Thitherwewent；theJews，whoshouldalreadyhavebeenmilesintoLakeCounty，stillcheerilyaccompanyingus。Foraboutafurlongwefollowedagoodroadalone，thehillsidethroughtheforest，untilsuddenlythatroadwidenedoutandcameabruptlytoanend。Acanyon，woodybelow，red，rocky，andnakedoverhead，washerewalledacrossbyadumpofrollingstones，dangerouslysteep，andfromtwentytothirtyfeetinheight。Arustyironchuteonwoodenlegscameflying，likeamonstrousgargoyle，acrosstheparapet。Itwasdownthisthattheypouredthepreciousore；andbelowherethecartsstoodtowaittheirlading，andcarryitmill—warddownthemountain。
Thewholecanyonwassoentirelyblocked，asifbysomerudeguerillafortification，thatwecouldonlymountbylengthsofwoodenladder，fixedinthehillside。Theseledusroundthefarthercornerofthedump；andwhentheywereatanend，westillperseveredoverlooserubbleandwadingdeepinpoisonoak，tillwestruckatriangularplatform，fillingupthewholeglen，andshutinoneitherhandbyboldprojectionsofthemountain。Onlyinfronttheplacewasopenliketheprosceniumofatheatre，andwelookedforthintoagreatrealmofair，anddownupontreetopsandhilltops，andfarandnearonwildandvariedcountry。Theplacestillstoodasonthedayitwasdeserted：alineofironrailswithabifurcation；atruckinworkingorder；aworldoflumber，oldwood，oldiron；ablacksmith’sforgeononeside，halfburiedintheleavesofdwarfmadronas；andontheother，anoldbrownwoodenhouse。
FannyandIdashedatthehouse。Itconsistedofthreerooms，andwassoplasteredagainstthehill，thatoneroomwasrightatopofanother，thattheupperfloorwasmorethantwiceaslargeasthelower，andthatallthreeapartmentsmustbeenteredfromadifferentsideandlevel。Notawindow—sashremained。
Thedoorofthelowerroomwassmashed，andonepanelhunginsplinters。Weenteredthat，andfoundafairamountofrubbish：sandandgravelthathadbeensiftedintherebythemountainwinds；straw，sticks，andstones；atable，abarrel；aplate—rackonthewall；twohome—madebootjacks，signsofminersandtheirboots；andapairofpaperspinnedontheboarding，headedrespectively\"FunnelNo。1，\"and\"FunnelNo。2，\"butwiththetailstornaway。Thewindow，sashlessofcourse，waschokedwiththegreenandsweetlysmellingfoliageofabay；andthroughachinkinthefloor，asprayofpoisonoakhadshotupandwashandsomelyprosperingintheinterior。Itwasmyfirstcaretocutawaythatpoisonoak，Fannystandingbyatarespectfuldistance。
Thatwasourfirstimprovementbywhichwetookpossession。