down the mother lode-第7章

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'　racin'；　and　quit。　Spects　yo'　had　'nothah　tumble；　didn't　you'？　You'　wait　till　Katie　gits　de　camph…fire　an'　put　on　dat　haid。〃

So　did　Katie's　scoldings　invariably　end　in　renewed　pampering　of　her　〃chile；〃　and　so　did　I　continue　to　race　every　horse　in　the　community　and　usually　to　win。

With　one　small　ear　laid　back　to　listen　for　the　other　horses；　little　white　Flossie　flew　along　the　grassy　track；　darting　around　the　chapparal　bushes　which　had　grown　up　and　jumping　the　fallen　tree　trunks。　Suddenly　we　came　out　of　the　woods　and　she　shied　violently　at　a　man　who　was　digging　a　fence…post　hole；　directly　in　the　road。　I　always　rode　Indian　fashion　without　stirrups　of　any　kind；　so　of　course　I　was　catapulted　neatly　over　her　head。

〃Hello。　Otto；〃　I　said；　remaining　seated　in　the　road　and　catching　at　Floss'　bridle　rein；　〃what　have　you　found？〃

Otto　was　sifting　the　loose　dirt　in　the　hole　through　eager　fingers。

〃Hello！　I've　found　some　money　here　in　the　ground。　I　wonder　…　oh；　yes；　I've　heard　my　mother　tell　about　it！　This　was　the　old　pioneer　road　and　it　was　at　this　very　spot　that　Rattlesnake　Dick　and　some　of　his　gang　held　up　the　Wells…Fargo　stage　coach　and　got　such　a　lot　of　money。　They　say　there's　still　40；000　buried　on　Trinity　Mountain；　half　of　what　was　waiting　when　Rattlesnake　Dick　got　killed。〃

Rattlesnake　Dick；　pirate　of　the　placers；　prince　of　highwaymen！　Magical　name　…　irridescent　bubble　from　the　pipe　of　romance。　Proud；　imperious；　bitter　Dick！　What　a　splendid　old　name　he　had　been　born　to；　and　what　blows　Fate　had　dealt　him　which　led　to　his　tragic　end！

The　others　had　come　up　by　this　time　and　we　sat　in　a　circle　listening　again　to　the　story　of　the　bold　and　brilliant　Englishman　whom　two　undeserved　jail　sentences　had　turned　into　such　a　picturesque　dare…devil　of　a　highwayman。　However；　I　disagreed　with　Otto's　version　of　the　robber　chief。

〃But　you　have　made　him　out　all　bad；〃　I　told　him。　〃I　have　heard　the　story　often；　and　he　wasn't　all　bad　by　any　means。〃

〃He　was　a　wild　desperado。　Why；　even　after　he　was　dead　and　lying　on　the　sidewalk　in　Auburn；　a　man　came　up　and　kicked　his　face。〃

〃Yes；　and　they　say　that　everybody　in　the　county　was　mad　about　it；　and　when　the　man　ran　for　supervisor　more　than　a　year　later；　no　decent　person　would　vote　for　him　and　he　lost　his　election。〃　Now；　the　true　story　of　Rattlesnake　Dick　is　this；　and　I　never　tire　of　hearing　it：

〃Would　you　present　me　to　your　sister's　friend；　then；　George？〃

〃Why　not。〃

〃I　am　an　Ishmailite！　I；　the　son　of　an　honorable　English　gentleman；　have　done　a　term　in　prison。〃

〃But　these　ideas　are　extreme；　Dick。　There　is　no　such　general　opinion　of　you。　Were　you　not　exonerated　from　having　stolen　the　wretched　little　Jew's　goods？　It　is　all　forgotten；〃　and　George　Taylor　paused　in　his　restless　pacing；　before　the　long；　graceful　figure　on　the　bunk　against　the　wall。　Dick　raised　handsome　eyes　whose　flashing　light　was　made　of　pain。

〃George；　I　wish　…　how　I　wish　that　it　were　forgotten。　But　it　is　not。　They　whisper　it　in　doorways；　and　over　the　card　tables　and　down　in　the　drift　tunnels。　Wherever　I　go　it　follows　me　like　an　evil　spirit；　rearing　its　unclean　head　between　me　and　all　fair　things。〃　His　deep　voice　reflected　the　hurt　in　his　dark　eyes；　and　his　broad　shoulders　drooped　in　despondency。

〃Dick　…　Dick；　the　gay　the　debonair　…　this　is　not　like　you。　Brace　up；　man；　and　come　with　me　to　this　opening　of　the　new　opera　house；　if　only　to　add　to　my　pleasure。　All　the　town　will　be　there　to　hear　the　singer　who　has　just　landed　in　San　Francisco　from　Boston。〃

〃She　it　was　who　brought　you　the　letter　from　your　sister？〃

〃Yes；　yes。　They　were　school…mates。　She　is　beautiful；　and　you　shall　meet　her　after　the　concert。〃

The　〃Opera　House〃　was　crowded；　the　front　rows　seating　the　leading　men　of　the　community　and　their　richly　clad　wives　and　daughters。　In　the　back　rows；　seated　on　benches　and　around　the　side　walls　were；　the　roughly　dressed　miners　and　the　usual　flotsam　of　a　mining　town。　The　singer　was　not　of　the　hurdy…gurdy　type　so　common　in　those　days；　but　a　〃lady；〃　young；　lovely　and　accomplished。　Her　ballads　were　greeted　with　the　greatest　enthusiasm；　and　soon　the　stage　began　to　be　showered　with　gold。　The　miners　brought　her　back　again　and　again；　calling　the　names　of　songs　they　wished　to　hear。　Hundreds　of　dollars　of　gold　were　tossed　up　to　her；　whilst　she　smilingly　complied　with　all　their　requests。

〃One　more；〃　they　shouted；　〃only　one　more；　and　her　slippers　shall　be　filled　with　gold　dust。〃　She　slipped　out　of　her　little　sandals　and　stood；　blushing　modestly；　hiding　her　silken　feet　under　her　long；　wide　skirts。

〃You　are　very　kind　to　a　lonely　stranger；〃　she　called；　to　an　instantly　silenced　audience；　〃and　I　will　sing　for　you　a　song　which　has　but　lately　come　from　London。　'Tis　from　a　new　opera　called　the　Bohemian　Girl；　composed　by　Master　Balfe；〃　and　folding　her　little　hands　before　her；　she　sang　sweetly；　〃Then　You'll　Remember　Me。〃

〃When　other　lips　and　other　hearts　their　tales　of　love　shall　tell　Of　days　that　have　as　happy　been；　and　you'll　remember　…　you'll　remember　me。〃

〃Dick；　why　do　you　cover　your　eyes？　You　are　surely　not　asleep？〃

〃By　all　the　Gods；　man；　the　accusation　is　an　insult；〃　with　a　haughty　flash　of　his　great　eyes。

〃You　are　to　be　presented；　have　you　forgotten？〃

〃Forgotten！　While　life　lasts；　I　shall　remember　this　night。〃

〃Hush；　this　is　the　last。　She　is　singing；　〃Home；　Sweet　Home'。〃

〃Yes；　'Home；'　for　these　wanderers　from　all　over　the　earth。　See　how　silently　they　file　out。〃

〃There　is　many　a　tear　among　them。　They　will　lie；　tonight　on　memory's　couch　of　sad　dreams。〃

〃You　are　wrong；　my　friend；〃　said　Dick　bitterly；　〃they　are　more　like　to　hasten　down　to　the　gambling　hells　to　kill　the　visions　memory　would　recall。〃

*　*　*　*　*

〃Sweet　Bird；　you　cannot　believe　this　thing　of　me！〃　The　Singer…Lady　raised　her　bright　head　from　Dick's　shoulder；　and　met；　steadfastly；　his　passionately　adoring　eyes。

〃Richard；　how　can　you　for　one　moment　doubt　me？　I　know　you　to　be　good　and　true。　Were　you　not　exonerated　from　the　last　accusation　of　which　you　informed　me　before　you　asked　for　my　hand　in　marriage。　And　do　we　not　know　that　this　man　is　actuated　by　the　motive　of　jealousy　？〃

〃The　Mormon　beast！　He　knows　well　that　I　did　not　steal　his　mule。〃

〃No'　naughty　boy；〃　tapping　him　playfully　with　her　fan；　〃'Twas　something　else　you　stole　from　Master　Crow　the　woman　he　wanted。　Often　have　I　noticed　on　the　streets　how　all　women；　every　one；　turn　to　look　after　you。〃

〃I　cared　not　for　her。〃　He　shook　his　tall　and　beautiful　head；　impatient　of　the　silky　black　lock　which　fell　across　his　forehead。

〃Perhaps　then　'tis　your　magnificent　carriage　they　would　admire；〃　laughed　the　girl；　teasingly。

Dick　swept　her　close　to　his　heart。　〃My　golden…throated　dove；　I　cannot　join　in　your　sweet　laughter；　for　I　have　a　boding　heart；　this　day。　I　have　enemies。　They　will　use　my　past　record。　The　courts　are　new；　and　judgments　swift　and　cold。　If　they　should　send　me　again　to　the　penitentiary　I　…　〃

〃Dearest　I　should　know　you　to　be　innocent；　and　I　should　wait　for　you。〃

He　kissed　her　tenderly　on　cheeks；　and　eyes；　and　mouth。　He　took　her　hands　from　his　shoulders；　slipping　off　the　little　silken　mitts　and　putting　them　in　an　inner　pocket；　and　kissed　the　soft；　pink　palms。

〃Ah；　Lady…Bird；　if　I　should　not　return　you'll　remember　me？〃

〃Always。〃

〃My　own　pure　love！　No　breath　of　shame　shall　ever　sully　your　fair　name　through　me。〃

〃Right　well　I　know　that；　Richard。　God　bless　you。　I　will　pray　for　you　every　hour。〃

At　evening　George　Taylor　brought　her　a　note　from　Dick。

〃Oh；　George；〃　she　wailed；　〃they　have　sentenced　him？〃

〃Two　years　in　prison。〃

〃But　he　was　innocent！〃

〃Yes；　and　some　day　it　will　be　proven。〃　He　looked　at　her　strangely；　〃I　must　tell　you　…　Dick　has　broken　jail　and　fled　north　to　Shasta　county；　where　he　will　begin　life　anew。　Then；　if　you　still　wish　it；　he　will　come　to　you。〃

*　*　*　*　*

After　four　years　the　Singer…Lady　returned　for　a　concert　at　the　little　Opera　House　in　Rattlesnake。　She　went　to　her　old　quarters　at　the　Widow　Miller's；　on　the　edge　of　town。

〃Eh；　Dearie；〃　cried　the　good　woman；　〃what　have　they　been　doing　to　ye；　so　to　dim　your　bright　youth；　and　to　bring　the　sad　lines　to　your　mouth？〃

〃Mrs。　Miller；　where　is　he？〃

〃Ah　…　so　th