California products.
They went to the district school, rode in the mountains, helped handle
the wild cattle. At the age of twelve Charley began to accompany the
summer incursions into the High Sierras in search of feed. At the age of
sixteen he was entrusted with a bunch of cattle. In these summers he
learned the wonder of the high, glittering peaks, the blueness of the
skies in high altitudes, the multitude of the stars, the flower-gemmed
secret meadows, the dark, murmuring forests. He fished in the streams,
and hunted on the ridges. His camp was pitched within a corral of heavy
logs. It was very simple. Utensils depending from trees, beds beneath
canvas tarpaulins on pine needles, saddlery, riatas, branding irons
scattered about. No shelter but the sky. A wonderful roving life.

It developed taciturnity and individualism. Charley Gates felt no
necessity for expression as yet; and as his work required little
cooeperation from his fellow creatures he acknowledged as little
responsibility toward them. Thus far he was the typical mountaineer.

But other influences came to him; as, indeed, they come to all. But
young Charley was more susceptible than most, and this--on the impulse
of the next tide resurgent--saved him from his type. He liked to read;
he did not scorn utterly and boisterously the unfortunate young man who
taught the school; and, better than all, he possessed just the
questioning mind that refuses to accept on their own asseveration only
the conventions of life or the opinions of neighbours. If he were to
drink, it would be because he wanted to; not because his companions
considered it manly. If he were to enter the sheep war, it would be
because he really considered sheep harmful to the range; not because of
the overwhelming--and contagious--prejudice.

In one thing only did he follow blindly his sense of loyalty: He hated
the Hydraulic Company.

Years after the placers failed someone discovered that the wholesale use
of hydraulic "giants" produced gold in paying quantities. Huge streams
of water under high pressure were directed against the hills, which
melted like snow under the spring sun. The earth in suspension was run
over artificial riffles against which the heavier gold collected. One
such stream could accomplish in a few hours what would have cost hand
miners the better part of a season.

But the debris must go somewhere. A rushing mud and boulder-filled
torrent tore down stream beds adapted