A few hours sufficed to knock up a shanty, and it was surprising in how short a time they were able to surround themselves with many of the comforts of life.

They were men above the average, men who had saved considerable sums and were able to venture something in the search for fortune.
What surprised me was the good humor which prevailed everywhere.

It was a vast picnic, full of amusing incidents.

Everybody was in high glee; fortunes were supposedly within reach; everything was booming.
On the tops of the derricks floated flags on which strange mottoes were displayed.

I remember looking down toward the river and seeing two men working their treadles boring for oil upon the banks of the stream, and inscribed upon their flag was "Hell or China." They were going down, no matter how far.
The adaptability of the American was never better displayed than in this region.