CHAPTER 11.
On the morning after Charles’ ar
rivxji, Tom Long invited him to visit
his ‘ diggings.” On his way Tom
informed CLt'cs that he had been
engaged in mining on bis present
claim nearly three months, with but
little success * He also informed him
that his partner had become discour
aged and left him, and that, at that
time, he was alone. Mr. Manly,’
said Tom, after a little hesitation, ‘I
want a partner and if ye have a mind
to take the chances 1 will share
equally with yen, in case we are
lucky enough to strike a lead. To
be sure, my diggings are not paying
now, but the prospects are good. I’m
in range of some of the best diggings
about here, xnd then I’m generally
lucky. But then I don’t want you
to decide until you’ve sees for your
self.’ By this time they had as
cended the hili that led out of the
village, and were now on a rolling
prairie, covered with high grass, and
interspersed here and there with
clumps of hazel bushes. Charles
saw on every side evidences of min
ing operations. As far as be could
tee there were wells or shafts dug
in the ground above which stood the
windlass, with its large heavy buck
et, for drawing up the earth and
mineral. They soon arrived at the
mouth of Tom’s shaft and prepared
to descend. As Tom wished to show
Charles the mine himself, it was
necessary to procure some one to
lower them. This was not difficult,
AWAKE UPON ALL SUBJECTS: NEUTRAL UPON NONE.
LANCASTER, WISCONSIN, TUESIMY, MARCH 1, 1870.
as there were several men within
hail who had as yet not commenced
their day ’s labor.
