roughing it-第45章

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of　the　vessel　for　the　next　twenty…four　hours。　　Next　day；　toward　noon；　the
figures　were　all　in　the　purser's　hands　in　sealed　envelopes。　　Smith　was
serene　and　happy；　for　he　had　been　bribing　the　engineer。　　But　another
party　won　the　prize！　　Smith　said：

Here；　that　won't　do！　　He　guessed　two　miles　wider　of　the　mark　than　I　did。〃

The　purser　said；　〃Mr。　Smith；　you　missed　it　further　than　any　man　on　board。
We　traveled　two　hundred　and　eight　miles　yesterday。〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Smith；　〃that's　just　where　I've　got　you；　for　I　guessed
two　hundred　and　nine。　　If　you'll　look　at　my　figgers　again　you'll　find　a　2
and　two　0's；　which　stands　for　200；　don't　it？and　after　'em　you'll　find　a
9　（2009）；　which　stands　for　two　hundred　and　nine。　　I　reckon　I'll　take　that
money；　if　you　please。〃

The　Gould　&　Curry　claim　comprised　twelve　hundred　feet；　and　it　all
belonged　originally　to　the　two　men　whose　names　it　bears。　　Mr。　Curry　owned
two　thirds　of　itand　he　said　that　he　sold　it　out　for　twenty…five　hundred
dollars　in　cash；　and　an　old　plug　horse　that　ate　up　his　market　value　in
hay　and　barley　in　seventeen　days　by　the　watch。　　And　he　said　that　Gould
sold　out　for　a　pair　of　second…hand　government　blankets　and　a　bottle　of
whisky　that　killed　nine　men　in　three　hours；　and　that　an　unoffending
stranger　that　smelt　the　cork　was　disabled　for　life。　　Four　years　afterward
the　mine　thus　disposed　of　was　worth　in　the　San　Francisco　market　seven
millions　six　hundred　thousand　dollars　in　gold　coin。

In　the　early　days　a　poverty…stricken　Mexican　who　lived　in　a　canyon
directly　back　of　Virginia　City；　had　a　stream　of　water　as　large　as　a　man's
wrist　trickling　from　the　hill…side　on　his　premises。　　The　Ophir　Company
segregated　a　hundred　feet　of　their　mine　and　traded　it　to　him　for　the
stream　of　water。　　The　hundred　feet　proved　to　be　the　richest　part　of　the
entire　mine；　four　years　after　the　swap；　its　market　value　（including　its
mill）　was　1；500；000。

An　individual　who　owned　twenty　feet　in　the　Ophir　mine　before　its　great
riches　were　revealed　to　men；　traded　it　for　a　horse；　and　a　very　sorry
looking　brute　he　was；　too。　　A　year　or　so　afterward；　when　Ophir　stock　went
up　to　3；000　a　foot；　this　man；　who　had　not　a　cent；　used　to　say　he　was　the
most　startling　example　of　magnificence　and　misery　the　world　had　ever
seenbecause　he　was　able　to　ride　a　sixty…thousand…dollar　horseyet
could　not　scrape　up　cash　enough　to　buy　a　saddle；　and　was　obliged　to
borrow　one　or　ride　bareback。　　He　said　if　fortune　were　to　give　him　another
sixty…thousand…dollar　horse　it　would　ruin　him。

A　youth　of　nineteen；　who　was　a　telegraph　operator　in　Virginia　on　a　salary
of　a　hundred　dollars　a　month；　and　who；　when　he　could　not　make　out　German
names　in　the　list　of　San　Francisco　steamer　arrivals；　used　to　ingeniously
select　and　supply　substitutes　for　them　out　of　an　old　Berlin　city
directory；　made　himself　rich　by　watching　the　mining　telegrams　that　passed
through　his　hands　and　buying　and　selling　stocks　accordingly；　through　a
friend　in　San　Francisco。　　Once　when　a　private　dispatch　was　sent　from
Virginia　announcing　a　rich　strike　in　a　prominent　mine　and　advising　that
the　matter　be　kept　secret　till　a　large　amount　of　the　stock　could　be
secured；　he　bought　forty　〃feet〃　of　the　stock　at　twenty　dollars　a　foot；
and　afterward　sold　half　of　it　at　eight　hundred　dollars　a　foot　and　the
rest　at　double　that　figure。　　Within　three　months　he　was　worth　150；000；
and　had　resigned　his　telegraphic　position。

Another　telegraph　operator　who　had　been　discharged　by　the　company　for
divulging　the　secrets　of　the　office；　agreed　with　a　moneyed　man　in　San
Francisco　to　furnish　him　the　result　of　a　great　Virginia　mining　lawsuit
within　an　hour　after　its　private　reception　by　the　parties　to　it　in　San
Francisco。　　For　this　he　was　to　have　a　large　percentage　of　the　profits　on
purchases　and　sales　made　on　it　by　his　fellow…conspirator。　　So　he　went；
disguised　as　a　teamster；　to　a　little　wayside　telegraph　office　in　the
mountains；　got　acquainted　with　the　operator；　and　sat　in　the　office　day
after　day；　smoking　his　pipe；　complaining　that　his　team　was　fagged　out　and
unable　to　traveland　meantime　listening　to　the　dispatches　as　they　passed
clicking　through　the　machine　from　Virginia。　　Finally　the　private　dispatch
announcing　the　result　of　the　lawsuit　sped　over　the　wires；　and　as　soon　as
he　heard　it　he　telegraphed　his　friend　in　San　Francisco：

〃Am　tired　waiting。　　Shall　sell　the　team　and　go　home。〃

It　was　the　signal　agreed　upon。　　The　word　〃waiting〃　left　out；　would　have
signified　that　the　suit　had　gone　the　other　way。

The　mock　teamster's　friend　picked　up　a　deal　of　the　mining　stock；　at　low
figures；　before　the　news　became　public；　and　a　fortune　was　the　result。

For　a　long　time　after　one　of　the　great　Virginia　mines　had　been
incorporated；　about　fifty　feet　of　the　original　location　were　still　in　the
hands　of　a　man　who　had　never　signed　the　incorporation　papers。　　The　stock
became　very　valuable；　and　every　effort　was　made　to　find　this　man；　but　he
had　disappeared。　　Once　it　was　heard　that　he　was　in　New　York；　and　one　or
two　speculators　went　east　but　failed　to　find　him。　　Once　the　news　came
that　he　was　in　the　Bermudas；　and　straightway　a　speculator　or　two　hurried
east　and　sailed　for　Bermudabut　he　was　not　there。　　Finally　he　was　heard
of　in　Mexico；　and　a　friend　of　his；　a　bar…keeper　on　a　salary；　scraped
together　a　little　money　and　sought　him　out；　bought　his　〃feet〃　for　a
hundred　dollars；　returned　and　sold　the　property　for　75；000。

But　why　go　on？　　The　traditions　of　Silverland　are　filled　with　instances
like　these；　and　I　would　never　get　through　enumerating　them　were　I　to
attempt　do　it。　　I　only　desired　to　give；　the　reader　an　idea　of　a
peculiarity　of　the　〃flush　times〃　which　I　could　not　present　so　strikingly
in　any　other　way；　and　which　some　mention　of　was　necessary　to　a　realizing
comprehension　of　the　time　and　the　country。

I　was　personally　acquainted　with　the　majority　of　the　nabobs　I　have
referred　to；　and　so；　for　old　acquaintance　sake；　I　have　shifted　their
occupations　and　experiences　around　in　such　a　way　as　to　keep　the　Pacific
public　from　recognizing　these　once　notorious　men。　　No　longer　notorious；
for　the　majority　of　them　have　drifted　back　into　poverty　and　obscurity
again。

In　Nevada　there　used　to　be　current　the　story　of　an　adventure　of　two　of
her　nabobs；　which　may　or　may　not　have　occurred。　　I　give　it　for　what　it　is
worth：

Col。　Jim　had　seen　somewhat　of　the　world；　and　knew　more　or　less　of　its
ways；　but　Col。　Jack　was　from　the　back　settlements　of　the　States；　had　led
a　life　of　arduous　toil；　and　had　never　seen　a　city。　　These　two；　blessed
with　sudden　wealth；　projected　a　visit　to　New　York；Col。　Jack　to　see　the
sights；　and　Col。　Jim　to　guard　his　unsophistication　from　misfortune。　　They
reached　San　Francisco　in　the　night；　and　sailed　in　the　morning。　　Arrived
in　New　York；　Col。　　Jack　said：

〃I've　heard　tell　of　carriages　all　my　life；　and　now　I　mean　to　have　a　ride
in　one；　I　don't　care　what　it　costs。　　Come　along。〃

They　stepped　out　on　the　sidewalk；　and　Col。　Jim　called　a　stylish　barouche。
But　Col。　Jack　said：

〃No；　sir！　　None　of　your　cheap…John　turn…outs　for　me。　　I'm　here　to　have　a
good　time；　and　money　ain't　any　object。　　I　mean　to　have　the　nobbiest　rig
that's　going。　　Now　here　comes　the　very　trick。　　Stop　that　yaller　one　with
the　pictures　on　itdon't　you　fretI'll　stand　all　the　expenses　myself。〃

So　Col。　Jim　stopped　an　empty　omnibus；　and　they　got　in。　　Said　Col。　Jack：

〃Ain't　it　gay；　though？　　Oh；　no；　I　reckon　not！　　Cushions；　and　windows；　and
pictures；　till　you　can't　rest。　　What　would　the　boys　say　if　they　could　see
us　cutting　a　swell　like　this　in　New　York？　　By　George；　I　wish　they　could
see　us。〃

Then　he　put　his　head　out　of　the　window；　and　shouted　to　the　driver：

〃Say；　Johnny；　this　suits　me！suits　yours　truly；　you　bet；　you！　　I　want
this　shebang　all　day。　　I'm　on　it；　old　man！　　Let　'em　out！　　Make　'em　go！
We'll　make　it　all　right　with　you；　sonny！〃

The　driver　passed　his　hand　through　the　strap…hole；　and　tapped　for　his
fareit　was　before　the　gongs　came　into　common　use。　　Col。　Jack　took　the
hand；　and　shook　it　cordially。　　He　said：

〃You　twig　me；　old　pard！　　All　right　between　gents。　　Smell　of　that；　and　see
how　you　like　it！〃

And　he　put　a　twenty…dollar　gold　piece　in　the　driver's　hand。　　After　a
moment　the　driver　said　he　could　not　make　change。

〃Bother　the　change！　　Ride　it　out。　　Put　it　in　your　pocket。〃

Then　to　Col。　　Jim；　with　a　sounding　slap　on　his　thigh：

〃Ain't　it　style；　though？　　Hanged　if　I　don't　hire　this　thing　every　day　for
a　week。〃

The　omnibus　stopped；　and　a　young　lady　got　in。　　Col。　Jack　stared　a　moment；
then　nudged　Col。　Jim　with　his　elbow：

〃Don't　say　a　word；〃　he　whispered。　　〃Let　her　ride；　if　she　wants　to。
Gracious；　there's　room　enough。〃

The　young　lady　got　out　her　porte…monnaie；　and　handed　her　fare　to　Col。
Jack。

〃What's　this　for？〃　　said　he。

〃Give　it　to　the　driver；　please。〃

〃Take　back　your　money；　madam。　　We　can't　allow　it。　　You're　welcome　to　ride
here　as　long　as　you　please；　but　this　shebang's　chartered；　and　we　can't
let　you　pay　a　cent。〃

The　girl　shrunk　into　a　corner；　bewildered。　　An　old　lady　with　a　basket
climbed　in；　and　proffered　her　fare。

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　Col。　Jack。　　〃You're　perfectly　welcome　here；　madam；　but
we　can't　allow　you　to　pay。　　Set　right　down　there；　mum；　and　don't　you　be
the　least　uneasy。　　Make　yourself　just　as　free　as　if　you　was　in　your　own
turn…out。〃

Within　two　minutes；　three　gentlemen；　two　fat　women；　and　a　couple　of
children；　entered。

〃Come　right　along；　friends；〃　said　Col。　　Jack；　〃don't　mind　us。　　This　is　a
free　blow…out。〃　　Then　he　whispered　to　Col。　　Jim；

〃New　York　ain't　no　sociable　place；　I　don't　reckonit　ain't　no　name　for
it！〃

He　resisted　every　effort　to　pass　fares　to　the　driver；　and　made　everybody
cordially　welcome。　　The　situation　dawned　on　the　people；　and　they　pocketed
their　money；　and　delivered　themselves　up　to　covert　enjoyment　of　the
episode。　　Half　a　dozen　more　passengers　entered。

〃Oh；　there's　plenty　of　room；〃　said　Col。　　Jack。　　〃Walk　right　in；　and　make
yourselves　at　home。　　A　blow…out　ain't　worth　anything　as　a　blow…out；
unless　a　body　has　company。〃　　Then　in　a　whisper　to　Col。　　Jim：　〃But　ain't
these　New　Yorkers　friendly？　　And　ain't　they　cool　about　it；　too？　　Icebergs
ain't　anywhere。　　I　reckon　they'd　tackle　a　hearse；　if　it　was　going　their
way。〃

More　passengers　got　in；　more　yet；　and　still　more。　　Both　seats　were
filled；　and　a　file　of　men　were　standing　up；　holding　on　to　the　cleats
overhead。　　Parties　with　baskets　and　bundles　were　climbing　up　on　the　roof。
Half…suppressed　laughter　rippled　up　from　all　sides。

〃Well；　for　clean；　cool；　out…and…out　cheek；　if　this　don't　bang　anything
that　ever　I　saw；　I'm　an　Injun！〃　whispered　Col。　Jack。

A　Chinaman　crowded　his　way　in。

〃I　weaken！〃　said　Col。　Jack。　　〃Hold　on；　driver！　　Keep　your　seats；　ladies；
and　gents。　　Just　make　yourselves　freeeverything's　paid　for。　　Driver；
rustle　these　folks　around　as　long　as　they're　a　mind　to　gofriends　of
ours；　you　know。　　Take　them　everywheresand　if　you　want　more　money；　come
to　the　St。　Nicholas；　and　we'll　make　it　all　right。　　Pleasant　journey　to
you；　ladies　and　gentsgo　it　just　as　long　as　you　pleaseit　shan't　cost
you　a　cent！〃

The　two　comrades　got　out；　and　Col。　Jack　said：

〃Jimmy；　it's　the　sociablest