Pioneer boys of the gold fields

"This report in the newspapers that great nuggets of gold are to be found in California," replied Mark Radley. He pointed to the sheet he had been perusing. "Here is an account...

It was Mark who asked himself that question. He was sitting in one of the public parks of the city. He had walked rapidly for the best part of an hour and was almost exhausted.

"Yes, but the safe is old and anybody could get it open by trying. Come, Mark, confess and give back the money. If you don't, you know what I said."

"I should have been mad if that man had robbed me," said the sailor boy. "But as he didn't get my money I'm going to drop the matter. But if I ever meet him again I'll give him...

Without more ado the two lads walked along the bank, over the grass and rocks and then around a patch of tall brushwood. In the uncertain light Bob went down into a hole up to h...

It was Bob who uttered the cry, late one afternoon, some time after the events recorded in the last chapter. He was standing in the front of the scow, shading his eyes with his...

They soon became acquainted with several folks camping in that vicinity. Next to them on one side was a man from Iowa named Josiah Socket, who had with him his wife and five chi...

It was astonishing how quickly the three boys got to liking one another. Inside of two days Bob and Mark felt as if they had known Si for a long time. Si was a real worker, they...

A week passed and the young gold hunters found themselves well on the trail to Fort Laramie, which was to be their next regular stopping place. The route was along the northern...

"That is what they call Chimney Rock," put in Si. "Maybe Dixon was telling me about it. It won't be long now before we reach the top of the ridge and then we'll get our first si...

For the time being the excitement was high in the gambler's shack and Mark thought that somebody would surely be shot. The men present affirmed that they had lost about a thousa...

There was a spark of hope in this remark, and they moved forward once more. But alas! when the spring was gained it was found to be practically dry. There were only a few drops...

The boy was taken somewhat by surprise, but he did not lose his presence of mind. He made a quick leap to one side, and the elk struck one of the trees growing close to the pool...

Si drove Darling and the outfit down to the ford of the river, and there waited for the return of his two partners. Maybe Dixon was with him and the Socket family were close beh...

But when it came to climbing, Mark decided to let the former sailor boy go it alone. He gave Bob a boost and up went the lad in true nautical style with hardly an effort.

"Don't know anything about them," growled Sag Ruff. His eyes shifted uneasily from one boy to the other. "See here, how long do you want us to keep our hands raised?" he went on.

The day after they abandoned the wagon, and divided the outfit into packs, the young pioneers found themselves on something of a plateau among the Rockies. Each carried a stiff...

As he was bending over, the wind took off his cap and blew it across the trail. The headcovering lodged in some brushwood growing at the side of a steep incline.

New Year's day found the young pioneers located in the valley of the Yuba River, in a rude cabin which it had cost them a good deal of time and trouble to erect. They had come a...

Josiah Socket and Mark found it no easy matter to make their way to the trading camp known as Four Monkeys. The distance was only forty miles, but the trail was rough and uncert...

There was no answer, and much surprised the youth leaped to his feet. He saw a form some feet away and sprang toward it. It was that of Josiah Socket, and the man lay flat on hi...

Slowly the winter wore away to the three boys, each anxious for spring to arrive, that they might hunt for gold. There was a good deal of snow, and some biting cold weather, and...

It was Mark who asked that question. He was resting in front of the cabin mending a hole in his shirt. The hard work of the past six weeks had told on his clothing and he often...

"I'd like to know who that man was," observed Mark. "Did you get any kind of a look at him at all, Bob? You've got the best eyes in this crowd."

Spring passed and soon came summer, with its heat and its flies, mosquitoes, ants, and other insects. But the boys and Maybe Dixon were doing well and paid small attention to th...

A few days later Mark was working hard at the bottom of a deep hole, with the hot sun blazing down upon him when he suddenly felt queer in his head. He staggered and leaned up a...

When the doctor arrived at Mark's side he found the youth in a fever. He at once set to work and administered some medicine, and remained at the sufferer's side part of the nigh...

After that the old miner told his story in detail, how he had wandered around the mountain for three days, trying several spots that held out a promise of gold. Some were fair,...

At last he placed the nugget on one side of the cavern and felt down in the hole for what was left of the candle. It was only a tiny mite, and before he could do more than take...

"We haven't got to the end of it yet," added Mark. "That cavern may prove to be more than a bonanza. We must be careful how we stake out our claim."

For a moment or two the three could not realize the truth of the crushing discovery which they had made. The precious gold dust and the nuggets were gone--not a grain of their w...

As he was the only one who knew the route, Andrew West took the lead, the others following in Indian file. It was a fairly clear night, with numerous stars twinkling in the sky...

Left at the bottom of the cliffs, the others of the party drew a trifle closer to the mouth of the cave. They could see nobody, and wondered if it was possible that Sag Ruff and...