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whole family was gathered together as for a marriage or a
christening。 Strong was sitting at work； in the shade of the
dwarf madronas near the forge； and they planted themselves
about him in a circle； one on a stone； another on the waggon
rails； a third on a piece of plank。 Gradually the children
stole away up the canyon to where there was another chute；
somewhat smaller than the one across the dump； and down this
chute； for the rest of the afternoon； they poured one
avalanche of stones after another； waking the echoes of the
glen。 Meantime we elders sat together on the platform；
Hanson and his friend smoking in silence like Indian sachems；
Mrs。 Hanson rattling on as usual with an adroit volubility；
saying nothing； but keeping the party at their ease like a
courtly hostess。
Not a word occurred about the business of the day。 Once；
twice； and thrice I tried to slide the subject in； but was
discouraged by the stoic apathy of Rufe； and beaten down
before the pouring verbiage of his wife。 There is nothing of
the Indian brave about me； and I began to grill with
impatience。 At last； like a highway robber； I cornered
Hanson； and bade him stand and deliver his business。
Thereupon he gravely rose； as though to hint that this was
not a proper place； nor the subject one suitable for squaws；
and I； following his example； led him up the plank into our
barrack。 There he bestowed himself on a box； and unrolled
his papers with fastidious deliberation。 There were two
sheets of note…paper； and an old mining notice； dated May
30th； 1879； part print； part manuscript； and the latter much
obliterated by the rains。 It was by this identical piece of
paper that the mine had been held last year。 For thirteen
months it had endured the weather and the change of seasons
on a cairn behind the shoulder of the canyon； and it was now
my business； spreading it before me on the table； and sitting
on a valise； to copy its terms； with some necessary changes；
twice over on the two sheets of note…paper。 One was then to
be placed on the same cairn … a 〃mound of rocks〃 the notice
put it； and the other to be lodged for registration。
Rufe watched me； silently smoking； till I came to the place
for the locator's name at the end of the first copy； and when
I proposed that he should sign； I thought I saw a scare in
his eye。 〃I don't think that'll be necessary；〃 he said
slowly； 〃just you write it down。〃 Perhaps this mighty
hunter； who was the most active member of the local school
board； could not write。 There would be nothing strange in
that。 The constable of Calistoga is； and has been for years；
a bed…ridden man； and； if I remember rightly； blind。 He had
more need of the emoluments than another； it was explained；
and it was easy for him to 〃depytize；〃 with a strong accent
on the last。 So friendly and so free are popular
institutions。
When I had done my scrivening； Hanson strolled out； and
addressed Breedlove； 〃Will you step up here a bit？〃 and after
they had disappeared a little while into the chaparral and
madrona thicket； they came back again； minus a notice； and
the deed was done。 The claim was jumped； a tract of
mountain…side； fifteen hundred feet long by six hundred wide；
with all the earth's precious bowels； had passed from Ronalds
to Hanson； and； in the passage； changed its name from the
〃Mammoth〃 to the 〃Calistoga。〃 I had tried to get Rufe to
call it after his wife； after himself； and after Garfield；
the Republican Presidential candidate of the hour … since
then elected； and； alas！ dead … but all was in vain。 The
claim had once been called the Calistoga before； and he
seemed to feel safety in returning to that。
And so the history of that mine became once more plunged in
darkness； lit only by some monster pyrotechnical displays of
gossip。 And perhaps the most curious feature of the whole
matter is this： that we should have dwelt in this quiet
corner of the mountains； with not a dozen neighbours； and yet
struggled all the while； like desperate swimmers； in this sea
of falsities and contradictions。 Wherever a man is； there
will be a lie。
TOILS AND PLEASURES
I MUST try to convey some notion of our life； of how the days
passed and what pleasure we took in them； of what there was
to do and how we set about doing it； in our mountain
hermitage。 The house； after we had repaired the worst of the
damages； and filled in some of the doors and windows with
white cotton cloth； became a healthy and a pleasant dwelling…
place； always airy and dry； and haunted by the outdoor
perfumes of the glen。 Within； it had the look of habitation；
the human look。 You had only to go into the third room；
which we did not use； and see its stones； its sifting earth；
its tumbled litter； and then return to our lodging； with the
beds made； the plates on the rack； the pail of bright water
behind the door； the stove crackling in a corner； and perhaps
the table roughly laid against a meal； … and man's order； the
little clean spots that he creates to dwell in； were at once
contrasted with the rich passivity of nature。 And yet our
house was everywhere so wrecked and shattered； the air came
and went so freely； the sun found so many portholes； the
golden outdoor glow shone in so many open chinks； that we
enjoyed； at the same time； some of the comforts of a roof and
much of the gaiety and brightness of al fresco life。 A
single shower of rain； to be sure； and we should have been
drowned out like mice。 But ours was a Californian summer；
and an earthquake was a far likelier accident than a shower
of rain。
Trustful in this fine weather； we kept the house for kitchen
and bedroom； and used the platform as our summer parlour。
The sense of privacy； as I have said already； was complete。
We could look over the clump on miles of forest and rough
hilltop； our eyes commanded some of Napa Valley； where the
train ran； and the little country townships sat so close
together along the line of the rail。 But here there was no
man to intrude。 None but the Hansons were our visitors。
Even they came but at long intervals； or twice daily； at a
stated hour； with milk。 So our days； as they were never
interrupted； drew out to the greater length； hour melted
insensibly into hour； the household duties； though they were
many； and some of them laborious； dwindled into mere islets
of business in a sea of sunny day…time； and it appears to me；
looking back； as though the far greater part of our life at
Silverado had been passed； propped upon an elbow； or seated
on a plank； listening to the silence that there is among the
hills。
My work； it is true； was over early in the morning。 I rose
before any one else； lit the stove； put on the water to boil；
and strolled forth upon the platform to wait till it was
re