第6章

Wehuddledtogetheronourkneesinthedeepsnow，andthehorsesputtheirnosestogetherandbowedtheirpatientheadsoverus；andwhilethefeatheryflakeseddieddownandturnedusintoagroupofwhitestatuary，weproceededwiththemomentousexperiment。Webroketwigsfromasagebushandpiledthemonalittleclearedplaceintheshelterofourbodies。Inthecourseoftenorfifteenminutesallwasready，andthen，whileconversationceasedandourpulsesbeatlowwithanxioussuspense，Ollendorffappliedhisrevolver，pulledthetriggerandblewthepileclearoutofthecounty！Itwastheflattestfailurethateverwas。

Thiswasdistressing，butitpaledbeforeagreaterhorror——thehorsesweregone！Ihadbeenappointedtoholdthebridles，butinmyabsorbinganxietyoverthepistolexperimentIhadunconsciouslydroppedthemandthereleasedanimalshadwalkedoffinthestorm。Itwasuselesstotrytofollowthem，fortheirfootfallscouldmakenosound，andonecouldpasswithintwoyardsofthecreaturesandneverseethem。Wegavethemupwithoutaneffortatrecoveringthem，andcursedthelyingbooksthatsaidhorseswouldstaybytheirmastersforprotectionandcompanionshipinadistressfultimelikeours。

Weweremiserableenough，before；wefeltstillmoreforlorn，now。

Patiently，butwithblightedhope，webrokemoresticksandpiledthem，andoncemorethePrussianshotthemintoannihilation。Plainly，tolightafirewithapistolwasanartrequiringpracticeandexperience，andthemiddleofadesertatmidnightinasnow-stormwasnotagoodplaceortimefortheacquiringoftheaccomplishment。Wegaveitupandtriedtheother。Eachmantookacoupleofsticksandfelltochafingthemtogether。Attheendofhalfanhourwewerethoroughlychilled，andsowerethesticks。WebitterlyexecratedtheIndians，thehuntersandthebooksthathadbetrayeduswiththesillydevice，andwondereddismallywhatwasnexttobedone。AtthiscriticalmomentMr。Balloufishedoutfourmatchesfromtherubbishofanoverlookedpocket。Tohavefoundfourgoldbarswouldhaveseemedpoorandcheapgoodluckcomparedtothis。

Onecannotthinkhowgoodamatchlooksundersuchcircumstances——orhowlovableandprecious，andsacredlybeautifultotheeye。Thistimewegatheredstickswithhighhopes；andwhenMr。Balloupreparedtolightthefirstmatch，therewasanamountofinterestcentreduponhimthatpagesofwritingcouldnotdescribe。Thematchburnedhopefullyamoment，andthenwentout。Itcouldnothavecarriedmoreregretwithitifithadbeenahumanlife。Thenextmatchsimplyflashedanddied。

Thewindpuffedthethirdoneoutjustasitwasontheimminentvergeofsuccess。Wegatheredtogethercloserthanever，anddevelopedasolicitudethatwasraptandpainful，asMr。Ballouscratchedourlasthopeonhisleg。Itlit，burnedblueandsickly，andthenbuddedintoarobustflame。Shadingitwithhishands，theoldgentlemanbentgraduallydownandeveryheartwentwithhim——everybody，too，forthatmatter——andbloodandbreathstoodstill。Theflametouchedthesticksatlast，tookgradualholduponthem——hesitated——tookastrongerhold——

hesitatedagain——helditsbreathfiveheart-breakingseconds，thengaveasortofhumangaspandwentout。

Nobodysaidawordforseveralminutes。Itwasasolemnsortofsilence；

eventhewindputonastealthy，sinisterquiet，andmadenomorenoisethanthefallingflakesofsnow。Finallyasad-voicedconversationbegan，anditwassoonapparentthatineachofourheartslaytheconvictionthatthiswasourlastnightwiththeliving。IhadsohopedthatIwastheonlyonewhofeltso。Whentheotherscalmlyacknowledgedtheirconviction，itsoundedlikethesummonsitself。Ollendorffsaid:

“Brothers，letusdietogether。Andletusgowithoutonehardfeelingtowardseachother。Letusforgetandforgivebygones。Iknowthatyouhavefelthardtowardsmeforturningoverthecanoe，andforknowingtoomuchandleadingyouroundandroundinthesnow——butImeantwell；

forgiveme。IacknowledgefreelythatIhavehadhardfeelingsagainstMr。Ballouforabusingmeandcallingmealogarythm，whichisathingI

donotknowwhat，butnodoubtathingconsidereddisgracefulandunbecominginAmerica，andithasscarcelybeenoutofmymindandhashurtmeagreatdeal——butletitgo；IforgiveMr。Ballouwithallmyheart，and——“

PoorOllendorffbrokedownandthetearscame。Hewasnotalone，forI

wascryingtoo，andsowasMr。Ballou。OllendorffgothisvoiceagainandforgavemeforthingsIhaddoneandsaid。Thenhegotouthisbottleofwhiskyandsaidthatwhetherhelivedordiedhewouldnevertouchanotherdrop。Hesaidhehadgivenupallhopeoflife，andalthoughill-prepared，wasreadytosubmithumblytohisfate；thathewishedhecouldbesparedalittlelonger，notforanyselfishreason，buttomakeathoroughreforminhischaracter，andbydevotinghimselftohelpingthepoor，nursingthesick，andpleadingwiththepeopletoguardthemselvesagainsttheevilsofintemperance，makehislifeabeneficentexampletotheyoung，andlayitdownatlastwiththepreciousreflectionthatithadnotbeenlivedinvain。Heendedbysayingthathisreformshouldbeginatthismoment，evenhereinthepresenceofdeath，sincenolongertimewastobevouchsafedwhereintoprosecuteittomen"shelpandbenefit——andwiththathethrewawaythebottleofwhisky。

Mr。Balloumaderemarksofsimilarpurport，andbeganthereformhecouldnotlivetocontinue，bythrowingawaytheancientpackofcardsthathadsolacedourcaptivityduringthefloodandmadeitbearable。

Hesaidhenevergambled，butstillwassatisfiedthatthemeddlingwithcardsinanywaywasimmoralandinjurious，andnomancouldbewhollypureandblemishlesswithouteschewingthem。“Andtherefore，“continuedhe，“indoingthisactIalreadyfeelmoreinsympathywiththatspiritualsaturnalianecessarytoentireandobsoletereform。”Theserollingsyllablestouchedhimasnointelligibleeloquencecouldhavedone，andtheoldmansobbedwithamournfulnessnotunmingledwithsatisfaction。

Myownremarkswereofthesametenorasthoseofmycomrades，andIknowthatthefeelingsthatpromptedthemwereheartfeltandsincere。Wewereallsincere，andalldeeplymovedandearnest，forwewereinthepresenceofdeathandwithouthope。Ithrewawaymypipe，andindoingitfeltthatatlastIwasfreeofahatedviceandonethathadriddenmelikeatyrantallmydays。WhileIyettalked，thethoughtofthegoodImighthavedoneintheworldandthestillgreatergoodImightnowdo，withthesenewincentivesandhigherandbetteraimstoguidemeifIcouldonlybesparedafewyearslonger，overcamemeandthetearscameagain。Weputourarmsabouteachother"snecksandawaitedthewarningdrowsinessthatprecedesdeathbyfreezing。

Itcamestealingoveruspresently，andthenwebadeeachotheralastfarewell。Adeliciousdreaminesswroughtitswebaboutmyyieldingsenses，whilethesnow-flakeswoveawindingsheetaboutmyconqueredbody。Oblivioncame。Thebattleoflifewasdone。

CHAPTERXXXIII。

IdonotknowhowlongIwasinastateofforgetfulness，butitseemedanage。Avagueconsciousnessgrewuponmebydegrees，andthencameagatheringanguishofpaininmylimbsandthroughallmybody。I

shuddered。Thethoughtflittedthroughmybrain，“thisisdeath——thisisthehereafter。”

Thencameawhiteupheavalatmyside，andavoicesaid，withbitterness:

“Willsomegentlemanbesogoodastokickmebehind?“

ItwasBallou——atleastitwasatowzledsnowimageinasittingposture，withBallou"svoice。

Iroseup，andthereinthegraydawn，notfifteenstepsfromus，weretheframebuildingsofastagestation，andunderashedstoodourstillsaddledandbridledhorses！

Anarchedsnow-driftbrokeup，now，andOllendorffemergedfromit，andthethreeofussatandstaredatthehouseswithoutspeakingaword。

Wereallyhadnothingtosay。Wewereliketheprofanemanwhocouldnot“dothesubjectjustice，“thewholesituationwassopainfullyridiculousandhumiliatingthatwordsweretameandwedidnotknowwheretocommenceanyhow。

Thejoyinourheartsatourdeliverancewaspoisoned；well-nighdissipated，indeed。Wepresentlybegantogrowpettishbydegrees，andsullen；andthen，angryateachother，angryatourselves，angryateverythingingeneral，wemoodilydustedthesnowfromourclothingandinunsociablesinglefileplowedourwaytothehorses，unsaddledthem，andsoughtshelterinthestation。

Ihavescarcelyexaggeratedadetailofthiscuriousandabsurdadventure。ItoccurredalmostexactlyasIhavestatedit。Weactuallywentintocampinasnow-driftinadesert，atmidnightinastorm，forlornandhopeless，withinfifteenstepsofacomfortableinn。

Fortwohourswesatapartinthestationandruminatedindisgust。

Themysterywasgone，now，anditwasplainenoughwhythehorseshaddesertedus。Withoutadoubttheywereunderthatshedaquarterofaminuteaftertheyhadleftus，andtheymusthaveoverheardandenjoyedallourconfessionsandlamentations。

Afterbreakfastwefeltbetter，andthezestoflifesooncameback。

Theworldlookedbrightagain，andexistencewasasdeartousasever。

Presentlyanuneasinesscameoverme——grewuponme——assailedmewithoutceasing。Alas，myregenerationwasnotcomplete——Iwantedtosmoke！

Iresistedwithallmystrength，butthefleshwasweak。Iwanderedawayaloneandwrestledwithmyselfanhour。Irecalledmypromisesofreformandpreachedtomyselfpersuasively，upbraidingly，exhaustively。Butitwasallvain，Ishortlyfoundmyselfsneakingamongthesnow-driftshuntingformypipe。Idiscovereditafteraconsiderablesearch，andcreptawaytohidemyselfandenjoyit。Iremainedbehindthebarnagoodwhile，askingmyselfhowIwouldfeelifmybraver，stronger，truercomradesshouldcatchmeinmydegradation。AtlastIlitthepipe，andnohumanbeingcanfeelmeanerandbaserthanIdidthen。Iwasashamedofbeinginmyownpitifulcompany。Stilldreadingdiscovery，Ifeltthatperhapsthefurthersideofthebarnwouldbesomewhatsafer，andsoIturnedthecorner。AsIturnedtheonecorner，smoking，Ollendorffturnedtheotherwithhisbottletohislips，andbetweenussatunconsciousBalloudeepinagameof“solitaire“withtheoldgreasycards！

Absurditycouldgonofarther。Weshookhandsandagreedtosaynomoreabout“reform“and“examplestotherisinggeneration。”

ThestationwewereatwasatthevergeoftheTwenty-six-MileDesert。

Ifwehadapproachedithalfanhourearlierthenightbefore，wemusthaveheardmenshoutingthereandfiringpistols；fortheywereexpectingsomesheepdroversandtheirflocksandknewthattheywouldinfalliblygetlostandwanderoutofreachofhelpunlessguidedbysounds。

Whileweremainedatthestation，threeofthedroversarrived，nearlyexhaustedwiththeirwanderings，buttwoothersoftheirpartywereneverheardofafterward。

WereachedCarsoninduetime，andtookarest。Thisrest，togetherwithpreparationsforthejourneytoEsmeralda，keptusthereaweek，andthedelaygaveustheopportunitytobepresentatthetrialofthegreatland-slidecaseofHydevs。Morgan——anepisodewhichisfamousinNevadatothisday。Afterawordortwoofnecessaryexplanation，Iwillsetdownthehistoryofthissingularaffairjustasittranspired。

CHAPTERXXXIV。

ThemountainsareveryhighandsteepaboutCarson，EagleandWashoeValleys——veryhighandverysteep，andsowhenthesnowgetstomeltingofffastintheSpringandthewarmsurface-earthbeginstomoistenandsoften，thedisastrousland-slidescommence。Thereadercannotknowwhataland-slideis，unlesshehaslivedinthatcountryandseenthewholesideofamountaintakenoffsomefinemorninganddepositeddowninthevalley，leavingavast，treeless，unsightlyscaruponthemountain"sfronttokeepthecircumstancefreshinhismemoryalltheyearsthathemaygoonlivingwithinseventymilesofthatplace。

GeneralBuncombewasshippedouttoNevadaintheinvoiceofTerritorialofficers，tobeUnitedStatesAttorney。Heconsideredhimselfalawyerofparts，andheverymuchwantedanopportunitytomanifestit——partlyforthepuregratificationofitandpartlybecausehissalarywasTerritoriallymeagre(whichisastrongexpression)。Nowtheoldercitizensofanewterritorylookdownupontherestoftheworldwithacalm，benevolentcompassion，aslongasitkeepsoutoftheway——whenitgetsinthewaytheysnubit。Sometimesthislattertakestheshapeofapracticaljoke。

OnemorningDickHyderodefuriouslyuptoGeneralBuncombe"sdoorinCarsoncityandrushedintohispresencewithoutstoppingtotiehishorse。Heseemedmuchexcited。HetoldtheGeneralthathewantedhimtoconductasuitforhimandwouldpayhimfivehundreddollarsifheachievedavictory。Andthen，withviolentgesturesandaworldofprofanity，hepouredouthisgrief。Hesaiditwasprettywellknownthatforsomeyearshehadbeenfarming(orranchingasthemorecustomarytermis)inWashoeDistrict，andmakingasuccessfulthingofit，andfurthermoreitwasknownthathisranchwassituatedjustintheedgeofthevalley，andthatTomMorganownedaranchimmediatelyaboveitonthemountainside。

Andnowthetroublewas，thatoneofthosehatedanddreadedland-slideshadcomeandslidMorgan"sranch，fences，cabins，cattle，barnsandeverythingdownontopofhisranchandexactlycoveredupeverysinglevestigeofhisproperty，toadepthofaboutthirty-eightfeet。Morganwasinpossessionandrefusedtovacatethepremises——saidhewasoccupyinghisowncabinandnotinterferingwithanybodyelse"s——andsaidthecabinwasstandingonthesamedirtandsameranchithadalwaysstoodon，andhewouldliketoseeanybodymakehimvacate。

“AndwhenIremindedhim，“saidHyde，weeping，“thatitwasontopofmyranchandthathewastrespassing，hehadtheinfernalmeannesstoaskmewhydidn"tIstayonmyranchandholdpossessionwhenIseehima-coming！Whydidn"tIstayonit，theblatheringlunatic——byGeorge，whenIheardthatracketandlookedupthathillitwasjustlikethewholeworldwasa-rippinganda-tearingdownthatmountainside——

splinters，andcord-wood，thunderandlightning，hailandsnow，oddsandendsofhaystacks，andawfulcloudsofdust！——treesgoingendoverendintheair，rocksasbigasahousejumping"boutathousandfeethighandbustingintotenmillionpieces，cattleturnedinsideoutanda-comingheadonwiththeirtailshangingoutbetweentheirteeth！——andinthemidstofallthatwrackanddestructionsotthatcussedMorganonhisgate-post，a-wonderingwhyIdidn"tstayandholdpossession！Lawsblessme，Ijusttookoneglimpse，General，andlitout"nthecountyinthreejumpsexactly。

“ButwhatgrindsmeisthatthatMorganhangsonthereandwon"tmoveoff"nthatranch——saysit"shis"nandhe"sgoingtokeepit——likesitbetter"nhedidwhenitwashigherupthehill。Mad！Well，I"vebeensomadfortwodaysIcouldn"tfindmywaytotown——beenwanderingaroundinthebrushinastarvingcondition——gotanythingheretodrink，General?

ButI"mherenow，andI"ma-goingtolaw。Youhearme！“

Neverinalltheworld，perhaps，wereaman"sfeelingssooutragedasweretheGeneral"s。Hesaidhehadneverheardofsuchhigh-handedconductinallhislifeasthisMorgan"s。Andhesaidtherewasnouseingoingtolaw——Morganhadnoshadowofrighttoremainwherehewas——

nobodyinthewideworldwouldupholdhiminit，andnolawyerwouldtakehiscaseandnojudgelistentoit。Hydesaidthatrighttherewaswherehewasmistaken——everybodyintownsustainedMorgan；HalBrayton，averysmartlawyer，hadtakenhiscase；thecourtsbeinginvacation，itwastobetriedbeforeareferee，andex-GovernorRoophadalreadybeenappointedtothatofficeandwouldopenhiscourtinalargepublichallnearthehotelattwothatafternoon。

TheGeneralwasamazed。HesaidhehadsuspectedbeforethatthepeopleofthatTerritorywerefools，andnowheknewit。Buthesaidresteasy，resteasyandcollectthewitnesses，forthevictorywasjustascertainasiftheconflictwerealreadyover。Hydewipedawayhistearsandleft。

AttwointheafternoonrefereeRoop"sCourtopenedandRoopappearedthronedamonghissheriffs，thewitnesses，andspectators，andwearinguponhisfaceasolemnitysoawe-inspiringthatsomeofhisfellow-

conspiratorshadmisgivingsthatmaybehehadnotcomprehended，afterall，thatthiswasmerelyajoke。Anunearthlystillnessprevailed，forattheslightestnoisethejudgeutteredsternlythecommand:

“OrderintheCourt！

Andthesheriffspromptlyechoedit。PresentlytheGeneralelbowedhiswaythroughthecrowdofspectators，withhisarmsfulloflaw-books，andonhisearsfellanorderfromthejudgewhichwasthefirstrespectfulrecognitionofhishighofficialdignitythathadeversalutedthem，andittrickledpleasantlythroughhiswholesystem:

“WayfortheUnitedStatesAttorney！

Thewitnesseswerecalled——legislators，highgovernmentofficers，ranchmen，miners，Indians，Chinamen，negroes。ThreefourthsofthemwerecalledbythedefendantMorgan，butnomatter，theirtestimonyinvariablywentinfavoroftheplaintiffHyde。Eachnewwitnessonlyaddednewtestimonytotheabsurdityofaman"sclaimingtoownanotherman"spropertybecausehisfarmhadsliddownontopofit。ThentheMorganlawyersmadetheirspeeches，andseemedtomakesingularlyweakones——

theydidreallynothingtohelptheMorgancause。AndnowtheGeneral，withexultationinhisface，gotupandmadeanimpassionedeffort；hepoundedthetable，hebangedthelaw-books，heshouted，androared，andhowled，hequotedfromeverythingandeverybody，poetry，sarcasm，statistics，history，pathos，bathos，blasphemy，andwoundupwithagrandwar-whoopforfreespeech，freedomofthepress，freeschools，theGloriousBirdofAmericaandtheprinciplesofeternaljustice！

[Applause。]

WhentheGeneralsatdown，hediditwiththeconvictionthatiftherewasanythingingoodstrongtestimony，agreatspeechandbelievingandadmiringcountenancesallaround，Mr。Morgan"scasewaskilled。Ex-

GovernorRoopleanthisheaduponhishandforsomeminutes，thinking，andthestillaudiencewaitedforhisdecision。Thenhegotupandstooderect，withbendedhead，andthoughtagain。Thenhewalkedthefloorwithlong，deliberatestrides，hischininhishand，andstilltheaudiencewaited。Atlasthereturnedtohisthrone，seatedhimself，andbeganimpressively:

“Gentlemen，Ifeelthegreatresponsibilitythatrestsuponmethisday。

Thisisnoordinarycase。Onthecontraryitisplainthatitisthemostsolemnandawfulthatevermanwascalledupontodecide。

Gentlemen，Ihavelistenedattentivelytotheevidence，andhaveperceivedthattheweightofit，theoverwhelmingweightofit，isinfavoroftheplaintiffHyde。Ihavelistenedalsototheremarksofcounsel，withhighinterest——andespeciallywillIcommendthemasterlyandirrefutablelogicofthedistinguishedgentlemanwhorepresentstheplaintiff。Butgentlemen，letusbewarehowweallowmerehumantestimony，humaningenuityinargumentandhumanideasofequity，toinfluenceusatamomentsosolemnasthis。Gentlemen，itillbecomesus，wormsasweare，tomeddlewiththedecreesofHeaven。ItisplaintomethatHeaven，initsinscrutablewisdom，hasseenfittomovethisdefendant"sranchforapurpose。Wearebutcreatures，andwemustsubmit。IfHeavenhaschosentofavorthedefendantMorganinthismarkedandwonderfulmanner；andifHeaven，dissatisfiedwiththepositionoftheMorganranchuponthemountainside，haschosentoremoveittoapositionmoreeligibleandmoreadvantageousforitsowner，itillbecomesus，insectsasweare，toquestionthelegalityoftheactorinquireintothereasonsthatpromptedit。No——HeavencreatedtheranchesanditisHeaven"sprerogativetorearrangethem，toexperimentwiththemaroundatitspleasure。Itisforustosubmit，withoutrepining。

Iwarnyouthatthisthingwhichhashappenedisathingwithwhichthesacrilegioushandsandbrainsandtonguesofmenmustnotmeddle。

Gentlemen，itistheverdictofthiscourtthattheplaintiff，RichardHyde，hasbeendeprivedofhisranchbythevisitationofGod！Andfromthisdecisionthereisnoappeal。”

Buncombeseizedhiscargooflaw-booksandplungedoutofthecourt-roomfranticwithindignation。HepronouncedRooptobeamiraculousfool，aninspiredidiot。InallgoodfaithhereturnedatnightandremonstratedwithRoopuponhisextravagantdecision，andimploredhimtowalkthefloorandthinkforhalfanhour，andseeifhecouldnotfigureoutsomesortofmodificationoftheverdict。Roopyieldedatlastandgotuptowalk。Hewalkedtwohoursandahalf，andatlasthisfacelituphappilyandhetoldBuncombeithadoccurredtohimthattheranchunderneaththenewMorganranchstillbelongedtoHyde，thathistitletothegroundwasjustasgoodasithadeverbeen，andthereforehewasofopinionthatHydehadarighttodigitoutfromunderthereand——

TheGeneralneverwaitedtoheartheendofit。Hewasalwaysanimpatientandirascibleman，thatway。Attheendoftwomonthsthefactthathehadbeenplayeduponwithajokehadmanagedtoboreitself，likeanotherHoosacTunnel，throughthesolidadamantofhisunderstanding。

CHAPTERXXXV。

WhenwefinallyleftforEsmeralda，horseback，wehadanadditiontothecompanyinthepersonofCapt。JohnNye，theGovernor"sbrother。Hehadagoodmemory，andatonguehunginthemiddle。Thisisacombinationwhichgivesimmortalitytoconversation。Capt。Johnneversufferedthetalktoflagorfalteronceduringthehundredandtwentymilesofthejourney。Inadditiontohisconversationalpowers，hehadoneortwootherendowmentsofamarkedcharacter。Onewasasingular“handiness“

aboutdoinganythingandeverything，fromlayingoutarailroadororganizingapoliticalparty，downtosewingonbuttons，shoeingahorse，orsettingabrokenleg，orahen。Anotherwasaspiritofaccommodationthatpromptedhimtotaketheneeds，difficultiesandperplexitiesofanybodyandeverybodyuponhisownshouldersatanyandalltimes，anddisposeofthemwithadmirablefacilityandalacrity——hencehealwaysmanagedtofindvacantbedsincrowdedinns，andplentytoeatintheemptiestlarders。Andfinally，whereverhemetaman，womanorchild，incamp，innordesert，heeitherknewsuchpartiespersonallyorhadbeenacquaintedwitharelativeofthesame。Suchanothertravelingcomradewasneverseenbefore。Icannotforbeargivingaspecimenofthewayinwhichheovercamedifficulties。Ontheseconddayout，wearrived，verytiredandhungry，atapoorlittleinninthedesert，andweretoldthatthehousewasfull，noprovisionsonhand，andneitherhaynorbarleytospareforthehorses——mustmoveon。Therestofuswantedtohurryonwhileitwasyetlight，butCapt。Johninsistedonstoppingawhile。

Wedismountedandentered。Therewasnowelcomeforusonanyface。

Capt。Johnbeganhisblandishments，andwithintwentyminuteshehadaccomplishedthefollowingthings，viz。:foundoldacquaintancesinthreeteamsters；discoveredthatheusedtogotoschoolwiththelandlord"smother；recognizedhiswifeasaladywhoselifehehadsavedonceinCalifornia，bystoppingherrunawayhorse；mendedachild"sbrokentoyandwonthefavorofitsmother，aguestoftheinn；helpedthehostlerbleedahorse，andprescribedforanotherhorsethathadthe“heaves“；

treatedtheentirepartythreetimesatthelandlord"sbar；producedalaterpaperthananybodyhadseenforaweekandsathimselfdowntoreadthenewstoadeeplyinterestedaudience。Theresult，summedup，wasasfollows:Thehostlerfoundplentyoffeedforourhorses；wehadatroutsupper，anexceedinglysociabletimeafterit，goodbedstosleepin，andasurprisingbreakfastinthemorning——andwhenweleft，weleftlamentedbyall！Capt。Johnhadsomebadtraits，buthehadsomeuncommonlyvaluableonestooffsetthemwith。

EsmeraldawasinmanyrespectsanotherHumboldt，butinalittlemoreforwardstate。Theclaimswehadbeenpayingassessmentsonwereentirelyworthless，andwethrewthemaway。Theprincipalonecroppedoutofthetopofaknollthatwasfourteenfeethigh，andtheinspiredBoardofDirectorswererunningatunnelunderthatknolltostriketheledge。Thetunnelwouldhavetobeseventyfeetlong，andwouldthenstriketheledgeatthesamedeptthatashafttwelvefeetdeepwouldhavereached！TheBoardwerelivingonthe“assessments。”[N。B——ThishintcomestoolatefortheenlightenmentofNewYorksilverminers；theyhavealreadylearnedallaboutthisneattrickbyexperience。]TheBoardhadnodesiretostriketheledge，knowingthatitwasasbarrenofsilverasacurbstone。ThisreminiscencecallstomindJimTownsend"stunnel。Hehadpaidassessmentsonaminecalledthe“Daley“tillhewaswell-nighpenniless。FinallyanassessmentwasleviedtorunatunneltwohundredandfiftyfeetontheDaley，andTownsendwentuponthehilltolookintomatters。

HefoundtheDaleycroppingoutoftheapexofanexceedinglysharp-

pointedpeak，andacoupleofmenupthere“facing“theproposedtunnel。

Townsendmadeacalculation。Thenhesaidtothemen:

“Soyouhavetakenacontracttorunatunnelintothishilltwohundredandfiftyfeettostrikethisledge?“

“Yes，sir。”

“Well，doyouknowthatyouhavegotoneofthemostexpensiveandarduousundertakingsbeforeyouthatwaseverconceivedbyman?“

“Whyno——howisthat?“

“Becausethishillisonlytwenty-fivefeetthroughfromsidetoside；

andsoyouhavegottobuildtwohundredandtwenty-fivefeetofyourtunnelontrestle-work！“

ThewaysofsilverminingBoardsareexceedinglydarkandsinuous。

Wetookupvariousclaims，andcommencedshaftsandtunnelsonthem，butneverfinishedanyofthem。Wehadtodoacertainamountofworkoneachto“hold“it，elseotherpartiescouldseizeourpropertyaftertheexpirationoftendays。Wewerealwayshuntingupnewclaimsanddoingalittleworkonthemandthenwaitingforabuyer——whonevercame。Weneverfoundanyorethatwouldyieldmorethanfiftydollarsaton；andasthemillschargedfiftydollarsatonforworkingoreandextractingthesilver，ourpocket-moneymeltedsteadilyawayandnonereturnedtotakeitsplace。Welivedinalittlecabinandcookedforourselves；andaltogetheritwasahardlife，thoughahopefulone——forweneverceasedtoexpectfortuneandacustomertoburstuponussomeday。

Atlast，whenflourreachedadollarapound，andmoneycouldnotbeborrowedonthebestsecurityatlessthaneightpercentamonth(I

beingwithoutthesecurity，too)，Iabandonedminingandwenttomilling。

Thatistosay，Iwenttoworkasacommonlaborerinaquartzmill，attendollarsaweekandboard。

CHAPTERXXXVI。

Ihadalreadylearnedhowhardandlonganddismalataskitistoburrowdownintothebowelsoftheearthandgetoutthecovetedore；andnowI

learnedthattheburrowingwasonlyhalfthework；andthattogetthesilveroutoftheorewasthedrearyandlaboriousotherhalfofit。

Wehadtoturnoutatsixinthemorningandkeepatittilldark。

Thismillwasasix-stampaffair，drivenbysteam。Sixtall，uprightrodsofiron，aslargeasaman"sankle，andheavilyshodwithamassofironandsteelattheirlowerends，wereframedtogetherlikeagate，andtheseroseandfell，oneaftertheother，inaponderousdance，inanironboxcalleda“battery。”Eachoftheserodsorstampsweighedsixhundredpounds。Oneofusstoodbythebatteryalldaylong，breakingupmassesofsilver-bearingrockwithasledgeandshovelingitintothebattery。Theceaselessdanceofthestampspulverizedtherocktopowder，andastreamofwaterthattrickledintothebatteryturnedittoacreamypaste。Theminutestparticlesweredriventhroughafinewirescreenwhichfittedclosearoundthebattery，andwerewashedintogreattubswarmedbysuper-heatedsteam——amalgamatingpans，theyarecalled。

Themassofpulpinthepanswaskeptconstantlystirredupbyrevolving“mullers。”Aquantityofquicksilverwaskeptalwaysinthebattery，andthisseizedsomeoftheliberatedgoldandsilverparticlesandheldontothem；quicksilverwasshakeninafineshowerintothepans，also，abouteveryhalfhour，throughabuckskinsack。Quantitiesofcoarsesaltandsulphateofcopperwereadded，fromtimetotimetoassisttheamalgamationbydestroyingbasemetalswhichcoatedthegoldandsilverandwouldnotletitunitewiththequicksilver。

Allthesetiresomethingswehadtoattendtoconstantly。Streamsofdirtywaterflowedalwaysfromthepansandwerecarriedoffinbroadwoodentroughstotheravine。Onewouldnotsupposethatatomsofgoldandsilverwouldfloatontopofsixinchesofwater，buttheydid；andinordertocatchthem，coarseblanketswerelaidinthetroughs，andlittleobstructing“riffles“chargedwithquicksilverwereplacedhereandthereacrossthetroughsalso。Theseriffleshadtobecleanedandtheblanketswashedouteveryevening，togettheirpreciousaccumulations——andafterallthiseternityoftroubleonethirdofthesilverandgoldinatonofrockwouldfinditswaytotheendofthetroughsintheravineatlastandhavetobeworkedoveragainsomeday。

Thereisnothingsoaggravatingassilvermilling。Thereneverwasanyidletimeinthatmill。Therewasalwayssomethingtodo。ItisapitythatAdamcouldnothavegonestraightoutofEdenintoaquartzmill，inordertounderstandthefullforceofhisdoomto“earnhisbreadbythesweatofhisbrow。”Everynowandthen，duringtheday，wehadtoscoopsomepulpoutofthepans，andtediously“wash“itinahornspoon——washitlittlebylittleovertheedgetillatlastnothingwasleftbutsomelittledullglobulesofquicksilverinthebottom。Iftheyweresoftandyielding，thepanneededsomesaltorsomesulphateofcopperorsomeotherchemicalrubbishtoassistdigestion；iftheywerecrisptothetouchandwouldretainadint，theywerefreightedwithallthesilverandgoldtheycouldseizeandhold，andconsequentlythepanneededafreshchargeofquicksilver。Whentherewasnothingelsetodo，onecouldalways“screentailings。”Thatistosay，hecouldshovelupthedriedsandthathadwasheddowntotheravinethroughthetroughsanddashitagainstanuprightwirescreentofreeitfrompebblesandprepareitforworkingover。

Theprocessofamalgamationdifferedinthevariousmills，andthisincludedchangesinstyleofpansandothermachinery，andagreatdiversityofopinionexistedastothebestinuse，butnoneofthemethodsemployed，involvedtheprincipleofmillingorewithout“screeningthetailings。”Ofallrecreationsintheworld，screeningtailingsonahotday，withalong-handledshovel，isthemostundesirable。

Attheendoftheweekthemachinerywasstoppedandwe“cleanedup。”

Thatistosay，wegotthepulpoutofthepansandbatteries，andwashedthemudpatientlyawaytillnothingwasleftbutthelongaccumulatingmassofquicksilver，withitsimprisonedtreasures。Thiswemadeintoheavy，compactsnow-balls，andpiledthemupinabright，luxuriousheapforinspection。Makingthesesnow-ballscostmeafinegoldring——thatandignorancetogether；forthequicksilverinvadedtheringwiththesamefacilitywithwhichwatersaturatesasponge——separateditsparticlesandtheringcrumbledtopieces。

Weputourpileofquicksilverballsintoanironretortthathadapipeleadingfromittoapailofwater，andthenappliedaroastingheat。

Thequicksilverturnedtovapor，escapedthroughthepipeintothepail，andthewaterturneditintogoodwholesomequicksilveragain。

Quicksilverisverycostly，andtheyneverwasteit。Onopeningtheretort，therewasourweek"swork——alumpofpurewhite，frostylookingsilver，twiceaslargeasaman"shead。Perhapsafifthofthemasswasgold，butthecolorofitdidnotshow——wouldnothaveshowniftwothirdsofithadbeengold。Wemelteditupandmadeasolidbrickofitbypouringitintoanironbrick-mould。

Bysuchatediousandlaboriousprocessweresilverbricksobtained。

Thismillwasbutoneofmanyothersinoperationatthetime。ThefirstoneinNevadawasbuiltatEganCanyonandwasasmallinsignificantaffairandcomparedmostunfavorablywithsomeoftheimmenseestablishmentsafterwardslocatedatVirginiaCityandelsewhere。

Fromourbricksalittlecornerwaschippedoffforthe“fire-assay“——amethodusedtodeterminetheproportionsofgold，silverandbasemetalsinthemass。Thisisaninterestingprocess。Thechipishammeredoutasthinaspaperandweighedonscalessofineandsensitivethatifyouweighatwo-inchscrapofpaperonthemandthenwriteyournameonthepaperwithacourse，softpencilandweighitagain，thescaleswilltakemarkednoticeoftheaddition。

Thenalittlelead(alsoweighed)isrolledupwiththeflakeofsilverandthetwoaremeltedatagreatheatinasmallvesselcalledacupel，madebycompressingboneashesintoacup-shapeinasteelmold。Thebasemetalsoxydizeandareabsorbedwiththeleadintotheporesofthecupel。Abuttonorglobuleofperfectlypuregoldandsilverisleftbehind，andbyweighingitandnotingtheloss，theassayerknowstheproportionofbasemetalthebrickcontains。Hehastoseparatethegoldfromthesilvernow。Thebuttonishammeredoutflatandthin，putinthefurnaceandkeptsometimeataredheat；aftercoolingitoffitisrolleduplikeaquillandheatedinaglassvesselcontainingnitricacid；theaciddissolvesthesilverandleavesthegoldpureandreadytobeweighedonitsownmerits。Thensaltwaterispouredintothevesselcontainingthedissolvedsilverandthesilverreturnstopalpableformagainandsinkstothebottom。Nothingnowremainsbuttoweighit；thentheproportionsoftheseveralmetalscontainedinthebrickareknown，andtheassayerstampsthevalueofthebrickuponitssurface。

Thesagaciousreaderwillknownow，withoutbeingtold，thatthespeculativeminer，ingettinga“fire-assay“madeofapieceofrockfromhismine(tohelphimsellthesame)，wasnotinthehabitofpickingouttheleastvaluablefragmentofrockonhisdump-pile，butquitethecontrary。Ihaveseenmenhuntoverapileofnearlyworthlessquartzforanhour，andatlastfindalittlepieceaslargeasafilbert，whichwasrichingoldandsilver——andthiswasreservedforafire-assay！Ofcoursethefire-assaywoulddemonstratethatatonofsuchrockwouldyieldhundredsofdollars——andonsuchassaysmanyanutterlyworthlessminewassold。

Assayingwasagoodbusiness，andsosomemenengagedinit，occasionally，whowerenotstrictlyscientificandcapable。Oneassayergotsuchrichresultsoutofallspecimensbroughttohimthatintimeheacquiredalmostamonopolyofthebusiness。Butlikeallmenwhoachievesuccess，hebecameanobjectofenvyandsuspicion。Theotherassayersenteredintoaconspiracyagainsthim，andletsomeprominentcitizensintothesecretinordertoshowthattheymeantfairly。Thentheybrokealittlefragmentoffacarpenter"sgrindstoneandgotastrangertotakeittothepopularscientistandgetitassayed。Inthecourseofanhourtheresultcame——wherebyitappearedthatatonofthatrockwouldyield$1，184。40insilverand$366。36ingold！

Duepublicationofthewholematterwasmadeinthepaper，andthepopularassayerlefttown“betweentwodays。”

Iwillremark，inpassing，thatIonlyremainedinthemillingbusinessoneweek。ItoldmyemployerIcouldnotstaylongerwithoutanadvanceinmywages；thatIlikedquartzmilling，indeedwasinfatuatedwithit；

thatIhadneverbeforegrownsotenderlyattachedtoanoccupationinsoshortatime；thatnothing，itseemedtome，gavesuchscopetointellectualactivityasfeedingabatteryandscreeningtailings，andnothingsostimulatedthemoralattributesasretortingbullionandwashingblankets——still，Ifeltconstrainedtoaskanincreaseofsalary。

Hesaidhewaspayingmetendollarsaweek，andthoughtitagoodroundsum。HowmuchdidIwant?

Isaidaboutfourhundredthousanddollarsamonth，andboard，wasaboutallIcouldreasonablyask，consideringthehardtimes。

Iwasorderedoffthepremises！Andyet，whenIlookbacktothosedaysandcalltomindtheexceedinghardnessofthelaborIperformedinthatmill，IonlyregretthatIdidnotaskhimsevenhundredthousand。

ShortlyafterthisIbegantogrowcrazy，alongwiththerestofthepopulation，aboutthemysteriousandwonderful“cementmine，“andtomakepreparationstotakeadvantageofanyopportunitythatmightoffertogoandhelphuntforit。

CHAPTERXXXVII。

ItwassomewhereintheneighborhoodofMonoLakethatthemarvellousWhitemancementminewassupposedtolie。EverynowandthenitwouldbereportedthatMr。W。hadpassedstealthilythroughEsmeraldaatdeadofnight，indisguise，andthenwewouldhaveawildexcitement——becausehemustbesteeringforhissecretmine，andnowwasthetimetofollowhim。

Inlessthanthreehoursafterdaylightallthehorsesandmulesanddonkeysinthevicinitywouldbebought，hiredorstolen，andhalfthecommunitywouldbeoffforthemountains，followinginthewakeofWhiteman。ButW。woulddriftaboutthroughthemountaingorgesfordaystogether，inapurposelesssortofway，untiltheprovisionsoftheminersranout，andtheywouldhavetogobackhome。Ihaveknownitreportedatelevenatnight，inalargeminingcamp，thatWhitemanhadjustpassedthrough，andintwohoursthestreets，soquietbefore，wouldbeswarmingwithmenandanimals。Everyindividualwouldbetryingtobeverysecret，butyetventuringtowhispertojustoneneighborthatW。

hadpassedthrough。Andlongbeforedaylight——thisinthedeadofWinter——thestampedewouldbecomplete，thecampdeserted，andthewholepopulationgonechasingafterW。

Thetraditionwasthatintheearlyimmigration，morethantwentyyearsago，threeyoungGermans，brothers，whohadsurvivedanIndianmassacreonthePlains，wanderedonfootthroughthedeserts，avoidingalltrailsandroads，andsimplyholdingawesterlydirectionandhopingtofindCaliforniabeforetheystarved，ordiedoffatigue。Andinagorgeinthemountainstheysatdowntorestoneday，whenoneofthemnoticedacuriousveinofcementrunningalongtheground，shotfulloflumpsofdullyellowmetal。Theysawthatitwasgold，andthatherewasafortunetobeacquiredinasingleday。Theveinwasaboutaswideasacurbstone，andfullytwothirdsofitwaspuregold。Everypoundofthewonderfulcementwasworthwell-nigh$200。

Eachofthebrothersloadedhimselfwithabouttwenty-fivepoundsofit，andthentheycoveredupalltracesofthevein，madearudedrawingofthelocalityandtheprincipallandmarksinthevicinity，andstartedwestwardagain。Buttroublesthickenedaboutthem。Intheirwanderingsonebrotherfellandbrokehisleg，andtheotherswereobligedtogoonandleavehimtodieinthewilderness。Another，wornoutandstarving，gaveupbyandby，andlaiddowntodie，butaftertwoorthreeweeksofincrediblehardships，thethirdreachedthesettlementsofCaliforniaexhausted，sick，andhismindderangedbyhissufferings。Hehadthrownawayallhiscementbutafewfragments，buttheseweresufficienttoseteverybodywildwithexcitement。However，hehadhadenoughofthecementcountry，andnothingcouldinducehimtoleadapartythither。Hewasentirelycontenttoworkonafarmforwages。ButhegaveWhitemanhismap，anddescribedthecementregionaswellashecouldandthustransferredthecursetothatgentleman——forwhenIhadmyoneaccidentalglimpseofMr。W。inEsmeraldahehadbeenhuntingforthelostmine，inhungerandthirst，povertyandsickness，fortwelveorthirteenyears。

Somepeoplebelievedhehadfoundit，butmostpeoplebelievedhehadnot。IsawapieceofcementaslargeasmyfistwhichwassaidtohavebeengiventoWhitemanbytheyoungGerman，anditwasofaseductivenature。Lumpsofvirgingoldwereasthickinitasraisinsinasliceoffruitcake。Theprivilegeofworkingsuchamineoneweekwouldbesufficientforamanofreasonabledesires。

Anewpartnerofours，aMr。Higbie，knewWhitemanwellbysight，andafriendofours，aMr。VanDorn，waswellacquaintedwithhim，andnotonlythat，buthadWhiteman"spromisethatheshouldhaveaprivatehintintimetoenablehimtojointhenextcementexpedition。VanDornhadpromisedtoextendthehinttous。OneeveningHigbiecameingreatlyexcited，andsaidhefeltcertainhehadrecognizedWhiteman，uptown，disguisedandinapretendedstateofintoxication。InalittlewhileVanDornarrivedandconfirmedthenews；andsowegatheredinourcabinandwithheadsclosetogetherarrangedourplansinimpressivewhispers。

Weweretoleavetownquietly，aftermidnight，intwoorthreesmallparties，soasnottoattractattention，andmeetatdawnonthe“divide“

overlookingMonoLake，eightorninemilesdistant。Weweretomakenonoiseafterstarting，andnotspeakaboveawhisperunderanycircumstances。ItwasbelievedthatforonceWhiteman"spresencewasunknowninthetownandhisexpeditionunsuspected。Ourconclavebrokeupatnineo"clock，andwesetaboutourpreparationdiligentlyandwithprofoundsecrecy。Ateleveno"clockwesaddledourhorses，hitchedthemwiththeirlongriatas(orlassos)，andthenbroughtoutasideofbacon，asackofbeans，asmallsackofcoffee，somesugar，ahundredpoundsofflourinsacks，sometincupsandacoffeepot，fryingpanandsomefewothernecessaryarticles。Allthesethingswere“packed“onthebackofaledhorse——andwhoeverhasnotbeentaught，byaSpanishadept，topackananimal，lethimneverhopetodothethingbynaturalsmartness。Thatisimpossible。Higbiehadhadsomeexperience，butwasnotperfect。Heputonthepacksaddle(athinglikeasaw-buck)，piledthepropertyonitandthenwoundaropealloverandaboutitandunderit，“everywhichway，“takingahitchiniteverynowandthen，andoccasionallysurgingbackonittillthehorse"ssidessunkinandhegaspedforbreath——buteverytimethelashingsgrewtightinoneplacetheyloosenedinanother。

Weneverdidgettheloadtightallover，butwegotitsothatitwoulddo，afterafashion，andthenwestarted，insinglefile，closeorder，andwithoutaword。Itwasadarknight。Wekeptthemiddleoftheroad，andproceededinaslowwalkpasttherowsofcabins，andwheneveraminercametohisdoorItrembledforfearthelightwouldshineonusanexcitecuriosity。Butnothinghappened。Webeganthelongwindingascentofthecanyon，towardthe“divide，“andpresentlythecabinsbegantogrowinfrequent，andtheintervalsbetweenthemwiderandwider，andthenIbegantobreathetolerablyfreelyandfeellesslikeathiefandamurderer。Iwasintherear，leadingthepackhorse。Astheascentgrewsteeperhegrewproportionatelylesssatisfiedwithhiscargo，andbegantopullbackonhisriataoccasionallyanddelayprogress。Mycomradeswerepassingoutofsightinthegloom。Iwasgettinganxious。IcoaxedandbulliedthepackhorsetillIpresentlygothimintoatrot，andthenthetincupsandpansstrungabouthispersonfrightenedhimandheran。

Hisriatawaswoundaroundthepummelofmysaddle，andso，ashewentbyhedraggedmefrommyhorseandthetwoanimalstraveledbrisklyonwithoutme。ButIwasnotalone——theloosenedcargotumbledoverboardfromthepackhorseandfellclosetome。Itwasabreastofalmostthelastcabin。

Aminercameoutandsaid:

“Hello！“

Iwasthirtystepsfromhim，andknewhecouldnotseeme，itwassoverydarkintheshadowofthemountain。SoIlaystill。Anotherheadappearedinthelightofthecabindoor，andpresentlythetwomenwalkedtowardme。Theystoppedwithintenstepsofme，andonesaid:

“Sh！Listen。”

IcouldnothavebeeninamoredistressedstateifIhadbeenescapingjusticewithapriceonmyhead。Thentheminersappearedtositdownonaboulder，thoughIcouldnotseethemdistinctlyenoughtobeverysurewhattheydid。Onesaid:

“Iheardanoise，asplainasIeverheardanything。Itseemedtobeaboutthere——“

Astonewhizzedbymyhead。Iflattenedmyselfoutinthedustlikeapostagestamp，andthoughttomyselfifhemendedhisaimeversolittlehewouldprobablyhearanothernoise。Inmyheart，now，Iexecratedsecretexpeditions。Ipromisedmyselfthatthisshouldbemylast，thoughtheSierraswereribbedwithcementveins。Thenoneofthemensaid:

“I"lltellyouwhat！WelchknewwhathewastalkingaboutwhenhesaidhesawWhitemanto-day。Iheardhorses——thatwasthenoise。IamgoingdowntoWelch"s，rightaway。”

TheyleftandIwasglad。Ididnotcarewhithertheywent，sotheywent。IwaswillingtheyshouldvisitWelch，andthesoonerthebetter。

Assoonastheyclosedtheircabindoormycomradesemergedfromthegloom；theyhadcaughtthehorsesandwerewaitingforaclearcoastagain。Weremountedthecargoonthepackhorseandgotunderway，andasdaybrokewereachedthe“divide“andjoinedVanDorn。ThenwejourneyeddownintothevalleyoftheLake，andfeelingsecure，wehaltedtocookbreakfast，forweweretiredandsleepyandhungry。Threehourslatertherestofthepopulationfiledoverthe“divide“inalongprocession，anddriftedoffoutofsightaroundthebordersoftheLake！

Whetherornotmyaccidenthadproducedthisresultweneverknew，butatleastonethingwascertain——thesecretwasoutandWhitemanwouldnotenteruponasearchforthecementminethistime。Wewerefilledwithchagrin。

Weheldacouncilanddecidedtomakethebestofourmisfortuneandenjoyaweek"sholidayonthebordersofthecuriousLake。Mono，itissometimescalled，andsometimesthe“DeadSeaofCalifornia。”ItisoneofthestrangestfreaksofNaturetobefoundinanyland，butitishardlyevermentionedinprintandveryseldomvisited，becauseitliesawayofftheusualroutesoftravelandbesidesissodifficulttogetatthatonlymencontenttoenduretheroughestlifewillconsenttotakeuponthemselvesthediscomfortsofsuchatrip。Onthemorningofoursecondday，wetraveledaroundtoaremoteandparticularlywildspotonthebordersoftheLake，whereastreamoffresh，ice-coldwaterentereditfromthemountainside，andthenwewentregularlyintocamp。Wehiredalargeboatandtwoshot-gunsfromalonelyranchmanwholivedsometenmilesfurtheron，andmadereadyforcomfortandrecreation。

WesoongotthoroughlyacquaintedwiththeLakeandallitspeculiarities。

CHAPTERXXXVIII。

MonoLakeliesinalifeless，treeless，hideousdesert，eightthousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea，andisguardedbymountainstwothousandfeethigher，whosesummitsarealwaysclothedinclouds。Thissolemn，silent，sail-lesssea——thislonelytenantoftheloneliestspotonearth——islittlegracedwiththepicturesque。Itisanunpretendingexpanseofgrayishwater，aboutahundredmilesincircumference，withtwoislandsinitscentre，mereupheavalsofrentandscorchedandblisteredlava，snowedoverwithgraybanksanddriftsofpumice-stoneandashes，thewindingsheetofthedeadvolcano，whosevastcraterthelakehasseizeduponandoccupied。

Thelakeistwohundredfeetdeep，anditssluggishwatersaresostrongwithalkalithatifyouonlydipthemosthopelesslysoiledgarmentintothemonceortwice，andwringitout，itwillbefoundascleanasifithadbeenthroughtheablestofwasherwomen"shands。Whilewecampedthereourlaundryworkwaseasy。Wetiedtheweek"swashingasternofourboat，andsailedaquarterofamile，andthejobwascomplete，alltothewringingout。Ifwethrewthewateronourheadsandgavethemaruborso，thewhitelatherwouldpileupthreeincheshigh。Thiswaterisnotgoodforbruisedplacesandabrasionsoftheskin。Wehadavaluabledog。Hehadrawplacesonhim。Hehadmorerawplacesonhimthansoundones。HewastherawestdogIalmosteversaw。Hejumpedoverboardonedaytogetawayfromtheflies。Butitwasbadjudgment。

Inhiscondition，itwouldhavebeenjustascomfortabletojumpintothefire。

Thealkaliwaternippedhiminalltherawplacessimultaneously，andhestruckoutfortheshorewithconsiderableinterest。Heyelpedandbarkedandhowledashewent——andbythetimehegottotheshoretherewasnobarktohim——forhehadbarkedthebarkalloutofhisinside，andthealkaliwaterhadcleanedthebarkalloffhisoutside，andheprobablywishedhehadneverembarkedinanysuchenterprise。Heranroundandroundinacircle，andpawedtheearthandclawedtheair，andthrewdoublesomersaults，sometimesbackwardandsometimesforward，inthemostextraordinarymanner。Hewasnotademonstrativedog，asageneralthing，butratherofagraveandseriousturnofmind，andI

neversawhimtakesomuchinterestinanythingbefore。Hefinallystruckoutoverthemountains，atagaitwhichweestimatedatabouttwohundredandfiftymilesanhour，andheisgoingyet。Thiswasaboutnineyearsago。Welookforwhatisleftofhimalonghereeveryday。

AwhitemancannotdrinkthewaterofMonoLake，foritisnearlypurelye。ItissaidthattheIndiansinthevicinitydrinkitsometimes，though。Itisnotimprobable，fortheyareamongthepurestliarsIeversaw。[Therewillbenoadditionalchargeforthisjoke，excepttopartiesrequiringanexplanationofit。Thisjokehasreceivedhighcommendationfromsomeoftheablestmindsoftheage。]

TherearenofishinMonoLake——nofrogs，nosnakes，nopolliwigs——

nothing，infact，thatgoestomakelifedesirable。Millionsofwildducksandsea-gullsswimaboutthesurface，butnolivingthingexistsunderthesurface，exceptawhitefeatherysortofworm，onehalfaninchlong，whichlookslikeabitofwhitethreadfrayedoutatthesides。Ifyoudipupagallonofwater，youwillgetaboutfifteenthousandofthese。Theygivetothewaterasortofgrayish-whiteappearance。Thenthereisafly，whichlookssomethinglikeourhousefly。Thesesettleonthebeachtoeatthewormsthatwashashore——andanytime，youcanseethereabeltoffliesaninchdeepandsixfeetwide，andthisbeltextendscleararoundthelake——abeltoffliesonehundredmileslong。

Ifyouthrowastoneamongthem，theyswarmupsothickthattheylookdense，likeacloud。Youcanholdthemunderwateraslongasyouplease——theydonotmindit——theyareonlyproudofit。Whenyouletthemgo，theypopuptothesurfaceasdryasapatentofficereport，andwalkoffasunconcernedlyasiftheyhadbeeneducatedespeciallywithaviewtoaffordinginstructiveentertainmenttomaninthatparticularway。Providenceleavesnothingtogobychance。AllthingshavetheirusesandtheirpartandproperplaceinNature"seconomy:theduckseattheflies——theflieseattheworms——theIndianseatallthree——thewildcatseattheIndians——thewhitefolkseatthewildcats——andthusallthingsarelovely。

MonoLakeisahundredmilesinastraightlinefromtheocean——andbetweenitandtheoceanareoneortworangesofmountains——yetthousandsofsea-gullsgothereeveryseasontolaytheireggsandreartheiryoung。Onewouldassoonexpecttofindsea-gullsinKansas。

AndinthisconnectionletusobserveanotherinstanceofNature"swisdom。Theislandsinthelakebeingmerelyhugemassesoflava，coatedoverwithashesandpumice-stone，andutterlyinnocentofvegetationoranythingthatwouldburn；andsea-gull"seggsbeingentirelyuselesstoanybodyunlesstheybecooked，Naturehasprovidedanunfailingspringofboilingwateronthelargestisland，andyoucanputyoureggsinthere，andinfourminutesyoucanboilthemashardasanystatementIhavemadeduringthepastfifteenyears。Withintenfeetoftheboilingspringisaspringofpurecoldwater，sweetandwholesome。

So，inthatislandyougetyourboardandwashingfreeofcharge——andifnaturehadgonefurtherandfurnishedaniceAmericanhotelclerkwhowascrustyanddisobliging，anddidn"tknowanythingaboutthetimetables，ortherailroadroutes——or——anything——andwasproudofit——Iwouldnotwishforamoredesirableboarding-house。

HalfadozenlittlemountainbrooksflowintoMonoLake，butnotastreamofanykindflowsoutofit。Itneitherrisesnorfalls，apparently，andwhatitdoeswithitssurpluswaterisadarkandbloodymystery。

ThereareonlytwoseasonsintheregionroundaboutMonoLake——andtheseare，thebreakingupofoneWinterandthebeginningofthenext。Morethanonce(inEsmeralda)Ihaveseenaperfectlyblisteringmorningopenupwiththethermometeratninetydegreesateighto"clock，andseenthesnowfallfourteeninchesdeepandthatsameidenticalthermometergodowntoforty-fourdegreesundershelter，beforenineo"clockatnight。

Underfavorablecircumstancesitsnowsatleastonceineverysinglemonthintheyear，inthelittletownofMono。SouncertainistheclimateinSummerthataladywhogoesoutvisitingcannothopetobepreparedforallemergenciesunlessshetakesherfanunderonearmandhersnowshoesundertheother。WhentheyhaveaFourthofJulyprocessionitgenerallysnowsonthem，andtheydosaythatasageneralthingwhenamancallsforabrandytoddythere，thebarkeeperchopsitoffwithahatchetandwrapsitupinapaper，likemaplesugar。Anditisfurtherreportedthattheoldsoakershaven"tanyteeth——worethemouteatinggincocktailsandbrandypunches。Idonotendorsethatstatement——Isimplygiveitforwhatitisworth——anditisworth——well，Ishouldsay，millions，toanymanwhocanbelieveitwithoutstraininghimself。ButIdoendorsethesnowontheFourthofJuly——becauseIknowthattobetrue。

CHAPTERXXXIX。

Aboutseveno"clockoneblisteringhotmorning——foritwasnowdeadsummertime——HigbieandItooktheboatandstartedonavoyageofdiscoverytothetwoislands。Wehadoftenlongedtodothis，buthadbeendeterredbythefearofstorms；fortheywerefrequent，andsevereenoughtocapsizeanordinaryrow-boatlikeourswithoutgreatdifficulty——andoncecapsized，deathwouldensueinspiteofthebravestswimming，forthatvenomouswaterwouldeataman"seyesoutlikefire，andburnhimoutinside，too，ifheshippedasea。Itwascalledtwelvemiles，straightouttotheislands——alongpullandawarmone——butthemorningwassoquietandsunny，andthelakesosmoothandglassyanddead，thatwecouldnotresistthetemptation。Sowefilledtwolargetincanteenswithwater(sincewewerenotacquaintedwiththelocalityofthespringsaidtoexistonthelargeisland)，andstarted。Higbie"sbrawnymusclesgavetheboatgoodspeed，butbythetimewereachedourdestinationwejudgedthatwehadpullednearerfifteenmilesthantwelve。

Welandedonthebigislandandwentashore。Wetriedthewaterinthecanteens，now，andfoundthatthesunhadspoiledit；itwassobrackishthatwecouldnotdrinkit；sowepoureditoutandbeganasearchforthespring——forthirstaugmentsfastassoonasitisapparentthatonehasnomeansathandofquenchingit。Theislandwasalong，moderatelyhighhillofashes——nothingbutgrayashesandpumice-stone，inwhichwesunktoourkneesateverystep——andallaroundthetopwasaforbiddingwallofscorchedandblastedrocks。Whenwereachedthetopandgotwithinthewall，wefoundsimplyashallow，far-reachingbasin，carpetedwithashes，andhereandthereapatchoffinesand。Inplaces，picturesquejetsofsteamshotupoutofcrevices，givingevidencethatalthoughthisancientcraterhadgoneoutofactivebusiness，therewasstillsomefireleftinitsfurnaces。Closetooneofthesejetsofsteamstoodtheonlytreeontheisland——asmallpineofmostgracefulshapeandmostfaultlesssymmetry；itscolorwasabrilliantgreen，forthesteamdriftedunceasinglythroughitsbranchesandkeptthemalwaysmoist。Itcontrastedstrangelyenough，didthisvigorousandbeautifuloutcast，withitsdeadanddismalsurroundings。Itwaslikeacheerfulspiritinamourninghousehold。

Wehuntedforthespringeverywhere，traversingthefulllengthoftheisland(twoorthreemiles)，andcrossingittwice——climbingash-hillspatiently，andthenslidingdowntheothersideinasittingposture，plowingupsmotheringvolumesofgraydust。Butwefoundnothingbutsolitude，ashesandaheart-breakingsilence。Finallywenoticedthatthewindhadrisen，andweforgotourthirstinasolicitudeofgreaterimportance；for，thelakebeingquiet，wehadnottakenpainsaboutsecuringtheboat。Wehurriedbacktoapointoverlookingourlandingplace，andthen——butmerewordscannotdescribeourdismay——theboatwasgone！Thechanceswerethattherewasnotanotherboatontheentirelake。Thesituationwasnotcomfortable——intruth，tospeakplainly，itwasfrightful。Wewereprisonersonadesolateisland，inaggravatingproximitytofriendswhowereforthepresenthelplesstoaidus；andwhatwasstillmoreuncomfortablewasthereflectionthatwehadneitherfoodnorwater。Butpresentlywesightedtheboat。Itwasdriftingalong，leisurely，aboutfiftyyardsfromshore，tossinginafoamysea。

Itdrifted，andcontinuedtodrift，butatthesamesafedistancefromland，andwewalkedalongabreastitandwaitedforfortunetofavorus。

Attheendofanhouritapproachedajuttingcape，andHigbieranaheadandpostedhimselfontheutmostvergeandpreparedfortheassault。Ifwefailedthere，therewasnohopeforus。Itwasdrivinggraduallyshorewardallthetime，now；butwhetheritwasdrivingfastenoughtomaketheconnectionornotwasthemomentousquestion。WhenitgotwithinthirtystepsofHigbieIwassoexcitedthatIfanciedIcouldhearmyownheartbeat。When，alittlelater，itdraggedslowlyalongandseemedabouttogoby，onlyonelittleyardoutofreach，itseemedasifmyheartstoodstill；andwhenitwasexactlyabreasthimandbegantowidenaway，andhestillstandinglikeawatchingstatue，Iknewmyheartdidstop。Butwhenhegaveagreatspring，thenextinstant，andlitfairlyinthestern，Idischargedawar-whoopthatwokethesolitudes！

Butitdulledmyenthusiasm，presently，whenhetoldmehehadnotbeencaringwhethertheboatcamewithinjumpingdistanceornot，sothatitpassedwithineightortenyardsofhim，forhehadmadeuphismindtoshuthiseyesandmouthandswimthattriflingdistance。ImbecilethatI

was，Ihadnotthoughtofthat。Itwasonlyalongswimthatcouldbefatal。

Theseawasrunninghighandthestormincreasing。Itwasgrowinglate，too——threeorfourintheafternoon。Whethertoventuretowardthemainlandornot，wasaquestionofsomemoment。Butweweresodistressedbythirstthatwedecidetotryit，andsoHigbiefelltoworkandItookthesteering-oar。Whenwehadpulledamile，laboriously，wewereevidentlyinseriousperil，forthestormhadgreatlyaugmented；

thebillowsranveryhighandwerecappedwithfoamingcrests，theheavenswerehungwithblack，andthewindblewwithgreatfury。

Wewouldhavegoneback，now，butwedidnotdaretoturntheboataround，becauseassoonasshegotinthetroughoftheseashewouldupset，ofcourse。Ouronlyhopelayinkeepingherhead-ontotheseas。

Itwashardworktodothis，sheplungedso，andsobeatandbelaboredthebillowswithherrisingandfallingbows。NowandthenoneofHigbie"soarswouldtriponthetopofawave，andtheotheronewouldsnatchtheboathalfaroundinspiteofmycumbersomesteeringapparatus。

Weweredrenchedbythespraysconstantly，andtheboatoccasionallyshippedwater。Byandby，powerfulasmycomradewas，hisgreatexertionsbegantotellonhim，andhewasanxiousthatIshouldchangeplaceswithhimtillhecouldrestalittle。ButItoldhimthiswasimpossible；forifthesteeringoarweredroppedamomentwhilewechanged，theboatwouldsluearoundintothetroughofthesea，capsize，andinlessthanfiveminuteswewouldhaveahundredgallonsofsoap-

sudsinusandbeeatenupsoquicklythatwecouldnotevenbepresentatourowninquest。

Butthingscannotlastalways。Justasthedarknessshutdownwecameboomingintoport，headon。Higbiedroppedhisoarstohurrah——Idroppedminetohelp——theseagavetheboatatwist，andovershewent！

Theagonythatalkaliwaterinflictsonbruises，chafesandblisteredhands，isunspeakable，andnothingbutgreasingalloverwillmodifyit——

butweate，drankandsleptwell，thatnight，notwithstanding。

InspeakingofthepeculiaritiesofMonoLake，Ioughttohavementionedthatatintervalsallarounditsshoresstandpicturesqueturret-lookingmassesandclustersofawhitish，coarse-grainedrockthatresemblesinferiormortardriedhard；andifonebreaksofffragmentsofthisrockhewillfindperfectlyshapedandthoroughlypetrifiedgulls"eggsdeeplyimbeddedinthemass。Howdidtheygetthere?Isimplystatethefact——

foritisafact——andleavethegeologicalreadertocrackthenutathisleisureandsolvetheproblemafterhisownfashion。

AttheendofaweekweadjournedtotheSierrasonafishingexcursion，andspentseveraldaysincampundersnowyCastlePeak，andfishedsuccessfullyfortroutinabright，miniaturelakewhosesurfacewasbetweentenandeleventhousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea；coolingourselvesduringthehotAugustnoonsbysittingonsnowbankstenfeetdeep，underwhoseshelteringedgesfinegrassanddaintyflowersflourishedluxuriously；andatnightentertainingourselvesbyalmostfreezingtodeath。ThenwereturnedtoMonoLake，andfindingthatthecementexcitementwasoverforthepresent，packedupandwentbacktoEsmeralda。Mr。Balloureconnoitredawhile，andnotlikingtheprospect，setoutaloneforHumboldt。

Aboutthistimeoccurredalittleincidentwhichhasalwayshadasortofinteresttome，fromthefactthatitcamesonear“instigating“myfuneral。AtatimewhenanIndianattackhadbeenexpected，thecitizenshidtheirgunpowderwhereitwouldbesafeandyetconvenienttohandwhenwanted。Aneighborofourshidsixcansofriflepowderinthebake-ovenofanolddiscardedcookingstovewhichstoodontheopengroundnearaframeout-houseorshed，andfromandafterthatdayneverthoughtofitagain。Wehiredahalf-tamedIndiantodosomewashingforus，andhetookupquartersundertheshedwithhistub。Theancientstovereposedwithinsixfeetofhim，andbeforehisface。Finallyitoccurredtohimthathotwaterwouldbebetterthancold，andhewentoutandfiredupunderthatforgottenpowdermagazineandsetonakettleofwater。Thenhereturnedtohistub。

Ienteredtheshedpresentlyandthrewdownsomemoreclothes，andwasabouttospeaktohimwhenthestoveblewupwithaprodigiouscrash，anddisappeared，leavingnotasplinterbehind。Fragmentsofitfellinthestreetsfulltwohundredyardsaway。Nearlyathirdoftheshedroofoverourheadswasdestroyed，andoneofthestovelids，aftercuttingasmallstanchionhalfintwoinfrontoftheIndian，whizzedbetweenusanddrovepartlythroughtheweather-boardingbeyond。Iwasaswhiteasasheetandasweakasakittenandspeechless。ButtheIndianbetrayednotrepidation，nodistress，notevendiscomfort。Hesimplystoppedwashing，leanedforwardandsurveyedtheclean，blankgroundamoment，andthenremarked:

“Mph！Damstoveheapgone！“——andresumedhisscrubbingasplacidlyasifitwereanentirelycustomarythingforastovetodo。Iwillexplain，that“heap“is“Injun-English“for“verymuch。”Thereaderwillperceivetheexhaustiveexpressivenessofitinthepresentinstance。

CHAPTERXL。

Inowcometoacuriousepisode——themostcurious，Ithink，thathadyetaccentedmyslothful，valueless，heedlesscareer。Outofahillsidetowardtheupperendofthetown，projectedawallofreddishlookingquartz-croppings，theexposedcombofasilver-bearingledgethatextendeddeepdownintotheearth，ofcourse。Itwasownedbyacompanyentitledthe“WideWest。”Therewasashaftsixtyorseventyfeetdeepontheundersideofthecroppings，andeverybodywasacquaintedwiththerockthatcamefromit——andtolerablyrichrockitwas，too，butnothingextraordinary。Iwillremarkhere，thatalthoughtotheinexperiencedstrangerallthequartzofaparticular“district“looksaboutalike，anoldresidentofthecampcantakeaglanceatamixedpileofrock，separatethefragmentsandtellyouwhichmineeachcamefrom，aseasilyasaconfectionercanseparateandclassifythevariouskindsandqualitiesofcandyinamixedheapofthearticle。

Allatoncethetownwasthrownintoastateofextraordinaryexcitement。

InminingparlancetheWideWesthad“struckitrich！“Everybodywenttoseethenewdevelopments，andforsomedaystherewassuchacrowdofpeopleabouttheWideWestshaftthatastrangerwouldhavesupposedtherewasamassmeetinginsessionthere。Noothertopicwasdiscussedbuttherichstrike，andnobodythoughtordreamedaboutanythingelse。

Everymanbroughtawayaspecimen，grounditupinahandmortar，washeditoutinhishornspoon，andglaredspeechlessuponthemarvelousresult。Itwasnothardrock，butblack，decomposedstuffwhichcouldbecrumbledinthehandlikeabakedpotato，andwhenspreadoutonapaperexhibitedathicksprinklingofgoldandparticlesof“native“silver。

Higbiebroughtahandfultothecabin，andwhenhehadwasheditouthisamazementwasbeyonddescription。WideWeststocksoaredskywards。Itwassaidthatrepeatedoffershadbeenmadeforitatathousanddollarsafoot，andpromptlyrefused。Wehaveallhadthe“blues“——themeresky-

blues——butminewereindigo，now——becauseIdidnotownintheWideWest。

Theworldseemedhollowtome，andexistenceagrief。Ilostmyappetite，andceasedtotakeaninterestinanything。StillIhadtostay，andlistentootherpeople"srejoicings，becauseIhadnomoneytogetoutofthecampwith。

TheWideWestcompanyputastoptothecarryingawayof“specimens，“andwelltheymight，foreveryhandfuloftheorewasworthasunofsomeconsequence。Toshowtheexceedingvalueoftheore，Iwillremarkthatasixteen-hundred-poundsparcelofitwassold，justasitlay，atthemouthoftheshaft，atonedollarapound；andthemanwhoboughtit“packed“itonmulesahundredandfiftyortwohundredmiles，overthemountains，toSanFrancisco，satisfiedthatitwouldyieldataratethatwouldrichlycompensatehimforhistrouble。TheWideWestpeoplealsocommandedtheirforemantorefuseanybuttheirownoperativespermissiontoenterthemineatanytimeorforanypurpose。Ikeptupmy“blue“

meditationsandHigbiekeptupadealofthinking，too，butofadifferentsort。Hepuzzledoverthe“rock，“examineditwithaglass，inspecteditindifferentlightsandfromdifferentpointsofview，andaftereachexperimentdeliveredhimself，insoliloquy，ofoneandthesameunvaryingopinioninthesameunvaryingformula:

“ItisnotWideWestrock！“

HesaidonceortwicethathemeanttohavealookintotheWideWestshaftifhegotshotforit。Iwaswretched，anddidnotcarewhetherhegotalookintoitornot。Hefailedthatday，andtriedagainatnight；

failedagain；gotupatdawnandtried，andfailedagain。Thenhelayinambushinthesagebrushhourafterhour，waitingforthetwoorthreehandstoadjourntotheshadeofaboulderfordinner；madeastartonce，butwaspremature——oneofthemencamebackforsomething；trieditagain，butwhenalmostatthemouthoftheshaft，anotherofthemenroseupfrombehindtheboulderasiftoreconnoitre，andhedroppedonthegroundandlayquiet；presentlyhecrawledonhishandsandkneestothemouthoftheshaft，gaveaquickglancearound，thenseizedtheropeandsliddowntheshaft。

Hedisappearedinthegloomofa“sidedrift“justasaheadappearedinthemouthoftheshaftandsomebodyshouted“Hello！“——whichhedidnotanswer。Hewasnotdisturbedanymore。Anhourlaterheenteredthecabin，hot，red，andreadytoburstwithsmotheredexcitement，andexclaimedinastagewhisper:

“Iknewit！Wearerich！IT"SABLINDLEAD！“

Ithoughttheveryearthreeledunderme。Doubt——conviction——doubtagain——exultation——hope，amazement，belief，unbelief——everyemotionimaginablesweptinwildprocessionthroughmyheartandbrain，andI

couldnotspeakaword。Afteramomentortwoofthismentalfury，I

shookmyselftorights，andsaid:

“Sayitagain！“

“It"sblindlead！“

“Cal，let"s——let"sburnthehouse——orkillsomebody！Let"sgetoutwherethere"sroomtohurrah！Butwhatistheuse?Itisahundredtimestoogoodtobetrue。”

“It"sablindlead，foramillion！——hangingwall——footwall——claycasings——everythingcomplete！“Heswunghishatandgavethreecheers，andIcastdoubttothewindsandchimedinwithawill。ForIwasworthamilliondollars，anddidnotcare“whetherschoolkeptornot！“

ButperhapsIoughttoexplain。A“blindlead“isaleadorledgethatdoesnot“cropout“abovethesurface。Aminerdoesnotknowwheretolookforsuchleads，buttheyareoftenstumbleduponbyaccidentinthecourseofdrivingatunnelorsinkingashaft。HigbieknewtheWideWestrockperfectlywell，andthemorehehadexaminedthenewdevelopmentsthemorehewassatisfiedthattheorecouldnothavecomefromtheWideWestvein。Andsohaditoccurredtohimalone，ofallthecamp，thattherewasablindleaddownintheshaft，andthateventheWideWestpeoplethemselvesdidnotsuspectit。Hewasright。Whenhewentdowntheshaft，hefoundthattheblindleadhelditsindependentwaythroughtheWideWestvein，cuttingitdiagonally，andthatitwasenclosedinitsownwell-definedcasing-rocksandclay。Henceitwaspublicproperty。Bothleadsbeingperfectlywelldefined，itwaseasyforanyminertoseewhichonebelongedtotheWideWestandwhichdidnot。

Wethoughtitwelltohaveastrongfriend，andthereforewebroughttheforemanoftheWideWesttoourcabinthatnightandrevealedthegreatsurprisetohim。Higbiesaid:

“Wearegoingtotakepossessionofthisblindlead，recorditandestablishownership，andthenforbidtheWideWestcompanytotakeoutanymoreoftherock。Youcannothelpyourcompanyinthismatter——

nobodycanhelpthem。Iwillgointotheshaftwithyouandprovetoyourentiresatisfactionthatitisablindlead。Nowweproposetotakeyouinwithus，andclaimtheblindleadinourthreenames。Whatdoyousay?“

Whatcouldamansaywhohadanopportunitytosimplystretchforthhishandandtakepossessionofafortunewithoutriskofanykindandwithoutwronginganyoneorattachingtheleasttaintofdishonortohisname?Hecouldonlysay，“Agreed。”

Thenoticewasputupthatnight，anddulyspreadupontherecorder"sbooksbeforeteno"clock。Weclaimedtwohundredfeeteach——sixhundredfeetinall——thesmallestandcompactestorganizationinthedistrict，andtheeasiesttomanage。

Noonecanbesothoughtlessastosupposethatweslept，thatnight。

HigbieandIwenttobedatmidnight，butitwasonlytoliebroadawakeandthink，dream，scheme。Thefloorless，tumble-downcabinwasapalace，theraggedgrayblanketssilk，thefurniturerosewoodandmahogany。

Eachnewsplendorthatburstoutofmyvisionsofthefuturewhirledmebodilyoverinbedorjerkedmetoasittingposturejustasifanelectricbatteryhadbeenappliedtome。Weshotfragmentsofconversationbackandforthateachother。OnceHigbiesaid:

“Whenareyougoinghome——totheStates?“

“To-morrow！“——withanevolutionortwo，endingwithasittingposition。

“Well——no——butnextmonth，atfurthest。”

“We"llgointhesamesteamer。”

“Agreed。”

Apause。

“Steamerofthe10th?“

“Yes。No，the1st。”

“Allright。”

Anotherpause。

“Whereareyougoingtolive?“saidHigbie。

“SanFrancisco。”

“That"sme！“

Pause。

“Toohigh——toomuchclimbing“——fromHigbie。

“Whatis?“

“IwasthinkingofRussianHill——buildingahouseupthere。”

“Toomuchclimbing?Shan"tyoukeepacarriage?“

“Ofcourse。Iforgotthat。”

Pause。

“Cal。，whatkindofahouseareyougoingtobuild?“

“Iwasthinkingaboutthat。Three-storyandanattic。”

“Butwhatkind?“

“Well，Idon"thardlyknow。Brick，Isuppose。”

“Brick——bosh。”

“Why?Whatisyouridea?“

“Brownstonefront——Frenchplateglass——billiard-roomoffthedining-

room——statuaryandpaintings——shrubberyandtwo-acregrassplat——

greenhouse——irondogonthefrontstoop——grayhorses——landau，andacoachmanwithabugonhishat！“

“ByGeorge！“

Alongpause。

“Cal。，whenareyougoingtoEurope?“

“Well——Ihadn"tthoughtofthat。Whenareyou?“

“IntheSpring。”

“Goingtobegoneallsummer?“

“Allsummer！Ishallremaintherethreeyears。”

“No——butareyouinearnest?“

“IndeedIam。”

“Iwillgoalongtoo。”

“Whyofcourseyouwill。”

“WhatpartofEuropeshallyougoto?“

“Allparts。France，England，Germany——Spain，Italy，Switzerland，Syria，Greece，Palestine，Arabia，Persia，Egypt——allover——everywhere。”

“I"magreed。”

“Allright。”

“Won"titbeaswelltrip！“

“We"llspendfortyorfiftythousanddollarstryingtomakeitone，anyway。”

Anotherlongpause。

“Higbie，weowethebutchersixdollars，andhehasbeenthreateningtostopour——“

“Hangthebutcher！“

“Amen。”

Andsoitwenton。Bythreeo"clockwefounditwasnouse，andsowegotupandplayedcribbageandsmokedpipestillsunrise。Itwasmyweektocook。Ialwayshatedcooking——now，Iabhorredit。

Thenewswasallovertown。Theformerexcitementwasgreat——thisonewasgreaterstill。Iwalkedthestreetssereneandhappy。Higbiesaidtheforemanhadbeenofferedtwohundredthousanddollarsforhisthirdofthemine。IsaidIwouldliketoseemyselfsellingforanysuchprice。Myideaswerelofty。Myfigurewasamillion。Still，IhonestlybelievethatifIhadbeenofferedit，itwouldhavehadnoothereffectthantomakemeholdoffformore。

Ifoundabundantenjoymentinbeingrich。Amanofferedmeathree-

hundred-dollarhorse，andwantedtotakemysimple，unendorsednoteforit。ThatbroughtthemostrealizingsenseIhadyethadthatIwasactuallyrich，beyondshadowofdoubt。Itwasfollowedbynumerousotherevidencesofasimilarnature——amongwhichImaymentionthefactofthebutcherleavingusadoublesupplyofmeatandsayingnothingaboutmoney。

Bythelawsofthedistrict，the“locators“orclaimantsofaledgewereobligedtodoafairandreasonableamountofworkontheirnewpropertywithintendaysafterthedateofthelocation，orthepropertywasforfeited，andanybodycouldgoandseizeitthatchose。Sowedeterminedtogotoworkthenextday。Aboutthemiddleoftheafternoon，asIwascomingoutofthepostoffice，ImetaMr。Gardiner，whotoldmethatCapt。JohnNyewaslyingdangerouslyillathisplace(the“Nine-MileRanch“)，andthatheandhiswifewerenotabletogivehimnearlyasmuchcareandattentionashiscasedemanded。Isaidifhewouldwaitformeamoment，Iwouldgodownandhelpinthesickroom。

IrantothecabintotellHigbie。Hewasnotthere，butIleftanoteonthetableforhim，andafewminuteslaterIlefttowninGardiner"swagon。