ELDORADO 147 



from pine poles for sleeping arrangements, and built a 

 large stone fireplace in the rear end of onr new dwell- 

 ing. Our bunks were not as soft as feathers, or even 

 as straw, but that objectionable feature was relieved by 

 substituting a few pine boughs. Altogether our quar- 

 ters were very comfortable. 



It was now midwinter and owing to the lack of wa- 

 ter and anticipating rain in the near future, the policy 

 was adopted of prospecting with a pan and washing 

 the dirt therefrom at some standing pool or nearby 

 spring to test its value. If sufficient '"color" was ob- 

 tained to justify working, the dirt was carried out 

 from the bed and sides of the creek by hand barrows 

 made of dried rawhide attached to a couple of short 

 poles, one man in front and one in the rear carrying 

 the load. Five or six buckets of earth placed thereon 

 constituted a load. It was deposited in long extended 

 piles on the bank above what was supposed to be high 

 water mark to await the coming of the rain. Mis- 

 takes were sometimes made in regard to ''high water 

 mark.'' and the labor of weeks would be swept awa\- 

 by the sudden rise of the rushing waters. In the man- 

 ner I have described we carried out some three thou- 

 sand buckets of earth before sufificient water could be 

 had to use our cradles. 



Before this work was fully accomplished, either 

 from insufficient diet or overwork, mv health became 

 seriously impaired. No vegetable diet could be ob- 

 tained. Our food consisted mainlv of "frijoles" 

 fbeans), bacon and pancakes with occasionallv a litt1" 

 fresh bear meat. Manv cases of scorbutic disea.'^es 

 w^re prevalent and a large number proved fatal. 



After varied experiences during the winter at min- 



