Norman's nugget

Front matter

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

J. MACDONALD OXLEY, B.A.,

AUTHOR or

CHAPTER I. CHAPTER n

TACKLING THE " TERROR "

CHAPTER HI.

INDIAN CRAFTINESS ....

CHAPTER IV.

CROSSING THE COLUMBIA .

CHAPTER V.

HELD UP BY THE INDIANS

CHAPTER VI.

A SUCCESSFUL STRATAGEM

CHAPTER VII.

BAD INDIANS AND GOOD .

CHAPTER VIII.

A CAMP-FIRE YARN ....

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX.

THE DIGGINGS AT WILLIAM'S CREEK .

CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER XL

CHAPTER XII.

GETTING THROUGH THE WINTER

CHAPTER XIII.

AN AWKWARD SITUATION .

CHAPTER XIV.

GOLD AT LAST

CHAPTER XV.

THE FINDING OF THE NUGGET .

CHAPTER XVI.

DOWN IN THE DEPTHS

CHAPTER XVII.

A FRIEND IN HIGH QUARTERS .

CHAPTER XVIIL "all's well that ENDS WELL"

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

CHAPTER I.

Among the Argonauts of '49 who, after exhausting their luck in the gold-fields, settled down to retrieve their fortunes by the slower, albeit surer, process of ranching, was John Thompson, erstwhile ot Loamshire, England, but ultimately of Walla Walla, on the Pacific Slope.

As soon as he gave up the adventurous life of the miner, with its many vicissitudes, and established himself on the ranch, he had sent for his family, who gladly rejoined him after the long, weary years of separation.

Three boys and two girls, all of them ruddy,

^ The author wishes to express his special obligations to Mr. Byron Johnston's vivacious record of personal experience, "Very Far West Indeed."

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

Sturdy, and full of energy, composed John Thompson's quiverful, and there were no fonder nor prouder parents in all the country than he and his good wife, who was the very type of the substantial British mother.

Matters went very well at the Thompson ranch for several years, and then a calamity befell the happy homestead that plunged it into sorrow.

Mr. Thompson, while returning after nightfall from a distant part of the ranch, was caught in one of those terrible thunderstorms not infrequent in that region. He happened to be riding a young and high-spirited horse, not long broken to the saddle, and the creature, being panic-stricken at the thunder and lightning, bolted madly through the darkness.

For a mile or more it darted blindly across the country until it came to a deep ravine, into which it plunged headlong, with the lamentable result that both horse and rider were found the following morning lying side by side in death.

When this happened, John, the eldest son, who had been his father's lieutenant on the ranch, was just of age ; Henry, the second boy, two years younger, was a clerk in a

GETTING UNDER WAY.

Store at Walla Walla, and promising to do well ; while Norman, the youngest, well on in his teens, helped about the ranch, although he had no idea of sticking to it for life.

The fact was, that he seemed to have inherited all that was adventurous in his father's nature.

John and Henry were steady-going fellows, true sons of staid John Bull in their attention to business, and it was easy to predict for them solid, if not brilliant, success in life.

But Norman was no less a chip of the old block, only that he belonged to the same type as did Drake, and Cook, and Livingstone. He was a born knight-errant, and only waited the chance to set out upon his quest.

John Thompson, once the gold-fever cooled in his veins, had proved a thrifty, prudent man, and left his affairs in such a shape that it was not difficult for John junior, with the aid of his mother's shrewd counsel, to take hold and carry on the ranch to advantage.

There was, therefore, no cause for concern as to the maintenance of the mother and the two girls, so that if Norman could make his own way he had no special responsibilities to bind him to the ranch, where they could manage very well without him.

TO

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

Such was the state of affairs when, in the year 1858, the excitement aroused by the gold discoveries on the Fraser River, in British Columbia, spread over California, Oregon, and Washington territory, stripping ships of their crews in San Francisco Harbour, emptying stores and shops of their clerks, tempting lawyers and doctors from their offices and farmers from their fields, and also drawing to the Canadian province by the Pacific much of the riff-raff and human scum from the coast cities, that rejoiced at the riddance.

Walla Walla, though far inland, was not exempt from the epidemic. The possibility of finding fortunes in a few months upon the wonderful gold-bars of the Fraser River became the one absorbing topic here, and when Norman paid his brother in the store a visit, he would remain for hours listening in absorbed silence to the animated talk of the men as they exchanged experiences of *49, or projected and planned expeditions into the new Eldorado.

Normans blood was set on fire by what he thus heard, and it became the supreme desire of his life to join one of these expeditions and share its fortunes.

But how was this to be accomplished ?

GETTING UNDER WAY.

Each man who went had, of course, to provide his own outfit, and also to contribute towards the general expenses for waggons, horses, and so forth.

In fact, only those with a certain amount of capital could expect to find a place in the parties that were being organised.

Yet Norman, with the splendid hopefulness of a boy, did not by any means despair of having his own way.

He was not really needed at the ranch, and no other opening for his energy was in view, so that if he could try his luck at gold-hunting it would not be altogether lost time, anyway.

One day, when he was lounging in the store, chatting with his brother and listening to the talk of the men, for whom it was the favourite rendezvous, his interest was excited by a conversation between the storekeeper, Joe Dudley, and one of his customers.

''Most ready to start, Andy?" Dudley inquired, as he got out what the other had asked for. " You're goin' with Maclellan, ain't you ? "

" Just about, Joe,' replied the one questioned, who was Andy Smith, a rancher in the neighbourhood, upon whom the gold-fever had taken such hold that he had sold oft

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

everything in order to outfit for the Fraser fields. " But I'm short of a good teamster. I want a fellow that thoroughly understands horses and knows how to look after them, and that sort of a chap isn't easy to find just now."

Norman's heart gave a great bound on hearing this.

If there was one thing more than another upon which he prided himself it was his management of horses. He could ride anything on hoofs, he believed, and certainly had proved more than a match for the worst bucking broncho on the ranch.

Not only could he ride horses, but he could handle them so as to get the best out of them.

Unless they were incurably vicious they soon grew to love him, and at the ranch most of the animals would follow him as if they were dogs.

If Andy Smith wanted a teamster with some better qualifications than the ability to swear copiously, strike hard, and kick brutally, Norman thought he could fill the place.

But he had not the courage to offer himself, fearing that to do so would only excite the derision of the men, who were prone to regard all boys as of no account.

Yet he kept his eyes and ears alert, and presently became aware that the storekeeper was saying something about him to Smith, who, with an expression of incredulity on his face, said in an audible tone :

" That youngster ! Why, what does he know about teaming and looking after horses ? "

Whereupon Dudley turned around and called to Norman :

** Come here, Norman, and answer Mr. Smith's questions yourself"

Conscious of growing very red in the face, and feeling rather uncomfortable at being thus challenged, Norman went forward slowly and stood before the two men.

**Are you used to horses, my boy?" asked Smith, looking him over as though he were a horse himself, whose good and bad points were to be scrutinised.

Pretty much, sir," replied Norman, growing more at ease as he became used to the situation.

Have you done any teaming ? " was the next query.

A little, sir," was the response. As a matter of fact, Norman had done

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

a great deal for his age, the whole of that work required at the ranch having fallen to him since his father's death.

Would you take a job in that line if you could get it ? " Smith inquired, fixing upon him his keen, dark eyes.

I guess I would," replied Norman, who had now thoroughly regained his self-possession, and who returned his questioner's look with one no less direct.

Suppose you show what you can do, then," returned Smith, and I may give you a chance."

It was accordingly arranged that that afternoon Mr. Smith should bring his team to the store, where Norman would meet him and exhibit his skill as a teamster.

When the time appointed came, the usual group of loungers at Dudley's was recruited by many more who had heard of the forthcoming test of Norman's skill, and were eager to witness it.

Andy Smith's team was well known to be a troublesome one to manage, and that was the very reason he had had difficulty in securing a satisfactory driver for it.

About three o'clock he drove up, looking very well pleased with himself as he sent his

GETTING UNDER WAY.

long whip cracking over the backs of his horses, making them plunge and rear while he held them back with the taut reins.

Swinging the heavy waggon round with a grand sweep before the store, he brought it to a stop, and called out :

" Is Norman Thompson there ? "

Norman was on hand all ready for the trial, and, giving up his place to him. Smith said :

Now then, youngster, let's see what you can do with them. They're anything but lambs, I can tell you. Just take them along the road a piece, and see if you can make them all work together in good shape."

Feeling more nervous than he had ever done in his life before, but none the less determined to acquit himself with credit, Norman sprang into the seat, grasped the reins, and called upon the team to start.

But they did nothing of the kind. Startled by the strange voice, they began to back instead of going ahead, and to crowd against one another so as to look ominously like doing some damage.

At this the spectators laughed, and volunteered bits of advice, such as :

"Give them the whip!" **Yell to them, Norman ! " and so on ; while Andy Smith,

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

growing anxious lest there should be a smash up, made as though he would get back to his place on the waggon seat.

But Norman was not a bit disconcerted.

He had had horses act just like this before, and Smith's four blacks, ugly as they seemed inclined to behave, did not daunt him in the least.

Standing up, he sent the long lash writhing over their backs, and at the same time uttered a shrill, piercing cry that had even more effect than the whip.

Almost together they reared in the air, and then the instant their hoofs touched the ground set off at a gallop, whisking the heavy waggon along as though it had been a light carriage.

The crowd of spectators gave a hearty cheer, but the owner of the outfit looked anxious.

The boy had got the team started. Would he be able to control them, or would they run away with him ?

Had he been a classical scholar, the instance of the ill-starred Phaeton would no doubt have come to his mind.

But he knew nothing of the lore of Lempriere, and thought only of his highly prized animals, now careering over the road

GETTING UNDER WAY.

amid a great cloud of dust, which presently altogether hid them from sight.

The young fellow has grit, eh, Andy ? " remarked Dudley, looking well pleased at the way things were going, for he took quite an interest in Norman.

A pretty good stock ot it," answered Smith rather grimly, for he was still in doubt as to the result ot the trial. Is he strong enough to handle them critters, think you ? "

Don't you worry," responded the storekeeper, he'll bring them back here inside of ten minutes just as meek as sheep."

Nor was Dudley's confidence misplaced.

Before the ten minutes had elapsed the team reappeared, coming along as steadily as a mail coach, Norman sitting at ease on the seat and talking to the horses in a quiet, friendly way.

When within a hundred yards of the store, in front of which was a large open space, he gathered up the reins, chirruped to the horses, and set them at a gallop, swinging round in a wide curve and pulling them up in front of the store in fine style.

''Bravo! bravo!" ''Tip-top, my boy!" and other admiring exclamations greeted this i8 NORMAN'S NUGGET.

clever bit of driving, and even Andy Smith's hard features had something like a smile on them as he said :

Not so bad, young 'un. Now let me see you unhitch them, and then hitch them in again."

By this time the horses had come to recognise they were in the hands of one who understood them, and they gave no trouble whatever while Norman unharnessed them, and afterwards put them back.

" I reckon you'll do," was all Smith said, when this had been done satisfactorily. ** I'll have a talk with you to-morrow."

Proud of his success as a teamster, and exulting in the prospect ot thus finding a place in the party soon to start for the gold-fields, Norman hurried home to tell his mother all about it.

Naturally enough she shrank from the idea of his making such a venture, and would have been glad to dissuade him from it had she been able.

But that was out of the question. His heart was set upon going. There was really nothing to detain him at home, and it would only make him wretchedly unhappy and discontented if he were crossed in his purpose.

GETTING UNDER WAY.

So at last, with many tears, she gave her assent, and it only remained for terms to be settled with Andy Smith.

Now Norman was so consumed with eagerness to join the expedition that he was ready to accept anything Smith might offer him.

But John, his eldest brother, had a cooler head, and he thought it well to go along with Norman when the terms were to be arranged.

Andy Smith had the reputation of being a **near" man, and the way he acted on this occasion showed how well he deserved it.

Rightly judging that Norman was more anxious to get to the gold-fields than to earn big wages, he at first pretended to think that taking the young fellow along with him and finding his grub stake " for him ought to be sufficient return for his work as teamster.

But John would not listen to this. Not by a long chalk, Mr. Smith," he said, with a decision that Smith realised was immovable.

I'll see that Normie has a right good outfit, and he'll take along his own grub stake if you like, but you must give him fair pay for his work, or a share in your luck with the gold."

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

Smith caught at the last words. It would certainly be better for him to agree to give Norman a share in his luck than to bind himself to any definite wages, for then, if he did make a good strike, he could easily spare something, or manage somehow to evade paying up ; and if he didn't then he would have had Norman's assistance for practically nothing.

With well-assumed reluctance, however, for he was at heart a selfish, unprincipled schemer, who proposed to use Norman just to suit his own plans, and with entire indifference to the boy's interests, he, after some further chaffering, agreed that Norman should be found in provisions by him, and should have one-fifth of whatever good fortune befell him.

This satisfied Norman entirely ; while John, who saw through Smith pretty clearly, and resolved to ask the leader of the party to have an eye to the boy and see that he got fair play, felt that the arrangement was the best that could be secured.

The expedition was being organised by Daniel Maclellan, and the time set for the rendezvous at Walla Walla was the month of May, 1858.

GETTING UNDER WAY.

To the little far-west city came men trom Oregon, California, and even from states farther distant, and by the middle of the month over one hundred and fifty of them had there gathered, with the common purpose of seeking their fortunes on the river-bars of British Columbia.

Daniel Maclellan was a splendid specimen ot a man. He stood not less than six feet four in his stockings, with back and shoulders like a wall, was as straight and yet as lithe as an Indian, had a frank, fearless, handsome countenance tanned to a deep brown tint by constant exposure to sun and wind, and in spite of his vast strength was a merry, goodtempered fellow, utterly free from any disposition to bully other folks.

The moment Norman saw him he became his abject admirer, and the thought of his heart was :

" Oh, how I wish I was to work tor Mr. Maclellan instead of for Mr. Smith !

But of course that could not be, so he had to content himself with the hope that he might somehow win Maclellan's favour, and possibly friendship.

While they were waiting for the party to be made up, the men used to amuse themselves

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

with feats of strength and exhibitions of skill with rifle and revolver.

One feat that Maclellan performed surprised all the others, and many a man got an inglorious tumble in trying to emulate it.

While going at full gallop on his great grey horse, as magnificent an animal as he was a man, he stretched down from the saddle, and with one arm lifted from the ground to the horse's shoulder a large, heavy sheep.

Just before the party was ready to start a trader arrived at Walla Walla from Colville, near the border-line, with the unpleasant information that the Indians on the other side of the boundary were in a hostile attitude, owing to their belief that the gold-seekers were coming to dispossess them of their territory.

He advised, therefore, that the expedition should have a thorough military organisation, to which good counsel Maclellan readily listened.

When the time for parting with Norman's family came, there were many tears shed at the Thompson ranch.

Up to then Mrs. Thompson had been very brave, giving her attention to preparing Norman's outfit, and not allowing her thoughts to dwell on the perils of the expedition and the possibility of her son never returning.

GETTING UNDER WAY.

But at the last her feelings refused to be kept under control, and it seemed as if she could not let her son go.

The tears were flowing from his own eyes, and his voice was so broken as to be scarce intelligible, as he tore himself away, saying :

Keep up your heart, mother! I'll come back to you all right, and I'll bring a big fortune with me, see if I don't."

Chapter II. Tackling The "terror."

Maclellan's company was certainly, as to size and equipment, well calculated to command respect.

It comprised one hundred and sixty men, who had some three hundred and fifty horses and mules to draw their waggons or carry their packs.

Every man had his revolver, and, in addition, there were a hundred rifles in the party.

Acting under the Colville trader's advice, four divisions were formed, Maclellan taking command of the first and leading the way.

Andy Smith was with him. He had a large waggon of the " prairie schooner " kind, and six horses, four being for the waggon and two for the saddle.

His outfit compared favourably with any one's except Maclellan's, who had two waggons and twelve horses, as he was taking up a quantity of goods for trading purposes.

Smith was deeply jealous of Maclellan. He grudged him his leadership, and had it in his heart to wrest it from him if the chance occurred, but he was too shrewd not to understand that, for the present, he must fall in with whatever plans the majority of the company might see fit to adopt.

There was not a happier boy in the land than Norman Thompson as, amid clouds of dust, the imposing cavalcade drew out of Walla Walla and turned northward.

His employer had assigned the poorest horse of the six for his mount, but that did not trouble him.

It was a steady, serviceable animal, not much to look at, but pretty good to go, and he was resolved to treat it well, and make it love him, as did the horses at the ranch.

Thanks to the loving care of his mother and brothers, there was nothing lacking in his outfit.

He had a good supply ot clothing, a rifle, a revolver, and a hunting-knife, and a sufficient stock of ammunition to last him six months if he did not waste it.

I hope you'll not have to use your arms against anything worse than bears or mountain lions, Normie," said his eldest brother, whose

NORMAN'S NUGGEl gift they were ; " but, if you have to, I guess you'll find they're all right."

Norman thought so too, as he handled them lovingly. He was a good shot with both rifle and revolver, and had no doubt but he would do his part if prowling Indians should venture to attack the party.

For many days the big company pushed on northward, meeting with no other difficulties than such as were incident to getting their heavy waggons across a roadless country in which streams had to be forded, and hills to be climbed or circumvented.

Norman enjoyed the life thoroughly. It . just suited his adventurous nature, which could never be content under the restraints of ordinary routine existence.

He had plenty of hard work, for Andy Smith did not spare him, throwing upon him the whole burden of caring for the teams, and making him do most of the driving, while he himself went about visiting other waggons, or riding off in search of game.

But Norman did not mind. He was so fond of horses that it was a pleasure to look after them, and he soon won the hearts of his charges, so that they gave him little trouble.

Then there were always breathing spells of rest, when even so hard a master as his could not impose any task upon him, and he was free to seek his own amusement.

Such were the long evenings after the animals had been watered and turned loose to graze, and supper had been cooked and eaten.

He could do what he liked then, and he took the opportunity of enlarging his acquaintance with the other members of the party.

He made friends quickly, for he had a bright, taking way, and was withal a rather handsome young fellow.

He had not long passed his sixteenth year, but looked more like twenty, being tall, broadshouldered, deep-chested, and having welltanned features that bore the unmistakable stamp of resolution and courage.

He soon found that the best passport to the favour of the rude and hardy, though goodhearted, men who mainly composed the company was to make a good showing in the feats of strength or endurance that were the chief amusement of their leisure, and so he threw himself heartily into the race-running, wrestling, horse-jockeying, target-shooting, and other sports in vogue.

In these he held his own very creditably.

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

He was not precisely an Admirable Crichton. He did not by any means excel in everything. But he ran fast, wrestled strongly, hit the mark with rifle or revolver twice out of three times, and rode a horse as well as any one of the party.

It was through the last accomplishment that he attracted the attention of Maclellan, the leader of the party. Maclellan, who was a notable horseman himself, had brought along with him a grey stallion that would allow no one but his owner upon his back.

Indeed, so wicked was his temper that it was always prudent to give the creature a wide berth, for he had a nasty trick of using his powerful teeth upon unwary passers-by.

One evening, while a group of the men were talking horse," Maclellan had much to say about his grey stallion, to which he had given the appropriate name of the Terror," by way of a grim joke.

He isn't just as kind as he might be," he said, with a significant smile ; but he's a beauty to ride, and he lets me do anything I like with him."

What makes him act so ugly, any way ? " asked one of the group. Think he's been badly used by anybody ? "

Oh, I don't know," replied Maclellan ; I guess not. It's just his nature. I showed him he couldn't have his own way with me at the start out, and he's given me no trouble since."

Did any one else ever back him since you got him?" inquired Andy Smith, in a tone that brought forth the retort :

No ; would you like to have a try at it ? " Whereat a laugh went around the circle that brought a perceptible flush to Smith's hard features.

Not just now," he responded slowly, I'm a little past the time for that kind of fun. But I was thinking I had a lad looking after my team that your stallion couldn't shake off in a hurry."

I'll give him ten dollars if he can stay on the Terror two minutes," cried Maclellan, shoving his hand into his pocket and pulling out a fat wallet.

** I guess they're as good as lost to you," answered Smith, in his curt, deliberate fashion.

It was then growing dark, and too late to do anything more, but the following evening was set for the contest between the stallion and Norman.

Ot this the latter knew nothing until the next day, when he heard about it, not from Smith, but from another of the party, his master taking it for granted that he could dispose of him with as little reference to his own mind in the matter as if he were one of the horses.

Norman's first impulse was flatly to refuse.

Although as brave as need be, he was not foolhardy. He had a fair-sized bump of caution, and he did not see just why he should expose himself to certain danger for the sake of a few dollars or of winning glory for his employer. That sort of work could hardly be considered to fall within the terms of his engagement.

Nor was it the scowling looks nor harsh words of Smith that caused him to change his mind. But he allowed himself to be moved upon by the talk of other members of the party, by the expressed belief of some that the grey stallion could not throw him, and by the outspoken confidence of others that he would get pitched off inside of a minute, and probably have his neck broken.

The end ot it was that he agreed to make the trial, though his heart was none too light as he consented.

The halt was made early that evening at a lovely meadow, in a valley through which ran a clear, strong stream ; and by the time the animals had been looked after and supper disposed of, there was still a full hour before darkness.

The place and the time were as favourable as could be wished for Norman's daring attempt to tackle the Terror, and the whole company gathered to witness the proceedings.

When Maclellan saw Norman all ready for the fray his heart misgave him a little. He felt as if it were not quite right to expose a mere boy, however sturdy and courageous, to such peril, and so he said :

The Terror's mighty cross to-day. I'm rather skeered of him myself. Perhaps you'd best not try him. He's feelin' ugly enough to eat you if he gets the chance."

But Norman was not going to back out at this point. He was resolved to at least make one try, and if that failed it would be time to talk of retreat.

I guess I'll go ahead," he replied, while the crowd murmured approval. I'll keep a sharp look-out that he doesn't hurt me."

Having quieted his conscience with the warning, Maclellan now went off for his horse,

NORMAN'S NUGGET.

and presently returned leading him by the bridle held close under the jaw.

The Terror certainly was acting in a way worthy of his name.

Powerful and heavy as his owner was, he had difficulty in keeping him under control, and the vicious brute was making lunges with his cruel teeth, and lashing out with his merciless hoofs as though he would fain kill or maim everybody within reach.

Apart from his wicked temper he was a splendid creature of his kind. Full sixteen hands high, shaped on lines of perfect symmetry, with limbs as sound and hard as iron bars, and a mane and tail of great length and as fine as silk, while his coat of dappled grey fairly glistened, it seemed a thousand pities that he should be so evil of spirit.