第1章

"Itblows,"saidJoeWingate.

AsiftoaccentthewordsofthespeakeraheavygustofwindatthatmomentshookthelonglightwoodenstructurewhichservedasthegeneralstoreofSidonsettlement,inContraCosta.Evenafterithadpassedaprolongedwhistlecamethroughthekeyhole,sides,andopeningsoftheclosedglassfrontdoors,thatservedequallyforwindows,andfilledthecanvasceilingwhichhidtheroofabovelikeabellyingsail.Awaveofenthusiasticemotionseemedtobecommunicatedtoalineofstrawhatsandsou-westerssuspendedfromacross-beam,andswungthemwitheveryappearanceoffestiverejoicing,whileafewdusters,overcoats,and"hickory"shirtshangingonthesidewallsexhibitedsuchmarkedthoughidioticanimationthatithadtheeffectofasatiricalcommentonthelazy,purposelessfiguresofthefourlivinginmatesofthestore.

NedBillingsmomentarilyraisedhisheadandshouldersdepressedinthebackofhiswoodenarmchair,glancedwearilyaround,said,"Youbet,it\'snoslouchofastorm,"andthenlapsedagainwithfurtherextendedlegsandanaddedsenseofcomfort.

Herethethirdfigure,whichhadbeenleaninglistlesslyagainsttheshelves,puttingasidethearmofaswayingovercoatthatseemedtobeemptilyembracinghim,walkedslowlyfrombehindthecountertothedoor,examineditsfastenings,andgazedattheprospect.Hewastheownerofthestore,andtheviewwasafamiliarone,——alongstretchoftreelesswastebeforehimmeetinganequalstretchofdrearyskyabove,andnighthoveringsomewherebetweenthetwo.Thiswasindicatedbysplashesofdarkershadowasifwashedinwithindiaink,andalighterlow-lyingstreakthatmighthavebeenthehorizon,butwasnot.Totheright,onalinewiththefrontdoorofthestore,wereseveralscattered,widelydispersedobjects,that,althoughvagueinoutline,wererigidenoughinanglestosuggestshedsorbarns,butcertainlynottrees.

"There\'saheapmorewettocomeaforethewindgoesdown,"hesaid,glancingatthesky."Harktothat,now!"

Theylistenedlazily.Therewasafaintmurmurfromtheshinglesabove;thensuddenlythewholewindowwasfilmedandblurredasiftheentireprospecthadbeenwipedoutwithadampsponge.Themanturnedlistlesslyaway.

"That\'sthekindthatsoaksin;tharwon\'tbemuchteamin\'overTasajaraforthenexttwoweeks,Ireckon,"saidthefourthlounger,who,seatedonahighbarrel,wasnibbling——albeitcriticallyandfastidiously——biscuitsanddriedapplesalternatelyfromopenboxesonthecounter."It\'sluckyyou\'vegotinyourwinterstock,Harkutt."

TheshrewdeyesofMr.Harkutt,proprietor,glancedattheoccupationofthespeakerasifevenhisforesightmighthaveitspossibledrawbacks,buthesaidnothing.

"There\'llbenoshowforSidonuntilyou\'vegotawagonroadfromheretothecreek,"saidBillingslanguidly,fromthedepthsofhischair."Butwhat\'stheuseo\'talkin\'?Tharain\'tenergyenoughinallTasajaratobuildit.AGod-forsakenplace,thattwomonthsoftheyearcanonlybereachedbyamail-rideronceaweek,don\'tlookezifitwasgoin\'tobreakitsbackhaulin\'ingoodsandsettlers.Itellyewhat,gentlemen,itmakesmesick!"Andapparentlyithadenfeebledhimtotheextentofinterferingwithhisaiminthatexpectorationofdisgustagainstthestovewithwhichheconcludedhissentence.

"Whydon\'tYOUbuildit?"askedWingate,carelessly.

"Iwouldn\'tonprinciple,"saidBillings."It\'sgov\'mentwork.

WhatdidwewhoopupthingsherelastspringtoelectKennedytothelegislationfor?WhatdidIrigupmyshedandathousandfeetoflumberforbenchesatthebarbecuefor?Why,togetKennedyelectedandmakehimgetabillpassedfortheroad!That\'sMY

shareofbuildingit,ifitcomestothat.AndIonlywishsomefolks,thatblowenoughaboutwhatoughterbedonetobulgeoutthatceiling,wouldonlydoasmuchasIhavedoneforSidon."

Asthisremarkseemedtohaveapersonalaswellaslocalapplication,thestorekeeperdiplomaticallyturnedit."There\'sagoodmanyasDON\'TbelievethataroadfromheretothecreekisgoingtodoanygoodtoSidon.It\'sverywelltosaythecreekisanembarcadero,butcallin\'itsodon\'tputanoughwaterintoittofloatasteamboatfromthebay,norclearoutthereedsandtulesinit.EveniftheStatebuildsyouroads,itain\'tgotnocalltomakeTasajaraCreeknavigableforye;andasthatwillcostasmuchastheroad,Idon\'tseewherethemoney\'scomin\'fromforboth."

"There\'swaterenoughinfrontof\'LigeCurtis\'sshanty,andhislocationisonlyamilealongthebank,"returnedBillings.

"Waterenoughforhimtolazeawayhistimefishin\'whenhe\'ssober,anddeepenoughtodrownhimwhenhe\'sdrunk,"saidWingate.

"Ifyoucallthatanembarcadero,youkinbuyitanydayfrom\'Lige,——title,possession,andshantythrownin,——forademijohno\'

whiskey."

Thefourthmanheredistastefullythrewbackahalf-nibbledbiscuitintothebox,andlanguidlyslippedfromthebarreltothefloor,fastidiouslyflickingthecrumbsfromhisclothesashedidso."I

reckonsomebody\'llgetitfornothing,if\'Ligedon\'tpullupmightysoon.He\'lleithergooffhisheadwithjim-jamsorjumpintothecreek.He\'saboutasneardesp\'ritastheymake\'em,andhavin\'nopartnertolookafterhim,andhimaloneinthetules,ther\'\'snotellin\'WHAThemaydo."

Billings,stretchedatfulllengthinhischair,heregurgledderisively."Desp\'rit!——ketchhim!Why,that\'shislittlegame!

He\'sjistplayin\'offhisdesp\'ritconditiontofrightenSidon.

Wheneveranyoneaskshimwhyhedon\'tgotowork,wheneverhe\'shardupforadrink,wheneverhe\'shadtoomuchortoolittle,he\'sworkin\'thatdesp\'ritdodge,andeventalkin\'o\'killin\'himself!

Why,lookhere,"hecontinued,momentarilyraisinghimselftoasittingpostureinhisdisgust,"itwasonlylastweekhewasoveratRawlett\'stryingtoraiseprovisionsandwhiskeyouterhiswaterrightsonthecreek!Fact,sir,——haditallwrittendownlawyer-

likeonpaper.Rawlettdidn\'texactlyseeitinthatlight,andtoldhimso.Thenheupwiththedesp\'ritdodgeandbegantoworkthat.Saidifhehadtostarveinaswamplikeadoghemightaswellkillhimselfatonce,andwouldtooifhecouldaffordtheweppins.Johnsonsaiditwasnotabadidea,andofferedtolendhimhisrevolver;Bilsonhandeduphisshot-gun,andleftitalongsideofhim,andturnedhisheadawayconsiderate-likeandthoughtfulwhileRawletthandedhimaboxofratpizonoverthecounter,incasehepreferredsuthin\'morequiet.Well,whatdid\'Ligedo?Nothin\'!Smiledkindersickly,lookedsorterwild,andshutup.Hedidn\'tsuicidemuch.No,sir!Hedidn\'tkillhimself,——nothe.Why,oldBixby——andhe\'sadeaconingoodstandin\'——allowed,in\'Lige\'shearin\'andfor\'Lige\'sbenefit,thatself-destructionwasbetternorbadexample,andproveditbyScripturetoo.Andyet\'Ligedidnothin\'!Desp\'rit!He\'sonlydesp\'rittolazearoundandfishalldayoffaloginthetules,andsoakupwithwhiskey,until,betwixtfeveran\'agueandthejumps,hekindershakeshisselffreeo\'responsibility."

Alongsilencefollowed;itwassomehowfeltthatthesubjectwasincongruouslyexciting;Billingsallowedhimselftolapseagainbehindthebackofhischair.Meantimeithadgrownsodarkthatthedullglowofthestovewasbeginningtooutlineafainthaloontheceilingevenwhileitplungedthefurtherlinesofshelvesbehindthecounterintogreaterobscurity.

"Timetolightup,Harkutt,ain\'tit?"saidWingate,tentatively.

"Well,Iwasreckoningezit\'ssuchawildnighttherewouldn\'tbeanyusekeepin\'open,andwhenyoufellowsleftI\'djustshutupforgoodandmakethingsfast,"saidHarkutt,dubiously.Beforehisguestshadtimetofullyweighthisdelicatehint,anothergustofwindshookthetenement,andevenforcedtheunboltedupperpartofthedoortoyieldfarenoughtoadmitaneagercurrentofhumidairthatseemedtojustifythewisdomofHarkutt\'ssuggestion.

Billingsslowlyandwithasighassumedasittingpostureinthechair.Thebiscuit-nibblerselectedafreshdaintyfromthecounter,andWingateabstractedlywalkedtothewindowandrubbedtheglass.Skyandwaterhadalreadydisappearedbehindacurtainofdarknessthatwasilluminatedbyasinglepointoflight——thelampinthewindowofsomeinvisiblebutnearerhouse——whichthrewitsraysacrosstheglisteningshallowsintheroad."Well,"saidWingate,buttoninguphiscoatinslowdejection,"IreckonI

oughterbetravelin\'tohelptheoldwomandothechoresbeforesupper."Hehadjustrecognizedthelightinhisowndining-room,andknewbythatsignthathislong-waitinghelpmeethadfinallydonethechoresherself.

"Somefolkshaveitmightyeasy,"saidBillings,withlong-drawndiscontent,ashestruggledtohisfeet."You\'veonlyasteptogo,andyer\'smeandPetersthere"——indicatingthebiscuit-nibbler,whowasbeginningtoshowalarmingsignsofreturningtothebarrelagain——"hevgottotrapsefivetimesthatdistance."

"More\'nhalfamile,ifitcomestothat,"saidPeters,gloomily.

Hepausedinputtingonhisovercoatasifthinkingbetterofit,whileeventhemorefortunateandcontiguousWingatelanguidlylapsedagainstthecounteragain.

Themomentwasacriticalone.Billingswasevidentlyalsoregretfullyeyingthechairhehadjustquitted.Harkuttresolvedonaheroiceffort.

"Come,boys,"hesaid,withbriskconviviality,"takeapartingdrinkwithmebeforeyougo."Producingablackbottlefromsomeobscuritybeneaththecounterthatsmeltstronglyofindia-rubberboots,heplaceditwithfourglassesbeforehisguests.Eachmadeafeintofholdinghisglassagainsttheopaquewindowwhilefillingit,althoughnothingcouldbeseen.Asuddentumultofwindandrainagainshookthebuilding,butevenafterithadpassedtheglassdoorstillrattledviolently.

"Justseewhat\'sloose,Peters,"saidBillings;"you\'renearestit."

Peters,stillholdingtheundrainedglassinhishand,walkedslowlytowardsit.

"It\'ssuthin\'——orsomebodyoutside,"hesaid,hesitatingly.

Thethreeotherscameeagerlytohisside.Throughtheglass,cloudedfromwithinbytheirbreath,andfilmedfromwithoutbytherain,somevagueobjectwasmoving,andwhatseemedtobeamopoftangledhairwasapparentlybrushingagainstthepane.Thedoorshookagain,butlessstrongly.Billingspressedhisfaceagainsttheglass."Hol\'on,"hesaidinaquickwhisper,——"it\'s\'Lige!"

Butitwastoolate.Harkutthadalreadydrawnthelowerbolt,andamanstumbledfromtheouterobscurityintothedarkerroom.

Theinmatesdrewawayasheleanedbackforamomentagainstthedoorthatclosedbehindhim.Thendimly,butinstinctively,discerningtheglassofliquorwhichWingatestillmechanicallyheldinhishand,hereachedforwardeagerly,tookitfromWingate\'ssurprisedandunresistingfingers,anddraineditatagulp.Thefourmenlaughedvaguely,butnotascheerfullyastheymight.

"Iwasjustshuttingup,"beganHarkutt,dubiously.

"Iwon\'tkeepyouaminit,"saidtheintruder,nervouslyfumblinginthebreastpocketofhishickoryshirt."It\'samatterofbusiness——Harkutt——I"——Buthewasobligedtostopheretowipehisfaceandforeheadwiththeendsofaloosehandkerchieftiedroundhisthroat.Fromtheaction,andwhatcouldbeseenofhispale,exhaustedface,itwasevidentthatthemoistureuponitwasbeadsofperspiration,andnottherainwhichsomeabnormalheatofhisbodywasconvertingintovaporfromhissoddengarmentsashestoodthere.

"I\'vegotadocumenthere,"hebeganagain,producingarollofpapertremblinglyfromhispocket,"thatI\'dlikeyoutoglanceover,andperhapsyou\'d"——Hisvoice,whichhadbeenfeverishlyexalted,herebrokeandrattledwithacough.

Billings,Wingate,andPetersfellapartandlookedoutofthewindow."It\'stoodarktoreadanythingnow,\'Lige,"saidHarkutt,withevasivegoodhumor,"andIain\'tlightin\'upto-night."

"ButIcantellyouthesubstanceofit,"saidtheman,withafaintnessthathoweverhadallthedistinctnessofawhisper,"ifyou\'lljuststepinsideaminute.It\'samatterofimportanceandabargain"——

"Ireckonwemustbegoin\',"saidBillingstotheothers,withmarkedemphasis."We\'rekeepin\'Harkuttfromshuttin\'up.""Good-

night!""Good-night!"addedPetersandWingate,ostentatiouslyfollowingBillingshurriedlythroughthedoor."Solong!"

Thedoorclosedbehindthem,leavingHarkuttalonewithhisimportunateintruder.Possiblyhisresentmentathiscustomers\'

selfishabandonmentofhimatthismomentdevelopedavaguespiritofoppositiontothemandmitigatedhisfeelingtowards\'Lige.Hegropedhiswaytothecounter,struckamatch,andlitacandle.

Itsfeebleraysfaintlyilluminatedthepale,drawnfaceoftheapplicant,setinatangleofwet,unkempt,party-coloredhair.Itwasnotthefaceofanordinarydrunkard;althoughtremulousandsensitivefromsomeartificialexcitement,therewasnoENGORGEMENT

orcongestioninthefeaturesorcomplexion,albeittheyweremorbidandunhealthy.Theexpressionwasofasufferingthatwasasmuchmentalasphysical,andyetinsomevaguewayappearedunmeaning——andunheroic.

"Iwanttoseeyouaboutsellingmyplaceonthecreek.Iwantyoutotakeitoffmyhandsforabargain.Iwanttogetquitofit,atonce,forjustenoughtotakemeouto\'this.Idon\'twantanyprofit;onlymoneyenoughtogetaway."Hisutterance,whichhadacertainkindofcultivation,heregrewthickandharshagain,andhelookedeagerlyatthebottlewhichstoodonthecounter.

"Lookhere,\'Lige,"saidHarkutt,notunkindly."It\'stoolatetodoanythin\'tonight.Youcomeinto-morrow."Hewouldhaveadded"whenyou\'resober,"butforatrader\'ssenseofpolitenesstoapossiblecustomer,andprobablysomedoubtoftheman\'sactualcondition.

"GodknowswhereorwhatImaybetomorrow!Itwouldkillmetogobackandspendanothernightasthelast,ifIdon\'tkillmyselfonthewaytodoit."

Harkutt\'sfacedarkenedgrimly.ItwasindeedasBillingshadsaid.Thepitiableweaknessoftheman\'smannernotonlymadehisdesperationinadequateandineffective,butevenlentitallthecheapnessofacting.And,asiftoaccenthissimulationofapart,hisfingers,feeblygropinginhisshirtbosom,slippedaimlesslyandhelplesslyfromtheshininghandleofapistolinhispockettowanderhesitatinglytowardsthebottleonthecounter.

Harkutttookthebottle,pouredoutaglassoftheliquor,andpusheditbeforehiscompanion,whodrankiteagerly.Whetheritgavehimmoreconfidence,orhisattentionwasnolongerdiverted,hewentonmorecollectedlyandcheerfully,andwithnotraceofhispreviousdesperationinhismanner."Come,Harkutt,buymyplace.It\'sabargain,Itellyou.I\'llsellitcheap.Ionlywantenoughtogetawaywith.Givemetwenty-fivedollarsandit\'syours.See,there\'sthepapers——thequitclaim——alldrawnupandsigned."Hedrewtherollofpaperfromhispocketagain,apparentlyforgetfuloftheadjacentweapon.

"Lookhere,\'Lige,"saidHarkutt,withabusiness-likestraighteningofhislips,"Iain\'tbuyin\'anylandinTasajara,——leastofallyoursonthecreek.I\'vegotmoreinvestedherealreadythanI\'llevergetbackagain.ButItellyouwhatI\'lldo.Yousayyoucan\'tgobacktoyourshanty.Well,seein\'howroughitisoutside,andthatthewatersofthecreekareprobablyalloverthetrailbythistime,Ireckonyou\'reaboutright.Now,there\'sfivedollars!"

Helaiddownacoinsharplyonthecounter."TakethatandgoovertoRawlett\'sandgetabedandsomesupper.Inthemornin\'youmaybeabletostrikeupatradewithsomebodyelse——orchangeyourmind.Howdidyougethere?Onyourhoss?"

"Yes."

"Heain\'tstarvedyet?"

"No;hecaneatgrass.Ican\'t."

EithertheliquororHarkutt\'spracticalunsentimentaltreatmentofthesituationseemedtogivehimconfidence.HemetHarkutt\'seyemoresteadilyasthelatterwenton."YoukinturnyourhossforthenightintomystockcorralnexttoRawlett\'s.It\'llsaveyoupayin\'forfodderandstablin\'."

Themantookupthecoinwithacertainslowgravitywhichwasalmostlikedignity."Thankyou,"hesaid,layingthepaperonthecounter."I\'llleavethatassecurity."

"Don\'twantit,\'Lige,"saidHarkutt,pushingitback.

"I\'dratherleaveit."

"ButsupposeyouhaveachancetosellittosomebodyatRawlett\'s?"

continuedHarkutt,withaprecautionthatseemedironical.

"Idon\'tthinkthere\'smuchchanceofthat."

Heremainedquiet,lookingatHarkuttwithanoddexpressionasherubbedtheedgeofthecointhatheheldbetweenhisfingersabstractedlyonthecounter.Somethinginhisgaze——ratherperhapstheapparentabsenceofanythinginitapproximatetothepresentoccasion——wasbeginningtoaffectHarkuttwithavagueuneasiness.

Providentiallyaresumedonslaughtofwindandrainagainstthepaneseffectedadiversion."Come,"hesaid,withbriskpracticality,"you\'dbetterhurryontoRawlett\'sbeforeitgetsworse.Haveyourclothesdriedbyhisfire,takesuthin\'toeat,andyou\'llbeallright."Herubbedhishandscheerfully,asifsummarilydisposingofthesituation,andincidentallyofall\'Lige\'stroubles,andwalkedwithhimtothedoor.Nevertheless,astheman\'slookremainedunchanged,hehesitatedamomentwithhishandonthehandle,inthehopethathewouldsaysomething,evenifonlytorepeathisappeal,buthedidnot.ThenHarkuttopenedthedoor;themanmovedmechanicallyout,andatthedistanceofafewfeetseemedtomeltintotherainanddarkness.