roughing it-第25章

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devastation。

The　ground　was　deeply　carpeted　with　dry　pine…needles；　and　the　fire
touched　them　off　as　if　they　were　gunpowder。　　It　was　wonderful　to　see　with
what　fierce　speed　the　tall　sheet　of　flame　traveled！　　My　coffee…pot　was
gone；　and　everything　with　it。　　In　a　minute　and　a　half　the　fire　seized
upon　a　dense　growth　of　dry　manzanita　chapparal　six　or　eight　feet　high；
and　then　the　roaring　and　popping　and　crackling　was　something　terrific。
We　were　driven　to　the　boat　by　the　intense　heat；　and　there　we　remained；
spell…bound。

Within　half　an　hour　all　before　us　was　a　tossing；　blinding　tempest　of
flame！　　It　went　surging　up　adjacent　ridgessurmounted　them　and
disappeared　in　the　canons　beyondburst　into　view　upon　higher　and　farther
ridges；　presentlyshed　a　grander　illumination　abroad；　and　dove　again
flamed　out　again；　directly；　higher　and　still　higher　up　the　mountain…side…
…threw　out　skirmishing　parties　of　fire　here　and　there；　and　sent　them
trailing　their　crimson　spirals　away　among　remote　ramparts　and　ribs　and
gorges；　till　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach　the　lofty　mountain…fronts　were
webbed　as　it　were　with　a　tangled　network　of　red　lava　streams。　　Away
across　the　water　the　crags　and　domes　were　lit　with　a　ruddy　glare；　and　the
firmament　above　was　a　reflected　hell！

Every　feature　of　the　spectacle　was　repeated　in　the　glowing　mirror　of　the
lake！　　Both　pictures　were　sublime；　both　were　beautiful；　but　that　in　the
lake　had　a　bewildering　richness　about　it　that　enchanted　the　eye　and　held
it　with　the　stronger　fascination。

We　sat　absorbed　and　motionless　through　four　long　hours。　　We　never　thought
of　supper；　and　never　felt　fatigue。　　But　at　eleven　o'clock　the
conflagration　had　traveled　beyond　our　range　of　vision；　and　then　darkness
stole　down　upon　the　landscape　again。

Hunger　asserted　itself　now；　but　there　was　nothing　to　eat。　　The　provisions
were　all　cooked；　no　doubt；　but　we　did　not　go　to　see。　　We　were　homeless
wanderers　again；　without　any　property。　　Our　fence　was　gone；　our　house
burned　down；　no　insurance。　　Our　pine　forest　was　well　scorched；　the　dead
trees　all　burned　up；　and　our　broad　acres　of　manzanita　swept　away。　　Our
blankets　were　on　our　usual　sand…bed；　however；　and　so　we　lay　down　and　went
to　sleep。　　The　next　morning　we　started　back　to　the　old　camp；　but　while
out　a　long　way　from　shore；　so　great　a　storm　came　up　that　we　dared　not　try
to　land。　　So　I　baled　out　the　seas　we　shipped；　and　Johnny　pulled　heavily
through　the　billows　till　we　had　reached　a　point　three　or　four　miles
beyond　the　camp。　　The　storm　was　increasing；　and　it　became　evident　that　it
was　better　to　take　the　hazard　of　beaching　the　boat　than　go　down　in　a
hundred　fathoms　of　water；　so　we　ran　in；　with　tall　white…caps　following；
and　I　sat　down　in　the　stern…sheets　and　pointed　her　head…on　to　the　shore。
The　instant　the　bow　struck；　a　wave　came　over　the　stern　that　washed　crew
and　cargo　ashore；　and　saved　a　deal　of　trouble。　　We　shivered　in　the　lee　of
a　boulder　all　the　rest　of　the　day；　and　froze　all　the　night　through。　　In
the　morning　the　tempest　had　gone　down；　and　we　paddled　down　to　the　camp
without　any　unnecessary　delay。　　We　were　so　starved　that　we　ate　up　the
rest　of　the　Brigade's　provisions；　and　then　set　out　to　Carson　to　tell　them
about　it　and　ask　their　forgiveness。　　It　was　accorded；　upon　payment　of
damages。

We　made　many　trips　to　the　lake　after　that；　and　had　many　a　hair…breadth
escape　and　blood…curdling　adventure　which　will　never　be　recorded　in　any
history。




CHAPTER　XXIV。

I　resolved　to　have　a　horse　to　ride。　　I　had　never　seen　such　wild；　free；
magnificent　horsemanship　outside　of　a　circus　as　these　picturesquely…clad
Mexicans；　Californians　and　Mexicanized　Americans　displayed　in　Carson
streets　every　day。　　How　they　rode！　　Leaning　just　gently　forward　out　of
the　perpendicular；　easy　and　nonchalant；　with　broad　slouch…hat　brim　blown
square　up　in　front；　and　long　riata　swinging　above　the　head；　they　swept
through　the　town　like　the　wind！　　The　next　minute　they　were　only　a　sailing
puff　of　dust　on　the　far　desert。　　If　they　trotted；　they　sat　up　gallantly
and　gracefully；　and　seemed　part　of　the　horse；　did　not　go　jiggering　up　and
down　after　the　silly　Miss…Nancy　fashion　of　the　riding…schools。　　I　had
quickly　learned　to　tell　a　horse　from　a　cow；　and　was　full　of　anxiety　to
learn　more。　　I　was　resolved　to　buy　a　horse。

While　the　thought　was　rankling　in　my　mind；　the　auctioneer　came　skurrying
through　the　plaza　on　a　black　beast　that　had　as　many　humps　and　corners　on
him　as　a　dromedary；　and　was　necessarily　uncomely；　but　he　was　〃going；
going；　at　twenty…two！horse；　saddle　and　bridle　at　twenty…two　dollars；
gentlemen！〃　and　I　could　hardly　resist。

A　man　whom　I　did　not　know　（he　turned　out　to　be　the　auctioneer's　brother）
noticed　the　wistful　look　in　my　eye；　and　observed　that　that　was　a　very
remarkable　horse　to　be　going　at　such　a　price；　and　added　that　the　saddle
alone　was　worth　the　money。　　It　was　a　Spanish　saddle；　with　ponderous
'tapidaros'；　and　furnished　with　the　ungainly　sole…leather　covering　with
the　unspellable　name。　　I　said　I　had　half　a　notion　to　bid。　　Then　this
keen…eyed　person　appeared　to　me　to　be　〃taking　my　measure〃；　but　I
dismissed　the　suspicion　when　he　spoke；　for　his　manner　was　full　of
guileless　candor　and　truthfulness。　　Said　he：

〃I　know　that　horseknow　him　well。　　You　are　a　stranger；　I　take　it；　and　so
you　might　think　he　was　an　American　horse；　maybe；　but　I　assure　you　he　is
not。　　He　is　nothing　of　the　kind；　butexcuse　my　speaking　in　a　low　voice；
other　people　being　nearhe　is；　without　the　shadow　of　a　doubt；　a　Genuine
Mexican　Plug！〃

I　did　not　know　what　a　Genuine　Mexican　Plug　was；　but　there　was　something
about　this　man's　way　of　saying　it；　that　made　me　swear　inwardly　that　I
would　own　a　Genuine　Mexican　Plug；　or　die。

〃Has　he　any　othereradvantages？〃　　I　inquired；　suppressing　what
eagerness　I　could。

He　hooked　his　forefinger　in　the　pocket　of　my　army…shirt；　led　me　to　one
side；　and　breathed　in　my　ear　impressively　these　words：

〃He　can　out…buck　anything　in　America！〃

〃Going；　going；　goingat　twenttyfour　dollars　and　a　half；　gen〃

〃Twenty…seven！〃　I　shouted；　in　a　frenzy。

〃And　sold！〃　said　the　auctioneer；　and　passed　over　the　Genuine　Mexican　Plug
to　me。

I　could　scarcely　contain　my　exultation。　　I　paid　the　money；　and　put　the
animal　in　a　neighboring　livery…stable　to　dine　and　rest　himself。

In　the　afternoon　I　brought　the　creature　into　the　plaza；　and　certain
citizens　held　him　by　the　head；　and　others　by　the　tail；　while　I　mounted
him。　　As　soon　as　they　let　go；　he　placed　all　his　feet　in　a　bunch　together；
lowered　his　back；　and　then　suddenly　arched　it　upward；　and　shot　me
straight　into　the　air　a　matter　of　three　or　four　feet！　　I　came　as　straight
down　again；　lit　in　the　saddle；　went　instantly　up　again；　came　down　almost
on　the　high　pommel；　shot　up　again；　and　came　down　on　the　horse's　neckall
in　the　space　of　three　or　four　seconds。　　Then　he　rose　and　stood　almost
straight　up　on　his　hind　feet；　and　I；　clasping　his　lean　neck　desperately；
slid　back　into　the　saddle　and　held　on。　　He　came　down；　and　immediately
hoisted　his　heels　into　the　air；　delivering　a　vicious　kick　at　the　sky；　and
stood　on　his　forefeet。　　And　then　down　he　came　once　more；　and　began　the
original　exercise　of　shooting　me　straight　up　again。　　The　third　time　I
went　up　I　heard　a　stranger　say：

〃Oh；　don't　he　buck；　though！〃

While　I　was　up；　somebody　struck　the　horse　a　sounding　thwack　with　a
leathern　strap；　and　when　I　arrived　again　the　Genuine　Mexican　Plug　was　not
there。　　A　California　youth　chased　him　up　and　caught　him；　and　asked　if　he
might　have　a　ride。　　I　granted　him　that　luxury。　　He　mounted　the　Genuine；
got　lifted　into　the　air　once；　but　sent　his　spurs　home　as　he　descended；
and　the　horse　darted　away　like　a　telegram。　　He　soared　over　three　fences
like　a　bird；　and　disappeared　down　the　road　toward　the　Washoe　Valley。

I　sat　down　on　a　stone；　with　a　sigh；　and　by　a　natural　impulse　one　of　my
hands　sought　my　forehead；　and　the　other　the　base　of　my　stomach。　　I
believe　I　never　appreciated；　till　then；　the　poverty　of　the　human
machineryfor　I　still　needed　a　hand　or　two　to　place　elsewhere。　　Pen
cannot　describe　how　I　was　jolted　up。　　Imagination　cannot　conceive　how
disjointed　I　washow　internally；　externally　and　universally　I　was
unsettled；　mixed　up　and　ruptured。　　There　was　a　sympathetic　crowd　around
me；　though。

One　elderly…looking　comforter　said：

〃Stranger；　you've　been　taken　in。　　Everybody　in　this　camp　knows　that
horse。　　Any　child；　any　Injun；　could　have　told　you　that　he'd　buck；　he　is
the　very　worst　devil　to　buck　on　the　continent　of　America。　　You　hear　me。
I'm　Curry。　　Old　Curry。　　Old　Abe　Curry。　　And　moreover；　he　is　a　simon…pure；
out…and…out；　genuine　dd　Mexican　plug；　and　an　uncommon　mean　one　at　that；
too。　　Why；　you　turnip；　if　you　had　laid　low　and　kept　dark；　there's　chances
to　buy　an　American　horse　for　mighty　little　more　than　you　paid　for　that
bloody　old　foreign　relic。〃

I　gave　no　sign；　but　I　made　up　my　mind　that　if　the　auctioneer's　brother's
funeral　took　place　while　I　was　in　the　Territory　I　would　postpone　all
other　recreations　and　attend　it。

After　a　gallop　of　sixteen　miles　the　Californian　youth　and　the　Genuine
Mexican　Plug　came　tearing　into　town　again；　shedding　foam…flakes　like　the
spume…spray　that　drives　before　a　typhoon；　and；　with　one　final　skip　over　a
wheelbarrow　and　a　Chinaman；　cast　anchor　in　front　of　the　〃ranch。〃

Such　panting　and　blowing！　　Such　spreading　and　contracting　of　the　red
equine　nostrils；　and　glaring　of　the　wild　equine　eye！　　But　was　the
imperial　beast　subjugated？　　Indeed　he　was　not。

His　lordship　the　Speaker　of　the　House　thought　he　was；　and　mounted　him　to
go　down　to　the　Capitol；　but　the　first　dash　the　creature　made　was　over　a
pile　of　telegraph　poles　half　as　high　as　a　church；　and　his　time　to　the
Capitolone　mile　and　three　quartersremains　unbeaten　to　this　day。　　But
then　he　took　an　advantagehe　left　out　the　mile；　and　only　did　the　three
quarters。　　That　is　to　say；　he　made　a　straight　cut　across　lots；　preferring
fences　and　ditches　to　a　crooked　road；　and　when　the　Speaker　got　to　the
Capitol　he　said　he　had　been　in　the　air　so　much　he　felt　as　if　he　had　made
the　trip　on　a　comet。

In　the　evening　the　Speaker　came　home　afoot　for　exercise；　and　got　the
Genuine　towed　back　behind　a　quartz　wagon。　　The　next　day　I　loaned　the
animal　to　the　Clerk　of　the　House　to　go　down　to　the　Dana　silver　mine；　six
miles；　and　he　walked　back　for　exercise；　and　got　the　horse　towed。
Everybody　I　loaned　him　to　always　walked　back；　they　never　could　get　enough
exercise　any　other　way。

Still；　I　continued　to　loan　him　to　anybody　who　was　willing　to　borrow　him；
my　idea　being　to　get　him　crippled；　and　throw　him　on　the　borrower's　hands；
or　killed；　and　make　the　borrower　pay　for　him。　　But　somehow　nothing　ever
happened　to　him。　　He　took　chances　that　no　other　horse　ever　took　and
survived；　but　he　always　came　out　safe。　　It　was　his　daily　habit　to　try
experiments　that　had　always　before　been　considered　impossible；　but　he
always　got　through。　　Sometimes　he　miscalculated　a　little；　and　did　not　get
his　rider　through　intact；　but　he　always　got　through　himself。　　Of　course　I
had　tried　to　sell　him；　but　that　was　a　stretch　of　simplicity　which　met
with　little　sympathy。　　The　auctioneer　stormed　up　and　down　the　streets　on
him　for　four　day