miners had assembled in the town, and all were more or less under the influence of liquor. The gamblers, after treating all hands until they began to show symptoms of inebriation, opened their little games and commenced winning the money of those who were foolish enough to play. Around each table could be seen a crowd of hardy fellows betting their hard-earned dust, and indulging in rude jests and boisterous laughter. The harsh oaths that would occasionally escape from the lips of some of the players, gave evidence that luck could not prevail against scientific attainments in the art of cheating, and that the gamblers were making hay while the sun shone.
After the noon-day meal had been disposed of, the committee of arrangements set to work to arrange the preliminaries for the snow-shoe race. Judges, time-keepers, referees, starters, etc., were appointed, rules established, and everything fixed in consonance with the ideas of the majority of the committee. Then those who were to take part in the contest were notified to appear at the starting-post. The judges took their positions; those who had been absorbed in gambling forsook the tables, and sought places from whence a good view of the race could be had.
When the hour for starting arrived the signal was given, and the contestants bounded off with the speed of lightning. At the last moment a woman appeared upon the scene and started with the others. She was evidently an expert in the use of the snow-shoes, and passed several of the contestants during the first hun-
