392 Reminiscences of 



rear of the store and rapidly emptied a medium-sized 

 tumblerful of reddish fluid. He returned toward 

 the front of the store, smacking his lips, and saying 

 he felt "all right now." 



We stowed away for the night, and in the morn- 

 ing, Jack, mounted on a mustang of Bebo's, and I, 

 similarly mounted, left for the great mine, which 

 no one but myself could be permitted to see. It was 

 a drizzling, wet morning, and I went on with Jack, 

 who was laboring under the influence of an evening's 

 indulgence in red-eye, to the hills, while Slawson 

 and his assistant took the trail for Jericho, the name 

 of a settlement where Jack lived, and where we were 

 to pass the night. Jack was very groggy, and, being 

 supplied with a fresh bottle in his saddle-bags, took 

 frequent libations to clear his sight, though he mis- 

 took his directions several times and I began to doubt 

 if he would be able to find his treasure. The sprinkle 

 had turned into rain, and I wished I was well away 

 from the prospective Golconda, which was getting to 

 be a mixed feature. Over hills and valleys we crossed 

 and criss-crossed without being able to find it, and 

 finally I became a good deal alarmed, especially when 

 Jack seemed to be approaching a maudlin condition. 



The mine was simply a myth and utterly worth- 

 less. It was certainly not an occasion for me to 

 express a disappointment, or my opinion of the mine, 

 and of Jack's character, which now stood clearly 

 revealed. I felt bound to conceal my disgust, and, 

 after again pledging myself to the utmost secrecy, 

 persuaded him to pilot the way to Jericho, where 

 we arrived after dark. This Jericho was a small 

 Mexican settlement, composed of a few adobe houses, 



