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squatters and jumpers just the same。 It'll be three instead of two
fightingthat's all！〃
Uncle Ben's imbecile reply did not trouble Johnny。 He had ears now
only for the superior intellect before him。 IT continued coolly：
〃Now let's take a look at that yield of yours。 I haven't much time
to give you； as I expect some men to be looking for me hereand I
suppose you want this thing still kept a secret。 I don't see how
you've managed to do it so far。 Is your claim near？ You live on
itI think you said？〃
But that the little listener was so preoccupied with the stranger；
this suggestion of Uncle Ben's having a claim worth the attention
of that distinguished presence would have set him thinking； the
little that he understood he set down to Uncle Ben's 〃gassin'。〃 As
the two men moved forward again； he followed them until Uncle Ben's
house was reached。
It was a rude shanty of boards and rough boulders； half burrowing
in one of the largest mounds of earth and gravel； which had once
represented the tailings or refuse of the abandoned Indian Spring
Placer。 In fact it was casually alleged by some that Uncle Ben
eked out the scanty 〃grub wages；〃 he made by actual mining； in
reworking and sifting the tailings at odd timesa degrading work
hitherto practised only by Chinese； and unworthy the Caucasian
ambition。 The mining code of honor held that a man might accept
the smallest results of his daily labor； as long as he was
sustained by the prospect of a larger 〃strike；〃 but condemned his
contentment with a modest certainty。 Nevertheless a little of
this suspicion encompassed his dwelling and contributed to its
loneliness； even as a long ditch； the former tail…race of the
claim； separated him from his neighbors。 Prudently halting at the
edge of the wood； Johnny saw his resplendent vision cross the strip
of barren flat； and enter the cabin with Uncle Ben like any other
mortal。 He sat down on a stump and awaited its return； which he
fondly hoped might be alone！ At the end of half an hour he made a
short excursion to examine the condition of a blackberry bramble；
and returned to his post of observation。 But there was neither
sound nor motion in the direction of the cabin。 When another ten
minutes had elapsed； the door opened and to Johnny's intense
discomfiture； Uncle Ben appeared alone and walked leisurely towards
the woods。 Burning with anxiety Johnny threw himself in Uncle
Ben's way。 But here occurred one of those surprising inconsistencies
known only to children。 As Uncle Ben turned his small gray eyes
upon him in a half astonished； half questioning manner； the potent
spirit of childish secretiveness suddenly took possession of the
boy。 Wild horses could not now have torn from him that question
which only a moment before was on his lips。
〃Hullo； Johnny！ What are ye doin' here？〃 said Uncle Ben kindly。
〃Nothin'。〃 After a pause； in which he walked all round Uncle Ben's
large figure； gazing up at him as if he were a monument； he added；
〃Huntin' blackberrieth。〃
〃Why ain't you over at the collation？〃
〃Ruperth there；〃 he answered promptly。
The idea of being thus vicariously present in the person of his
brother seemed a sufficient excuse。 He leap…frogged over the stump
on which he had been sitting as an easy unembarrassing pause for
the next question。 But Uncle Ben was apparently perfectly
satisfied with Johnny's reply； and nodding to him； walked away。
When his figure had disappeared in the bushes； Johnny cautiously
approached the cabin。 At a certain distance he picked up a stone
and threw it against the door； immediately taking to his heels and
the friendly copse again。 No one appearing he repeated the
experiment twice and even thrice with a larger stone and at a
nearer distance。 Then he boldly skirted the cabin and dropped into
the race…way at its side。 Following it a few hundred yards he came
upon a long disused shaft opening into it； which had been covered
with a rough trap of old planks； as if to protect incautious
wayfarers from falling in。 Here a sudden and inexplicable fear
overtook Johnny； and he ran away。 When he reached the hotel； almost
the first sight that met his astounded eyes was the spectacle of the
paragon； apparently still in undisturbed possession of all his
perfectionsdriving coolly off in a buggy with a fresh companion。
Meantime Mr。 Ford； however touched by the sentimental significance
of the celebration； became slightly wearied of its details。 As his
own room in the Eureka Hotel was actually thrilled by the brass
band without and the eloquence of speakers below； and had become
redolent of gunpowder and champagne exploded around it； he
determined to return to the school…house and avail himself of its
woodland quiet to write a few letters。
The change was grateful； the distant murmur of the excited
settlement came only as the soothing sound of wind among the
leaves。 The pure air of the pines that filled every cranny of the
quiet school…room； and seemed to disperse all taint of human
tenancy； made the far…off celebrations as unreal as a dream。 The
only reality of his life was here。
He took from his pocket a few letters one of which was worn and
soiled with frequent handling。 He re…read it in a half methodical；
half patient way； as if he were waiting for some revelation it
inspired； which was slow that afternoon in coming。 At other times
it had called up a youthful enthusiasm which was wont to transfigure
his grave and prematurely reserved face with a new expression。
To…day the revelation and expression were both wanting。 He put the
letter back with a slight sigh； that sounded so preposterous in the
silent room that he could not forego an embarrassed smile。 But the
next moment he set himself seriously to work on his correspondence。
Presently he stopped； once or twice he had been overtaken by a
vague undefinable sense of pleasure； even to the dreamy halting of
his pen。 It was a sensation in no way connected with the subject
of his correspondence； or even his previous reflectionsit was
partly physical； and yet it was in some sense suggestive。 It must
be the intoxicating effect of the woodland air。 He even fancied he
had noticed it before； at the same hour when the sun was declining
and the fresh odors of the undergrowth were rising。 It certainly
was a perfume。 He raised his eyes。 There lay the cause on the
desk before hima little nosegay of wild Californian myrtle
encircling a rose…bud which had escaped his notice。
There was nothing unusual in the circumstance。 The children were
in the habit of making their offerings generally without particular
reference to time or occasion； and it might have been overlooked by
him during school…hours。 He felt a pity for the forgotten posy
already beginning to grow limp in its neglected solitude。 He
remembered that in some folk…lore of the children's； perhaps a
tradition of the old association of the myrtle with Venus； it was
believed to be emblematic of the affections。 He remembered also
that he had even told them of this probable origin of their
superstition。 He was still holding it in his hand when he was
conscious of a silken sensation that sent a magnetic thrill through
his fingers。 Looking at it more closely he saw that the sprigs
were bound together； not by thread or ribbon； but by long filaments
of soft brown hair tightly wound around them。 He unwound a single
hair and held it to the light。 Its length； color； texture； and
above all a certain inexplicable instinct； told him it was Cressy
McKinstry's。 He laid it down quickly； as if he had； in that act；
familiarly touched her person。
He finished his letter； but presently found himself again looking
at the myrtle and thinking about it。 From the position in which it
had been placed it was evidently intended for him； the fancy of
binding it with hair was also intentional and not a necessity； as
he knew his feminine scholars were usually well provided with bits
of thread； silk； or ribbon。 If it had been some new absurdity of
childish fashion introduced in the school； he would have noticed it
ere this。 For it was this obtrusion of a personality that vaguely
troubled him。 He remembered Cressy's hair； it was certainly very
beautiful； in spite of her occasional vagaries of coiffure。 He
recalled how； one afternoon； it had come down when she was romping
with Octavia in the play…ground； and was surprised to find what a
vivid picture he retained of her lingering in the porch to put it
up； her rounded arms held above her head； her pretty shoulders；
full throat； and glowing face thrown back； and a wisp of the very
hair between her white teeth！ He began another letter。
When it was finished the shadow of the pine…branch before the
window； thrown by the nearly level sun across his paper； had begun
slowly to reach the opposite wall。 He put h