And none of them knew the news from California.
[pg 196]
CHAPTER XXVI -THE FIRST GOLD
The purple mantle of the mountain twilight was dropping on the hills when Bridger and Carson rode out together from the Laramie stockade to the Wingate encampment in the valley. The extraordinary capacity of Bridger in matters alcoholic left him still in fair possession of his faculties; but some new purpose, born of the exaltation of alcohol, now held his mind.
"Let me see that little dingus ye had, Kit," said he--"that piece o' gold."
Carson handed it to him.
"Ye got any more o' hit, Kit?"
"Plenty! You can have it if you'll promise not to tell where it came from, Jim."