Soaring Eagles

The next morning, with their Indian ponies loaded down with provisions,    they rode off toward the towering snow covered distant mountains. All day  they rode uphill and by nightfall reached a gurgling brook, where they dismounted and made camp. They shivered in the cold night air as  preparations were made to sleep. They chewed on some buffalo jerky to satisfy some of their hunger pangs, and then fell asleep. Early the next morning Tom awoke to the smell of hot coffee and frying bacon. They ate sparingly, packed their things and were on their way. They followed the brook upstream in single file as the terrain was rough. After three hours of arduous ascent the boys came upon an  old weather beaten cabin. As they approached they saw signs of someone living there. A shiny ax was at the entrance and a horse was tethered to a nearby tree. They called out asking if anyone was home. Suddenly a nice looking young man, holding a rifle, appeared in the doorway. He asked the two boys what they were doing in these parts. Tom told him about some of their plans. He seemed to accept their explanation and introduced himself as Dusty Simms, fur trapper. He put his gun down and welcomed the boys in for a cup of coffee. They noticed that there wasn't a single pelt in or outside the cabin. But he was being as hospitable as he could considering that he had very little if anything to offer. Tom asked Dusty if there were any towns upstream. He told them of a village about ten miles west. At this point Dusty seemed like  he wanted the boys to leave as soon as possible. The boys quickly obliged, bid farewell and departed. Fortunately for the hungry boys they saw a large rabbit a couple of miles upstream from the cabin. They shot it and immediately made a rabbit stew.

They had a discussion concerning Dusty and both came to the same conclusion.  Dusty was afraid of something and didn't want people around. After lunch they both continued uphill along the stream. Although now they had reached tall timber and patches of snow here and there. As they progressed upstream the snow became widespread, and it became colder. Soon the boys came upon the source of the brook, as water came tumbling out of a mountain side. They won- dered whether Dusty was telling them the truth about a town up ahead, or was he just trying to get rid of them. They decided to go on further, but the country seemed more rugged. Just when they were about to turn back, they came across a town of tents lying on both sides of a rapid stream. They entered th town and immediately noticed a large sign on the largest tent that read Big Mikes Saloon. They tied up their horses, entered the saloon and sat down at the nearest table, too exhausted to go any further. Thirty eyes were gazing at them from all corners of the room. Soon a huge bartender by the name of Floyed came up to the two boys and asked them where they were from. Tom answered truthfully.  But the boys did not expect jeering laughter to follow by Floyed and almost everyone else. Floyed then followed with a taunting remark as to whether they would like their milk now or later. Such derision was not very hospitable and the boys got up and began to walk out, when suddenly someone shouted that this was no way to treat customers, especially in front of the owner Big Mike. An eerie silence pervaded the saloon. The boys glanced toward the approaching man with a big cigar and decided to leave anyway. On the way out the boys heard this same man jokingly admonish Floyed and everyone laughed.

The boys were walking their tired horses down the muddy street when they saw another large sign on a huge tent that said, Charley's Country Inn. This time Tom entered while Bill tied up the horses. A man sitting behind a log counter greeted him rather pleasantly. He introduced himself as Charley

Bowen the proprietor of the establishment. Tom asked him if there was a place to sleep for the night for both he and his friend. Charley said that there was room and if not we can always make room. Tom asked about the town and why it was all tented. Charley told them that the town was barely one year old and they were catering to the miners who were panning for gold up and down Beaver Creek. Some miners had struck it rich, while most had very little if anything to show for their time and effort. Lately, Charley continued, there have been a rash of holdups around Beaver Creek, and the miners are very angry. Strangers are not necessarily trusted in these parts. By this time Bill walked in and was listening to the conversation. Bill took Tom aside and asked quizzically whether Charley was trying to discourage them or just merely being sincere. Tom asked Charley to show them their room. "That will be a dollar fifty for both of you," Charley replied. As soon as they paid, the proprietor led them to a room that had canvas walls and a door flap. Charley suggested that if anyone wanted to freshen up, there is a pitcher of water in the outhouse. They asked Charley if there was a restaurant in town, and he pointed to a tent called Marthas.

They walked over, entered, and noticed five tables. One was occupied by three shabbily dressed, bearded men and the other four were vacant.  They sat down at one of the tables and the aroma of food cooking was overwhelming to these hungry boys. Bill had saved some money during his circus days, so he treated Tom who was penniless. In a few minutes a matronly women in her early forties came over to the table and asked the boys to choose a dish from the bulletin board menu. They looked and found only one item, venison stew, which they promptly ordered. While the boys were busy eating, the waitress introduced herself as "Martha, chief cook and dishwasher". She asked them a few questions about their background and since none were new they answered rather quickly. Martha commented about their youthfulness in such an out of the way place. But she added that no one comes up to these parts unless they are in search of furs or gold. The boys seemed to like her straight talk, and asked about gold panning. She told them that there was gold in the creek, but if you were lucky enough to find any, you then had to deal with robbers. She then told them that her husband had found some gold, but somehow bandits found out about it four months ago and tried to rob him. He defended his cache, and they shot him. These robbers struck a number of times, and some of the miners have already departed. There must be about forty miners left along Beaver Creek. The miners are extremely agitated by these robberies, and they have a warning system to help each other in distress.

Bill asked if the miners had any suspicions as to the identity of the culprits.  Martha answered that they had their notions, but no proof, since the bandits always wore handkerchiefs to cover their faces. She then told the boys since they could not be scared off by these robberies, she would give them a tip. Martha suggested that they go upstream and begin their panning, for she explained that there would be less likelihood of that area being played out. She also offered them her late husband's tarp together with two heavy blankets, which they accepted graciously by thanking her. The boys returned to their tent room and the comfort of their cots, and fell asleep rather quickly. Early t