a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第2章
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that was what Masters had said； he remembered it distinctly； and
something was to be done there； but what it was； or why it should be done；
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he could not tell。 However； it was done； and very luckily； for his limbs
could scarcely support him further； and reaching that boulder he dropped
upon it like another stone。
And now； strange to say； the uneasiness and perplexity which had
possessed him ever since he had stood before his revealed wealth dropped
from him like a burden laid upon the wayside。 A measureless peace stole
over him； in which visions of his new…found fortune； no longer a trouble
and perplexity； but crowned with happiness and blessing to all around him；
assumed proportions far beyond his own weak； selfish plans。 In its even…
handed benefaction； his wife and children； his friends and relations； even
his late poor companion of the hillside； met and moved harmoniously
together； in its far…reaching consequences there was only the influence of
good。 It was not strange that this poor finite mind should never have
conceived the meaning of the wealth extended to him； or that conceiving it
he should faint and falter under the revelation。 Enough that for a few
minutes he must have tasted a joy of perfect anticipation that years of
actual possession might never bring。
The sun seemed to go down in a rosy dream of his own happiness； as
he still sat there。 Later； the shadows of the trees thickened and
surrounded him； and still later fell the calm of a quiet evening sky with
far…spaced passionless stars； that seemed as little troubled by what they
looked upon as he was by the stealthy creeping life in the grasses and
underbrush at his feet。 The dull patter of soft little feet in the soft dust of
the road； the gentle gleam of moist and wondering little eyes on the
branches and in the mossy edges of the boulder； did not disturb him。 He
sat patiently through it all； as if he had not yet made up his mind。
But when the stage came with the flashing sun the next morning； and
the irresistible clamor of life and action； the driver suddenly laid his four
spirited horses on their haunches before the quiet spot。 The express
messenger clambered down from the box； and approached what seemed to
be a heap of cast…off clothes upon the boulder。
〃He don't seem to be drunk；〃 he said； in reply to a querulous
interrogation from the passengers。 〃I can't make him out。 His eyes are
open； but he cannot speak or move。 Take a look at him； Doc。〃
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A rough unprofessional…looking man here descended from the inside
of the coach； and； carelessly thrusting aside the other curious passengers；
suddenly leant over the heap of clothes in a professional attitude。
〃He is dead；〃 said one of the passengers。
The rough man let the passive head sink softly down again。 〃No such
luck for him；〃 he said curtly； but not unkindly。 〃It's a stroke of paralysis
and about as big as they make 'em。 It's a toss…up if he ever speaks or
moves again as long as he lives。〃
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CHAPTER I
When Alvin Mulrady announced his intention of growing potatoes
and garden 〃truck〃 on the green slopes of Los Gatos； the mining
community of that region； and the adjacent hamlet of 〃Rough…and…
Ready；〃 regarded it with the contemptuous indifference usually shown by
those adventurers towards all bucolic pursuits。 There was certainly no
active objection to the occupation of two hillsides； which gave so little
promise to the prospector for gold that it was currently reported that a
single prospector； called 〃Slinn；〃 had once gone mad or imbecile through
repeated failures。 The only opposition came； incongruously enough；
from the original pastoral owner of the soil； one Don Ramon Alvarado；
whose claim for seven leagues of hill and valley； including the now
prosperous towns of Rough…and…Ready and Red Dog； was met with simple
derision from the squatters and miners。 〃Looks ez ef we woz goin' to
travel three thousand miles to open up his dd old wilderness； and then
pay for the increased valoo we give itdon't it？ Oh； yes； certainly！〃 was
their ironical commentary。 Mulrady might have been pardoned for
adopting this popular opinion； but by an equally incongruous sentiment；
peculiar； however； to the man； he called upon Don Ramon； and actually
offered to purchase the land； or 〃go shares〃 with him in the agricultural
profits。 It was alleged that the Don was so struck with this concession
that he not only granted the land； but struck up a quaint reserved
friendship for the simple…minded agriculturist and his family。 It is
scarcely necessary to add that this intimacy was viewed by the miners with
the contempt that it deserved。 They would have been more
contemptuous； however； had they known the opinion that Don Ramon
entertained of their particular vocation； and which he early confided to
Mulrady。
〃They are savages who expect to reap where they have not sown； to
take out of the earth without returning anything to it but their precious
carcasses； heathens； who worship the mere stones they dig up。〃 〃And
was there no Spaniard who ever dug gold？〃 asked Mulrady； simply。 〃Ah；
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there are Spaniards and Moors；〃 responded Don Ramon； sententiously。
〃Gold has been dug； and by caballeros； but no good ever came of it。
There were Alvarados in Sonora； look you； who had mines of SILVER；
and worked them with peons and mules； and lost their moneya gold mine
to work a silver onelike gentlemen！ But this grubbing in the dirt with
one's fingers； that a little gold may stick to them； is not for caballeros。
And then； one says nothing of the curse。〃
〃The curse！〃 echoed Mary Mulrady； with youthful feminine
superstition。 〃What is that？〃
〃You knew not； friend Mulrady； that when these lands were given to
my ancestors by Charles V。； the Bishop of Monterey laid a curse upon any
who should desecrate them。 Good！ Let us see！ Of the three
Americanos who founded yonder town； one was shot； another died of a
feverpoisoned； you understand； by the soiland the last got himself
crazy of aguardiente。 Even the scientifico；* who came here years ago
and spied into the trees and the herbs： he was afterwards punished for his
profanation； and died of an accident in other lands。 But；〃 added Don
Ramon； with grave courtesy； 〃this touches not yourself。 Through me；
YOU are of the soil。〃
* Don Ramon probably alluded to the eminent naturalist Douglas；
who visited California before the gold excitement； and died of an accident
in the Sandwich Islands。
Indeed； it would seem as if a secure if not a rapid prosperity was the
result of Don Ramon's manorial patronage。 The potato patch and market
garden flourished exceedingly； the rich soil responded with magnificent
vagaries of growth； the even sunshine set the seasons at defiance with
extraordinary and premature crops。 The salt pork and biscuit consuming
settlers did not allow their contempt of Mulrady's occupation to prevent
their profiting by this opportunity for changing their diet。 The gold they
had taken from the soil presently began to flow into his pockets in
exchange for his more modest treasures。 The little cabin； which barely
sheltered his familya wife； son； and daughterwas enlarged； extended；
and refitted； but in turn abandoned for a more pretentious house on the
opposite hill。 A whitewashed fence replaced the rudely…split rails； which
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had kept out the wilderness。 By degrees； the first evidences of
cultivationthe gashes of red soil； the piles of brush and undergrowth； the
bared boulders； and heaps of stone melted away； and were lost under a
carpet of lighter green； which made an oasis in the tawny desert of wild
oats on the hillside。 Water was the only free boon denied this Garden of
Eden； what was necessary for irrigation had to be brought from a mining
ditch at great expense； and was of insufficient quantity。 In this
emergency Mulrady thought of sinking an artesian well on the sunny slope
beside his house； not； however； without serious consultation and much
objection from his Spanish patron。 With great austerity Don Ramon
pointed out that this trifling with the entrails of the earth was not only an
indignity to Nature almost equal to shaft…sinking and tunneling； but was a
disturbance of vested interests。 〃I and my fathers； San Diego rest them！〃
said Don Ramon； crossing himself； 〃were content with wells and cisterns；
filled by Heaven at its appointed seasons； the cattle； dumb brutes though
they were； knew where to find water when they wanted it。 But thou
sayest t
