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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 asked。 She received the idea with derision；
laughing aloud with all her fine teeth。 He could not find
the mine to save his life； it appeared； without Rufe to guide
him。 Last year； when he came； they heard him 〃up and down
the road a hollerin' and a raisin' Cain。〃 And at last he had
to come to the Hansons in despair； and bid Rufe； 〃Jump into
your pants and shoes； and show me where this old mine is；
anyway！〃 Seeing that Ronalds had laid out so much money in
the spot； and that a beaten road led right up to the bottom
of the clump； I thought this a remarkable example。 The sense
of locality must be singularly in abeyance in the case of
Ronalds。
That same evening； supper comfortably over； Joe Strong busy
at work on a drawing of the dump and the opposite hills； we
were all out on the platform together； sitting there； under
the tented heavens； with the same sense of privacy as if we
had been cabined in a parlour； when the sound of brisk
footsteps came mounting up the path。 We pricked our ears at
this； for the tread seemed lighter and firmer than was usual
with our country neighbours。 And presently； sure enough； two
town gentlemen； with cigars and kid gloves； came debauching
past the house。 They looked in that place like a blasphemy。
〃Good evening；〃 they said。 For none of us had stirred； we
all sat stiff with wonder。
〃Good evening；〃 I returned； and then； to put them at their
ease； 〃A stiff climb；〃 I added。
〃Yes；〃 replied the leader； 〃but we have to thank you for this
path。〃
I did not like the man's tone。 None of us liked it。 He did
not seem embarrassed by the meeting； but threw us his remarks
like favours； and strode magisterially by us towards the
shaft and tunnel。
Presently we heard his voice raised to his companion。 〃We
drifted every sort of way； but couldn't strike the ledge。〃
Then again： 〃It pinched out here。〃 And once more： 〃Every
minor that ever worked upon it says there's bound to be a
ledge somewhere。〃
These were the snatches of his talk that reached us； and they
had a damning significance。 We； the lords of Silverado； had
come face to face with our superior。 It is the worst of all
quaint and of all cheap ways of life that they bring us at
last to the pinch of some humiliation。 I liked well enough
to be a squatter when there was none but Hanson by； before
Ronalds； I will own； I somewhat quailed。 I hastened to do
him fealty； said I gathered he was the Squattee； and
apologized。 He threatened me with ejection； in a manner
grimly pleasant … more pleasant to him； I fancy； than to me；
and then he passed off into praises of the former state of
Silverado。 〃It was the busiest little mining town you ever
saw：〃 a population of between a thousand and fifteen hundred
souls； the engine in full blast； the mill newly erected；
nothing going but champagne； and hope the order of the day。
Ninety thousand dollars came out； a hundred and forty
thousand were put in； making a net loss of fifty thousand。
The last days； I gathered； the days of John Stanley； were not
so bright； the champagne had ceased to flow； the population
was already moving elsewhere； and Silverado had begun to
wither in the branch before it was cut at the root。 The last
shot that was fired knocked over the stove chimney； and made
that hole in the roof of our barrack； through which the sun
was wont to visit slug…a…beds towards afternoon。 A noisy；
last shot； to inaugurate the days of silence。
Throughout this interview； my conscience was a good deal
exercised； and I was moved to throw myself on my knees and
own the intended treachery。 But then I had Hanson to
consider。 I was in much the same position as Old Rowley；
that royal humourist； whom 〃the rogue had taken into his
confidence。〃 And again； here was Ronalds on the spot。 He
must know the day of the month as well as Hanson and I。 If a
broad hint were necessary； he had the broadest in the world。
For a large board had been nailed by the crown prince on the
very front of our house； between the door and window； painted
in cinnabar … the pigment of the country … with doggrel
rhymes and contumelious pictures； and announcing； in terms
unnecessarily figurative； that the trick was already played；
the claim already jumped； and Master Sam the legitimate
successor of Mr。 Ronalds。 But no； nothing could save that
man； QUEM DEUS VULT PERDERE； PRIUS DEMENTAT。 As he came so
he went； and left his rights depending。
Late at night； by Silverado reckoning； and after we were all
abed； Mrs。 Hanson returned to give us the newest of her news。
It was like a scene in a ship's steerage： all of us abed in
our different tiers； the single candle struggling with the
darkness； and this plump； handsome woman； seated on an
upturned valise beside the bunks； talking and showing her
fine teeth； and laughing till the rafters rang。 Any ship； to
be sure； with a hundredth part as many holes in it as our
barrack； must long ago have gone to her last port。 Up to
that time I had always imagined Mrs。 Hanson's loquacity to be
mere incontinence； that she said what was uppermost for the
pleasure of speaking； and laughed and laughed again as a kind
of musical accompaniment。 But I now found there was an art
in it； I found it less communicative than silence itself。 I
wished to know why Ronalds had come； how he had found his way
without Rufe； and why； being on the spot； he had not
refreshed his title。 She talked interminably on； but her
replies were never answers。 She fled under a cloud of words；
and when I had made sure that she was purposely eluding me； I
dropped the subject in my turn； and let her rattle where she
would。
She had come to tell us that； instead of waiting for Tuesday；
the claim was to be jumped on the morrow。 How？ If the time
were not out； it was impossible。 Why？ If Ronalds had come
and gone； and done nothing； there was the less cause for
hurry。 But again I could reach no satisfaction。 The claim
was to be jumped next morning； that was all that she would
condescend upon。
And yet it was not jumped the next morning； nor yet the next；
and a whole week had come and gone before we heard more of
this exploit。 That day week； however； a day of great heat；
Hanson； with a little roll of paper in his hand； and the
eternal pipe alight； Breedlove； his large； dull friend； to
act； I suppose； as witness； Mrs。 Hanson； in her Sunday best；
and all the children； from the oldest to the youngest； …
arrived in a procession； tailing one behind another up the
path。 Caliban was absent； but he had been chary of his
friendly visits since the row； and with that exception； the
whole family was gathered together as f