CHAPTER X. AT THE SHRINE OF A "SPHINX OF AZTLAN"
Not a drop of rain had fallen on us since we left the Rio Grande, the
days were as summer in a northern climate, but the nights were quite
chill, the effect of an altitude of five thousand feet above sea
level. The country had lost its appearance of loneliness, for we
passed several parties of miners and heard the heavy booming of giant
powder at intervals, and from various directions all through the day.
We were joined by a jolly party of miners who were eager for news and
camped with us over night. There were three men in this outfit.
Keen-looking, hearty old chaps with ruddy faces and gray beards, they
looked like men who are continually prospecting for the "main
chance." I passed a delightful evening in their company. They said
they owned rich silver mines farther up on Lynx Creek, and had come
out from town to perform the annual assessment work on their claims,
as prescribed by the laws of the United States, in order to hold
possession and perfect legal title to the ground. As I was not versed
in matters pertaining to the mines, I asked why they did not work
their mines continually for the silver. They explained that they
could not work to good advantage for lack of transportation
facilities which made it very difficult and costly to bring in
machinery for developing their prospects into mines.
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