Starting again for the Pacific coast soon after the civil war was began at Sumpter, he included a trip to British Columbia in his travels. At Lewiston, on the Columbia River, he began to think of the outfit needed for the journey. His effects inventoried one gold pencil, a single-barreled pistol, and $15 cash. To his brother-in-law, Mr. Charles Wright, who was one of his traveling companions, and much better provided with equipments, he intimated that he must do a little _trading_ before he could proceed. In half a day he had exchanged his jewelry and pistol for a pair of horses; sold one of them again at a clean profit of $50; paid $15 for a third; and early in the afternoon returned to camp with two good animals, fine revolver, saddles, blankets, and about $60 in money. Trading was his special success--speculation invariably a failure. For a distance of 1400 miles through the northern wilderness, that Lewiston revolver brought down most of the game upon which the company feasted by the way. In the Salmon River country, trees and the feathery snow furnished most comfortable bedding. They sold their surplus provisions to a British customs officer on the route, at a profit of 66 per cent. At Lytton, they replenished their stock, and loaded five of their horses with saleable goods. They found a market at Williams' Creek for flour at $1.00 per pound, and for bacon at $1.25. Arriving at the Cariboo mining district, the party bought the "Darkey's Claim." It was a rich prospect, and they worked the lead until snow closed the operations, taking an ounce of gold from a bucket of dirt. At this time the claim would have sold for thousands of dollars. After wintering at Victoria they returned to make their fortunes, securing a force of workmen at $10 a day. After working four feet further their riches "jumped" and vanished beyond recovery. Not a hundred feet off three miners were taking out 75 ounces per day, and others doing equally well. But the "Darkey" had "run out," and the owners accepted $200 for their lost treasure. Mining has had no attraction for him to this day.