Arrived at his destination, the lad soon discovered that gold digging
was hard work for brawny and seasoned men, and after a few feeble
attempts in spots abandoned as worthless he gave up the effort,
and again began to drift; and even in Pine Tree Gulch it was not
difficult to get a living. At first he tried rocking cradles, but
the work was far harder than it appeared. He was standing ankle
deep in water from morning till night, and his cheeks grew paler,
and his strength, instead of increasing, seemed to fade away. Still,
there were jobs within his strength. He could keep a fire alight
and watch a cooking pot, he could carry up buckets of water or wash
a flannel shirt, and so he struggled on, until at last some kind
hearted man suggested to him that he should try to get a place at
the new saloon which was about to be opened.
"You are not fit for this work, young 'un, and you ought to be
at home with your mother; if you like I will go up with you this
evening to Jeffries. I knew him down on the flats, and I dare say
he will take you on. I don't say as a saloon is a good place for a
boy, still you will always get your bellyful of victuals and a dry
place to sleep in, if it's only under a table. What do you say?"
Dick thankfully accepted the offer, and on Red George's recommendation
was that evening engaged.
Pages:
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237