“What do you mean—­run away?” I asked, surprised at the intelligence.

“That is what I mean.  She has run off with the fellow whose arm I broke some time since; and she not only took her clothes, but she seized every thing of value I had in the tent.  They have got six hours the start of me, but I think—­”

He paused, and seemed to consider for a moment.

“You think that you can overtake them,” I suggested; “I have no doubt but that you can, and the best horse that we own is at your disposal.”

“O, bless your heart, I was not considering the subject in that light,” he answered, “I was thinking whether I should advertise that I would not be responsible for any debts that she contracts.”

I told him that I thought he need give himself no uneasiness on that score; but Barney was a mathematical body, and always desired to do business on the square; and as he seemed so set upon writing an advertisement, I furnished him ink and paper, and after a laborious process, he wrote the following, which I copy verbatim.

“NOTICE.—­My wife, Maria Barney, the ugliest woman that ever lived, has left my tent and board without any justifiable cause, ’cos I use to do all that I could do to make her pretty comfortable, and in spite of my wishes, she would cut up like the devil, and run after other men.  Now, I want all men to notice this act of mine.  I won’t pay a d——­d cent of her debts, and I hope no one will return her to me, ’cos I don’t want her.  JIM BARNEY.”

I persuaded Barney that the announcement would be valid in law, if he only stuck it up in the store, where it could be read by the miners, and it may be there until this day, for all that I know.

CHAPTER LX.

MIKE FINDS THE LARGE “NUGGET.”

What trifles will sometimes change the destiny of a man!

Barney, after his wife had left him so unexpectedly, earnestly desired to give up mining and return to his first love,—­the driving of cattle and teaming.  We tried to persuade him to stick to his claim; but he was resolute, and declared that if we would not purchase his mine he would sell to the first adventurer who made an offer; and to prevent the man from sacrificing his property, we purchased on speculation, and paid him just the price he had given.  Even after we came into possession, we did not know what to do with the mine, for we had no desire to work it ourselves; and, as a large portion of the allotted ground had been dug over, old miners were shy, and strangers did not bite readily at the temptations which we held out to them.