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The Three Partners
by Bret Harte
PROLOGUE。
The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range。 The red light it
had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest；
showing through gaps in the ranks of pines； etching out the
interstices of broken boughs； fading away and then flashing suddenly
out again like sparks in burnt…up paper。 Then the night wind swept
down the whole mountain side； and began its usual struggle with the
shadows upclimbing from the valley； only to lose itself in the end
and be absorbed in the all…conquering darkness。 Yet for some time
the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and
protested with swaying arms； but as the shadows stole upwards； and
cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up； a
complete silence followed。 Only the sky remained visiblea vast
concave mirror of dull steel； in which the stars did not seem to be
set； but only reflected。
A single cabin door on the crest of Heavy Tree Hill had remained
open to the wind and darkness。 Then it was slowly shut by an
invisible figure； afterwards revealed by the embers of the fire it
was stirring。 At first only this figure brooding over the hearth
was shown； but as the flames leaped up； two other figures could be
seen sitting motionless before it。 When the door was shut； they
acknowledged that interruption by slightly changing their position；
the one who had risen to shut the door sank back into an invisible
seat； but the attitude of each man was one of profound reflection
or reserve； and apparently upon some common subject which made them
respect each other's silence。 However； this was at last broken by
a laugh。 It was a boyish laugh； and came from the youngest of the
party。 The two others turned their profiles and glanced inquiringly
towards him； but did not speak。
〃I was thinking；〃 he began in apologetic explanation； 〃how mighty
queer it was that while we were working like niggers on grub wages；
without the ghost of a chance of making a strike； how we used to
sit here； night after night； and flapdoodle and speculate about
what we'd do if we ever DID make one； and now； Great Scott！ that we
HAVE made it； and are just wallowing in gold； here we are sitting
as glum and silent as if we'd had a washout！ Why； Lord！ I remember
one nightnot so long ago； eitherthat you two quarreled over the
swell hotel you were going to stop at in 'Frisco； and whether you
wouldn't strike straight out for London and Rome and Paris； or go
away to Japan and China and round by India and the Red Sea。〃
〃No； we didn't QUARREL over it；〃 said one of the figures gently；
〃there was only a little discussion。〃
〃Yes； but you did； though；〃 returned the young fellow mischievously；
〃and you told Stacy； there； that we'd better learn something of the
world before we tried to buy it or even hire it； and that it was
just as well to get the hayseed out of our hair and the slumgullion
off our boots before we mixed in polite society。〃
〃Well； I don't see what's the matter with that sentiment now；〃
returned the second speaker good…humoredly； 〃only；〃 he added
gravely； 〃we didn't quarrelGod forbid！〃
There was something in the speaker's tone which seemed to touch a
common chord in their natures； and this was voiced by Barker with
sudden and almost pathetic earnestness。 〃I tell you what； boys； we
ought to swear here to…night to always stand by each otherin luck
and out of it！ We ought to hold ourselves always at each other's
call。 We ought to have a kind of password or signal； you know； by
which we could summon each other at any time from any quarter of
the globe！〃
〃Come off the roof； Barker；〃 murmured Stacy； without lifting his
eyes from the fire。 But Demorest smiled and glanced tolerantly at
the younger man。
〃Yes； but look here； Stacy；〃 continued Barker； 〃comrades like us；
in the old days； used to do that in times of trouble and adventures。
Why shouldn't we do it in our luck？〃
〃There's a good deal in that； Barker boy；〃 said Demorest； 〃though；
as a general thing； passwords butter no parsnips； and the ordinary；
every…day； single yelp from a wolf brings the whole pack together
for business about as quick as a password。 But you cling to that
sentiment； and put it away with your gold…dust in your belt。〃
〃What I like about Barker is his commodiousness；〃 said Stacy。
〃Here he is； the only man among us that has his future fixed and
his preemption lines laid out and registered。 He's already got a
girl that he's going to marry and settle down with on the strength
of his luck。 And I'd like to know what Kitty Carter； when she's
Mrs。 Barker； would say to her husband being signaled for from Asia
or Africa。 I don't seem to see her tumbling to any password。 And
when he and she go into a new partnership； I reckon she'll let the
old one slide。〃
〃That's just where you're wrong！〃 said Barker； with quickly rising
color。 〃She's the sweetest girl in the world； and she'd be sure to
understand our feelings。 Why； she thinks everything of you two；
she was just eager for you to get this claim； which has put us
where we are； when I held back； and if it hadn't been for her； by
Jove！ we wouldn't have had it。〃
〃That was only because she cared for YOU；〃 returned Stacy； with a
half…yawn； 〃and now that you've got YOUR share she isn't going to
take a breathless interest in US。 And； by the way； I'd rather
YOU'D remind us that we owe our luck to her than that SHE should
ever remind YOU of it。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said Barker quickly。 But Demorest here rose
lazily； and； throwing a gigantic shadow on the wall； stood between
the two with his back to the fire。 〃He means；〃 he said slowly；
〃that you're talking rot； and so is he。 However； as yours comes
from the heart and his from the head； I prefer yours。 But you're
both making me tired。 Let's have a fresh deal。〃
Nobody ever dreamed of contradicting Demorest。 Nevertheless；
Barker persisted eagerly： 〃But isn't it better for us to look at
this cheerfully and happily all round？ There's nothing criminal in
our having made a strike！ It seems to me； boys； that of all ways
of making money it's the squarest and most level； nobody is the
poorer for it； our luck brings no misfortune to others。 The gold
was put there ages ago for anybody to find； we found it。 It hasn't
been tarnished by man's touch before。 I don't know how it strikes
you； boys； but it seems to me that of all gifts that are going it
is the straightest。 For whether we deserve it or not； it comes to
us first…handfrom God！〃
The two men glanced quickly at the speaker； whose face flushed and
then smiled embarrassedly as if ashamed of the enthusiasm into
which he had been betrayed。 But Demorest did not smile； and
Stacy's eyes shone in the firelight as he said languidly； 〃I never
heard that prospecting was a religious occupation before。 But I
shouldn't wonder if you're right； Barker boy。 So let's liquor up。〃
Nevertheless he did not move； nor did the others。 The fire leaped
higher； bringing out the rude rafters and sternly economic details
of the rough cabin； and making the occupants in their seats before
the fire look gigantic by contrast。
〃Who shut the door？〃 said Demorest after a pause。
〃I did；〃 said Barker。 〃I reckoned it was getting cold。〃
〃Better open it again； now that the fire's blazing。 It will light
the way if any of the men from below want to drop in this evening。〃
Stacy stared at his companion。 〃I thought that it was understood
that we were giving them that dinner at Boomville tomorrow night；
so that we might have the last evening here by ourselves in peace
and quietness？〃
〃Yes； but if any one DID want to come it would seem churlish to
shut him out；〃 said Demorest。
〃I reckon you're feeling very much as I am；〃 said Stacy； 〃that this
good fortune is rather crowding to us three alone。 For myself； I
know；〃 he continued； with a backward glance towards a blanketed；
covered pile in the corner of the cabin； 〃that I feel rather
oppressed byby its specific gravity； I calculateand sort of
crampy and twitchy in the legs； as if I ought to 'lite' out and do
something； and yet it holds me here。 All the same； I doubt if
anybody will come upexcept from curiosity。 Our luck has made
them rather sore down the hill； for all they're coming to the
dinner to…morrow。〃
〃That's only human nature；〃 said Demorest。
〃But；〃 said Barker eagerly； 〃what does it mean？ Why； only this
afternoon； when I was passing the 'Old Kentuck' tunnel； where those
Marshalls have been grubbing along for four years without making a
single strike； I felt ashamed to look at them； and as they barely
nodded to me I slinked by as if I had done them an injury。 I don't
understand it。〃
〃It somehow does not seem to square with this 'gift of God' idea of
yours； does