jiot strange that these men should leave pleasant homes, travel three, six, ten thousand miles, and subject themselves to the discomforts of a houseless Californian winter, for gold, only to pour it into the pocket of the first whisky-seller that came to their campl
Ricord drove into camp about sunset. For six long weeks the place had been absolutely dry—of whisky. No sooner was it noised abroad that asupply of the bliss-producing poison was at hand, than eager applicants with outstretched hands holding cups, bottles, kettles, bowls, dishes, anything that would hold water, approached from every direction, craving each a portion as eagerly as if a draught of it conferred upon them immortality.
Whereunto shall we liken the tapping of those whiskey kegs in that uproarious camp of the gold-diggers? It was like the opening of Pandora's box which should let fly all the evils incident to man ; or like the mud-born serpent Python crushing all within its coils; or like the Harpyise sweeping flighty souls away in the storm wind; or like the Eumenides taking from men all peace of. mind and leading them into misery and misfortune. The flow of this fiery liquid was like the pouring out of the seven vials of wrath by the apocalyptic angels, which should send abroad disease, turn elements of life into elements of death; which should scorch with fire, darken the intellect, dry up the affections, and cause men to blaspheme the God of heaven because of their pains and sores ; or like the surgings of the river of Erebus, the dark and gloomy passage to stygian realms.
For all these ills, and more, it would require to consummate the scene that followed. In less than an hour were heard the ominous breathings of the approaching storm. By nine o'clock there was scarcely a sober man in camp. On every side was rioting, hair-pulling, striking, brandishing of knives, and firing of pistols, accompanied with no little blood-letting. All nature was that ni'^ht intoxicated. Even the
