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in Nevada that was richer； and moreover； he said that they had secured a
tract of valuable timber and a mill…site； near the mine。 My first idea
was to kill Dan。 But I changed my mind； notwithstanding I was so angry；
for I thought maybe the chance was not yet lost。 Dan said it was by no
means lost； that the men were absent at the mine again； and would not be
in Virginia to leave for the East for some ten days； that they had
requested him to do the talking to Marshall； and he had promised that he
would either secure Marshall or somebody else for them by the time they
got back； he would now say nothing to anybody till they returned； and
then fulfil his promise by furnishing me to them。
It was splendid。 I went to bed all on fire with excitement； for nobody
had yet gone East to sell a Nevada silver mine； and the field was white
for the sickle。 I felt that such a mine as the one described by Dan
would bring a princely sum in New York； and sell without delay or
difficulty。 I could not sleep； my fancy so rioted through its castles in
the air。 It was the 〃blind lead〃 come again。
Next day I got away； on the coach； with the usual eclat attending
departures of old citizens；for if you have only half a dozen friends
out there they will make noise for a hundred rather than let you seem to
go away neglected and unregrettedand Dan promised to keep strict watch
for the men that had the mine to sell。
The trip was signalized but by one little incident； and that occurred
just as we were about to start。 A very seedy looking vagabond passenger
got out of the stage a moment to wait till the usual ballast of silver
bricks was thrown in。 He was standing on the pavement； when an awkward
express employee； carrying a brick weighing a hundred pounds； stumbled
and let it fall on the bummer's foot。 He instantly dropped on the ground
and began to howl in the most heart…breaking way。 A sympathizing crowd
gathered around and were going to pull his boot off； but he screamed
louder than ever and they desisted； then he fell to gasping； and between
the gasps ejaculated 〃Brandy！ for Heaven's sake； brandy！〃 They poured
half a pint down him； and it wonderfully restored and comforted him。
Then he begged the people to assist him to the stage； which was done。
The express people urged him to have a doctor at their expense； but he
declined； and said that if he only had a little brandy to take along with
him； to soothe his paroxyms of pain when they came on； he would be
grateful and content。 He was quickly supplied with two bottles； and we
drove off。 He was so smiling and happy after that； that I could not
refrain from asking him how he could possibly be so comfortable with a
crushed foot。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃I hadn't had a drink for twelve hours； and hadn't a
cent to my name。 I was most perishingand so； when that duffer dropped
that hundred…pounder on my foot； I see my chance。 Got a cork leg； you
know！〃 and he pulled up his pantaloons and proved it。
He was as drunk as a lord all day long； and full of chucklings over his
timely ingenuity。
One drunken man necessarily reminds one of another。 I once heard a
gentleman tell about an incident which he witnessed in a Californian bar…
room。 He entitled it 〃Ye Modest Man Taketh a Drink。〃 It was nothing but
a bit of acting； but it seemed to me a perfect rendering； and worthy of
Toodles himself。 The modest man； tolerably far gone with beer and other
matters； enters a saloon （twenty…five cents is the price for anything and
everything； and specie the only money used） and lays down a half dollar；
calls for whiskey and drinks it； the bar…keeper makes change and lays the
quarter in a wet place on the counter； the modest man fumbles at it with
nerveless fingers； but it slips and the water holds it； he contemplates
it； and tries again； same result； observes that people are interested in
what he is at； blushes； fumbles at the quarter againblushesputs his
forefinger carefully； slowly down； to make sure of his aimpushes the
coin toward the bar…keeper； and says with a sigh：
〃Gimme a cigar！〃
Naturally； another gentleman present told about another drunken man。 He
said he reeled toward home late at night； made a mistake and entered the
wrong gate； thought he saw a dog on the stoop； and it wasan iron one。
He stopped and considered； wondered if it was a dangerous dog； ventured
to say 〃Be （hic） begone！〃 No effect。 Then he approached warily； and
adopted conciliation； pursed up his lips and tried to whistle； but
failed； still approached； saying； 〃Poor dog！doggy； doggy； doggy！poor
doggy…dog！〃 Got up on the stoop； still petting with fond names； till
master of the advantages； then exclaimed； 〃Leave； you thief！〃planted a
vindictive kick in his ribs； and went head…over…heels overboard； of
course。 A pause； a sigh or two of pain； and then a remark in a
reflective voice：
〃Awful solid dog。 What could he ben eating？ （'ic！） Rocks； p'raps。
Such animals is dangerous。' At's what I saythey're dangerous。 If a
man（'ic！）if a man wants to feed a dog on rocks； let him feed him on
rocks； 'at's all right； but let him keep him at homenot have him layin'
round promiscuous； where （'ic！） where people's liable to stumble over him
when they ain't noticin'！〃
It was not without regret that I took a last look at the tiny flag （it
was thirty…five feet long and ten feet wide） fluttering like a lady's
handkerchief from the topmost peak of Mount Davidson； two thousand feet
above Virginia's roofs； and felt that doubtless I was bidding a permanent
farewell to a city which had afforded me the most vigorous enjoyment of
life I had ever experienced。 And this reminds me of an incident which
the dullest memory Virginia could boast at the time it happened must
vividly recall； at times； till its possessor dies。 Late one summer
afternoon we had a rain shower。
That was astonishing enough； in itself； to set the whole town buzzing；
for it only rains （during a week or two weeks） in the winter in Nevada；
and even then not enough at a time to make it worth while for any
merchant to keep umbrellas for sale。 But the rain was not the chief
wonder。 It only lasted five or ten minutes； while the people were still
talking about it all the heavens gathered to themselves a dense blackness
as of midnight。 All the vast eastern front of Mount Davidson； over…
looking the city； put on such a funereal gloom that only the nearness and
solidity of the mountain made its outlines even faintly distinguishable
from the dead blackness of the heavens they rested against。 This
unaccustomed sight turned all eyes toward the mountain； and as they
looked； a little tongue of rich golden flame was seen waving and
quivering in the heart of the midnight； away up on the extreme summit！
In a few minutes the streets were packed with people； gazing with hardly
an uttered word； at the one brilliant mote in the brooding world of
darkness。 It flicked like a candle…flame； and looked no larger； but with
such a background it was wonderfully bright； small as it was。 It was the
flag！though no one suspected it at first； it seemed so like a
supernatural visitor of some kinda mysterious messenger of good
tidings； some were fain to believe。 It was the nation's emblem
transfigured by the departing rays of a sun that was entirely palled from
view； and on no other object did the glory fall； in all the broad
panorama of mountain ranges and deserts。 Not even upon the staff of the
flagfor that； a needle in the distance at any time； was now untouched
by the light and undistinguishable in the gloom。 For a whole hour the
weird visitor winked and burned in its lofty solitude； and still the
thousands of uplifted eyes watched it with fascinated interest。 How the
people were wrought up！ The superstition grew apace that this was a
mystic courier come with great news from the warthe poetry of the idea
excusing and commending itand on it spread； from heart to heart； from
lip to lip and from street to street； till there was a general impulse to
have out the military and welcome the bright waif with a salvo of
artillery！
And all that time one sorely tried man； the telegraph operator sworn to
official secrecy； had to lock his lips and chain his tongue with a
silence that was like to rend them； for he； and he only； of all the
speculating multitude； knew the great things this sinking sun had seen
that day in the eastVicksburg fallen； and the Union arms victorious at
Gettysburg！
But for the journalistic monopoly that forbade the slightest revealment
of eastern news till a day after its publication in the California
papers； the glorified flag on Mount Davidson would have been saluted and
re…saluted； that memorable evening； as long as there was a charge of
powder to thunder with； the city would have been illuminated； and every
man that had any respect for himself would have got drunk；as was the
custom of the country on all occasions of public moment。 Even at this
distant day I cannot think of this needlessly marred supreme opportunity
without regret。 What a time we might have had！
CHAPTER LVI。
We rumbled over the plains and valleys； climbed the Sierras to the
clouds； and