roughing it-第39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！


ground　and　lay　quiet；　presently　he　crawled　on　his　hands　and　knees　to　the
mouth　of　the　shaft；　gave　a　quick　glance　around；　then　seized　the　rope　and
slid　down　the　shaft。

He　disappeared　in　the　gloom　of　a　〃side　drift〃　just　as　a　head　appeared　in
the　mouth　of　the　shaft　and　somebody　shouted　〃Hello！〃which　he　did　not
answer。　　He　was　not　disturbed　any　more。　　An　hour　later　he　entered　the
cabin；　hot；　red；　and　ready　to　burst　with　smothered　excitement；　and
exclaimed　in　a　stage　whisper：

〃I　knew　it！　　We　are　rich！　　IT'S　A　BLIND　LEAD！〃

I　thought　the　very　earth　reeled　under　me。　　Doubtconvictiondoubt
againexultationhope；　amazement；　belief；　unbeliefevery　emotion
imaginable　swept　in　wild　procession　through　my　heart　and　brain；　and　I
could　not　speak　a　word。　　After　a　moment　or　two　of　this　mental　fury；　I
shook　myself　to　rights；　and　said：

〃Say　it　again！〃

〃It's　blind　lead！〃

〃Cal；　let'slet's　burn　the　houseor　kill　somebody！　　Let's　get　out　where
there's　room　to　hurrah！　　But　what　is　the　use？　　It　is　a　hundred　times　too
good　to　be　true。〃

〃It's　a　blind　lead；　for　a　million！hanging　wallfoot　wallclay
casingseverything　complete！〃　He　swung　his　hat　and　gave　three　cheers；
and　I　cast　doubt　to　the　winds　and　chimed　in　with　a　will。　　For　I　was　worth
a　million　dollars；　and　did　not　care　〃whether　school　kept　or　not！〃

But　perhaps　I　ought　to　explain。　　A　〃blind　lead〃　is　a　lead　or　ledge　that
does　not　〃crop　out〃　above　the　surface。　　A　miner　does　not　know　where　to
look　for　such　leads；　but　they　are　often　stumbled　upon　by　accident　in　the
course　of　driving　a　tunnel　or　sinking　a　shaft。　　Higbie　knew　the　Wide　West
rock　perfectly　well；　and　the　more　he　had　examined　the　new　developments
the　more　he　was　satisfied　that　the　ore　could　not　have　come　from　the　Wide
West　vein。　　And　so　had　it　occurred　to　him　alone；　of　all　the　camp；　that
there　was　a　blind　lead　down　in　the　shaft；　and　that　even　the　Wide　West
people　themselves　did　not　suspect　it。　　He　was　right。　　When　he　went　down
the　shaft；　he　found　that　the　blind　lead　held　its　independent　way　through
the　Wide　West　vein；　cutting　it　diagonally；　and　that　it　was　enclosed　in
its　own　well…defined　casing…rocks　and　clay。　　Hence　it　was　public
property。　　Both　leads　being　perfectly　well　defined；　it　was　easy　for　any
miner　to　see　which　one　belonged　to　the　Wide　West　and　which　did　not。

We　thought　it　well　to　have　a　strong　friend；　and　therefore　we　brought　the
foreman　of　the　Wide　West　to　our　cabin　that　night　and　revealed　the　great
surprise　to　him。　　Higbie　said：

〃We　are　going　to　take　possession　of　this　blind　lead；　record　it　and
establish　ownership；　and　then　forbid　the　Wide　West　company　to　take　out
any　more　of　the　rock。　　You　cannot　help　your　company　in　this　matter
nobody　can　help　them。　　I　will　go　into　the　shaft　with　you　and　prove　to
your　entire　satisfaction　that　it　is　a　blind　lead。　　Now　we　propose　to　take
you　in　with　us；　and　claim　the　blind　lead　in　our　three　names。　　What　do　you
say？〃

What　could　a　man　say　who　had　an　opportunity　to　simply　stretch　forth　his
hand　and　take　possession　of　a　fortune　without　risk　of　any　kind　and
without　wronging　any　one　or　attaching　the　least　taint　of　dishonor　to　his
name？　　He　could　only　say；　〃Agreed。〃

The　notice　was　put　up　that　night；　and　duly　spread　upon　the　recorder's
books　before　ten　o'clock。　　We　claimed　two　hundred　feet　eachsix　hundred
feet　in　allthe　smallest　and　compactest　organization　in　the　district；
and　the　easiest　to　manage。

No　one　can　be　so　thoughtless　as　to　suppose　that　we　slept；　that　night。
Higbie　and　I　went　to　bed　at　midnight；　but　it　was　only　to　lie　broad　awake
and　think；　dream；　scheme。　　The　floorless；　tumble…down　cabin　was　a　palace；
the　ragged　gray　blankets　silk；　the　furniture　rosewood　and　mahogany。
Each　new　splendor　that　burst　out　of　my　visions　of　the　future　whirled　me
bodily　over　in　bed　or　jerked　me　to　a　sitting　posture　just　as　if　an
electric　battery　had　been　applied　to　me。　　We　shot　fragments　of
conversation　back　and　forth　at　each　other。　　Once　Higbie　said：

〃When　are　you　going　hometo　the　States？〃

〃To…morrow！〃with　an　evolution　or　two；　ending　with　a　sitting　position。
〃Wellnobut　next　month；　at　furthest。〃

〃We'll　go　in　the　same　steamer。〃

〃Agreed。〃

A　pause。

〃Steamer　of　the　10th？〃

〃Yes。　　No；　the　1st。〃

〃All　right。〃

Another　pause。

〃Where　are　you　going　to　live？〃　　said　Higbie。

〃San　Francisco。〃

〃That's　me！〃

Pause。

〃Too　hightoo　much　climbing〃from　Higbie。

〃What　is？〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　Russian　Hillbuilding　a　house　up　there。〃

〃Too　much　climbing？　　Shan't　you　keep　a　carriage？〃

〃Of　course。　　I　forgot　that。〃

Pause。

〃Cal。；　what　kind　of　a　house　are　you　going　to　build？〃

〃I　was　thinking　about　that。　　Three…story　and　an　attic。〃

〃But　what　kind？〃

〃Well；　I　don't　hardly　know。　　Brick；　I　suppose。〃

〃Brickbosh。〃

〃Why？　　What　is　your　idea？〃

〃Brown　stone　frontFrench　plate　glassbilliard…room　off　the　dining…
roomstatuary　and　paintingsshrubbery　and　two…acre　grass　plat
greenhouseiron　dog　on　the　front　stoopgray　horseslandau；　and　a
coachman　with　a　bug　on　his　hat！〃

〃By　George！〃

A　long　pause。

〃Cal。；　when　are　you　going　to　Europe？〃

〃WellI　hadn't　thought　of　that。　　When　are　you？〃

〃In　the　Spring。〃

〃Going　to　be　gone　all　summer？〃

〃All　summer！　　I　shall　remain　there　three　years。〃

〃Nobut　are　you　in　earnest？〃

〃Indeed　I　am。〃

〃I　will　go　along　too。〃

〃Why　of　course　you　will。〃

〃What　part　of　Europe　shall　you　go　to？〃

〃All　parts。　　France；　England；　GermanySpain；　Italy；　Switzerland；　Syria；
Greece；　Palestine；　Arabia；　Persia；　Egyptall　overeverywhere。〃

〃I'm　agreed。〃

〃All　right。〃

〃Won't　it　be　a　swell　trip！〃

〃We'll　spend　forty　or　fifty　thousand　dollars　trying　to　make　it　one；
anyway。〃

Another　long　pause。

〃Higbie；　we　owe　the　butcher　six　dollars；　and　he　has　been　threatening　to
stop　our〃

〃Hang　the　butcher！〃

〃Amen。〃

And　so　it　went　on。　　By　three　o'clock　we　found　it　was　no　use；　and　so　we
got　up　and　played　cribbage　and　smoked　pipes　till　sunrise。　　It　was　my　week
to　cook。　　I　always　hated　cookingnow；　I　abhorred　it。

The　news　was　all　over　town。　　The　former　excitement　was　greatthis　one
was　greater　still。　　I　walked　the　streets　serene　and　happy。　　Higbie　said
the　foreman　had　been　offered　two　hundred　thousand　dollars　for　his　third
of　the　mine。　　I　said　I　would　like　to　see　myself　selling　for　any　such
price。　　My　ideas　were　lofty。　　My　figure　was　a　million。　　Still；　I　honestly
believe　that　if　I　had　been　offered　it；　it　would　have　had　no　other　effect
than　to　make　me　hold　off　for　more。

I　found　abundant　enjoyment　in　being　rich。　　A　man　offered　me　a　three…
hundred…dollar　horse；　and　wanted　to　take　my　simple；　unendorsed　note　for
it。　　That　brought　the　most　realizing　sense　I　had　yet　had　that　I　was
actually　rich；　beyond　shadow　of　doubt。　　It　was　followed　by　numerous　other
evidences　of　a　similar　natureamong　which　I　may　mention　the　fact　of　the
butcher　leaving　us　a　double　supply　of　meat　and　saying　nothing　about
money。

By　the　laws　of　the　district；　the　〃locators〃　or　claimants　of　a　ledge　were
obliged　to　do　a　fair　and　reasonable　amount　of　work　on　their　new　property
within　ten　days　after　the　date　of　the　location；　or　the　property　was
forfeited；　and　anybody　could　go　and　seize　it　that　chose。　　So　we
determined　to　go　to　work　the　next　day。　　About　the　middle　of　the
afternoon；　as　I　was　coming　out　of　the　post　office；　I　met　a　Mr。　Gardiner；
who　told　me　that　Capt。　John　Nye　was　lying　dangerously　ill　at　his　place
（the　〃Nine…Mile　Ranch〃）；　and　that　he　and　his　wife　were　not　able　to　give
him　nearly　as　much　care　and　attention　as　his　case　demanded。　　I　said　if　he
would　wait　for　me　a　moment；　I　would　go　down　and　help　in　the　sick　room。
I　ran　to　the　cabin　to　tell　Higbie。　　He　was　not　there；　but　I　left　a　note
on　the　table　for　him；　and　a　few　minutes　later　I　left　town　in　Gardiner's
wagon。




CHAPTER　XLI。

Captain　Nye　was　very　ill　indeed；　with　spasmodic　rheumatism。　　But　the　old
gentleman　was　himselfwhich　is　to　say；　he　was　kind…hearted　and　agreeable
when　comfortable；　but　a　singularly　violent　wild…cat　when　things　did　not
go　well。　　He　would　be　smiling　along　pleasantly　enough；　when　a　sudden
spasm　of　his　disease　would　take　him　and　he　would　go　out　of　his　smile　into
a　perfect　fury。　　He　would　groan　and　wail　and　howl　with　the　anguish；　and
fill　up　the　odd　chinks　with　the　most　elaborate　profanity　that　strong
convictions　and　a　fine　fancy　could　contrive。　　With　fair　opportunity　he
could　swear　very　well　and　handle　his　adjectives　with　considerable
judgment；　but　when　the　spasm　was　on　him　it　was　painful　to　listen　to　him；
he　was　so　awkward。　　However；　I　had　seen　him　nurse　a　sick　man　himself　and
put　up　patiently　with　the　inconveniences　of　the　situation；　and
consequently　I　was　willing　that　he　should　have　full　license　now　that　his
own　turn　had　come。　　He　could　not　disturb　me；　with　all　his　raving　and
ranting；　for　my　mind　had　work　on　hand；　and　it　labored　on　diligently；
night　and　day；　whether　my　hands　were　idle　or　employed。　　I　was　altering
and　amending　the　plans　for　my　house；　and　thinking　over　the　propriety　of
having　the　billard…room　in　the　attic；　instead　of　on　the　same　floor　with
the　dining…room；　also；　I　was　trying　to　decide　between　green　and　blue　for
the　upholstery　of　the　drawing…room；　for；　although　my　preference　was　blue
I　feared　it　was　a　color　that　would　be　too　easily　damaged　by　dust　and
sunlight；　likewise　while　I　was　content　to　put　the　coachman　in　a　modest
livery；　I　was　uncertain　about　a　footmanI　needed　one；　and　was　even
resolved　to　have　one；　but　wished　he　could　properly　appear　and　perform　his
functions　out　of　livery；　for　I　somewhat　dreaded　so　much　show；　and　yet；
inasmuch　as　my　late　grandfather　had　had　a　coachman　and　such　things；　but
no　liveries；　I　felt　rather　drawn　to　beat　him；or　beat　his　ghost；　at　any
rate；　I　was　also　systematizing　the　European　trip；　and　managed　to　get　it
all　laid　out；　as　to　route　and　length　of　time　to　be　devoted　to　it
everything；　with　one　exceptionnamely；　whether　to　cross　the　desert　from
Cairo　to　Jerusalem　per　camel；　or　go　by　sea　to　Beirut；　and　thence　down
through　the　country　per　caravan。　　Meantime　I　was　writing　to　the　friends
at　home　every　day；　instructing　them　concerning　all　my　plans　and
intentions；　and　directing　them　to　look　up　a　handsome　homestead　for　my
mother　and　agree　upon　a　price　for　it　against　my　coming；　and　also
directing　them　to　sell　my　share　of　the　Tennessee　land　and　tender　the
proceeds　to　the　widows'　and　orphans'　fund　of　the　typographical　union　of
which　I　had　long　been　a　member　in　good　standing。　　＇This　Tennessee　land
had　been　in　the　possession　of　the　family　many　years；　and　promised　to
confer　high　fortune　upon　us　some　day；　it　still　promises　it；　but　in　a　less
violent　way。＇

When　I　had　been　nursing　the　Captain　nine　days　he　was　somewhat　better；
but　very　feeble。　　During　the　afternoon　we　lifted　him　into　a　chair　and
gave　him　an　alcoholic　vapor　bath；　and　then　set　about　putting　him　on　the
bed　again。　　We　had　to　be　exceedingly　careful；　for　the　least　jar　produced
pain。　　Gardiner　had　his　shoulders　and　I　his　legs；　in　an　unfortunate
moment　I　stumbled　and　the　patient　fell　heavily　on　the　bed　in　an　agony　of
torture。　　I　never　heard　a　man　swear　so　in　my　life。　　He　raved　like　a
maniac；　and　tried　to　snatch　a　revolver　from　the　tablebut　I　got　it。
He　ordered　me　out　of　the　house；　and　sw