Amador County High School - Skip Yearbook (Sutter Creek, CA)

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be garden but I'll get even on that McCullen, he won't fire any of my men again. The next day was a long one for the five men. Work seemed to go wrong all around. More machinery refused to run and much of the work had to be done by hand. Nevertheless, when night came, the men were greatly excited and anxious for the morning to come-all but Buck. I-le did not say much because he did not wish to be called a coward but he felt that something more than fun was to result from the plan. He was more than delighted when the chief, lVlcCullen, walked up to him, and laying his hand on his shoulder, said, Buck, I know it's hard to work when all the rest of the men are sitting down, but we need a strong man like you to ride into Sacramento early to- morrow. Would you be willing to sacrifice a day's rest to even help us out? ' Buck's face flashed and he grinned from ear to ear. Willing, Boss? I'd be only too glad to do anything I could for you. What time shall I start? Well, said lVlcCullen, I guess it won't hurt to start about live o'clock. Be over at my office at a quarter to five. Good-night. About half way down the hill he turned and called, A'Don't be late, Buck. No danger. said Buck to himself, as he turned to enter his cabin, I always was lucky, at least, ever since I found that rabbit foot down there in Texas. His musings were interrupted by a loud knock at the door and a yell from Tim. Be on hand at four-thirty sharp, Buck. Sorry, boys, said Buck, but just had orders from the boss to go to Sac- ramento tomorrow. I hate to go but I couldn't very well refuse him. I wish you all kinds of luck and I hope next time I will be able to get in on it. Said he was sorry, laughed Tim to Guy, as soon as they were outside again, but l'll be switched if he looks it. Never mind, said Tony, he doesn't know what he is going to miss. Ten minutes to live the next morning found Buck in his saddle riding toward Sacramento with a letter for Captain Sutter. It was not long before he heard other horses in back of him, and turning, he saw a great cloud of dust and out of it came live horses. Buck was just in time to turn off into the brush and escape the five Chinamen as they rode by. I knew something was up, he said aloud, now look at those bloomin' Chinamen. Probably killed somebody. I'll just take this trail and beat them to Sacramento. I'll fix them. At that he gave his horse a slap and off he went. It did not take him long to reach Sacramento for he knew it was for a good cause. After conversing with the officers, he gave his orders. The oflicers, not being used to taking orders from a common laborer, at first refused, but seeing the anxious look on Buck's face, sent him off as fast as his horse could carry him, l'l'wenty-fourl

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They would wish they were safe in China. You, Buck, are fond of the Chinese, why don't you make a suggestion? Why rub it in, Guy? You know I would rather ownia lap-dog than get anywheres near one of those bloomin' yellow men. As for me, count me absent on any tricks with those kind of fellows. l'll have no gun stuck in my face by one of them, said Buck. Good suggestion, said Tim, displaying his ear-tO-Car grin. 'iWhy before we get through with those Chinamen they'll wish they were farther away than China. Couldn't be better, spoke up Tony, did you fellows know that we are going to have a day off next Wednesday? Yep! The boss is having two or three men come up from Sacramento to look over the machinery and see if they can locate the cause of all this trouble we have been having lately. As I said before, the lay of the land is perfect. I overheard a couple of the inmates of that cabin up there on the ridge and if I know anything at all, they are going to blast some rocks out down there next to the mill and run some water down there to cultivate that place down there just below the big bend. Now all this is going to take place Wednesday morning, so about daybreak we'll just roam over there and pull out their fuse, then we'll hide and watch the fun. What say, you boys? You sure are there, when it comes to using that button on top of your shoulders, Tony, put in Guy, but let me make another suggestion. Why not fill a barrel with sand and put just enough powder at the end of their fuse to scatter the sand, then watch their faces? Boys, it couldn't be better, sang out Mort, the day is set for Wednesday, but now while we can let's steal forty winks, or 'Sutter's Mill don't look so grand early tomorrow morning. They all parted with good-nights and a doubtful look on Buck's face. There was little sleep in the Chinese camp that night, for plans were con- siderably different than the five men had imagined. Long after the lamps had all.been put out in the other cabins, the Chinamen sat before a small rough table talking. It's all fixed, spoke the leader, we'll be out of the country by that time, and anyway aren't we to have a day off Wednesday? Who will suspect us? Nobody, of course. Now, I'll tell you fellows what to do. l'll write a letter and you, Yon, take it over and put it on the chief's desk. No danger there because the chief is down at the mill at ive o'clock. You, Ki, will touch off the fuse and we will be waiting nearby with the horses and will be ten miles away before the men around here even know what happened. Don't you under- stand? They all think that we are going to make a dam for our supposed to l'l'wenty-lhreeil

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promising him that they would watch the hang-out of Sing Pu until he came back. When he reached the Mill, everything was in a state of confusion. Had Buck heard of the doings of the Chinamen? Did he know which way they went? Did he think it really was the Chinamen or was it something which had been blamed on them? What would have happened if it had not been discovered? A million questions were thrown at Buck but he heard not a one of them. He made his way toward lVlcCullen's office. In a short time he was out again, on a fresh horse and riding as fast as possible toward the city. He covered the distance in an amazingly short time and when at last he rode up to the Chinese saloon and jumped down from his horse, he muttered to the officers: Just as I thought, come on. Inside the dirty quarters things seemed to be more easy for Buck. I-Ie had more courage. Put your hands up, he shouted, or I'll put 'em up for you. What's your idea of comin' down here and what you doing? Day off, returned one of the frightened Chinamen. 'iDay off, echoed the others. Lock 'em up, said Buck calmly to the officers, I suppose they deserve it. It was a proud and tired Buck that rode into camp late that night. As he rode to the top of the bluff he could see a huge bonfire down by the mill. As he rode to it the men went wild with cheers. McCullen and Buclds four friends were up to him and instantly lifted him from the saddle. After giving an account of himself, Buck was told by lVIcCullen that he and his four friends were to enter the employment of Captain Sutter at Sacramento. Well, sighed Buck, as he reached for his tobacco, I did what-Why what's this? Pulling a letter from his pocket, he turned to McCullen. Never mind that Buck, returned McCullen. that was about those China- men but I think you have them put away for a while, Again there was much cheering and singing and it was a happy crowd that adjourned early in the morning. No work tomorrow, called IVIcCullen, as he started off, you boys need a rest. lTwenty-fivel