按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of fame such a person's judgment or sincerity would have been open to
doubt。 Nevertheless； it was true； though the knock was timid and halting
and the summons to cross the threshold long delayed。
A winter mining…camp is the most bleak and comfortless of places。 The
saloon and gambling…house furnished the only real warmth and cheer。 Our
Aurora miners would have been less than human； or more； if they had not
found diversion now and then in the happy harbors of sin。 Once there was
a great ball given at a newly opened pavilion； and Sam Clemens is said to
have distinguished himself by his unrestrained and spontaneous enjoyment
of the tripping harmony。 Cal Higbie； who was present； writes：
In changing partners； whenever he saw a hand raised he would grasp
it with great pleasure and sail off into another set； oblivious to
his surroundings。 Sometimes he would act as though there was no use
in trying to go right or to dance like other people； and with his
eyes closed he would do a hoe…down or a double…shuffle all alone；
talking to himself and saying that he never dreamed there was so
much pleasure to be obtained at a ball。 It was all as natural as a
child's play。 By the second set； all the ladies were falling over
themselves to get him for a partner； and most of the crowd； too full
of mirth to dance； were standing or sitting around； dying with
laughter。
What a child he always wasalways； to the very end？ With the first
break of winter the excitement that had been fermenting and stewing
around camp stoves overflowed into the streets； washed up the gullies；
and assailed the hills。 There came then a period of madness； beside
which the Humboldt excitement had been mere intoxication。 Higbie says：
It was amazing how wild the people became all over the Pacific
coast。 In San Francisco and other large cities barbers； hack…
drivers； servant…girls； merchants； and nearly every class of people
would club together and send agents representing all the way from
5；000 to 500；000 or more to buy mines。 They would buy anything。
in the shape of quartz； whether it contained any mineral value or
not。
The letters which went from the Aurora miner to Orion are humanly
documentary。 They are likely to be staccato in their movement； they show
nervous haste in their composition； eagerness； and suppressed excitement；
they are not always coherent； they are seldom humorous； except in a
savage way； they are often profane； they are likely to be violent。 Even
the handwriting has a terse look； the flourish of youth has gone out of
it。 Altogether they reveal the tense anxiety of the gambling mania of
which mining is the ultimate form。 An extract from a letter of April is
a fair exhibit：
Work not yet begun on the 〃Horatio and Derby〃haven't seen it yet。
It is still in the snow。 Shall begin on it within 3 or 4 weeks
strike the ledge in July： Guess it is goodworth from 30 to 50 a
foot in California。。。。
Man named Gebhart shot here yesterday while trying to defend a claim
on Last Chance Hill。 Expect he will die。
These mills here are not worth a dnexcept Clayton'sand it is
not in full working trim yet。
Send me 40 or 50by mail…immediately。 I go to work to…morrow
with pick and shovel。 Something's got to come； by G； before I let
go here。
By the end of April work had become active in the mines； though the snow
in places was still deep and the ground stony with frost。 On the 28th he
writes：
I have been at work all day blasting and digging； and dning one of
our new claims〃Dashaway〃which I don't think a great deal of； but
which I am willing to try。 We are down； now； 10 or 12 a feet。 We
are following down under the ledge； but not taking it out。 If we
get up a windlass to…morrow we shall take out the ledge； and see
whether it is worth anything or not。
It must have been hard work picking away at the flinty ledges in the
cold； and the 〃Dashaway〃 would seem to have proven a disappointment； for
there is no promising mention of it again。 Instead； we hear of the
〃Flyaway；〃 and 〃 Annipolitan〃 and the 〃Live Yankee〃 and of a dozen
others； each of which holds out the beacon of hope for a little while and
then passes from notice forever。 In May it is the 〃Monitor〃 that is sure
to bring affluence； though realization is no longer regarded as
immediate。
To use a French expression； I have 〃got my d…d satisfy〃 at last。
Two years' time will make us capitalists； in spite of anything。
Therefore we need fret and fume and worry and doubt no more； but
just lie still and put up with privation for six months。 Perhaps 3
months will 〃let us out。〃 Then； if government refuses to pay the
rent on your new office we can do it ourselves。 We have got to wait
six weeks； anyhow； for a dividendmaybe longerbut that it will
come there is no shadow of a doubt。 I have got the thing sifted
down to a dead moral certainty。 I own one…eighth of the new
〃Monitor Ledge； Clemens Company；〃 and money can't buy a foot of it；
because I know it to contain our fortune。 The ledge is six feet
wide； and one needs no glass to see gold and silver in it。。。。
When you and I came out here we did not expect '63 or '64 to find us
rich menand if that proposition had been made we would have
accepted it gladly。 Now； it is made。 I am willing； now； that
〃Neary's tunnel〃 or anybody else's tunnel shall succeed。 Some of
them may beat us a few months； but we shall be on hand in the
fullness of time； as sure as fate。 I would hate to swap chances
with any member of the tribe 。 。 。 。
It is the same man who twenty…five years later would fasten his faith and
capital to a type…setting machine and refuse to exchange stock in it；
share for share； with the Mergenthaler linotype。 He adds：
But I have struck my tent in Esmeralda； and I care for no mines but
those which I can superintend myself。 I am a citizen here now； and
I am satisfied； although Ratio and I are 〃strapped〃 and we haven't
three days' rations in the house。。。。 I shall work the 〃Monitor〃 and
the other claims with my own hands。 I prospected 3/4 of a pound of
〃Monitor〃 yesterday； and Raish reduced it with the blow…pipe； and
got about io or 112 cents in gold and silver； besides the other half
of it which we spilt on the floor and didn't get。。。。
I tried to break a handsome chunk from a huge piece of my darling
〃Monitor〃 which we brought from the croppings yesterday； but it all
splintered up； and I send you the scraps。 I call that 〃choice〃any
d…d fool would。
Don't ask if it has been assayed； for it hasn't。 It don't need it。
It is simply able to speak for itself。 It is six feet wide on top；
and traversed through with veins whose color proclaims their worth。
What the devil does a man want with any more feet when he owns in
the invincible bomb…proof 〃Monitor〃？
There is much