第1章

"Itblows,"saidJoeWingate.

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

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

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

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

Theylistenedlazily.Therewasafaintmurmurfromtheshinglesabove;thensuddenlythewholewindowwasfilmedandblurredasiftheentireprospecthadbeenwipedoutwithadampsponge.Themanturnedlistlesslyaway.

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

TheshrewdeyesofMr.Harkutt,proprietor,glancedattheoccupationofthespeakerasifevenhisforesightmighthaveitspossibledrawbacks,buthesaidnothing.

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

"Whydon"tYOUbuildit?"askedWingate,carelessly.

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

WhatdidwewhoopupthingsherelastspringtoelectKennedytothelegislationfor?WhatdidIrigupmyshedandathousandfeetoflumberforbenchesatthebarbecuefor?Why,togetKennedyelectedandmakehimgetabillpassedfortheroad!That"sMY

shareofbuildingit,ifitcomestothat.AndIonlywishsomefolks,thatblowenoughaboutwhatoughterbedonetobulgeoutthatceiling,wouldonlydoasmuchasIhavedoneforSidon."

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

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

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

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

whiskey."

Thefourthmanheredistastefullythrewbackahalf-nibbledbiscuitintothebox,andlanguidlyslippedfromthebarreltothefloor,fastidiouslyflickingthecrumbsfromhisclothesashedidso."I

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

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

He"sjistplayin"offhisdesp"ritconditiontofrightenSidon.

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

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

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

Alongsilencefollowed;itwassomehowfeltthatthesubjectwasincongruouslyexciting;Billingsallowedhimselftolapseagainbehindthebackofhischair.Meantimeithadgrownsodarkthatthedullglowofthestovewasbeginningtooutlineafainthaloontheceilingevenwhileitplungedthefurtherlinesofshelvesbehindthecounterintogreaterobscurity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hepausedinputtingonhisovercoatasifthinkingbetterofit,whileeventhemorefortunateandcontiguousWingatelanguidlylapsedagainstthecounteragain.

Themomentwasacriticalone.Billingswasevidentlyalsoregretfullyeyingthechairhehadjustquitted.Harkuttresolvedonaheroiceffort.

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

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

Peters,stillholdingtheundrainedglassinhishand,walkedslowlytowardsit.

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

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

Butitwastoolate.Harkutthadalreadydrawnthelowerbolt,andamanstumbledfromtheouterobscurityintothedarkerroom.

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

"Iwasjustshuttingup,"beganHarkutt,dubiously.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thedoorclosedbehindthem,leavingHarkuttalonewithhisimportunateintruder.Possiblyhisresentmentathiscustomers"

selfishabandonmentofhimatthismomentdevelopedavaguespiritofoppositiontothemandmitigatedhisfeelingtowards"Lige.Hegropedhiswaytothecounter,struckamatch,andlitacandle.

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

orcongestioninthefeaturesorcomplexion,albeittheyweremorbidandunhealthy.Theexpressionwasofasufferingthatwasasmuchmentalasphysical,andyetinsomevaguewayappearedunmeaning——andunheroic.

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

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

"GodknowswhereorwhatImaybetomorrow!Itwouldkillmetogobackandspendanothernightasthelast,ifIdon"tkillmyselfonthewaytodoit."

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

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

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

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

"Yes."

"Heain"tstarvedyet?"

"No;hecaneatgrass.Ican"t."

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

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

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

"I"dratherleaveit."

"ButsupposeyouhaveachancetosellittosomebodyatRawlett"s?"

continuedHarkutt,withaprecautionthatseemedironical.

"Idon"tthinkthere"smuchchanceofthat."

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

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