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Chinaman's wages； if you want to hang on to the charity of the
traders at the Crossing； you can do it； and enjoy the prospects and
the Noah's doves alone。 But we're calculatin' to step out of it。〃
〃But I haven't said I wanted to do it ALONE；〃 protested the Old Man
with a gesture of bewilderment。
〃If these are your general ideas of the partnership；〃 continued the
Right Bower； clinging to the established hypothesis of the other
partners for support； 〃it ain't ours； and the only way we can prove
it is to stop the foolishness right here。 We calculated to
dissolve the partnership and strike out for ourselves elsewhere。
You're no longer responsible for us； nor we for you。 And we reckon
it's the square thing to leave you the claim and the cabin； and all
it contains。 To prevent any trouble with the traders； we've drawn
up a paper here〃
〃With a bonus of fifty thousand dollars each down； and the rest to
be settled on my children；〃 interrupted the Old Man； with a half…
uneasy laugh。 〃Of course。 But〃 he stopped suddenly； the blood
dropped from his fresh cheek； and he again glanced quickly round
the group。 〃I don't thinkII quite sabe； boys；〃 he added； with
a slight tremor of voice and lip。 〃If it's a conundrum； ask me an
easier one。〃
Any lingering doubt he might have had of their meaning was
dispelled by the Judge。 〃It's about the softest thing you kin drop
into； Old Man；〃 he said confidentially； 〃if I hadn't promised the
other boys to go with them； and if I didn't need the best medical
advice in Sacramento for my lungs； I'd just enjoy staying with
you。〃
〃It gives a sorter freedom to a young fellow like you； Old Man；
like goin' into the world on your own capital； that every
Californian boy hasn't got；〃 said Union Mills； patronizingly。
〃Of course it's rather hard papers on us； you know； givin' up
everything； so to speak； but it's for your good； and we ain't goin'
back on you；〃 said the Left Bower； 〃are we； boys？〃
The color had returned to the Old Man's face a little more quickly
and freely than usual。 He picked up the hat he had cast down； put
it on carefully over his brown curls； drew the flap down on the
side towards his companions； and put his hands in his pockets。
〃All right；〃 he said； in a slightly altered voice。 〃When do you
go？〃
〃To…day；〃 answered the Left Bower。 〃We calculate to take a
moonlight pasear over to the Cross Roads and meet the down stage at
about twelve to…night。 There's plenty of time yet；〃 he added； with
a slight laugh； 〃it's only three o'clock now。〃
There was a dead silence。 Even the rain withheld its continuous
patter； a dumb； gray film covered the ashes of the hushed hearth。
For the first time the Right Bower exhibited some slight
embarrassment。
〃I reckon it's held up for a spell；〃 he said； ostentatiously
examining the weather； 〃and we might as well take a run round the
claim to see if we've forgotten nothing。 Of course； we'll be back
again；〃 he added hastily； without looking at the Old Man； 〃before
we go； you know。〃
The others began to look for their hats； but so awkwardly and with
such evident preoccupation of mind that it was not at first
discovered that the Judge had his already on。 This raised a laugh；
as did also a clumsy stumble of Union Mills against the pork
barrel； although that gentleman took refuge from his confusion and
secured a decent retreat by a gross exaggeration of his lameness；
as he limped after the Right Bower。 The Judge whistled feebly。
The Left Bower； in a more ambitious effort to impart a certain
gayety to his exit； stopped on the threshold and said； as if in
arch confidence to his companions； 〃Darned if the Old Man don't
look two inches higher since he became a proprietor；〃 laughed
patronizingly； and vanished。
If the newly…made proprietor had increased in stature； he had not
otherwise changed his demeanor。 He remained in the same attitude
until the last figure disappeared behind the fringe of buckeye that
hid the distant highway。 Then he walked slowly to the fire…place；
and； leaning against the chimney； kicked the dying embers together
with his foot。 Something dropped and spattered in the film of hot
ashes。 Surely the rain had not yet ceased！
His high color had already fled except for a spot on either cheek…
bone that lent a brightness to his eyes。 He glanced around the
cabin。 It looked familiar and yet strange。 Rather； it looked
strange BECAUSE still familiar； and therefore incongruous with the
new atmosphere that surrounded itdiscordant with the echo of
their last meeting； and painfully accenting the change。 There were
the four 〃bunks；〃 or sleeping berths； of his companions； each still
bearing some traces of the individuality of its late occupant with
a dumb loyalty that seemed to make their light…hearted defection
monstrous。 In the dead ashes of the Judge's pipe； scattered on his
shelf； still lived his old fire； in the whittled and carved edges
of the Left Bower's bunk still were the memories of bygone days of
delicious indolence； in the bullet…holes clustered round a knot of
one of the beams there was still the record of the Right Bower's
old…time skill and practice； in the few engravings of female
loveliness stuck upon each headboard there were the proofs of their
old extravagant devotionall a mute protest to the change。
He remembered how； a fatherless； truant schoolboy； he had drifted
into their adventurous； nomadic life； itself a life of grown…up
truancy like his own； and became one of that gypsy family。 How
they had taken the place of relations and household in his boyish
fancy； filling it with the unsubstantial pageantry of a child's
play at grown…up existence； he knew only too well。 But how； from
being a pet and protege； he had gradually and unconsciously
asserted his own individuality and taken upon his younger shoulders
not only a poet's keen appreciation of that life； but its actual
responsibilities and half…childish burdens； he never suspected。 He
had fondly believed that he was a neophyte in their ways； a novice
in their charming faith and indolent creed； and they had encouraged
it； now their renunciation of that faith could only be an excuse
for a renunciation of HIM。 The poetry that had for two years
invested the material and sometimes even mean details of their
existence was too much a part of himself to be lightly dispelled。
The lesson of those ingenuous moralists failed； as such lessons are
apt to fail； their discipline provoked but did not subdue； a rising
indignation； stirred by a sense of injury； mounted to his cheek and
eyes。 It was slow to come； but was none the less violent that it
had been preceded by the benumbing shock of shame and pride。
I hope I shall not prejudice the reader's sympathies if my duty as
a simple chronicler compels me to state； therefore； that the sober
second thought of this gentle poet was to burn down the cabin on
the spot wi