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and an auctioneer。 He had the good temper and sanguine disposition of a Mark Tapley。 After the golden days of California he spent his life wandering about the globe； giving 'entertainments' in China； Japan； India； Australia。 Wherever the English language is spoken； Stephen Massett had many friends and no enemies。
Fred slept on the table； I under it； and next morning we hired horses and started for the 'Forks of the Yuba。' A few hours' ride brought us to the gold…hunters。 Two or three hundred men were at work upon what had formerly been the bed of the river。 By unwritten law； each miner was entitled to a certain portion of the 'bar；' as it was called； in which the gold is found。 And； as the precious metal has to be obtained by washing； the allotments were measured by thirty feet on the banks of the river and into the dry bed as far as this extends； thus giving each man his allowance of water。 Generally three or four combined to possess a 'claim。' Each would then attend to his own department： one loosened the soil； another filled the barrow or cart； a third carried it to the river； and the fourth would wash it in the 'rocker。' The average weight of gold got by each miner while we were at the 'wet diggin's；' I。E。 where water had to be used； was nearly half an ounce or seven dollars' worth a day。 We saw three Englishmen who had bought a claim 30 feet by 100 feet； for 1；400 dollars。 It had been bought and sold twice before for considerable sums； each party supposing it to be nearly 'played out。' In three weeks the Englishmen paid their 1；400 dollars and had cleared thirteen dollars a day apiece for their labour。
Our presence here created both curiosity and suspicion； for each gang and each individual was very shy of his neighbour。 They did not believe our story of crossing the plains； they themselves； for the most part； had come round the Horn； a few across the isthmus。 Then； if we didn't want to dig； what did we want？ Another peculiarity about us … a great one … was； that； so far as they could see； we were unarmed。 At night the majority； all except the few who had huts； slept in a zinc house or sort of low…roofed barn； against the walls of which were three tiers of bunks。 There was no room for us； even if we had wished it； but we managed to hire a trestle。 Mattress or covering we had none。 As Fred and I lay side by side； squeezed together in a trough scarcely big enough for one； we heard two fellows by the door of the shed talking us over。 They thought no doubt that we were fast asleep； they themselves were slightly fuddled。 We nudged each other and pricked up our ears； for we had already canvassed the question of security； surrounded as we were by ruffians who looked quite ready to dispose of babes in the wood。 They discussed our 'portable property' which was nil； one decided； while the other believed； that we must have money in our pockets。 The first remarked that； whether or no； we were unarmed； the other wasn't so sure about that … it wasn't likely we'd come there to be skinned for the asking。 Then arose the question of consequences； and it transpired that neither of them had the courage of his rascality。 After a bit； both agreed they had better turn in。 Tired as we were； we fell asleep。 How long we had slumbered I know not； but all of a sudden I was seized by the beard； and was conscious of a report which in my dreams I took for a pistol…shot。 I found myself on the ground amid the wrecks of the trestle。 Its joints had given way under the extra weight； and Fred's first impulse had been to clutch at my throat。
On the way back to San Francisco we stayed for a couple of nights at Sacramento。 It was a miserable place； with nothing but a few temporary buildings except those of the Spanish settlers。 In the course of a walk round the town I noticed a crowd collected under a large elm…tree in the horse…market。 On inquiry I was informed that a man had been lynched on one of its boughs the night before last。 A piece of the rope was still hanging from the tree。 When I got back to the 'hotel' … a place not much better than the shed at Yuba Forks … I found a newspaper with an account of the affair。 Drawing a chair up to the stove； I was deep in the story； when a huge rowdy…looking fellow in digger…costume interrupted me with：
'Say； stranger； let's have a look at that paper； will ye？'
'When I've done with it；' said I； and continued reading。 He lent over the back of my chair； put one hand on my shoulder； and with the other raised the paper so that he could read。
'Caint see rightly。 Ah； reckon you're readen 'baout Jim； ain't yer？'
'Who's Jim？'
'Him as they sus…spended yesterday mornin'。 Jim was a purticler friend o' mine； and I help'd to hang him。'
'A friendly act！ What was he hanged for？'
'When did you come to Sacramenty City？'
'Day before yesterday。'
'Wal； I'll tell yer haow't was then。 Yer see； Jim was a Britisher； he come from a place they call Botany Bay； which belongs to Victoria； but ain't 'xactly in the Old Country。 I judge； when he first come to Californy； 'baout six months back； he warn't acquainted none with any boys hereaway； so he took to diggin' by hisself。 It was up to Cigar Bar whar he dug； and I chanst to be around there too； that's haow we got to know one another。 Jim hadn't been here not a fortnight 'fore one of the boys lost 300 dollars as he'd made a cache of。 Somehow suspicions fell on Jim。 More'n one of us thought he'd been a diggin' for bags instead of for dust； and the man as lost the money swore he'd hev a turn with him； so Jim took my advice not to go foolin' around； an' sloped。'
'Well；' said I； as my friend stopped to adjust his tobacco plug； 'he wasn't hanged for that？'
''Tain't likely！ Till last week nobody know'd whar he'd gone to。 When he come to Sacramenty this time； he come with a pile； an' no mistake。 All day and all night he used to play at faro an' a heap o' other games。 Nobody couldn't tell how he made his money hold out； nor whar he got it from； but sartin sure the crowd reckoned as haow Jim was considerable of a loafer。 One day a blacksmith as lives up Broad Street； said he found out the way he done it； and ast me to come with him and show up Jim for cheatin'。 Naow； whether it was as Jim suspicioned the blacksmith I cain't say； but he didn't cheat； and lost his money in consequence。 This riled him bad； so wantin' to get quit of the blacksmith he began a quarrel。 The blacksmith was a quick…tempered man； and after some language struck Jim in the mouth。 Jim jumps up； and whippin' out his revolver； shoots the t'other man dead on the spot。 I was the first to lay hold on him； but ef it hadn't 'a' been for me they'd 'a' torn him to pieces。
'〃Send for Judge Parker；〃 says some。
'〃Let's try him here；〃 says others。
'〃I don't want to be tried at all；〃 says Jim。 〃You all know bloody well as I shot the man。 And I knows bloody well as I'll hev to swing for it。 Gi' me till daylight； and I'll die like a man。〃
'But we wasn't going to hang him without a proper trial； and as the trial lasted two hours； it …