76 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
We soon had our machine on the spot. As we were placing it 
several miners passed on the way to their work. They all look¬ 
ed, we thought , as if they considered us the most fortunate of 
men, and we detected a lurking envy in their expression. As 
soon as they left, our machine was put in motion; we now had 
no doubt as to the result, and after running through ten buckets 
of dirt we raised the screen, but, to our astonishment, there was 
not a particle of gold to be seen. This was beyond our com¬ 
prehension. We could not conceive of a more convenient place 
for gold to deposite than this particular one, and determined not 
to abandon it until we had reached the granite. This we reach¬ 
ed, and toiled on until noon, when we emptied our machine, 
and had two dollars’ worth of gold. We adjourned to dinner, 
and learned that a team had just arrived and was to return to 
Sacramento city the next day. Harry, Sam, and Bent imme¬ 
diately resolved to take passage. They had had their expenses 
paid to California, and were to work under the direction of the 
Company, and have a portion of the proceeds. They, no doubt, 
considered the dividends too small in proportion to the labor. 
I determined to make a more thorough trial of the mines, and 
not wishing to be encumbered sold the provisions, cooking uten¬ 
sils, &c., hired the tent carried back, and the next morning the 
teamster had every individual that accompanied our mule-team 
up, excepting a young man who had been sleeping on the 
ground near our tent and myself. They all, no doubt, had the 
same exalted opinion of the mines, and returned with purses 
equally well filled. Harry and Sam had earned $40 beside 
what Bent and myself had earned. This, together with what I 
received for provisions, &c., amounted to $200, which I put into 
the hands of Harry to give to one of the firm, who was at Sac¬ 
ramento city. 
I was now alone. The two companions of the young man 
spoken of above, had left him, and circumstances seemed to 
throw us in each other’s way, and makes us companions. His 
name was Tracy. He and his companions, Seillinger and Hicks, 
were from Sante Fe; they had crossed the mountains, eaten 
their proportion of mule steak, ai}d endured every conceivable 
hardship. We were at once friends. We determined to gain a 
higher point on the river, and, if possible, find a place where 
