第2章

NeitherdoIthinkitcouldbesaidthataslightdeafness，whichmightimpartanembarrassingpublicitytoanystatement——thereverseofourgeneralfeeling——thatmightbeconfidedbyanyonetoherprivateear，wasasufficientreason；foritwaspointedoutthatshealwaysunderstoodeverythingthatTomSparrelltoldherinhisordinarytoneofvoice。Briefly，itwasverypossiblethatDelaware——theyoungestMissPiper——didnotlikeus。YetitwasfondlybelievedbyusthattheothersistersfailedtoshowthatindifferencetoourexistenceshownbyMissDelaware，althoughtheheartburnings，misunderstandings，jealousies，hopesandfears，andfinallythechivalrousresignationwithwhichweatlastacceptedthelongforegoneconclusionthattheywerenotforus，andfarbeyondourreach，isnotapartofthisveraciouschronicle。

EnoughthatnoneoftheflirtationsofhereldersistersaffectedorweresharedbytheyoungestMissPiper。Shemovedinthisheart-breakingatmospherewithsublimeindifference，treatinghersisters\'affairswithwhatweconsideredranksimplicityorappallingfrankness。Theirfewadmirerswhowereweakenoughtoattempttogainhermediationorconfidencehadreasontoregretit。

"It\'snokindo\'usegivin\'megoodies，"shesaidtoahelplesssuitorofLouisianaPiper\'swhohadofferedtobringhersomesweets，"forIain\'tgotnoinfluencewithLu，andifIdon\'tgive\'emuptoherwhenshehearsofit，she\'llnagmeandhateyoulikepizen。Unless，"sheaddedthoughtfully，"itwaswintergreenlozenges；Lucan\'tstandthem，oranybodywhoeatsthemwithinamile。"Itisneedlesstoaddthatthemiserableman，thusputuponhisgallantry，wasobligedinhonortoprovideDelwiththewintergreenlozengesthatkepthimindisfavorandatadistance。

Unfortunately，too，anypredilectionorpityforanyparticularsuitorofhersister\'swasattendedbyevenmoredisastrousconsequences。Itwasreportedthatwhileactingas"gooseberry"——aroleusuallyassignedtoher——betweenVirginiaPiperandanexceptionallytimidyoungsurveyor，duringaramblesheconceivedararesentimentofhumanitytowardstheunhappyman。Afteronceortwicelingeringbehindintheostentatiouspickingofawaysideflower，or"runningonahead"tolookatamountainview，withoutanyapparenteffectontheshyandspeechlessyouth，shedecoyedhimasidewhilehereldersisterrambledindifferentlyandsomewhatscornfullyon。TheyoungestMissPiperleapedupontherailofafence，andwiththestalkofathimbleberryinhermouthswunghersmallfeettoandfroandsurveyedhimdispassionately。

"Yedon\'tseemtobeketchin\'on？"shesaidtentatively。

Theyoungmansmiledfeeblyandinterrogatively。

"Don\'tseemtobeeitherfolleringsuitnortrumpin\'，"continuedDelbluntly。

"Isupposeso——thatis，IfearthatMissVirginia"——hestammered。

"Speakup！I\'malittledeaf。Sayitagain！"saidDel，screwinguphereyesandeyebrows。

Theyoungmanwasobligedtoadmitinstentoriantonesthathisprogresshadbeenscarcelysatisfactory。

"You\'regoin\'ontooslow——that\'sit，"saidDelcritically。"Why，whenCaptainSavagemeanderedalongherewithJinny"（Virginia）

"lastweek，aforewegotasfarasthishe\'dreeledoffaheapofByronandJamieson"（Tennyson），"andsich；andonlyyesterdayJinnyandDoctorBeveridgewasblowin\'thistletopstoknowwhichwasaflirtallalongthetrailpastthecrossroads。Why，yeain\'tpickedezmuchasasingleberryforJinny，letaloneLad\'sLoveorJohnnyJumpupsandKissme\'s，andyekeeptalkin\'acrossme，youtwo，tillI\'mtired。Nowlookhere，"sheburstoutwithsuddendecision，"Jinny\'sgoneonaheadinakindo\'huff；butIreckonshe\'sdonethataforetoo，andyou\'llfindher，jestasSpinnerdid，ontheriseofthehill，sittin\'onapinestumpandlookin\'

likethis。"（HeretheyoungestMissPiperlockedherfingersoverherleftknee，anddrewitslightlyup，——withasublimeindifferencetotheexposureofconsiderablesmall-ankledredstocking，——andwithafar-off，plaintivestare，achievedacolorableimitationofhereldersister\'sprobableattitude。）

"Thenyoujestgoupsoftly，likeasyouwasabear，andclapyourhandsonhereyes，andsayinadisguisedvoicelikethis"（hereDelturnedonahighfalsettobeyondanymasculinecompass），"\'Who\'swho？\'jestlikeinforfeits。"

"Butshe\'llbesuretoknowme，"saidthesurveyortimidly。

"Shewon\'t，"saidDelinscornfulskepticism。

"Ihardlythink"——stammeredtheyoungman，withanawkwardsmile，"thatI——infact——she\'lldiscoverme——beforeIcangetbesideher。"

"Notifyougosoftly，forshe\'llbesittin\'backtotheroad，so——

gazingaway，so"——theyoungestMissPiperagainstareddreamilyinthedistance，"andyou\'llcreepupjustbehind，likethis。"

"Butwon\'tshebeangry？Ihaven\'tknownherlong——thatis——don\'tyousee？"Hestoppedembarrassedly。

"Can\'thearawordyousay，"saidDel，shakingherheaddecisively。

"You\'vegotmydeafear。Speaklouder，orcomecloser。"

Butheretheinstructionsuddenlyended，onceandforalltime！

Forwhethertheyoungmanwasseriouslyanxioustoperfecthimself；

whetherhewastrulygratefultotheyounggirlandtriedtoshowit；whetherhewasemboldenedbythechildishappealofthelongbrowndistinguishingbraiddownherback，orwhetherhesuddenlyfoundsomethingpeculiarlyprovocativeinthereddishbrowneyesbetweentheirthicksethedgeoflashes，andwiththetrimfigureandpiquantpose，andwasseizedwiththathystericdesperationwhichsometimesattackstimidityitself，Icannotsay！Enoughthathesuddenlyputhisarmaroundherwaistandhislipstohersoftsatincheek，pepperedandsaltedasitwasbysun-frecklesandmountainair，andreceivedasoundboxontheearforhispains。

Theincidentwasclosed。Hedidnotrepeattheexperimentoneithersister。Thedisclosureofhisrebuffseemed，however，togiveasingularsatisfactiontoRedGulch。

WhileitmaybegatheredfromthisthattheyoungestMissPiperwasimpervioustogeneralmasculineadvances，itwasnotuntillaterthatRedGulchwasthrownintoskepticalastonishmentbytherumorsthatallthistimeshereallyhadalover！AllusionhasbeenmadetothechargethatherdeafnessdidnotpreventherfromperfectlyunderstandingtheordinarytoneofvoiceofacertainMr。ThomasSparrell。

Nounduesignificancewasattachedtothisfactthroughtheveryinsignificanceand"impossibility"ofthatindividual；——alanky，red-hairedyouth，incapacitatedformanuallaborthroughlameness，——

aclerkinageneralstoreattheCrossRoads！HehadneverbeentherecipientofJudgePiper\'shospitality；hehadnevervisitedthehouseevenwithparcels；apparentlyhisonlyinterviewswithheroranyofthefamilyhadbeenoverthecounter。Todohimjusticehecertainlyhadneverseemedtoseekanyneareracquaintance；hewasnotatthechurchdoorwhenhersisters，beautifulintheirSundaygowns，filedintotheaisle，withlittleDelawarebringinguptherear；hewasnotattheDemocraticbarbecue，thatweattendedwithoutreferencetoourpersonalpolitics，andsolelyforthesakeofJudgePiperandthegirls；nordidhegototheAgriculturalFairBall——opentoall。Hisabstentionwebelievedtobeowingtohislameness；toawholesomeconsciousnessofhisownsocialdefects；oraninordinatepassionforreadingcheapscientifictextbooks，whichdidnot，however，addfluencynorconvictiontohisspeech。Neitherhadhetheabstractionofastudent，forhisaccountswerekeptwithanaccuracywhichstruckus，whodealtatthestore，asignoblypractical，andevenmalignant。Possiblywemighthaveexpressedthisopinionmorestronglybutforacertainrudevigorofreparteewhichhepossessed，andasuggestionthathemighthaveatemperonoccasion。"Themred-hairedchapsisliketobetetchyandtokinderseebloodthroughtheireyelashes，"hadbeensuggestedbyanobservingcustomer。

Inshort，littleasweknewoftheyoungestMissPiper，hewasthelastmanweshouldhavesuspectedhertoselectasanadmirer。

Whatwedidknowoftheirpublicrelations，purelycommercialones，impliedthereverseofanycordialunderstanding。TheprovisioningofthePiperhouseholdwasentrustedtoDel，withotherpracticaloddsandendsofhousekeeping，notornamental，andthefollowingissaidtobeatruthfulrecordofoneoftheiroverheardinterviewsatthestore：——

TheyoungestMissPiper，entering，displacingaquantityofgoodsinthecentretomakeasidewaysseatforherself，andlookingaroundloftilyasshetookamemorandum-bookandpencilfromherpocket。

"Ahem！IfIain\'ttakingyouawayfromyourstudies，Mr。Sparrell，maybeyou\'llbegoodenoughtolookhereaminit；——but"（inaffectedpoliteness）"ifI\'mdisturbingyouIcancomeanothertime。"

Sparrell，placingthebookhehadbeenreadingcarefullyunderthecounter，andadvancingtoMissDelawarewithacompleteignoringofherirony："Whatcanwedoforyouto-day，MissPiper？"

MissDelaware，withgreatsuavityofmanner，examininghermemorandum-book："Isupposeitwouldn\'tbeshockingyourdelicatefeelingstoomuchtoinformyouthatthecannedlobsterandoystersyousentusyesterdaywasn\'tfitforhogs？"

Sparrell（blandly）："Theyweren\'tintendedforthem，MissPiper。

IfwehadknownyouwerehavingcompanyoverfromRedGulchtodinner，wemighthaveprovidedsomethingmoresuitableforthem。

Wehaveafairqualityofoil-cakeandcorn-cobsinstock，atreducedfigures。Butthecannedprovisionswereforyourownfamily。"

MissDelaware（secretlypleasedatthissarcasticallusiontohersister\'sfriends，butconcealingherdelight）："Iadmiretohearyoutalkthatway，Mr。Sparrell；it\'sbetterthanminstrelsoracircus。Isupposeyougetitouterthatbook，"indicatingtheconcealedvolume。"Whatdoyoucallit？"

Sparrell（politely）："TheFirstPrinciplesofGeology。"

MissDelaware，leaningsidewaysandcurlingherlittlefingersaroundherpinkear："Didyousaythefirstprinciplesof\'geology\'

or\'politeness\'？YouknowIamsodeaf；but，ofcourse，itcouldn\'tbethat。"

Sparrell（easily）："Ohno，youseemtohavethatinyourhand"——

pointingtoMissDelaware\'smemorandum-book——"youwerequotingfromitwhenyoucamein。"

MissDelaware，afteranaffectedsilenceofdeepresignation：

"Well！it\'stoobadfolkscan\'tjustspendtheirliveslistenin\'tosucheleganttalk；I\'dadmiretodonothingelse！Butthere\'smyfamilyupatCottonwood——andtheymusteat。They\'rethatlowthattheyexpectmetowastemytimegettingfoodfor\'emhere，insteadofdrinkingintheFirstPrinciplesoftheGrocery。"

"Geology，"suggestedSparrellblandly。"Thehistoryofrockformation。"

"Geology，"acceptedMissDelawareapologetically；"thehistoryofrocks，whichissonecessaryforknowingjusthowmuchsandyoucanputinthesugar。SoIreckonI\'llleavemylisthere，andyoucanhavethethingstotedtoCottonwoodwhenyou\'vegotthroughwithyourFirstPrinciples。"

Shetoreoutalistofhercommissionsfromapageofhermemorandum-book，leapedlightlyfromthecounter，threwherbrownbraidfromherleftshouldertoitsproperplacedownherback，shookoutherskirtsdeliberately，andsaying，"Thankyouforamostimprovin\'afternoon，Mr。Sparrell，"saileddemurelyoutofthestore。

AfewauditorsofthisnarrativethoughtitinconsistentthatadaughterofJudgePiperandasisteroftheangelichostshouldputupwithamereclerk\'sfamiliarity，butitwaspointedoutthat"shegavehimasgoodashesent，"andthestorywasgenerallycredited。Butcertainlynooneeverdreamedthatitpointedtoanymorepreciousconfidencesbetweenthem。

Ithinkthesecretburstuponthefamily，withotherthings，atthebigpicnicatReservoirCanyon。Thisfestivityhadbeenarrangedforweekspreviously，andwasundertakenchieflybythe"RedGulchContingent，"aswewerecalled，asaslightreturntothePiperfamilyfortheirfrequenthospitality。ThePipersisterswereexpectedtobringnothingbuttheirownpersonalgracesandattendtotheministrationofsuchviandsanddelicaciesastheboyshadprofuselysupplied。

ThesiteselectedwasReservoirCanyon，abeautiful，triangularvalleywithverysteepsides，oneofwhichwascrownedbytheimmensereservoirofthePioneerDitchCompany。Thesheerflanksofthecanyondescendedinfurrowedlinesofvinesandclingingbushes，likefoldsoffallingskirts，untiltheybrokeagainintoflouncesofspangledshrubberyoverabroadlevelcarpetofmonkshood，mariposas，lupines，poppies，anddaisies。Temperedandsecludedfromthesun\'sraysbyitsloftyshadows，thedeliciousobscurityofthecanyonwasinsharpcontrasttothefierymountaintrailthatinthefullglareofthenoondayskymadeitstortuouswaydownthehillside，likeastreamoflava，toplungesuddenlyintothevalleyandextinguishitselfinitscoolnessasinalake。

Theheavyodorsofwildhoneysuckle，syringa，andceanothusthathungoveritwerelightenedandfreshenedbythesharpspicingofpineandbay。Themountainbreezewhichsometimesshooktheserratedtopsofthelargeredwoodsabovewithachillfromtheremotesnowpeaksevenintheheartofsummer，neverreachedthelittlevalley。

Itseemedanidealplaceforapicnic。Everybodywasthereforeastonishedtohearthatanobjectionwassuddenlyraisedtothisperfectsite。TheywerestillmoreastonishedtoknowthattheobjectorwastheyoungestMissPiper！Pressedtogiveherreasons，shehadrepliedthatthelocalitywasdangerous；thatthereservoirplaceduponthemountain，notoriouslyoldandwornout，hadbeenrenderedmoreunsafebyfalseeconomyinunskillfulandhastyrepairstosatisfyspeculatingstockbrokers，andthatithadlatelyshownsignsofleakageandsappingofitsouterwalls；that，intheeventofanoutbreak，thelittletriangularvalley，fromwhichtherewasnooutlet，wouldbeinstantlyflooded。Askedstillmorepressinglytogiveherauthorityforthesedetails，sheatfirsthesitated，andthengavethenameofTomSparrell。

Thederisionwithwhichthisstatementwasreceivedbyusall，astheopinionofasedentaryclerk，wasquitenaturalandobvious，butnottheangerwhichitexcitedinthebreastofJudgePiper；

foritwasnotgenerallyknownthatthejudgewastheholderofaconsiderablenumberofsharesinthePioneerDitchCompany，andthatlargedividendshadbeenlatelykeptupbyafalseeconomyofexpenditure，toexpeditea"sharpdeal"inthestock，bywhichthejudgeandotherscouldselloutofafailingcompany。Rather，itwasbelieved，thatthejudge\'sangerwasdueonlytothediscoveryofSparrell\'sinfluenceoverhisdaughterandhisinterferencewiththesocialaffairsofCottonwood。ItwassaidthattherewasasharpscenebetweentheyoungestMissPiperandthecombinedforcesofthejudgeandtheeldersisters，whichendedintheformer\'sresoluterefusaltoattendthepicnicatallifthatsitewasselected。

AsDelawarewasknowntobefearlesseventothepointofrecklessness，andfondofgayety，herrefusalonlyintensifiedthebeliefthatshewasmerely"stickin\'upforSparrell\'sjudgment"

withoutanyreferencetoherownpersonalsafetyorthatofhersisters。Thewarningwaslaughedaway；theopinionofSparrelltreatedwithridiculeasthedyspepticandenviousexpressionofanimpracticalman。Itwaspointedoutthatthereservoirhadlastedalongtimeeveninitsallegedruinousstate；thatonlyamiracleofcoincidencecouldmakeitbreakdownthatparticularafternoonofthepicnic；thatevenifitdidhappen，therewasnodirectproofthatitwouldseriouslyfloodthevalley，oratbestaddmorethanaspiceofexcitementtotheaffair。The"RedGulchContingent，"whoWOULDbethere，wasquiteascapableoftakingcareoftheladies，incaseofanyaccident，asanylamecrankwhowouldn\'t，butcouldonlycroakawarningtothemfromadistance。

Afewevenwishedsomethingmighthappenthattheymighthaveanopportunityofshowingtheirsuperiordevotion；indeed，theprospectofcarryingthehalf-submergedsisters，inaconditionofhelplessloveliness，intheirarmstoaplaceofsafetywasafascinatingpossibility。Thewarningwasconspicuouslyineffective；

everybodylookedeagerlyforwardtothedayandtheunchangedlocality；tothegreatesthopefulnessandanticipationwasaddedthestirringofdefiance，andwhenatlasttheappointedhourhadarrived，thepicnicpartypasseddownthetwistingmountaintrailthroughtheheatandglareinafeverofenthusiasm。

Itwasaprettysighttoviewthissparklingprocession——thegirlscoolandradiantintheirwhite，blue，andyellowmuslinsandflyingribbons，the"Contingent"initscleanestducks，andblueandredflannelshirts，thejudgewhite-waistcoatedandpanama-

hatted，withanewdignityborrowedfromthepreviouscircumstances，andthreeorfourimpressiveChinamenbringinguptherearwithhampers——asitatlastdebouchedintoReservoirCanyon。

Heretheydispersedthemselvesoverthelimitedarea，scarcelyhalfanacre，withthefreedomofescapedschoolchildren。Theyweresecureintheirwoodlandprivacy。Theywereoverlookedbynohighroadanditspassingteams；theyweresafefromaccidentalintrusionfromthesettlement；indeedtheywentsofarastoeffecttheexclusivenessof"clique。"AtfirsttheyamusedthemselvesbycastinghumorouslydefianteyesatthelonglowDitchReservoir，whichpeepedoverthegreenwalloftheridge，sixhundredfeetabovethem；attimestheyevensimulatedanexaggeratedterrorofit，andonerecognizedhumoristdeclaimedagrotesqueappealtoitsforbearance，withdelightfullocalallusions。Otherspretendedtodiscovernearawoodman\'shut，amongthebeltofpinesatthetopofthedescendingtrail，thepeepingfigureoftheridiculousandenviousSparrell。Butallthiswaspresentlyforgottenintheactualfestivity。Smallaswastherangeofthevalley，itstillallowedretreatsduringthedancesforwaitingcouplesamongtheconvenientlaurelandmanzanitabusheswhichflouncedthemountainside。Afterthedancing，old-fashionedchildren\'sgameswererevivedwithgreatlaughterandhalf-heartedandcoyprotestsfromtheladies；notablyonepastimeknownas"I\'ma-pinin\'，"inwhichingeniousperformancethevictimwasobligedtostandinthecentreofacircleandpublicly"pine"foramemberoftheoppositesex。

SomehilaritywasoccasionedbythemischievousMiss"Georgy"Piperdeclaring，whenitcametoherturn，thatshewas"pinin\'"foralookatthefaceofTomSparrelljustnow！

Inthislocaltriflingtwohourspassed，untilthepartysatdowntothelong-lookedforrepast。ItwasherethatthehealthofJudgePiperwasneatlyproposedbytheeditorofthe"Argus。"Thejudgerespondedwithgreatdignityandsomeemotion。Heremindedthemthatithadbeenhishumbleendeavortopromoteharmony——thatharmonysocharacteristicofAmericanprinciples——insocialashehadinpoliticalcircles，andparticularlyamongthestrangelyconstitutedyetpurelyAmericanelementsoffrontierlife。Heacceptedthepresentfestivitywithitsoverflowinghospitalities，notinrecognitionofhimself——（"yes！yes！"）——norofhisfamily——

（enthusiasticprotests）——butofthatAmericanprinciple！Ifatonetimeitseemedprobablethatthesefestivitiesmightbemarredbythemachinationsofenvy——（groans）——orthatharmonyinterruptedbytheimportationoflow-tonedmaterialinterests——（groans）——hecouldsaythat，lookingaroundhim，hehadneverbeforefelt——er——that——

Herethejudgestoppedshort，reeledslightlyforward，caughtatacamp-stool，recoveredhimselfwithanapologeticsmile，andturnedinquiringlytohisneighbor。

Alightlaugh——instantlysuppressed——atwhatwasatfirstsupposedtobetheeffectofthe"overflowinghospitality"uponthespeakerhimself，wentaroundthemalecircleuntilitsuddenlyappearedthathalfadozenothershadstartedtotheirfeetatthesametime，withwhitefaces，andthatoneoftheladieshadscreamed。

"Whatisit？"everybodywasaskingwithinterrogatorysmiles。

ItwasJudgePiperwhoreplied：——

"Alittleshockofearthquake，"hesaidblandly；"amerethrill！I

think，"headdedwithafaintsmile，"wemaysaythatNatureherselfhasapplaudedoureffortsingoodoldCalifornianfashion，andsignifiedherassent。Whatareyousaying，Fludder？"

"Iwasthinking，sir，"saidFludderdeferentially，inalowervoice，"thatifanythingwaswronginthereservoir，thisshock，youknow，might"——

Hewasinterruptedbyafaintcrashingandcracklingsound，andlookingup，beheldagood-sizedboulder，evidentlydetachedfromsomegreaterheight，striketheuplandplateauattheleftofthetrailandboundintothefringeofforestbesideit。Aslightcloudofdustmarkeditscourse，andthenlazilyfloatedawayinmidair。Butithadbeenwatchedagitatedly，anditwasevidentthatthatsingularlossofnervousbalancewhichisapttoaffectallthosewhogothroughtheslightestearthquakeexperiencewasfeltbyall。Butsomesenseofhumor，however，remained。

"Looksasifthewaterriskswetookain\'tgoin\'tocoverearthquakes，"drawledDickFrisney；"stillthatwasn\'tabadshot，ifweonlyknewwhattheywereaimingat。"

"Dobequiet，"saidVirginiaPiper，hercheekspinkwithexcitement。

"Listen，can\'tyou？What\'sthatfunnymurmuringyouhearnowandthenupthere？"

"It\'sonlythesnow-windplayin\'withthepinesonthesummit。Yougirlswon\'tallowanybodyanyfunbutyourselves。"

Buthereascreamfrom"Georgy，"who，assistedbyCaptainFairfax，hadmountedacamp-stoolatthemouthofthevalley，attractedeverybody\'sattention。Shewasstandingupright，withdilatedeyes，staringatthetopofthetrail。"Look！"shesaidexcitedly，"ifthetrailisn\'tmoving！"

Everybodyfacedinthatdirection。Atthefirstglanceitseemedindeedasifthetrailwasactuallymoving；wrigglingandundulatingitstortuouswaydownthemountainlikeahugesnake，onlyswollentotwiceitsusualsize。Butthesecondglanceshowedittobenolongeratrailbutachannelofwater，whosestream，liftedinabore-likewallfourorfivefeethigh，wasplungingdownintothedevotedvalley。

Foraninstanttheywereunabletocomprehendeventhenatureofthecatastrophe。Thereservoirwasdirectlyovertheirheads；theburstingofitswalltheyhadimaginedwouldnaturallybringdownthewaterinadozentricklingstreamsorfallsoverthecliffabovethemandalongtheflanksofthemountain。Butthatitssuddenlyliberatedvolumeshouldoverflowtheuplandbeyondandthendescendinapent-upfloodbytheirowntrailandtheironlyavenueofescape，hadbeenbeyondtheirwildestfancy。

TheymetthissmitingtruthwiththatcharacteristicshortlaughwithwhichtheAmericanusuallyreceivestheblowofFateortheunexpected——asifherecognizedonlytheabsurdityofthesituation。Thentheyrantothewomen，collectedthemtogether，anddraggedthemtovantagesoffanciedsecurityamongthebusheswhichflouncedthelongskirtsofthemountainwalls。ButIleavethispartofthedescriptiontothecharacteristiclanguageofoneoftheparty：——

"Whenthefloodstruckus，itdidnotseemtotakeanystockofusinparticular，butlaiditselfoutto\'gofor\'thatpicnicforallitwasworth！Itwipeditoffthefaceoftheearthinabouttwenty-fiveseconds！Itfirstmadeacleanbreakfromstemtostern，carryingeverythingalongwithit。ThefirstthingIsawwasoldJudgePiper，puttin\'onhisbestlickstogetawayfromabigcanofstrawberryicecreamthatwastrundlingafterhimandtryingtoemptyitselfonhiscollar，wheneverabiggerwaveliftedit。Hewasfollowedbywhatwasleftofthebrassband；thebigdrumjusthumpin\'itselftokeepabreasto\'theicecream，mixedupwithcamp-stools，music-stands，afewChinamen，andthenwhattheycallinthembigSanFranciscoprocessions\'citizensgenerally。\'

Thehullthingsweptupthecanyoninsideo\'thirtyseconds。Then，whatCaptainFairfaxcalled\'thereflexactioninthelawso\'

motion\'happened，anddarnedifthehullblamedprocessiondidn\'tsweepbackagain——thistimealltheheavyartillery，suchascamp-

kettles，lagerbeerkegs，bottles，glasses，andcrockerythatwasleftbehindtakin\'theleadnow，andJudgePiperandthaticecreamcanbringin\'uptherear。Asthejedgepassedusthesecondtime，wenoticedthatthaticecreamcan——hevin\'swallowedwater——waskinderlosingitswind，andweencouragedtheoldmanbyshoutin\'

out，\'Fivetooneonhim！\'Andthen，youwouldn\'tbelievewhatfollowed。Why，darnmyskin，whenthat\'reflex\'metthecurrentattheotherend，itjustswirledaroundagaininwhatCaptainFairfaxcalledthe\'centrifugalcurve，\'andjustwentroundandroundthecanyonlikeezwhenyerwashin\'thedirtouto\'aprospectin\'pan——

everynowandthenwashin\'someoneoftheboysthatwasinit，likescum，upag\'inthebanks。

"Wemanagedinthiswaytosnakeoutthejudge，jestezhewassailin\'roundonthehomestretch，passin\'thequarterposttwolengthsaheado\'thecan。Agooddealo\'theicecreamhadwashedaway，butittookustenminutestoshakethecrackediceandpowderedsaltouto\'theoldman\'sclothes，andwarmhimupagaininthelaurelbushwherehewasclinging。Thissorto\'\'Herewegoroundthemulberrybush\'kep\'onuntilmosto\'thehumanswasgotout，andonlythefurnitureo\'thepicnicwasleftintherace。

Thenitgotkindermixedup，andwentsloshin\'roundhereandthere，ezthewaterkep\'comin\'downbythetrail。ThenLuluPiper，whatIwasholdin\'upallthetimeinalaurelbush，getsanidea，forallshewaswetanddraggled；andezthethingswentbobbin\'round，shecallsoutthefigureso\'acotillonto\'em。

\'Twocamp-stoolsforward。\'\'Sashayandbacktoyourplaces。\'

\'Changepartners。\'\'Handsallround。\'

"Shewascleargrit，youbet！Andthejokecaughtonandtheothergirlsjinedin，anditkindercheered\'em，fortheywaswantin\'it。

ThenFludderallowedtopacify\'embysayin\'hejustfiguredupthesizeo\'thereservoirandthesizeo\'thecanyon，andhekalkilatedthatthecubewasaboutekal，andthecanyoncouldn\'tfloodanymore。AndthenLulu——whowaspeartasajayandcouldn\'tbefooled——speaksupandsays，\'What\'sthematterwiththeditch，Dick？\'

"Lord！thenweknewthatsheknewtheworst；forofcourseallthewaterintheditchitself——fiftymilesofit！——wasdrainin\'nowintothatreservoirandwasboundtocomedowntothecanyon。"

Itwasatthispointthatthesituationbecamereallydesperate，fortheyhadnowcrawledupthesteepsidesasfarasthebushesaffordedfoothold，andthewaterwasstillrising。Thechatterofthegirlsceased，therewerelongsilences，inwhichthemendiscussedthewildestplans，andproposedtoteartheirshirtsintostripstomakeropestosupportthegirlsbysticksdrivenintothemountainside。Itwasinoneofthoseintervalsthatthedistinctstrokesofawoodman\'saxewereheardhighontheuplandatthepointwherethetraildescendedtothecanyon。Everyearwasalert，butonlythoseononesideofthecanyoncouldgetafairviewofthespot。ThiswasthegoodfortuneofCaptainFairfaxandGeorgyPiper，whohadclimbedtothehighestbushonthatside，andwerenowstandingup，gazingexcitedlyinthatdirection。

"Someoneiscuttingdownatreeattheheadofthetrail，"shoutedFairfax。Theresponseandjoyfulexplanation，"foradamacrossthetrail，"wasoneverybody\'slipsatthesametime。

Butthestrokesoftheaxewereslowandpainfullyintermittent。

Impatienceburstout。

"Yelltohimtohurryup！Whyhaven\'ttheybroughttwomen？"

"It\'sonlyoneman，"shoutedthecaptain，"andheseemstobeacripple。ByJiminy！——itis——yes！——it\'sTomSparrell！"

Therewasadeadsilence。Then，Igrievetosay，shameanditstwinbrotherragetookpossessionoftheirweakhumanity。Oh，yes！

Itwasallofapiece！WhyinthenameofFollyhadn\'thesentforanable-bodiedman。Weretheytobedrownedthroughhiscrankyobstinacy？

Theblowsstillwentonslowly。Presently，however，theyseemedtoalternatewithotherblows——butalas！theywereslower，andifpossiblefeebler！

"Havetheygotanothercrippletowork？"roaredtheContingentinonefuriousvoice。

"No——it\'sawoman——alittleone——yes！agirl。Hello！Why，sureasyoulive，it\'sDelaware！"

AspontaneouscheerburstfromtheContingent，partlyasarebuketoSparrell，Ithink，partlyfromsomeshameovertheirpreviousrage。Hecouldtakeitasheliked。

Stilltheblowswentondistressinglyslow。Thegirlswerehoistedonthemen\'sshoulders；themenwerehalfsubmerged。Thentherewasapainfulpause；thenacrumblingcrash。Anothercheerwentupfromthecanyon。

"It\'sdown！straightacrossthetrail，"shoutedFairfax，"andapartofthebankonthetopofit。"

Therewasanothermomentofsuspense。Woulditholdorbecarriedawaybythemomentumoftheflood？Itheld！InafewmomentsFairfaxagaingavevoicetothecheeringnewsthattheflowhadstoppedandthesubmergedtrailwasreappearing。Intwentyminutesitwasclear——amuddyriverbed，butpossibleofascent！Ofcoursetherewasnodiminutionofthewaterinthecanyon，whichhadnooutlet，yetitnowwaspossibleforthepartytoswingfrombushtobushalongthemountainsideuntilthefootofthetrail——nolongeranopposingone——wasreached。Thereweresomemisstepsandmishaps，——flounderingsinthewater，andsomedangerousrescues，——

butinhalfanhourthewholeconcoursestooduponthetrailandcommencedtheascent。Itwasaslow，difficult，andlugubriousprocession——Ifearnotthebest-temperedone，nowthatthestimulusofdangerandchivalrywaspast。Whentheyreachedthedammadebythefallentree，althoughtheywereobligedtomakealongdetourtoavoiditssteepsides，theycouldseehowsuccessfullyithaddivertedthecurrenttoadeclivityontheotherside。

Butstrangelyenoughtheyweregreetedbynothingelse！SparrellandtheyoungestMissPiperweregone；andwhentheyatlastreachedthehighroad，theywereastoundedtohearfromapassingteamsterthatnooneinthesettlementknewanythingofthedisaster！

Thiswasthelastdropintheircupofbitterness！Theywhohadexpectedthatthesettlementwaswaitingbreathlesslyfortheirrescue，whoanticipatedthattheywouldbewelcomedasheroes，wereobligedtomeettheill-concealedamusementofpassengersandfriendsattheirdishevelledandbedraggledappearance，whichsuggestedonlytheblunderingmishapsofanordinarysummerouting！

"Boatin\'inthereservoir，andfellin？""Playingatcanal-boatintheDitch？"weresomeofthecheerfulhypotheses。Thefleetingsenseofgratitudetheyhadfeltfortheirdelivererswasdissipatedbythetimetheyhadreachedtheirhomes，andtheirrancorincreasedbytheinformationthatwhentheearthquakeoccurredMr。TomSparrellandMissDelawarewereenjoyinga"pasear"intheforest——

hehavingahalf-holidaybyvirtueofthefestival——andthattheearthquakehadrevivedhisfearsofacatastrophe。Thetwohadprocuredaxesinthewoodman\'shutanddidwhattheythoughtwasnecessarytorelievethesituationofthepicnickers。Buttheverymodestyofthisaccountoftheirownperformancehadtheeffectofbelittlingthecatastropheitself，andthepicnickers\'reportoftheirexceedingperilwasreceivedwithincredulouslaughter。

ForthefirsttimeinthehistoryofRedGulchtherewasaseriousdivisionbetweenthePiperfamily，supportedbytheContingent，andtherestofthesettlement。TomSparrell\'swarningwasrememberedbythelatter，andtheingratitudeofthepicnickerstotheirrescuerscommentedupon；theactualcalamitytothereservoirwasmoreorlessattributedtotheimprudentandrecklesscontiguityoftherevelersonthatday，andtherewerenotwantingthosewhoreferredtheaccidentitselftothemachinationsoftheschemingDitchDirectorPiper！

ItwassaidthattherewasastormysceneinthePiperhouseholdthatevening。ThejudgehaddemandedthatDelawareshouldbreakoffheracquaintancewithSparrell，andshehadrefused；thejudgehaddemandedofSparrell\'semployerthatheshoulddischargehim，andhadbeenmetwiththeastoundinginformationthatSparrellwasalreadyasilentpartnerintheconcern。AtthisrevelationJudgePiperwasalarmed；whilehemightobjecttoaclerkwhocouldnotsupportawife，asaconsistentdemocrathecouldnotopposeafairlyprosperoustradesman。AfinalappealwasmadetoDelaware；

shewasimploredtoconsiderthesituationofhersisters，whohadallmademoreambitiousmarriagesorwereabouttomakethem。Whyshouldshenowdegradethefamilybymarryingacountrystorekeeper？

ItissaidthatheretheyoungestMissPipermadeamemorablereply，andarevelationthetruthofwhichwasnevergainsaid：——

"YouallwanterknowwhyI\'mgoingtomarryTomSparrell？"shequeried，standingupandfacingthewholefamilycircle。

"Yes。"

"WhyIpreferhimtothehullcaboodlethatyougirlshavemarriedoraregoingtomarry？"shecontinued，meditativelybitingtheendofherbraid。

"Yes。"

"Well，he\'stheonlymanofthewholelotthathasn\'tproposedtomefirst。"

ItispresumedthatSparrellmadegoodtheomission，orthatthefamilyweregladtogetridofher，fortheyweremarriedthatautumn。AndreallyalatercomparisonofthefamilyrecordsshowsthatwhileCaptainFairfaxremained"CaptainFairfax，"andtheothersons-in-lawdidnotadvanceproportionatelyinstandingorriches，thelamestorekeeperofRedGulchbecametheHon。SenatorTomSparrell。

AWIDOWOFTHESANTAANAVALLEY

TheWidowWadewasstandingatherbedroomwindowstaringout，inthatvagueinstinctwhichcompelshumanityinmomentsofdoubtandperplexitytoseekthischangeofobservationorsuperiorillumination。NotthatMrs。Wade\'sdisturbancewasofaseriouscharacter。Shehadpassedtheacutestageofwidowhoodbyatleasttwoyears，andtheslightrednessofhersofteyelidsaswellasthedroopofherprettymouthweremerelytherecognizedoutwardandvisiblesignsofthegrievouslymindedreligiouscommunityinwhichshelived。Themourningshestillworewasalsopartlyinconformitywiththesad-coloredgarmentsofherneighbors，andthenecessitiesoftherainyseason。Shewasincomfortablecircumstances，themistressofalargeranchinthevalley，whichhadlatelybecomemorevaluablebytheextensionofawagonroadthroughitscentre。Shewassimplyworryingwhethersheshouldgotoa"sociable"endingwith"adance"——adaringinnovationofsomestrangers——atthenewhotel，orcontinuetoeschewsuchfollies，thatwere，accordingtolocalbelief，unsuitedto"avaleoftears。"

Indeedatthismomenttheprospectshegazedabstractedlyuponseemedtojustifythatlugubriousdescription。TheSantaAnaValley——alongmonotonouslevel——wasdimlyvisiblethroughmovingcurtainsofrainorveilsofmist，totheblackmourningedgeofthehorizon，andhadlookedlikethatformonths。Thevalley——insomeremoteepochanarmoftheSanFranciscoBay——everyrainyseasonseemedtobetryingtoreverttoitsoriginalcondition，and，longaftertheearlyspringhadlaidonitsliberalcolorinstrips，bands，andpatchesofblueandyellow，theblossomsofmustardandlupineglistenedlikewetpaint。NeverthelessonthatrichalluvialsoilNature\'stearsseemedonlytofattenthewidow\'sacresandincreasehercrops。Herneighbors，too，wereequallyprosperous。YetforsixmonthsoftheyeartherecognizedexpressionofSantaAnawasoneofsadness，andfortheothersixmonths——ofresignation。Mrs。Wadehadyieldedearlytothisinfluence，asshehadtoothers，intheweaknessofhergentlenature，andpartlyasitwasmorebecomingthesingulartragedythathadmadeherawidow。

ThelateMr。WadehadbeenfounddeadwithabulletthroughhisheadinasecludedpartoftheroadoverHeavyTreeHillinSonoraCounty。Nearhimlaytwootherbodies，oneafterwardsidentifiedasJohnStubbs，aresidentoftheHill，andprobablyatravelingcompanionofWade\'s，andtheotheranoteddesperadoandhighwayman，stillmasked，asatthemomentoftheattack。Wadeandhiscompanionhadprobablysoldtheirlivesdearly，andagainstodds，foranothermaskwasfoundontheground，indicatingthattheattackwasnotsingle-handed，andasWade\'sbodyhadnotyetbeenrifled，itwasevidentthattheremaininghighwaymanhadfledinhaste。Thehueandcryhadbeengivenbyapparentlytheonlyoneofthetravelerswhoescaped，butashewashasteningtotaketheoverlandcoachtotheEastatthetime，histestimonycouldnotbesubmittedtothecoroner\'sdeliberation。Thefacts，however，weresufficientlyplainforaverdictofwillfulmurderagainstthehighwayman，althoughitwasbelievedthattheabsentwitnesshadbaselydesertedhiscompanionandlefthimtohisfate，or，aswassuggestedbyothers，thathemightevenhavebeenanaccomplice。

Itwasthiscircumstancewhichprotractedcommentontheincident，andthesufferingsofthewidow，farbeyondthatrapidobliterationwhichusuallyovertooksuchaffairsinthefeverishhasteoftheearlydays。ItcausedhertoremovetoSantaAna，whereheroldfatherhadfeeblyrancheda"quartersection"inthevalley。Hesurvivedherhusbandonlyafewmonths，leavinghertheproperty，andoncemoreinmourning。Perhapsthiscontinuityofwoeendearedhertoaneighborhoodwheredistinctiveravagesofdiphtheriaorscarletfevergaveakindofsocialpreeminencetoanyhousehold，andshewassosympatheticallyassistedbyherneighborsinthemanagementoftheranchthat，fromanunkemptandwastefulwilderness，itbecamepayingproperty。Theslim，willowyfigure，softred-liddedeyes，anddeepcrapeof"SisterWade"atchurchorprayer-meetingwasgratefultothesoulofthesegloomyworshipers，andintimesheherselffoundthatthearmofthesedyspepticsofmindandbodywasneverthelessstrongandsustaining。Smallwonderthatsheshouldhesitateto-nightaboutplungingintoinconsistent，eventhoughtrifling，frivolities。

Butapartfromthissuperficialreason，therewasanotherinstinctiveonedeepdownintherecessesofMrs。Wade\'stimidheartwhichshehadkepttoherself，andindeedwouldhavetearfullyresentedhaditbeenofferedbyanother。ThelateMr。Wadehadbeen，infact，asingularexampleofthiskindoffrivolousexistencecarriedtoaman-likeexcess。Besidesbeingapatronofamusements，Mr。Wadegambled，raced，anddrank。Hewasoftenhomelate，andsometimesnotatall。Notthatthisconductwasexceptionalinthe"roaringdays"ofHeavyTreeHill，butithadgivenMrs。Wadeperhapsanunduepreferenceforalesscertain，evenifamoreseriouslife。

Histragicdeathwas，ofcourse，akindofmartyrdom，whichexaltedhiminthefemininemindtoasaintlymemory；yetMrs。Wadewasnotwithoutacertainreliefinthat。Itwasvoiced，perhapscrudely，bythewidowofAbnerDrakeinavisitofcondolencetothetearfulMrs。WadeafewdaysafterWade\'sdeath。"It\'savaleo\'sorrow，Mrs。Wade，"saidthesympathizer，"butithasitsupsanddowns，andIreckenye\'llbefeelin\'soonprettymuchasIdidaboutAbnerwhenHEwastook。Itwasmightysoothin\'andcomfortin\'tofeelthatwhatevermighthappennow，IalwaysknewjustwharAbnerwaspassin\'

hisnights。"PoorslimMrs。Wadehadnodisquietingsenseofhumortointerferewithherreceptionofthislargetruth，andsheaccepteditwithaburstofreminiscenttears。

Alongvolleyingshowerhadjustpasseddownthelevellandscape，andwasfollowedbyarollingmistfromthewarmsaturatedsoillikethesmokeofthedischarge。Throughitshecouldseeafaintlighteningofthehiddensun，againdarkeningthroughasuddenonsetofrain，andchangingaswithherconflictingdoubtsandresolutions。Thusgazing，shewasvaguelyconsciousofanadditiontothelandscapeintheshapeofamanwhowaspassingdowntheroadwithapackonhisbacklikethetramping"prospectors"shehadoftenseenatHeavyTreeHill。Thatmemoryapparentlysettledhervacillatingmind；shedeterminedshewouldNOTgotothedance。

Butasshewasturningawayfromthewindowasecondfigure，ahorseman，appearedinanotherdirectionbyacross-road，ashortercutthroughherdomain。Thisshehadnodifficultyinrecognizingasoneofthestrangerswhoweregettingupthedance。ShehadnoticedhimatchurchonthepreviousSunday。Ashepassedthehouseheappearedtobegazingatitsoearnestlythatshedrewbackfromthewindowlestsheshouldbeseen。Andthen，fornoreasonwhatever，shechangedhermindoncemore，andresolvedtogotothedance。Gravelyannouncingthisfacttothewifeofhersuperintendentwhokepthousewithherinherloneliness，shethoughtnothingmoreaboutit。Sheshouldgoinhermourning，withperhapstheadditionofawhitecollarandfrill。

Itwasevident，however，thatSantaAnathoughtagooddealmorethanshedidofthisnewidea，whichseemedapartoftheinnovationalreadybegunbythebuildingupofthenewhotel。Itwasarguedbysomethatasthenewchurchandnewschoolhousehadbeenopenedbyprayer，itwasonlynaturalthatalighterfestivityshouldinauguratetheopeningofthehotel。"Ireckonthatdancin\'

isaboutthenextthingtotravelin\'forgettin\'upanappetiteforrefreshments，andthat\'swhatthelandlordiskalkilatin\'tosarve，"wastheremarkofagloomybutpracticalcitizenontheverandaof"TheValleyEmporium。""That\'sso，"rejoinedabystander；"andInoticeonthatlastboxo\'pillsIgotforchillsthedirectionssaythatalittle\'agreeableexercise\'——nottooviolent——isagreatassistancetotheworkingo\'thepills。"

"IreckonthatthatMr。Brookswho\'sdownherelookin\'artermillproperty，gotupthedance。He\'sbinroundtowncanvassin\'allthewomenfolksanddrummin\'uplikelygalsforit。TheysayheactooallysentaninvitetotheWidderWade，"remarkedanotherlounger。"Gosh！he\'sgotcheek！"

"Well，gentlemen，"saidtheproprietorjudicially，"whilewedon\'tintendtohevanyminin\'campfandangosor\'FriscofalalsroundSantaAny——（SantaAnawasproudofitssimpleagriculturalvirtues）——Iain\'tsohard-shelledasnottogivenewthingsafairtrial。And，afterall，it\'sthewomenfolkthathasthesayaboutit。Why，there\'soldMissFordsezshehasn\'tkickedafutsencesheleftMizoori，butwouldn\'tmindtryingitagin。EztoBrookstakin\'thattrouble——well，Isupposeit\'salongo\'hisbein\'

HEALTHY！"Heheavedadeepdyspepticsigh，whichwasfaintlyechoedbytheothers。"Why，lookathimnow，ridin\'roundonthatblackhosso\'his，inthewetsincedaylightandnotcarin\'forblindchillsorrhumatiz！"

Hewaslookingataserape-drapedhorseman，theonethewidowhadseenonthepreviousnight，whowasnowcanteringslowlyupthestreet。Seeingthegroupontheveranda，herodeup，threwhimselflightlyfromhissaddle，andjoinedthem。Hewasanalert，determined，good-lookingfellowofaboutthirty-five，whosesmooth，smilingfacehardlycommendeditselftoSantaAna，thoughhiseyesweredistinctlysympathetic。Heglancedatthedepressedgrouparoundhimandbecameominouslyserious。

"Whendidithappen？"heaskedgravely。

"Whathappen？"saidthenearestbystander。

"TheFuneral，Flood，Fight，orFire。WhichofthefourF\'swasit？"

"Whatareyetalkin\'about？"saidtheproprietorstiffly，scentingsomedangeroushumor。