The mining community of Poker Flat decides to expel 6 people. Two of them make it as far as the nearest tree. The remaining four are Oakhurst the gambler, Uncle Billy, town drunk and suspected sluice robber, and two professional women.They head out for the nearest settlement over the Sierras and are trapped by an early snow. The text for this story may be found at www.gutenberg.org. Search authors for Harte, Bret.