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contrary。 I have seen men hunt over a pile of nearly worthless quartz
for an hour； and at last find a little piece as large as a filbert； which
was rich in gold and silverand this was reserved for a fire…assay！ Of
course the fire…assay would demonstrate that a ton of such rock would
yield hundreds of dollarsand on such assays many an utterly worthless
mine was sold。
Assaying was a good business； and so some men engaged in it；
occasionally； who were not strictly scientific and capable。 One assayer
got such rich results out of all specimens brought to him that in time he
acquired almost a monopoly of the business。 But like all men who achieve
success； he became an object of envy and suspicion。 The other assayers
entered into a conspiracy against him； and let some prominent citizens
into the secret in order to show that they meant fairly。 Then they broke
a little fragment off a carpenter's grindstone and got a stranger to take
it to the popular scientist and get it assayed。 In the course of an hour
the result camewhereby it appeared that a ton of that rock would yield
1；184。40 in silver and 366。36 in gold！
Due publication of the whole matter was made in the paper； and the
popular assayer left town 〃between two days。〃
I will remark； in passing； that I only remained in the milling business
one week。 I told my employer I could not stay longer without an advance
in my wages； that I liked quartz milling； indeed was infatuated with it；
that I had never before grown so tenderly attached to an occupation in so
short a time； that nothing； it seemed to me； gave such scope to
intellectual activity as feeding a battery and screening tailings； and
nothing so stimulated the moral attributes as retorting bullion and
washing blanketsstill； I felt constrained to ask an increase of salary。
He said he was paying me ten dollars a week； and thought it a good round
sum。 How much did I want？
I said about four hundred thousand dollars a month； and board； was about
all I could reasonably ask； considering the hard times。
I was ordered off the premises！ And yet； when I look back to those days
and call to mind the exceeding hardness of the labor I performed in that
mill； I only regret that I did not ask him seven hundred thousand。
Shortly after this I began to grow crazy； along with the rest of the
population； about the mysterious and wonderful 〃cement mine；〃 and to make
preparations to take advantage of any opportunity that might offer to go
and help hunt for it。
CHAPTER XXXVII。
It was somewhere in the neighborhood of Mono Lake that the marvellous
Whiteman cement mine was supposed to lie。 Every now and then it would be
reported that Mr。 W。 had passed stealthily through Esmeralda at dead of
night； in disguise； and then we would have a wild excitementbecause he
must be steering for his secret mine； and now was the time to follow him。
In less than three hours after daylight all the horses and mules and
donkeys in the vicinity would be bought； hired or stolen； and half the
community would be off for the mountains； following in the wake of
Whiteman。 But W。 would drift about through the mountain gorges for days
together； in a purposeless sort of way； until the provisions of the
miners ran out； and they would have to go back home。 I have known it
reported at eleven at night； in a large mining camp； that Whiteman had
just passed through； and in two hours the streets； so quiet before； would
be swarming with men and animals。 Every individual would be trying to be
very secret； but yet venturing to whisper to just one neighbor that W。
had passed through。 And long before daylightthis in the dead of
Winterthe stampede would be complete； the camp deserted； and the whole
population gone chasing after W。
The tradition was that in the early immigration； more than twenty years
ago； three young Germans； brothers； who had survived an Indian massacre
on the Plains； wandered on foot through the deserts； avoiding all trails
and roads； and simply holding a westerly direction and hoping to find
California before they starved； or died of fatigue。 And in a gorge in
the mountains they sat down to rest one day； when one of them noticed a
curious vein of cement running along the ground； shot full of lumps of
dull yellow metal。 They saw that it was gold； and that here was a
fortune to be acquired in a single day。 The vein was about as wide as a
curbstone； and fully two thirds of it was pure gold。 Every pound of the
wonderful cement was worth well…nigh 200。
Each of the brothers loaded himself with about twenty…five pounds of it；
and then they covered up all traces of the vein； made a rude drawing of
the locality and the principal landmarks in the vicinity； and started
westward again。 But troubles thickened about them。 In their wanderings
one brother fell and broke his leg； and the others were obliged to go on
and leave him to die in the wilderness。 Another； worn out and starving；
gave up by and by； and laid down to die； but after two or three weeks of
incredible hardships； the third reached the settlements of California
exhausted； sick； and his mind deranged by his sufferings。 He had thrown
away all his cement but a few fragments； but these were sufficient to set
everybody wild with excitement。 However； he had had enough of the cement
country； and nothing could induce him to lead a party thither。 He was
entirely content to work on a farm for wages。 But he gave Whiteman his
map； and described the cement region as well as he could and thus
transferred the curse to that gentlemanfor when I had my one accidental
glimpse of Mr。 W。 in Esmeralda he had been hunting for the lost mine； in
hunger and thirst； poverty and sickness； for twelve or thirteen years。
Some people believed he had found it； but most people believed he had
not。 I saw a piece of cement as large as my fist which was said to have
been given to Whiteman by the young German； and it was of a seductive
nature。 Lumps of virgin gold were as thick in it as raisins in a slice
of fruit cake。 The privilege of working such a mine one week would be
sufficient for a man of reasonable desires。
A new partner of ours； a Mr。 Higbie； knew Whiteman well by sight； and a
friend of ours； a Mr。 Van Dorn； was well acquainted with him； and not
only that； but had Whiteman's promise that he should have a private hint
in time to enable him to join the next cement expedition。 Van Dorn had
promised to extend the hint to us。 One evening Higbie came in greatly
excited； and said he felt certain he had recognized Whiteman； up town；
disguised and in a pretended state of intoxication。 In a little while
Van Dorn arrived and confirmed the news； and so we gathered in our cabin
and with heads close together arranged our plans in impressive whispers。
We were to leave town quietly； after midnight； in two or three small
parties； so as not to attract attention； and meet at dawn on the 〃divide〃
overlooking Mono Lake； eight or nine miles distant。 We were to make no
noise after starting； and not speak above a whisper under any
circumstances。 It was believed that for once Whiteman's presence was
unknown in the town and his expedition unsuspected。 Our conclave broke
up at nine o'clock； and we set about our preparation diligently and with
profound secrecy。 At eleven o'clock we saddled our horses； hitched them
with their long riatas （or lassos）； and then brought out a side of bacon；
a sack of beans； a small sack of coffee； some sugar； a hundred pounds of
flour in sacks； some tin cups and a coffee pot； frying pan and some few
other necessary articles。 All these things were 〃packed〃 on the back of
a led horseand whoever has not been taught； by a Spanish adept； to pack
an animal； let him never hope to do the thing by natural smartness。 That
is impossible。 Higbie had had some experience； but was not perfect。 He
put on the pack saddle （a thing like a saw…buck）； piled the property on
it and then wound a rope all over and about it and under it； 〃every which
way；〃 taking a hitch in it every now and then； and occasionally surging
back on it till the horse's sides sunk in and he gasped for breathbut
every tim