ELDORADO 133 



If a purse was to be made up for a sick or unfortunate 

 miner or one disabled by some misfortune, the only 

 sure and successful place to obtain contributions for his 

 relief or 10 defray his expenses back to the "States" was 

 in the gambling rooms. I have seen tens and twenties 

 thrown into the hat until the requisite amount was 

 made up. A glance at the applicant for charity — whose 

 -^ase would be presented by some responsible miner — 

 was sufficient, without a question being asked. 



Another class, known as the desperado, preyed not 

 alone upon the miner, but upon all classes alike. Not 

 gold simply, but life, was too often demanded to satisfy 

 their thirst for blood and notoriety. The border ruffian 

 from Texas, and escaped convicts from Sydney, known 

 as 'Sydney ducks," were among the worst of this class. 



When cards were unlucky and theft impossible, the 

 desperado did not hesitate to live upon the proceeds of 

 another obtained by sin and shame. If wishing to make 

 a raise by more desperate means, he was always careful 

 to get "the drop" on his victim. His "best hold," how- 

 ever, was in bluffing the verdant pilgrim just from the 

 East, known on the plains as the "greenhorn" and in 

 the mountains as the "tenderfoot." The cowardly des- 

 perado would pull his revolvers around to the front so 

 the handles could be seen, ruffle his hair, and, with 

 fierce looks and terrible oaths, placing himself in front 

 of his victim, would address him about as follows : 

 "Seen yer before, young feller ! Can't call yer 

 name. Oh, yes, Jones. Lemme tell yer, Jones, this 

 yere's a bad place, heap er bad men — bad man myself — 

 saved yer life the other night. Don't tell me I lie! — 

 (reaches for his pistol) — saved yer life — lend me a 

 fiver. Ain't slept for a week — been drunk a month ; 



