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The ascent was toilsome； but familiar。 All along the dim trail he
was accompanied by gentler memories of the past； that seemed； like
the faint odor of spiced leaves and fragrant grasses wet with the
rain and crushed beneath his ascending tread； to exhale the sweeter
perfume in his effort to subdue or rise above them。 There was the
thicket of manzanita； where they had broken noonday bread together；
here was the rock beside their maiden shaft； where they had poured
a wild libation in boyish enthusiasm of success； and here the ledge
where their first flag； a red shirt heroically sacrificed； was
displayed from a long…handled shovel to the gaze of admirers below。
When he at last reached the summit； the mysterious hush was still
in the air； as if in breathless sympathy with his expedition。 In
the west； the plain was faintly illuminated； but disclosed no
moving figures。 He turned towards the rising moon； and moved
slowly to the eastern edge。 Suddenly he stopped。 Another step
would have been his last！ He stood upon the crumbling edge of a
precipice。 A landslip had taken place on the eastern flank；
leaving the gaunt ribs and fleshless bones of Lone Star mountain
bare in the moonlight。 He understood now the strange rumble and
reverberation he had heard； he understood now the strange hush of
bird and beast in brake and thicket！
Although a single rapid glance convinced him that the slide had
taken place in an unfrequented part of the mountain； above an
inaccessible canyon； and reflection assured him his companions
could not have reached that distance when it took place； a feverish
impulse led him to descend a few rods in the track of the
avalanche。 The frequent recurrence of outcrop and angle made this
comparatively easy。 Here he called aloud； the feeble echo of his
own voice seemed only a dull impertinence to the significant
silence。 He turned to reascend； the furrowed flank of the mountain
before him lay full in the moonlight。 To his excited fancy； a
dozen luminous star…like points in the rocky crevices started into
life as he faced them。 Throwing his arm over the ledge above him；
he supported himself for a moment by what appeared to be a
projection of the solid rock。 It trembled slightly。 As he raised
himself to its level； his heart stopped beating。 It was simply a
fragment detached from the outcrop； lying loosely on the ledge but
upholding him by ITS OWN WEIGHT ONLY。 He examined it with
trembling fingers； the encumbering soil fell from its sides and
left its smoothed and worn protuberances glistening in the
moonlight。 It was virgin gold！
Looking back upon that moment afterwards； he remembered that he was
not dazed； dazzled； or startled。 It did not come to him as a
discovery or an accident； a stroke of chance or a caprice of
fortune。 He saw it all in that supreme moment； Nature had worked
out their poor deduction。 What their feeble engines had essayed
spasmodically and helplessly against the curtain of soil that hid
the treasure； the elements had achieved with mightier but more
patient forces。 The slow sapping of the winter rains had loosened
the soil from the auriferous rock； even while the swollen stream
was carrying their impotent and shattered engines to the sea。
What mattered that his single arm could not lift the treasure he
had found！ What mattered that to unfix those glittering stars
would still tax both skill and patience！ The work was done； the
goal was reached！ even his boyish impatience was content with that。
He rose slowly to his feet； unstrapped his long…handled shovel from
his back； secured it in the crevice； and quietly regained the
summit。
It was all his own！ His own by right of discovery under the law of
the land； and without accepting a favor from THEM。 He recalled
even the fact that it was HIS prospecting on the mountain that
first suggested the existence of gold in the outcrop and the use of
the hydraulic。 HE had never abandoned that belief； whatever the
others had done。 He dwelt somewhat indignantly to himself on this
circumstance； and half unconsciously faced defiantly towards the
plain below。 But it was sleeping peacefully in the full sight of
the moon； without life or motion。 He looked at the stars； it was
still far from midnight。 His companions had no doubt long since
returned to the cabin to prepare for their midnight journey。 They
were discussing him； perhaps laughing at him； or worse； pitying him
and his bargain。 Yet here was his bargain！ A slight laugh he gave
vent to here startled him a little； it sounded so hard and so
unmirthful； and so unlike； as he oddly fancied； what he really
THOUGHT。 But WHAT did he think？
Nothing mean or revengeful； no； they never would say THAT。 When he
had taken out all the surface gold and put the mine in working
order； he would send them each a draft for a thousand dollars。 Of
course； if they were ever ill or poor he would do more。 One of the
first； the very first things he should do would be to send them
each a handsome gun and tell them that he only asked in return the
old…fashioned rifle that once was his。 Looking back at the moment
in after years； he wondered that； with this exception； he made no
plans for his own future； or the way he should dispose of his newly
acquired wealth。 This was the more singular as it had been the
custom of the five partners to lie awake at night； audibly
comparing with each other what they would do in case they made a
strike。 He remembered how； Alnaschar…like； they nearly separated
once over a difference in the disposal of a hundred thousand
dollars that they never had； nor expected to have。 He remembered
how Union Mills always began his career as a millionnaire by a
〃square meal〃 at Delmonico's； how the Right Bower's initial step
was always a trip home 〃to see his mother〃； how the Left Bower
would immediately placate the parents of his beloved with priceless
gifts （it may be parenthetically remarked that the parents and the
beloved one were as hypothetical as the fortune）； and how the Judge
would make his first start as a capitalist by breaking a certain
faro bank in Sacramento。 He himself had been equally eloquent in
extravagant fancy in those penniless days； he who now was quite
cold and impassive beside the more extravagant reality。
How different it might have been！ If they had only waited a day
longer！ if they had only broken their resolves to him kindly and
parted in good will！ How he would long ere this have rushed to
greet them with the joyful news！ How they would have danced around
it； sung themselves hoarse； laughed down their enemies； and run up
the flag triumphantly on the summit of the Lone Star Mountain！ How
they would have crowned him 〃the Old Man；〃 〃the hero of the camp！〃
How he would have told them the whole story； how some strange
instinct had impelled him to ascend the summit； and how another
step on that summit would have precipitated