down the mother lode-第3章
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ingdom of God as a little child； he shall not enter therein。 * * * We do sign him with the sign of the cross in token hereafter that he shall manfully fight against the sin； the world； and the devil； and to continue Christ's faithful soldier unto his life's end。〃 So； the child starting on his earthly journey with the minister's blessing and the backing of twenty god…fathers！
The holy old church service which he had heard at home in stately English cathedrals … the nuggets in the contribution plate … the radiant bride who had come across the plains to hear 〃Dearly Beloved； We are gathered together；〃 standing beside the man she loved。 The service for the dying： 〃When we shall have served thee in our generation we may be gathered unto our Fathers； having the testimony of a good conscience； the confidence of a certain faith； in favor with Thee our God； and in perfect charity with the world。〃 So； Jim Muldoon； cut down before his time； and his slayer out there in the darkness on the end of a rope。
The dying candle picked out in flame a withered cabbage rose under the table； a baby's mitten； the letter written for the man who had died； the Mexican's sombrero on a chair； the gilt sun and moon and stars on the glass face of the grandfather clock by the window。
Duncan's head fell forward in his clasped arms on the table； and in his dreams he heard the huntsman's silver horn from across the seas calling him home to carry on the destiny of the ancient and honorable name which was his。 His 〃strike of pay ore〃 in his 〃land of gold。〃
The candle wick in a shallow pool of tallow flared high； and went out。
The old clock chimed twelve。
The Tom Bell Stronghold
II
〃You smile； O poet； and what do you？ You lean from your window and watch life's column Trampling and struggling through dust and dew； Filled with its purposes grave and solemn； An act； a gesture； a face … who knows？ And you pluck from your bosom the verse that grows； And down it flies like my red； red rose； And you sit and dream as away it goes； And think that your duty is done … now； don't you？〃
… Bret Harte。
In the early days it was called the Mountaineer House。 Now it is colloquially known as the 〃stone house；〃 and has for sixty years been the home of the Owen King family。 It is surrounded today by one of the most beautiful orchards in the foothills。 Wide verandahs of the native gray granite to match the old house itself have been added。 It is electrically lighted and furnace heated； modern in every way； yet still the romance of former times seems to cling to its sturdy old walls。
All that remain unchanged are three huge trees flanking the highway in front。 What tales they could tell； if they would； of what passed by the junction of two roads beneath them。 Of the long and weary caravans from across the plains crawling up from the bridge at Whiskey Bar； below Rattlesnake； glad that their six months' struggle was nearly over： of horsemen on beautiful Spanish horses riding furiously； whither no one knew nor dared ask； of dark deeds in the old stone house below； that was so inscrutably quiet by day and so mysteriously alive by night； of ghastly doings by the Tom Bell gang which ranged all the way from the Oregon border to the southern lakes。
They will never tell all they know … these big old trees … of those who went in by the door and 〃came out by the cellar〃 of Tom Bell's stronghold。 In the end the place fell； in the war between order and lawlessness and； as the pessimists love to assert； a woman； as usual； was the cause of it。 The tale is told：
Rosa Phillips sat in the Mountaineer House strumming a Spanish guitar； and singing；
〃There's a turned down page； as some writer says； in every human life； A hidden story of happier days； of peace amidst the strife。 A folded down leaf which the world knows not。 A love dream rudely crushed； The sight of a face that is not forgot。 Although the voice be hushed。〃
She rose and stood at a window； holding the dusty curtain aside with one white hand and peering cautiously forth into the dusk。 A horse was galloping up the Folsom road。 The horseman was near … was under the trees in front … was past … and gone down the river road without slackening his animal's rapid gait。
〃He does not stop at the Mountaineer House these days；〃 said Tom Bell's sneering voice at her elbow。 〃There is a new actress at the opera house in Rattlesnake。〃
The woman's dark eyes flashed； but she answered evenly enough：
〃He does not stop； the handsome Dick； so you； senor； have not the cause to be jealous。 Is it not so？〃
〃Cause？ Why； you Spanish jade； you've never been the same to me since Rattlesnake Dick came prowling back from Shasta county to his old haunts in Placer。〃 Rosa's thin； red lips curled。
〃Senor； I am what it pleases me to be。〃
〃And Jack Phillips permits you to be！〃
She shrugged her slender shoulders。
〃He wearies me。 Life … this place … wearies me。〃
〃Yes； and I weary you； too … now。 Plain as day； it is。〃
The Phillips woman smiled （she seldom laughed） and there was only cruelty in her smile … no kindliness； no womanly softness of any sort。
〃My friend； soon there will be no 'you。' The night is coming and there will be no sunrise。〃
A man dismounted at the gate and led his horse past the window to the stables in the cellar。 He walked with a curious； halting pace。
〃There's Jim Driscoll back already。 Must bring news；〃 said Bell； leaving her hurriedly； and so neglecting to ask the meaning of her cryptic remark。
Rosa slipped in behind the bar； late that evening； beautifully gowned； and with her dark hair dressed high。 Her vivid face glowed like a scarlet poppy and was bright with smiles。 Three or four men in the crowded bar…room rose to their feet and drank to her bright eyes and strolled across to the bar。
〃Soon now' 〃she whispered； 〃I shall sweep out the lights。 Those two who have just entered … who are they？〃 She went across the room to the newcomers。 〃The senors may pay me for the drinks； if they desire；〃 she said to them； meaningly。
〃La Rosita shall take what pleases her；〃 one of them laughed。 Among the handful of coins and small nuggets he brought from his pocket was a bullet strung on a bit of dirty twine。
〃Ah！ a love token； senor？〃
〃Yes； from the throat of Betsy Jane〃 （a term often used for a rifle）。
〃In twenty minutes； my friends； there will be opened a chute into purgatory for all who are in this bar room。 Your 'love token' names you Senor Bell's men。 Before then you will seek the rear of the room … eh？〃
She drifted away from them to pause at a small table where sat a young man alone。
〃And you； pretty fellow； you are new in California？〃
〃Yes； I landed in San Francisco only ten days ago。〃 He was new indeed； or he would have realized the danger of telling his business to the first person who asked。
〃You go far； senor？〃
〃Not now。 I have come far； but my journey is near to a very happy ending。〃
〃So？〃
〃Yes。 I have come to marry Miss Elena Ashley； at Auburn； to whom I have been long betrothed。〃
She tapped her white teeth with her fan。
〃And yet you linger at Mountaineer House？〃
〃Horses are expensive； and I am not rich。 I walked。 I was tired。 I saw you in your garden； and you are very beautiful。〃
Rosa's capricious vanity was touched。 The whim seized her to save this exuberant young bridegroom from the fate before him。
〃Do you see that peddler … old Rosenthal … close to the bar？ He brought in a large and rich pack tonight。 It lies in the next room。 Do you go there at once。 I will come soon； and together we will select a gift for your bride。 Go quickly！〃
She passed again behind the bar。 Jack Phillips was at one end； lame Jim Driscoll at the other； Tom Bell in the middle。 Rosa paused near a branching candelabra which had once graced the altar of a Spanish church。
〃Is Jose below？〃 whispered Bell。 She nodded。 〃Why did you save that boy； just now？ A new lover？〃 She directed upon him a level glance of hate。
〃I do what pleases me； senor。〃 She raised her arm high； beginning the first stamping measure of a Spanish dance。 Instantly there was a curious rumbling noise in the stable underneath。 Rosa swept over the candelabra。 All the lights in the
