a first family of tasajara-第7章

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object　shooting　by　the　shore；　at　times　striking　the　projections　of

the　bank；　until　in　its　recoil　it　swung　half　round　and　drifted

broadside　on　towards　him。　　He　was　near　enough　to　catch　the　frayed

ends　of　a　trailing　rope　that　fastened　the　structure；　which　seemed

to　be　a　few　logs；　together。　　With　a　convulsive　effort　he　at　last

gained　a　footing　upon　it；　and　then　fell　fainting　along　its　length。

It　was　the　raft　which　the　surveyors　from　the　embarcadero　had　just

abandoned。



He　did　not　know　this；　nor　would　he　have　thought　it　otherwise

strange　that　a　raft　might　be　a　part　of　the　drift　of　the　overflow；

even　had　he　been　entirely　conscious；　but　his　senses　were　failing；

though　he　was　still　able　to　keep　a　secure　position　on　the　raft；　and

to　vaguely　believe　that　it　would　carry　him　to　some　relief　and

succor。　　How　long　he　lay　unconscious　he　never　knew；　in　his　after…

recollections　of　that　night；　it　seemed　to　have　been　haunted　by

dreams　of　passing　dim　banks　and　strange　places；　of　a　face　and　voice

that　had　been　pleasant　to　him；　of　a　terror　coming　upon　him　as　he

appeared　to　be　nearing　a　place　like　that　home　that　he　had　abandoned

in　the　lonely　tules。　　He　was　roused　at　last　by　a　violent　headache；

as　if　his　soft　felt　hat　had　been　changed　into　a　tightening　crown　of

iron。　　Lifting　his　hand　to　his　head　to　tear　off　its　covering；　he

was　surprised　to　find　that　he　was　wearing　no　hat；　but　that　his

matted　hair；　stiffened　and　dried　with　blood　and　ooze；　was　clinging

like　a　cap　to　his　skull　in　the　hot　morning　sunlight。　　His　eyelids

and　lashes　were　glued　together　and　weighted　down　by　the　same

sanguinary　plaster。　　He　crawled　to　the　edge　of　his　frail　raft；　not

without　difficulty；　for　it　oscillated　and　rocked　strangely；　and

dipped　his　hand　in　the　current。　　When　he　had　cleared　his　eyes　he

lifted　them　with　a　shock　of　amazement。　　Creeks；　banks；　and　plain

had　disappeared；　he　was　alone　on　a　bend　of　the　tossing　bay　of　San

Francisco！



His　first　and　only　sensecleared　by　fasting　and　quickened　by

reactionwas　one　of　infinite　relief。　　He　was　not　only　free　from

the　vague　terrors　of　the　preceding　days　and　nights；　but　his　whole

past　seemed　to　be　lost　and　sunk　forever　in　this　illimitable

expanse。　　The　low　plain　of　Tasajara；　with　its　steadfast　monotony　of

light　and　shadow；　had　sunk　beneath　another　level；　but　one　that

glistened；　sparkled；　was　instinct　with　varying　life；　and　moved　and

even　danced　below　him。　　The　low　palisades　of　regularly　recurring

tules　that　had　fenced　in；　impeded；　but　never　relieved　the　blankness

of　his　horizon；　were　forever　swallowed　up　behind　him。　　All　trail　of

past　degradation；　all　record　of　pain　and　suffering；　all　footprints

of　his　wandering　and　misguided　feet　were　smoothly　wiped　out　in　that

obliterating　sea。　　He　was　physically　helpless；　and　he　felt　it；　he

was　in　danger；　and　he　knew　it；but　he　was　free！



Happily　there　was　but　little　wind　and　the　sea　was　slight。　　The　raft

was　still　intact　so　far　as　he　could　judge；　but　even　in　his

ignorance　he　knew　it　would　scarcely　stand　the　surges　of　the　lower

bay。　　Like　most　Californians　who　had　passed　the　straits　of

Carquinez　at　night　in　a　steamer；　he　did　not　recognize　the　locality；

nor　even　the　distant　peak　of　Tamalpais。　　There　were　a　few　dotting

sails　that　seemed　as　remote；　as　uncertain；　and　as　unfriendly　as　sea

birds。　　The　raft　was　motionless；　almost　as　motionless　as　he　was　in

his　cramped　limbs　and　sun…dried；　stiffened　clothes。　　Too　weak　to

keep　an　upright　position；　without　mast；　stick；　or　oar　to　lift　a

signal　above　that　vast　expanse；　it　seemed　impossible　for　him　to

attract　attention。　　Even　his　pistol　was　gone。



Suddenly；　in　an　attempt　to　raise　himself；　he　was　struck　by　a　flash

so　blinding　that　it　seemed　to　pierce　his　aching　eyes　and　brain　and

turned　him　sick。　　It　appeared　to　come　from　a　crevice　between　the

logs　at　the　further　end　of　the　raft。　　Creeping　painfully　towards　it

he　saw　that　it　was　a　triangular　slip　of　highly　polished　metal　that

he　had　hitherto　overlooked。　　He　did　not　know　that　it　was　a

〃flashing〃　mirror　used　in　topographical　observation；　which　had

slipped　from　the　surveyors'　instruments　when　they　abandoned　the

raft；　but　his　excited　faculties　instinctively　detected　its　value　to

him。　　He　lifted　it；　and；　facing　the　sun；　raised　it　at　different

angles　with　his　feeble　arms。　　But　the　effort　was　too　much　for　him；

the　raft　presently　seemed　to　be　whirling　with　his　movement；　and　he

again　fell。



　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。



〃Ahoy　there！〃



The　voice　was　close　uponin　his　very　ears。　　He　opened　his　eyes。

The　sea　still　stretched　emptily　before　him；　the　dotting　sails　still

unchanged　and　distant。　　Yet　a　strange　shadow　lay　upon　the　raft。　　He

turned　his　head　with　difficulty。　　On　the　opposite　sideso　close

upon　him　as　to　be　almost　over　his　headthe　great　white　sails　of　a

schooner　hovered　above　him　like　the　wings　of　some　enormous　sea

bird。　　Then　a　heavy　boom　swung　across　the　raft；　so　low　that　it

would　have　swept　him　away　had　he　been　in　an　upright　position；　the

sides　of　the　vessel　grazed　the　raft　and　she　fell　slowly　off。　　A

terrible　fear　of　abandonment　took　possession　of　him；　he　tried　to

speak；　but　could　not。　　The　vessel　moved　further　away；　but　the　raft

followed！　　He　could　see　now　it　was　being　held　by　a　boat…hook；

could　see　the　odd；　eager　curiosity　on　two　faces　that　were　raised

above　the　taffrail；　and　with　that　sense　of　relief　his　eyes　again

closed　in　unconsciousness。



A　feeling　of　chilliness；　followed　by　a　grateful　sensation　of

drawing　closer　under　some　warm　covering；　a　stinging　taste　in　his

mouth　of　fiery　liquor　and　the　aromatic　steam　of　hot　coffee；　were

his　first　returning　sensations。　　His　head　and　neck　were　swathed　in

coarse　bandages；　and　his　skin　stiffened　and　smarting　with　soap。　　He

was　lying　in　a　rude　berth　under　a　half…deck　from　which　he　could　see

the　sky　and　the　bellying　sail；　and　presently　a　bearded　face　filled

with　rough　and　practical　concern　that　peered　down　upon　him。



〃Hulloo！　comin'　round；　eh？　　Hold　on！〃　　The　next　moment　the　stranger

had　leaped　down　beside　Elijah。　　He　seemed　to　be　an　odd　mingling　of

the　sailor　and　ranchero　with　the　shrewdness　of　a　seaport　trader。



〃Hulloo；　boss！　　What　was　it？　　A　free　fight；　or　a　wash…out？〃



〃A　wash…out！〃*　　Elijah　grasped　the　idea　as　an　inspiration。　　Yes；

his　cabin　had　been　inundated；　he　had　taken　to　a　raft；　had　been

knocked　off　twice　or　thrice；　and　had　lost　everythingeven　his

revolver！





*　A　mining　term　for　the　temporary　inundation　of　a　claim　by　flood；

also　used　for　the　sterilizing　effect　of　flood　on　fertile　soil。





The　man　looked　relieved。　　〃Then　it　ain't　a　free　fight；　nor　havin'

your　crust　busted　and　bein'　robbed　by　beach　combers；　eh？〃



〃No；〃　said　Elijah；　with　his　first　faint　smile。



〃Glad　o'　that；〃　said　the　man　bluntly。　　〃Then　thar　ain't　no　police

business　to　tie　up　to　in　'Frisco？　　We　were　stuck　thar　a　week　once；

just　because　we　chanced　to　pick　up　a　feller　who'd　been　found　gagged

and　then　thrown　overboard　by　wharf　thieves。　　Had　to　dance

attendance　at　court　thar　and　lost　our　trip。〃　　He　stopped　and　looked

half…pathetically　at　the　prostrate　Elijah。　　〃Look　yer！　ye　ain't

just　dyin'　to　go　ashore　NOW　and　see　yer　friends　and　send　messages；

are　ye？〃



Elijah　shuddered　inwardly；　but　outwardly　smiled　faintly　as　he

replied；　〃No！〃



〃And　the　tide　and　wind　jest　servin'　us　now；　ye　wouldn't　mind

keepin'　straight　on　with　us　this　trip？〃



〃Where　to？〃　asked　Elijah。



〃Santy　Barbara。〃



〃No；〃　said　Elijah；　after　a　moment's　pause。　　〃I'll　go　with　you。〃



The　man　leaped　to　his　feet；　lifted　his　head　above　the　upper　deck；

shouted　〃Let　her　go　free；　Jerry！〃　and　then　turned　gratefully　to　his

passenger。　　〃Look　yer！　　A　wash…out　is　a　wash…out；　I　reckon；　put　it

any　way　you　like；　it　don't　put　anything　back　into　the　land；　or

anything　back　into　your　pocket　afterwards；　eh？　　No！　　And　yer　well

out　of　it；　pardner！　　Now　there's　a　right　smart　chance　for　locatin'

jest　back　of　Santy　Barbara；　where　thar　ain't　no　God…forsaken　tules

to　overflow；　and　ez　far　ez　the　land　and　licker　lies　ye　'needn't

take　any　water　in　yours'　ef　ye　don't　want　it。　　You　kin　start　fresh

thar；　pardner；　and　brail　up。　　What's　the　matter　with　you；　old　man；

is　only　fever　'n'　agur　ketched　in　them　tules！　　I　kin　see　it　in　your

eyes。　　Now　you　hold　on　whar　you　be　till　I　go　forrard　and　see

everything　taut；　and　then　I'll　come　back　and　we'll　have　a　talk。〃



And　they　did。　　The　result　of　which　was　that　at　the　end　of　a　week's

tossing　and　seasickness；　Elijah　Curtis　was　landed　at　Santa　Barbara；

pale；　thin；　but　self…contained　and　resolute。　　And　having　found

favor　in　the　eyes　of　the　skipper　of　the　Kitty　Hawk；　general　trader；

lumber…dealer；　and　ranch…man；　a　week　later　he　was　located　on　the

skipper's　land　and　installed　in　the　skipper's　service。　　And　from

that　day；　for　five　years　Sidon　and　Tasajara　knew　him　no　more。





CHAPTER　IV。





It　was　part　of　the　functions　of　John　Milton　Harkutt　to　take　down

the　early　morning　shutters　and　sweep　out　the　store　for　his　father

each　day　before　going　to　school。　　It　was　a　peculiarity　of　this

performance　that　he　was　apt　to　linger　over　it；　partly　from　the　fact

that　it　put　off　the　evil　hour　of　lessons；　partly　that　he　imparted

into　the　process　a　purely　imaginative　and　romantic　element　gathered

from　his　latest　novel…reading。　　In　this　he　was　usually　assisted　by

one　or　two　school…fellows　on　their　way　to　school；　who　always　envied

him　his　superior　menial　occupation。　　To　go　to　school；　it　was　felt；

was　a　common　calamity　of　boyhood　that　called　into　play　only　the

simplest　forms　of　evasion；　whereas　to　take　down　actual　shutters　in

a　bona　fide　store；　and　wield　a　real　broom　that　raised　a　palpable

cloud　of　dust；　was　something　that　really　taxed　the　noblest

exertions。　　And　it　was　the　morning　after　the　arrival　of　the

strangers　that　Johh　Milton　stood　on　the　veranda　of　the　store

ostentatiously　examining　the　horizon；　with　his　hand　shading　his

eyes；　as　one　of　his　companions　appeared。



〃Hollo；　Milt！　wot　yer　doin'？〃



John　Milton　started　dramatically；　and　then　violently　dashed　at　one

of　the　shutters　and　began　to　detach　it。　　〃Ha！〃　he　said　hoarsely。

〃Clear　the　ship　for　action！　　Open　the　ports！　　On　deck　there！

Steady；　you　lubbers！〃　　In　an　instant　his　enthusiastic　school…fellow

was　at　his　side　attacking　another　shutter。　　〃A　long；　low　schooner

bearing　down　upon　us！　　Lively；　lads；　lively！〃　continued　John

Milton；　desisting　a　moment　to　take　another　dramatic　look　at　the

distant　plain。　　〃How　does　she　head　now？〃　he　demanded　fiercely。



〃Sou'　by　sou'east；　sir；〃　responded　the　other　boy；　frantically

dancing　before　the　window。　　〃But　she'll　weather　it。〃



They　each　then　wrested　another　shutter　away；　violently　depositing

them；　as　they　ran　to　and　fro；　in　a　rack　at　the　corner　of　the

veranda。　　Added　to　an　extraordinary　and　unnecessary　clattering　with

their　feet；　they　accompanied　their　movemen