roughing it-第38章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


lake。　　The　situation　was　not　comfortablein　truth；　to　speak　plainly；　it
was　frightful。　　We　were　prisoners　on　a　desolate　island；　in　aggravating
proximity　to　friends　who　were　for　the　present　helpless　to　aid　us；　and
what　was　still　more　uncomfortable　was　the　reflection　that　we　had　neither
food　nor　water。　　But　presently　we　sighted　the　boat。　　It　was　drifting
along；　leisurely；　about　fifty　yards　from　shore；　tossing　in　a　foamy　sea。
It　drifted；　and　continued　to　drift；　but　at　the　same　safe　distance　from
land；　and　we　walked　along　abreast　it　and　waited　for　fortune　to　favor　us。
At　the　end　of　an　hour　it　approached　a　jutting　cape；　and　Higbie　ran　ahead
and　posted　himself　on　the　utmost　verge　and　prepared　for　the　assault。　　If
we　failed　there；　there　was　no　hope　for　us。　　It　was　driving　gradually
shoreward　all　the　time；　now；　but　whether　it　was　driving　fast　enough　to
make　the　connection　or　not　was　the　momentous　question。　　When　it　got
within　thirty　steps　of　Higbie　I　was　so　excited　that　I　fancied　I　could
hear　my　own　heart　beat。　　When；　a　little　later；　it　dragged　slowly　along
and　seemed　about　to　go　by；　only　one　little　yard　out　of　reach；　it　seemed
as　if　my　heart　stood　still；　and　when　it　was　exactly　abreast　him　and　began
to　widen　away；　and　he　still　standing　like　a　watching　statue；　I　knew　my
heart　did　stop。　　But　when　he　gave　a　great　spring；　the　next　instant；　and
lit　fairly　in　the　stern；　I　discharged　a　war…whoop　that　woke　the
solitudes！

But　it　dulled　my　enthusiasm；　presently；　when　he　told　me　he　had　not　been
caring　whether　the　boat　came　within　jumping　distance　or　not；　so　that　it
passed　within　eight　or　ten　yards　of　him；　for　he　had　made　up　his　mind　to
shut　his　eyes　and　mouth　and　swim　that　trifling　distance。　　Imbecile　that　I
was；　I　had　not　thought　of　that。　　It　was　only　a　long　swim　that　could　be
fatal。

The　sea　was　running　high　and　the　storm　increasing。　　It　was　growing　late；
toothree　or　four　in　the　afternoon。　　Whether　to　venture　toward　the
mainland　or　not；　was　a　question　of　some　moment。　　But　we　were　so
distressed　by　thirst　that　we　decide　to　try　it；　and　so　Higbie　fell　to　work
and　I　took　the　steering…oar。　　When　we　had　pulled　a　mile；　laboriously；
we　were　evidently　in　serious　peril；　for　the　storm　had　greatly　augmented；
the　billows　ran　very　high　and　were　capped　with　foaming　crests；
the　heavens　were　hung　with　black；　and　the　wind　blew　with　great　fury。
We　would　have　gone　back；　now；　but　we　did　not　dare　to　turn　the　boat
around；　because　as　soon　as　she　got　in　the　trough　of　the　sea　she　would
upset；　of　course。　　Our　only　hope　lay　in　keeping　her　head…on　to　the　seas。
It　was　hard　work　to　do　this；　she　plunged　so；　and　so　beat　and　belabored
the　billows　with　her　rising　and　falling　bows。　　Now　and　then　one　of
Higbie's　oars　would　trip　on　the　top　of　a　wave；　and　the　other　one　would
snatch　the　boat　half　around　in　spite　of　my　cumbersome　steering　apparatus。
We　were　drenched　by　the　sprays　constantly；　and　the　boat　occasionally
shipped　water。　　By　and　by；　powerful　as　my　comrade　was；　his　great
exertions　began　to　tell　on　him；　and　he　was　anxious　that　I　should　change
places　with　him　till　he　could　rest　a　little。　　But　I　told　him　this　was
impossible；　for　if　the　steering　oar　were　dropped　a　moment　while　we
changed；　the　boat　would　slue　around　into　the　trough　of　the　sea；　capsize；
and　in　less　than　five　minutes　we　would　have　a　hundred　gallons　of　soap…
suds　in　us　and　be　eaten　up　so　quickly　that　we　could　not　even　be　present
at　our　own　inquest。

But　things　cannot　last　always。　　Just　as　the　darkness　shut　down　we　came
booming　into　port；　head　on。　　Higbie　dropped　his　oars　to　hurrahI　dropped
mine　to　helpthe　sea　gave　the　boat　a　twist；　and　over　she　went！

The　agony　that　alkali　water　inflicts　on　bruises；　chafes　and　blistered
hands；　is　unspeakable；　and　nothing　but　greasing　all　over　will　modify　it
but　we　ate；　drank　and　slept　well；　that　night；　notwithstanding。

In　speaking　of　the　peculiarities　of　Mono　Lake；　I　ought　to　have　mentioned
that　at　intervals　all　around　its　shores　stand　picturesque　turret…looking
masses　and　clusters　of　a　whitish；　coarse…grained　rock　that　resembles
inferior　mortar　dried　hard；　and　if　one　breaks　off　fragments　of　this　rock
he　will　find　perfectly　shaped　and　thoroughly　petrified　gulls'　eggs　deeply
imbedded　in　the　mass。　　How　did　they　get　there？　　I　simply　state　the　fact
for　it　is　a　factand　leave　the　geological　reader　to　crack　the　nut　at　his
leisure　and　solve　the　problem　after　his　own　fashion。

At　the　end　of　a　week　we　adjourned　to　the　Sierras　on　a　fishing　excursion；
and　spent　several　days　in　camp　under　snowy　Castle　Peak；　and　fished
successfully　for　trout　in　a　bright；　miniature　lake　whose　surface　was
between　ten　and　eleven　thousand　feet　above　the　level　of　the　sea；　cooling
ourselves　during　the　hot　August　noons　by　sitting　on　snow　banks　ten　feet
deep；　under　whose　sheltering　edges　fine　grass　and　dainty　flowers
flourished　luxuriously；　and　at　night　entertaining　ourselves　by　almost
freezing　to　death。　　Then　we　returned　to　Mono　Lake；　and　finding　that　the
cement　excitement　was　over　for　the　present；　packed　up　and　went　back　to
Esmeralda。　　Mr。　Ballou　reconnoitred　awhile；　and　not　liking　the　prospect；
set　out　alone　for　Humboldt。

About　this　time　occurred　a　little　incident　which　has　always　had　a　sort　of
interest　to　me；　from　the　fact　that　it　came　so　near　〃instigating〃　my
funeral。　　At　a　time　when　an　Indian　attack　had　been　expected；　the　citizens
hid　their　gunpowder　where　it　would　be　safe　and　yet　convenient　to　hand
when　wanted。　　A　neighbor　of　ours　hid　six　cans　of　rifle　powder　in　the
bake…oven　of　an　old　discarded　cooking　stove　which　stood　on　the　open
ground　near　a　frame　out…house　or　shed；　and　from　and　after　that　day　never
thought　of　it　again。　　We　hired　a　half…tamed　Indian　to　do　some　washing　for
us；　and　he　took　up　quarters　under　the　shed　with　his　tub。　　The　ancient
stove　reposed　within　six　feet　of　him；　and　before　his　face。　　Finally　it
occurred　to　him　that　hot　water　would　be　better　than　cold；　and　he　went　out
and　fired　up　under　that　forgotten　powder　magazine　and　set　on　a　kettle　of
water。　　Then　he　returned　to　his　tub。

I　entered　the　shed　presently　and　threw　down　some　more　clothes；　and　was
about　to　speak　to　him　when　the　stove　blew　up　with　a　prodigious　crash；　and
disappeared；　leaving　not　a　splinter　behind。　　Fragments　of　it　fell　in　the
streets　full　two　hundred　yards　away。　　Nearly　a　third　of　the　shed　roof
over　our　heads　was　destroyed；　and　one　of　the　stove　lids；　after　cutting　a
small　stanchion　half　in　two　in　front　of　the　Indian；　whizzed　between　us
and　drove　partly　through　the　weather…boarding　beyond。　　I　was　as　white　as
a　sheet　and　as　weak　as　a　kitten　and　speechless。　　But　the　Indian　betrayed
no　trepidation；　no　distress；　not　even　discomfort。　　He　simply　stopped
washing；　leaned　forward　and　surveyed　the　clean；　blank　ground　a　moment；
and　then　remarked：

〃Mph！　　Dam　stove　heap　gone！〃and　resumed　his　scrubbing　as　placidly　as　if
it　were　an　entirely　customary　thing　for　a　stove　to　do。　　I　will　explain；
that　〃heap〃　is　〃Injun…English〃　for　〃very　much。〃　　The　reader　will　perceive
the　exhaustive　expressiveness　of　it　in　the　present　instance。




CHAPTER　XL。
I　now　come　to　a　curious　episodethe　most　curious；　I　think；　that　had　yet
accented　my　slothful；　valueless；　heedless　career。　　Out　of　a　hillside
toward　the　upper　end　of　the　town；　projected　a　wall　of　reddish　looking
quartz…croppings；　the　exposed　comb　of　a　silver…bearing　ledge　that
extended　deep　down　into　the　earth；　of　course。　　It　was　owned　by　a　company
entitled　the　〃Wide　West。〃　　There　was　a　shaft　sixty　or　seventy　feet　deep
on　the　under　side　of　the　croppings；　and　everybody　was　acquainted　with　the
rock　that　came　from　itand　tolerably　rich　rock　it　was；　too；　but　nothing
extraordinary。　　I　will　remark　here；　that　although　to　the　inexperienced
stranger　all　the　quartz　of　a　particular　〃district〃　looks　about　alike；　an
old　resident　of　the　camp　can　take　a　glance　at　a　mixed　pile　of　rock；
separate　the　fragments　and　tell　you　which　mine　each　came　from；　as　easily
as　a　confectioner　can　separate　and　classify　the　various　kinds　and
qualities　of　candy　in　a　mixed　heap　of　the　article。

All　at　once　the　town　was　thrown　into　a　state　of　extraordinary　excitement。
In　mining　parlance　the　Wide　West　had　〃struck　it　rich！〃　　Everybody　went　to
see　the　new　developments；　and　for　some　days　there　was　such　a　crowd　of
people　about　the　Wide　West　shaft　that　a　stranger　would　have　supposed
there　was　a　mass　meeting　in　session　there。　　No　other　topic　was　discussed
but　the　rich　strike；　and　nobody　thought　or　dreamed　about　anything　else。
Every　man　brought　away　a　specimen；　ground　it　up　in　a　hand　mortar；　washed
it　out　in　his　horn　spoon；　and　glared　speechless　upon　the　marvelous
result。　　It　was　not　hard　rock；　but　black；　decomposed　stuff　which　could　be
crumbled　in　the　hand　like　a　baked　potato；　and　when　spread　out　on　a　paper
exhibited　a　thick　sprinkling　of　gold　and　particles　of　〃native〃　silver。
Higbie　brought　a　handful　to　the　cabin；　and　when　he　had　washed　it　out　his
amazement　was　beyond　description。　　Wide　West　stock　soared　skywards。　　It
was　said　that　repeated　offers　had　been　made　for　it　at　a　thousand　dollars
a　foot；　and　promptly　refused。　　We　have　all　had　the　〃blues〃the　mere　sky…
bluesbut　mine　were　indigo；　nowbecause　I　did　not　own　in　the　Wide　West。
The　world　seemed　hollow　to　me；　and　existence　a　grief。　　I　lost　my
appetite；　and　ceased　to　take　an　interest　in　anything。　　Still　I　had　to
stay；　and　listen　to　other　people's　rejoicings；　because　I　had　no　money　to
get　out　of　the　camp　with。

The　Wide　West　company　put　a　stop　to　the　carrying　away　of　〃specimens；〃　and
well　they　might；　for　every　handful　of　the　ore　was　worth　a　sun　of　some
consequence。　　To　show　the　exceeding　value　of　the　ore；　I　will　remark　that
a　sixteen…hundred…pounds　parcel　of　it　was　sold；　just　as　it　lay；　at　the
mouth　of　the　shaft；　at　one　dollar　a　pound；　and　the　man　who　bought　it
〃packed〃　it　on　mules　a　hundred　and　fifty　or　two　hundred　miles；　over　the
mountains；　to　San　Francisco；　satisfied　that　it　would　yield　at　a　rate　that
would　richly　compensate　him　for　his　trouble。　　The　Wide　West　people　also
commanded　their　foreman　to　refuse　any　but　their　own　operatives　permission
to　enter　the　mine　at　any　time　or　for　any　purpose。　　I　kept　up　my　〃blue〃
meditations　and　Higbie　kept　up　a　deal　of　thinking；　too；　but　of　a
different　sort。　　He　puzzled　over　the　〃rock；〃　examined　it　with　a　glass；
inspected　it　in　different　lights　and　from　different　points　of　view；　and
after　each　experiment　delivered　himself；　in　soliloquy；　of　one　and　the
same　unvarying　opinion　in　the　same　unvarying　formula：

〃It　is　not　Wide　West　rock！〃

He　said　once　or　twice　that　he　meant　to　have　a　look　into　the　Wide　West
shaft　if　he　got　shot　for　it。　　I　was　wretched；　and　did　not　care　whether　he
got　a　look　into　it　or　not。　　He　failed　that　day；　and　tried　again　at　night；
failed　again；　got　up　at　dawn　and　tried；　and　failed　again。　　Then　he　lay　in
ambush　in　the　sage　brush　hour　after　hour；　waiting　for　the　two　or　three
hands　to　adjourn　to　the　shade　of　a　boulder　for　dinner；　made　a　start　once；
but　was　prematureone　of　the　men　came　back　for　something；　tried　it
again；　but　when　almost　at　the　mouth　of　the　shaft；　another　of　the　men　rose
up　from　behind　the　boulder　as　if　to　reconnoitre；　and　he　dropped　on　the
ground　and　lay　quiet；　presently　he　crawl