a waif of the plains-第13章

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woman　presiding　over　a　〃wheel　of　fortune〃　in　a　corner；　whose　face
seemed　familiar。　　He　looked　again；　timidly。　　In　spite　of　an
extraordinary　head…dress　or　crown　that　she　wore　as　the　〃Goddess　of
Fortune；〃　he　recognized；　twisted　in　its　tinsel；　a　certain　scarlet
vine　which　he　had　seen　before；　in　spite　of　the　hoarse　formula　which
she　was　continually　repeating；　he　recognized　the　foreign　accent。
It　was　the　woman　of　the　stage…coach！　　With　a　sudden　dread　that　she
might　recognize　him；　and　likewise　demand　his　services　〃for　luck；〃
he　turned　and　fled。

Once　more　in　the　open　air；　there　came　upon　him　a　vague　loathing　and
horror　of　the　restless　madness　and　feverish　distraction　of　this
half…civilized　city。　　It　was　the　more　powerful　that　it　was　vague；
and　the　outcome　of　some　inward　instinct。　　He　found　himself　longing
for　the　pure　air　and　sympathetic　loneliness　of　the　plains　and
wilderness；　he　began　to　yearn　for　the　companionship　of　his　humble
associatesthe　teamster；　the　scout　Gildersleeve；　and　even　Jim
Hooker。　　But　above　all　and　before　all　was　the　wild　desire　to　get
away　from　these　maddening　streets　and　their　bewildering　occupants。
He　ran　back　to　the　baker's；　gathered　his　purchases　together；　took
advantage　of　a　friendly　doorway　to　strap　them　on　his　boyish
shoulders；　slipped　into　a　side　street；　and　struck　out　at　once　for
the　outskirts。

It　had　been　his　first　intention　to　take　stage　to　the　nearest　mining
district；　but　the　diminution　of　his　small　capital　forbade　that
outlay；　and　he　decided　to　walk　there　by　the　highroad；　of　whose
general　direction　he　had　informed　himself。　　In　half　an　hour　the
lights　of　the　flat；　struggling　city；　and　their　reflection　in　the
shallow；　turbid　river　before　it；　had　sunk　well　behind　him。　　The　air
was　cool　and　soft；　a　yellow　moon　swam　in　the　slight　haze　that　rose
above　the　tules；　in　the　distance　a　few　scattered　cottonwoods　and
sycamores　marked　like　sentinels　the　road。　　When　he　had　walked　some
distance　he　sat　down　beneath　one　of　them　to　make　a　frugal　supper
from　the　dry　rations　in　his　pack；　but　in　the　absence　of　any　spring
he　was　forced　to　quench　his　thirst　with　a　glass　of　water　in　a
wayside　tavern。　　Here　he　was　good…humoredly　offered　something
stronger；　which　he　declined；　and　replied　to　certain　curious
interrogations　by　saying　that　he　expected　to　overtake　his　friends
in　a　wagon　further　on。　　A　new　distrust　of　mankind　had　begun　to　make
the　boy　an　adept　in　innocent　falsehood；　the　more　deceptive　as　his
careless；　cheerful　manner；　the　result　of　his　relief　at　leaving　the
city；　and　his　perfect　ease　in　the　loving　companionship　of　night　and
nature；　certainly　gave　no　indication　of　his　homelessness　and
poverty。

It　was　long　past　midnight；　when；　weary　in　body；　but　still　hopeful
and　happy　in　mind；　he　turned　off　the　dusty　road　into　a　vast　rolling
expanse　of　wild　oats；　with　the　same　sense　of　security　of　rest　as　a
traveler　to　his　inn。　　Here；　completely　screened　from　view　by　the
tall　stalks　of　grain　that　rose　thickly　around　him　to　the　height　of
a　man's　shoulder；　he　beat　down　a　few　of　them　for　a　bed；　on　which　he
deposited　his　blanket。　　Placing　his　pack　for　a　pillow；　he　curled
himself　up　in　his　blanket；　and　speedily　fell　asleep。

He　awoke　at　sunrise；　refreshed；　invigorated；　and　hungry。　　But　he
was　forced　to　defer　his　first　self…prepared　breakfast　until　he　had
reached　water；　and　a　less　dangerous　place　than　the　wild…oat　field
to　build　his　first　camp　fire。　　This　he　found　a　mile　further　on；
near　some　dwarf　willows　on　the　bank　of　a　half…dry　stream。　　Of　his
various　efforts　to　prepare　his　first　meal；　the　fire　was　the　most
successful；　the　coffee　was　somewhat　too　substantially　thick；　and
the　bacon　and　herring　lacked　definiteness　of　quality　from　having
been　cooked　in　the　same　vessel。　　In　this　boyish　picnic　he　missed
Susy；　and　recalled；　perhaps　a　little　bitterly；　her　coldness　at
parting。　　But　the　novelty　of　his　situation；　the　brilliant　sunshine
and　sense　of　freedom；　and　the　road　already　awakening　to　dusty　life
with　passing　teams；　dismissed　everything　but　the　future　from　his
mind。　　Readjusting　his　pack；　he　stepped　on　cheerily。　　At　noon　he
was　overtaken　by　a　teamster；　who　in　return　for　a　match　to　light　his
pipe　gave　him　a　lift　of　a　dozen　miles。　　It　is　to　be　feared　that
Clarence's　account　of　himself　was　equally　fanciful　with　his
previous　story；　and　that　the　teamster　parted　from　him　with　a
genuine　regret；　and　a　hope　that　he　would　soon　be　overtaken　by　his
friends　along　the　road。　　〃And　mind　that　you　ain't　such　a　fool　agin
to　let　'em　make　you　tote　their　dod…blasted　tools　fur　them！〃　he
added　unsuspectingly；　pointing　to　Clarence's　mining　outfit。　　Thus
saved　the　heaviest　part　of　the　day's　journey；　for　the　road　was
continually　rising　from　the　plains　during　the　last　six　miles；
Clarence　was　yet　able　to　cover　a　considerable　distance　on　foot
before　he　halted　for　supper。　　Here　he　was　again　fortunate。　　An
empty　lumber　team　watering　at　the　same　spring；　its　driver　offered
to　take　Clarence's　purchasesfor　the　boy　had　profited　by　his　late
friend's　suggestion　to　personally　detach　himself　from　his
equipmentto　Buckeye　Mills　for　a　dollar；　which　would　also　include
a　〃shakedown　passage〃　for　himself　on　the　floor　of　the　wagon。　　〃I
reckon　you've　been　foolin'　away　in　Sacramento　the　money　yer　parents
give　yer　for　return　stage　fare；　eh？　　Don't　lie；　sonny；〃　he　added
grimly；　as　the　now　artful　Clarence　smiled　diplomatically；　〃I've
been　thar　myself！〃　　Luckily；　the　excuse　that　he　was　〃tired　and
sleepy〃　prevented　further　dangerous　questioning；　and　the　boy　was
soon　really　in　deep　slumber　on　the　wagon　floor。

He　awoke　betimes　to　find　himself　already　in　the　mountains。　　Buckeye
Mills　was　a　straggling　settlement；　and　Clarence　prudently　stopped
any　embarrassing　inquiry　from　his　friend　by　dropping　off　the　wagon
with　his　equipment　as　they　entered　it；　and　hurriedly　saying　〃Good…
by〃　from　a　crossroad　through　the　woods。　　He　had　learned　that　the
nearest　mining　camp　was　five　miles　away；　and　its　direction　was
indicated　by　a　long　wooden　〃flume；〃　or　water…way；　that　alternately
appeared　and　disappeared　on　the　flank　of　the　mountain　opposite。
The　cooler　and　drier　air；　the　grateful　shadow　of　pine　and　bay；　and
the　spicy　balsamic　odors　that　everywhere　greeted　him；　thrilled　and
exhilarated　him。　　The　trail　plunging　sometimes　into　an　undisturbed
forest；　he　started　the　birds　before　him　like　a　flight　of　arrows
through　its　dim　recesses；　at　times　he　hung　breathlessly　over　the
blue　depths　of　canyons　where　the　same　forests　were　repeated　a
thousand　feet　below。　　Towards　noon　he　struck　into　a　rude　road
evidently　the　thoroughfare　of　the　localityand　was　surprised　to
find　that　it；　as　well　as　the　adjacent　soil　wherever　disturbed；　was
a　deep　Indian　red。　　Everywhere；　along　its　sides；　powdering　the
banks　and　boles　of　trees　with　its　ruddy　stain；　in　mounds　and
hillocks　of　piled　dirt　on　the　road；　or　in　liquid　paint…like　pools；
when　a　trickling　stream　had　formed　a　gutter　across　it；　there　was
always　the　same　deep　sanguinary　color。　　Once　or　twice　it　became
more　vivid　in　contrast　with　the　white　teeth　of　quartz　that　peeped
through　it　from　the　hillside　or　crossed　the　road　in　crumbled
strata。　　One　of　those　pieces　Clarence　picked　up　with　a　quickening
pulse。　　It　was　veined　and　streaked　with　shining　mica　and　tiny
glittering　cubes　of　mineral　that　LOOKED　like　gold！

The　road　now　began　to　descend　towards　a　winding　stream；　shrunken　by
drought　and　ditching；　that　glared　dazzingly　in　the　sunlight　from
its　white　bars　of　sand；　or　glistened　in　shining　sheets　and
channels。　　Along　its　banks；　and　even　encroaching　upon　its　bed；　were
scattered　a　few　mud　cabins；　strange…looking　wooden　troughs　and
gutters；　and　here　and　there；　glancing　through　the　leaves；　the　white
canvas　of　tents。　　The　stumps　of　felled　trees　and　blackened　spaces；
as　of　recent　fires；　marked　the　stream　on　either　side。　　A　sudden
sense　of　disappointment　overcame　Clarence。　　It　looked　vulgar；
common；　and　worse　than　allFAMILIAR。　　It　was　like　the　unlovely
outskirts　of　a　dozen　other　prosaic　settlements　he　had　seen　in　less
romantic　localities。　　In　that　muddy　red　stream；　pouring　out　of　a
wooden　gutter；　in　which　three　or　four　bearded；　slouching；　half…
naked　figures　were　raking　like　chiffonniers；　there　was　nothing　to
suggest　the　royal　metal。　　Yet　he　was　so　absorbed　in　gazing　at　the
scene；　and　had　walked　so　rapidly　during　the　past　few　minutes；　that
he　was　startled；　on　turning　a　sharp　corner　of　the　road；　to　come
abruptly　upon　an　outlying　dwelling。

It　was　a　nondescript　building；　half　canvas　and　half　boards。　　The
interior　seen　through　the　open　door　was　fitted　up　with　side
shelves；　a　counter　carelessly　piled　with　provisions；　groceries；
clothing；　and　hardwarewith　no　attempt　at　display　or　even　ordinary
selectionand　a　table；　on　which　stood　a　demijohn　and　three　or　four
dirty　glasses。　　Two　roughly　dressed　men；　whose　long；　matted　beards
and　hair　left　only　their　eyes　and　lips　visible　in　the　tangled
hirsute　wilderness　below　their　slouched　hats；　were　leaning　against
the　opposite　sides　of　the　doorway；　smoking。　　Almost　thrown　against
them　in　the　rapid　momentum　of　his　descent；　Clarence　halted
violently。

〃Well；　sonny；　you　needn't　capsize　the　shanty；〃　said　the　first　man；
without　taking　his　pipe　from　his　lips。

〃If　yer　looking　fur　yer　ma；　she　and　yer　Aunt　Jane　hev　jest　gone
over　to　Parson　Doolittle's　to　take　tea；〃　observed　the　second　man
lazily。　　〃She　allowed　that　you'd　wait。〃

〃I'mI'mgoing　toto　the　mines；〃　explained　Clarence；　with　some
hesitation。　　〃I　suppose　this　is　the　way。〃

The　two　men　took　their　pipes　from　their　lips；　looked　at　each　other；
completely　wiped　every　vestige　of　expression　from　their　faces　with
the　back　of　their　hands；　turned　their　eyes　into　the　interior　of　the
cabin；　and　said；　〃Will　yer　come　yer；　now　WILL　yer？〃　　Thus　adjured；
half　a　dozen　men；　also　bearded　and　carrying　pipes　in　their　mouths；
straggled　out　of　the　shanty；　and；　filing　in　front　of　it；　squatted
down；　with　their　backs　against　the　boards；　and　gazed　comfortably　at
the　boy。　　Clarence　began　to　feel　uneasy。

〃I'll　give；〃　said　one；　taking　out　his　pipe　and　grimly　eying
Clarence；　〃a　hundred　dollars　for　him　as　he　stands。〃

〃And　seein'　as　he's　got　that　bran…new　rig…out　o'　tools；〃　said
another；　〃I'll　give　a　hundred　and　fiftyand　the　drinks。　　I've
been；〃　he　added　apologetically；　〃wantin'　sunthin'　like　this　a　long
time。〃

〃Well；　gen'lemen；〃　said　the　man　who　had　first　spoken　to　him；
〃lookin'　at　him　by　and　large；　takin'　in；　so　to　speak；　the　gin'ral
gait　of　him　in　single　harness；　bearin'　in　mind　the　perfect
freshness　of　him；　and　the　coolness　and　size　of　his　cheekthe　easy
downyness；　previousness；　and　utter　don't…care…a…damnativeness　of
his　coming　yer；　I　think　two　hundred　ain't　too　much　for　him；　and
we'll　call　it　a　bargain。〃

Clarence's　previous　experience　of　this　grim；　smileless　Californian
chaff　was　not　calculated　to　restore　his　confidence。　　He　drew　away
from　the　cabin；　and　repeated　doggedly；　〃I　asked　you　if　this　was　the
way　to　the　mines。〃

〃It　ARE　the　mines；　and　these　yere　are　the　miners；〃　said　the　first
speaker　gravely。　　〃Permit　me　to　interdoose　'em。　　This　yere's　Shasta
Jim；　this　yere's　Shotcard　Billy；　this　is　Nasty　Bob；　and　this
Slumgullion　Dick。　　This　yere's　the　Dook　o'　Chatham　Street；　th