"I'll stay," said Hogan.
Joe and Joshua surveyed the ground and staked out their claims,writing out the usual notice and posting it on a neighboring tree.They had not all the requisite tools, but these they were able topurchase at one of the cabins.