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〃Of course；〃 I said； 〃every time。 He could do it twice that far。〃
Laud's second turned to his principal。
〃Laird；〃 he said； 〃you don't want to fight that man。 It's just like
suicide。 You'd better settle this thing； now。〃
So there was a settlement。 Laird took back all he had said； Mark
said he really had nothing against Lairdthe discussion had been
purely journalistic and did not need to be settled in blood。 He
said that both he and Laird were probably the victims of their
friends。 I remember one of the things Laird said when his second
told him he had better not fight。
〃Fight！ Hl； no！ I am not going to be murdered by that dd
desperado。〃
Sam had sent another challenge to a man named Cutler； who had been
somehow mixed up with the muss and had written Sam an insulting
letter； but Cutler was out of town at the time； and before he got
back we had received word from Jerry Driscoll； foreman of the Grand
jury； that the law just passed； making a duel a penitentiary offense
for both principal and second； was to be strictly enforced； and
unless we got out of town in a limited number of hours we would be
the first examples to test the new law。
We concluded to go； and when the stage left next morning for San
Francisco we were on the outside seat。 Joe Goodman had returned by this
time and agreed to accompany us as far as Henness Pass。 We were all in
good spirits and glad we were alive； so Joe did not stop when he got to
Henness Pass； but kept on。 Now and then he would say； 〃Well； I had
better be going back pretty soon；〃 but he didn't go； and in the end he
did not go back at all； but went with us clear to San Francisco； and we
had a royal good time all the way。 I never knew any series of duels to
close so happily。
So ended Mark Twain's career on the Comstock。 He had come to it a weary
pilgrim； discouraged and unknown； he was leaving it with a new name and
fameelate； triumphant； even if a fugitive。
XLVI
GETTING SETTLED IN SAN FRANCISCO
This was near the end of May； 1864。 The intention of both Gillis and
Clemens was to return to the States； but once in San Francisco both
presently accepted places； Clemens as reporter and Gillis as compositor；
on the 'Morning Call'。
》From 'Roughing It' the reader gathers that Mark Twain now entered into a
life of butterfly idleness on the strength of prospective riches to be
derived from the 〃half a trunkful of mining stocks；〃 and that presently；
when the mining bubble exploded； he was a pauper。 But a good many
liberties have been taken with the history of this period。 Undoubtedly
he expected opulent returns from his mining stocks； and was disappointed；
particularly in an investment in Hale and Norcross shares； held too long
for the large profit which could have been made by selling at the proper
time。
The fact is； he spent not more than a few daysa fortnight at mostin
〃butterfly idleness；〃 at the Lick House before he was hard at work on the
'Call'； living modestly with Steve Gillis in the quietest place they
could find； never quiet enough； but as far as possible from dogs and cats
and chickens and pianos； which seemed determined to make the mornings
hideous； when a weary night reporter and compositor wanted to rest。 They
went out socially； on occasion； arrayed in considerable elegance； but
their recreations were more likely to consist of private midnight orgies；
after the paper had gone to pressmild dissipations in whatever they
could find to eat at that hour； with a few glasses of beer； and perhaps a
game of billiards or pool in some all…night resort。 A printer by the
name of Ward〃Little Ward；〃 ＇L。 P。 Ward； well known as an athlete in
San Francisco。 He lost his mind and fatally shot himself in 1903。＇
they called himoften went with them for these refreshments。 Ward and
Gillis were both bantam game…cocks； and sometimes would stir up trouble
for the very joy of combat。 Clemens never cared for that sort of thing
and discouraged it； but Ward and Gillis were for war。 〃They never
assisted each other。 If one had offered to assist the other against some
overgrown person； it would have been an affront； and a battle would have
followed between that pair of little friends。〃 ＇S。 L。 C。； 1906。＇
Steve Gillis in particular； was fond of incidental encounters； a
characteristic which would prove an important factor somewhat later in
shaping Mark Twain's career。 Of course； the more strenuous nights were
not frequent。 Their home…going was usually tame enough and they were
glad enough to get there。
Clemens； however； was never quite ready for sleep。 Then； as ever； he
would prop himself up in bed； light his pipe； and lose himself in English
or French history until sleep conquered。 His room…mate did not approve
of this habit； it interfered with his own rest； and with his fiendish
tendency to mischief he found reprisal in his own fashion。 Knowing his
companion's highly organized nervous system he devised means of torture
which would induce him to put out the light。 Once he tied a nail to a
string； an arrangement which he kept on the floor behind the bed。
Pretending to be asleep； he would hold the end of the string； and lift it
gently up and down； making a slight ticking sound on the floor； maddening
to a nervous man。 Clemens would listen a moment and say：
〃What in the nation is that noise〃
Gillis's pretended sleep and the ticking would continue。
Clemens would sit up in bed； fling aside his book； and swear violently。
〃Steve； what is that dd noise？〃 he would say。
Steve would pretend to rouse sleepily。
〃What's the matter； Sam？ What noise？ Oh； I guess that is one of those
death…ticks； they don't like the light。 Maybe it will stop in a minute。〃
It usually did stop about that time； and the reading would be apt to
continue。 But no sooner was there stillness than it began againtick；
tick； tick。 With a wild explosion of blasphemy； the book would go across
the floor and the light would disappear。 Sometimes； when he couldn't
sleep； he would dress and walk out in the street for an hour； while the
cruel Steve slept like the criminal that he was。
At last； one night； he overdid the thing and was caught。 His tortured
room…mate at first reviled him； then threatened to kill him； finally put
him to shame。 It was curious； but they always loved each other； those
two； there was never anything resembling an estrangement； and to his last
days Mark Twain never could speak of Steve Gillis without tenderness。
They moved a great many times in San Francisco。 Their most satisfactory
residence was on a bluff on California Street。 Their windows looked down
on a lot of Chinese houses〃tin…can houses；〃 they were calledsmall
wooden shanties covered with beaten…out cans。 Steve and Mark would look
down on these houses； waiting until all the Chinamen were inside； then
one of them would grab an empty beer…bottle； throw it down on those tin
can roofs； and dodge behind the blinds。 The Chinamen would swarm out and
look up at the row of houses on the edge of the bluff； shake their fist