按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
vivid in contrast with the white teeth of quartz that peeped through it from
the hillside or crossed the road in crumbled strata。 One of those pieces
Clarence picked up with a quickening pulse。 It was veined and streaked
with shining mica and tiny glittering cubes of mineral that LOOKED like
gold！
The road now began to descend towards a winding stream； shrunken
by drought and ditching； that glared dazzingly in the sunlight from its
white bars of sand； or glistened in shining sheets and channels。 Along its
banks； and even encroaching upon its bed； were scattered a few mud
cabins； strange…looking wooden troughs and gutters； and here and there；
68
… Page 69…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
glancing through the leaves； the white canvas of tents。 The stumps of
felled trees and blackened spaces； as of recent fires； marked the stream on
either side。 A sudden sense of disappointment overcame Clarence。 It
looked vulgar； common； and worse than allFAMILIAR。 It was like the
unlovely outskirts of a dozen other prosaic settlements he had seen in less
romantic localities。 In that muddy red stream； pouring out of a wooden
gutter； in which three or four bearded； slouching； half… naked figures were
raking like chiffonniers； there was nothing to suggest the royal metal。
Yet he was so absorbed in gazing at the scene； and had walked so rapidly
during the past few minutes； that he was startled； on turning a sharp corner
of the road； to come abruptly upon an outlying dwelling。
It was a nondescript building； half canvas and half boards。 The
interior seen through the open door was fitted up with side shelves； a
counter carelessly piled with provisions； groceries； clothing； and
hardwarewith no attempt at display or even ordinary selectionand a
table； on which stood a demijohn and three or four dirty glasses。 Two
roughly dressed men； whose long； matted beards and hair left only their
eyes and lips visible in the tangled hirsute wilderness below their slouched
hats； were leaning against the opposite sides of the doorway； smoking。
Almost thrown against them in the rapid momentum of his descent；
Clarence halted violently。
〃Well； sonny； you needn't capsize the shanty；〃 said the first man；
without taking his pipe from his lips。
〃If yer looking fur yer ma； she and yer Aunt Jane hev jest gone over to
Parson Doolittle's to take tea；〃 observed the second man lazily。 〃She
allowed that you'd wait。〃
〃I'mI'mgoing toto the mines；〃 explained Clarence； with some
hesitation。 〃I suppose this is the way。〃
The two men took their pipes from their lips； looked at each other；
completely wiped every vestige of expression from their faces with the
back of their hands； turned their eyes into the interior of the cabin； and
said； 〃Will yer come yer； now WILL yer？〃 Thus adjured； half a dozen
men； also bearded and carrying pipes in their mouths； straggled out of the
shanty； and； filing in front of it； squatted down； with their backs against
69
… Page 70…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
the boards； and gazed comfortably at the boy。 Clarence began to feel
uneasy。
〃I'll give；〃 said one； taking out his pipe and grimly eying Clarence； 〃a
hundred dollars for him as he stands。〃
〃And seein' as he's got that bran…new rig…out o' tools；〃 said another；
〃I'll give a hundred and fiftyand the drinks。 I've been；〃 he added
apologetically； 〃wantin' sunthin' like this a long time。〃
〃Well； gen'lemen；〃 said the man who had first spoken to him； 〃lookin'
at him by and large； takin' in； so to speak； the gin'ral gait of him in single
harness； bearin' in mind the perfect freshness of him； and the coolness and
size of his cheekthe easy downyness； previousness； and utter don't…care…
a…damnativeness of his coming yer； I think two hundred ain't too much for
him； and we'll call it a bargain。〃
Clarence's previous experience of this grim； smileless Californian
chaff was not calculated to restore his confidence。 He drew away from
the cabin； and repeated doggedly； 〃I asked you if this was the way to the
mines。〃
〃It ARE the mines； and these yere are the miners；〃 said the first
speaker gravely。 〃Permit me to interdoose 'em。 This yere's Shasta Jim；
this yere's Shotcard Billy； this is Nasty Bob； and this Slumgullion Dick。
This yere's the Dook o' Chatham Street； the Livin' Skeleton； and me！〃
〃May we ask； fair young sir；〃 said the Living Skeleton； who； however；
seemed in fairly robust condition； 〃whence came ye on the wings of the
morning； and whose Marble Halls ye hev left desolate？〃
〃I came across the plains； and got into Stockton two days ago on Mr。
Peyton's train；〃 said Clarence； indignantly； seeing no reason now to
conceal anything。 〃I came to Sacramento to find my cousin； who isn't
living there any more。 I don't see anything funny in THAT！ I came
here to the mines to dig goldbecause…because Mr。 Silsbee； the man who
was to bring me here and might have found my cousin for me； was killed
by Indians。〃
〃Hold up； sonny。 Let me help ye；〃 said the first speaker； rising to his
feet。 〃YOU didn't get killed by Injins because you got lost out of a train
with Silsbee's infant darter。 Peyton picked you up while you was takin'
70
… Page 71…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
care of her； and two days arter you kem up to the broken…down Silsbee
wagons； with all the folks lyin' there slartered。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said Clarence； breathlessly with astonishment。
〃And；〃 continued the man； putting his hand gravely to his head as if to
assist his memory； 〃when you was all alone on the plains with that little
child you saw one of those redskins； as near to you as I be； watchin' the
train； and you didn't breathe or move while he was there？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said Clarence eagerly。
〃And you was shot at by Peyton； he thinkin' you was an Injun in the