heyhadallknownhimasashiftless,worthlesscreature.FromthetimehefirstenteredRedwoodCamp,carryinghisentireeffectsinaredhandkerchiefontheendofalong-handledshovel,untilhelazilydriftedoutofitonaplankintheterribleinundationof\'56,theyneverexpectedanythingbetterofhim.Inacommunityofstrongmenwithsullenvirtuesandcharminglyfascinatingvices,hewastoleratedaspossessingneither——notevenrisingbyanydominanthumanweaknessorludicrousqualitytotheimportanceofabutt.InthedramatispersonaeofRedwoodCamphewasasimple\"super\"——whohadonlypassive,speechlessrolesinthosefiercedramasthatweresometimesunrolledbeneathitsgreen-curtainedpines.Namelessandpenniless,hewasoverlookedbythecensusandignoredbythetaxcollector,whileinahotly-contestedelectionforsheriff,wheneventhehead-boardsofthescantcemeterywereconsultedtofillthepoll-lists,itwasdiscoveredthatneithercandidatehadthoughtfittoavailhimselfofhisactualvote.Hewasdebarredtherudeheraldryofanicknameofachievement,andinacampmadeupof\"EuchreBills,\"\"PokerDicks,\"\"ProfanePete,\"
and\"Snap-shotHarry,\"wasknownvaguelyas\"him,\"\"Skeesicks,\"or\"thatcoot.\"Itwasrememberedlongafter,withafeelingofsuperstition,thathehadneverevenmetwiththedignityofanaccident,norreceivedthefleetinghonorofachanceshotmeantforsomebodyelseinanyoftheliberalandbroadlycomprehensiveencounterswhichdistinguishedthecamp.Andtheinundationthatfinallycarriedhimoutofitwaspartlyanticipatedbyhispassiveincompetency,forwhiletheothersescaped——orweredrownedinescaping——hecalmlyfloatedoffonhisplankwithoutanopposingeffort.
Forallthat,ElijahMartin——whichwashisrealname——wasfarfrombeingunamiableorrepellent.Thathewascowardly,untruthful,selfish,andlazy,wasundoubtedlythefact;perhapsitwashispeculiarmisfortunethat,justthen,courage,frankness,generosity,andactivitywerethedominantfactorsinthelifeofRedwoodCamp.Hissubmissivegentleness,hisunquestionedmodesty,hishalfrefinement,andhisamiableexteriorconsequentlyavailedhimnothingagainstthefactthathewasmissedduringaraidoftheDiggerIndians,andliedtoaccountforit;orthathelosthisrighttoagolddiscoverybyfailingtomakeitgoodagainstabully,andselfishlykeptthisdiscoveryfromtheknowledgeofthecamp.Yetthisweaknessawakenednoanimosityinhiscompanions,anditisprobablethattheindifferenceofthecamptohisfateinthisfinalcatastrophecamepurelyfromasimpleforgetfulnessofonewhoatthatsuprememomentwasweaklyincapable.
Suchwasthereputationandsuchtheantecedentsofthemanwho,onthe15thofMarch,1856,foundhimselfadriftinaswollentributaryoftheMinyo.Aspringfreshetofunusualvolumehadfloodedtheadjacentriveruntil,burstingitsbounds,itescapedthroughthenarrow,wedge-shapedvalleythatheldRedwoodCamp.
Foradayandnightthesurchargedriverpouredhalfitswatersthroughthestragglingcamp.Attheendofthattimeeveryvestigeofthelittlesettlementwassweptaway;allthatwasleftwasscatteredfarandwideinthecountry,caughtinthehangingbranchesofwater-sidewillowsandalders,embayedinsluggishpools,draggedoversubmergedmeadows,andonefragment——bearingupElijahMartin——pursuingthedeviouscoursesofanunknowntributaryfiftymilesaway.Hadhebeenarash,impatientman,hewouldhavebeenspeedilydrownedinsomeearlierdesperateattempttoreachtheshore;hadhebeenanordinaryboldman,hewouldhavesucceededintransferringhimselftothebranchesofsomeobstructingtree;buthewasneither,andheclungtohisbrokenraft-likeberthwithanendurancethatwashalftheparalysisofterrorandhalfthepatienceofhabitualmisfortune.Eventuallyhewascaughtinasidecurrent,swepttothebank,andcastashoreonanunexploredwilderness.
Hisfirstconsciousnesswasoneofhungerthatusurpedanysentimentofgratitudeforhisescapefromdrowning.Assoonashiscrampedlimbspermitted,hecrawledoutofthebushesinsearchoffood.Hedidnotknowwherehewas;therewasnosignofhabitation——orevenoccupation——anywhere.Hehadbeentooterrifiedtonoticethedirectioninwhichhehaddrifted——evenifhehadpossessedtheordinaryknowledgeofabackwoodsman,whichhedidnot.Hewashelpless.Inhisbewilderedstate,seeingasquirrelcrackinganutonthebranchofahollowtreenearhim,hemadeahalf-frenzieddartatthefrightenedanimal,whichranaway.
Butthesameassociationofideasinhistorpidandconfusedbrainimpelledhimtosearchforthesquirrel\'shoardinthehollowofthetree.Heatethefewhazel-nutshefoundthere,ravenously.
Thepurelyanimalinstinctsatisfied,heseemedtohaveborrowedfromitacertainstrengthandintuition.Helimpedthroughthethicketnotunlikesomeawkward,shyquadrumane,stoppinghereandtheretopeeroutthroughtheopeningsoverthemarshesthatlaybeyond.Hissight,hearing,andeventhesenseofsmellhadbecomepreternaturallyacute.Itwasthelatterwhichsuddenlyarrestedhisstepswiththeodorofdriedfish.Ithadasignificancebeyondthemereinstinctsofhunger——itindicatedthecontiguityofsomeIndianencampment.Andassuch——itmeantdanger,torture,anddeath.
Hestopped,trembledviolently,andtriedtocollecthisscatteredsenses.RedwoodCamphadembroileditselfneedlesslyandbrutallywiththesurroundingIndians,andonlyhelditsownagainstthembyrecklesscourageandunerringmarksmanship.ThefrequentuseofacasualwanderingIndianasatargetforthepractisingriflesofitsmembershadkeptupanundyinghatredintheheartoftheaboriginesandstimulatedthemtoterribleandisolatedreprisals.
ThescalpedandskinneddeadbodyofJackTrainer,tiedonhishorseandheldhideouslyuprightbyacrossofwoodbehindhissaddle,hadpassed,onenight,aslowandghastlyapparition,intocamp;thecorpseofDickRynerhadbeenfoundanchoredontheriver-bed,disembowelledandfilledwithstoneandgravel.ThesolitaryandunprotectedmemberofRedwoodCampwhofellintotheenemy\'shandswasdoomed.
ElijahMartinrememberedthis,buthisfearsgraduallybegantosubsideinacertainapathyoftheimagination,which,perhaps,dulledhisapprehensionsandallowedtheinstinctofhungertobecomeagainuppermost.Heknewthatthelowbarktents,orwigwams,oftheIndianswerehungwithstripsofdriedsalmon,andhiswholebeingwasnewcentereduponanattempttostealthilyprocureadeliciousmorsel.Asyethehaddistinguishednoothersignoflifeorhabitation;afewmomentslater,however,andgrownbolderwithananimal-liketrustfulnessinhismomentarysecurity,hecreptoutofthethicketandfoundhimselfnearalong,lowmoundorburrow-likestructureofmudandbarkontheriver-bank.
Asinglenarrowopening,notunliketheentranceofanEsquimauhut,gaveupontheriver.Martinhadnodifficultyinrecognizingthecharacterofthebuilding.Itwasa\"sweathouse,\"aninstitutioncommontonearlyalltheaboriginaltribesofCalifornia.Halfareligioustemple,itwasalsohalfasanitaryasylum,wasusedasaRussianbathorsuperheatedvault,fromwhichthebraves,swelteringandstiflingallnight,bysmotheredfires,atearlydawnplunged,perspiring,intotheice-coldriver.Theheatandsmokewerefurtherutilizedtodryandcurethelongstripsoffishhangingfromtheroof,anditwasthroughthenarrowaperturethatservedasachimneythattheodorescapedwhichMartinhaddetected.Heknewthatasthebathersonlyoccupiedthehousefrommidnighttoearlymorn,itwasnowprobablyempty.Headvancedconfidentlytowardit.
Hewasalittlesurprisedtofindthatthesmallopenspacebetweenitandtheriverwasoccupiedbyarudescaffolding,likethatonwhichcertaintribesexposedtheirdead,butinthisinstanceitonlycontainedthefeatheredleggings,fringedblanket,andeagle-
plumedhead-dressofsomebrave.Hedidnot,however,lingerinthisplainlyvisiblearea,butquicklydroppedonallfoursandcreptintotheinteriorofthehouse.Herehecompletedhisfeastwiththefish,andwarmedhischilledlimbsontheembersofthestillsmoulderingfires.Itwaswhiledryinghistatteredclothesandshoelessfeetthathethoughtofthedeadbrave\'suselessleggingsandmoccasins,anditoccurredtohimthathewouldbelesslikelytoattracttheIndians\'attentionfromadistanceandprovokeareadyarrow,ifheweredisguisedasoneofthem.
Crawlingoutagain,hequicklysecured,notonlytheleggings,buttheblanketandhead-dress,andputtingthemon,casthisownclothesintothestream.Abolder,moreenergetic,ormoreprovidentmanwouldhavefollowedtheactbyquicklymakinghiswaybacktothethickettoreconnoitre,takingwithhimasupplyoffishforfutureneeds.ButElijahMartinsuccumbedagaintotherecklessnessofinertia;heyieldedoncemoretotheanimalinstinctofmomentarysecurity.Hereturnedtotheinteriorofthehut,curledhimselfagainontheashes,andweaklyresolvingtosleepuntilmoonrise,andasweaklyhesitating,endedbyfallingintouneasybuthelplessstupor.
Whenheawoke,therisingsun,almostlevelwiththelowentrancetothesweat-house,wasdartingitsdirectraysintotheinterior,asifsearchingitwithfieryspears.Hehadslepttenhours.Herosetremblinglytohisknees.Everythingwasquietwithout;hemightyetescape.Hecrawledtotheopening.Theopenspacebeforeitwasempty,butthescaffoldingwasgone.Theclear,keenairrevivedhim.Ashesprangout,erect,ashoutthatnearlystunnedhimseemedtorisefromtheearthonallsides.Heglancedaroundhiminahelplessagonyoffear.AdozenconcentriccirclesofsquattingIndians,whoseheadswerevisibleabovethereeds,encompassedthebanksaroundthesunkenbaseofthesweat-housewithsuccessiveduskyrings.Everyavenueofescapeseemedclosed.
Perhapsforthatreasontheattitudeofhissurroundingcaptorswaspassiveratherthanaggressive,andtheshrewd,half-Hebraicprofilesnearesthimexpressedonlystoicalwaiting.Therewasastrangesimilarityofexpressioninhisownimmovableapathyofdespair.Hisonlysenseofavertinghisfatewasaconfusedideaofexplaininghisintrusion.HisdesperatememoryyieldedafewcommonIndianwords.Hepointedautomaticallytohimselfandthestream.Hiswhitelipsmoved.
\"Icome——from——theriver!\"
Agutturalcry,asifthewholeassemblywereclearingtheirthroats,wentroundthedifferentcircles.Thenearestrockedthemselvestoandfroandbenttheirfeatheredheadstowardhim.A
hollow-cheeked,decrepitoldmanaroseandsaid,simply:
\"Itishe!Thegreatchiefhascome!
Hewassaved.Morethanthat,hewasre-created.For,bysignsandintimationshewasquicklymadeawarethatsincethedeathoftheirlatechief,theirmedicine-menhadprophesiedthathisperfectsuccessorshouldappearmiraculouslybeforethem,bornenoiselesslyontheriverFROMTHESEA,intheplumesandinsigniaofhispredecessor.ThismerecoincidenceofappearanceandcostumemightnothavebeenconvincingtothebraveshadnotElijahMartin\'sactualdeficienciescontributedtotheirunquestionedfaithinhim.Notonlyhisinertpossessionofthesweat-houseandhisapatheticattitudeintheirpresence,buthisutterandcompleteunlikenesstothewhitefrontiersmenoftheirknowledgeandtradition——creaturesoffireandswordandmalevolentactivity——
aswellashismanifestdissimilaritytothemselves,settledtheirconvictionofhissupernaturalorigin.Hisgentle,submissivevoice,hisyieldingwill,hislazyhelplessness,theabsenceofstrangeweaponsandfierceexplosivesinhispossession,hisunwontedsobriety——allprovedhimanexceptiontohisapparentracethatwasinitselfmiraculous.Foritmustbeconfessedthat,inspiteofthecherishedtheoriesofmostromancesandallstatesmenandcommanders,thatFEARisthegreatcivilizerofthesavagebarbarian,andthatheissupposedtoregardtheprowessofthewhitemanandhismysteriousdeath-dealingweaponsasevidenceofhissupernaturaloriginandsuperiorcreation,thefactshavegenerallypointedtothereverse.ElijahMartinwasnotlongindiscoveringthatwhentheMinyohunter,withhisobsoletebow,droppeddeadbyabulletfromaviewlessandapparentlynoiselessspace,itwasNOTconsideredthelightningsofanavengingDeity,butwastraceddirectlytotheambushedrifleofKansasJoe,swayedbyaviciousnessquiteashumanastheirown;thespectacleofBlizzardDick,vergingondeliriumtremens,andriding\"amuck\"intoanIndianvillagewitharevolverineachhand,didNOTimpressthemasasupernaturalact,norexcitetheirrespectfulaweasmuchasthelessharmfulfrenzyofoneoftheirownmedicine-men;theywereNOTinfluencedbyimplacablewhitegods,whorelaxedonlytodrivehardbargainsandexchangemildewedflourandshoddyblanketsfortheirfishandfurs.IamafraidtheyregardedtheseraidsofChristiancivilizationastheylookedupongrasshopperplagues,famines,inundations,andepidemics;whileanutterlyimpassiveGodwashedhishandsofthemeanshehademployed,andevenencouragedthefaithfultoresistandovercomehisemissaries——thewhitedevils!HadElijahMartinbeenastudentoftheology,hewouldhavebeenstruckwiththesingularresemblanceofthesetheories——
althoughtheapplicationthereofwasreversed——totheChristianfaith.ButElijahMartinhadneithertheimaginationofatheologiannortheinsightofapolitician.Heonlysawthathe,hithertoignoredanddespisedinacommunityofhalf-barbaricmen,nowtranslatedtoacommunityofmenwhollysavage,wasrespectedandworshipped!
ItmighthaveturnedastrongerheadthanElijah\'s.Hewasatfirstfrightened,fearfullesthisreceptionconcealedsomehiddenirony,orthat,liketheflower-crownedvictimofancientsacrifice,hewasexaltedandsustainedtogiveimportanceandmajestytosomeimpendingmartyrdom.Thenhebegantodreadthathisinnocentdeceit——ifdeceititwas——shouldbediscovered;atlast,partlyfrommeeknessandpartlyfromtheanimalcontentmentofpresentsecurity,heacceptedthesituation.Fortunatelyforhimitwaspurelypassive.TheGreatChiefoftheMinyotribewassimplyanexpressionlessidoloffleshandblood.Thepreviousincumbentofthatofficehadbeenanoldman,impotentandsenselessoflateyearsthroughageanddisease.Thechieftainsandbraveshadconsultedincouncilbeforehim,andperfunctorilysubmittedtheirdecisions,likeofferings,tohisunresponsiveshrine.Inthesameway,allmaterialevents——expeditions,trophies,industries——weresupposedtopassbeforethedull,impassiveeyesofthegreatchief,fordirectacceptance.OntheseconddayofElijah\'saccession,twoofthebravesbroughtableedinghumanscalpbeforehim.Elijahturnedpale,trembled,andavertedhishead,andthen,rememberingthedangerofgivingwaytohisweakness,grewstillmoreghastly.Thewarriorswatchedhimwithimpassionedfaces.Agrunt——butwhetherofastonishment,dissent,orapproval,hewouldnottell——wentroundthecircle.
Butthescalpwastakenawayandneveragainappearedinhispresence.
Anincidentstillmorealarmingquicklyfollowed.Twocaptives,whitemen,securelybound,wereonedaybroughtbeforehimontheirwaytothestake,followedbyacrowdofoldandyoungsquawsandchildren.TheunhappyElijahrecognizedintheprisonerstwopackersfromadistantsettlementwhosometimespassedthroughRedwoodCamp.Anagonyofterror,shame,andremorseshookthepseudochieftohiscrestofhighfeathers,andblanchedhisfacebeneathitspaintandyellowochre.Tointerferetosavethemfromthetorturetheywereevidentlytoreceiveatthehandsofthosesquawsandchildren,accordingtocustom,wouldbeexposureanddeathtohimaswellasthemselves;whiletoassistbyhispassivepresenceatthehorriblesacrificeofhiscountrymenwastoomuchforevenhisweakselfishness.Scarcelyknowingwhathedidasthelugubriousprocessionpassedbeforehim,hehurriedlyhidhisfaceinhisblanketandturnedhisbackuponthescene.Therewasadeadsilence.Thewarriorswereevidentlyunpreparedforthisextraordinaryconductoftheirchief.Whatmighthavebeentheiractionitwasimpossibletoconjecture,foratthatmomentalittlesquaw,perhapsimpatientforthesportandpartlyemboldenedbythefactthatshehadbeenselected,onlyafewdaysbefore,asthebetrothedofthenewchief,approachedhimslylyfromtheotherside.ThehorrifiedeyesofElijah,momentarilyraisedfromhisblanket,sawandrecognizedher.Thefeeblenessofaweaknature,thatdarednotmeasureitselfdirectlywiththerealcause,venteditsrageonasecondaryobject.Hedartedaquickglanceofindignationandhatredattheyounggirl.Sheranbackinstartledterrortohercompanions,ahurriedconsultationfollowed,andinanothermomentthewholebevyofgirls,oldwomen,andchildrenwereonthewing,shriekingandcrying,totheirwigwams.
\"Yousee,\"saidoneoftheprisonerscoollytotheother,inEnglish,\"Iwasright.Theyneverintendedtodoanythingtous.
Itwasonlyabluff.TheseMinyosareadifferentsortfromtheothertribes.Theyneverkillanybodyiftheycanhelpit.\"
\"You\'rewrong,\"saidtheother,excitedly.\"Itwasthatbigchiefthere,withhisheadinablanket,thatsentthosedogstotherightabout.Hell!didyouseethemrunatjustalookfromhim?
He\'sahighandmightyfeller,youbet.Lookathisdignity!\"
\"That\'sso——heain\'tnoslouch,\"saidtheother,gazingatElijah\'smuffledhead,critically.\"D——difheain\'tabornking.\"
ThesuddenconflictandutterrevulsionofemotionthatthosesimplewordscausedinElijah\'sbreastwasalmostincredible.Hehadbeenatfirstastoundedbytherevelationofthepeacefulreputationoftheunknowntribehehadbeencalledupontogovern;
buteventhiscomfortingassurancewasasnothingcomparedtothegreaterrevelationsimpliedinthespeaker\'spraiseofhimself.
He,ElijahMartin!thedespised,therejected,theworthlessoutcastofRedwoodCamp,recognizedasa\"bornking,\"aleader;hispowerfeltbytheverymenwhohadscornedhim!Andhehaddonenothing——stop!hadheactuallydoneNOTHING?WasitnotpossiblethathewasREALLYwhattheythoughthim?Hisbrainreeledunderthestrong,unaccustomedwineofpraise;actinguponhisweakselfishness,itexaltedhimforamomenttotheirmeasureofhisstrength,evenastheirformerbeliefinhisinefficiencyhadkepthimdown.Courageistoooftenonlythememoryofpastsuccess.
Thiswashisfirsteffort;heforgothehadnotearnedit,evenashenowignoredthedangerofearningit.Thefewwordsofunconsciouspraisehadfallenlikethebladeofknighthoodonhiscoweringshoulders;hehadrisenennobledfromthecontact.Thoughhisfacewasstillmuffledinhisblanket,hestooderectandseemedtohavegainedinstature.
Thebraveshadremainedstandingirresolute,andyetwatchful,afewpacesfromtheircaptives.Suddenly,Elijah,stillkeepinghisbacktotheprisoners,turneduponthebraves,withblazingeyes,violentlythrowingouthishandswiththegestureofbreakingbonds.Likeallsuddendemonstrationsofundemonstrativemen,itwasextravagant,weird,andtheatrical.Butitwasmorepotentthanspeech——thespeechthat,evenifeffective,wouldstillhavebetrayedhimtohiscountrymen.Thebraveshurriedlycutthethongsoftheprisoners;anotherimpulsivegesturefromElijah,andthey,too,fled.Whenheliftedhiseyescautiouslyfromhisblanket,captorsandcaptiveshaddispersedinoppositedirections,andhewasalone——andtriumphant!
FromthatmomentElijahMartinwasanotherman.Hewenttobedthatnightinanintoxicatingdreamofpower;hearoseamanofwill,ofstrength.Hereaditintheeyesofthebraves,albeitattimesavertedinwonder.Heunderstood,now,thatalthoughpeacehadbeentheirhabitandcustom,theyhadneverthelesssoughttotesthistheoriesofadministrationwiththeofferingofthescalpsandthecaptives,andinthisdetectionoftheircommonweaknessheforgothisown.Mostheroesrequirethecontrastoftheunheroictosetthemoff;andElijahactuallyfoundhimselfdevisingmeansforstrengtheningthedefensiveandoffensivecharacterofthetribe,andwashimselfstrengthenedbyit.Meanwhiletheescapedpackersdidnotfailtoheightentheimportanceoftheiradventurebyelevatingthecharacterandachievementsoftheirdeliverer;anditwaspresentlyannouncedthroughoutthefrontiersettlementsthatthehithertoinsignificantandpeacefultribeofMinyos,whoinhabitedalargeterritoryborderingonthePacificOcean,haddevelopedintoapowerfulnation,onlykeptfromthewar-pathbyamorepowerfulbutmysteriouschief.TheGovernmentsentanIndianagenttotreatwiththem,initsusualhalf-paternal,half-