The water was almost blood-red, which 'Gene
told us came from the gold stamp-mills on its upper course. If
the water had been gray it would have indicated silver-mining.
Just beyond we met the Deadwood Treasure Coach. It was an
ordinary four-horse stage, without passengers, but carrying two
guards, each with a very short double-barrelled shot-gun resting
across his lap. The stage was operated by the express company,
and was bringing out the gold bricks from the mines near
Deadwood.
"I suppose," said Ollie, musingly, "if anybody tried to rob
the coach, those fellows would shoot with their guns?"
"Oh no," replied Jack. "Oh no; they carry those guns to fan
themselves with on hot days." But Ollie did not seem to be misled
by this astonishing information.
As we went on the road grew constantly more mountainous.
Sometimes the trail ran along ledges, and sometimes near roaring
streams and waterfalls, and the great pine-trees were everywhere.
We passed two grizzly old placer-miners working just off the
trail, and stopped and watched them "pan out" a few shovelfuls of
dirt.
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