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A First Family of Tasajara
by Bret Harte
CHAPTER I。
〃It blows；〃 said Joe Wingate。
As if to accent the words of the speaker a heavy gust of wind at
that moment shook the long light wooden structure which served as
the general store of Sidon settlement； in Contra Costa。 Even after
it had passed a prolonged whistle came through the keyhole； sides；
and openings of the closed glass front doors； that served equally
for windows； and filled the canvas ceiling which hid the roof above
like a bellying sail。 A wave of enthusiastic emotion seemed to be
communicated to a line of straw hats and sou…westers suspended from
a cross…beam； and swung them with every appearance of festive
rejoicing； while a few dusters； overcoats； and 〃hickory〃 shirts
hanging on the side walls exhibited such marked though idiotic
animation that it had the effect of a satirical comment on the
lazy； purposeless figures of the four living inmates of the store。
Ned Billings momentarily raised his head and shoulders depressed in
the back of his wooden armchair； glanced wearily around； said； 〃You
bet； it's no slouch of a storm；〃 and then lapsed again with further
extended legs and an added sense of comfort。
Here the third figure； which had been leaning listlessly against
the shelves； putting aside the arm of a swaying overcoat that
seemed to be emptily embracing him； walked slowly from behind the
counter to the door； examined its fastenings； and gazed at the
prospect。 He was the owner of the store； and the view was a
familiar one；a long stretch of treeless waste before him meeting
an equal stretch of dreary sky above； and night hovering somewhere
between the two。 This was indicated by splashes of darker shadow
as if washed in with india ink； and a lighter low…lying streak that
might have been the horizon； but was not。 To the right； on a line
with the front door of the store； were several scattered； widely
dispersed objects； that； although vague in outline； were rigid
enough in angles to suggest sheds or barns； but certainly not
trees。
〃There's a heap more wet to come afore the wind goes down；〃 he
said； glancing at the sky。 〃Hark to that； now！〃
They listened lazily。 There was a faint murmur from the shingles
above； then suddenly the whole window was filmed and blurred as if
the entire prospect had been wiped out with a damp sponge。 The man
turned listlessly away。
〃That's the kind that soaks in； thar won't be much teamin' over
Tasajara for the next two weeks； I reckon；〃 said the fourth
lounger； who； seated on a high barrel； was nibblingalbeit
critically and fastidiouslybiscuits and dried apples alternately
from open boxes on the counter。 〃It's lucky you've got in your
winter stock； Harkutt。〃
The shrewd eyes of Mr。 Harkutt； proprietor； glanced at the
occupation of the speaker as if even his foresight might have its
possible drawbacks； but he said nothing。
〃There'll be no show for Sidon until you've got a wagon road from
here to the creek；〃 said Billings languidly； from the depths of his
chair。 〃But what's the use o' talkin'？ Thar ain't energy enough
in all Tasajara to build it。 A God…forsaken place； that two months
of the year can only be reached by a mail…rider once a week； don't
look ez if it was goin' to break its back haulin' in goods and
settlers。 I tell ye what； gentlemen； it makes me sick！〃 And
apparently it had enfeebled him to the extent of interfering with
his aim in that expectoration of disgust against the stove with
which he concluded his sentence。
〃Why don't YOU build it？〃 asked Wingate； carelessly。
〃I wouldn't on principle；〃 said Billings。 〃It's gov'ment work。
What did we whoop up things here last spring to elect Kennedy to
the legislation for？ What did I rig up my shed and a thousand feet
of lumber for benches at the barbecue for？ Why； to get Kennedy
elected and make him get a bill passed for the road！ That's MY
share of building it； if it comes to that。 And I only wish some
folks； that blow enough about what oughter be done to bulge out
that ceiling； would only do as much as I have done for Sidon。〃
As this remark seemed to have a personal as well as local
application； the storekeeper diplomatically turned it。 〃There's a
good many as DON'T believe that a road from here to the creek is
going to do any good to Sidon。 It's very well to say the creek is
an embarcadero； but callin' it so don't put anough water into it to
float a steamboat from the bay； nor clear out the reeds and tules
in it。 Even if the State builds you roads； it ain't got no call to
make Tasajara Creek navigable for ye； and as that will cost as much
as the road； I don't see where the money's comin' from for both。〃
〃There's water enough in front of 'Lige Curtis's shanty； and his
location is only a mile along the bank；〃 returned Billings。
〃Water enough for him to laze away his time fishin' when he's
sober； and deep enough to drown him when he's drunk；〃 said Wingate。
〃If you call that an embarcadero； you kin buy it any day from
'Lige；title； possession； and shanty thrown in；for a demijohn o'
whiskey。〃
The fourth man here distastefully threw back a half…nibbled biscuit
into the box； and languidly slipped from the barrel to the floor；
fastidiously flicking the crumbs from his clothes as he did so。 〃I
reckon somebody'll get it for nothing； if 'Lige don't pull up
mighty soon。 He'll either go off his head with jim…jams or jump
into the creek。 He's about as near desp'rit as they make 'em； and
havin' no partner to look after him； and him alone in the tules；
ther' 's no tellin' WHAT he may do。〃
Billings； stretched at full length in his chair； here gurgled
derisively。 〃Desp'rit！ketch him！ Why； that's his little game！
He's jist playin' off his desp'rit condition to frighten Sidon。
Whenever any one asks him why he don't go to work； whenever he's
hard up for a drink； whenever he's had too much or too little； he's
workin' that desp'rit dodge； and even talkin' o' killin' himself！
Why； look here；〃 he continued； momentarily raising himself to a
sitting posture in his disgust； 〃it was only last week he was over
at Rawlett's trying to raise provisions and whiskey outer his water
rights on the creek！ Fact； sir；had it all written down lawyer…
like on paper。 Rawlett didn't exactly see it in that light； and
told him so。 Then he up with the desp'rit dodge and began to work
that。 Said if he had to starve in a swamp like a dog he might as
well kill himself at once； and would too if he could afford the
weppins。 Johnson said it was not a bad idea； and offered to lend
him his revolver； Bilson handed up his shot…gun； and left it
alongside of him； and turned his head away considerate…like and
thoughtful while Rawlett handed him a box of rat pizon over the
counter； in case he preferred suthin' more quiet。 Well； what did
'Lige do？ Nothin'！ Smiled kinder sickly； looked sorter wild； and
shut up。 He didn't suicide much。 No； sir！ He didn't kill
himself；not he。 Why； old Bixbyand he's a deacon in good
standin'allowed； in 'Lige's hearin' and for 'Lige's benefit； that
self…destruction was better nor bad example； and proved it by
Scripture too。 And yet 'Lige did nothin'！ Desp'rit！ He's only
desp'rit to laze around and fish all day off a log in the tules；
and soak up with whiskey； until； betwixt fever an' ague and the
jumps； he kinder shakes hisself free o' responsibility。〃
A long silence followed； it was somehow felt that the subject was
incongruously exciting； Billings allowed himself to lapse again
behind the back of his chair。 Meantime it had grown so dark that
the dull glow of the stove was beginning to outline a faint halo on
the ceiling even while it plunged the further lines of shelves
behind the counter into greater obscurity。
〃Time to light up； Harkutt； ain't it？〃 said Wingate； tentatively。
〃Well； I was reckoning ez it's such a wild night there wouldn't be
any use keepin' open； and when you fellows left I'd just shut up
for good and make things fast；〃 said Harkutt； dubiously。 Before
his guests had time to fully weigh this delicate hint； another gust
of wind shook the tenement； and even forced the unbolted upper part
of the door to yield far enough to admit an eager current of humid
air that seemed to justify the wisdom of Harkutt's suggestion。
Billings slowly and with a sigh assumed a sitting posture in the
chair。 The biscuit…nibbler selected a fresh dainty from the
counter； and Wingate abstractedly walked to the window and rubbed
the glass。 Sky and water had already disappeared behind a curtain
of darkness that was illuminated by a single point of lightthe
lamp in the window of some invisible but nearer housewhich threw
its rays across the glistening shallows in the road。 〃Well；〃 said
Wingate； buttoning up his coat in slow dejection； 〃I reckon I
oughter be travelin' to