第7章

Theyareinterestinginwhattheypromise，ratherthaninwhattheypresent，thoughsomeofthemarestilldelightfulenough。"TheKillingofJuliusCaesarLocalized"isanexcellentforerunnerofhisburlesquereportofagladiatorialcombatinTheInnocentsAbroad。TheAnswerstoCorrespondents，withhisvigorousadmonitionofthestatisticalmoralist，couldhardlyhavebeenbetterdoneatanylaterperiod。TheJumpingFrogitselfwasnotoriginallyofthisharvest。Ithasahistoryofitsown，asweshallseealittlefurtheralong。

Thereportorialarrangementwasofbriefduration。EventhegreatSanFranciscoearthquakeofthatdaydidnotawakeninMarkTwainanypermanententhusiasmforthedrudgeryofthe’Call’。Hehadlostinterest，andwhenMarkTwainlostinterestinasubjectoranundertakingthatsubjectorthatundertakingwerebetterdead，sofarashewasconcerned。HisconclusionofservicewiththeCallwascertain，andhewondereddailywhyitwasdelayedsolong。Theconnectionhadbecomeequallyunsatisfactorytoproprietorandemployee。Theyhadaheart—to—hearttalkpresently，withtheresultthatMarkTwainwasfree。

Heusedtoclaim，inafter—years，withhisusualtendencytoconfesstheworstofhimself，thathewasdischarged，andtheincidenthasbeenvariouslytold。GeorgeBarneshimselfhasdeclaredthatClemensresignedwithgreatwillingness。ItisverylikelythattheparagraphattheendofChapterLVIIIin’RoughingIt’presentsthesituationwithfairaccuracy，though，asalways，theauthormakesitasunpleasantforhimselfaspossible：

"Atlastoneoftheproprietorstookmeaside，withacharityIstillrememberwithconsiderablerespect，andgavemeanopportunitytoresignmyberth，andsosavemyselfthedisgraceofadismissal。"

Asanextremecontrastwiththesupposititious"butterflyidleness"ofhisbeginninginSanFrancisco，andfornootherdiscoverablereason，hedoubtlessthoughtitnecessary，inthenextchapterofthatbook，todepicthimselfashavingreachedthedepthsofhardluck，debt，andpoverty。

"Ibecameanadeptatslinking，"hesays。"Islunkfrombackstreettobackstreet……Islunktomybed。IhadpawnedeverythingbuttheclothesIhadon。"

Thisispurefiction。Thatheoccasionallyfoundhimselfshortoffundsislikelyenough——aliterarylifeinvitesthatsortofthing——butthatheeverclungtoasingle"silverten—centpiece，"ashetellsus，andbecamethefamiliarofmendicancy，wasaconditionsuppliedaltogetherbyhislaterimaginationtosatisfywhathemusthaveregardedasanartisticneed。Almostimmediatelyfollowinghisseparationfromthe’Call’hearrangedwithGoodmantowriteadailyletterfortheEnterprise，reportingSanFranciscomattersafterhisownnotionwithafreehand。Hispaymentforthisworkwasthirtydollarsaweek，andhehadanadditionalreturnfromhisliterarysketches。Thearrangementwasanimprovementbothastolaborandincome。

Realaffluenceappearedonthehorizonjustthen，intheformofaliberalofferfortheTennesseeland。Butalas！itwasfromawine—

growerwhowishedtoturnthetractintogreatvineyards，andOrionhadaprohibitionseizureatthemoment，sothetradewasnotmade。OrionfurtherarguedthattheprospectivepurchaserwouldnecessarilybeobligedtoimporthorticulturallaborfromEurope，andthatthosepeoplemightbehomesick，badlytreated，andconsequentlyunhappyinthosefareasternTennesseemountains。SuchwasOrion’sway。

XLVIII

THEREFUGEOFTHEHILLS

ThosewhorememberMarkTwain’sEnterpriseletters(theyarenolongerobtainable)——[ManyoftheseareindeednowobtainablebyasimpleWebsearch。D。W。]——declarethemtohavebeenthegreatestseriesofdailyphilippicseverwritten。Howeverthismaybe，itiscertainthattheymadeastir。Goodmanpermittedhimtosayabsolutelywhathepleaseduponanysubject。SanFranciscowasfairlywelteringincorruption，officialandprivate。Heassailedwhatevercamefirsttohandwithallthefiercenessofaflamingindignationlongrestrained。

Quitenaturallyheattackedthepolice，andwithsuchferocityandpenetrationthatassoonascopiesoftheEnterprisecamefromVirginiatheCityHallbegantoboilandsmokeandthreatentrouble。MartinG。

Burke，thenchiefofpolice，enteredlibelsuitagainsttheEnterprise，prodigiouslyadvertisingthatpaper，copiesofwhichweresnatchedassoonasthestagebroughtthem。

MarkTwainreallylethimselfgothen。Hewrotealetterthatontheoutsidewasmarked，"BesureandletJoeseethisbeforeitgoesin。"

HeevendoubtedhimselfwhetherGoodmanwoulddaretoprintit，afterreading。Itwasaletterdescribingthecity’scorruptmoralsundertheexistingpolicegovernment。Itbegan，"Theairisfulloflechery，andrumorsoflechery，"andcontinuedinastrainwhichmadeeventheEnterpriseprintersaghast。

"Youcanneveraffordtopublishthat，"theforemansaidto，Goodman。

"Letitallgoin，everyword，"Goodmananswered。"IfMarkcanstandit，Ican！

Itseemedunfortunate(atthetime)thatSteveGillisshouldselectthisparticularmomenttostiruptroublethatwouldinvolvebothhimselfandClemenswiththeveryofficialswhichthelatterhadundertakentopunish。Passingasaloononenightalone，Gillisheardanaltercationgoingoninside，andverynaturallysteppedintoenjoyit。Includingthebarkeeper，therewerethreeagainsttwo。Steverangedhimselfontheweakerside，andselectedthebarkeeper，abigbruiser，who，whenthefightwasover，wasreadyforthehospital。ItturnedoutthathewasoneofChiefBurke’sminions，andGilliswaspresentlyindictedonachargeofassaultwithintenttokill。Heknewsomeoftheofficialsinafriendlyway，andwasadvisedtogiveastrawbondandgointotemporaryretirement。Clemens，ofcourse，wenthisbail，andStevesetoutforVirginiaCity，untilthestormblewover。

ThiswasBurke’sopportunity。WhenthecasewascalledandGillisdidnotappear，Burkepromptlyinstitutedanactionagainsthisbondsman，withanexecutionagainsthislooseproperty。ThewatchthathadbeengivenhimasGovernoroftheThirdHousecamenearbeingthussacrificedinthecauseoffriendship，andwasonlysavedbyskilfulmanipulation。

Now，itwasdowninthechainofcircumstancesthatSteveGillis’sbrother，JamesN。Gillis，agentle—heartedhermit，apocket—minerofthehalcyonTuolumnedistrict——theTruthfulJamesofBretHarte——happenedtobeinSanFranciscoatthistime，andinvitedClemenstoreturnwithhimtothefarseclusionofhiscabinonJackassHill。Inthatpeacefulretreatwerealwaysrestandrefreshmentforthewayfarer，andmorethanonewearywriterbesidesBretHartehadfoundshelterthere。JamesGillishimselfhadfineliteraryinstincts，butheremainedapocket—

minerbecausehelovedthatquietpursuitofgold，theArcadianlife，thecompanionshipofhisbooks，theoccasionalBohemianpilgrimwhofoundrefugeinhisretreat。Itissaidthatthesickweremadewell，andthewellmadebetter，inJimGillis’scabinonthehilltop，wheretheairwasnectarandthestillnesslikeenchantment。Onecouldminethereifhewishedtodoso；Jimwouldalwaysfurnishhimapromisingclaim，andteachhimtheartoffollowingthelittlefan—likedriftofgoldspeckstothenesteddepositofnuggetssomewhereupthehillside。HeregularlysharedhiscabinwithoneDickStoker(DickBaker，of’RoughingIt’)，anothergenialsoulwholongagohadretiredfromtheworldtothisforgottenland，alsowithDick’scat，TomQuartz；buttherewasalwaysroomforguests。

In’RoughingIt’，andinalaterstory，"TheCalifornian’sTale，"MarkTwainhasmadeusacquaintedwiththeverdantsolitudeoftheTuolumnehills，thatdreamy，deliciousparadisewhereonceavastpopulationhadgatheredwhenplacer—mininghadbeeninitsbloom，adozenyearsbefore。

Thehumanswarmhadscatteredwhenthewashingsfailedtopay，leavingonlyaquietemptinessandthefewpocket—minersalongtheStanislausandamongthehills。Vastareasofthatsectionpresentastrangeappearanceto—day。Longstretchesthereare，crowdedandjammedanddriftedwithghostlywhitestonesthatstanduplikefossilsofaprehistoriclife——

theearthdepositwhichoncecoveredthementirelywashedaway，everyparticleofitremovedbythegreedyhordes，leavingonlythisvastbleachingdrift，literallythe"pickedbonesoftheland。"AtoneplacestandsColumbia，regardedonceasarivaltoSacramento，apossibleStatecapital——afewtumblingshantiesnow——andaruinedchurch。

Itwasthe4thofDecember，1864，whenMarkTwainarrivedatJimGillis’scabin。Hefounditahumblehabitationmadeoflogsandslabs，partlyshelteredbyagreatlive—oaktree，surroundedbyastretchofgrass。

Ithadnotmuchinthewayofpretentiousfurniture，buttherewasalargefireplace，andalibrarywhichincludedthestandardauthors。

AyoungerGillisboy，William，wasthereatthistime，sothatthefamilynumberedfiveinall，includingTomQuartz，thecat。Onrainydaystheywouldgatheraboutthebig，openfireandJimGillis，withhisbacktothewarmth，wouldrelatedivertingyarns，creationsofhisown，turnedouthotfromtheanvil，forgedashewentalong。Hehadastartlingimagination，andhehadfostereditinthatsecludedplace。Hisstoriesusuallyconsistedofwonderfuladventuresofhiscompanion，DickStoker，portrayedwithhumorandthatsereneandvagrantfancywhichbuildsasitgoes，carelessastowhitheritisproceedingandwhetherthestoryshallendwellorill，soonorlate，ifever。HealwayspretendedthattheseextravaganttalesofStokerwerestrictlytrue；andStoker——"forty—sixandgrayasarat"——earnest，thoughtful，andtranquillyserene，wouldsmokeandlookintothefireandlistentothoseastonishingthingsofhimself，smilingalittlenowandthenbutsayingneveraword。Whatdiditmattertohim？Hehadnoworldoutsideofthecabinandthehills，noaffairs；hewouldliveanddiethere；hisaffairsallhadendedlongago。

AnumberofthestoriesusedinMarkTwain’sbookswerefirsttoldbyJimGillis，standingwithhishandscrossedbehindhim，backtothefire，inthecabinonjackassHill。ThestoryofDickBaker’scatwasoneofthese；thejaybirdandAcornstoryof’ATrampAbroad’wasanother；alsothestoryofthe"BurningShame，"andthereareothers。MarkTwainhadlittletoaddtothesestories；infact，henevercouldgetthemtosoundaswell，hesaid，aswhenJimGillishadtoldthem。

JamesGillis’simaginationsometimesledhimintodifficulties。Onceafeebleoldsquawcamealongsellingsomefruitthatlookedlikegreenplums。Stoker，whoknewthefruitwellenough，carelesslyventuredtheremarkthatitmightbeallright，buthehadneverheardofanybodyeatingit，whichsetGillisoffintoeloquentpraisesofitsdelights，allofwhichheknewtobepurelyimaginary；whereuponStokertoldhimifhelikedthefruitsowell，tobuysomeofit。Therewasnoescapeafterthat；Jimhadtobuysomeofthoseplums，whoseacidwasofthehair—

liftingaqua—fortisvariety，andalltherestofthedayhestewedthem，addingsugar，tryingtomakethempalatable，tastingthemnowandthen，boastingmeanwhileoftheirnectar—likedeliciousness。Hegavetheothersatastebyandby——awithering，corrodingsup——andtheyderidedhimandrodehimdown。ButJimneverweakened。Heatethatfearfulbrew，andthoughfordayshismouthwaslikefirehestillreferredtotheluscioushealth—givingjoysofthe"Californianplums。"

JackassHillwasnotaltogetherasolitude；hereandtherewereneighbors。Anotherpocket—miner；namedCarrington，hadacabinnotfaraway，andamileortwodistantlivedanoldcouplewithapairofprettydaughters，soplumpandtrimandinnocent，thattheywerecalledthe"ChapparalQuails。"Youngmenfromfarandnearpaidcourttothem，andonSundayafternoonssomanyhorseswouldbetiedtotheirfrontfenceastosuggestanafternoonservicethere。Young"Billy"Gillisknewthem，andoneSundaymorningtookhisbrother’sfriend，SamClemens，overforacall。Theywentearly，withforethought，andpromptlytookthegirlsforawalk。Theytookalongwalk，andwentwanderingoverthehills，towardSandyBarandtheStanislaus——throughthatreposefullandwhichBretHartewouldonedaylightwithidyllicromance——andtowardeveningfoundthemselvesalongwayfromhome。Theymustreturnbythenearestwaytoarrivebeforedark。OneoftheyoungladiessuggestedashortcutthroughtheChemisal，andtheystarted。Buttheywerelost，presently，anditwaslate，verylate，whenatlasttheyreachedtheranch。Themotherofthe"Quails"wassittingupforthem，andshehadsomethingtosay。Sheletgoaperfectstormofgeneraldenunciation，thennarrowedtheattacktoSamuelClemensastheoldestoftheparty。Heremainedmildlyserene。

"Itwasn’tmyfault，"heventuredatlast；"itwasBillyGillis’sfault。"

"Nosuchthing。Youknowbetter。Mr。Gillishasbeenhereoften。Itwasyou。"

"Butdoyourealize，ma’am，howtiredandhungryweare？Haven’tyougotabiteforustoeat？"

"No，sir，notabite——forsuchasyou。"

Theoffender’seyes，wanderingabouttheroom，spiedsomethinginacorner。

"Isn’tthataguitaroverthere？"heasked。

"Yes，sir，itis；whatofit？"

Theculpritwalkedover，andtakingitup，tunedthestringsalittleandstruckthechords。Thenhebegantosing。Hebeganverysoftlyandsang"FlyAway，PrettyMoth，"then"Araby’sDaughter。"Hecouldsingverywellinthosedays，followingwiththesimplerchords。Perhapsthemother"Quail"hadknownthosesongsherselfbackintheStates，forhermannergrewkindlier，almostwiththefirstnotes。Whenhehadfinishedshewasthefirsttoaskhimtogoon。

"Isupposeyouarejustlikeallyoungfolks，"shesaid。"Iwasyoungmyselfonce。WhileyousingI’llgetsomesupper。"

Sheleftthedoortothekitchenopensothatshecouldhear，andcookedwhatevershecouldfindforthebelatedparty。

XLIX

THEJUMPINGFROG

Itwastherainyseason，thewinterof1864and1865，butthereweremanypleasantdays，whentheycouldgopocket—hunting，andSamuelClemenssoonaddedaknowledgeofthisfascinatingsciencetohisotheracquirements。

SometimesheworkedwithDickStoker，sometimeswithoneoftheGillisboys。Hedidnotmakehisfortuneatpocket—mining；heonlylaiditscorner—stone。Intheoldnote—bookhekeptofthatsojournwefindthat，withJimGillis，hemadeatripoverintoCalaverasCountysoonafterChristmasandremainedthereuntilafterNewYear’s，probablyprospecting；andherecordsthatonNewYear’snight，atVallecito，hesawamagnificentlunarrainbowinaverylight，drizzlingrain。Alunaxrainbowisoneofthethingspeopleseldomsee。Hethoughtitanomenofgood—fortune。

Theyreturnedtothecabinonthehill；butlaterinthemonth，onthetheycrossedoverintoCalaverasagain，andbeganpocket—huntingnotfarfromAngel’sCamp。Thenote—bookrecordsthatthebilloffareattheCamphotelconsistedwhollyofbeansandsomethingwhichborethenameofcoffee；alsothattherainswerefrequentandheavy。

January27。Sameolddiet——sameoldweather——wentouttothepocket—claim——hadtorushback。

Theyhadwhattheybelievedtobeagoodclaim。JimGillisdeclaredtheindicationspromising，andiftheycouldonlyhavegoodweathertoworkit，theyweresureofrichreturns。Forhimself，hewouldhavebeenwillingtowork，rainorshine。Clemens，however，haddifferentviewsonthesubject。Hispartwascarryingwaterforwashingoutthepansofdirt，andcarryingpailsofwaterthroughthecoldrainandmudwasnotveryfascinatingwork。DickStokercameoverbeforelongtohelp。

Thingswentalittlebetterthen；butmostoftheirdayswerespentinthebar—roomofthedilapidatedtavernatAngel’sCamp，enjoyingthecompanyofaformerIllinoisRiverpilot，BenCoon，——[Thisnamehasbeenvariouslygivenas"RosCoon，""CoonDrayton，"etc。ItisgivenhereassetdowninMarkTwain’snotes，madeonthespot。Coonwasnot(ashasbeenstated)theproprietorofthehotel(whichwaskeptbyaFrenchman)，butafrequenterofit。]——asolemn，fat—wittedperson，whodozedbythestove，oroldslow，endlessstories，withoutpointorapplication。

Listenerswereaboontohim，forfewcameandnotmanywouldstay。ToMarkTwainandJimGillis，however，BenCoonwasadelight。Itwassoothingandcomfortabletolistentohisendlessnarratives，toldinthatsolemnway，withnosuspicionofhumor。Evenwhenhisyarnshadpoint，hedidnotrecognizeit。Onedrearyafternoon，inhisslow，monotonousfashion，hetoldthemaboutafrog——afrogthathadbelongedtoamannamedColeman，whotrainedittojump，butthatfailedtowinawagerbecausetheownerofarivalfroghadsurreptitiouslyloadedthetrainedjumperwithshot。Thestoryhadcirculatedamongthecamps，andawell—knownjournalist，namedSamuelSeabough，hadalreadymadeasquibofit，butneitherClemensnorGillishadeverhappenedtohearitbefore。Theythoughtthetaleinitselfamusing，andthe"spectacleofamandriftingserenelyalongthroughsuchaqueeryarnwithouteversmilingwasexquisitelyabsurd。"WhenCoonhadtalkedhimselfout，hishearersplayedbilliardsonthefrowsytable，andnowandthenonewouldremarktotheother：

"Idon’tseenop’intsaboutthatfrogthat’sanybetter’nanyotherfrog，"andperhapstheotherwouldanswer：

"Iain’tgotnofrog，butifIhadafrogI’dbetyou。"

Outontheclaim，betweenpailsofwater，Clemens，ashewatchedJimGillisorDickStoker"washing，"wouldbeapttosay，"Idon’tseenop’intsaboutthatpano’dirtthat’sanybetter’nanyotherpano’dirt，"

andsotheykeptitup。

Thentherainwouldcomeagainandinterferewiththeirwork。Oneafternoon，whenClemensandGilliswerefollowingcertaintiny—sprayedspecksofgoldthatwereleadingthemtopocket——somewhereupthelongslope，thechilldownpoursetin。Gillis，asusual，waswashing，andClemenscarryingwater。The"color"wasgettingbetterwitheverypan，andJimGillisbelievedthatnow，aftertheirlongwaiting，theyweretoberewarded。Possessedwiththeminer’spassion，hewouldhavegoneonwashingandclimbingtowardthepreciouspocket，regardlessofeverything。Clemens，however，shiveringanddisgusted，sworethateachpailofwaterwashislast。Histeethwerechatteringandhewaswetthrough。Finallyhesaid，inhisdeliberateway：

"Jim，Iwon’tcarryanymorewater。Thisworkistoodisagreeable。"

Gillishadjusttakenoutapanfulofdirt。

"Bringonemorepail，Sam，"hepleaded。

"Oh，hell，Jim，Iwon’tdoit；I’mfreezing！"

"Justonemorepail，Sam，"hepleaded。

"No，sir，notadrop，notifIknewtherewereamilliondollarsinthatpan。"

Gillistoreapageoutofhisnote—book，andhastilypostedathirty—dayclaimnoticebythepanofdirt，andtheysetoutforAngel’sCamp。Itkeptonrainingandstorming，andtheydidnotgoback。AfewdayslateraletterfromSteveGillismadeClemensdecidetoreturntoSanFrancisco。WithJimGillisandDickStokerheleftAngel’sandwalkedacrossthemountainstoJackassHillinthesnow—storm——"thefirstIeversawinCalifornia，"hesaysinhisnotes。

Inthemeantimetherainhadwashedawaythetopofthepanofearththeyhadleftstandingonthehillside，andexposedahandfulofnuggets—

puregold。Twostrangers，Austrians，hadcomealongand，observingit，hadsatdowntowaituntilthethirty—dayclaimnoticepostedbyJimGillisshouldexpire。Theydidnotmindtherain——notwithallthatgoldinsight——andtheminutethethirtydayswereuptheyfollowedtheleadafewpansfartherandtookout——somesayten，somesaytwenty，thousanddollars。Ineithercaseitwasagoodpocket。MarkTwainmisseditbyonepailofwater。Still，itisjustaswell，perhaps，whenoneremembersthatvasternuggetofAngel’sCamp——theJumpingFrog。JimGillisalwaysdeclared，"IfSamhadgotthatpockethewouldhaveremainedapocket—minertotheendofhisdays，likeme。"

InMarkTwain’soldnote—bookoccursamemorandumofthefrogstory——amerecasualentryofitsmainfeatures：

Colemanwithhisjumpingfrog——betstranger$50——strangerhadnofrog，andC。gothimone：——inthemeantimestrangerfilledC。’sfrogfullofshotandhecouldn’tjump。Thestranger’sfrogwon。

Itseemedunimportantenough，nodoubt，atthetime；butitwasthenucleusaroundwhichwasbuiltasurpassingfame。ThehillsalongtheStanislaushaveturnedoutsomewonderfulnuggetsintheirtime，butnootherofsuchsizeasthat。

L

BACKTOTHETUMULT

FROMthenote—book：

February25。ArrivedinStockton5P。m。HomeagainhomeagainattheOccidentalHotel，SanFrancisco——findlettersfromArtemusWardaskingmetowriteasketchforhisnewbookofNevadaTerritoryTravelswhichissoontocomeout。Toolate——oughttohavegotthelettersthreemonthsago。TheyaredatedearlyinNovember。

HewassorrynottoobligeWard，sorryalsonottohaverepresentationinhisbook。Hewroteexplainingthecircumstance，andtellingthestoryofhisabsence。SteveGillis，meantime，hadreturnedtoSanFrancisco，andsettledhisdifficultiesthere。Thefriendsagaintookupresidencetogether。

MarkTwainresumedhisdailyletterstotheEnterprise，withoutfurtherannoyancefromofficialsources。Perhapstherewasatemporarytruceinthatdirection，thoughhecontinuedtoattackvariousabuses——civic，private，andartistic——becomingasortofgeneralcensor，establishingforhimselfthetitleofthe"MoralistoftheMain。"TheletterswerereprintedinSanFranciscoandwidelyread。Nowandthensomeonehadthetemeritytoanswerthem，butmostofhisvictimsmaintainedadiscreetsilence。InoneoftheselettershetoldoftheMexicanoyster，arathertough，unsatisfactoryarticleofdiet，whichcouldnotstandcriticism，andpresentlydisappearedfromthemarket。Itwasamistake，however，forhimtoattackanAltajournalistbythenameofEvans。

Evanswasapoet，andoncecomposedanelegywitharefrainwhichended：

Gone，gone，gone——

Gonetohisendeavor；

Gone，gone，gone，Foreverandforever。

IntheEnterpriseletterfollowingitspublicationMarkTwainreferredtothispoem。Heparodiedtherefrainandadded，"IfthereisanycriticismtomakeonitIshouldsaythereisalittletoomuch’gone’andnotenough’forever。’"

Itwasamoreorlesspointlesswitticism，butithadahumorousquotableflavor，anditmadeEvansmad。InasquibintheAltaheretaliated：

MarkTwainhaskilledtheMexicanoyster。Weonlyregretthattheactwasnotinspiredbyaworthiermotive。MarkTwain’ssolereasonforattackingtheMexicanoysterwasbecausetherestaurantthatsoldthemrefusedhimcredit。

Adeadlythrustlikethatcouldnotbeparriedinprint。Todenyorrecriminatewouldbetoappearridiculous。Onecouldonlysweatandbreathevengeance。

"Joe，"hesaidtoGoodman，whohadcomeoverforavisit，"myoneobjectinlifenowistomakeenoughmoneytostandtrialandthengoandmurderEvans。"

Hewroteverseshimselfsometimes，andlightenedhisEnterpriseletterswithjingles。OneoftheseconcernedTomMaguire，theautocratmanagerofSanFranciscotheaters。ItdetailsMaguire’sassaultononeofhisactors。

TomMaguire，Rousedtoire，LightedonMcDougal；

Torehiscoat，Clutchedhisthroat，Andsplithiminthebugle。

Forshame！oh，fie！

Maguire，whyWillyouthusskyugle？

Whycurseandswear，AndripandtearTheinnocentMcDougal？

Ofbonesbereft，Almost，you’veleftVestvali，gentleJewgal；

Andnowyou’vesmashedAndalmosthashedTheformofpoorMcDougallGoodmanremembersthatClemensandGillisweretogetheragainonCaliforniaStreetatthistime，andofhearingthemsing，"TheDolefulBalladoftheRejectedLover，"anotherofMarkTwain’scompositions。Itwasawild，blasphemousoutburst，andthefuriousfervorwithwhichMarkandStevedeliveredit，standingsidebysideandwavingtheirfists，didnotrenderitlessobjectionable。Suchmemoriesasthesearesetdownhere，fortheyexhibitaphaseofthatrobustpersonality，builtofthesameprimevalmaterialfromwhichtheworldwascreated——builtofeveryvarietyofmaterial，infact，everincorporatedinahumanbeing——equallycapableofwritingunprintablecoarsenessandthatrarestandmosttenderofallcharacterizations，the’RecollectionsofJOANofARC’。

LI

THECORNER—STONE

AlongwithhisEnterprisework，ClemenscontinuedtowriteoccasionallyfortheCalifornian，butforsomereasonhedidnotofferthestoryofthejumpingfrog。Foronething，hedidnotregardithighlyasliterarymaterial。Heknewthathehadenjoyedithimself，butthehumorandfashionofitstellingseemedtohimoftoosimpleandmildavarietyinthatdayofboisterousincidentandexaggeratedform。ByandbyArtemusWardturnedupinSanFrancisco，andonenightMarkTwaintoldhimhisexperienceswithJimGillis，andinAngel’sCamp；alsoofBenCoonandhistaleoftheCalaverasfrog。Wardwasdelighted。

"Writeit，"hesaid。"Thereisstilltimetogetitintomyvolumeofsketches。SendittoCarleton，mypublisherinNewYork。"——[ThisisinaccordancewithMr。Clemens’srecollectionofthematter。TheauthorcanfindnopositiveevidencethatWardwasonthePacificcoastagainin1865。Itseemslikely，therefore，thatthetellingofthefrogstoryandhisapprovalofitwereaccomplishedbyexchangeofletters。]——

Clemenspromisedtodothis，butdelayedfulfilmentsomewhat，andbythetimethesketchreachedCarleton，Ward’sbookwasaboutreadyforthepress。ItdidnotseemworthwhiletoCarletontomakeanychangeofplansthatwouldincludethefrogstory。ThepublisherhandeditovertoHenryClapp，editoroftheSaturdayPress，aperishingsheet，saying：

"Here，Clapp，here’ssomethingyoucanuseinyourpaper。"Clapptookitthankfullyenough，wemaybelieve。

"JimSmileyandHisJumpingFrog"——[Thiswastheoriginaltitle。]——

appearedintheSaturdayPressofNovember18，1865，andwasimmediatelycopiedandquotedfarandnear。ItbroughtthenameofMarkTwainacrossthemountains，boreitupanddowntheAtlanticcoast，andoutovertheprairiesoftheMiddleWest。AwayfromthePacificslopeonlyareaderhereandtherehadknownthenamebefore。NoweveryonewhotookanewspaperwastreatedtothetaleofthewonderfulCalaverasfrog，andreceivedamentalimpressoftheauthor’ssignature。ThenameMarkTwainbecamehardlyaninstitution，asyet，butitmadeastrongbidfornationalacceptance。

Asforitsowner，hehadnosuspicionofthesemomentoushappeningsforaconsiderabletime。Thetelegraphdidnotcarrysuchnewsinthosedays，andittookagoodwhilefortheechoofhisvictorytotraveltotheCoast。Whenatlastalaggingwordofitdidarrive，itwouldseemtohavebroughtdisappointment，ratherthanexaltation，totheauthor。EvenArtemusWard’sopinionofthestoryhadnotincreasedMarkTwain’sregardforitasliterature。Thatithadstruckthepopularnotemeant，ashebelieved，failureforhismorehighlyregardedwork。InaletterwrittenJanuary20，1866，hesaysthesethingsforhimself：

Idonotknowwhattowrite；mylifeissouneventful。IwishIwasbacktherepilotingupanddowntheriveragain。Verily，allisvanityandlittleworth——savepiloting。

Tothinkthat，afterwritingmanyanarticleamanmightbeexcusedforthinkingtolerablygood，thoseNewYorkpeopleshouldsingleoutavillainousbackwoodssketchtocomplimentmeon！"JimSmileyandHisJumpingFrog"——asquibwhichwouldneverhavebeenwrittenbuttopleaseArtemusWard，andthenitreachedNewYorktoolatetoappearinhisbook。

Butnomatter。Hisbookwasawretchedlypoorone，generallyspeaking，anditcouldbenocredittoeitherofustoappearbetweenitscovers。

ThisparagraphisfromtheNewYorkcorrespondenceoftheSanFranciscoAlta：

"MarkTwain’sstoryintheSaturdayPressofNovember18th，called"JimSmileyandHisJumpingFrog，"hassetallNewYorkinaroar，andhemaybesaidtohavemadehismark。Ihavebeenaskedfiftytimesaboutitanditsauthor，andthepapersarecopyingitfarandnear。Itisvotedthebestthingoftheday。Cannotthe’Californian’affordtokeepMarkalltoitself？ItshouldnotlethimscintillatesowidelywithoutfirstbeingfilteredthroughtheCaliforniapress。"

TheNewYorkpublishinghouseofCarleton&Co。gavethesketchtotheSaturdayPresswhentheyfounditwastoolateforthebook。

ItisdifficulttojudgethejumpingFrogstoryto—day。IthastheintrinsicfundamentalvalueofoneofAEsop’sFables。——[TheresemblanceofthefrogstorytotheearlyGreektalesmusthavebeennotedbyProf。

HenrySidgwick，whosynopsizeditinGreekformandphraseforhisbook，GreekProseComposition。ThroughthisoriginatedtheimpressionthatthestorywasofAthenianroot。MarkTwainhimselfwasdeceived，untilin1899，whenhemetProfessorSidgwick，whoexplainedthattheGreekversionwasthetranslationandMarkTwain’stheoriginal；thathehadthoughtitunnecessarytogivecreditforastorysowellknown。SeeTheJumpingFrog，Harper&Bros。，1903，p。64。]——Itcontainsabasicideawhichisessentiallyludicrous，andthequaintsimplicityofitstellingisconvincingandfullofcharm。ItappearedinprintatatimewhenAmericanhumorwaschaotic，thepublictasteunformed。Wehadavastappreciationforwhatwascomic，withnogreatnumberofopportunitiesforshowingit。Weweresoreadytolaughthatwhenarealopportunitycamealongweimproveditandkeptonlaughingandrepeatingthecauseofourmerriment，directingtheattentionofourfriendstoit。Whetherthestoryof"JimSmiley’sFrog，"offeredforthefirsttimetoday，wouldcapturethepublic，andbecometheinitialblockofatoweringfame，isanothermatter。Thattheauthorhimselfunderrateditiscertain。Thatthepublic，receivingitatwhatwenowtermthepsychologicalmoment，mayhaveoverrateditisbynomeansimpossible。Inanycase，itdoesnotmatternow。Thestonerejectedbythebuilderwasmadethecorner—

stoneofhisliteraryedifice。Assuchitisimmortal。

Intheletteralreadyquoted，ClemensspeaksofbothBretHarteandhimselfashavingquitthe’Californian’infutureexpectingtowriteforEasternpapers。Headds：

ThoughIamgenerallyplacedattheheadofmybreedofscribblersinthispartofthecountry，theplaceproperlybelongstoBretHarte，Ithink，thoughhedeniesit，alongwiththerest。Hewantsmetoclubalotofoldsketchestogetherwithalotofhis，andpublishabook。Iwouldn’tdoit，onlyheagreestotakeallthetrouble。ButIwanttoknowwhetherwearegoingtomakeanythingoutofit，first。However，hehaswrittentoaNewYorkpublisher，andifweareofferedabargainthatwillpayforamonth’slaborwewillgotoworkandpreparethevolumeforthepress。

Nothingcameoftheproposedvolume，orofotherjointliteraryschemesthesetwohadtheninmind。NeitherofthemwouldseemtohavebeenoptimisticastotheirfutureplaceinAmericanliterature；certainlyintheirmostexaltedmomentstheycouldhardlyhavedreamedthatwithinhalfadozenyearstheywouldbetheheadandfrontofanewschoolofletters——thetwomosttalked—ofmeninAmerica。

LII

ACOMMISSIONTOTHESANDWICHISLANDS

Whateverhisfirstemotionsconcerningthesuccessof"JimSmiley’sFrog"

mayhavebeen，thesuddenastonishingleapofthatbatrachianintoAmericanliteraturegavetheauthoranaddedprestigeathomeaswellasindistantparts。Thoseabouthimwereinclinedtoregardhim，insomedegreeatleast，asanationalliteraryfigureandtopaytributeaccordingly。Specialhonorsbegantobeshowntohim。Afinenewsteamer，theAjax，builtfortheSandwichIslandtrade，carriedonitsinitialtripaselectpartyofguestsofwhichhewasinvitedtomakeone。Hedidnotgo，andreproachedhimselfsorrowfullyafterward。

IftheAjaxwerebackIwouldgoquick，andthrowupmycorrespondence。

Shehadfifty—twoinvitedguestsaboard——thecreamofthetown——gentlemenandladies，andasplendidbrassband。IcouldnotacceptbecausetherewouldbenoonetowritemycorrespondencewhileIwasgone。

Infact，thedailyletterhadgrownmonotonous。Hewasrestless，andtheAjaxexcursion，whichhehadbeenobligedtoforego，madehimstillmoredissatisfied。Anideaoccurredtohim：thesugarindustryoftheislandswasamatterofgreatcommercialinteresttoCalifornia，whilethelifeandscenerythere，picturesquelytreated，wouldappealtothegeneralreader。HewasonexcellenttermswithJamesAnthonyandPaulMorrill，oftheSacramentoUnion；heproposedtothemthattheysendhimastheirspecialcorrespondenttoreporttotheirreaders，inaseriesofletters，life，trade，agriculture，andgeneralaspectoftheislands。Tohisvastdelight，theygavehimthecommission。Hewrotehomejoyouslynow：

Iamtoremainthereamonthandransacktheislands，thecataractsandvolcanoescompletely，andwritetwentyorthirtyletters，forwhichtheypayasmuchmoneyasIwouldgetifIstayedathome。

HeaddsthatonhisreturnheexpectstostartstraightacrossthecontinentbywayoftheColumbiaRiver，thePendOreilleLakes，throughMontanaanddowntheMissouriRiver。"OnlytwohundredmilesoflandtravelfromSanFranciscotoNewOrleans。"

Soitis：manproposes，whilefate，undisturbed，spinsserenelyon。

HesailedbytheAjaxonhernexttrip，March7(1866)，beginninghisfirstseavoyage——abrand—newexperience，duringwhichheacquiredthenamesofthesailsandpartsoftheship，withconsiderableknowledgeofnavigation，andoftheislandshewastovisit——whateverinformationpassengersandsailorscouldfurnish。Itwasahappy，stormyvoyagealtogether。In’RoughingIt’hehasgivenussomeaccountofit。

Itwasthe18thofMarchwhenhearrivedatHonolulu，andhisfirstimpressionofthattranquilharborremainedwithhimalways。Infact，hiswholevisittherebecameoneofthosememory—pictures，fullofgoldensunlightandpeace，tobefoundsomewhereineveryhumanpast。

Thelettersofintroductionhehadbrought，andthereputationwhichhadprecededhim，guaranteedhimwelcomeandhospitality。Officialsandprivatecitizenswerealikereadytoshowhimtheirpleasantland，andhefairlyreveledinitsdeliciousair，itssummerwarmth，itssoftrepose。

Oh，islandsthereareonthefaceofthedeepWheretheleavesneverfadeandtheskiesneverweep，hequotesinhisnote—book，andadds：

WentwithMr。Damontohiscool，vine—shadedhome；nocarewornoreager，anxiousfacesinthislandofhappycontentment。God，whatacontrastwithCaliforniaandtheWashoe！

Andinanotherplace：

TheyliveintheS。I。——norush，noworry——merchantgoesdowntohisstorelikeagentlemanatnine——goeshomeatfourandthinksnomoreofbusinesstillnextday。D——nSanF。styleofwearingoutlife。

Hefittedinwiththelanguorousislandexistence，buthehadcomeforbusiness，andhelostnotmuchtime。HefoundthereanumberoffriendsfromWashoe，includingtheRev。Mr。Rising，whosehealthhadfailedfromoverwork。Bytheirdirection，andunderofficialguidance，hesetoutonOahu，oneoftheseveralcurioushorseshehasimmortalizedinprint，and，accompaniedbyapleasantpartyofladiesandgentlemen，encircledtheislandofthatname，crosseditandrecrossedit，visiteditsvariousbattle—fields，returningtoHonolulu，lame，sore，sunburnt，buttriumphant。Hislettershome，bettereventhanhisUnioncorrespondence，revealhispersonalinterestandenthusiasms。

IhavegotalotofhumanboneswhichItookfromoneofthesebattle—fields。IguessIwillbringyousomeofthem。IwentwiththeAmericanMinisterandtookdinnerthiseveningwiththeKing’sGrandChamberlain，whoisrelatedtotheroyalfamily，andthoughdarkerthanamulattohehasanexcellentEnglisheducation，andinmannersisanaccomplishedgentleman。Heistocallformeinthemorning；wewillvisittheKinginthepalace，Afterdinnertheycalledinthe"singinggirls，"andwehadsomebeautifulmusic，sunginthenativetongue。

Itwashisfirstassociationwithroyalty，anditwashumanthatheshouldairitalittle。Inthesameletterhestates："Iwillsailinadayortwoonatouroftheotherislands，tobegonetwomonths。"

’InRoughingIt’hehasgivenusapictureofhisvisitstotheislands，theirplantations，theirvolcanoes，theirnaturalandhistoricwonders。

Hewasaninsatiablesight—seerthen，andaperseveringone。Theverynameofanewpointofinterestfilledhimwithaneagerenthusiasmtobeoff。Nodiscomfortorriskordistancediscouragedhim。Withasingledaringcompanion——amanwhosaidhecouldfindtheway——hecrossedtheburningfloorofthemightycraterofKilauea(theninalmostconstanteruption)，racingacrosstheburninglavafloor，jumpingwideandbottomlesscrevices，whenamisstepwouldhavemeantdeath。

ByandbyMarletteshouted"Stop！"Ineverstoppedquickerinmylife。

Iaskedwhatthematterwas。Hesaidwewereoutofthepath。Hesaidwemustnottrytogoonuntilwefounditagain，forweweresurroundedwithbedsofrottenlava，throughwhichwecouldeasilybreakandplungedown1，000feet。IthoughtBoowouldanswerforme，andwasabouttosayso，whenMarlettepartlyprovedhisstatement，crushingthroughanddisappearingtohisarm—pits。

Theymadetheirwayacrossatlast，andstoodtherestofthenightgazingdownuponaspectacleofacraterinquiveringaction，averitablelakeoffire。Theyhadriskedtheirlivesforthatscene，butitseemedworthwhile。

Hisopen—airlifeontheriver，andtheminingcamps，hadpreparedSamuelClemensforadventuroushardships。Hewasthirtyyearsold，withhisfullaccountofmentalandphysicalcapital。Hisgrowthhadbeenslow，buthewasenteringnowuponhisgoldenage；hewasfittedforconquestofwhateversort，andhewasbeginningtorealizehispower。

LIII

ANSONBURLINGAMEANDTHE"HORNET"DISASTER

ItwasneartheendofJunewhenhereturnedtoHonolulufromatourofalltheislands，fairlywornoutandprostratedwithsaddleboils。Heexpectedonlytorestandbequietforaseason，butallunknowntohimstartlingandhistoricthingsweretakingplaceinwhichhewastohaveapart——eventsthatwouldmarkanotherforwardstrideinhiscareer。

TheAjaxhadjustcomein，bringinghisExcellencyAnsonBurlingame，thenreturningtohispostasministertoChina；alsoGeneralVanValkenburg，ministertoJapan；ColonelRumseyandMinisterBurlingame’sson，Edward，——[EdwardL。Burlingame，nowformanyyearseditorofScribner’sMagazine。]——thenalivelyboyofeighteen。YoungBurlingamehadread"TheJumpingFrog，"andwasenthusiasticaboutMarkTwainandhiswork。

LearningthathewasinHonolulu，laidupathishotel，thepartysentwordthattheywouldcallonhimnextmorning。

Clemensfeltthathemustnotacceptthishonor，sickorwell。Hecrawledoutofbed，dressedandshavedhimselfasquicklyaspossible，anddrovetotheAmericanminister’s，wherethepartywasstaying。Theyhadahilariouslygoodtime。Whenhereturnedtohishotelhesentthem，byrequest，whateverhehadonhandofhiswork。GeneralVanValkenburghadsaidtohim：

"CaliforniaisproudofMarkTwain，andsomedaytheAmericanpeoplewillbe，too，nodoubt。"

Therehasseldombeenamoreaccurateprophecy。

Butastillgreatereventwasimminent。Onthatveryday(June21，1866)

therecamewordofthearrivalatSanpahoe，ontheislandofHawaii，ofanopenboatcontainingfifteenstarvingwretches，whoonshort，ten—dayrationshadbeenbuffetingastormyseaforforty—threedays！Avessel，theHornet，fromNewYork，hadtakenfireandburned"ontheline，"andsinceearlyinMay，onthatmeagersustenance，theyhadbeenbattlingwithhundredsofleaguesofadversebillows，seekingforland。

Afewdaysfollowingthefirstreport，elevenoftherescuedmenwerebroughttoHonoluluandplacedinthehospital。MarkTwainrecognizedthegreatnewsimportanceoftheevent。Itwouldbeasplendidbeatifhecouldinterviewthecastawaysandbethefirsttogettheirstorytohispaper。Therewasnocableinthosedays；avesselforSanFranciscowouldsailnextmorning。Itwastheopportunityofalifetime，andhemustnotmissit。Bedriddenashewas，theundertakingseemedbeyondhisstrength。

ButjustatthistimetheBurlingamepartydescendedonhim，andalmostbeforeheknewithewasonthewaytothehospitalonacot，escortedbytheheadsofthejointlegationsofChinaandJapan。Oncethere，AnsonBurlingame，withhissplendidhumansympathyandhandsome，courtlypresence，drewfromthoseenfeebledcastawaysallthestoryoftheirlongprivationandstruggle，thathadstretchedacrossforty—threedistempereddaysandfourthousandmilesofsea。AllthatMarkTwainhadtodowastolistenandmakethenotes。

Heputinthenight—writingagainsttime。Nextmorning，justasthevesselfortheStateswasdriftingawayfromherdock，astronghandflunghisbulkyenvelopeofmanuscriptaboard，andifthevesselarrivedhisgreatbeatwassure。Itdidarrive，andthethree—columnstoryonthefrontpageoftheSacramentoUnion，initsissueofJuly19th，gavethepublicthefirstdetailedhistoryoftheterribleHornetdisasterandtherescueofthosestarvingmen。Suchastoryoccupiedawiderplaceinthepublicinterestthanitwouldinthesecrowdeddays。Thetelegraphcarriediteverywhere，anditwasfeaturedasasensation。

MarkTwainalwaysadoredthenameandmemoryofAnsonBurlingame。InhisletterhomehetellsofBurlingame’smagnanimityin"throwingawayaninvitationtodinewithprincesandforeigndignitaries"tohelphim。

"YouknowIappreciatethatkindofthing，"hesays；whichwasatruestatement，andinfutureyearshenevermissedanopportunityofpayinganinstalmentonhisdebtofgratitude。Itwasproperthatheshoulddoso，fortheobligationwasafargreateronethanthatcontractedinobtainingthetaleoftheHornetdisaster。Itwasthedebtwhichoneowestoamanwho，fromthedeepmeasureofhisunderstanding，givesencouragementandexactlyneededandconvincingadvice。AnsonBurlingamesaidtoSamuelClemens：

"Youhavegreatability；Ibelieveyouhavegenius。Whatyouneednowistherefinementofassociation。Seekcompanionshipamongmenofsuperiorintellectandcharacter。Refineyourselfandyourwork。Neveraffiliatewithinferiors；alwaysclimb。"

Clemensneverforgotthatadvice。Hedidnotalwaysobserveit，butherarelyfailedtorealizeitsgospel。Burlingameurgedhimtotravel。

"CometoPekinnextwinter，"hesaid，"andvisitme。Makemyhouseyourhome。Iwillgiveyoulettersandintroduceyou。YouwillhavefacilitiesforacquiringinformationaboutChina。"

ItisnotsurprisingthenthatMarkTwainneverfelthisdebttoAnsonBurlingameentirelypaid。Burlingamecamemorethanoncetothehotel，forClemenswasreallyillnow，andtheydiscussedplansforhisfuturebetterment。

Hepromised，ofcourse，tovisitChina，andwhenhewasaloneputinagooddealoftimeplanningatriparoundtheworldwhichwouldincludethegreatcapitals。Whennototherwiseemployedheread；thoughtherewasonlyonebookinthehotel，a"blueandgold"editionofDr。

Holmes’sSongsinManyKeys，andthishesoonknewalmostbyheart，fromtitle—pagetofinis。

Hewassoonupandabout。Noonecouldremainilllonginthosehappyislands。YoungBurlingamecame，andsuggestedwalks。Once，whenClemenshesitated，theyoungmansaid：

"ButthereisaScripturalcommandforyoutogo。"

"IfyoucanquoteoneI’llobeyit，"saidClemens。

"Verywell。TheBiblesays，’Ifanymanrequiretheetowalkamile，gowithhim，Twain。’"

Thecommandwasregardedassufficient。Clemensquotedthewitticismlater(inhisfirstlecture)，anditwasoftenrepeatedinafter—years，ascribedtoWarner，Ward，andadozenothers。Itsoriginwasasheresetdown。

UnderdateofJuly4(1866)，MarkTwain’sSandwichIslandnote—booksays：

Wenttoaball8。30P。M。——dancedtill12。30；stoppedatGeneralVanValkenburg’sroomandtalkedwithhimandMr。BurlingameandEdBurlingameuntil3A。M。

>Fromwhichwemayconcludethathehadaltogetherrecovered。Afewdayslater。thelegationpartyhadsailedforChinaandJapan，andonthe19thClemenshimselfsetoutbyaslowsailing—vesseltoSanFrancisco。

Theywerebecalmedandweretwenty—fivedaysmakingthevoyage。CaptainMitchellandothersofthewreckedHornetwereaboard，andheputinagooddealoftimecopyingtheirdiariesandpreparingamagazinearticlewhich，hebelieved，wouldprovehisrealentrancetotheliteraryworld。

Thevessellayalmostperfectlystill，dayafterday，andbecamearegularplaygroundatsea。SundaystheyhadservicesandMarkTwainledthechoir。

"IhopetheywillhaveabetteropinionofourmusicinheaventhanI

havedownhere，"hesaysinhisnotes。"Iftheydon’t，athunderboltwillknockthisvesselendways。"Itisperhapsworthyofmentionthatonthenightofthe27thofJulyherecordshavingseenanother"splendidlycolored，lunarrainbow。"Thatheregardedthisasanindicationoffuturegood—fortuneisnotsurprising，consideringtheeventsofthepreviousyear。

ItwasAugust13thwhenhereachedSanFrancisco，andthenote—bookentryofthatdaysays：

Homeagain。No——nothomeagain——inprisonagain，endallthewildsenseoffreedomgone。Thecityseemssocrampedandsodrearywithtoilandcareandbusinessanxiety。Godhelpme，IwishIwereatseaagain！

Therewerecompensations，however。HewentovertoSacramento，andwasabundantlywelcomed。Itwasagreedthat，inadditiontothetwentydollarsallowedforeachletter，aspecialbillshouldbemadefortheHornetreport。

"Howmuchdoyouthinkitoughttobe，Mark？"JamesAnthonyasked。

"Oh，I’mamodestman；Idon’twantthewholeUnionoffice。Callit$100

acolumn。"

Therewasagenerallaugh。Thebillwasmadeoutatthatfigure，andhetookittothebusinessofficeforpayment。

"Thecashierdidn’tfaint，"hewrote，manyyearslater，"buthecamerathernearit。Hesentfortheproprietors，andtheyonlylaughedintheirjollyfashion，andsaiditwasarobbery，but’nomatter，payit。

It’sallright。’Thebestmenthateverownedanewspaper。"——["MyDebutasaLiteraryPerson。"——Collectedworks。]——

Thoughinferiortothedescriptivewritingwhichayearlaterwouldgivehimaworld—widefame，theSandwichIslandlettersaddedgreatlytohisprestigeonthePacificcoast。Theywereconvincing，informing；tersely——eveneloquently——descriptive，withaveinofhumoradaptedtotheiraudience。Yettoreadthemnow，inthefinenonpareiltypeinwhichtheywereset，issuchawearyingtaskthatonecanonlymarvelattheirpopularity。Theywerenotbrilliantliterature，byourstandardsto—day。

Theirhumorisusuallyofamuscularkind，variedwithgrotesqueexaggerations；theliteraryqualityisprettyattenuated。Hereandthereareattemptsatverse。Hehadafashioninthosedaysofcombiningtwoormorepoemswithdistracting，sometimesamusing，effect。ExamplesofthesedislocationsoccurintheUnionletters；asinglestanzawillpresentthegeneralidea：

TheAssyriancamedownlikeawolfonthefold，Theturfwiththeirbayonetsturning，Andhiscohortsweregleamingwithpurpleandgold，Andourlanternsdimlyburning。

OnlyatriflingportionofthelettersfoundtheirwayintohisSandwichIslandchaptersof’RoughingIt’，fiveyearslater。Theydo，however，revealasortoftransitionstagebetweentheriotousflorescenceoftheComstockandthemellownessofhislaterstyle。Hewaslearningtoseethingswithbettereyes，fromabetterpointofview。ItisnotdifficulttobelievethatthisliterarychangeofheartwasinnosmallmeasureduetotheinfluenceofAnsonBurlingame。

EndMarkTwain，ABiography，1866—1875

ByAlbertBigelowPaineVOLUMEI，Part2：1866—1875

LIV

THELECTURER

Itwasnoteasytotakeupthedailystruggleagain，butitwasnecessary。——[Clemensoncedeclaredhehadbeensoblueatthisperiodthatonemorningheputaloadedpistoltohishead，butfoundhelackedcouragetopullthetrigger。]——Outoftheruckofpossibilities(hisbrainalwaysthrongedwithplans)heconstructedthreeorfourresolves。

Thechiefofthesewasthetriparoundtheworld；butthatlaymonthsahead，andinthemeantimewaysandmeansmustbeprovided。AnotherintentionwastofinishtheHornetarticle，andforwardittoHarper’sMagazine——apurposecarriedimmediatelyintoeffect。Tohisdelightthearticlefoundacceptance，andhelookedforwardtothedayofitspublicationasthebeginningofarealcareer。Heintendedtofollowitupwithaseriesontheislands，whichinduetimemightresultinabookandanincome。Hehadgonesofarastoexperimentwithadedicationforthebook——aninscriptiontohismother，modifiedlaterforusein’TheInnocentsAbroad’。AthirdplanofactionwastotakeadvantageofthepopularityoftheHawaiianletters，anddeliveralectureonthesamesubject。Butthiswasafearsomeprospect——hetrembledwhenhethoughtofit。AsGovernoroftheThirdHousehehadbeenextravagantlyreceivedandapplauded，butinthatcasethepositionofpublicentertainerhadbeenthrustuponhim。Tocomeforwardnow，offeringhimselfinthesamecapacity，wasadifferentmatter。Hebelievedhecouldentertain，buthelackedthecouragetodeclarehimself；besides，itmeantariskofhisslendercapital。HeconfidedhissituationtoCol。JohnMcComb，oftheAltaCalifornia，andwasstartledbyMcComb’svigorousendorsement。

"Doit，byallmeans！"urgedMcComb。"Itwillbeagrandsuccess——Iknowit！Takethelargesthouseintown，andchargeadollaraticket。"

Frightenedbutresolute，hewenttotheleadingtheatermanagerthesameTomMaguireofhisverses——andwasofferedthenewopera—houseathalfrates。Thenextdaythisadvertisementappeared：

MAGUIRE’SACADEMYOFMUSIC

PINESTREET，NEARMONTGOMERY

THESANDWICHISLANDS

MARKTWAIN

(HONOLULUCORRESPONDENTOFTHESACRAMENTOUNION)

WILLDELIVERA

LECTUREONTHESANDWICHISLANDS

ATTHEACADEMYOFMUSIC

ONTUESDAYEVENING，OCT。2d(1866)

InwhichpassingmentionwillbemadeofHarris，BishopStaley，theAmericanmissionaries，etc。，andtheabsurdcustomsandcharacteristicsofthenativesdulydiscussedanddescribed。ThegreatvolcanoofKilaueawillalsoreceiveproperattention。

ASPLENDIDORCHESTRA

isintown，buthasnotbeenengagedALSO

ADENOFFEROCIOUSWILDBEASTS

willbeonexhibitioninthenextblockMAGNIFICENTFIREWORKS

wereincontemplationforthisoccasion，buttheideahasbeenabandonedAGRANDTORCHLIGHTPROCESSION

maybeexpected；infact，thepublicareprivilegedtoexpectwhatevertheyplease。

DressCircle，$1。00FamilyCircle，50cDoorsopenat7o’clockTheTroubletobeginat8o’clockThestoryofthatfirstlecture，astoldinRoughingIt，isafaithfulone，andneedonlybesummarizedhere。

Expectingtofindthehouseempty，hefounditpackedfromthefootlightstothewalls。Sidlingoutfromthewings——wobbly—kneedanddryoftongue——hewasgreetedbyamurmur，aroar，averycrashofapplausethatfrightenedawayhisremainingvestigesofcourage。Then，camereaction——

thesewerehisfriends，andhebegantotalktothem。Fearmeltedaway，andastideaftertideofapplauseroseandbillowedandcamebreakingathisfeet，heknewsomethingoftheexaltationofMonteCristowhenhedeclared"Theworldismine！"

Itwasavastsatisfactiontohavesucceeded。Itwasparticularlygratifyingatthistime，forhedreadedgoingbackintonewspaperharness。Also；itsoftenedlaterthedisappointmentresultingfromanotherventure；forwhentheDecemberHarperappeared，withhisarticle，theprinterandproof—readerhadsomehowconvertedMarkTwaininto"MarkSwain，"andhisliterarydreamperished。

Astotheliteraryvalueofhislecture，itwasmuchhigherthanhad，beenanyportionofhisletters，ifwemayjudgefromitsfewremainingfragments。Oneofthese——apartofthedescriptionofthegreatvolcanoHaleakala，ontheislandofMaui——isafairexampleofhiseloquence。

ItissomewhatmorefloridthanhislaterdescriptionofthesamesceneinRoughingIt，whichitotherwiseresembles；andwemayimaginethatitspoetry，withtheaddedcharmofitsdelivery，heldbreathlesshishearers，manyofwhombelievedthatnopurereloquencehadeverbeenutteredorwritten。

Itisworthremembering，too，thatinthislecture，deliveredsolongago，headvocatedtheideaofAmericanownershipoftheseislands，dwellingatconsiderablelengthonhisreasonsforthisideal。

——[ForfragmentaryextractsfromthisfirstlectureofMarkTwainandnewscomment，seeAppendixD，endoflastvolume。]——

Therewasagrossreturnfromhisventureofmorethan$1，200，butwithhisusualbusinessinsight，whichwasneverforesight，hehadmadeanarrangementbywhich，afterpayingbillsanddividingwithhismanager，hehadonlyaboutone—thirdof，thissumleft。Still，eventhiswasprosperityandtriumph。Hehadacquiredanewandlucrativeprofessionatabound。Thepaperslaudedhimasthe"mostpiquantandhumorouswriterandlecturerontheCoastsincethedaysofthelamentedJohnPhoenix。"Hefeltthathewasonthehighroadatlast。

DenisMcCarthy，lateoftheEnterprise，wasinSanFrancisco，andwaswillingtobecomehismanager。Deniswascapableandhonest，andClemenswasfondofhim。Theyplannedatourofthenear—bytowns，beginningwithSacramento，extendingitlatereventotheminingcamps，suchasRedDogandGrassValley；alsoacrossintoNevada，withengagementsatCarsonCity，Virginia，andGoldHill。Itwasanexultantandhilariousexcursion——thatfirstlecturetourmadebyDenisMcCarthyandMarkTwain。

Successtraveledwiththemeverywhere，whetherthelecturerlookedacrossthefootlightsofsomepretentious"opera—house"orbetweenthetwotallowcandlesofsomecamp"academy。"Whateverthebuilding，itwaspacked，andthereturnsweremaximum。

Thosewhorememberhimasalecturerinthatlong—agotimesaythathisdeliverywasmorequaint，hisdrawlmoreexaggerated，eventhaninlaterlife；thathisappearanceandmovementsonthestagewerenatural，ratherthangraceful；thathismanuscript，whichhecarriedunderhisarm，lookedlikearuffledhen。Itwas，infact，originallywrittenonsheetsofmanilapaper，inlargecharacters，sothatitcouldbereadeasilybydimlight，anditwasdoubtlessoftendisordered。

Therewasplentyofamusingexperienceonthistour。Atoneplace，whenthelecturewasover，anoldmancametohimandsaid：

"Bethemyournaturaltonesofeloquence？"

AtGrassValleytherewasarivalshow，consistingofaladytight—ropewalkerandherhusband。Itwasasmallplace，andthetight—ropeattractionseemedlikelytofail。Thelady’shusbandhadformerlybeenacompositorontheEnterprise，sothathefelttherewasabondofbrotherhoodbetweenhimandMarkTwain。

"Lookhere，"hesaid。"Let’scombineourshows。I’llletmywifedothetight—ropeactoutsideanddrawacrowd，andyougoinsideandlecture。"

Thearrangementwasnotmade。

Followingcustom，thelectureratfirstthoughtitnecessarytobeintroduced，andateachplaceMcCarthyhadtoskirmisharoundandfindtheproperperson。AtRedDog，ontheStanislaus，themanselectedfailedtoappear，andDenishadtoprovideanotheronshortnotice。

Hewentdownintotheaudienceandcapturedanoldfellow，whoduckedanddodgedbutcouldnotescape。Denisledhimtothestage，agooddealfrightened。

"Ladiesandgentlemen，"hesaid，"thisisthecelebratedMarkTwainfromthecelebratedcityofSanFrancisco，withhiscelebratedlectureaboutthecelebratedSandwichIslands。"

Thatwasasfarashecouldgo；butitwasfarenough。MarkTwainneverhadabetterintroduction。Theaudiencewasinashoutinghumorfromthestart。

Clemenshimselfusedtotellofanintroductionatanothercamp，wherehissponsorsaid：

"Ladiesandgentlemen，Iknowonlytwothingsaboutthisman：thefirstisthathe’sneverbeeninjail，andthesecondisIdon’tknowwhy。"

Butthisisprobablyapocryphal；thereistoomuch"MarkTwain"init。

WhenhereachedVirginia，Goodmansaidtohim：

"Sam，youdonotneedanybodytointroduceyou。There’sapianoonthestageinthetheater。Haveitbroughtoutinsight，andwhenthecurtainrisesyoubeseatedatthepiano，playingandsingingthatsongofyours，’IHadanOldHorseWhoseNameWasMethusalem，’anddon’tseemtonoticethatthecurtainisupatfirst；thenbesurprisedwhenyousuddenlyfindoutthatitisup，andbegintalking，withoutanyfurtherpreliminaries。"

Thisprovedgoodadvice，andthelecture，thusopened，startedoffwithgeneralhilarityandapplause。

LV

HIGHWAYROBBERY

HisNevada，lectureswereboundtobeimmenselysuccessful。Thepeopleregardedhimastheirpropertyoverthere，andatCarsonandVirginiathehousesoverflowed。AtVirginiaespeciallyhisfriendsurgedandbeggedhimtorepeattheentertainment，butheresolutelydeclined。

"Ihaveonlyonelectureyet，"hesaid。"Icannotbringmyselftogiveittwiceinthesametown。"

Butthatirresponsibleimp，SteveGillis，whowasagaininVirginia，conceivedaplanwhichwouldmakeitnotonlynecessaryforhimtolectureagain，butwouldsupplyhimwithasubject。Steve’splanwasverysimple：itwastorelievethelecturerofhisfundsbyafriendlyhighwayrobbery，andletanaccountoftheadventurefurnishthenewlecture。

In’RoughingIt’MarkTwainhasgivenaversionofthismockrobberywhichiscorrectenoughasfarasitgoes；butimportantdetailsarelacking。Onlyafewyearsago(itwasApril，1907)，inhiscabinonjackassHill，withJosephGoodmanandthewriterofthishistorypresent，SteveGillismadehis"death—bed"confessionasisheresetdown：

"Mark’slecturewasgiveninPiper’sOperaHouse，October30，1866。TheVirginiaCitypeoplehadheardmanyfamouslecturesbefore，buttheyweremeresideshowscomparedwithMark’s。Itcouldhavebeenruntocrowdedhousesforaweek。Webeggedhimtogivethecommonpeopleachance；butherefusedtorepeathimself。HewasgoingdowntoCarson，andwascomingbacktotalkinGoldHillaboutaweeklater，andhisagent，DenisMcCarthy，andIlaidaplantohavehimrobbedontheDividebetweenGoldHillandVirginia，aftertheGoldHilllecturewasoverandheandDeniswouldbecominghomewiththemoney。TheDividewasagoodlonelyplace，andwasfamousforitshold—ups。WegotCityMarshalGeorgeBirdsallintoitwithus，andtookinLeslieBlackburn，PatHolland，JimmyEddington，andoneortwomoreofSam’soldfriends。Wealllovedhim，andwouldhavefoughtforhiminamoment。That’sthekindoffriendsMarkhadinNevada。IfhehadanyenemiesIneverheardofthem。

"Wedidn’ttakeinDandeQuille，orJoehere，becauseSamwasJoe’sguest，andwewereafraidhewouldtellhim。Wedidn’ttakeinDanbecausewewantedhimtowriteitupasagenuinerobberyandmakeabigsensation。Thatwouldpacktheopera—houseattwodollarsaseattohearMarktellthestory。

"Well，everythingwentoffprettywell。AboutthetimeMarkwasfinishinghislectureinGoldHilltherobbersallwentupontheDividetowait，butMark’saudiencegavehimakindofreceptionafterhislecture，andwenearlyfrozetodeathuptherebeforehecamealong。

ByandbyIwentbacktoseewhatwasthematter。SamandDeniswerecoming，andcarryingacarpet—sackabouthalffullofsilverbetweenthem。Ishadowedthemandblewapoliceman’swhistleasasignaltotheboyswhenthelecturerswerewithinaboutahundredyardsoftheplace。

IheardSamsaytoDenis：

"’I’mgladthey’vegotapolicemanontheDivide。Theyneverhadoneinmyday。’

"Justaboutthattimetheboys，allwithblackmasksonandsilverdollarsatthesidesoftheirtonguestodisguisetheirvoices，steppedoutandstucksix—shootersatSamandDenisandtoldthemtoputuptheirhands。Therobberscalledeachother’Beauregard’and’StonewallJackson。’OfcourseDenis’shandswentup，andMark’s，too，thoughMarkwasn’tabitscaredorexcited。Hetalkedtotherobbersinhisregularfashion。Hesaid：

"’Don’tflourishthosepistolssopromiscuously。Theymightgooffbyaccident。’

"Theytoldhimtohandoverhiswatchandmoney；butwhenhestartedtotakehishandsdowntheymadehimputthemupagain。Thenheaskedhowtheyexpectedhimtogivethemhisvaluableswithhishandsupinthesky。Hesaidhistreasuresdidn’tlieinheaven。Hetoldthemnottotakehiswatch，whichwastheoneSandyBaldwinandTheodoreWintershadgivenhimasGovernoroftheThirdHouse，butwetookitallthesame。

"Wheneverhestartedtoputhishandsdownwemadehimputthemupagain。

Oncehesaid：

"’Don’tyoufellowsbesorough。Iwastenderlyreared。’

"ThenwetoldhimandDenistokeeptheirhandsupforfifteenminutesafterweweregone——thiswastogiveustimetogetbacktoVirginiaandbesettledwhentheycamealong。AsweweregoingawayMarkcalled：

"’Say，youforgotsomething。’

"’Whatisit？’

"Why，thecarpet—bag。’

"Hewascoolallthetime。SenatorBillStewart，inhisAutobiography，tellsagreatstoryofhowscaredMarkwas，andhowheran；butStewartwasthreethousandmilesfromVirginiabythattime，andlatergotmadatMarkbecausehemadeajokeabouthimin’RoughingIt’。

"Deniswantedtotakehishandsdownprettysoonafterweweregone，butMarksaid：

"’No，Denis，I’musedtoobeyingorderswhentheyaregiveninthatconvincingway；we’lljustkeepourhandsupanotherfifteenminutesorsoforgoodmeasure。’

"WewerewaitinginabigsaloononCStreetwhenMarkandDeniscamealong。Weknewtheywouldcomein，andweexpectedMarkwouldbeexcited；buthewasasunruffledasamountainlake。Hetoldustheyhadbeenrobbed，andaskedmeifIhadanymoney。Igavehimahundreddollarsofhisownmoney，andheorderedrefreshmentsforeverybody。

ThenweadjournedtotheEnterpriseoffice，whereheofferedareward，andDandeQuillewroteupthestoryandtelegraphedittotheothernewspapers。ThensomebodysuggestedthatMarkwouldhavetogiveanotherlecturenow，andthattherobberywouldmakeagreatsubject。Heenteredrightintothething，andnextdayweengagedPiper’sOperaHouse，andpeoplewereofferingfivedollarsapieceforfrontseats。ItwouldhavebeenthebiggestthingthatevercametoVirginiaifithadcomeoff。

"Butwemadeamistake，then，bytakingSandyBaldwinintothejoke。WetookinJoehere，too，andgavehimthewatchandmoneytokeep，whichmadeithardforJoeafterward。ButitwasSandyBaldwinthatruinedus。

HehadMarkouttodinnerthenightbeforetheshowwastocomeoff，andafterhegotwellwarmedupwithchampagnehethoughtitwouldbeasmartthingtoletMarkintowhatwasreallygoingon。

"Markdidn’tseeitourway。Hewasmadclearthrough。"

AtthispointJosephGoodmantookupthestory。Hesaid：

"ThosedevilsputSam’smoney，watch，keys，pencils，andallhisthingsintomyhands。Ifeltparticularlymeanatbeingmadeaccessorytothecrime，especiallyasSamwasmyguest，andIhadgravedoubtsastohowhewouldtakeitwhenhefoundouttherobberywasnotgenuine。

"Ifeltterriblyguiltywhenhesaid：

"’Joe，thosed——nthievestookmykeys，andIcan’tgetintomytrunk。

Doyousupposeyoucouldgetmeakeythatwouldfitmytrunk？’

"IsaidIthoughtIcouldduringtheday，andafterSamhadgoneItookhisownkey，putitinthefireandburntittomakeitlookblack。ThenItookafileandscratchedithereandthere，tomakeitlookasifI

hadbeenfittingittothelock，feelingguiltyallthetime，likeamanwhoistryingtohideamurder。Samdidnotaskforhiskeythatday，andthateveninghewasinvitedtojudgeBaldwin’stodinner。Ithoughthelookedprettysilentandsolemnwhenhecamehome；butheonlysaid：

"’Joe，let’splaycards；Idon’tfeelsleepy。’

"Stevehere，andtwoorthreeoftheotherboyswhohadbeenactiveintherobbery，werepresent，andtheydidnotlikeSam’smanner，sotheyexcusedthemselvesandlefthimalonewithme。Weplayedagoodwhile；

thenhesaid：

"’Joe，thesecardsaregreasy。Ihavegotsomenewonesinmytrunk。

Didyougetthatkeyto—day？’

"Ifishedoutthatburnt，scratched—upkeywithfearandtrembling。Buthedidn’tseemtonoticeitatall，andpresentlyreturnedwiththecards。Thenweplayed，andplayed，andplayed——tilloneo’clock——twoo’clock——Samhardlysayingaword，andIwonderingwhatwasgoingtohappen。Byandbyhelaiddownhiscardsandlookedatme，andsaid：

"’Joe，SandyBaldwintoldmeallaboutthatrobberyto—night。Now，Joe，Ihavefoundoutthatthelawdoesn’trecognizeajoke，andIamgoingtosendeveryoneofthosefellowstothepenitentiary。’

"Hesaiditwithsuchsolemngravity，andsuchvindictiveness，thatI

believedhewasindeadearnest。

"IknowthatIputintwohoursofthehardestworkIeverdid，tryingtotalkhimoutofthatresolution。Iusedalltheargumentsabouttheboysbeinghisoldestfriends；howtheyalllovedhim，andhowthejokehadbeenentirelyforhisowngood；Ipleadedwithhim，beggedhimtoreconsider；Iwentandgothismoneyandhiswatchandlaidthemonthetable；butforatimeitseemedhopeless。AndIcouldimaginethosefellowsgoingbehindthebars，andthesensationitwouldmakeinCalifornia；andjustasIwasabouttogiveituphesaid：

"’Well，Joe，I’llletitpass——thistime；I’llforgivethemagain；I’vehadtodoitsomanytimes；butifIshouldseeDenisMcCarthyandSteveGillismountingthescaffoldto—morrow，andIcouldsavethembyturningovermyhand，Iwouldn’tdoit！’

"Hecanceledthelectureengagement，however，nextmorning，andthedayafterleftonthePioneerStage，bythewayofDonnerLake，forCalifornia。Theboyscamerathersheepishlytoseehimoff；buthewouldmakenoshowofrelenting。WhentheyintroducedthemselvesasBeauregard，StonewallJackson，etc。，hemerelysaid：

"’Yes，andyou’llallbebehindthebarssomeday。There’sbeenagooddealofrobberyaroundherelately，andit’sprettyclearnowwhodidit。’Theyhandedhimapackagecontainingthemaskswhichtherobbershadworn。Hereceiveditingloomysilence；butasthestagedroveawayheputhisheadoutofthewindow，andaftersomeprettyvigorousadmonitionresumedhisoldsmile，andcalledout：’Good—by，friends；

good—by，thieves；Ibearyounomalice。’Sotheheaviestjokewasonhistormentorsafterall。"

ThisisthestoryofthefamousMarkTwainrobberydirectfromheadquarters。Ithasbeengarbledinsomanywaysthatitseemsworthsettingdowninfull。DenisMcCarthy，whojoinedhimpresentlyinSanFrancisco，receivedalittlemorepunishmentthere。

"Whatkindofatripdidyouboyshave？"afriendaskedofthem。

Clemens，justrecoveringfromacoldwhichtheexposureontheDividehadgivenhim，smiledgrimly：

"Oh，prettygood，onlyDenisheremistookitforaspree。"

HelecturedagaininSanFrancisco，thistimetellingthestoryofhisOverlandtripin1861，andhedidthedaringthingofrepeatingthreetimestheworn—outstoryofHoraceGreeley’sridewithHankMonk，asgivenlaterin’RoughingIt’。Peopleweredeadlytiredofthatstoryoutthere，andwhenhetolditthefirsttime，withgreatseriousness，theythoughthemustbefailingmentally。Theydidnotlaugh——theyonlyfeltsorry。Hewaitedalittle，asifexpectingalaugh，andpresentlyledaroundtoitandtolditagain。Theaudiencewasastonishedstillmore，andpitiedhimthoroughly。Heseemedtobewaitingpatheticallyinthedeadsilencefortheirapplause，thenwentonwithhislecture；butpresently，withlaboredeffort，struggledaroundtotheoldstoryagain，andtolditforthethirdtime。Theaudiencesuddenlysawthejokethen，andbecamevociferousandhystericalintheirapplause；butitwasanarrowescape。Hewouldhavebeenhystericalhimselfifthereliefhadnotcamewhenitdid。

——[Aside—lightontheHoraceGreeleystoryandonMr。Greeley’seccentricitiesisfurnishedbyMr。Goodman：

WhenIwasgoingEastin1869IhappenedtoseeHankMonkjustbeforeI

started。"Mr。Goodman，"hesaid，"youtellHoraceGreeleythatIwanttocomeEast，andaskhimtosendmeapass。""Allright，Hank，"Isaid，"Iwill。"IthappenedthatwhenIgottoNewYorkCityoneofthefirstmenImetwasGreeley。"Mr。Greeley，"said，"IhaveamessageforyoufromHankMonk。"Greeleybristledandglaredatme。"That——rascal？"hesaid"HehasdonememoreinjurythananyothermaninAmerica。"]

LVI

BACKTOTHESTATES

InthemeantimeClemenshadcompletedhisplanforsailing，andhadarrangedwithGeneralMcComb，oftheAltaCalifornia，forlettersduringhisproposedtriparoundtheworld。However，hemeanttovisithispeoplefirst，andhisoldhome。Hecouldgobackwithmeansnow，andwiththeprestigeofsuccess。

"Isailto—morrowperOpposition——telegraphedyouto—day，"hewroteonDecember14th，andadaylaterhisnote—bookentrysays：

SailedfromSanFranciscoinOpposition(line)steamerAmerica，Capt。Wakeman，atnoon，15thDec。，1866。Pleasantsunnyday，hillsbrightlycladwithgreengrassandshrubbery。

Sohewasreallygoinghomeatlast！Hehadbeengonefiveandahalfyears——eventful，adventurousyearsthathadmadehimovercompletely，atleastsofarasambitionsandequipmentwereconcerned。Hehadcameaway，inhisearlymanhood，aprinterandapilot，unknownoutsideofhisclass。Hewasreturningamanofthirty—one，withafundofhardexperience，threeaddedprofessions——mining，journalism，andlecturing——

alsowithanewname，alreadyfamousonthesunsetslopesofitsadoption，andbeginningtobeheardoverthehillsandfaraway。Insomedegree，atleast，heresembledtheprinceofafairytalewho，startingouthumbleandunnoticed，winshiswaythroughahundredadventuresandreturnswithgiftsandhonors。

Thehomewardvoyagewasanotableone。ItbeganwithatempestalittlewayoutofSanFrancisco——astormterriblebutbrief，thatbroughtthepassengersfromtheirberthstothedeck，andforatimesetthempraying。ThentherewasCaptainNedWakeman，abig，burly，fearlesssailor，whohadvisitedtheedgesofallcontinentsandarchipelagos；whohadbeenbornatsea，andneverhadaday’sschoolinginhislife，butknewtheBiblebyheart；whowasfullofhumannatureandprofanity，andbelievedhewastheonlymanontheglobewhoknewthesecretoftheBiblemiracles。HebecameadistinctpersonalityinMarkTwain’swork——

thememoryofhimwasanunfailingdelight。Captain"NedBlakely，"in’RoughingIt’，whowithhisownhandshangedBillNoakes，afterreadinghimpromiscuouschaptersfromtheBible，wasCaptainWakeman。Captain"Stormfield，"whohadthemarvelousvisittoheaven，waslikewiseCaptainWakeman；andheappearsinthe"IdleExcursion"andelsewhere。

AnothereventofthevoyagewascrossingtheNicaraguaIsthmus——thetripacrossthelakeanddowntheSanJuanRiver——a，brand—newexperience，betweenshoresofsplendidtropictangle，gleamingwithvividlife。Theluxuriancegotintohisnote—book。