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But the hay arrived at last； and we turned； with our last
spark of courage； to the bedroom。 We had improved the
entrance； but it was still a kind of rope…walking； and it
would have been droll to see us mounting； one after another；
by candle…light； under the open stars。
The western door … that which looked up the canyon； and
through which we entered by our bridge of flying plank … was
still entire； a handsome； panelled door； the most finished
piece of carpentry in Silverado。 And the two lowest bunks
next to this we roughly filled with hay for that night's use。
Through the opposite； or eastern…looking gable； with its open
door and window； a faint； disused starshine came into the
room like mist； and when we were once in bed； we lay；
awaiting sleep； in a haunted； incomplete obscurity。 At first
the silence of the night was utter。 Then a high wind began
in the distance among the tree…tops； and for hours continued
to grow higher。 It seemed to me much such a wind as we had
found on our visit； yet here in our open chamber we were
fanned only by gentle and refreshing draughts； so deep was
the canyon； so close our house was planted under the
overhanging rock。
THE HUNTER'S FAMILY
THERE is quite a large race or class of people in America；
for whom we scarcely seem to have a parallel in England。 Of
pure white blood； they are unknown or unrecognizable in
towns； inhabit the fringe of settlements and the deep； quiet
places of the country； rebellious to all labour； and pettily
thievish； like the English gipsies； rustically ignorant； but
with a touch of wood…lore and the dexterity of the savage。
Whence they came is a moot point。 At the time of the war；
they poured north in crowds to escape the conscription； lived
during summer on fruits； wild animals； and petty theft； and
at the approach of winter； when these supplies failed； built
great fires in the forest； and there died stoically by
starvation。 They are widely scattered； however； and easily
recognized。 Loutish； but not ill…looking； they will sit all
day； swinging their legs on a field fence； the mind seemingly
as devoid of all reflection as a Suffolk peasant's； careless
of politics； for the most part incapable of reading； but with
a rebellious vanity and a strong sense of independence。
Hunting is their most congenial business； or； if the occasion
offers； a little amateur detection。 In tracking a criminal；
following a particular horse along a beaten highway； and
drawing inductions from a hair or a footprint； one of those
somnolent； grinning Hodges will suddenly display activity of
body and finesse of mind。 By their names ye may know them；
the women figuring as Loveina； Larsenia； Serena； Leanna；
Orreana； the men answering to Alvin； Alva； or Orion；
pronounced Orrion； with the accent on the first。 Whether
they are indeed a race； or whether this is the form of
degeneracy common to all back…woodsmen； they are at least
known by a generic byword； as Poor Whites or Low…downers。
I will not say that the Hanson family was Poor White； because
the name savours of offence； but I may go as far as this …
they were； in many points； not unsimilar to the people
usually so…cared。 Rufe himself combined two of the
qualifications； for he was both a hunter and an amateur
detective。 It was he who pursued Russel and Dollar； the
robbers of the Lake Port stage； and captured them the very
morning after the exploit； while they were still sleeping in
a hayfield。 Russel； a drunken Scotch carpenter； was even an
acquaintance of his own； and he expressed much grave
commiseration for his fate。 In all that he said and did；
Rufe was grave。 I never saw him hurried。 When he spoke； he
took out his pipe with ceremonial deliberation； looked east
and west； and then； in quiet tones and few words； stated his
business or told his story。 His gait was to match； it would
never have surprised you if； at any step； he had turned round
and walked away again； so warily and slowly； and with so much
seeming hesitation did he go about。 He lay long in bed in
the morning … rarely indeed； rose before noon； he loved all
games； from poker to clerical croquet； and in the Toll House
croquet ground I have seen him toiling at the latter with the
devotion of a curate。 He took an interest in education； was
an active member of the local school…board； and when I was
there； he had recently lost the schoolhouse key。 His waggon
was broken； but it never seemed to occur to him to mend it。
Like all truly idle people； he had an artistic eye。 He chose
the print stuff for his wife's dresses； and counselled her in
the making of a patchwork quilt； always； as she thought；
wrongly； but to the more educated eye； always with bizarre
and admirable taste … the taste of an Indian。 With all this；
he was a perfect； unoffending gentleman in word and act。
Take his clay pipe from him； and he was fit for any society
but that of fools。 Quiet as he was； there burned a deep；
permanent excitement in his dark blue eyes； and when this
grave man smiled； it was like sunshine in a shady place。
Mrs。 Hanson （NEE； if you please； Lovelands） was more
commonplace than her lord。 She was a comely woman； too；
plump； fair…coloured； with wonderful white teeth； and in her
print dresses （chosen by Rufe） and with a large sun…bonnet
shading her valued complexion； made； I assure you； a very
agreeable figure。 But she was on the surface； what there was
of her； out…spoken and loud…spoken。 Her noisy laughter had
none of the charm of one of Hanson's rare； slow…spreading
smiles； there was no reticence； no mystery； no manner about
the woman： she was a first…class dairymaid； but her husband
was an unknown quantity between the savage and the nobleman。
She was often in and out with us； merry； and healthy； and
fair； he came far seldomer … only； indeed； when there was
business； or now and again； to pay a visit of ceremony；
brushed up for the occasion； with his wife on his arm； and a
clean clay pipe in his teeth。 These visits； in our forest
state； had quite the air of an event； and turned our red
canyon into a salon。
Such was the pair who ruled in the old Silverado Hotel； among
the windy trees； on the mountain shoulder overlooking the
whole length of Napa Valley； as the man aloft looks down on
the ship's deck。 There they kept house； with sundry horses
and fowls； and a family of sons； Daniel Webster； and I think
George Washington； among the number。 Nor did they want
visitors。 An old gentleman； of singular stolidity； and
called Breedlove … I think he had crossed the plains in the
same caravan with Rufe … housed with them for awhile during
our stay； and they had besides a permanent lodger； in the
form of Mrs。 Hanson's brother； Irvine Lovelands。 I spell
Irvine by guess； for I could get no informati