CHAPTER V.
The cave which afforded such an opportune retreat to Jim Tubbs and the Inwoods, was one of these natural formations which are occasionally found, and which have more the appearance of being the handiwork of some skillful architect than of nature.
A narrow passage, sufficient to admit an ordinary sized man, extended about thirty feet, when it opened into a broad chamber, which was lighted by several thin rents in the rocks overhead, they being so massive as to exclude all hope of ingress from that direction. The only disadvantage connected with this subterranean dwelling was, that during rainy weather, it required extreme care to prevent its being flooded. Occasionally, they were driven out in this manner; but there being a lower portion of the mountain close at hand, the water thus gathered, almost as speedily filtrated through the rocks into the outlet.
When George Inwood made his reconnoisance, after the departure of the Mohave Indians, he was confident of finding some of them dead, or desperately wounded; but, to his surprise, he discovered neither. He was rather pleased at this; for he had never slain a human being, and his teaching and tastes were utterly opposed to it. He more than expected that, ere he saw San Francisco again, he would be compelled to slay some of the troublesome aborigines in self-defense, but, until absolutely compelled so to do, he had resolved to abstain from it altogether.
“De next thing, I s’pose, am whedder dem hosses are wisible or inwisible. I ’clines to tink dey’re inwisible,” remarked Jim, when informed that the red men had taken their final departure.
“They have been undisturbed,” replied Inwood. “I took a look at them before I came in.”
“Bless de good Lord for dat; I hopes dey will let dem animals be; for if dey tucks ’em away, we’ll hab a mighty hard road to trabbel to get back agin—carrying dem big piles ob gold.”
“Ah, Jim, we haven’t got that gold yet——”
“But ain’t we getting it, eh? I s’pose I didn’t get a pocketful dis berry arternoon, did I?” he demanded indignantly.
“We have comparatively a small quantity, and there’s no telling when that will give out.”