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silent； rusty machinery。 It cost six thousand dollars；
twelve hundred English sovereigns； and now； here it stands
deserted； like the temple of a forgotten religion； the busy
millers toiling somewhere else。 All the time we were there；
mill and mill town showed no sign of life； that part of the
mountain…side； which is very open and green； was tenanted by
no living creature but ourselves and the insects； and nothing
stirred but the cloud manufactory upon the mountain summit。
It was odd to compare this with the former days； when the
engine was in fall blast； the mill palpitating to its
strokes； and the carts came rattling down from Silverado；
charged with ore。
By two we had been landed at the mine； the buggy was gone
again； and we were left to our own reflections and the basket
of cold provender； until Hanson should arrive。 Hot as it was
by the sun； there was something chill in such a home…coming；
in that world of wreck and rust； splinter and rolling gravel；
where for so many years no fire had smoked。
Silverado platform filled the whole width of the canyon。
Above； as I have said； this was a wild； red； stony gully in
the mountains； but below it was a wooded dingle。 And through
this； I was told； there had gone a path between the mine and
the Toll House … our natural north…west passage to
civilization。 I found and followed it； clearing my way as I
went through fallen branches and dead trees。 It went
straight down that steep canyon； till it brought you out
abruptly over the roofs of the hotel。 There was nowhere any
break in the descent。 It almost seemed as if； were you to
drop a stone down the old iron chute at our platform； it
would never rest until it hopped upon the Toll House
shingles。 Signs were not wanting of the ancient greatness of
Silverado。 The footpath was well marked； and had been well
trodden in the old clays by thirsty miners。 And far down；
buried in foliage； deep out of sight of Silverado； I came on
a last outpost of the mine … a mound of gravel； some wreck of
wooden aqueduct； and the mouth of a tunnel； like a treasure
grotto in a fairy story。 A stream of water； fed by the
invisible leakage from our shaft； and dyed red with cinnabar
or iron； ran trippingly forth out of the bowels of the cave；
and； looking far under the arch； I could see something like
an iron lantern fastened on the rocky wall。 It was a
promising spot for the imagination。 No boy could have left
it unexplored。
The stream thenceforward stole along the bottom of the
dingle； and made； for that dry land； a pleasant warbling in
the leaves。 Once； I suppose； it ran splashing down the whole
length of the canyon； but now its head waters had been tapped
by the shaft at Silverado； and for a great part of its course
it wandered sunless among the joints of the mountain。 No
wonder that it should better its pace when it sees； far
before it； daylight whitening in the arch； or that it should
come trotting forth into the sunlight with a song。
The two stages had gone by when I got down； and the Toll
House stood； dozing in sun and dust and silence； like a place
enchanted。 My mission was after hay for bedding； and that I
was readily promised。 But when I mentioned that we were
waiting for Rufe； the people shook their heads。 Rufe was not
a regular man any way； it seemed； and if he got playing poker
… Well； poker was too many for Rufe。 I had not yet heard
them bracketted together； but it seemed a natural
conjunction； and commended itself swiftly to my fears； and as
soon as I returned to Silverado and had told my story； we
practically gave Hanson up； and set ourselves to do what we
could find do…able in our desert…island state。
The lower room had been the assayer's office。 The floor was
thick with DEBRIS … part human； from the former occupants；
part natural； sifted in by mountain winds。 In a sea of red
dust there swam or floated sticks； boards； hay； straw；
stones； and paper； ancient newspapers； above all … for the
newspaper； especially when torn； soon becomes an antiquity …
and bills of the Silverado boarding…house； some dated
Silverado； some Calistoga Mine。 Here is one； verbatim； and
if any one can calculate the scale of charges； he has my
envious admiration。
Calistoga Mine； May 3rd； 1875。
John Stanley
To S。 Chapman； Cr。
To board from April 1st； to April 30 25 75
〃 〃 〃 May lst； to 3rd 。。。 2 00
27 75
Where is John Stanley mining now？ Where is S。 Chapman；
within whose hospitable walls we were to lodge？ The date was
but five years old； but in that time the world had changed
for Silverado； like Palmyra in the desert； it had outlived
its people and its purpose； we camped； like Layard； amid
ruins； and these names spoke to us of prehistoric time。 A
boot…jack； a pair of boots； a dog…hutch； and these bills of
Mr。 Chapman's were the only speaking relics that we
disinterred from all that vast Silverado rubbish…heap； but
what would I not have given to unearth a letter； a pocket…
book； a diary； only a ledger； or a roll of names； to take me
back； in a more personal manner； to the past？ It pleases me；
besides； to fancy that Stanley or Chapman； or one of their
companions； may light upon this chronicle； and be struck by
the name； and read some news of their anterior home； coming；
as it were； out of a subsequent epoch of history in that
quarter of the world。
As we were tumbling the mingled rubbish on the floor； kicking
it with our feet； and groping for these written evidences of
the past； Sam； with a somewhat whitened face； produced a
paper bag。 〃What's this？〃 said he。 It contained a
granulated powder； something the colour of Gregory's Mixture；
but rosier； and as there were several of the bags； and each
more or less broken； the powder was spread widely on the
floor。 Had any of us ever seen giant powder？ No； nobody
had； and instantly there grew up in my mind a shadowy belief；
verging with every moment nearer to certitude； that I had
somewhere heard somebody describe it as just such a powder as
the one around us。 I have learnt since that it is a
substance not unlike tallow； and is made up in rolls for all
the world like tallow candles。
Fanny； to add to our happiness； told us a story of a
gentleman who had camped one night； like ourselves； by a
deserted mine。 He was a handy； thrifty fellow； and looked
right and left for plunder； but all he could lay his hands on
was a can of oil。 After dark he had to see to the horses
with a lantern； and not to miss an opportunity； filled up his
lamp from the oil can。 Thus equipped； he set forth into the
forest。 A little while after； his friends heard a loud
explosion； the mountain echoes bellowed； and then all was
still。 On examination； the can proved to contain oil； with