[Cover Illustration] =B O N A N Z A= =A STORY OF THE GOLD TRAIL= =BY= =WILLIAM MacLEOD RAINE= =AUTHOR OF= =A MAN FOUR SQUARE,= =CROOKED TRAILS AND STRAIGHT,= =TROUBLED WATERS, Etc.= =G R O S S E T & D U N L A P= =P U B L I S H E R S N E W Y O R K= COPYRIGHT, 1921, 1926, BY WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y. The giants with hopes audacious; the giants of iron limb; The giants who journeyed westward when the trails were new and dim; The giants who felled the forests, made pathways o’er the snows, And planted the vine and fig tree where the manzanita grows; Who swept the mountain gorges, and painted their endless night, With their cabins rudely fashioned and their camp-fires’ ruddy light; Who builded great towns and cities, who swung the Golden Gate, And hewed from the mighty ashlar the form of a sovereign state. I drink alone in silence to the builders of the West— “Long life to the hearts still beating, and peace to the hearts at rest.” CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. The Pony Express Rider............................ 1 II. “Hurrah for Washoe!”.............................. 8 III. The Night Ride.................................... 15 IV. Scot McClintock Introduces Himself................ 27 V. Scot Passes the Hat............................... 39 VI. Hugh Sits in...................................... 53 VII. Vicky Tells Secrets............................... 65 VIII. Scot Offers Health Hints.......................... 75 IX. Scot Talks on Mother Love......................... 80 X. Till Tapping...................................... 90 XI. “Twenty-Four Hours to Get Out”.................... 99 XII. “Git Out de Way, Ole Dan Tucker”.................. 106 XIII. The “Stranglers”.................................. 121 XIV. Colonel McClintock Agrees with Vicky.............. 130 XV. Hugh Learns Old Grimes Is Still Dead.............. 139 XVI. In the Pit of Night............................... 150 XVII. A Knife with Fourteen Notches..................... 159 XVIII. Apply to Hugh McClintock.......................... 165 XIX. McClintock Bills the Town......................... 171 XX. “Little Vicky”.................................... 179 XXI. In the Blizzard................................... 187 XXII. A Haven of Refuge................................. 196 XXIII.