\"Forgiveme,Bill,\"saidtheyoungman,seizingbothhishands。\"I
knowyoudiditforthebest;butgoon。\"
\"Tharain’tmuchmoretotell,normuchusetotellit,asIcansee,\"saidBill,moodily。\"Henevercouldbecured,thedoctorssaid,forhehadwhattheycalledmonomania,——wasalwaystalkingabouthiswifeanddarterthatsomebodyhadstoleawayyearsago,andplannin’revengeonthatsomebody。Andsixmonthsagohewasmissed。ItrackedhimtoCarson,toSaltLakeCity,toOmaha,toChicago,toNewYork,——andhere!\"
\"Here!\"echoedIslington。
\"Here!Andthat’swhatbringsmehereto-day。Whethershe’scrazyorwell,whethershe’shuntin’youorlookin’upthatotherman,youmustgetawayfromhere。Youmustn’tseehim。Youandme,Tommy,willgoawayonacruise。Inthreeorfouryearshe’llbedeadormissing,andthenwe’llcomeback。Come。\"Andherosetohisfeet。
\"Bill,\"saidIslington,risingalso,andtakingthehandofhisfriend,withthesamequietobstinacythatintheolddayshadendearedhimtoBill,\"whereverheis,hereorelsewhere,saneorcrazy,Ishallseekandfindhim。EverydollarthatIhaveshallbehis,everydollarthatIhavespentshallbereturnedtohim。I
amyoungyet,thankGod,andcanwork;andifthereisawayoutofthismiserablebusiness,Ishallfindit。\"
\"Iknew,\"saidBill,withasurlinessthatillconcealedhisevidentadmirationofthecalmfigurebeforehim——\"Iknewthepartiklerstyleofd——nfoolthatyouwas,andexpectednobetter。
Goodby,then——GodAlmighty!who’sthat?\"
HewasonhiswaytotheopenFrenchwindow,buthadstartedback,hisfacequitewhiteandbloodless,andhiseyesstaring。
Islingtonrantothewindow,andlookedout。Awhiteskirtvanishedaroundthecorneroftheveranda。Whenhereturned,Billhaddroppedintoachair。
\"ItmusthavebeenMissMasterman,Ithink;butwhat’sthematter?\"
\"Nothing,\"saidBill,faintly;\"haveyougotanywhiskeyhandy?\"
Islingtonbroughtadecanter,and,pouringoutsomespirits,handedtheglasstoBill。Billdrainedit,andthensaid,\"WhoisMissMasterman?\"
\"Mr。Masterman’sdaughter;thatis,anadopteddaughter,Ibelieve。\"
\"Wotname?\"
\"Ireallydon’tknow,\"saidIslington,pettishly,morevexedthanhecaredtoownatthisquestioning。
YubaBillroseandwalkedtothewindow,closedit,walkedbackagaintothedoor,glancedatIslington,hesitated,andthenreturnedtohischair。
\"Ididn’ttellyouIwasmarried。,——didI?\"hesaidsuddenly,lookingupinIslington’sfacewithanunsuccessfulattemptatarecklesslaugh。
\"No,\"saidIslington,morepainedatthemannerthanthewords。
\"Fact,\"saidYubaBill。\"Threeyearsagoitwas,Tommy,——threeyearsago!\"
HelookedsohardatIslington,that,feelinghewasexpectedtosaysomething,heaskedvaguely,\"Whodidyoumarry?\"
\"Thet’sit!\"saidYubaBill;\"Ican’tezactlysay;partikly,though,ashedevil!generally,thewifeofhalfadozenothermen。\"
Accustomed,apparently,tohavehisconjugalinfelicitiesathemeofmirthamongmen,andseeingnotraceofamusementonIslington’sgraveface,hisdogged,recklessmannersoftened,and,drawinghischairclosertoIslington,hewenton:\"Itallbeganouterthis:wewascomingdownWatson’sgradeonenightprettyfree,whentheexpressmanturnstomeandsez,’There’sarowinside,andyou’dbetterpullup!’Ipullsup,andouthops,firstawoman,andthentwoorthreechapsswearingandcursin’,andtryin’todragsomeonearterthem。Thenit’pear’d,Tommy,thetitwasthiswoman’sdrunkenhusbandtheywasgoingtoputoutforabusin’her,andstrikin’herinthecoach;andifithadn’tbeenforme,myboy,they’dhevleftthatchaptharintheroad。ButIfixesmattersupbyputtingheralongsideo’meonthebox,andwedroveon。Shewasverywhite,Tommy,——forthemattero’that,shewasalwaysoneo’theseverywhitewomen,thatnevergotredintheface,——butshenevercriedawhimper。Mostwiminwouldhavecried。Itwasqueer,butshenevercried。Ithoughtsoatthetime。
\"Shewasverytall,withaloto’lighthairmeanderingdownthebackofherhead,aslongasadeer-skinwhip-lash,andaboutthecolor。Shehedeyesthet’dboreyouthroughatfiftyyards,andpootyhandsandfeet。Andwhenshekindergotouto’thatstiff,narvousstateshewasin,andwarmedupalittle,andgotchipper,byG-d,sir,shewashandsome,——shewasthat!\"
Alittleflushedandembarrassedathisownenthusiasm,hestopped,andthensaid,carelessly,\"TheygotoffatMurphy’s。\"
\"Well,\"saidIslington。
\"Well,Iusedtoseeheroftenarterthet,andwhenshewasalonesheallustookthebox-seat。Shekinderconfidedhertroublestome,howherhusbandgotdrunkandabusedher;andIdidn’tseemucho’him,forhewasawayin’Friscoarterthet。Butitwasallsquare,Tommy,——allsquare’twixtmeandher。
\"Igotagoingthereagooddeal,andthenonedayIseztomyself,’Bill,thiswon’tdo,’andIgotchangedtoanotherroute。DidyoueverknowJacksonFilltree,Tommy?\"saidBill,breakingoffsuddenly。
\"No。\"
\"Mighthaveheerdofhim,p’r’aps?\"
\"No,\"saidIslington,impatiently。
\"JacksonFilltreerantheexpressfromWhite’souttoSummit,’crosstheNorthForkoftheYuba。Onedayheseztome,’Bill,that’samightybadfordattheNorthFork。’Isez,’Ibelieveyou,Jackson。’’It’llgitmesomeday,Bill,sure,’sezhe。I
sez,’Whydon’tyoutakethelowerford?’’Idon’tknow,’sezhe,’butIcan’t。’Soeverafter,whenImethim,hesez,’ThatNorthForkain’tgotmeyet。’OnedayIwasinSacramento,andupcomesFilltree。Hesez,’I’vesoldouttheexpressbusinessonaccountoftheNorthFork,butit’sboundtogetmeyet,Bill,sure’;andhelaughs。Twoweeksaftertheyfindshisbodybelowtheford,wharhetriedtocross,comin’downfromtheSummitway。Folkssaiditwasfoolishness:Tommy,IsezitwasFate!TheseconddayarterIwaschangedtothePlacervilleroute,thetwomancomesouterthehotelabovethestage-office。Herhusband,shesaid,waslyingsickinPlacerville;that’swhatshesaid;butitwasFate,Tommy,Fate。Threemonthsafterward,herhusbandtakesanoverdoseofmorphinefordeliriumtremems,anddies。There’sfolksezsezshegaveittohim,butit’sFate。AyearafterthatImarriedher,——Fate,Tommy,Fate!
\"Ilivedwithherjestthreemonths,\"hewenton,afteralongbreath,——\"threemonths!Itain’tmuchtimeforahappyman。I’veseenagooddealo’hardlifeinmyday,buttherewasdaysinthatthreemonthslongerthananydayinmylife,——days,Tommy,whenitwasatoss-upwhetherIshouldkillherorsheme。Butthar,I’mdone。Youareayoungman,Tommy,andIain’tgoin’totellthingsthet,oldasIam,threeyearsagoIcouldn’thavebelieved。\"
Whenatlast,withhisgrimfaceturnedtowardthewindow,hesatsilentlywithhisclinchedhandsonhiskneesbeforehim,Islingtonaskedwherehiswifewasnow。
\"Askmenomore,myboy,——nomore。I’vesaidmysay。\"Withagestureasofthrowingdownapairofreinsbeforehim,herose,andwalkedtothewindow。
\"Youkinunderstand,Tommy,whyalittletriparoundtheworld’uddomegood。Efyoucan’tgowithme,wellandgood。ButgoI
must。\"
\"Notbeforeluncheon,Ihope,\"saidaverysweetvoice,asBlancheMastermansuddenlystoodbeforethem。\"FatherwouldneverforgivemeifinhisabsenceIpermittedoneofMr。Islington’sfriendstogointhisway。Youwillstay,won’tyou?Do!Andyouwillgivemeyourarmnow;andwhenMr。Islingtonhasdonestaring,hewillfollowusintothedining-roomandintroduceyou。\"
\"Ihavequitefalleninlovewithyourfriend,\"saidMissBlanche,astheystoodinthedrawing-roomlookingatthefigureofBill,strolling,withhisshortpipeinhismouth,throughthedistantshrubbery。\"Heasksveryqueerquestions,though。Hewantedtoknowmymother’smaidenname。\"
\"Heisanhonestfellow,\"saidIslington,gravely。
\"Youareverymuchsubdued。Youdon’tthankme,Idaresay,forkeepingyouandyourfriendhere;butyoucouldn’tgo,youknow,untilfatherreturned。\"
Islingtonsmiled,butnotverygayly。
\"AndthenIthinkitmuchbetterforustoparthereunderthesefrescos,don’tyou?Goodby。\"
Sheextendedherlong,slimhand。
\"Outinthesunlightthere,whenmyeyeswerered,youwereveryanxioustolookatme,\"sheadded,inadangerousvoice。
Islingtonraisedhissadeyestohers。Somethingglitteringuponherownsweetlashestrembledandfell。
\"Blanche!\"
Shewasrosyenoughnow,andwouldhavewithdrawnherhand,butIslingtondetainedit。Shewasnotquitecertainbutthatherwaistwasalsoinjeopardy。Yetshecouldnothelpsaying,\"Areyousurethatthereisn’tanythinginthewayofayoungwomanthatwouldkeepyou?\"
\"Blanche!\"saidIslingtoninreproachfulhorror。
\"Ifgentlemenwillroarouttheirsecretsbeforeanopenwindow,withayoungwomanlyingonasofaontheveranda,readingastupidFrenchnovel,theymustnotbesurprisedifshegivesmoreattentiontothemthanherbook。\"
\"Thenyouknowall,Blanche?\"
\"Iknow,\"saidBlanche,\"let’ssee——Iknowthepartiklarstyleof——
ahem!——foolyouwas,andexpectednobetter。Goodby。\"And,glidinglikealovelyandinnocentmilksnakeoutofhisgrasp,sheslippedaway。
Tothepleasantrippleofwaves,thesoundofmusicandlightvoices,theyellowmidsummermoonagainroseoverGreyport。Itlookeduponformlessmassesofrockandshrubbery,widespacesoflawnandbeach,andashimmeringexpanseofwater。Itsingledoutparticularobjects,——awhitesailinshore,acrystalglobeuponthelawn,andflasheduponsomethingheldbetweentheteethofacrouchingfigurescalingthelowwallofCliffwoodLodge。Then,asamanandwomanpassedoutfromundertheshadowsofthefoliageintotheopenmoonlightofthegardenpath,thefigureleapedfromthewall,andstooderectandwaitingintheshadow。
Itwasthefigureofanoldman,withrollingeyes,histremblinghandgraspingalong,keenknife,——afiguremorepitiablethanpitiless,morepatheticthanterrible。Butthenextmomenttheknifewasstrickenfromhishand,andhestruggledinthefirmgraspofanotherfigurethatapparentlysprangfromthewallbesidehim。
\"D——nyou,Masterman!\"criedtheoldman,hoarsely;\"givemefairplay,andI’llkillyouyet!\"
\"WhichmynameisYubaBill,\"saidBill,quietly,\"andit’stimethisd——nfoolingwasstopped。\"
TheoldmanglaredinBill’sfacesavagely。\"Iknowyou。You’reoneofMasterman’sfriends,——d——nyou,——letmegotillIcuthisheartout,——letmego!WhereismyMary?——whereismywife?——theresheis!there!——there!——there!Mary!\"Hewouldhavescreamed,butBillplacedhispowerfulhanduponhismouth,asheturnedinthedirectionoftheoldman’sglance。DistinctinthemoonlightthefiguresofIslingtonandBlanche,arminarm,stoodoutuponthegardenpath。
\"Givememywife!\"mutteredtheoldmanhoarsely,betweenBill’sfingers。\"Whereisshe?\"
AsuddenfurypassedoverYubaBill’sface。\"Whereisyourwife?\"
heechoed,pressingtheoldmanbackagainstthegardenwall,andholdinghimthereasinavice。\"Whereisyourwife?\"herepeated,thrustinghisgrimsardonicjawandsavageeyesintotheoldman’sfrightenedface。\"WhereisJackAdam’swife?WhereisMYwife?
Whereistheshe-devilthatdroveonemanmad,thatsentanothertohellbyhisownhand,thateternallybrokeandruinedme?Where!
Where!Doyouaskwhere?InjailinSacramento,——injail,doyouhear?——injailformurder,Johnson,——murder!\"
Theoldmangasped,stiffened,andthen,relaxing,suddenlyslipped,amereinanimatemass,atYubaBill’sfeet。Withasuddenrevulsionoffeeling,YubaBilldroppedathisside,and,liftinghimtenderlyinhisarms,whispered,\"Lookup,oldman,Johnson!
lookup,forGod’ssake!——it’sme,——YubaBill!andyonderisyourdaughter,and——Tommy!——don’tyouknow——Tommy,littleTommyIslington?\"
Johnson’seyesslowlyopened。Hewhispered,\"Tommy!yes,Tommy!
Sitbyme,Tommy。Butdon’tsitsonearthebank。Don’tyouseehowtheriverisrisingandbeckoningtome,——hissing,andboilin’
overtherocks?It’sgittinhigher!——holdme,Tommy,——holdme,anddon’tletmegoyet。We’lllivetocuthisheartout,Tommy,——
we’lllive——we’ll——\"Hisheadsank,andtherushingriver,invisibletoalleyessavehis,leapedtowardhimoutofthedarkness,andborehimaway,nolongertothedarkness,butthroughittothedistant,peacefulshiningsea。
HOWSANTACLAUSCAMETOSIMPSON’SBAR。
IthadbeenraininginthevalleyoftheSacramento。TheNorthForkhadoverfloweditsbanksandRattlesnakeCreekwasimpassable。
ThefewbouldersthathadmarkedthesummerfordatSimpson’sCrossingwereobliteratedbyavastsheetofwaterstretchingtothefoothills。TheupstagewasstoppedatGrangers;thelastmailhadbeenabandonedinthetules,theriderswimmingforhislife。
\"Anarea,\"remarkedthe\"SierraAvalanche,\"withpensivelocalpride,\"aslargeastheStateofMassachusettsisnowunderwater。\"
Norwastheweatheranybetterinthefoothills。Themudlaydeeponthemountainroad;wagonsthatneitherphysicalforcenormoralobjurgationcouldmovefromtheevilwaysintowhichtheyhadfallen,encumberedthetrack,andthewaytoSimpson’sBarwasindicatedbybroken-downteamsandhardswearing。Andfartheron,cutoffandinaccessible,raineduponandbedraggled,smittenbyhighwindsandthreatenedbyhighwater,Simpson’sBar,ontheeveofChristmasday,1862,clunglikeaswallow’snesttotherockyentablatureandsplinteredcapitalsofTableMountain,andshookintheblast。
Asnightshutdownonthesettlement,afewlightsgleamedthroughthemistfromthewindowsofcabinsoneithersideofthehighwaynowcrossedandgulliedbylawlessstreamsandsweptbymaraudingwinds。HappilymostofthepopulationweregatheredatThompson’sstore,clusteredaroundared-hotstove,atwhichtheysilentlyspatinsomeacceptedsenseofsocialcommunionthatperhapsrenderedconversationunnecessary。Indeed,mostmethodsofdiversionhadlongsincebeenexhaustedonSimpson’sBar;highwaterhadsuspendedtheregularoccupationsongulchandonriver,andaconsequentlackofmoneyandwhiskeyhadtakenthezestfrommostillegitimaterecreation。EvenMr。HamlinwasfaintoleavetheBarwithfiftydollarsinhispocket,——theonlyamountactuallyrealizedofthelargesumswonbyhiminthesuccessfulexerciseofhisarduousprofession。\"EfIwasasked,\"heremarkedsomewhatlater,——\"efIwasaskedtopintoutapurtylittlevillagewherearetiredsportasdidn’tcareformoneycouldexercisehisself,frequentandlively,I’dsaySimpson’sBar;butforayoungmanwithalargefamilydependingonhisexertions,itdon’tpay。\"AsMr。Hamlin’sfamilyconsistedmainlyoffemaleadults,thisremarkisquotedrathertoshowthebreadthofhishumorthantheexactextentofhisresponsibilities。
Howbeit,theunconsciousobjectsofthissatiresatthateveninginthelistlessapathybegottenofidlenessandlackofexcitement。
Eventhesuddensplashingofhoofsbeforethedoordidnotarousethem。DickBullenalonepausedintheactofscrapingouthispipe,andliftedhishead,butnootheroneofthegroupindicatedanyinterestin,orrecognitionof,themanwhoentered。
Itwasafigurefamiliarenoughtothecompany,andknowninSimpson’sBaras\"TheOldMan。\"Amanofperhapsfiftyyears;
grizzledandscantofhair,butstillfreshandyouthfulofcomplexion。Afacefullofready,butnotverypowerfulsympathy,withachameleon-likeaptitudefortakingontheshadeandcolorofcontiguousmoodsandfeelings。Hehadevidentlyjustleftsomehilariouscompanions,anddidnotatfirstnoticethegravityofthegroup,butclappedtheshoulderofthenearestmanjocularly,andthrewhimselfintoavacantchair。
\"Jestheardthebestthingout,boys!YeknowSmiley,overyar,——
JimSmiley,——funniestmanintheBar?Well,Jimwasjesttellingtherichestyarnabout——\"
\"Smiley’sa————fool,\"interruptedagloomyvoice。
\"Aparticular————skunk,\"addedanotherinsepulchralaccents。
Asilencefollowedthesepositivestatements。TheOldManglancedquicklyaroundthegroup。Thenhisfaceslowlychanged。\"That’sso,\"hesaidreflectively,afterapause,\"certinglyasortofaskunkandsuthinofafool。Incourse。\"HewassilentforamomentasinpainfulcontemplationoftheunsavorinessandfollyoftheunpopularSmiley。\"Dismalweather,ain’tit?\"headded,nowfullyembarkedonthecurrentofprevailingsentiment。\"Mightyroughpapersontheboys,andnoshowformoneythisseason。Andtomorrow’sChristmas。\"
Therewasamovementamongthemenatthisannouncement,butwhetherofsatisfactionordisgustwasnotplain。\"Yes,\"continuedtheOldManinthelugubrioustonehehad,withinthelastfewmoments,unconsciouslyadopted,——\"yes,Christmas,andto-night’sChristmaseve。Yesee,boys,Ikinderthought——thatis,Isorterhadanidee,jestpassin’like,youknow——thatmaybeye’dallliketocomeovertomyhouseto-nightandhaveasortoftearround。
ButIsuppose,now,youwouldn’t?Don’tfeellikeit,maybe?\"headdedwithanxioussympathy,peeringintothefacesofhiscompanions。
\"Well,Idon’tknow,\"respondedTomFlynnwithsomecheerfulness。
\"P’r’apswemay。Buthowaboutyourwife,OldMan?WhatdoesSHE
saytoit?\"
TheOldManhesitated。Hisconjugalexperiencehadnotbeenahappyone,andthefactwasknowntoSimpson’sBar。Hisfirstwife,adelicate,prettylittlewoman,hadsufferedkeenlyandsecretlyfromthejealoussuspicionsofherhusband,untilonedayheinvitedthewholeBartohishousetoexposeherinfidelity。Onarriving,thepartyfoundtheshy,petitecreaturequietlyengagedinherhouseholdduties,andretiredabashedanddiscomfited。Butthesensitivewomandidnoteasilyrecoverfromtheshockofthisextraordinaryoutrage。Itwaswithdifficultysheregainedherequanimitysufficientlytoreleaseherloverfromtheclosetinwhichhewasconcealedandescapewithhim。Sheleftaboyofthreeyearstocomfortherbereavedhusband。TheOldMan’spresentwifehadbeenhiscook。Shewaslarge,loyal,andaggressive。
Beforehecouldreply,JoeDimmicksuggestedwithgreatdirectnessthatitwasthe\"OldMan’shouse,\"andthat,invokingtheDivinePower,ifthecasewerehisown,hewouldinvitewhomhepleased,evenifinsodoingheimperilledhissalvation。ThePowersofEvil,hefurtherremarked,shouldcontendagainsthimvainly。Allthisdeliveredwithatersenessandvigorlostinthisnecessarytranslation。
\"Incourse。Certainly。Thet’sit,\"saidtheOldManwithasympatheticfrown。\"Thar’snotroubleaboutTHET。It’smyownhouse,builteverystickonitmyself。Don’tyoubeafeardo’her,boys。SheMAYcutupatriflerough,——ezwimmindo,——butshe’llcomeround。\"SecretlytheOldMantrustedtotheexaltationofliquorandthepowerofcourageousexampletosustainhiminsuchanemergency。
Asyet,DickBullen,theoracleandleaderofSimpson’sBar,hadnotspoken。Henowtookhispipefromhislips。\"OldMan,how’sthatyerJohnnygettin’on?Seemstomehedidn’tlooksopeartlasttimeIseedhimonthebluffheavin’rocksatChinamen。
Didn’tseemtotakemuchinterestinit。Tharwasagangof’embyyaryesterday,——drowndedoutuptheriver,——andIkinderthoughto’
Johnny,andhowhe’dmiss’em!Maybenow,we’dbeinthewayefhewussick?\"
Thefather,evidentlytouchednotonlybythispatheticpictureofJohnny’sdeprivation,butbytheconsideratedelicacyofthespeaker,hastenedtoassurehimthatJohnnywasbetterandthata\"littlefunmight’livenhimup。\"WhereuponDickarose,shookhimself,andsaying,\"I’mready。Leadtheway,OldMan:heregoes,\"himselfledthewaywithaleap,acharacteristichowl,anddartedoutintothenight。Ashepassedthroughtheouterroomhecaughtupablazingbrandfromthehearth。Theactionwasrepeatedbytherestoftheparty,closelyfollowingandelbowingeachother,andbeforetheastonishedproprietorofThompson’sgrocerywasawareoftheintentionofhisguests,theroomwasdeserted。
Thenightwaspitchydark。Inthefirstgustofwindtheirtemporarytorcheswereextinguished,andonlytheredbrandsdancingandflittinginthegloomlikedrunkenwill-o’-the-wispsindicatedtheirwhereabouts。TheirwayledupPine-TreeCanyon,attheheadofwhichabroad,low,bark-thatchedcabinburrowedinthemountain-side。ItwasthehomeoftheOldMan,andtheentrancetothetunnelinwhichheworkedwhenheworkedatall。Herethecrowdpausedforamoment,outofdelicatedeferencetotheirhost,whocameuppantingintherear。
\"P’r’apsye’dbetterholdonasecondoutyer,whilstIgoinandseethetthingsisallright,\"saidtheOldMan,withanindifferencehewasfarfromfeeling。Thesuggestionwasgraciouslyaccepted,thedooropenedandclosedonthehost,andthecrowd,leaningtheirbacksagainstthewallandcoweringundertheeaves,waitedandlistened。
Forafewmomentstherewasnosoundbutthedrippingofwaterfromtheeaves,andthestirandrustleofwrestlingboughsabovethem。
Thenthemenbecameuneasy,andwhisperedsuggestionandsuspicionpassedfromtheonetotheother。\"Reckonshe’scavedinhisheadthefirstlick!\"\"Decoyedhiminterthetunnelandbarredhimup,likely。\"\"Gothimdownandsittin’onhim。\"\"Prob’lybilinsuthintoheaveonus:standclearthedoor,boys!\"Forjustthenthelatchclicked,thedoorslowlyopened,andavoicesaid,\"Comeinouto’thewet。\"
ThevoicewasneitherthatoftheOldMannorofhiswife。Itwasthevoiceofasmallboy,itsweaktreblebrokenbythatpreternaturalhoarsenesswhichonlyvagabondageandthehabitofprematureself-assertioncangive。Itwasthefaceofasmallboythatlookedupattheirs,——afacethatmighthavebeenprettyandevenrefinedbutthatitwasdarkenedbyevilknowledgefromwithin,anddirtandhardexperiencefromwithout。Hehadablanketaroundhisshouldersandhadevidentlyjustrisenfromhisbed。\"Comein,\"herepeated,\"anddon’tmakenonoise。TheOldMan’sintheretalkingtomar,\"hecontinued,pointingtoanadjacentroomwhichseemedtobeakitchen,fromwhichtheOldMan’svoicecameindeprecatingaccents。\"Letmebe,\"headded,querulously,toDickBullen,whohadcaughthimup,blanketandall,andwasaffectingtotosshimintothefire,\"letgoo’me,youd————doldfool,d’yehear?\"
Thusadjured,DickBullenloweredJohnnytothegroundwithasmotheredlaugh,whilethemen,enteringquietly,rangedthemselvesaroundalongtableofroughboardswhichoccupiedthecentreoftheroom。Johnnythengravelyproceededtoacupboardandbroughtoutseveralarticleswhichhedepositedonthetable。\"Thar’swhiskey。Andcrackers。Andredherons。Andcheese。\"Hetookabiteofthelatteronhiswaytothetable。\"Andsugar。\"Hescoopedupamouthfulenroutewithasmallandverydirtyhand。
\"Andterbacker。Thar’sdriedappilstooontheshelf,butIdon’tadmire’em。Appilsisswellin’。Thar,\"heconcluded,\"nowwadein,anddon’tbeafeard。Idon’tmindtheoldwoman。Shedon’tb’longtoME。S’long。\"
Hehadsteppedtothethresholdofasmallroom,scarcelylargerthanacloset,partitionedofffromthemainapartment,andholdinginitsdimrecessasmallbed。Hestoodthereamomentlookingatthecompany,hisbarefeetpeepingfromtheblanket,andnodded。
\"Hello,Johnny!Youain’tgoin’toturninagin,areye?\"saidDick。
\"Yes,Iare,\"respondedJohnny,decidedly。
\"Why,wot’sup,oldfellow?\"
\"I’msick。\"
\"Howsick!\"
\"I’vegotafevier。Andchildblains。Androomatiz,\"returnedJohnny,andvanishedwithin。Afteramoment’spause,headdedinthedark,apparentlyfromunderthebedclothes,——\"Andbiles!\"
Therewasanembarrassingsilence。Themenlookedateachother,andatthefire。Evenwiththeappetizingbanquetbeforethem,itseemedasiftheymightagainfallintothedespondencyofThompson’sgrocery,whenthevoiceoftheOldMan,incautiouslylifted,camedeprecatinglyfromthekitchen。
\"Certainly!Thet’sso。Incoursetheyis。Agango’lazydrunkenloafers,andthatarDickBullen’stheornariestofall。Didn’thevnomoresabethantocomeroundyarwithsicknessinthehouseandnoprovision。Thet’swhatIsaid:’Bullen,’sezI,’it’scrazydrunkyouare,orafool,’sezI,’tothinko’suchathing。’
’Staples,’Isez,’beyouaman,Staples,and’specttoraiseh-llundermyroofandinvalidslyin’round?’Buttheywouldcome,——
theywould。Thet’swotyoumust’specto’suchtrashaslaysroundtheBar。\"
Aburstoflaughterfromthemenfollowedthisunfortunateexposure。Whetheritwasoverheardinthekitchen,orwhethertheOldMan’siratecompanionhadjustthenexhaustedallothermodesofexpressinghercontemptuousindignation,Icannotsay,butabackdoorwassuddenlyslammedwithgreatviolence。AmomentlaterandtheOldManreappeared,haplyunconsciousofthecauseofthelatehilariousoutburst,andsmiledblandly。
\"Theoldwomanthoughtshe’djestrunovertoMrs。McFadden’sforasociablecall,\"heexplained,withjauntyindifference,ashetookaseatattheboard。
Oddlyenoughitneededthisuntowardincidenttorelievetheembarrassmentthatwasbeginningtobefeltbytheparty,andtheirnaturalaudacityreturnedwiththeirhost。Idonotproposetorecordtheconvivialitiesofthatevening。Theinquisitivereaderwillacceptthestatementthattheconversationwascharacterizedbythesameintellectualexaltation,thesamecautiousreverence,thesamefastidiousdelicacy,thesamerhetoricalprecision,andthesamelogicalandcoherentdiscoursesomewhatlaterintheevening,whichdistinguishsimilargatheringsofthemasculinesexinmorecivilizedlocalitiesandundermorefavorableauspices。Noglasseswerebrokenintheabsenceofany;noliquorwasuselesslyspiltonfloorortableinthescarcityofthatarticle。
Itwasnearlymidnightwhenthefestivitieswereinterrupted。
\"Hush,\"saidDickBullen,holdinguphishand。ItwasthequerulousvoiceofJohnnyfromhisadjacentcloset:\"Odad!\"
TheOldManarosehurriedlyanddisappearedinthecloset。
Presentlyhereappeared。\"Hisrheumatiziscomingonaginbad,\"heexplained,\"andhewantsrubbin’。\"Heliftedthedemijohnofwhiskeyfromthetableandshookit。Itwasempty。DickBullenputdownhistincupwithanembarrassedlaugh。Sodidtheothers。
TheOldManexaminedtheircontentsandsaidhopefully,\"Ireckonthat’senough;hedon’tneedmuch。Youholdonallo’youforaspell,andI’llbeback\";andvanishedintheclosetwithanoldflannelshirtandthewhiskey。Thedoorclosedbutimperfectly,andthefollowingdialoguewasdistinctlyaudible:——
\"Now,Sonny,whardoessheacheworst?\"
\"Sometimesoveryarandsometimesunderyer;butit’smostpowerfulfromyertoyer。Rubyer,dad。\"
Asilenceseemedtoindicateabriskrubbing。ThenJohnny:
\"Hevin’agoodtimeoutyer,dad?\"
\"Yes,sonny。\"
\"To-morrer’sChrismiss,ain’tit?\"
\"Yes,Sonny。Howdoesshefeelnow?\"
\"Betterrubalittlefurderdown。Wot’sChrismiss,anyway?Wot’sitallabout?\"
\"O,it’saday。\"
Thisexhaustivedefinitionwasapparentlysatisfactory,fortherewasasilentintervalofrubbing。PresentlyJohnnyagain:
\"MarsezthateverywhereelsebutyereverybodygivesthingstoeverybodyChrismiss,andthenshejistwadedinteryou。Shesezthar’samantheycallSandyClaws,notawhiteman,youknow,butakindo’Chinemin,comesdownthechimbleynightaforeChrismissandgivesthingstochillern,——boyslikeme。Puts’emintheirbutes!
Thet’swhatshetriedtoplayuponme。Easynow,pop,wharareyourubbin’to,——thet’samilefromtheplace。Shejestmadethatup,didn’tshe,jesttoaggrewatemeandyou?Don’trubthar……
Why,dad!\"
Inthegreatquietthatseemedtohavefallenuponthehousethesighofthenearpinesandthedripofleaveswithoutwasverydistinct。Johnny’svoice,too,wasloweredashewenton,\"Don’tyoutakeonnow,furI’mgettin’allrightfast。Wot’stheboysdoin’outthar?\"
TheOldManpartlyopenedthedoorandpeeredthrough。Hisguestsweresittingtheresociablyenough,andtherewereafewsilvercoinsandaleanbuckskinpurseonthetable。\"Bettin’onsuthin,——
somelittlegameor’nother。They’reallright,\"herepliedtoJohnny,andrecommencedhisrubbing。
\"I’dliketotakeahandandwinsomemoney,\"saidJohnny,reflectively,afterapause。
TheOldMangliblyrepeatedwhatwasevidentlyafamiliarformula,thatifJohnnywouldwaituntilhestruckitrichinthetunnelhe’dhavelotsofmoney,etc。,etc。
\"Yes,\"saidJohnny,\"butyoudon’t。AndwhetheryoustrikeitorI
winit,it’saboutthesame。It’sallluck。Butit’smightycur’o’saboutChrismiss,——ain’tit?WhydotheycallitChrismiss?\"
Perhapsfromsomeinstinctivedeferencetotheoverhearingofhisguests,orfromsomevaguesenseofincongruity,theOldMan’sreplywassolowastobeinaudiblebeyondtheroom。
\"Yes,\"saidJohnny,withsomeslightabatementofinterest,\"I’veheerdo’HIMbefore。Thar,that’lldo,dad。Idon’tachenearsobadasIdid。Nowwrapmetightinthisyerblanket。So。Now,\"
headdedinamuffledwhisper,\"sitdownyerbymetillIgoasleep。\"Toassurehimselfofobedience,hedisengagedonehandfromtheblanketand,graspinghisfather’ssleeve,againcomposedhimselftorest。
ForsomemomentstheOldManwaitedpatiently。Thentheunwontedstillnessofthehouseexcitedhiscuriosity,andwithoutmovingfromthebed,hecautiouslyopenedthedoorwithhisdisengagedhand,andlookedintothemainroom。Tohisinfinitesurpriseitwasdarkanddeserted。Buteventhenasmoulderinglogonthehearthbroke,andbytheupspringingblazehesawthefigureofDickBullensittingbythedyingembers。
\"Hello!\"
Dickstarted,rose,andcamesomewhatunsteadilytowardhim。
\"Whar’stheboys?\"saidtheOldMan。
\"Goneupthecanyononalittlepasear。They’recomingbackformeinaminit。I’mwaitin’roundfor’em。Whatareyoustarin’at,OldMan?\"headdedwithaforcedlaugh;\"doyouthinkI’mdrunk?\"
TheOldManmighthavebeenpardonedthesupposition,forDick’seyeswerehumidandhisfaceflushed。Heloiteredandloungedbacktothechimney,yawned,shookhimself,buttoneduphiscoatandlaughed。\"Liquorain’tsoplentyasthat,OldMan。Nowdon’tyougitup,\"hecontinued,astheOldManmadeamovementtoreleasehissleevefromJohnny’shand。\"Don’tyoumindmanners。Sitjestwharyoube;I’mgoin’inajiffy。Thar,that’sthemnow。\"
Therewasalowtapatthedoor。DickBullenopeneditquickly,nodded\"Goodnight\"tohishost,anddisappeared。TheOldManwouldhavefollowedhimbutforthehandthatstillunconsciouslygraspedhissleeve。Hecouldhaveeasilydisengagedit:itwassmall,weak,andemaciated。ButperhapsbecauseitWASsmall,weak,andemaciated,hechangedhismind,and,drawinghischairclosertothebed,restedhisheaduponit。Inthisdefencelessattitudethepotencyofhisearlierpotationssurprisedhim。Theroomflickeredandfadedbeforehiseyes,reappeared,fadedagain,wentout,andlefthim——asleep。
MeantimeDickBullen,closingthedoor,confrontedhiscompanions。
\"Areyouready?\"saidStaples。\"Ready,\"saidDick;\"what’sthetime?\"\"Pasttwelve,\"wasthereply;\"canyoumakeit?——it’snighonfiftymiles,theroundtriphitherandyon。\"\"Ireckon,\"
returnedDick,shortly。\"Whar’sthemare?\"\"BillandJack’sholdin’heratthecrossin’。\"\"Let’emholdonaminitlonger,\"
saidDick。
Heturnedandre-enteredthehousesoftly。Bythelightofthegutteringcandleanddyingfirehesawthatthedoorofthelittleroomwasopen。Hesteppedtowarditontiptoeandlookedin。TheOldManhadfallenbackinhischair,snoring,hishelplessfeetthrustoutinalinewithhiscollapsedshoulders,andhishatpulledoverhiseyes。Besidehim,onanarrowwoodenbedstead,layJohnny,muffledtightlyinablanketthathidallsaveastripofforeheadandafewcurlsdampwithperspiration。DickBullenmadeastepforward,hesitated,andglancedoverhisshoulderintothedesertedroom。Everythingwasquiet。Withasuddenresolutionhepartedhishugemustacheswithbothhandsandstoopedoverthesleepingboy。Butevenashedidsoamischievousblast,lyinginwait,swoopeddownthechimney,rekindledthehearth,andlituptheroomwithashamelessglowfromwhichDickfledinbashfulterror。
Hiscompanionswerealreadywaitingforhimatthecrossing。Twoofthemwerestrugglinginthedarknesswithsomestrangemisshapenbulk,whichasDickcamenearertookthesemblanceofagreatyellowhorse。
Itwasthemare。Shewasnotaprettypicture。FromherRomannosetoherrisinghaunches,fromherarchedspinehiddenbythestiffmachillasofaMexicansaddle,toherthick,straight,bonylegs,therewasnotalineofequinegrace。Inherhalf-blindbutwhollyviciouswhiteeyes,inherprotrudingunderlip,inhermonstrouscolor,therewasnothingbutuglinessandvice。
\"Nowthen,\"saidStaples,\"standcl’arofherheels,boys,andupwithyou。Don’tmissyourfirstholtofhermane,andmindyegetyouroffstirrupQUICK。Ready!\"
Therewasaleap,ascramblingstruggle,abound,awildretreatofthecrowd,acircleofflyinghoofs,twospringlessleapsthatjarredtheearth,arapidplayandjingleofspurs,aplunge,andthenthevoiceofDicksomewhereinthedarkness,\"Allright!\"
\"Don’ttakethelowerroadbackonlessyou’rehardpushedfortime!
Don’tholdherindownhill!We’llbeatthefordatfive。
G’lang!Hoopa!Mula!GO!\"
Asplash,asparkstruckfromtheledgeintheroad,aclatterintherockycutbeyond,andDickwasgone……
Sing,OMuse,therideofRichardBullen!Sing,OMuseofchivalrousmen!thesacredquest,thedoughtydeeds,thebatteryoflowchurls,thefearsomerideandgrewsomeperilsoftheFlowerofSimpson’sBar!Alack!sheisdainty,thisMuse!Shewillhavenoneofthisbuckingbruteandswaggering,raggedrider,andImustfainfollowhiminprose,afoot!
Itwasoneo’clock,andyethehadonlygainedRattlesnakeHill。
ForinthattimeJovitahadrehearsedtohimallherimperfectionsandpractisedallhervices。Thricehadshestumbled。TwicehadshethrownupherRomannoseinastraightlinewiththereins,and,resistingbitandspur,struckoutmadlyacrosscountry。
Twicehadshereared,and,rearing,fallenbackward;andtwicehadtheagileDick,unharmed,regainedhisseatbeforeshefoundherviciouslegsagain。Andamilebeyondthem,atthefootofalonghill,wasRattlesnakeCreek。Dickknewthatherewasthecrucialtestofhisabilitytoperformhisenterprise,sethisteethgrimly,puthiskneeswellintoherflanks,andchangedhisdefensivetacticstobriskaggression。Bulliedandmaddened,Jovitabeganthedescentofthehill。HeretheartfulRichardpretendedtoholdherinwithostentatiousobjurgationandwell-
feignedcriesofalarm。ItisunnecessarytoaddthatJovitainstantlyranaway。NorneedIstatethetimemadeinthedescent;
itiswritteninthechroniclesofSimpson’sBar。Enoughthatinanothermoment,asitseemedtoDick,shewassplashingontheoverflowedbanksofRattlesnakeCreek。AsDickexpected,themomentumshehadacquiredcarriedherbeyondthepointofbalking,and,holdingherwelltogetherforamightyleap,theydashedintothemiddleoftheswiftlyflowingcurrent。Afewmomentsofkicking,wading,andswimming,andDickdrewalongbreathontheoppositebank。
TheroadfromRattlesnakeCreektoRedMountainwastolerablylevel。EithertheplungeinRattlesnakeCreekhaddampenedherbalefulfire,ortheartwhichledtoithadshownherthesuperiorwickednessofherrider,forJovitanolongerwastedhersurplusenergyinwantonconceits。Onceshebucked,butitwasfromforceofhabit;oncesheshied,butitwasfromanewfreshlypaintedmeeting-houseatthecrossingofthecountyroad。Hollows,ditches,gravellydeposits,patchesoffreshlyspringinggrasses,flewfrombeneathherrattlinghoofs。Shebegantosmellunpleasantly,onceortwiceshecoughedslightly,buttherewasnoabatementofherstrengthorspeed。Bytwoo’clockhehadpassedRedMountainandbegunthedescenttotheplain。TenminuteslaterthedriverofthefastPioneercoachwasovertakenandpassedbya\"manonaPintohoss,\"——aneventsufficientlynotableforremark。
AthalfpasttwoDickroseinhisstirrupswithagreatshout。
Starswereglitteringthroughtheriftedclouds,andbeyondhim,outoftheplain,rosetwospires,aflagstaff,andastragglinglineofblackobjects。Dickjingledhisspursandswunghisriata,Jovitaboundedforward,andinanothermomenttheysweptintoTuttlevilleanddrewupbeforethewoodenpiazzaof\"TheHotelofAllNations。\"
WhattranspiredthatnightatTuttlevilleisnotstrictlyapartofthisrecord。BrieflyImaystate,however,thatafterJovitahadbeenhandedovertoasleepyostler,whomsheatoncekickedintounpleasantconsciousness,Dicksalliedoutwiththebar-keeperforatourofthesleepingtown。Lightsstillgleamedfromafewsaloonsandgambling-houses;but,avoidingthese,theystoppedbeforeseveralclosedshops,andbypersistenttappingandjudiciousoutcryrousedtheproprietorsfromtheirbeds,andmadethemunbarthedoorsoftheirmagazinesandexposetheirwares。
Sometimestheyweremetbycurses,butoftenerbyinterestandsomeconcernintheirneeds,andtheinterviewwasinvariablyconcludedbyadrink。Itwasthreeo’clockbeforethispleasantrywasgivenover,andwithasmallwaterproofbagofindia-rubberstrappedonhisshouldersDickreturnedtothehotel。ButherehewaswaylaidbyBeauty,——Beautyopulentincharms,affluentindress,persuasiveinspeech,andSpanishinaccent!Invainsherepeatedtheinvitationin\"Excelsior,\"happilyscornedbyallAlpine-climbingyouth,andrejectedbythischildoftheSierras,——arejectionsoftenedinthisinstancebyalaughandhislastgoldcoin。Andthenhesprangtothesaddleanddasheddownthelonelystreetandoutintothelonelierplain,wherepresentlythelights,theblacklineofhouses,thespires,andtheflagstaffsankintotheearthbehindhimagainandwerelostinthedistance。
Thestormhadclearedaway,theairwasbriskandcold,theoutlinesofadjacentlandmarksweredistinct,butitwashalfpastfourbeforeDickreachedthemeeting-houseandthecrossingofthecountyroad。Toavoidtherisinggradehehadtakenalongerandmorecircuitousroad,inwhoseviscidmudJovitasankfetlockdeepateverybound。Itwasapoorpreparationforasteadyascentoffivemilesmore;butJovita,gatheringherlegsunderher,tookitwithherusualblind,unreasoningfury,andahalf-hourlaterreachedthelonglevelthatledtoRattlesnakeCreek。Anotherhalf-hourwouldbringhimtothecreek。Hethrewthereinslightlyupontheneckofthemare,chirrupedtoher,andbegantosing。
SuddenlyJovitashiedwithaboundthatwouldhaveunseatedalesspractisedrider。Hangingtoherreinwasafigurethathadleapedfromthebank,andatthesametimefromtheroadbeforeheraroseashadowyhorseandrider。\"Throwupyourhands,\"commandedthissecondapparition,withanoath。
Dickfeltthemaretremble,quiver,andapparentlysinkunderhim。
Heknewwhatitmeantandwasprepared。
\"Standaside,JackSimpson,Iknowyou,youd————dthief。Letmepassor——\"
Hedidnotfinishthesentence。Jovitarosestraightintheairwithaterrificbound,throwingthefigurefromherbitwithasingleshakeofhervicioushead,andchargedwithdeadlymalevolencedownontheimpedimentbeforeher。Anoath,apistol-
shot,horseandhighwaymanrolledoverintheroad,andthenextmomentJovitawasahundredyardsaway。Butthegoodrightarmofherrider,shatteredbyabullet,droppedhelplesslyathisside。
Withoutslackinghisspeedheshiftedthereinstohislefthand。
Butafewmomentslaterhewasobligedtohaltandtightenthesaddle-girthsthathadslippedintheonset。Thisinhiscrippledconditiontooksometime。Hehadnofearofpursuit,butlookinguphesawthattheeasternstarswerealreadypaling,andthatthedistantpeakshadlosttheirghostlywhiteness,andnowstoodoutblacklyagainstalightersky。Daywasuponhim。Thencompletelyabsorbedinasingleidea,heforgotthepainofhiswound,andmountingagaindashedontowardRattlesnakeCreek。ButnowJovita’sbreathcamebrokenbygasps,Dickreeledinhissaddle,andbrighterandbrightergrewthesky。
Ride,Richard;run,Jovita;linger,Oday!
Forthelastfewrodstherewasaroaringinhisears。Wasitexhaustionfromlossofblood,orwhat?Hewasdazedandgiddyashesweptdownthehill,anddidnotrecognizehissurroundings。
Hadhetakenthewrongroad,orwasthisRattlesnakeCreek?
Itwas。Butthebrawlingcreekhehadswamafewhoursbeforehadrisen,morethandoubleditsvolume,andnowrolledaswiftandresistlessriverbetweenhimandRattlesnakeHill。ForthefirsttimethatnightRichard’sheartsankwithinhim。Theriver,themountain,thequickeningeast,swambeforehiseyes。Heshutthemtorecoverhisself-control。Inthatbriefinterval,bysomefantasticmentalprocess,thelittleroomatSimpson’sBarandthefiguresofthesleepingfatherandsonroseuponhim。Heopenedhiseyeswildly,castoffhiscoat,pistol,boots,andsaddle,boundhispreciouspacktightlytohisshoulders,graspedthebareflanksofJovitawithhisbaredknees,andwithashoutdashedintotheyellowwater。Acryrosefromtheoppositebankastheheadofamanandhorsestruggledforafewmomentsagainstthebattlingcurrent,andthenweresweptawayamidstuprootedtreesandwhirlingdrift-wood……
TheOldManstartedandwoke。Thefireonthehearthwasdead,thecandleintheouterroomflickeringinitssocket,andsomebodywasrappingatthedoor。Heopenedit,butfellbackwithacrybeforethedrippinghalf-nakedfigurethatreeledagainstthedoorpost。
\"Dick?\"
\"Hush!Isheawakeyet?\"
\"No,——but,Dick?——\"
\"Dryup,youoldfool!GetmesomewhiskeyQUICK!\"TheOldManflewandreturnedwith——anemptybottle!Dickwouldhavesworn,buthisstrengthwasnotequaltotheoccasion。Hestaggered,caughtatthehandleofthedoor,andmotionedtotheOldMan。
\"Thar’ssuthin’inmypackyerforJohnny。Takeitoff。Ican’t。\"
TheOldManunstrappedthepackandlaiditbeforetheexhaustedman。
\"Openit,quick!\"
Hedidsowithtremblingfingers。Itcontainedonlyafewpoortoys,——cheapandbarbaricenough,goodnessknows,butbrightwithpaintandtinsel。Oneofthemwasbroken;another,Ifear,wasirretrievablyruinedbywater;andonthethird——ahme!therewasacruelspot。
\"Itdon’tlooklikemuch,that’safact,\"saidDick,ruefully……
\"Butit’sthebestwecoulddo……Take’em,OldMan,andput’eminhisstocking,andtellhim——tellhim,youknow——holdme,OldMan——\"TheOldMancaughtathissinkingfigure。\"Tellhim,\"
saidDick,withaweaklittlelaugh,——\"tellhimSandyClaushascome。\"
Andevenso,bedraggled,ragged,unshavenandunshorn,withonearmhanginghelplesslyathisside,SantaClauscametoSimpson’sBarandfellfaintingonthefirstthreshold。TheChristmasdawncameslowlyafter,touchingtheremoterpeakswiththerosywarmthofineffablelove。AnditlookedsotenderlyonSimpson’sBarthatthewholemountainasifcaughtinagenerousaction,blushedtotheskies。
THEPRINCESSBOBANDHERFRIENDS。
ShewasaKlamathIndian。Hertitlewas,Ithink,acompromisebetweenherclaimasdaughterofachief,andgratitudetoherearliestwhiteprotector,whosename,aftertheIndianfashion,shehadadopted。\"Bob\"WalkerhadtakenherfromthebreastofherdeadmotheratatimewhenthesincerevolunteersoldieryoftheCaliforniafrontierwereimpressedwiththebeliefthatexterminationwasthemanifestdestinyoftheIndianrace。HehadwithdifficultyrestrainedthenoblezealofhiscompatriotslongenoughtoconvincethemthattheexemptionofoneIndianbabywouldnotinvalidatethistheory。Andhetookhertohishome,——apastoralclearingonthebanksoftheSalmonRiver,——whereshewascaredforafterafrontierfashion。
Beforeshewasnineyearsold,shehadexhaustedthescantkindlinessofthethin,overworkedMrs。Walker。AsaplayfellowoftheyoungWalkersshewasunreliable;asanurseforthebabyshewasinefficient。Shelosttheformerinthetracklessdepthsofaredwoodforest;shebaselyabandonedthelatterinanextemporizedcradle,hanginglikeachrysalistoaconvenientbough。Sheliedandshestole,——twounpardonablesinsinafrontiercommunity,wheretruthwasanecessityandprovisionsweretheonlyproperty。
Worsethanthis,theoutskirtsoftheclearingweresometimeshauntedbyblanketedtatterdemalionswithwhomshehadmysteriousconfidences。Mr。Walkermorethanonceregrettedhisindiscreethumanity;butshepresentlyrelievedhimofresponsibility,andpossiblyofbloodguiltiness,bydisappearingentirely。
Whenshereappeared,itwasattheadjacentvillageofLogport,inthecapacityofhousemaidtoatrader’swife,who,joiningsomelittleculturetoconsiderableconscientiousness,attemptedtoinstructhercharge。ButthePrincessprovedanunsatisfactorypupiltoevensoliberalateacher。Sheacceptedthealphabetwithgreatgood-humor,butalwaysasapleasingandrecurringnovelty,inwhichallinterestexpiredatthecompletionofeachlesson。
Shefoundathousandusesforherbooksandwritingmaterialsotherthanthoseknowntocivilizedchildren。Shemadeacuriousnecklaceofbitsofslate-pencil,sheconstructedaminiaturecanoefromthepasteboardcoversofherprimer,shebentherpensintofish-hooks,andtattooedthefacesofheryoungercompanionswithblueink。Religiousinstructionshereceivedasgood-humoredly,andlearnedtopronouncethenameoftheDeitywithacheerfulfamiliaritythatshockedherpreceptress。Norcouldherreverencebereachedthroughanalogy;sheknewnothingoftheGreatSpirit,andprofessedentireignoranceoftheHappyHunting-Grounds。Yetsheattendeddivineserviceregularly,andasregularlyaskedforahymn-book;anditwasonlythroughthediscoverythatshehadcollectedtwenty-fiveofthesevolumesandhadhiddenthembehindthewoodpile,thatherconnectionwiththeFirstBaptistChurchofLogportceased。ShewouldoccasionallyabandonthesecivilizedandChristianprivileges,anddisappearfromherhome,returningafterseveraldaysofabsencewithanodorofbarkandfish,andapeace-
offeringtohermistressintheshapeofvenisonorgame。
Toaddtohertroubles,shewasnowfourteen,and,accordingtothelawsofherrace,awoman。Idonotthinkthemostromanticfancywouldhavecalledherpretty。HercomplexiondefiedmostofthoseambiguoussimilesthroughwhichpoetsunconsciouslyapologizeforanydeviationfromtheCaucasianstandard。Itwasnotwinenorambercolored;ifanything,itwassmoky。Herfacewastattooedwithredandwhitelinesononecheek,asifaduo-toothedcombhadbeendrawnfromcheek-bonetojaw,and,butforthegood-humorthatbeamedfromhersmallberry-likeeyesandshoneinherwhiteteeth,wouldhavebeenrepulsive。Shewasshortandstout。Inherscantdraperyandunrestrainedfreedomshewashardlystatuesque,andhermoreunstudiedattitudesweremarredbyasimianhabitofsoftlyscratchingherleftanklewiththetoesofherrightfoot,inmomentsofcontemplation。
IthinkIhavealreadyshownenoughtoindicatetheincongruityofherexistencewitheventhelowstandardofcivilizationthatobtainedatLogportintheyear1860。Itneededbutonemorefacttoprovethefar-sightedpoeticalsagacityandpropheticethicsofthosesincereadvocatesofextermination,towhosevirtuesIhavedonebutscantjusticeinthebeginningofthisarticle。ThisfactwaspresentlyfurnishedbythePrincess。Afteroneofherperiodicaldisappearances,——thistimeunusuallyprolonged,——sheastonishedLogportbyreturningwithahalf-breedbabyofaweekoldinherarms。Thatnightameetingofthehard-featuredseriousmatronsofLogportwasheldatMrs。Brown’s。TheimmediatebanishmentofthePrincesswasdemanded。Soft-heartedMrs。Brownendeavoredvainlytogetamitigationorsuspensionofthesentence。But,asonaformeroccasion,thePrincesstookmattersintoherownhands。Afewmorningsafterwards,awickercradlecontaininganIndianbabywasfoundhangingonthehandleofthedooroftheFirstBaptistChurch。ItwastheParthianarrowoftheflyingPrincess。FromthatdayLogportknewhernomore。
Ithadbeenabrightcleardayontheupland,soclearthattherampartsofFortJacksonandtheflagstaffwereplainlyvisibletwelvemilesawayfromthelongcurvingpeninsulathatstretchedabaredwhitearmaroundthepeacefulwatersofLogportBay。Ithadbeenacleardayuponthesea-shore,albeittheairwasfilledwiththeflyingspumeandshiftingsandofastragglingbeachwhoselowdunesweredraggeddownbythelongsurgesofthePacificandthrownupagainbythetumultuoustrade-winds。Butthesunhadgonedowninabankoffleecyfogthatwasbeginningtorollinuponthebeach。Graduallytheheadlandattheentranceoftheharborandthelighthousedisappeared,thenthewillowfringethatmarkedthelineofSalmonRivervanished,andtheoceanwasgone。
Afewsailsstillgleamedonthewatersofthebay;buttheadvancingfogwipedthemoutonebyone,creptacrossthesteel-
blueexpanse,swallowedupthewhitemillsandsinglespireofLogport,and,joiningwithreinforcementsfromthemarshes,movedsolemnlyuponthehills。Tenminutesmoreandthelandscapewasutterlyblottedout;simultaneouslythewinddiedaway,andadeath-likesilencestoleoverseaandshore。Thefaintclang,highoverhead,ofunseenbrent,thenearercallofinvisibleplover,thelapandwashofundistinguishablewaters,andthemonotonousrollofthevanishedocean,weretheonlysounds。Asnightdeepened,thefar-offboomingofthefog-bellontheheadlandatintervalsstirredthethickair。
Hardbytheshoreofthebay,andhalfhiddenbyadriftingsand-
hill,stoodalownondescriptstructure,towhosecompositionseaandshorehadequallycontributed。Itwasbuiltpartlyoflogsandpartlyofdriftwoodandtarredcanvas。Joinedtooneendofthemainbuilding——theordinarylog-cabinofthesettler——wasthehalf-
roundpilot-houseofsomewreckedsteamer,whiletheothergableterminatedinhalfofabrokenwhale-boat。Nailedagainsttheboatwerethedriedskinsofwildanimals,andscatteredaboutlaytheflotsamandjetsamofmanyyears’gathering,——bamboocrates,casks,hatches,blocks,oars,boxes,partofawhale’svertebrae,andthebladesofsword-fish。Drawnuponthebeachofalittlecovebeforethehouselayacanoe。Asthenightthickenedandthefoggrewmoredense,thesedetailsgrewimperceptible,andonlythewindowsofthepilot-house,litupbyaroaringfirewithinthehut,gleamedredlythroughthemist。
Bythisfire,beneathaship’slampthatswungfromtheroof,twofigureswereseated,amanandawoman。Theman,broad-shoulderedandheavilybearded,stretchedhislistlesspowerfullengthbeyondabrokenbamboochair,withhiseyesfixedonthefire。Thewomancrouchedcross-leggeduponthebroadearthenhearth,withhereyesblinkinglyfixedonhercompanion。Theyweresmall,black,round,berry-likeeyes,andasthefirelightshoneuponhersmokyface,withitsonestripedcheekofgorgeousbrilliancy,itwasplainlythePrincessBobandnoother。
Notawordwasspoken。Theyhadbeensittingthusformorethananhour,andtherewasabouttheirattitudeasuggestionthatsilencewashabitual。Onceortwicethemanroseandwalkedupanddownthenarrowroom,orgazedabsentlyfromthewindowsofthepilot-
house,butneverbylookorsignbetrayedtheslightestconsciousnessofhiscompanion。AtsuchtimesthePrincessfromhernestbythefirefollowedhimwitheyesofcanineexpectancyandwistfulness。Buthewouldasinevitablyreturntohiscontemplationofthefire,andthePrincesstoherblinkingwatchfulnessofhisface。
Theyhadsattheresilentandundisturbedformanyaneveninginfairweatherandfoul。Theyhadspentmanyadayinsunshineandstorm,gatheringtheunclaimedspoilofseaandshore。Theyhadkeptthesemuterelations,variedonlybytheincidentsofthehuntormeagrehouseholdduties,forthreeyears,eversincetheman,wanderingmoodilyoverthelonelysands,hadfallenuponthehalf-
starvedwomanlyinginthelittlehollowwhereshehadcrawledtodie。Ithadseemedasiftheywouldneverbedisturbed,untilnow,whenthePrincessstarted,and,withtheinstinctofherrace,benthereartotheground。
Thewindhadrisenandwasrattlingthetarredcanvas。Butinanothermomentthereplainlycamefromwithoutthehutthesoundofvoices。Thenfollowedarapatthedoor;thenanotherrap;andthen,beforetheycouldrisetotheirfeet,thedoorwasflungbrisklyopen。
\"Ibegyourpardon,\"saidapleasantbutsomewhatdecidedcontraltovoice,\"butIdon’tthinkyouheardmeknock。Ah,Iseeyoudidnot。MayIcomein?\"
Therewasnoreply。HadthebatteredfigureheadoftheGoddessofLiberty,whichlaydeeplyembeddedinthesandonthebeach,suddenlyappearedatthedoordemandingadmittance,theoccupantsofthecabincouldnothavebeenmorespeechlesslyandhopelesslyastonishedthanattheformwhichstoodintheopendoorway。
Itwasthatofaslim,shapely,elegantlydressedyoungwoman。A
scarlet-linedsilkenhoodwashalfthrownbackfromtheshiningmassoftheblackhairthatcoveredhersmallhead;fromherprettyshouldersdroppedafurcloak,onlyrestrainedbyacordandtasselinhersmallglovedhand。Aroundherfullthroatwasadoublenecklaceoflargewhitebeads,thatbysomecunningfemininetrickrelievedwithitsinfantilesuggestionthestrongdecisionofherlowerface。
\"Didyousayyes?Ah,thankyou。Wemaycomein,Barker。\"(Hereashadowinabluearmyovercoatfollowedherintothecabin,toucheditscaprespectfully,andthenstoodsilentanderectagainstthewall。)\"Don’tdisturbyourselfintheleast,Ibeg。
Whatadistressinglyunpleasantnight!Isthisyourusualclimate?\"
Halfgraciously,halfabsentlyoverlookingthestillembarrassedsilenceofthegroup,shewenton:\"Westartedfromthefortoverthreehoursago,——threehoursago,wasn’tit,Barker?\"(theerectBarkertouchedhiscap,)——\"togotoCaptainEmmons’squartersonIndianIsland,——IthinkyoucallitIndianIsland,don’tyou?\"(shewasappealingtotheawe-strickenPrincess,)——\"andwegotintothefogandlostourway;thatis,Barkerlosthisway,\"(Barkertouchedhiscapdeprecatingly,)\"andgoodnessknowswherewedidn’twandertountilwemistookyourlightforthelighthouseandpulleduphere。No,no,praykeepyourseat,do!ReallyImustinsist。\"
Nothingcouldexceedthelanguidgraceofthelatterpartofthisspeech,——nothingexcepttheeasyunconsciousnesswithwhichsheglidedbytheofferedchairofherstammering,embarrassedhostandstoodbesidetheopenhearth。
\"Barkerwilltellyou,\"shecontinued,warmingherfeetbythefire,\"thatIamMissPortfire,daughterofMajorPortfire,commandingthepost。Ah,excuseme,child!\"(ShehadaccidentallytroddenuponthebareyellowtoesofthePrincess。)\"Really,Ididnotknowyouwerethere。Iamverynear-sighted。\"(Inconfirmationofherstatement,sheputtohereyesadaintydoubleeyeglassthatdangledfromherneck。)\"It’sashockingthingtobenear-sighted,isn’tit?\"
Iftheshamefaceduneasymantowhomthisremarkwasaddressedcouldhavefoundwordstoutterthethoughtthateveninhisconfusionstruggleduppermostinhismind,hewould,lookingatthebold,darkeyesthatquestionedhim,havedeniedthefact。Butheonlystammered,\"Yes。\"Thenextmoment,however,MissPortfirehadapparentlyforgottenhimandwasexaminingthePrincessthroughherglass。
\"Andwhatisyourname,child?\"
ThePrincess,beatifiedbytheeyesandeyeglass,showedallherwhiteteethatonce,andsoftlyscratchedherleg。
\"Bob?\"
\"Bob?Whatasingularname!\"
MissPortfire’shostherehastenedtoexplaintheoriginofthePrincess’stitle。
\"ThenYOUareBob。\"(Eye-glass。)
\"No,mynameisGrey,——JohnGrey。\"Andheactuallyachievedabowwhereawkwardnesswasrathertheairofimperfectlyrecallingaforgottenhabit。
\"Grey?——ah,letmesee。Yes,certainly。YouareMr。Greytherecluse,thehermit,thephilosopher,andallthatsortofthing。
Why,certainly;Dr。Jones,oursurgeon,hastoldmeallaboutyou。