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at parting。 But the novelty of his situation； the brilliant sunshine and
sense of freedom； and the road already awakening to dusty life with
passing teams； dismissed everything but the future from his mind。
Readjusting his pack； he stepped on cheerily。 At noon he was overtaken
by a teamster； who in return for a match to light his pipe gave him a lift of
a dozen miles。 It is to be feared that Clarence's account of himself was
equally fanciful with his previous story； and that the teamster parted from
him with a genuine regret； and a hope that he would soon be overtaken by
his friends along the road。 〃And mind that you ain't such a fool agin to
let 'em make you tote their dod…blasted tools fur them！〃 he added
unsuspectingly； pointing to Clarence's mining outfit。 Thus saved the
heaviest part of the day's journey； for the road was continually rising from
the plains during the last six miles； Clarence was yet able to cover a
considerable distance on foot before he halted for supper。 Here he was
again fortunate。 An empty lumber team watering at the same spring； its
driver offered to take Clarence's purchasesfor the boy had profited by his
late friend's suggestion to personally detach himself from his equipment
to Buckeye Mills for a dollar； which would also include a 〃shakedown
passage〃 for himself on the floor of the wagon。 〃I reckon you've been
foolin' away in Sacramento the money yer parents give yer for return stage
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fare； eh？ Don't lie； sonny；〃 he added grimly； as the now artful Clarence
smiled diplomatically； 〃I've been thar myself！〃 Luckily； the excuse that
he was 〃tired and sleepy〃 prevented further dangerous questioning； and
the boy was soon really in deep slumber on the wagon floor。
He awoke betimes to find himself already in the mountains。 Buckeye
Mills was a straggling settlement； and Clarence prudently stopped any
embarrassing inquiry from his friend by dropping off the wagon with his
equipment as they entered it； and hurriedly saying 〃Good… by〃 from a
crossroad through the woods。 He had learned that the nearest mining
camp was five miles away； and its direction was indicated by a long
wooden 〃flume；〃 or water…way； that alternately appeared and disappeared
on the flank of the mountain opposite。 The cooler and drier air； the grateful
shadow of pine and bay； and the spicy balsamic odors that everywhere
greeted him； thrilled and exhilarated him。 The trail plunging sometimes
into an undisturbed forest； he started the birds before him like a flight of
arrows through its dim recesses； at times he hung breathlessly over the
blue depths of canyons where the same forests were repeated a thousand
feet below。 Towards noon he struck into a rude road evidently the
thoroughfare of the localityand was surprised to find that it； as well as
the adjacent soil wherever disturbed； was a deep Indian red。 Everywhere；
along its sides； powdering the banks and boles of trees with its ruddy stain；
in mounds and hillocks of piled dirt on the road； or in liquid paint…like
pools； when a trickling stream had formed a gutter across it； there was
always the same deep sanguinary color。 Once or twice it became more
vivid in contrast with the white teeth of quartz that peeped through it from
the hillside or crossed the road in crumbled strata。 One of those pieces
Clarence picked up with a quickening pulse。 It was veined and streaked
with shining mica and tiny glittering cubes of mineral that LOOKED like
gold！
The road now began to descend towards a winding stream； shrunken
by drought and ditching； that glared dazzingly in the sunlight from its
white bars of sand； or glistened in shining sheets and channels。 Along its
banks； and even encroaching upon its bed； were scattered a few mud
cabins； strange…looking wooden troughs and gutters； and here and there；
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glancing through the leaves； the white canvas of tents。 The stumps of
felled trees and blackened spaces； as of recent fires； marked the stream on
either side。 A sudden sense of disappointment overcame Clarence。 It
looked vulgar； common； and worse than allFAMILIAR。 It was like the
unlovely outskirts of a dozen other prosaic settlements he had seen in less
romantic localities。 In that muddy red stream； pouring out of a wooden
gutter； in which three or four bearded； slouching； half… naked figures were
raking like chiffonniers； there was nothing to suggest the royal metal。
Yet he was so absorbed in gazing at the scene； and had walked so rapidly
during the past few minutes； that he was startled； on turning a sharp corner
of the road； to come abruptly upon an outlying dwelling。
It was a nondescript building； half canvas and half boards。 The
interior seen through the open door was fitted up with side shelves； a
counter carelessly piled with provisions； groceries； clothing； and
hardwarewith no attempt at display or even ordinary selectionand a
table； on which stood a demijohn and three or four dirty glasses。 Two
roughly dressed men； whose long； matted beards and hair left only their
eyes and lips visible in the tangled hirsute wilderness below their slouched
hats； were leaning against the opposite sides of the doorway； smoking。
Almost thrown against them in the rapid momentum of his descent；
Clarence halted violently。
〃Well； sonny； you needn't capsize the shanty；〃 said the first man；
without taking his pipe from his lips。
〃If yer looking fur yer ma； she and yer Aunt Jane hev jest gone over to
Parson Doolittle's to take tea；〃 observed the second man lazily。 〃She
allowed that you'd wait。〃
〃I'mI'mgoing toto the mines；〃 explained Clarence； with some
hesitation。 〃I suppose this is the way。〃
The two men took their pipes from their lips； looked at each other；
completely wiped every vestige of expression from their faces with the
back of their hands； turned their eyes into the interior of the cabin； and
said； 〃Will yer come yer； now WILL yer？〃 Thus adjured； half a dozen
men； also bearded and carrying pipes in their mouths； straggled out of the
shanty； and； filing in front of it； squatted down； with their backs against
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the boards； and gazed comfortably at the boy。 Clarence began to feel
uneasy。
〃I'll give；〃 said one； taking out his pipe and grimly eying Clarence； 〃a
hundred dollars for him as he stands。〃
〃And seein' as he's got that bran…new rig…out o' tools；〃 said another；
〃I'll give a hundred and fiftyand the drinks。 I've been；〃 he added
apologetically； 〃wantin' sunthin' like this a long time。〃
〃Well； gen'lemen；〃 said the man who had first spoken to him； 〃lookin'
at him by and large； takin' in； so to speak； the gin'ral gait of him in single
harness； bearin' in mind the perfect freshness of him； and the coolness and
size of his cheekthe easy downyness； previousness； and utter don't…care…
a…damnativeness of his coming yer； I think two hundred ain't too much for
him； and we'll call it a bargain。〃
Clarence's previous experience of this grim； smileless Californian
chaff was not calculated to restore his confidence。 He drew away from
the cabin； and repeated doggedly； 〃I asked you if this was the way to the
mines。〃
〃It ARE the mines； and these yere are the miners；〃 said the first
speaker gravely。 〃Permit m