That night, guard being kept by Butch' and Ben Painter, I slept well and soundly. On the next morning I was up by daylight, and we returned to Honey Lake through Carson City.
When we arrived there it was to hear that another treaty had actually been made with the Indians. Once more they were to be allowed to re-enter the valley. The settlers were to resume possession of their ranches, and what stock was left on them, or could be found. How long it would continue, the Devil and the red men themselves, only, could form an opinion.
CHAPTER IX.
The Pick, Pan, and Shovel—Somewhat Down in the Mouth—"Roping in a Greeney"—The Shrewd Yankee—A Square Meal, and a Bad One—No Gold—Nearly at Starvation Point—The Elk, and how long it lasted—Mountain Meat—Captured by the Indians—My Experience of the Stake—Converted into a Candlestick—The Crack of a Dozen Rifles.
In something less than two weeks, my shoulder was completely well, and the enforced inactivity had made me restless.
At this time, the vast treasures of gold said to be awaiting the miner in British Columbia, near Frazer's River, created great excitement through the West. The fever of this excitement was like all such fevers—contagious among the idle. Having then nothing to do, I caught it. In an informal meeting with several of the Rangers, I proposed to them that we should visit the new land of promise. As they were willing to accompany me, a full meeting was summoned. At this it was unanimously determined that the journey should be undertaken, if we could make it by land.
After some few days spent in the necessary inquiries, it was finally decided we should start for the recently discovered locality, where fortunes were believed to be awaiting the pick, pan, and shovel—as speedily as we could make due preparation for doing so.
This did not take any very great length of time. In less than a week the whole of us were in readiness. And after a kindly, and, in some cases, more than kindly, farewell to our friends in Susanville and round Honey Lake, we put ourselves on the road to the new locality.