m he would walk
up to the spot and examine the hole from whence the culprit affirmed
that he had taken his money only three days ago, as he very naturally
supposed that it would still exhibit signs of having been recently
opened. It was finally agreed that the victim, who had never described
the place to the Squire, should give a minute description of it,
unheard by His Honor, to F., and afterwards should lead the former,
accompanied by his counsel, (no one else could be persuaded to make
such martyrs of themselves,) to the much-talked-of spot. And, will you
believe it, M.? those two obstinate men actually persevered, although
it was nearly dark, and a very cold, raw, windy night, in walking half
a mile up one of the steepest hills on what the rest thought a perfect
fool's errand! To be sure, they have triumphed for the moment, for the
Squire's description, on their return, tallied exactly with that
previously given to F. But, alas! the infidels remained infidels still.

Then W. bet an oyster-supper for the whole party, which F. took up,
that Miller, on his return, would confirm his client's statement. For
fear of accidents, we had the oysters that night, and very nice they
were, I assure you. This morning the hero of the last three days
vanished to parts unknown. And thus endeth the Squire's first attempt
to sit in judgment in a criminal case. I regret his failure very much,
as do many others. Whether any one else could have succeeded better, I
cannot say. But I am sure that no person could more sincerely _desire_
and _try_ to act for the best good of the community than the Squire.

I suppose that I should be as firm a believer in John's innocence as
any one, had he not said to F. and others that if he had taken the
money they could not _prove_ it against him, and many other similar
things, which seem to me totally incompatible with innocence.

LETTER _the_ TENTH

[_The_ PIONEER, _November_, 1854]

AMATEUR MINING--HAIRBREADTH 'SCAPES, &C.

SYNOPSIS

Three dollars and twenty-five cents in gold-dust. Sorry she learned the
trade. The resulting losses and suffering. Secret of the brilliant
successes of former gold-washeresses. Salting the ground by miners in
order to deceive their fair visitors. Erroneous ideas of richness of
auriferous dirt resulting therefrom. Rarity of lucky strikes. Claim
yielding ten dollars a day considered valuable. Consternation and
near-disaster in the author's cabin. Trunk of fore