missionaries, had come among these people bearing the message of peace and good will and they, with the exception of the rebellion of Chief Joseph, had ever after adhered to his gentle teachings.  The Nez Perce Indians are the most intelligent and finest looking Indians I have ever seen.  They are also a brave, self-reliant race, and Joseph’s band bears the distinction of being the only Indians on the continent with the steady courage to charge an equal number of the enemy in the open field.

We crossed Snake River at Lewiston, then a trading village of half a dozen tents.  The ferry boat was towed up the river half a mile by a horse and then rowed across with oars pulled by two men.  Lewiston is located at the junction of the Snake and Clearwater, but we went by way of Camas Prairie and crossed at Craig’s ferry, and two days later landed in Oro Fino city.  Hundreds of miners had preceded us, and when we arrived the ground was all taken up.  I, therefore, found a job at sluice forking at $75 per month, a boy’s wages.  Men were receiving $5 per day of ten hours, but for night work $7.50 was paid.

I remained with my job but a short time, having found a better one in a store, more suited to my strength and at better wages.  I was also agent for Miller & Mossman’s express and received a good commission for all the envelopes sold bearing their name.  Envelopes were sold at $1 each, and were carried to Walla Walla by pony express.  The Miller here referred to was then plain Heme Miller, express rider, but now known to fame and the world of letters as “Joaquin” Miller.

The little store where I was employed was located about three miles above Oro Fino city on Rhode’s Creek, the richest placer diggings in the district.  Sunday was a busy day for miners.  Clothes had to be washed, picks sharpened, letters written to the “folks at home,” and as often happened, “dust” sent to them also.  This had to be carefully weighed on gold scales, a receipt given and the dust marked and placed in a buckskin purse.  There was no other means of communication with the outside world, and both letters and dust must be sent by Miller & Mossman’s express.  To the credit of Mr. Miller, be it said, that thieves, robbers and murderers let him severely alone.  Not only that, but no one ever lost a dollar entrusted to Heine’s care, though murders and robberies were quite frequent, and it was well known that he always carried a large quantity of gold dust; but they simply didn’t want the job of taking it away from Heine Miller.

It was one of my duties to take the “express matter,” letters and gold dust, to Oro Fino in time for the Walla Walla express Monday morning.  As the express started at 6 o’clock I had to get up early, besides it was deemed safest to “hoof down the trail” before daylight.  The trail was a mere foot path cut through the bull pines, in the shadow of which imagination more than once pictured a lone robber.  But I always carried my revolver in my hand and, though a boy, I was almost as good a shot as Miller—­at least I thought so.  However, I always arrived on time and without mishap or accident.