第54章

herewastheplankbridgewithitsonerottenboard；andheretheflatovergrownwithmanzanita，whereheoncehadshotthreequail。

Atnoon，afterhehadbeentrampingforsometwohours，hehaltedatapointwheretheroaddippedsuddenly。Alittletotherightofhim，andflankingtheroad，anenormousyellowgravel-pitlikeanemptiedlakegapedtoheaven。

Fartheron，inthedistance，acanyonzigzaggedtowardthehorizon，ruggedwithpine-cladmountaincrests。Nearerathand，anddirectlyinthelineoftheroad，wasanirregularclusterofunpaintedcabins。Adull，prolongedroarvibratedintheair。McTeaguenoddedhisheadasifsatisfied。

“That’stheplace，“hemuttered。

Hereshoulderedhisblanketrollanddescendedtheroad。Atlasthehaltedagain。Hestoodbeforealowone-storybuilding，differingfromtheothersinthatitwaspainted。

Averandah，shutinwithmosquitonetting，surroundedit。

McTeaguedroppedhisblanketrollonalumberpileoutside，andcameupandknockedattheopendoor。Someonecalledtohimtocomein。

McTeagueentered，rollinghiseyesabouthim，notingthechangesthathadbeenmadesincehehadlastseenthisplace。Apartitionhadbeenknockeddown，makingonebigroomoutofthetwoformersmallones。Acounterandrailingstoodinsidethedoor。Therewasatelephoneonthewall。Inonecornerhealsoobservedastackofsurveyor’sinstruments；abigdrawing-boardstraddledonspindlelegsacrossoneendoftheroom，amechanicaldrawingofsomekind，nodoubttheplanofthemine，unrolleduponit；achromorepresentingacoupleofpeasantsinaploughedfield(Millet’s“Angelus“)wasnailedunframeduponthewall，andhangingfromthesamewirenailthatsecuredoneofitscornersinplacewasabullionbagandacartridgebeltwithaloadedrevolverinthepouch。

Thedentistapproachedthecounterandleanedhiselbowsuponit。Threemenwereintheroom——atall，leanyoungman，withathickheadofhairsurprisinglygray，whowasplayingwithahalf-growngreatDanepuppy；anotherfellowaboutasyoung，butwithajawalmostassalientasMcTeague’s，stoodattheletter-presstakingacopyofaletter；athirdman，alittleolderthantheothertwo，waspotteringoveratransit。Thislatterwasmassivelybuilt，andworeoverallsandlowbootsstreakedandstainedandspottedineverydirectionwithgraymud。Thedentistlookedslowlyfromonetotheother；thenatlength，“Istheforemanabout？“heasked。

Themaninthemuddyoverallscameforward。

“Whatyouwant？“

HespokewithastrongGermanaccent。

TheoldinvariableformulacamebacktoMcTeagueontheinstant。

“What’stheshowforajob？“

AtoncetheGermanforemanbecamepreoccupied，lookingaimlesslyoutofthewindow。Therewasasilence。

“Youhevbeenmineralretty？“

“Yes，yes。“

“Knowhowtohendlepick’nshov’le？“

“Yes，Iknow。“

Theotherseemedunsatisfied。“Areyoua’cousinJack’？“

Thedentistgrinned。ThisprejudiceagainstCornishmenherememberedtoo。

“No。Ame