按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Flat； on the Geysers road； that we had come first to
Calistoga。 There is something singularly enticing in the
idea of going； rent…free； into a ready…made house。 And to
the British merchant； sitting at home at ease； it may appear
that； with such a roof over your head and a spring of clear
water hard by； the whole problem of the squatter's existence
would be solved。 Food； however； has yet to be considered； I
will go as far as most people on tinned meats； some of the
brightest moments of my life were passed over tinned mulli…
gatawney in the cabin of a sixteen…ton schooner； storm…stayed
in Portree Bay； but after suitable experiments； I pronounce
authoritatively that man cannot live by tins alone。 Fresh
meat must be had on an occasion。 It is true that the great
Foss； driving by along the Geysers road； wooden…faced； but
glorified with legend； might have been induced to bring us
meat； but the great Foss could hardly bring us milk。 To take
a cow would have involved taking a field of grass and a
milkmaid； after which it would have been hardly worth while
to pause； and we might have added to our colony a flock of
sheep and an experienced butcher。
It is really very disheartening how we depend on other people
in this life。 〃Mihi est propositum；〃 as you may see by the
motto； 〃id quod regibus；〃 and behold it cannot be carried
out； unless I find a neighbour rolling in cattle。
Now； my principal adviser in this matter was one whom I will
call Kelmar。 That was not what he called himself； but as
soon as I set eyes on him； I knew it was or ought to be his
name； I am sure it will be his name among the angels。 Kelmar
was the store…keeper； a Russian Jew； good…natured； in a very
thriving way of business； and； on equal terms； one of the
most serviceable of men。 He also had something of the
expression of a Scotch country elder； who； by some
peculiarity； should chance to be a Hebrew。 He had a
projecting under lip； with which he continually smiled； or
rather smirked。 Mrs。 Kelmar was a singularly kind woman； and
the oldest son had quite a dark and romantic bearing； and
might be heard on summer evenings playing sentimental airs on
the violin。
I had no idea； at the time I made his acquaintance； what an
important person Kelmar was。 But the Jew store…keepers of
California； profiting at once by the needs and habits of the
people； have made themselves in too many cases the tyrants of
the rural population。 Credit is offered； is pressed on the
new customer； and when once he is beyond his depth； the tune
changes； and he is from thenceforth a white slave。 I
believe； even from the little I saw； that Kelmar； if he
choose to put on the screw； could send half the settlers
packing in a radius of seven or eight miles round Calistoga。
These are continually paying him； but are never suffered to
get out of debt。 He palms dull goods upon them； for they
dare not refuse to buy； he goes and dines with them when he
is on an outing； and no man is loudlier welcomed； he is their
family friend； the director of their business； and； to a
degree elsewhere unknown in modern days； their king。
For some reason； Kelmar always shook his head at the mention
of Pine Flat； and for some days I thought he disapproved of
the whole scheme and was proportionately sad。 One fine
morning； however； he met me； wreathed in smiles。 He had
found the very place for me … Silverado； another old mining
town； right up the mountain。 Rufe Hanson； the hunter； could
take care of us … fine people the Hansons； we should be close
to the Toll House； where the Lakeport stage called daily； it
was the best place for my health； besides。 Rufe had been
consumptive； and was now quite a strong man； ain't it？ In
short； the place and all its accompaniments seemed made for
us on purpose。
He took me to his back door； whence； as from every point of
Calistoga； Mount Saint Helena could be seen towering in the
air。 There； in the nick； just where the eastern foothills
joined the mountain； and she herself began to rise above the
zone of forest … there was Silverado。 The name had already
pleased me； the high station pleased me still more。 I began
to inquire with some eagerness。 It was but a little while
ago that Silverado was a great place。 The mine … a silver
mine； of course … had promised great things。 There was quite
a lively population； with several hotels and boarding…houses；
and Kelmar himself had opened a branch store； and done
extremely well … 〃Ain't it？〃 he said； appealing to his wife。
And she said； 〃Yes； extremely well。〃 Now there was no one
living in the town but Rufe the hunter； and once more I heard
Rufe's praises by the yard； and this time sung in chorus。
I could not help perceiving at the time that there was
something underneath； that no unmixed desire to have us
comfortably settled had inspired the Kelmars with this flow
of words。 But I was impatient to be gone； to be about my
kingly project； and when we were offered seats in Kelmar's
waggon； I accepted on the spot。 The plan of their next
Sunday's outing took them； by good fortune； over the border
into Lake County。 They would carry us so far； drop us at the
Toll House； present us to the Hansons； and call for us again
on Monday morning early。
CHAPTER II … FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SILVERADO
WE were to leave by six precisely； that was solemnly pledged
on both sides； and a messenger came to us the last thing at
night； to remind us of the hour。 But it was eight before we
got clear of Calistoga： Kelmar； Mrs。 Kelmar； a friend of
theirs whom we named Abramina； her little daughter； my wife；
myself； and； stowed away behind us； a cluster of ship's
coffee…kettles。 These last were highly ornamental in the
sheen of their bright tin； but I could invent no reason for
their presence。 Our carriageful reckoned up； as near as we
could get at it； some three hundred years to the six of us。
Four of the six； besides； were Hebrews。 But I never； in all
my life； was conscious of so strong an atmosphere of holiday。
No word was spoken but of pleasure； and even when we drove in
silence； nods and smiles went round the party like
refreshments。
The sun shone out of a cloudless sky。 Close at the zenith
rode the belated moon； still clearly visible； and； along one
margin； even bright。 The wind blew a gale from the north；
the trees roared； the corn and the deep grass in the valley
fled in whitening surges； the dust towered into the air along
the road and dispersed like the smoke of battle。 It was
clear in our teeth from the first； and for all the windings
of the road it managed to keep clear in our teeth until the
end。
For some two miles we rattled through the valley； skirting
the eastern foothills； then we struck off to the right；
through haugh…land； and presently；