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shadowy gloom within and the dominant wind without； I found it
difficult to believe I had ever known a different existence。 My
profession had often led me to wilder scenes； but rarely among
those whose unrestrained habits and easy unconsciousness made me
feel so lonely and uncomfortable I shrank closer to myself； not
without grave doubtswhich I think occur naturally to people in
like situationsthat this was the general rule of humanity and I
was a solitary and somewhat gratuitous exception。 It was a relief
when a laconic announcement of supper by a weak…eyed girl caused a
general movement in the family。 We walked across the dark
platform； which led to another low…ceiled room。 Its entire length
was occupied by a table； at the farther end of which a weak…eyed
woman was already taking her repast as she at the same time gave
nourishment to a weak…eyed baby。 As the formalities of
introduction had been dispensed with； and as she took no notice of
me； I was enabled to slip into a seat without discomposing or
interrupting her。 Tryan extemporized a grace； and the attention of
the family became absorbed in bacon； potatoes； and dried apples。
The meal was a sincere one。 Gentle gurglings at the upper end of
the table often betrayed the presence of the 〃wellspring of
pleasure。〃 The conversation generally referred to the labors of
the day； and comparing notes as to the whereabouts of missing
stock。 Yet the supper was such a vast improvement upon the
previous intellectual feast that when a chance allusion of mine to
the business of my visit brought out the elder Tryan； the interest
grew quite exciting。 I remember he inveighed bitterly against the
system of ranch…holding by the 〃greasers；〃 as he was pleased to
term the native Californians。 As the same ideas have been
sometimes advanced under more pretentious circumstances they may be
worthy of record。
〃Look at 'em holdin' the finest grazin' land that ever lay outer
doors。 Whar's the papers for it？ Was it grants？ Mighty fine
grantsmost of 'em made arter the 'Merrikans got possession。 More
fools the 'Merrikans for lettin' 'em hold 'em。 Wat paid for 'em？
'Merrikan and blood money。
〃Didn't they oughter have suthin' out of their native country？ Wot
for？ Did they ever improve？ Got a lot of yaller…skinned diggers；
not so sensible as niggers to look arter stock； and they a sittin'
home and smokin'。 With their gold and silver candlesticks； and
missions； and crucifixens； priests and graven idols； and sich？
Them sort things wurent allowed in Mizzoori。〃
At the mention of improvements； I involuntarily lifted my eyes； and
met the half laughing； half embarrassed look of George。 The act
did not escape detection； and I had at once the satisfaction of
seeing that the rest of the family had formed an offensive alliance
against us。
〃It was agin Nater； and agin God；〃 added Tryan。 〃God never
intended gold in the rocks to be made into heathen candlesticks and
crucifixens。 That's why he sent 'Merrikans here。 Nater never
intended such a climate for lazy lopers。 She never gin six months'
sunshine to be slept and smoked away。〃
How long he continued and with what further illustration I could
not say； for I took an early opportunity to escape to the sitting…
room。 I was soon followed by George； who called me to an open door
leading to a smaller room； and pointed to a bed。
〃You'd better sleep there tonight；〃 he said； 〃you'll be more
comfortable； and I'll call you early。〃
I thanked him； and would have asked him several questions which
were then troubling me； but he shyly slipped to the door and
vanished。
A shadow seemed to fall on the room when he had gone。 The 〃boys〃
returned； one by one； and shuffled to their old places。 A larger
log was thrown on the fire； and the huge chimney glowed like a
furnace； but it did not seem to melt or subdue a single line of the
hard faces that it lit。 In half an hour later； the furs which had
served as chairs by day undertook the nightly office of mattresses；
and each received its owner's full…length figure。 Mr。 Tryan had
not returned； and I missed George。 I sat there until； wakeful and
nervous； I saw the fire fall and shadows mount the wall。 There was
no sound but the rushing of the wind and the snoring of the
sleepers。 At last； feeling the place insupportable； I seized my
hat and opening the door； ran out briskly into the night。
The acceleration of my torpid pulse in the keen fight with the
wind； whose violence was almost equal to that of a tornado； and the
familiar faces of the bright stars above me； I felt as a blessed
relief。 I ran not knowing whither； and when I halted； the square
outline of the house was lost in the alder bushes。 An
uninterrupted plain stretched before me； like a vast sea beaten
flat by the force of the gale。 As I kept on I noticed a slight
elevation toward the horizon； and presently my progress was impeded
by the ascent of an Indian mound。 It struck me forcibly as
resembling an island in the sea。 Its height gave me a better view
of the expanding plain。 But even here I found no rest。 The
ridiculous interpretation Tryan had given the climate was somehow
sung in my ears； and echoed in my throbbing pulse as； guided by the
star； I sought the house again。
But I felt fresher and more natural as I stepped upon the platform。
The door of the lower building was open； and the old man was
sitting beside the table； thumbing the leaves of a Bible with a
look in his face as though he were hunting up prophecies against
the 〃Greaser。〃 I turned to enter； but my attention was attracted
by a blanketed figure lying beside the house； on the platform。 The
broad chest heaving with healthy slumber； and the open； honest face
were familiar。 It was George； who had given up his bed to the
stranger among his people。 I was about to wake him； but he lay so
peaceful and quiet； I felt awed and hushed。 And I went to bed with
a pleasant impression of his handsome face and tranquil figure
soothing me to sleep。
I was awakened the next morning from a sense of lulled repose and
grateful silence by the cheery voice of George； who stood beside my
bed； ostentatiously twirling a riata； as if to recall the duties of
the day to my sleep…bewildered eyes。 I looked around me。 The wind
had been magically laid； and the sun shone warmly through the
windows。 A dash of cold water； with an extra chill on from the tin
basin； helped to brighten me。 It was still early； but the family
had already breakfasted and dispersed； and a wagon winding far in
the distance showed that the unfortunate Tom had already 〃packed〃
his relatives away。 I felt more cheerfulthere are few troubles
Youth cannot distance with the start of a good night's rest。 After
a substantial breakfast； prepared by George； in a few moments we
were mounted and dashing down the plain。
We followed the line of alder that defined the creek； now dry and
baked with summer's heat； but which in winter； George told me；
overflowed its banks。 I still retain a vivid impression of that
morning's ride； the far…off mountains； like silhouettes； against
the steel…blue sky； the crisp dry air； and the expanding track
before me； animated often by the well…knit figure of George Tryan；
musical with jingling spurs and picturesque with flying riata。 He
rode powerful native roan； wild…eyed； untiring in stride and
unbroken in nature。 Alas！ the curves of beauty were concealed by
the cumbrous MACHILLAS of the Spanish saddle； which levels all
equine distinctions。 The single rein lay loosely on the cruel bit
that can gripe； and if need be； crush the jaw it controls。
Again the illimitable freedom of the valley rises before me； as we
again bear down into sunlit space。 Can this be 〃Chu Chu；〃 staid
and respectable filly of American pedigreeChu Chu； forgetful of
plank roads and cobblestones； wild with excitement； twinkling her
small white feet beneath me？ George laughs out of a cloud of dust。
〃Give her her head； don't you see she likes it？〃 and Chu Chu seems
to like it； and whether bitten by native tarantula into native
barbarism or emulous of the roan； 〃blood〃 asserts itself； and in a
moment the peaceful servitude of years is beaten out in the music
of her clattering hoofs。 The creek widens to a deep gully。 We
dive into it and up on the opposite side； carrying a moving cloud
of impalpable powder with us。 Cattle are scattered over the plain；
grazing quietly or banded together in vast restless herds。 George
makes a wide； indefinite sweep with the riata； as if to include
them all in his vaquero's loop； and says； 〃Ours！〃
〃About how many； George？〃
〃Don't know。〃
〃How many？〃
〃'Well； p'r'aps three thousand head；〃 says George； reflecting。 〃We
don't know； takes five men to look 'em up and keep run。〃
〃What are they worth？〃
〃About thirty dollars a head