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pine precariously nodded … these stood for its greatness；
while； the dog…hutch； boot…jacks； old boots； old tavern
bills； and the very beds that we inherited from bygone
miners； put in human touches and realized for us the story of
the past。
I have sat on an old sleeper； under the thick madronas near
the forge； with just a look over the dump on the green world
below； and seen the sun lying broad among the wreck； and
heard the silence broken only by the tinkling water in the
shaft； or a stir of the royal family about the battered
palace； and my mind has gone back to the epoch of the
Stanleys and the Chapmans； with a grand TUTTI of pick and
drill； hammer and anvil； echoing about the canyon； the
assayer hard at it in our dining…room； the carts below on the
road； and their cargo of red mineral bounding and thundering
down the iron chute。 And now all gone … all fallen away into
this sunny silence and desertion： a family of squatters
dining in the assayer's office； making their beds in the big
sleeping room erstwhile so crowded； keeping their wine in the
tunnel that once rang with picks。
But Silverado itself； although now fallen in its turn into
decay； was once but a mushroom； and had succeeded to other
mines and other flitting cities。 Twenty years ago； away down
the glen on the Lake County side there was a place； Jonestown
by name； with two thousand inhabitants dwelling under canvas；
and one roofed house for the sale of whiskey。 Round on the
western side of Mount Saint Helena； there was at the same
date； a second large encampment； its name； if it ever had
one； lost for me。 Both of these have perished； leaving not a
stick and scarce a memory behind them。 Tide after tide of
hopeful miners have thus flowed and ebbed about the mountain；
coming and going； now by lone prospectors； now with a rush。
Last； in order of time came Silverado； reared the big mill；
in the valley； founded the town which is now represented；
monumentally； by Hanson's； pierced all these slaps and shafts
and tunnels； and in turn declined and died away。
〃Our noisy years seem moments in the wake
Of the eternal silence。〃
As to the success of Silverado in its time of being； two
reports were current。 According to the first； six hundred
thousand dollars were taken out of that great upright seam；
that still hung open above us on crazy wedges。 Then the
ledge pinched out； and there followed； in quest of the
remainder； a great drifting and tunnelling in all directions；
and a great consequent effusion of dollars； until； all
parties being sick of the expense； the mine was deserted； and
the town decamped。 According to the second version； told me
with much secrecy of manner； the whole affair； mine； mill；
and town； were parts of one majestic swindle。 There had
never come any silver out of any portion of the mine； there
was no silver to come。 At midnight trains of packhorses
might have been observed winding by devious tracks about the
shoulder of the mountain。 They came from far away； from
Amador or Placer； laden with silver in 〃old cigar boxes。〃
They discharged their load at Silverado； in the hour of
sleep； and before the morning they were gone again with their
mysterious drivers to their unknown source。 In this way；
twenty thousand pounds' worth of silver was smuggled in under
cover of night； in these old cigar boxes； mixed with
Silverado mineral； carted down to the mill； crushed；
amalgated； and refined； and despatched to the city as the
proper product of the mine。 Stock…jobbing； if it can cover
such expenses； must be a profitable business in San
Francisco。
I give these two versions as I got them。 But I place little
reliance on either； my belief in history having been greatly
shaken。 For it chanced that I had come to dwell in Silverado
at a critical hour； great events in its history were about to
happen … did happen； as I am led to believe； nay； and it will
be seen that I played a part in that revolution myself。 And
yet from first to last I never had a glimmer of an idea what
was going on； and even now； after full reflection； profess
myself at sea。 That there was some obscure intrigue of the
cigar…box order； and that I； in the character of a wooden
puppet； set pen to paper in the interest of somebody； so
much； and no more； is certain。
Silverado； then under my immediate sway； belonged to one whom
I will call a Mr。 Ronalds。 I only knew him through the
extraordinarily distorting medium of local gossip； now as a
momentous jobber； now as a dupe to point an adage； and again；
and much more probably； as an ordinary Christian gentleman
like you or me； who had opened a mine and worked it for a
while with better and worse fortune。 So； through a defective
window…pane； you may see the passer…by shoot up into a
hunchbacked giant or dwindle into a potbellied dwarf。
To Ronalds； at least； the mine belonged； but the notice by
which he held it would ran out upon the 30th of June … or
rather； as I suppose； it had run out already； and the month
of grace would expire upon that day； after which any American
citizen might post a notice of his own； and make Silverado
his。 This； with a sort of quiet slyness； Rufe told me at an
early period of our acquaintance。 There was no silver； of
course； the mine 〃wasn't worth nothing； Mr。 Stevens；〃 but
there was a deal of old iron and wood around； and to gain
possession of this old wood and iron； and get a right to the
water； Rufe proposed； if I had no objections； to 〃jump the
claim。〃
Of course； I had no objection。 But I was filled with wonder。
If all he wanted was the wood and iron； what； in the name of
fortune； was to prevent him taking them？ 〃His right there
was none to dispute。〃 He might lay hands on all to…morrow；
as the wild cats had laid hands upon our knives and hatchet。
Besides； was this mass of heavy mining plant worth
transportation？ If it was； why had not the rightful owners
carted it away？ If it was； would they not preserve their
title to these movables； even after they had lost their title
to the mine？ And if it were not； what the better was Rufe？
Nothing would grow at Silverado； there was even no wood to
cut； beyond a sense of property； there was nothing to be
gained。 Lastly； was it at all credible that Ronalds would
forget what Rufe remembered？ The days of grace were not yet
over： any fine morning he might appear； paper in hand； and
enter for another year on his inheritance。 However； it was
none of my business； all seemed legal； Rufe or Ronalds； all
was one to me。
On the morning of the 27th； Mrs。 Hanson appeared with the
milk as usual； in her sun…bonnet。 The time would be out on
Tuesday； she reminded us； and bade me be in readiness to play
my part； though I had no idea what it was to be。 And suppose
Ronalds came？ we a