I30 ElyDORADO 



small sum he would conduct any one to the spot, say- 

 ing he would return to it in the morning. 



After consideration, I concluded it was my oppor- 

 tunity. Believing I would have no further need for my 

 pony, and that in any event she would "eat her head 

 off" in a few days, I accepted an offer of $21 for her, 

 throwing in the pack saddle I made at Independence 

 T^ock. It was like parting with old and tried friends, 

 but such was the "irony of fate." My cash capital was 

 thereby increased to $24. I contributed $2, with two or 

 three other "tenderfeet," to the coffers of the enterpris- 

 ing miner to show us where our fortunes could be 

 made. I purchased a few articles of provisions, among 

 others a small-sized onion, for which I paid $1, being 

 told that onions were an antidote for the scurvy, with 

 which many were said to be afflicted and some of them 

 dying. With a further investment in pick, pan and 

 shovel I shouldered my entire outfit and started for the 

 "diggings" six miles up the south fork of the Ameri- 

 can river. 



I never learned whether the nuggets displayed by 

 the " honest miner" were genuine or spurious. We 

 never saw him after reaching the "bar." However, 

 after thoroughly prospecting it for two days without 

 success, barely getting the "color," we shouldered our 

 traps and left to seek our fortunes elsewhere. My 

 comrade, Mr. Coleman, proceeded from Johnson's 

 lanch directly to Hangtown, and when I saw him for 

 the last time, a few days later, he was engaged as "car- 

 penter" in the construction of a canvas and shake house 

 at $10 per day. 



