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mountain…side； with no friendly wash…house near by； where he
might smoke a pipe of opium o' nights with other China…boys；
and lose his little earnings at the game of tan； and he first
backed out for more money； and then； when that demand was
satisfied； refused to come point…blank。 He was wedded to his
wash…houses； he had no taste for the rural life； and we must
go to our mountain servantless。 It must have been near half
an hour before we reached that conclusion； standing in the
midst of Calistoga high street under the stars； and the
China…boy and Kong Sam Kee singing their pigeon English in
the sweetest voices and with the most musical inflections。
We were not； however； to return alone； for we brought with us
Joe Strong； the painter； a most good…natured comrade and a
capital hand at an omelette。 I do not know in which capacity
he was most valued … as a cook or a companion； and he did
excellently well in both。
The Kong Sam Kee negotiation had delayed us unduly； it must
have been half…past nine before we left Calistoga； and night
came fully ere we struck the bottom of the grade。 I have
never seen such a night。 It seemed to throw calumny in the
teeth of all the painters that ever dabbled in starlight。
The sky itself was of a ruddy； powerful； nameless； changing
colour； dark and glossy like a serpent's back。 The stars； by
innumerable millions； stuck boldly forth like lamps。 The
milky way was bright； like a moonlit cloud； half heaven
seemed milky way。 The greater luminaries shone each more
clearly than a winter's moon。 Their light was dyed in every
sort of colour … red； like fire； blue； like steel； green；
like the tracks of sunset； and so sharply did each stand
forth in its own lustre that there was no appearance of that
flat； star…spangled arch we know so well in pictures； but all
the hollow of heaven was one chaos of contesting luminaries …
a hurry…burly of stars。 Against this the hills and rugged
treetops stood out redly dark。
As we continued to advance； the lesser lights and milky ways
first grew pale； and then vanished； the countless hosts of
heaven dwindled in number by successive millions； those that
still shone had tempered their exceeding brightness and
fallen back into their customary wistful distance； and the
sky declined from its first bewildering splendour into the
appearance of a common night。 Slowly this change proceeded；
and still there was no sign of any cause。 Then a whiteness
like mist was thrown over the spurs of the mountain。 Yet a
while； and； as we turned a corner； a great leap of silver
light and net of forest shadows fell across the road and upon
our wondering waggonful； and； swimming low among the trees；
we beheld a strange； misshapen； waning moon； half…tilted on
her back。
〃Where are ye when the moon appears？〃 so the old poet sang；
half…taunting； to the stars； bent upon a courtly purpose。
〃As the sunlight round the dim earth's midnight tower of
shadow pours；
Streaming past the dim； wide portals；
Viewless to the eyes of mortals；
Till it floods the moon's pale islet or the morning's golden
shores。〃
So sings Mr。 Trowbridge； with a noble inspiration。 And so
had the sunlight flooded that pale islet of the moon； and her
lit face put out； one after another； that galaxy of stars。
The wonder of the drive was over； but； by some nice
conjunction of clearness in the air and fit shadow in the
valley where we travelled； we had seen for a little while
that brave display of the midnight heavens。 It was gone； but
it had been； nor shall I ever again behold the stars with the
same mind。 He who has seen the sea commoved with a great
hurricane； thinks of it very differently from him who has
seen it only in a calm。 And the difference between a calm
and a hurricane is not greatly more striking than that
between the ordinary face of night and the splendour that
shone upon us in that drive。 Two in our waggon knew night as
she shines upon the tropics； but even that bore no
comparison。 The nameless colour of the sky； the hues of the
star…fire； and the incredible projection of the stars
themselves； starting from their orbits； so that the eye
seemed to distinguish their positions in the hollow of space
… these were things that we had never seen before and shall
never see again。
Meanwhile； in this altered night； we proceeded on our way
among the scents and silence of the forest； reached the top
of the grade； wound up by Hanson's； and came at last to a
stand under the flying gargoyle of the chute。 Sam； who had
been lying back； fast asleep； with the moon on his face； got
down； with the remark that it was pleasant 〃to be home。〃 The
waggon turned and drove away； the noise gently dying in the
woods； and we clambered up the rough path； Caliban's great
feat of engineering； and came home to Silverado。
The moon shone in at the eastern doors and windows； and over
the lumber on the platform。 The one tall pine beside。 the
ledge was steeped in silver。 Away up the canyon； a wild cat
welcomed us with three discordant squalls。 But once we had
lit a candle； and began to review our improvements； homely in
either sense； and count our stores； it was wonderful what a
feeling of possession and permanence grow up in the hearts of
the lords of Silverado。 A bed had still to be made up for
Strong； and the morning's water to be fetched； with clinking
pail； and as we set about these household duties； and showed
off our wealth and conveniences before the stranger； and had
a glass of wine； I think； in honour of our return； and
trooped at length one after another up the flying bridge of
plank； and lay down to sleep in our shattered； moon…pierced
barrack； we were among the happiest sovereigns in the world；
and certainly ruled over the most contented people。 Yet； in
our absence； the palace had been sacked。 Wild cats； so the
Hansons said； had broken in and carried off a side of bacon；
a hatchet； and two knives。
EPISODES IN THE STORY OF A MINE
NO one could live at Silverado and not be curious about the
story of the mine。 We were surrounded by so many evidences
of expense and toil； we lived so entirely in the wreck of
that great enterprise； like mites in the ruins of a cheese；
that the idea of the old din and bustle haunted our repose。
Our own house； the forge； the dump； the chutes； the rails；
the windlass； the mass of broken plant； the two tunnels； one
far below in the green dell； the other on the platform where
we kept our wine； the deep shaft； with the sun…glints and the
water…drops； above all； the ledge； that great gaping slice
out of the mountain shoulder； propped apart by wooden wedges；
on whose immediate margin； high above our heads； the one tall
pine precariously nodded … these stood for its greatness；
while； the dog…hu