MINERS ON A SPREE. 
105 
carrying him down, but Dewey’s unerring lasso took effect, and 
he was again drawn up the bank. This way of wearing cravats 
Jack was not accustomed to, and it was sometime before he could 
raise wind sufficient to carry him from his moorings. 
The third attempt was made with better success. He reached 
the opposite side, but in stepping off the log, stumbled, and, the 
bank being steep, he rolled back to the margin of the river; 
Dewey again threw the lasso, and Jack recrossed. This closed 
the scene; Jack did not come before the curtain, and, I suspect, 
that if there had been one near, he would have got behind it. 
Occasionally the miners of that entire region of country would 
get on a spree, go to some drinking establishment, all get tight, 
and have a merry row. They would keep it up during the day, 
and at evening some one perhaps would propose going home. 
This would be favored by some, but generally met by a proposi¬ 
tion to have another round, which would invariably carry; then 
some would be accused of not having treated; he would ac¬ 
knowledge the soft impeachment, and another round would be 
ordered. They would all drink to friends at home in general, 
then to some particular personal friend. Some one would pro¬ 
pose going to the dry diggings the next day, prospecting. Well, 
all in favor of going with Price, to-morrow, to the dry diggings, 
will form on this side—opposed, on the other; opposed are in 
the minority, and must treat. Some would get mad and start 
for their tents, but having, at this particular time, very vague 
ideas of localities, instead of going down the river, they would 
go up the side of the mountain, and, vice versa; others would 
start, but by some mysterious movement, the earth would fly 
up and hit them in the face. The balance of the party would 
take the last drink and start, all wishing to go to the same place, 
but each, having his own peculiar ideas, as to the direction. 
After wandering about for some tin e, each would call to the 
others, informing them that he was right, and of course when 
all were right none were wrong; but in the sequel not one, per¬ 
haps, out of the twenty, would reach his tent during the night. 
On one occasion, one of the party, after having taken the last 
drink, mounted his mule, designing to go one mile up the river, 
but, on reaching the mouth of the ravine, the worthy animal 
turned down stream. In the course of the night the rider, as 
