down the mother lode-第7章

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The　Merritt　party　stayed　to　work　the　bar。　Before　the　summer　passed　the　river　swarmed　with　men；　some　of　whom　joined　forces　to　make　up　mining　companies。　One　of　the　rules　of　such　a　company：　〃Any　shareholder　getting　drunk　during　the　time　he　should　be　on　duty；　shall　pay　into　the　common　treasury　of　the　company　a　fine　of　one　ounce　of　gold　dust　and　shall　forfeit　all　dividends　during　such　time。〃　These　fines；　in　some　instances；　became　so　frequent　as　to　cause　a　total　disruption　of　the　company。

The　Indians　returned　to　their　villages　in　the　hills。　The　foothill　Indians　were　not　a　particularly　intelligent　lot。　They　were　Diggers；　so　named　on　account　of　their　habits　of　digging　in　the　ground　for　roots；　and　the　larva　of　various　insects　for　food。　Eggs　of　ants；　and　the　maggots　found　in　wasp's　nests　were　considered　great　delicacies。

They　also　ate　dried　grasshoppers　and　young　clover　plants　cooked　as　greens。　They　ground　acorns　and　manzanita　berries　into　meal　with　the　stone　mortars　and　pestles　so　commonly　found　through　the　countryside　and　gathered　and　stored　great　caches　of　pine　burrs　full　of　nuts　for　the　winter。　They　were　not　as　a　rule　quarrelsome；　but　…　。

*　*　*　*　*

〃Good　morning；　Phineas。　I　have　brought　your　grub　from　Auburn；　and　here　is　the　bill。〃

It　was　a　bright　day　in　June　and　Phineas　Longley；　tollkeeper　for　the　new　suspension　bridge　on　Whiskey　Bar；　had　had　a　busy　morning。　There　was　a　barbecue　that　day　at　the　town　on　the　other　side；　and　a　stream　of　people　had　come　down　the　Whiskey　Bar　turnpike　and　crossed　the　bridge。　It　was　getting　warm　and　he　was　tired；　and　he　read　the　bill　gloomily：

〃1　bottle　gin；　6。00；　2　lbs。　biscuits；　2。50；　1　ham；　24。00；　1　bottle　pickles；　6。00；　4　fathoms　rope；　5。00；　1　watermelon；　4。00；　1　tin　pan；　16。00；　2　apples；　3。00。〃

Longley　stuffed　the　bill　in　his　pocket；　and　returned　for　his　noon　meal　to　his　log　cabin　on　shore。

It　was　quite　palatial　…　boasting　a　real　floor　made　of　puncheons；　or　hewn　logs。　A　bunk；　against　the　wall；　was　made　of　a　second　log　set　four　feet　from　the　log　wall；　with　a　hammock　mattress　of　sacking　stuffed　with　dried　bracken　stretched　between　them。　There　was　the　usual　huge　fireplace　of　granite　rocks　used　for　both　warmth　and　cooking；　and　a　box　pantry…cupboard　nailed　to　the　wall。

His　cup　and　plate　and　saucer　were　of　tin；　and　his　cutlery　was　an　iron　spoon；　a　three…tined　fork　and　a　hunting　dagger。　The　dishes　had　not　been　washed　for　weeks。

In　warm　weather　he　kept　a　few　things　in　a　small　palisade　driven　in　the　shallow　water　at　the　river　's　edge；　which　was　cool　the　year　'round。

Longley　put　his　raised　bread　dough　in　a　frying　pan；　put　a　second　pan　on　top；　raked　the　ashes　off　some　coals；　and　started　it　baking。　A　man　on　horseback；　driving　two　pack　animals　before　him；　stopped　at　the　low　doorway。

〃Hello；　John！　Glad　to　see　you；〃　called　Longley。

〃Glad　to　get　here。　Like　to　sleep　in　a　house　again。　Tired　of　shaking　the　lizards　out　of　my　blankets　every　morning。〃

〃Ever　shake　out　a　rattler？〃

〃Not　yet；　though　they　say　it's　been　done　more　than　once。〃

〃You're　just　in　time。　Turn　the　beasts　into　the　corral。　And　then　will　you　just　ride　back　to　Kitty　Douglas'　for　me？　She　promised　me　a　pie；　and　I　need　a　new　starter　for　my　sour　dough　（batter）。　By　that　time　everything　will　be　ready　to　eat。〃

〃You　mean　the　'Kitty　Douglas'　of　the　signs　I've　just　passed？〃　asked　John；　grinning。

〃Yes。　What　were　they；　today？〃

〃'Fresh　pies；　by　Kitty　Douglas；'　'Bread　made　every　day；　by　Kitty　Douglas；'　'New…laid　eggs　every　day；　by　Kitty　Douglas'！〃

〃Kitty's　cooking　is　as　fair　as　the　reputation　of　her　house　is　not。　She　charges　two　dollars　for　a　meal　of　pork　and　beans。〃

〃'Tis　the　regular　price　everywhere。　I'll　be　back　soon。〃　After　the　meal　John　went　to；　the　barbecue；　imbibing　rather　freely　of　the　fire…water　barrel　and　making　a　night　of　it。

Heavy　travel　continued　over　the　bridge　all　afternoon　…　a　prairie　schooner　with　three　oxen；　two　mules　and　a　bronco　pulling　it；　a　prospector　in　his　red　flannel　undershirt；　driving　a　laden　donkey；　a　hurdy…gurdy　troupe　on　its　way　to　the　barbecue；　a　stage…coach　drawn　by　six　half…broken　wild　horses；　an　old　Spanish　settler　on　a　beautiful；　black　thoroughbred；　a　late　arrival　from　Oregon；　mounted　upon　a　sturdy　mule　with　his　young　wife　upon　a　pillion　behind　him；　and　a　whole　drove　of　China…men　being　taken　out　to　work　a　white　man's　claim　up　on　the　Divide。

There　passed　Welch　miners；　who　were　to　be　the　fore…runners　of　quartz　mining；　miners　from　Australia；　who　were　to　replace　the　wooden　〃bateas〃　of　the　Mexicans　with　the　rocker　and　the　iron　gold…pan；　and　the　term　of　〃specimen〃　with　〃nugget。〃

Finally　came　a　hale；　old　voyaguer　whom　Longley　greeted　heartily　as　he　swung　open　the　toll　gate：

〃Greetings；　Monsieur　Francois　Gendron；　and　from　whence　came　you　today？〃　The　big　Frenchman　handed　over　the　〃six…bits〃　toll　for　himself　and　his　horse。

〃From　New　Helvetia。〃

〃Ah　…　Sacramento。〃

〃And　I　am　bound　for　the　North　Fork　Dry　Diggings。〃

〃Auburn？〃　smiled　Longley。

〃Bah！　the　new　names！　In　my　day　we　called　them　differently。　I　came　across　the　Rockies　in　'32；　Monsieur。　But　I　must　be　en　route　…　here　are　sheep　coming。〃

After　the　sheep　were　counted　and　gone；　Longley　glanced　scowlingly　across　the　bridge　and　hastily　closed　the　tollgate。　A　band　of　Indians；　several　on　ponies　but　most　of　them　on　foot；　crossed　the　bridge　and　halted　before　him。

〃Go　back；　ye　varmints！〃　growled　Longley。

〃No　Indian　pay；〃　said　the　old　chief。　〃He　go　the　bridge　and　the　road　…　no　pay。〃

〃Well；　the　Chinamen　paid。〃

〃But　the　Indians；　no！　No　pay。　Me　go　Whiskey　Bar　…　big　pow…wow。　Plenty　ox；　plenty　bear　meat；　plenty　firewater　…　〃

〃You　go　back！〃　roared　the　tollkeeper；　swearing；　〃and　go　ford　the　river。　That's　good　enough　for　a　Digger！　The　ferry's　been　taken　off；　but　the　water　is　not　so　high。〃

The　old　Indian　scowled；　and　the　young　bucks　began　a　guttural　complaint　which　he　silenced　with　a　gesture　and　a　grunt　of　command。

〃Water　is　cold；　and　those；〃　pointing　to　the　sheep；　〃have　passed。〃

〃You　go　back；　I　tell　you！　I　hate　every　filthy　brute　of　you！　My　best　pal　was　sent　to　glory　in　that　funeral　fire　on　Murderer's　Bar；　and　no　Indian　will　ever　get　aught　from　me。〃

〃Me　pay；〃　said　the　Indian　leader　slowly；　〃Me　pay　cayuse；　me　pay　boy。〃

〃No；　you　won't　pay！　You'll　go　back　and　wade　the　river　like　the　low　beasts　that　you　are。〃

The　chief　began　a　fierce　oration。　Longley　ran　into　the　tollhouse　and　came　out　with　a　sawed…off　shotgun。

〃Now；　will　you　go？〃　he　cried；　defiantly。

The　Indians　were　sober；　and　they　went。　As　they　came　abreast　of　the　pier　under　the　bridge　the　toll…keeper　jeered　and　laughed　at　them；　and　pelted　them　with　rocks。

They　looked　up　with　hate；　but　went　stolidly　on　their　way。

With　darkness；　the　roistering　at　the　barbecue　became　louder。　The　Indians'　money　was　gone　by　this　time；　and　the　fun　was　getting　rougher。　The　toll…keeper；　after　a　weary　day；　was　dozing　beside　his　candle。　He　did　not　see　nor　hear　the　stealthy　forms　which　crept　up　the　bridge。　A　board　creaked；　and　he　jumped　up　and　swung　about；　to　find　himself　quickly　overpowered　by　a　dozen　lithe　redskins。

They　robbed　the　till；　then　held　a　palaver　as　to　the　disposition　of　their　prisoner。　They　finally　left　him　tied　with　his　own　new　rope　to　a　huge　drift　log　at　the　base　of　the　pier；　and　went　back　to　buy　more　firewater。

It　was　a　wild　night！

John　noticed；　very　late；　that　the　Indians　seemed　to　be　having　a　special　pow…wow　of　their　own　on　the　river　bank　near　the　bridge。　There　was　a　great　fire；　and　mad　dancing　and　war　whooping。　He　started　toward　them。

〃Don't　go　there；　pardner；〃　called　an　old　trapper。　〃Them　bucks　is　crazy　with　drink；　an'　if　I　knows　anything　about　Injuns；　it　won't　be　no　safe　place　for　a　white　man。〃

So　passed　Longley's　last　chance　for　his　life！　His　cries　for　aid　were　mingled　with　the　savage　whoops　of　his　ferocious　enemies。　Even　the　people　living　across　the　river　who　heard　his　continued　shouts；　took　them　to　be　part　of　the　celebration。

Maddened　by　drink　and　by　the　ever　mounting　excitement　of　their　incantations；　one　of　the　most　ghastly　deeds　ever　perpetrated　by　Indians　upon　the　whole　river　was　finished　before　daylight。

The　condition　of　Longley's　body　upon　its　discovery　roused　the　entire　settlement；　but　the　Indians　had　vanished　over　the　hills　and　across　Bear　river。　The　chief　had　gone　home　at　sundown；　and　it　was　as　impossible　to　find　those　who　were　on　the　bar　that　night；　as　to　distinguish　one　grain　of　sand　from　another。

The　old　pier　stands　to　this　day；　notwithstanding　the　fierce　battering　of　the　floods　of　nearly　seventy　years；　a　monument　enduring　long　after　the　Digger　Indians　are　gone　off　the　face　of　the　earth；　as　though　to　commemmorate　the　power　of　the　white　race　and　that　member　of　it　who　gave　up　his　life　at　its　base。



Grizzley　Bob　of　Snake　Gulch

VI

〃Be　the　battle　lost　or　won；　Though　its　smoke　shall　hide　the　sun；　I　shall　find　my　love　…　the　one　Born　for　me！〃

…　Bret　Harte。



Names　of　settlements　in　the　'49　days　were　often　as　〃Rough　an　Ready〃　as　the　reasons　for　their　being！

Most　of　them　spoke；　more　or　less　eloquently；　for　themselves　and　no　man　picked　by　fame　in　glowing　wise　from　the　heterogeneous　mass　of　persons　could　hope　to　escape　a　nickname。

A　miner　was　discovered　roaming　down　a　river　bed　minus　his　nether　garments；　and　lives　to　this　day　in　the　appellation　of　Shirt　Tail　canyon。　Two　men　fought。　One　of　them　lost　an　eye　in　the　manner　indicated　by　Gouge　Eye。　Hundreds　of　wild　geese　were　wont　to　gather　on　a　sunny　mesa　above　the　river。　It　made　a　splendid　level　town　called　Wild　Goose　Flat。　The　plains　were　covered　with　〃Antelope。〃　The　end　gate　of　a　prairie　schooner　was　lost　on　a　hill；　and　Tail　Gate　mountain　came　into　being。

Humbug　Creek　panned　light　with　gold。　Red　Dog；　Hangtown；　Round　Tent　Claims；　Dry　Diggings；　Let　'Er　Rip；　You　Bet；　Yuba　Dam；　One　Horse　Town；　and　Hell's　Delight　shriek　for　themselves；　or　should！

This；　then；　is　the　tale　of　Grizzley　Bob；　who　mined　in　Snake　Gulch　at　the　foot　of　Bear　Mountain。

〃The　bear　made　straight　for　me！　Old　Bull…doze　was　hangin'　onto　him　below；　somewhere；　but　I　dropped　my　Killer　（gun）　and　grabbed　my　knife；　'cause　I　knew　if　I　didn't　get　in　on　him　with　Slasher　it　was　all　up　with　both　of　us。　Bear　and　I　took　a　tight　grip　on　each　other　and　I　hit　straight　for　his　heart　just　as　he　gave　me　a　swipe　in　the　face。

〃We　both　fell；　the　bear　on　top；　and　then　I　didn't　remember　anything　for　awhile。　When　I　woke　I　felt　something　heavy　on　my　stomach；　but　I　couldn't　see　anything　for　blood。〃

〃Hu…ray！〃　cheered　old　Solly　Jake；　thinking　the　tale　was　finished。

Sick　Jimmy；　from　behind　the　bar；　prodded　him　good…humoredly。

〃Dry　up；　Soll。〃

〃I　am　dry；〃　whimpered　old　Soll；　〃I'm　dryer'n　before　I　got　drunk！〃

〃Here；　then；〃　pushing　a　bottle　across　the　redwood　slab　used　for　a　bar；　〃the　drinks　are　on　Grizzley　Bob　and　Handsome　Harry；　tonight。〃

〃Was　it　such　a　big　strike　they　made？〃

〃It　sure　was。　Go　on；　Bob；〃　he　called　to　the　tall；　magnificently　built　young　spokesman；　〃then　what？〃

〃After　awhile　I　managed　to　crawl　from　under　that　old　grizzley　and　when　I'd　wiped　the　one　good　eye　that　was　left；　I　saw　him　lying　there　as　stiff　and　dead　as　a　mackerel；　with　Slasher　sticking　in　his　heart　clean　up　to　the　handle。　It　was　pretty　near　dark　then；　but　the　sun　was　just　showing　hisself　over　the　top　of　Be