We asked him if there was any chance for us to work and get money to get some provisions to help us on the way to the mines.

He said he could give work to one of us hauling water for the house with oxen and cart, and the one who could manage oxen was the man.

I was an ox driver and so told him I would take his team and cart and set out with the work.

He said he could pay fifty dollars a month, and I accepted the offer quickly as I saw it was a good chance to build up my exhausted strength and flesh.
I turned the little mule out in the hills near by, and began my work.

It was not hard, for the boarders were thinning out.