before they shall be finally lost. Each one is based upon truth.
Somewhere, sometime, some place, certain characters lived the scenes and
actions here described.

The title "Mother Lode" has been used in its broader sense as
exemplifying the source of all gold in California, and the life which
arose from it.

The mining engineer said: "The Mother Lode runs south from El Dorado
County to the lower boundary of Mariposa County. It stretches past the
towns of Sutter Creek, Jackson, San Andreas, Angel's Camp and the road
to Yosemite far down below Coulterville. The lode begins suddenly and
ends as suddenly, and though we have searched up and down the state we
have never been able to pick it up again."

"Has it any relation to the Comstock Lode?" was asked.

"None whatever. Curiously enough, in Nevada City and vicinity it would
appear that at one time in the earth's making, a great fissure opened in
forming California and a wedge of Nevada mining country was pushed into
it. North of there the California stratas begin again."

"But it was always my belief that these localities were on the Mother
Lode, as well as the Georgetown and Auburn country."

"Many persons are apparently under that impression, but the geological
surveys of the government place it in the exact location I have given
you."

The "Old Miner, '49er," said: "We hunted most all o' our lives, lookin'