cressy-第10章

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right　eye　in　an　early　pioneer　fracas　did　not　prevent　him　from

looking　into　the　dim　vista　of　the　future　and　discovering　with　that

single　unaided　optic　enough　to　fill　three　columns　of　the　〃Star。〃

〃It　is　not　too　extravagant　to　say；〃　he　remarked　with　charming

deprecation；　〃that　Indian　Spring；　through　its　own　perfectly

organized　system　of　inland　transportation；　the　confluence　of　its

North　Fork　with　the　Sacramento　River；　and　their　combined　effluence

into　the　illimitable　Pacific；　is　thus　put　not　only　into　direct

communication　with　far　Cathay　but　even　remoter　Antipodean　markets。

The　citizen　of　Indian　Spring　taking　the　9　A。　M。　Pioneer　Coach　and

arriving　at　Big　Bluff　at　2。40　is　enabled　to　connect　with　the

through　express　to　Sacramento　the　same　evening；　reaching　San

Francisco　per　the　Steam　Navigation　Company's　palatial　steamers　in

time　to　take　the　Pacific　Mail　Steamer　to　Yokohama　on　the　following

day　at　8。30　P。　M。〃　　Although　no　citizen　of　Indian　Spring　appeared

to　avail　himself　of　this　admirable　opportunity；　nor　did　it　appear

at　all　likely　that　any　would；　everybody　vaguely　felt　that　an

inestimable　boon　lay　in　the　suggestion；　and　even　the　master

professionally　intrusting　the　reading　aloud　of　the　editorial　to

Rupert　Filgee　with　ulterior　designs　of　practice　in　the　pronunciation

of　five…syllable　words；　was　somewhat　affected　by　it。　　Johnny　Filgee

and　Jimmy　Snyder　accepting　it　as　a　mysterious　something　that　made

Desert　Islands　accessible　at　a　moment's　notice　and　a　trifling

outlay；　were　round…eyed　and　attentive。　　And　the　culminating

information　from　the　master　that　this　event　would　be　commemorated　by

a　half…holiday；　combined　to　make　the　occasion　as　exciting　to　the

simple　school…house　in　the　clearing　as　it　was　to　the　gilded　saloon

in　the　main　street。



And　so　the　momentous　day　arrived；　with　its　two　new　coaches　from　Big

Bluff　containing　the　specially　invited　speakersalways　specially

invited　to　those　occasions；　and　yet　strangely　enough　never　before

feeling　the　extreme　〃importance　and　privilege〃　of　it　as　they　did

then。　　Then　there　were　the　firing　of　two　anvils；　the　strains　of　a

brass　band；　the　hoisting　of　a　new　flag　on　the　liberty…pole；　and

later　the　ceremony　of　the　Ditch　opening；　when　a　distinguished

speaker　in　a　most　unworkman…like　tall　hat；　black　frock　coat；　and

white　cravat；　which　gave　him　the　general　air　of　a　festive　grave…

digger；　took　a　spade　from　the　hands　of　an　apparently　hilarious

chief　mourner　and　threw　out　the　first　sods。　　There　were　anvils；

brass　bands；　and　a　〃collation〃　at　the　hotel。　　But　everywhere

overriding　the　most　extravagant　expectation　and　even　the　laughter

it　provokedthe　spirit　of　indomitable　youth　and　resistless

enterprise　intoxicated　the　air。　　It　was　the　spirit　that　had　made

California　possible；　that　had　sown　a　thousand　such　ventures

broadcast　through　its　wilderness；　that　had　enabled　the　sower　to

stand　half…humorously　among　his　scant　or　ruined　harvests　without

fear　and　without　repining；　and　turn　his　undaunted　and　ever　hopeful

face　to　further　fields。　　What　mattered　it　that　Indian　Spring　had

always　before　its　eyes　the　abandoned　trenches　and　ruined　outworks

of　its　earlier　pioneers？　　What　mattered　it　that　the　eloquent

eulogist　of　the　Eureka　Ditch　had　but　a　few　years　before　as

prodigally　scattered　his　adjectives　and　his　fortune　on　the　useless

tunnel　that　confronted　him　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　river？　　The

sublime　forgetfulness　of　youth　ignored　its　warning　or　recognized　it

as　a　joke。　　The　master；　fresh　from　his　little　flock　and　prematurely

aged　by　their　contact；　felt　a　stirring　of　something　like　envy　as　he

wandered　among　these　scarcely　older　enthusiasts。



Especially　memorable　was　the　exciting　day　to　Johnny　Filgee；　not

only　for　the　delightfully　bewildering　clamor　of　the　brass　band；　in

which；　between　the　trombone　and　the　bass　drum；　he　had　got

inextricably　mixed；　not　only　for　the　half…frightening　explosions　of

the　anvils　and　the　maddening　smell　of　the　gunpowder　which　had

exalted　his　infant　soul　to　sudden　and　irrelevant　whoopings；　but　for

a　singular　occurrence　that　whetted　his　always　keen　perceptions。

Having　been　shamelessly　abandoned　on　the　veranda　of　the　Eureka

Hotel　while　his　brother　Rupert　paid　bashful　court　to　the　pretty

proprietress　by　assisting　her　in　her　duties；　Johnny　gave　himself　up

to　unlimited　observation。　　The　rosettes　of　the　six　horses；　the　new

harness；　the　length　of　the　driver's　whiplash；　his　enormous　buckskin

gloves　and　the　way　he　held　his　reins；　the　fascinating　odor　of

shining　varnish　on　the　coach；　the　gold…headed　cane　of　the　Honorable

Abner　Dean：　all　these　were　stored　away　in　the　secret　recesses　of

Johnny's　memory；　even　as　the　unconsidered　trifles　he　had　picked　up

en　route　were　distending　his　capacious　pockets。　　But　when　a　young

man　had　alighted　from　the　second　or　〃Truly〃　coach　among　the　REAL

passengers；　and　strolled　carelessly　and　easily　in　the　veranda　as　if

the　novelty　and　the　occasion　were　nothing　to　him；　Johnny；　with　a

gulp　of　satisfaction；　knew　that　he　had　seen　a　prince！　　Beautifully

dressed　in　a　white　duck　suit；　with　a　diamond　ring　on　his　finger；　a

gold　chain　swinging　from　his　fob；　and　a　Panama　hat　with　a　broad

black　ribbon　jauntily　resting　on　his　curled　and　scented　hair；

Johnny's　eyes　had　never　rested　on　a　more　resplendent　vision。　　He

was　more　romantic　than　Yuba　Bill；　more　imposing　and　less　impossible

than　the　Honorable　Abner　Dean；　more　eloquent　than　the　masterfar

more　beautiful　than　any　colored　print　that　he　had　ever　seen。　　Had

he　brushed　him　in　passing　Johnny　would　have　felt　a　thrill；　had　he

spoken　to　him　he　knew　he　would　have　been　speechless　to　reply。

Judge　then　of　his　utter　stupefaction　when　he　saw　Uncle　Ben

actually　Uncle　Ben！approach　this　paragon　of　perfection；　albeit

with　some　embarrassment；　and　after　a　word　or　two　of　unintelligible

conversation　walk　away　with　him！　　Need　it　be　wondered　that　Johnny；

forgetful　at　once　of　his　brother；　the　horses；　and　even　the

collation　with　its　possible　〃goodies；〃　instantly　followed。



The　two　men　turned　into　the　side　street；　which；　after　a　few　hundred

yards；　opened　upon　the　deserted　mining　flat；　crossed　and　broken　by

the　burrows　and　mounds　made　by　the　forgotten　engines　of　the　early

gold…seekers。　　Johnny；　at　times　hidden　by　these　irregularities；

kept　closely　in　their　rear；　sauntering　whenever　he　came　within　the

range　of　their　eyes　in　that　sidelong；　spasmodic　and　generally

diagonal　fashion　peculiar　to　small　boys；　but　ready　at　any　moment　to

assume　utter　unconsciousness　and　the　appearance　of　going　somewhere

else　or　of　searching　for　something　on　the　ground。　　In　this　way

appearing；　if　noticed　at　all；　each　time　in　some　different　position

to　the　right　or　left　of　them；　Johnny　followed　them　to　the　fringe　of

woodland　which　enabled　him　to　draw　closer　to　their　heels。



Utterly　oblivious　of　this　artistic　〃shadowing〃　in　the　insignificant

person　of　the　small　boy　who　once　or　twice　even　crossed　their　path

with　affected　timidity；　they　continued　an　apparently　confidential

previous　interview。　　The　words　〃stocks〃　and　〃shares〃　were　alone

intelligible。　　Johnny　had　heard　them　during　the　day；　but　he　was

struck　by　the　fact　that　Uncle　Ben　seemed　to　be　seeking　information

from　the　paragon　and　was　perfectly　submissive　and　humble。　　But　the

boy　was　considerably　mystified　when　after　a　tramp　of　half　an　hour

they　arrived　upon　the　debatable　ground　of　the　Harrison…McKinstry

boundary。　　Having　been　especially　warned　never　to　go　there；　Johnny

as　a　matter　of　course　was　perfectly　familiar　with　it。　　But　what　was

the　incomprehensible　stranger　doing　there？　　Was　he　brought　by　Uncle

Ben　with　a　view　of　paralyzing　both　of　the　combatants　with　the

spectacle　of　his　perfections？　　Was　he　a　youthful　sheriff；　a　young

judge；　or　maybe　the　son　of　the　Governor　of　California？　　Or　was　it

that　Uncle　Ben　was　〃silly〃　and　didn't　know　the　locality？　　Here　was

an　opportunity　for　him；　Johnny；　to　introduce　himself；　and　explain

and　even　magnify　the　danger；　with　perhaps　a　slight　allusion　to　his

own　fearless　familiarity　with　it。　　Unfortunately；　as　he　was　making

up　his　small　mind　behind　a　tree；　the　paragon　turned　and　with　the

easy　disdain　that　so　well　became　him；　said：



〃Well；　I　wouldn't　offer　a　dollar　an　acre　for　the　whole　ranch。　　But

if　YOU　choose　to　give　a　fancy　pricethat's　your　lookout。〃



To　Johnny's　already　prejudiced　mind；　Uncle　Ben　received　this　just

contempt　submissively；　as　he　ought；　but　nevertheless　he　muttered

something　〃silly〃　in　reply；　which　Johnny　was　really　too　disgusted

to　listen　to。　　Ought　he　not　to　step　forward　and　inform　the　paragon

that　he　was　wasting　his　time　on　a　man　who　couldn't　even　spell

〃ba…ker；〃　and　who　was　taught　his　letters　by　his；　Johnny's；　brother？



The　paragon　continued：



〃And　of　course　you　know　that　merely　your　buying　the　title　to　the

land　don't　give　you　possession。　　You'll　have　to　fight　these

squatters　and　jumpers　just　the　same。　　It'll　be　three　instead　of　two

fightingthat's　all！〃



Uncle　Ben's　imbecile　reply　did　not　trouble　Johnny。　　He　had　ears　now

only　for　the　superior　intellect　before　him。　　IT　continued　coolly：



〃Now　let's　take　a　look　at　that　yield　of　yours。　　I　haven't　much　time

to　give　you；　as　I　expect　some　men　to　be　looking　for　me　hereand　I

suppose　you　want　this　thing　still　kept　a　secret。　　I　don't　see　how

you've　managed　to　do　it　so　far。　　Is　your　claim　near？　　You　live　on

itI　think　you　said？〃



But　that　the　little　listener　was　so　preoccupied　with　the　stranger；

this　suggestion　of　Uncle　Ben's　having　a　claim　worth　the　attention

of　that　distinguished　presence　would　have　set　him　thinking；　the

little　that　he　understood　he　set　down　to　Uncle　Ben's　〃gassin'。〃　　As

the　two　men　moved　forward　again；　he　followed　them　until　Uncle　Ben's

house　was　reached。



It　was　a　rude　shanty　of　boards　and　rough　boulders；　half　burrowing

in　one　of　the　largest　mounds　of　earth　and　gravel；　which　had　once

represented　the　tailings　or　refuse　of　the　abandoned　Indian　Spring

Placer。　　In　fact　it　was　casually　alleged　by　some　that　Uncle　Ben

eked　out　the　scanty　〃grub　wages；〃　he　made　by　actual　mining；　in

reworking　and　sifting　the　tailings　at　odd　timesa　degrading　work

hitherto　practised　only　by　Chinese；　and　unworthy　the　Caucasian

ambition。　　The　mining　code　of　honor　held　that　a　man　might　accept

the　smallest　results　of　his　daily　labor；　as　long　as　he　was

sustained　by　the　prospect　of　a　larger　〃strike；〃　but　condemned　his

contentment　with　a　modest　certainty。　　Nevertheless　a　little　of

this　suspicion　encompassed　his　dwelling　and　contributed　to　its

loneliness；　even　as　a　long　ditch；　the　former　tail…race　of　the

claim；　separated　him　from　his　neighbors。　　Prudently　halting　at　the

edge　of　the　wood；　Johnny　saw　his　resplendent　vision　cross　the　strip

of　barren　flat；　and　enter　the　cabin　with　Uncle　Ben　like　any　other

mortal。　　He　sat　down　on　a　stump　and　awaited　its　return；　which　he

fondly　hoped　might　be　alone！　　At　the　end　of　half　an　hour　he　made　a

short　excursio