With Gun & Rod in Canada 



from among the rocks a few ancient bleached bones and a 

 much rusted rifle-barrel. 



Dave said that an old prospector who was the original 

 owner in fee simple of these bones had been obsessed 

 with the idea that all the other inmates of the camp 

 were going to try to jump his claim. Consequently he 

 stayed on guard day and night. When the mines turned 

 out to be a non-paying proposition and the inhabitants 

 had stampeded out of the country, this old prospector 

 was convinced that it was simply a ruse to lure him away 

 from his claim. So he had sat there untiringly with his 

 rifle across his knees to guard his property, ever since. 

 The Indians found him, but being superstitious left 

 him alone. They named the place " Dead Man Mine." 



Upon closer examination we found the cabins still 

 partly furnished; old rusted mining tools lying around, 

 a couple of blacksmiths' outfits, much moulded and 

 rusted cases of canned goods, mice-riddled blankets, 

 cooking utensils, etc. After a casual inspection one 

 would have thought that the miners had left the day 

 before and were expected back any moment. 



I carefully sampled such of the quartz as I could get at, 

 both on the surface and in a short tunnel, quartered 

 my samples down to the smallest possible bulk for con- 

 venient carrying on our pack-mare; and climbing the 

 southern and lower side of the crater, we topped the 

 low ridge, and waving a farewell to the tenacious old 

 miner, started our descent. For two miles we travelled 

 down the most treacherous rock slides it was ever my 

 bad fortune to encounter. Then we entered fallen 

 timber. Forest fires and wind had made this canyon 

 almost impassable for anything but snakes and birds. 



We dismounted, and with an axe in one hand and reins 

 in the other, we hewed, scrambled, crawled, and twisted 

 through a maze of giant jack-straws. When it was 



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