Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/91



humor for  it. Drawing the  rag  in  which  the  gold was wrapped  from  his  pocket — "No,"  exclaims  the narrator parenthetically  **not  that  exactly  either; I will  tell  the  truth  Mr  Bancroft ;  I  had  tied  it  up for  safe-keeping  in  the  corner  of  my  shirt,"^ — he  showed it  to  his  friends.  They  took  it  from  him,  weighed  it, and  found  that  he  had  srathered  a  little  short  of  an ounce  and  a  half  There  was  no  further  secret  dig- ging for  Bigler,  for  on  the  next  Sunday,  the  27th  of February,  five  others  determined  to  accompany  him  ; and  they  spent  the  day,  lying  prostrate  with  their faces  to  the  ground,  scratching  and  hunting  for  the precious  particles.

That night  arrived  from  below  three  of  the  Mormon boys, Fieiield-  Sidney  Willis,  and  Wilford  Hudson, with their  guns  and  blankets  on  their  backs. It ap- pears the secret  written  to  Martin,  Green,  and  Evans, was told,  for  easier  keeping,  to  other  three,  who  find- ing it heavy,  started  at  once  for  the  saw-mill,  saying to their  companions  that  they  were  going  on  a  visit, and for  a  few  days'  shooting. Marshall happened  to be  in  the  house  when  they  arrived,  and  instead  of being  offended  at  Bigler's  faithlessness,  talked  good humoredly about  their  prospects  till  a  late  hour,  and gave Hudson  permission  to  dig  in  the  tail-race. Therefore early  next  morning  the  three  went  thither, and not  long  after  Hudson  picked  up  a  lump  worth about six  dollars. On Thursday,  the  2d  of March,  the  Mormons  took  their  departure  for  the flouring-mill, Willis  and  Hudson  following  the  river to look  for  gold,  and  Fiefield,  accompanied  by  Bigler, going by  the  road.

All four  met  at  the  flouring-mill. All the  way down the  river,  though  passing  over  some  of  the  rich- est deposits, Willis  #.nd  Hudson  gathered  only  fifty cents ;  and  so  disgusted  were  they  that  they  refused to have  anything  more  to  do  with  the  business, though urged  by  their  friends,  who  volunteered  to  go back    with    them. Bigler,   however,     returned     to