Lost Lenore Part 46

As a matter of course, we stepped into the nearest hotel, to have a gla.s.s together.

"I suppose," said Farrell, as soon as we were seated--"you have no objection to listen to the conclusion of that little romance--the second chapter of which I made you acquainted with in San Francisco?"

"Not the slightest," I answered. "Although I felt sorry for what had happened to you, I confess I was very much amused at what you told me.

But the most interesting part of the romance--as you call it--had not transpired. I shall be very glad to hear more of it."

"Well," proceeded Farrell, "you shall. As I told you they would, Foster and my wife came out to California; and, as I expected, to San Francisco. However, they had come ash.o.r.e so very secretly and quietly, that I did not succeed in finding them, until they had been about ten days in the city.

"Foster took a house in Sacramento Street, furnished it with the money I had sent home to maintain my faithless wife; and laid in a stock of liquors. He intended to commence business in the grog-selling line; and was about opening the establishment, when I found them out.

"As soon as I did so, I went straight to the house--prepared for some sport.

"Foster and my wife were out shopping, and, no doubt, spending what remained of my money. The new tavern was in charge of a young man, whom they had engaged as a barkeeper.

"I immediately took possession of the whole concern--the house, and everything in it.

"I then discharged the barkeeper from their employment; and, the instant after, engaged him in my own service.

"I remained in that house for nine weeks--managing the business which Foster had intended to profit by; and then sold out for five thousand dollars.

"Neither Foster nor my wife, to my knowledge, ever came near the place-- at all events, they never showed their faces in the house. They had found out, by some means, that I was in possession; and that had proved sufficient to make them surrender their claim without a contest.

"After selling out, I found leisure to look about me; and make further enquiries concerning the precious pair. I learnt that they had gone up to Sacramento city--where they had both taken situations in a public-house, managed by some other man. They had no longer any money, to go into business for themselves.

"I was still determined to see them; and started off for Sacramento.

"They must have had some one on the watch; for, on reaching the place, I found they had left only two hours before! As my anger had been for some time evaporating, I had no desire to pursue them any farther. The fact is, I felt a degree of freedom--after the loss of my wife--that went far towards reconciling me to the man who had relieved me of her.

Besides, there was something in the idea of having turned Foster out of his finely furnished house in San Francisco, that made me think myself nearly square with him; and I did not care to take any more trouble, simply for the sake of troubling them.

"I returned to San Francisco; and from that place took pa.s.sage in a ship just sailing for Melbourne.

"My anger has now entirely pa.s.sed away; and yet I know I am still having some revenge--in addition to that I have already got. Wherever they may be, they are not living happily. They know that they have done wrong; and I'd lay a wager, there's not an hour of the day that they're not thinking of me, and dreading that I will make my appearance.

"I can return to my native land, and be happy. They cannot. I never wish to see either of them again: for I have become philosophical, and am willing that their crime should bring about its own punishment."

I congratulated Farrell on the philosophy that had enabled him so successfully to regain his tranquillity of spirit; and, after giving each other mutual directions for meeting again, we parted company.

Volume Two, Chapter x.x.x.

ODD FASHIONS IN THE GOLD FIELDS.

Farrell's philosophical resolve--to trouble the delinquents no more-- formed the subject of my reflections, as I walked towards my tent. It was an ill.u.s.tration of the power which circ.u.mstances may have, in allaying even the strongest pa.s.sion: for I knew that, when first made acquainted with his dishonour, the man had felt both deeply and resentfully.

I could not help applying the lesson to myself. "Is it possible,"

thought I, "that any circ.u.mstances can ever arise to allay my longings for Lenore? Is there in time a power that will yet appease them?"

My sentimental reflections were interrupted, by a scene that was of a different character--altogether comical. Not far from the place where I had parted with Farrell, I saw a crowd collected around a tent. Two miners, who had been "regular mates," were quarrelling; and their neighbours had gathered upon the ground, to be edified by an abundance of vituperative eloquence.

After the two men had, for a considerable time, amused the bystanders with their dispute, there appeared to be but one point upon which they could agree. That was that they should remain "mates" no longer.

The tent, some provisions in it, along with their mining tools and cooking utensils, they owned in common: having shared between them the expense attending their purchase.

As these things could not be divided to the satisfaction of both parties, it was proposed that each should remove from the tent, whatever was fairly ent.i.tled to be called his "private property," and that everything held in common--including the tent itself--should be burnt!

This proposal was at once agreed to.

Each then brought forth from the tent his roll of blankets, and along with some other purely "personal effects." The ropes, picks, shovels, and buckets--that chanced to be lying outside the tent--were then "chucked" inside; after which, a match was applied to the dry canva.s.s, and the diggers' dwelling was instantly in flames. The two disputants then walked coolly away from the place--each carrying his bag upon his back; one going to the east, the other to the west, amidst the cheers of the spectators--all of whom seemed greatly to admire this original mode of dissolving a partnership.

Law is so expensive and uncertain in all newly-established communities, that even sensible people do not like to resort to it, in the settlement of their disputes. Perhaps in this respect, the citizens of older communities might imitate the gold-diggers to advantage.

While in California, I was witness to another incident ill.u.s.trative of the unwillingness to resort to the judgments of a legal tribunal. It was a case of two gold-diggers, who had been working together, and were about to dissolve partnership. Among the property they had owned in common was a fine mule. Each was desirous of becoming sole possessor of the animal; but neither would consent to give the other the price demanded for parting with his share. The difficulty might have been arranged by arbitration; but, neither desiring to be under any obligation to a third party, they adopted a more independent plan for settling the dispute.

"I'll give you fifty dollars for your share of the mule," proposed one, "or I'll take a hundred for mine? I want the animal."

"And I'll give you fifty for your share, or take a hundred for mine?"

said the other, "I want it too."

"I'll make you another offer," said the first. "We'll play a game of `Euker,' and whoever wins shall have the mule?"

The third challenge was accepted. The game was played; and the difficulty settled in five minutes, without any expense or ill-feeling arising out of it!

A disposition to settle doubts and difficulties by chance--that "unspiritual G.o.d"--is very common, among those who have long followed the occupation of gold hunting--for the reason, no doubt, that there is so much chance or uncertainty in the calling itself. Gold-diggers become familiarised to a sort of fatalism; and, in consequence, allow many questions to be decided by chance, that should be submitted to the test of reason.

I have seen a miner after working out a rich claim, toss up a dollar, to decide whether he should return home or not! The piece of money fell wrong side down; and the man remained at the diggings; and for aught I know, may be there still, working for a "pennyweight per diem."

And yet I do not always condemn this mode of relieving the intellect from the agony of doubt.

I once met two miners in San Francisco--to which place they had come from different diggings, for the purpose of having a few days' rest after months of toil. They had been shipmates to California; and now meeting again, each told the other of the way fortune had served him, since they had parted.

"I have got together two thousand three hundred dollars," said one. "I came out here to make up a pile of four thousand. If I had that, I'd go home."

"I have done nearly as well," said the other; "I have about two thousand; and if I had what we have both got, I'd go home; and never touch pick or shovel again."

"Ah! so would I," sighed the first.

"Well, then," challenged his old shipmate, "I'll tell you what we can do. We both want to go back home, with not less than four thousand dollars. We need not _both_ be disappointed. One of us can go; and let the other stay. I'll cut a pack of cards with you; and the one who cuts highest, shall take four thousand dollars, and go home. The odd two or three hundred will be enough, to carry the loser back to the diggings.

What say you, old hoss?"

This proposal was instantly accepted. The man, who had made it, lost his two thousand dollars; and next morning he handed the money over to his more fortunate friend, shook hands with him, and started back for the diggings!

This story may seem improbable, to those who have never been in California in its best days; but I can vouch for its truth.

After parting with Farrell, I seemed destined to witness a variety of incidents on that same evening; and of both characters--comic and tragical.

Shortly after pa.s.sing the crowd, who had a.s.sisted at the dispute of the two miners, I came in sight of another concourse of people--in the middle of which appeared two or three policemen. They were gathered around the shaft of an abandoned claim. I went up to see what the excitement was about; and learnt, that a Chinaman had been found suspended in the shaft.

The Celestial had committed suicide, by hanging himself; and the plan he had adopted for terminating his existence, seemed, from its ingenuity, to have met with as much admiration from this crowd, as had been bestowed by the other one on the mode of settling their dispute, which had been adopted by the two diggers.

The Chinaman, knowing that the shaft was a deep one, had placed a large log of wood across the top of it. To the middle of this he had tied the end of a rope about fifteen feet long. The other end he had fastened, loop fashion, around his neck; and then jumped down the shaft. No Jack Ketch could have performed the operation for him, in a more effectual manner.