CHAPTER XVII.
Since writing the connected story which has thus far appeared, I turn back to give some incidents of life in the mines, and some description of those pioneer gold days.
I have spoken of Moore's Flat, Orleans Flat and Woolsey's Flat, all similarly situated on different points of the mountain, on the north side of the ridge between the South and Middle Yuba River, and all at about the same altitude.

A very deep canon lies between each of them, but a good mountain road was built around the head of each canon, connecting the towns.

When the snow got to be three or four feet deep the roads must be broken out and communication opened, and the boys used to turn out _en masse_ and each one would take his turn in leading the army of road breakers.

When the leader got tired out some one would take his place, for it was terrible hard work to wade through snow up to one's hips, and the progress very slow.

But the boys went at it as if they were going to a picnic, and a sort of picnic it was when they reached the next town, for whisky was free and grub plenty to such a party, and jollity and fun the uppermost thoughts.