, and the shadows were lifting from the gloomy depths of

diameter. The bottom of this valley was covered with rich grass, and in it was a grove of cotton-wood tree

ere kept, and, as they had but little to d

n was rising in the upper world, Sam and Ike, who were hardly ever apart, went up to the valley and soon retur

s not an unusual event, yet his face showed that he was much dejected, as if he had a pre

s, as he kiss

tain me longer than four days, I

crowds, an', then, we've struck pay dirt rich up at the head of the

the cave and waved their hats, till the three men had led the animals up

become a skillful gold miner, that is, so far as panni

uices immediately after his father left, and until the sun was in mid-heaven they worked, shoveling gravel into the cradle and rock

ies that would have tempted an invalid's appetite. And, as the boys ate, sitting before the entrance

he produced a second when the first had vanished

s he helped himself again. "But vanzon pie an' 'possums a

ion was at the moment attracted to two strange men who were slowly ma

from white outlaws who frequently robbed weak mining camps, every one at Gold Cave Camp

Sam went down to the stream, getting the

and the other was a short, yellow-skinned man with a mean expre

s man, so he did not greet

of the country, and when they came within

an, is this Mr.

Sam's reply, as

Willet

is n

re i

ne to Hurl

did he

morn

ssed him. When do y

dinner?" asked Sam, waving his hand in the direc

e in a great hurry," said Frank Shirley, turning and whis

asked Sam, as the two men

was the lac

the men had gone out of hearing,

hey reached the top of the cliff prove

a rock, and as they prepared to moun

the boy,

atween you an' fo

es

hired me to help y

ve, B

he father first, an' then all t

tick to you

nses an' give me ten thousand dollars to

k Shirley, as he mounted and r

ack at the ca?on, "ain't no slouch. He'll fight, he wil

at's it exactly. And now that we have

as made to orde

ork again, but the former had lost the cheerf

d their return-indeed, he could not account to himself for the st

ther's departure, he noticed that the sky had become overcast

they had great difficulty in making their w

the ca?on became as dark as night, while the roar of the water

ave were sitting with awed faces before the fire, when, to their ine

ked Sam, springing to his fe

an for hours. The flood was up, and it i

am, pleadingly laying his arm

e prisoners at Hurle

sone

ur father that will explain all," said Ulna, pulling a damp paper from his pocket and adding, "your testimony i