Page:Life Amongst the Modocs.djvu/99

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each other, in their beautiful blue home, that seems in the winter time so near the summit of the moun tain.

The Indians say that it is quite possible to step from this mountain to the stars. They say that their fathers have done so often. They lay so many great achievements to their fathers. In this they are very like the white man. But maybe, after all, some of their fathers have gone from this mountain-top to the stars. Who knows ?

We could do nothing now but get wood, cook, and eat. It did not take us long to cook and eat.

The bill of fare was short enough. Miners nearly always lay in a great store of provisions enough to last them through all the winter, as no stores or supply posts are kept open when the mines are closed, as they were then. With us that was impos sible. All the others up and down the stream, with few exceptions, had complete supplies on hand, and had a good and jovial time generally.

They got wood, made snow shoes, cleared off race tracks, and ran races by hundreds on great shoes, twelve and fifteen feet in length, or made coasting places on the hillsides, and slid down hill.

At night, many would get out the old greasy pack of cards, sit before the fire, and play innocent games of old sledge, draw poker, euchre or whist, while some would read by the pine-log light ; others, possessed with a little more devilment, or restlessness, maybe, or idle curiosity, would take the singl