第4章

room.Butherehehaltedagainonthethresholdwithaquickreturnofhisoldhabitsofcaution.Thedoorwasslightlyopen;

apparentlyhisangryoutbreakofanhouragohadnotaffectedthespiritsofhisdaughters,forhecouldheartheirhilariousvoicesminglingwiththoseofthestrangers.Theywereevidentlystillfortune-telling,butthistimeitwasthepropheticanddiviningaccentsofMr.RiceaddressedtoClementinawhichwerenowplainlyaudible.

"Iseeheapsofmoneyandagreatmanyfriendsinthechangethatiscomingtoyou.Dearme!howmanysuitors!ButIcannotpromiseyouanymarriageasbrilliantasmyfriendhasjustofferedyoursister.Youmaybecertain,however,thatyou"llhaveyourownchoiceinthis,asyouhaveinallthings."

"Thankyoufornothing,"saidClementina"svoice."Butwhatarethosehorridblackcardsbesidethem?——that"strouble,I"msure."

"Notforyou,thoughnearyou.Perhapssomeoneyoudon"tcaremuchforanddon"tunderstandwillhaveaheapoftroubleonyouraccount,——yes,onaccountoftheseveryriches;see,hefollowsthetenofdiamonds.Itmaybeasuitor;itmaybesomeonenowinthehouse,perhaps."

"Hemeanshimself,MissClementina,"struckinGrant"svoicelaughingly.

"You"renotlistening,MissHarkutt,"saidRicewithhalf-seriousreproach."Perhapsyouknowwhoitis?"

ButMissClementina"sreplywassimplyahurriedrecognitionofherfather"spalefacethatheresuddenlyconfrontedherwiththeopeningdoor.

"Why,it"sfather!"

CHAPTERIII.

InhisstrangementalconditioneventhechangefromHarkutt"sfeeblecandletotheouterdarknessforamomentblindedElijahCurtis,yetitwaspartofthatmentalconditionthathekeptmovingsteadilyforwardasinatranceordream,thoughatfirstpurposelessly.Thenitoccurredtohimthathewasreallylookingforhishorse,andthattheanimalwasnotthere.Thisforamomentconfusedandfrightenedhim,firstwiththesuppositionthathehadnotbroughthimatall,butthatitwaspartofhisdelusion;secondly,withtheconvictionthatwithouthishorsehecouldneitherproceedonthecoursesuggestedbyHarkutt,nortakeanothermorevagueonethatwasdimlyinhismind.Yetinhishopelessvacillationitseemedareliefthatnowneitherwaspracticable,andthatheneeddonothing.Perhapsitwasamysteriousprovidence!

Theexplanation,however,wasmuchsimpler.ThehorsehadbeentakenbytheluxuriousandindolentBillingsunknowntohiscompanions.Overcomeatthedreadfulprospectofwalkinghomeinthatweather,thisperfectproductoflethargicSidonhadartfullyallowedPetersandWingatetoprecedehim,and,cautiouslyunloosingthetetheredanimal,hadsafelypassedtheminthedarkness.Whenhegainedhisowninclosurehehadlazilydismounted,and,withasharpcutonthemustang"shaunches,senthimgallopingbacktorejoinhismaster,withwhatresulthasbeenalreadytoldbytheunsuspectingPetersintheprecedingchapter.

Yetnoconceptionofthispossibilityentered"LigeCurtis"salcoholizedconsciousness,partofwhosemorbidphantasyitwastodistortorexaggerateallnaturalphenomena.HehadavagueideathathecouldnotgobacktoHarkutt"s;alreadyhisvisitseemedtohavehappenedlong,longago,andcouldnotberepeated.Hewouldwalkon,enwrappedinthisuncompromisingdarknesswhichconcealedeverything,suggestedeverything,andwasresponsibleforeverything.

Itwasverydark,forthewind,havinglulled,nolongerthinnedtheveilofcloudsabove,nordissipatedasteamingmistthatappearedtorisefromthesoddenplain.Yethemovedeasilythroughthedarkness,seemingtobeupheldbyitassomethingtangible,uponwhichhemightlean.Attimeshethoughtheheardvoices,——notaparticularvoicehewasthinkingof,butstrangevoices——ofcourseunrealtohispresentfancy.Andthenheheardoneofthesevoices,unlikeanyvoiceinSidon,andveryfaintandfaroff,askingifit"wasanywherenearSidon?"——evidentlysomeonelostlikehimself.Heansweredinavoicethatseemedquiteasunrealandasfaint,andturnedinthedirectionfromwhichitcame.Therewasalightmovinglikeawill-o"-the-wispfarbeforehim,yetbelowhimasifcomingoutofthedepthsoftheearth.Itmustbefancy,buthewouldsee——ah!

Hehadfallenviolentlyforward,andatthesamemomentfelthisrevolverleapfromhisbreastpocketlikealivingthing,andaninstantafterexplodeupontherockwhereitstruck,blindinglyilluminatingthedeclivitydownwhichhewasplunging.Thesulphurousstingofburningpowderwasinhiseyesandnose,yetinthatswiftrevealingflashhehadtimetoclutchthestemsofatrailingvinebesidehim,butnottosavehisheadfromsharpcontactwiththesamerockyledgethathadcaughthispistol.Thepainandshockgavewaytoasickeningsenseofwarmthattherootsofhishair.Giddyandfaint,hisfingersrelaxed,hefelthimselfsinking,withalanguorthatwashalfacquiescence,down,down,——

until,withanothershock,awildgaspingforair,andaswiftreaction,heawokeinthecold,rushingwater!

Clearandperfectlyconsciousnow,thoughfranticallyfightingforexistencewiththecurrent,hecoulddimlyseeafloatingblackobjectshootingbytheshore,attimesstrikingtheprojectionsofthebank,untilinitsrecoilitswunghalfroundanddriftedbroadsideontowardshim.Hewasnearenoughtocatchthefrayedendsofatrailingropethatfastenedthestructure,whichseemedtobeafewlogs,together.Withaconvulsiveeffortheatlastgainedafootinguponit,andthenfellfaintingalongitslength.

Itwastheraftwhichthesurveyorsfromtheembarcaderohadjustabandoned.

Hedidnotknowthis,norwouldhehavethoughtitotherwisestrangethataraftmightbeapartofthedriftoftheoverflow,evenhadhebeenentirelyconscious;buthissenseswerefailing,thoughhewasstillabletokeepasecurepositionontheraft,andtovaguelybelievethatitwouldcarryhimtosomereliefandsuccor.Howlonghelayunconsciousheneverknew;inhisafter-

recollectionsofthatnight,itseemedtohavebeenhauntedbydreamsofpassingdimbanksandstrangeplaces;ofafaceandvoicethathadbeenpleasanttohim;ofaterrorcominguponhimasheappearedtobenearingaplacelikethathomethathehadabandonedinthelonelytules.Hewasrousedatlastbyaviolentheadache,asifhissoftfelthathadbeenchangedintoatighteningcrownofiron.Liftinghishandtohisheadtotearoffitscovering,hewassurprisedtofindthathewaswearingnohat,butthathismattedhair,stiffenedanddriedwithbloodandooze,wasclinginglikeacaptohisskullinthehotmorningsunlight.Hiseyelidsandlashesweregluedtogetherandweighteddownbythesamesanguinaryplaster.Hecrawledtotheedgeofhisfrailraft,notwithoutdifficulty,foritoscillatedandrockedstrangely,anddippedhishandinthecurrent.Whenhehadclearedhiseyesheliftedthemwithashockofamazement.Creeks,banks,andplainhaddisappeared;hewasaloneonabendofthetossingbayofSanFrancisco!

Hisfirstandonlysense——clearedbyfastingandquickenedbyreaction——wasoneofinfiniterelief.Hewasnotonlyfreefromthevagueterrorsoftheprecedingdaysandnights,buthiswholepastseemedtobelostandsunkforeverinthisillimitableexpanse.ThelowplainofTasajara,withitssteadfastmonotonyoflightandshadow,hadsunkbeneathanotherlevel,butonethatglistened,sparkled,wasinstinctwithvaryinglife,andmovedandevendancedbelowhim.Thelowpalisadesofregularlyrecurringtulesthathadfencedin,impeded,butneverrelievedtheblanknessofhishorizon,wereforeverswallowedupbehindhim.Alltrailofpastdegradation,allrecordofpainandsuffering,allfootprintsofhiswanderingandmisguidedfeetweresmoothlywipedoutinthatobliteratingsea.Hewasphysicallyhelpless,andhefeltit;hewasindanger,andheknewit,——buthewasfree!

Happilytherewasbutlittlewindandtheseawasslight.Theraftwasstillintactsofarashecouldjudge,buteveninhisignoranceheknewitwouldscarcelystandthesurgesofthelowerbay.LikemostCalifornianswhohadpassedthestraitsofCarquinezatnightinasteamer,hedidnotrecognizethelocality,noreventhedistantpeakofTamalpais.Therewereafewdottingsailsthatseemedasremote,asuncertain,andasunfriendlyasseabirds.Theraftwasmotionless,almostasmotionlessashewasinhiscrampedlimbsandsun-dried,stiffenedclothes.Tooweaktokeepanuprightposition,withoutmast,stick,oroartoliftasignalabovethatvastexpanse,itseemedimpossibleforhimtoattractattention.Evenhispistolwasgone.

Suddenly,inanattempttoraisehimself,hewasstruckbyaflashsoblindingthatitseemedtopiercehisachingeyesandbrainandturnedhimsick.Itappearedtocomefromacrevicebetweenthelogsatthefurtherendoftheraft.Creepingpainfullytowardsithesawthatitwasatriangularslipofhighlypolishedmetalthathehadhithertooverlooked.Hedidnotknowthatitwasa"flashing"mirrorusedintopographicalobservation,whichhadslippedfromthesurveyors"instrumentswhentheyabandonedtheraft,buthisexcitedfacultiesinstinctivelydetecteditsvaluetohim.Heliftedit,and,facingthesun,raiseditatdifferentangleswithhisfeeblearms.Buttheeffortwastoomuchforhim;

theraftpresentlyseemedtobewhirlingwithhismovement,andheagainfell

"Ahoythere!"

Thevoicewascloseupon——inhisveryears.Heopenedhiseyes.

Theseastillstretchedemptilybeforehim;thedottingsailsstillunchangedanddistant.Yetastrangeshadowlayupontheraft.Heturnedhisheadwithdifficulty.Ontheoppositeside——socloseuponhimastobealmostoverhishead——thegreatwhitesailsofaschoonerhoveredabovehimlikethewingsofsomeenormousseabird.Thenaheavyboomswungacrosstheraft,solowthatitwouldhaveswepthimawayhadhebeeninanuprightposition;thesidesofthevesselgrazedtheraftandshefellslowlyoff.A

terriblefearofabandonmenttookpossessionofhim;hetriedtospeak,butcouldnot.Thevesselmovedfurtheraway,buttheraftfollowed!Hecouldseenowitwasbeingheldbyaboat-hook,——

couldseetheodd,eagercuriosityontwofacesthatwereraisedabovethetaffrail,andwiththatsenseofreliefhiseyesagainclosedinunconsciousness.

Afeelingofchilliness,followedbyagratefulsensationofdrawingcloserundersomewarmcovering,astingingtasteinhismouthoffieryliquorandthearomaticsteamofhotcoffee,werehisfirstreturningsensations.Hisheadandneckwereswathedincoarsebandages,andhisskinstiffenedandsmartingwithsoap.Hewaslyinginarudeberthunderahalf-deckfromwhichhecouldseetheskyandthebellyingsail,andpresentlyabeardedfacefilledwithroughandpracticalconcernthatpeereddownuponhim.

"Hulloo!comin"round,eh?Holdon!"ThenextmomentthestrangerhadleapeddownbesideElijah.Heseemedtobeanoddminglingofthesailorandrancherowiththeshrewdnessofaseaporttrader.

"Hulloo,boss!Whatwasit?Afreefight,orawash-out?"

"Awash-out!"*Elijahgraspedtheideaasaninspiration.Yes,hiscabinhadbeeninundated,hehadtakentoaraft,hadbeenknockedofftwiceorthrice,andhadlosteverything——evenhisrevolver!

*Aminingtermforthetemporaryinundationofaclaimbyflood;

alsousedforthesterilizingeffectoffloodonfertilesoil.

Themanlookedrelieved."Thenitain"tafreefight,norhavin"

yourcrustbustedandbein"robbedbybeachcombers,eh?"

"No,"saidElijah,withhisfirstfaintsmile.

"Glado"that,"saidthemanbluntly."Thentharain"tnopolicebusinesstotieuptoin"Frisco?Wewerestucktharaweekonce,justbecausewechancedtopickupafellerwho"dbeenfoundgaggedandthenthrownoverboardbywharfthieves.Hadtodanceattendanceatcourttharandlostourtrip."Hestoppedandlookedhalf-patheticallyattheprostrateElijah."Lookyer!yeain"tjustdyin"togoashoreNOWandseeyerfriendsandsendmessages,areye?"

Elijahshudderedinwardly,butoutwardlysmiledfaintlyashereplied,"No!"

"Andthetideandwindjestservin"usnow,yewouldn"tmindkeepin"straightonwithusthistrip?"

"Whereto?"askedElijah.

"SantyBarbara."

"No,"saidElijah,afteramoment"spause."I"llgowithyou."

Themanleapedtohisfeet,liftedhisheadabovetheupperdeck,shouted"Lethergofree,Jerry!"andthenturnedgratefullytohispassenger."Lookyer!Awash-outisawash-out,Ireckon,putitanywayyoulike;itdon"tputanythingbackintotheland,oranythingbackintoyourpocketafterwards,eh?No!Andyerwelloutofit,pardner!Nowthere"sarightsmartchanceforlocatin"

jestbackofSantyBarbara,wheretharain"tnoGod-forsakentulestooverflow;andezfarezthelandandlickerliesye"needn"ttakeanywaterinyours"efyedon"twantit.Youkinstartfreshthar,pardner,andbrailup.What"sthematterwithyou,oldman,isonlyfever"n"agurketchedinthemtules!Ikinseeitinyoureyes.NowyouholdonwharyoubetillIgoforrardandseeeverythingtaut,andthenI"llcomebackandwe"llhaveatalk."

Andtheydid.Theresultofwhichwasthatattheendofaweek"stossingandseasickness,ElijahCurtiswaslandedatSantaBarbara,pale,thin,butself-containedandresolute.AndhavingfoundfavorintheeyesoftheskipperoftheKittyHawk,generaltrader,lumber-dealer,andranch-man,aweeklaterhewaslocatedontheskipper"slandandinstalledintheskipper"sservice.Andfromthatday,forfiveyearsSidonandTasajaraknewhimnomore.

CHAPTERIV.

ItwaspartofthefunctionsofJohnMiltonHarkutttotakedowntheearlymorningshuttersandsweepoutthestoreforhisfathereachdaybeforegoingtoschool.Itwasapeculiarityofthisperformancethathewasapttolingeroverit,partlyfromthefactthatitputofftheevilhouroflessons,partlythatheimpartedintotheprocessapurelyimaginativeandromanticelementgatheredfromhislatestnovel-reading.Inthishewasusuallyassistedbyoneortwoschool-fellowsontheirwaytoschool,whoalwaysenviedhimhissuperiormenialoccupation.Togotoschool,itwasfelt,wasacommoncalamityofboyhoodthatcalledintoplayonlythesimplestformsofevasion,whereastotakedownactualshuttersinabonafidestore,andwieldarealbroomthatraisedapalpablecloudofdust,wassomethingthatreallytaxedthenoblestexertions.AnditwasthemorningafterthearrivalofthestrangersthatJohhMiltonstoodontheverandaofthestoreostentatiouslyexaminingthehorizon,withhishandshadinghiseyes,asoneofhiscompanionsappeared.

"Hollo,Milt!wotyerdoin"?"

JohnMiltonstarteddramatically,andthenviolentlydashedatoneoftheshuttersandbegantodetachit."Ha!"hesaidhoarsely.

"Cleartheshipforaction!Opentheports!Ondeckthere!

Steady,youlubbers!"Inaninstanthisenthusiasticschool-fellowwasathissideattackinganothershutter."Along,lowschoonerbearingdownuponus!Lively,lads,lively!"continuedJohnMilton,desistingamomenttotakeanotherdramaticlookatthedistantplain."Howdoessheheadnow?"hedemandedfiercely.

"Sou"bysou"east,sir,"respondedtheotherboy,franticallydancingbeforethewindow."Butshe"llweatherit."

Theyeachthenwrestedanothershutteraway,violentlydepositingthem,astheyrantoandfro,inarackatthecorneroftheveranda.Addedtoanextraordinaryandunnecessaryclatteringwiththeirfeet,theyaccompaniedtheirmovementswithasingularhissingsound,supposedtoindicateinonebreaththefuryoftheelements,thebustleoftheeagercrew,andthewildexcitementofthecomingconflict.Whenthelastshutterwasclearedaway,JohnMilton,withthecry"Manthestarboardguns!"dashedintothestore,whosefloorwasmarkedbythemuddyfootprintsofyesterday"sbuyers,seizedabroomandbegantosweepviolently.Acloudofdustarose,intowhichhiscompanionatonceprecipitatedhimselfwithanotherbroomandaloudBANG!toindicatethesomewhatbelatedsoundofcannon.Forafewsecondsthetwoboyspliedtheirbroomsdesperatelyinthatstiflingatmosphere,accompanyingeachlongsweepandpuffofdustoutoftheopendoorwiththereportofexplosionsandloudHA"S!ofdefiance,untilnotonlythestore,buttheverandawasobscuredwithacloudwhichthemorningsunstruggledvainlytopierce.Inthemidstofthistumultanddustyconfusion——happilyunheardandunsuspectedinthesecludeddomesticinteriorofthebuilding——ashrilllittlevoicearosefromtheroad.

"Thinkyou"remightysmart,don"tye?"

Thetwonavalheroesstoppedintheirimaginaryfury.and,asthedustofconflictclearedaway,recognizedlittleJohnnyPetersgazingatthemwithmingledinquisitivenessandenvy.

"Guessyedon"tknowwhathappeneddowntherunlastnight,"hecontinuedimpatiently.""LigeCurtisgotkilled,orkilledhisself!Bloodallovertherockdownthar.Seedit,myseff.Dadpickeduphissix-shooter,——onebarrelgoneoff.Mydadwasthefirsttofinditout,andhe"sbintoSquireKerbytellin"him."

Thetwocompanions,albeitburningwithcuriosity,affectedindifferenceandpre-knowledge.

"Dadsezyourfatherdruv"Ligeouterthestorelassnight!Dadsezyourfather"s"sponsible.Dadsezyourfatherezgoodezkilledhim.Dadsezthesquire"llsettheconstableonyourfather.Yah!"Butherethesmallinsulterincontinentlyfled,pursuedbyboththeboys.Nevertheless,whenhehadmadegoodhisescape,JohnMiltonshowedneitheradispositiontotakeuphisformernauticalrole,nortofollowhiscompaniontovisitthesanguinarysceneofElijah"sdisappearance.Hewalkedslowlybacktothestoreandcontinuedhisworkofsweepingandputtinginorderwithanabstractedregularity,andnotraceofhisformerexuberantspirits.

Thefirstoneofthoseinstinctivefearswhicharecommontoimaginativechildren,andoftenassumethefunctionsofpremonition,hadtakenpossessionofhim.Theoddityofhisfather"smannertheeveningbefore,whichhadonlyhalfconsciouslymadeitsindelibleimpressiononhissensitivefancy,hadrecurredtohimwithJohnnyPeters"sspeech.Hehadnoideaofliterallyacceptingtheboy"scharges;hescarcelyunderstoodtheirgravity;buthehadamiserablefeelingthathisfather"sangerandexcitementlastnightwasbecausehehadbeendiscoveredhuntinginthedarkforthatpaperof"LigeCurtis"s.ItWAS"LigeCurtis"spaper,forhehadseenitlyingthere.Asuddendreadfulconvictioncameoverhimthathemustnever,neverletanyoneknowthathehadseenhisfathertakeupthatpaper;thathemustneveradmitit,eventoHIM.

Itwasnottheboy"sfirstknowledgeofthatattitudeofhypocrisywhichthegrownupworldassumestowardschildhood,andinwhichtheinnocentvictimseventuallyacquiescewithaMachiavelliansubtletythatatlastavengesthem,——butitwashisfirstknowledgethatthathypocrisymightnotbesoinnocent.Hisfatherhadconcealedsomethingfromhim,becauseitwasnotright.

Butifchildhooddoesnotforget,itseldombroodsandisnotabovebeingdiverted.Andthetwosurveyors——ofwhoseheroicadventinaraftJohnMiltonhadonlyheardthatmorningwiththeirtraveledways,theirstrangeinstrumentsandstrangertalk,capturedhisfancy.Keptinthebackgroundbyhissisterswhenvisitorscame,asanunpresentablefeatureinthehousehold,hehowevermanagedtolingernearthestrangerswhen,incompanywithEuphemiaandClementina,afterbreakfasttheystrolledbeneaththesparklingsunlightintherudegardeninclosurealongtheslopingbanksofthecreek.Itwaswiththeaveragebrother"ssupremecontemptthathelistenedtohissisters""practicin""uponthegoodnessofthesesuperiorbeings;itwaswithanexceptionalpitythatheregardedtheevidentadmirationofthestrangersinreturn.HefeltthatinthecaseofEuphemia,whosometimesevincedalaudablecuriosityinhispleasures,andaflatteringignoranceofhisreading,thismightbepardonable;butwhatanyonecouldfindintheuselessstatuesqueClementinapassedhiscomprehension.Couldtheynotseeatoncethatshewas"justthatkindofperson"whowouldlieabedinthemorning,pretendingshewassick,inordertomakePhemiedothehousework,andmakehim,JohnMilton,cleanherbootsandfetchthingsforher?Wasitnotperfectlyplaintothemthatherpresentsickeningpolitenesswassolelywithaviewtoextractfromthemcaramels,rock-candy,andgumdrops,whichshewouldmeanlykeepherself,andperhapssome"buggy-riding"later?Alas,JohnMilton,itwasnot!Forstandingtherewithhertall,perfectly-

proportionedfigureoutlinedagainstawillow,anelasticbranchofwhichshehaddrawndownbyonecurvedarmaboveherhead,andonwhichsheleaned——aseverybodyleanedagainstsomethinginSidon——

thetwoyoungmensawonlyastrayinggoddessinaglorifiedrosebudprint.Whethertheclearly-cutprofilepresentedtoRice,orthefullfacethatcaptivatedGrant,eachsuggestedpossibilitiesofposition,pride,poetry,andpassionthatastonishedwhileitfascinatedthem.Byoneofthoseinstinctsknownonlytothefreemasonryofthesex,Euphemialentherselftothisadvertisementofhersister"scharmsbysubtlecomparisonwithherownprettinesses,andthuscombinedagainsttheircommonenemy,man.

"Clementinacertainlyisperfect,tokeephersupremacyoverthatprettylittlesister,"thoughtRice.

"Whatafascinatinglittlecreaturetoholdherownagainstthattall,handsomegirl,"thoughtGrant.