Roughing It

PREFATORY.

This book is merely a personal narrative, and not a pretentious history or a philosophical dissertation. It is a record of several years of variegated vagabondizing, and its object is rather to help the resting reader while away an idle hour than afflict him with metaphysics, or goad him with science. Still, there is information in the volume; information concerning an interesting episode in the history of the Far West, about which no books have been written by persons who were on the ground in person, and saw the happenings of the time with their own eyes. I allude to the rise, growth and culmination of the silver-mining fever in Nevada—a curious episode, in some respects; the only one, of its peculiar kind, that has occurred in the land; and the only one, indeed, that is likely to occur in it.

Yes, take it all around, there is quite a good deal of information in the book. I regret this very much; but really it could not be helped: information appears to stew out of me naturally, like the precious ottar of roses out of the otter. Sometimes it has seemed to me that I would give worlds if I could retain my facts; but it cannot be. The more I calk up the sources, and the tighter I get, the more I leak wisdom. Therefore, I can only claim indulgence at the hands of the reader, not justification.

THE AUTHOR.

CHAPTER I.

My brother had just been appointed Secretary of Nevada Territory—an office of such majesty that it concentrated in itself the duties and dignities of Treasurer, Comptroller, Secretary of State, and Acting Governor in the Governor's absence. A salary of eighteen hundred dollars a year and the title of "Mr. Secretary," gave to the great position an air of wild and imposing grandeur. I was young and ignorant, and I envied my brother. I coveted his distinction and his financial splendor, but particularly and especially the long, strange journey he was going to make, and the curious new world he was going to explore.

CONTENTS.

I. My Brother appointed Secretary of Nevada, I Envy His Prospective Adventures, Am Appointed Private Secretary Under Him, My Contentment Complete, Packed in One Hour, Dreams and Visions, On the Missouri River, A Bully Boat

II. Arrive at St. Joseph, Only Twenty-five Pounds Baggage Allowed, Farewell to Kid Gloves and Dress Coats, Armed to the Teeth, The "Allen", A Cheerful Weapon, Persuaded to Buy a Mule, Schedule of Luxuries, We Leave the "States", "Our Coach", Mails for the Indians, Between a Wink and an Earthquake, A Modern Sphynx and How She Entertained Us, A Sociable Heifer

III. "The Thoroughbrace is Broke", Mails Delivered Properly, Sleeping Under Difficulties, A Jackass Rabbit Meditating, and on Business, A Modern Gulliver, Sage-brush, Overcoats as an Article of Diet, Sad Fate of a Camel, Warning to Experimenters

IV. Making Our Bed, Assaults by the Unabridged, At a Station, Our Driver a Great and Shining Dignitary, Strange Place for a Frontyard, Accommodations, Double Portraits, An Heirloom, Our Worthy Landlord, "Fixings and Things", An Exile, Slumgullion, A Well Furnished Table, The Landlord Astonished, Table Etiquette, Wild Mexican Mules, Stage-coaching and Railroading

V. New Acquaintances, The Cayote, A Dog's Experiences, A Disgusted Dog, The Relatives of the Cayote, Meals Taken Away from Home

VI. The Division Superintendent, The Conductor, The Driver, One Hundred and Fifty Miles' Drive Without Sleep, Teaching a Subordinate, Our Old Friend Jack and a Pilgrim, Ben Holliday Compared to Moses

VII. Overland City, Crossing the Platte, Bemis's Buffalo Hunt, Assault by a Buffalo, Bemis's Horse Goes Crazy, An Impromptu Circus, A New Departure, Bemis Finds Refuge in a Tree, Escapes Finally by a Wonderful Method

VIII.