roughing it-第52章

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for　it；　because　it　would　give　the　idea　of　a　resurrection　from　its　dead
ashes　in　a　new　and　undreamed　of　condition　of　splendor；　but　some　low…
priced　smarty　on　one　of　the　dailies　suggested　that　we　call　it　the
Lazarus；　and　inasmuch　as　the　people　were　not　profound　in　Scriptural
matters　but　thought　the　resurrected　Lazarus　and　the　dilapidated　mendicant
that　begged　in　the　rich　man's　gateway　were　one　and　the　same　person；　the
name　became　the　laughing　stock　of　the　town；　and　killed　the　paper　for　good
and　all。

I　was　sorry　enough；　for　I　was　very　proud　of　being　connected　with　a
literary　paperprouder　than　I　have　ever　been　of　anything　since；　perhaps。
I　had　written　some　rhymes　for　itpoetry　I　considered　itand　it　was　a
great　grief　to　me　that　the　production　was　on　the　〃first　side〃　of　the
issue　that　was　not　completed；　and　hence　did　not　see　the　light。　　But　time
brings　its　revengesI　can　put　it　in　here；　it　will　answer　in　place　of　a
tear　dropped　to　the　memory　of　the　lost　Occidental。　　The　idea　（not　the
chief　idea；　but　the　vehicle　that　bears　it）　was　probably　suggested　by　the
old　song　called　〃The　Raging　Canal；〃　but　I　cannot　remember　now。　　I　do
remember；　though；　that　at　that　time　I　thought　my　doggerel　was　one　of　the
ablest　poems　of　the　age：


THE　AGED　PILOT　MAN。

On　the　Erie　Canal；　it　was；
All　on　a　summer's　day；
I　sailed　forth　with　my　parents
Far　away　to　Albany。

From　out　the　clouds　at　noon　that　day
There　came　a　dreadful　storm；
That　piled　the　billows　high　about；
And　filled　us　with　alarm。

A　man　came　rushing　from　a　house；
Saying；　〃Snub　up　your　boat　I　pray；
＇The　customary　canal　technicality　for　〃tie　up。〃＇
Snub　up　your　boat；　snub　up；　alas；
Snub　up　while　yet　you　may。〃

Our　captain　cast　one　glance　astern；
Then　forward　glanced　he；
And　said；　〃My　wife　and　little　ones
I　never　more　shall　see。〃

Said　Dollinger　the　pilot　man；
In　noble　words；　but　few；
〃Fear　not；　but　lean　on　Dollinger；
And　he　will　fetch　you　through。〃

The　boat　drove　on；　the　frightened　mules
Tore　through　the　rain　and　wind；
And　bravely　still；　in　danger's　post；
The　whip…boy　strode　behind。

〃Come　'board；　come　'board；〃　the　captain　cried；
〃Nor　tempt　so　wild　a　storm；〃
But　still　the　raging　mules　advanced；
And　still　the　boy　strode　on。

Then　said　the　captain　to　us　all；
〃Alas；　'tis　plain　to　me；
The　greater　danger　is　not　there；
But　here　upon　the　sea。

So　let　us　strive；　while　life　remains；
To　save　all　souls　on　board；
And　then　if　die　at　last　we　must；
Let　。　　。　　。　　。　　I　cannot　speak　the　word！〃

Said　Dollinger　the　pilot　man；
Tow'ring　above　the　crew；
〃Fear　not；　but　trust　in　Dollinger；
And　he　will　fetch　you　through。〃

〃Low　bridge！　　low　bridge！〃　all　heads　went　down；
The　laboring　bark　sped　on；
A　mill　we　passed；　we　passed　church；
Hamlets；　and　fields　of　corn；
And　all　the　world　came　out　to　see；
And　chased　along　the　shore
Crying；　〃Alas；　alas；　the　sheeted　rain；
The　wind；　the　tempest's　roar！
Alas；　the　gallant　ship　and　crew；
Can　nothing　help　them　more？〃

And　from　our　deck　sad　eyes　looked　out
Across　the　stormy　scene：
The　tossing　wake　of　billows　aft；
The　bending　forests　green；
The　chickens　sheltered　under　carts
In　lee　of　barn　the　cows；
The　skurrying　swine　with　straw　in　mouth；
The　wild　spray　from　our　bows！

〃She　balances！
She　wavers！
Now　let　her　go　about！
If　she　misses　stays　and　broaches　to；
We're　all〃then　with　a　shout；＇
〃Huray！　　huray！
Avast！　　belay！
Take　in　more　sail！
Lord；　what　a　gale！
Ho；　boy；　haul　taut　on　the　hind　mule's　tail！〃
〃Ho！　　lighten　ship！　　ho！　　man　the　pump！
Ho；　hostler；　heave　the　lead！

〃A　quarter…three！'tis　shoaling　fast！
Three　feet　large！t…h…r…e…e　feet！
Three　feet　scant！〃　I　cried　in　fright
〃Oh；　is　there　no　retreat？〃

Said　Dollinger；　the　pilot　man；
As　on　the　vessel　flew；
〃Fear　not；　but　trust　in　Dollinger；
And　he　will　fetch　you　through。〃

A　panic　struck　the　bravest　hearts；
The　boldest　cheek　turned　pale；
For　plain　to　all；　this　shoaling　said
A　leak　had　burst　the　ditch's　bed！
And；　straight　as　bolt　from　crossbow　sped；
Our　ship　swept　on；　with　shoaling　lead；
Before　the　fearful　gale！

〃Sever　the　tow…line！　　Cripple　the　mules！〃
Too　late！　　There　comes　a　shock！
Another　length；　and　the　fated　craft
Would　have　swum　in　the　saving　lock！

Then　gathered　together　the　shipwrecked　crew
And　took　one　last　embrace；
While　sorrowful　tears　from　despairing　eyes
Ran　down　each　hopeless　face；
And　some　did　think　of　their　little　ones
Whom　they　never　more　might　see；
And　others　of　waiting　wives　at　home；
And　mothers　that　grieved　would　be。

But　of　all　the　children　of　misery　there
On　that　poor　sinking　frame；
But　one　spake　words　of　hope　and　faith；
And　I　worshipped　as　they　came：
Said　Dollinger　the　pilot　man；
（O　brave　heart；　strong　and　true！）
〃Fear　not；　but　trust　in　Dollinger；
For　he　will　fetch　you　through。〃

Lo！　　scarce　the　words　have　passed　his　lips
The　dauntless　prophet　say'th；
When　every　soul　about　him　seeth
A　wonder　crown　his　faith！

And　count　ye　all；　both　great　and　small；
As　numbered　with　the　dead：
For　mariner　for　forty　year；
On　Erie；　boy　and　man；
I　never　yet　saw　such　a　storm；
Or　one't　with　it　began！〃

So　overboard　a　keg　of　nails
And　anvils　three　we　threw；
Likewise　four　bales　of　gunny…sacks；
Two　hundred　pounds　of　glue；
Two　sacks　of　corn；　four　ditto　wheat；
A　box　of　books；　a　cow；
A　violin；　Lord　Byron's　works；
A　rip…saw　and　a　sow。

A　curve！　　a　curve！　　the　dangers　grow！
〃Labbord！stabbord！s…t…e…a…d…y！so！
Hard…a…port；　Dol！hellum…a…lee！
Haw　the　head　mule！the　aft　one　gee！
Luff！bring　her　to　the　wind！〃

For　straight　a　farmer　brought　a　plank；
（Mysteriously　inspired）
And　laying　it　unto　the　ship；
In　silent　awe　retired。

Then　every　sufferer　stood　amazed
That　pilot　man　before；
A　moment　stood。　　Then　wondering　turned；
And　speechless　walked　ashore。




CHAPTER　LII。

Since　I　desire；　in　this　chapter；　to　say　an　instructive　word　or　two　about
the　silver　mines；　the　reader　may　take　this　fair　warning　and　skip；　if　he
chooses。　　The　year　1863　was　perhaps　the　very　top　blossom　and　culmination
of　the　〃flush　times。〃　　Virginia　swarmed　with　men　and　vehicles　to　that
degree　that　the　place　looked　like　a　very　hivethat　is　when　one's　vision
could　pierce　through　the　thick　fog　of　alkali　dust　that　was　generally
blowing　in　summer。　　I　will　say；　concerning　this　dust；　that　if　you　drove
ten　miles　through　it；　you　and　your　horses　would　be　coated　with　it　a
sixteenth　of　an　inch　thick　and　present　an　outside　appearance　that　was　a
uniform　pale　yellow　color；　and　your　buggy　would　have　three　inches　of　dust
in　it；　thrown　there　by　the　wheels。　　The　delicate　scales　used　by　the
assayers　were　inclosed　in　glass　cases　intended　to　be　air…tight；　and　yet
some　of　this　dust　was　so　impalpable　and　so　invisibly　fine　that　it　would
get　in；　somehow；　and　impair　the　accuracy　of　those　scales。

Speculation　ran　riot；　and　yet　there　was　a　world　of　substantial　business
going　on；　too。　　All　freights　were　brought　over　the　mountains　from
California　（150　miles）　by　pack…train　partly；　and　partly　in　huge　wagons
drawn　by　such　long　mule　teams　that　each　team　amounted　to　a　procession；
and　it　did　seem；　sometimes；　that　the　grand　combined　procession　of　animals
stretched　unbroken　from　Virginia　to　California。　　Its　long　route　was
traceable　clear　across　the　deserts　fo　the　Territory　by　the　writhing
serpent　of　dust　it　lifted　up。　　By　these　wagons；　freights　over　that
hundred　and　fifty　miles　were　200　a　ton　for　small　lots　（same　price　for
all　express　matter　brought　by　stage）；　and　100　a　ton　for　full　loads。
One　Virginia　firm　received　one　hundred　tons　of　freight　a　month；　and　paid
10；000　a　month　freightage。　　In　the　winter　the　freights　were　much　higher。
All　the　bullion　was　shipped　in　bars　by　stage　to　San　Francisco　（a　bar　was
usually　about　twice　the　size　of　a　pig　of　lead　and　contained　from　1；500
to　3；000　according　to　the　amount　of　gold　mixed　with　the　silver）；　and　the
freight　on　it　（when　the　shipment　was　large）　was　one　and　a　quarter　per
cent。　of　its　intrinsic　value。

So；　the　freight　on　these　bars　probably　averaged　something　more　than　25
each。　　Small　shippers　paid　two　per　cent。　　There　were　three　stages　a　day；
each　way；　and　I　have　seen　the　out…going　stages　carry　away　a　third　of　a
ton　of　bullion　each；　and　more　than　once　I　saw　them　divide　a　two…ton　lot
and　take　it　off。　　However；　these　were　extraordinary　events。
＇Mr。　Valentine；　Wells　Fargo's　agent；　has　handled　all　the　bullion　shipped
through　the　Virginia　office　for　many　a　month。　　To　his　memorywhich　is
excellentwe　are　indebted　for　the　following　exhibit　of　the　company's
business　in　the　Virginia　office　since　the　first　of　January；　1862：　From
January　1st　to　April　1st；　about　270；000　worth　of　bullion　passed　through
that　office；　during　the　next　quarter；　570；000；　next　quarter；　800；000；
next　quarter；　956；000；　next　quarter；　1；275；000；　and　for　the　quarter
ending　on　the　30th　of　last　June；　about　1；600；000。　　Thus　in　a　year　and　a
half；　the　Virginia　office　only　shipped　5；330；000　in　bullion。　　During　the
year　1862　they　shipped　2；615；000；　so　we　perceive　the　average　shipments
have　more　than　doubled　in　the　last　six　months。　　This　gives　us　room　to
promise　for　the　Virginia　office　500；000　a　month　for　the　year　1863
（though　perhaps；　judging　by　the　steady　increase　in　the　business；　we　are
under　estimating；　somewhat）。　　This　gives　us　6；000；000　for　the　year。
Gold　Hill　and　Silver　City　together　can　beat　uswe　will　give　them
10；000；000。　　To　Dayton；　Empire　City；　Ophir　and　Carson　City；　we　will
allow　an　aggregate　of　8；000；000；　which　is　not　over　the　mark；　perhaps；
and　may　possibly　be　a　little　under　it。　　To　Esmeralda　we　give　4；000；000。
To　Reese　River　and　Humboldt　2；000；000；　which　is　liberal　now；　but　may　not
be　before　the　year　is　out。　　So　we　prognosticate　that　the　yield　of　bullion
this　year　will　be　about　30；000；000。　　Placing　the　number　of　mills　in　the
Territory　at　one　hundred；　this　gives　to　each　the　labor　of　producing
300；000　in　bullion　during　the　twelve　months。　　Allowing　them　to　run　three
hundred　days　in　the　year　（which　none　of　them　more　than　do）；　this　makes
their　work　average　1；000　a　day。　　Say　the　mills　average　twenty　tons　of
rock　a　day　and　this　rock　worth　50　as　a　general　thing；　and　you　have　the
actual　work　of　our　one　hundred　mills　figured　down　〃to　a　spot〃1；000　a
day　each；　and　30；000；000　a　year　in　the　aggregate。Enterprise。
＇A　considerable　over　estimateM。　　T。＇＇

Two　tons　of　silver　bullion　would　be　in　the　neighborhood　of　forty　bars；
and　the　freight　on　it　over　1；000。　　Each　coach　always　carried　a　deal　of
ordinary　express　matter　beside；　and　also　from　fifteen　to　twenty
passengers　at　from　25　to　30　a　head。　　With　six　stages　going　all　the
time；　Wells；　Fargo　and　Co。's　Virginia　City　business　was　important　and
lucrative。

All　along　under　the　centre　of　Virginia　and　Gold　Hill；　for　a　couple　of
miles；　ran　the　great　Comstock　silver　lodea　vein　of　ore　from　fifty　to
eighty　feet　thick　between　its　solid　walls　of　rocka　vein　as　wide　as　some
of　New　York's　streets。　　I　will　remind　the　reader　that　in　Pennsylvania　a
coal　vein　only　eight　feet　wide　is　considered　ample。

Virginia　was　a　busy　city　of　streets　and　houses　above　ground。　　Under　it
was　another　busy　city；　down　in　the　bowels　of　the　earth；　where　a　great
population　of　men　thronged　in　and　out　among　an　intricate　maze　of　tunnels
and　drifts；　flitting　hither　and　thith