Curious people occasionally wondered how, when it had been fully3 two years since the colonel, with every one else, abandoned Duck Creek4 to the Chinese, he managed to spend money freely, and to lose considerable at cards and horse-races. In fact, the keeper of that one of the two Challenge Hill saloons which the colonel did not patronize was once heard to absentmindedly wonder whether the colonel hadn't a money-mill somewhere, where he turned out double-eagles and "slugs" (the Coast name for fifty-dollar gold-pieces).
When so important a personage as a barkeeper indulged publicly in an idea, the inhabitants of Challenge Hill, like good Californians everywhere, considered themselves in duty bound to give it grave consideration; so, for a few days, certain industrious5 professional gentlemen, who won money of the colonel, carefully weighed some of the brightest pieces and tested them with acids, and tasted them and sawed them in two, and retried them and melted them up, and had the lumps assayed.
The result was a complete vindication6 of the colonel, and a loss of considerable custom to the indiscreet barkeeper.
The colonel was as good-natured a man as had ever been known at Challenge Hill, but, being mortal, the colonel had his occasional times of despondency, and one of them occurred after a series of races, in which he had staked his all on his own bay mare7 Tipsie, and had lost.
Looking reproachfully at his beloved animal failed to heal the aching void of his pockets, and drinking deeply, swearing eloquently8 and glaring defiantly9 at all mankind, were equally unproductive of coin.
The boys at the saloon sympathized most feelingly with the colonel; they were unceasing in their invitations to drink, and they even exhibited considerable Christian10 forbearance when the colonel savagely11 dissented12 with every one who advanced any proposition, no matter how incontrovertible.
But unappreciated sympathy grows decidedly tiresome14 to the giver, and it was with a feeling of relief that the boys saw the colonel stride out of the saloon, mount Tipsie, and gallop15 furiously away.
Riding on horseback has always been considered an excellent sort of exercise, and fast riding is universally admitted to be one of the most healthful and delightful17 means of exhilaration in the world.
But when a man is so absorbed in his exercise that he will not stop to speak to a friend; and when his exhilaration is so complete that he turns his eyes from well-meaning thumbs pointing significantly into doorways18 through which a man has often passed while seeking bracing19 influences, it is but natural that people should express some wonder.
The colonel was well known at Toddy Flat, Lone1 Hand, Blazers, Murderer's Bar, and several other villages through which he passed, and as no one had been seen to precede him, betting men were soon offering odds20 that the colonel was running away from somebody.
Strictly21 speaking they were wrong, but they won all the money that had been staked against them; for within half an hour's time there passed over the same road an anxious-looking individual, who reined22 up in front of the principal saloon of each place, and asked if the colonel had passed.
Had the gallant23 colonel known that he was followed, and by whom, there would have been an extra election held at the latter place very shortly after, for the colonel's pursuer was no other than the constable24 of Challenge Hill, and for constables25 and all other officers of the law the colonel possessed26 hatred27 of unspeakable intensity28.
On galloped29 the colonel, following the stage-road, which threaded the old mining camps on Duck Creek; but suddenly he turned abruptly30 out of the road, and urged his horse through the young pines and bushes, which grew thickly by the road, while the constable galloped rapidly on to the next camp.
There seemed to be no path through the thicket31 into which the colonel had turned, but Tipsie walked between trees and bushes as if they were but the familiar objects of her own stable-yard.
Suddenly a voice from the bushes shouted:
"What's up?"
"Business—that's what," replied the colonel.
"It's time," replied the voice, and its owner—a bearded six-footer—emerged from the bushes, and stroked Tipsie's nose with the freedom of an old acquaintance. "We hain't had a nip sence last night, an' thar' ain't a cracker32 or a handful of flour in the shanty33. The old gal16 go back on yer?"
"Yes," replied the colonel, ruefully—lost ev'ry blasted race. 'Twasn't her fault, bless her—she done her level best. Ev'rybody to home?"
"You bet," said the man. "All ben a-prayin' for yer to turn up with the rocks, an' somethin' with more color than spring water. Come on."
The man led the way, and Tipsie and the colonel followed, and the trio suddenly found themselves before a small log hut, in front of which sat three solemn, disconsolate-looking individuals, who looked appealingly at the colonel.
"Mac'll tell yer how 'twas, fellers," said the colonel, meekly35, "while I picket36 the mare."
The colonel was absent but a very few moments, but when he returned each of the four men was attired37 in pistols and knives, while Mac was distributing some dominoes, made from a rather dirty flour-bag.
"'Tain't so late as all that, is it?" inquired the colonel.
"Better be an hour ahead than miss it this 'ere night," said one of the four. "I ain't been so thirsty sence I come round the Horn, in '50, an' we run short of water. Somebody'll get hurt ef thar' ain't no bitters on the old concern—they will, or my name ain't Perkins."
"Don't count yer chickings 'fore34 they're hetched, Perky," said one of the party, as he adjusted his domino under the rim39 of his hat. "'S'posin' ther' shud be too many for us?"
"Stiddy, Cranks!" remonstrated40 the colonel. "Nobody ever gets along ef they 'low 'emselves to be skeered."
"Fact," chimed in the smallest and thinnest man of the party. "The Bible says somethin' mighty41 hot 'bout42 that. I disremember dzackly how it goes; but I've heerd Parson Buzzy, down in Maine, preach a rippin' old sermon from that text many a time. The old man never thort what a comfort them sermons wus a-goin' to be to a road-agent, though. That time we stopped Slim Mike's stage, an' he didn't hev no more manners than to draw on me, them sermons wus a perfec' blessin' to me—the thought uv 'em cleared my head ez quick ez a cocktail43. An'—"
"I don't want to disturb Logroller's pious44 yarn," interrupted the colonel; "but ez it's Old Black that's drivin' to-day instid of Slim Mike, an' ez Old Black ollers makes his time, hedn't we better vamose?"
The door of the shanty was hastily closed, and the men filed through the thicket until near the road, when they marched rapidly on parallel lines with it. After about half an hour, Perkins, who was leading, halted, and wiped his perspiring45 brow with his shirt-sleeve.
"Far enough from home now," said he. "'Tain't no use bein' a gentleman ef yer hev to work too hard."
"Safe enough, I reckon," replied the colonel. "We'll do the usual; I'll halt 'em, Logroller'll tend to the driver, Cranks takes the boot, an' Mac an' Perk38 takes right an' left. An'—I know it's tough—but consid'rin' how everlastin' eternally hard up we are, I reckon we'll have to ask contributions from the ladies, too, ef ther's any aboard—eh, boy?"
"Reckon so," replied Logroller, with a chuckle46 that seemed to inspire even his black domino with a merry wrinkle or two. "What's the use of women's rights ef they don't ever hev a chance of exercisin' 'em? Hevin' ther purses borrowed 'ud show 'em the hull47 doctrine48 in a bran-new light."
"They're treacherous49 critters, women is," remarked Cranks; "some of 'em might put a knife into a feller while he was 'pologizin'."
"Ef you're afeard of 'em," said Perkins, "you ken50 go back an' clean up the shanty."
"Reminds me of what the Bible sez," said Logroller; "'there's a lion on the trail; I'll be chawed up, sez the lazy galoot,' ur words to that effect."
"Come, come boys," interposed the colonel; "don't mix religion an' bizness. They don't mix no more than—Hello, thar's the crack of Old Black's whip! Pick yer bushes—quick! All jump when I whistle!"
Each man secreted51 himself near the roadside. The stage came swinging along handsomely; the inside passengers were laughing heartily52 about something, and Old Black was just giving a delicate touch to the flank of the off leader, when the colonel gave a shrill53, quick whistle, and the five men sprang into the road.
The horses stopped as suddenly as if it was a matter of common occurrence, Old Black dropped his reins54, crossed his legs, and stared into the sky, and the passengers all put out their heads with a rapidity equaled only by that with which they withdrew them as they saw the dominoes and revolvers of the road-agents.
"Seems to be something the matter, gentlemen," said the colonel, blandly55, as he opened the door. "Won't you please git out? Don't trouble yourselves to draw, cos my friend here's got his weapon cocked, an' his fingers is rather nervous. Ain't got a han'kercher, hev yer?" asked the colonel of the first passenger who descended56 from the stage. "Hev? Well, now, that's lucky. Jest put yer hands behind yer, please—so—that's it." And the unfortunate man was securely bound in an instant.
The remaining passengers were treated with similar courtesy, and then the colonel and his friends examined the pockets of the captives. Old Black remained unmolested, for who ever heard of a stage-driver having money?
"Boys," said the colonel, calling his brother agents aside, and comparing receipts, "'tain't much of a haul; but there's only one woman, an' she's old enough to be a feller's grandmother. Better let her alone, eh?"
"Like enough she'll pan out more'n all the rest of the stage put together," growled57 Cranks, carefully testing the thickness of case of a gold watch. "Jest like the low-lived deceitfulness of some folks, to hire an old woman to kerry ther money so it 'ud go safe. Mebbe what she's got hain't nothin' to some folks thet's got hosses thet ken win 'em money at races, but—"
The colonel abruptly ended the conversation, and approached the stage. The colonel was very chivalrous58, but Cranks's sarcastic59 reference to Tipsie needed avenging60, and as he could not consistently with business arrangements put an end to Cranks, the old lady would have to suffer.
"I beg your parding, ma'am," said the colonel, raising his hat politely with one hand, while he reopened the coach-door with the other, "but we're a-takin' up a collection fur some very deservin' object. We wuz a-goin' to make the gentlemen fork over the hull amount, but ez they hain't got enough, we'll hev to bother you."
The old lady trembled, and felt for her pocketbook, and raised her vail. The colonel looked into her face, slammed the stage-door, and, sitting down on the hub of one of the wheels, stared vacantly into space.
"Nothin'?" queried61 Perkins, in a whisper, and with a face full of genuine sympathy.
"No—yes," said the colonel, dreamily. "That is, untie62 em and let the stage go ahead," he continued, springing to his feet. "I'll hurry back to the cabin."
The Likeness63.
And the colonel dashed into the bushes, and left his followers64 so paralyzed with astonishment65, that Old Black afterward66 remarked that, "ef ther'd ben anybody to hold the hosses, he could hev cleaned out the hull crowd with his whip."
The passengers, now relieved of their weapons, were unbound, and allowed to re-enter the stage, and the door was slammed, upon which Old Black picked up his reins as coolly as if he had merely laid them down at the station while horses were being changed; then he cracked his whip, and the stage rolled off, while the colonel's party hastened back to their hut, fondly inspecting as they went certain flasks67 they had obtained while transacting68 their business with the occupants of the stage.
Great was the surprise of the road-agents as they entered their hut, for there stood the colonel in a clean white shirt, and in a suit of clothing made up from the limited spare wardrobes of the other members of the gang.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily subordinated his wonder to his prudence69, as, laying on the table a watch, two pistols, a pocket-book, and a heavy purse, he exclaimed:
"Come, colonel, bizness before pleasure; let's divide an' scatter70. Ef anybody should hear 'bout it, an' find our trail, an' ketch us with the traps in our possession, they might—"
"Divide yerselves!" said the colonel, with abruptness71 and a great oath. "I don't want none of it."
"Colonel," said Perkins, removing his own domino, and looking anxiously into the leader's face, "be you sick? Here's some bully72 brandy I found in one of the passengers' pockets."
"I hain't nothin'," replied the colonel. "I'm a-goin', an' I'm a-retirin' from this bizness for ever."
"Ain't a-goin' to turn evidence?" cried Cranks, grasping the pistol on the table.
"I'm a-goin' to make a lead-mine of you ef you don't take that back!" roared the colonel, with a bound, which caused Cranks to drop his pistol, and retire precipitately73 backward, apologizing as he went. "I'm goin' to tend to my own bizness, and that's enough to keep any man busy. Somebody lend me fifty, till I see him again?"
Perkins pressed the money into the colonel's hand, and within two minutes the colonel was on Tipsie's back, and galloping74 on in the direction the stage had taken.
He overtook it, he passed it, and still he galloped on.
The people at Mud Gulch75 knew the colonel well, and made it a rule never to be astonished at anything he did; but they made an exception to the rule when the colonel canvassed76 the principal bar-rooms for men who wished to purchase a horse; and when a gambler, who was flush, obtained Tipsie in exchange for twenty slugs—only a thousand dollars, when the colonel had always said that there wasn't gold enough on top of the ground to buy her—Mud Gulch experienced a decided13 sensation.
One or two enterprising persons speedily discovered that the colonel was not in a communicative mood, so every one retired77 to his favorite saloon, and bet according to his own opinion of the colonel's motives78 and actions.
But when the colonel, after remaining in a barber-shop for half an hour, emerged with his face clean shaven and his hair neatly79 trimmed and parted, betting was so wild that a cool-headed sporting man speedily made a fortune by betting against every theory that was advanced.
Then the colonel made a tour of the stores, and fitted himself to a new suit of clothes, carefully eschewing80 all of the generous patterns and pronounced colors so dear to the average miner. He bought a new hat, put on a pair of boots, and pruned81 his finger-nails, and, stranger than all, he mildly but firmly declined all invitations to drink.
As the colonel stood in the door of the principal saloon, where the stage always stopped, the Challenge Hill constable was seen to approach the colonel, and tap him on the shoulder, upon which all men who had bet that the colonel was dodging82 somebody claimed the stakes. But those who stood near the colonel heard the constable say:
"Colonel, I take it all back, an' I own up fair an' square. When I seed you git out of Challenge Hill, it come to me all of a sudden that you might be in the road-agent business, so I followed you—duty, you know. But after I seed you sell Tipsie, I knowed I was on the wrong trail. I wouldn't suspect you now if all the stages in the State was robbed; an' I'll give you satisfaction any way you want it."
"It's all right," said the colonel, with a smile. The constable afterward said that nobody had any idea of how curiously83 the colonel smiled when his beard was off. "Give this fifty to Jim Perkins fust time yer see him? I'm leavin' the State."
Suddenly the stage pulled up at the door with a crash, and the male passengers hurried into the saloon, in a state of utter indignation and impecuniosity84.
The story of the robbery attracted everybody, and during the excitement the colonel slipped quietly out, and opened the door of the stage. The old lady started, and cried:
"George!"
And the colonel, jumping into the stage, and putting his arms tenderly about the trembling form of the old lady, exclaimed:
"Mother!"
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1
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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6
vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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7
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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8
eloquently
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| adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地) | |
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9
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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10
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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12
dissented
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| 不同意，持异议( dissent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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15
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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16
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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17
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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18
doorways
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| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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29
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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31
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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cracker
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| n.（无甜味的）薄脆饼干 | |
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33
shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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perk
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| n.额外津贴；赏钱；小费； | |
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rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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43
cocktail
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| n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物 | |
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44
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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45
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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46
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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47
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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48
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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49
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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50
ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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51
secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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52
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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53
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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54
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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55
blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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56
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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57
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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58
chivalrous
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| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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59
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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60
avenging
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| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
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61
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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62
untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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63
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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64
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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65
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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66
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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67
flasks
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| n.瓶，长颈瓶， 烧瓶( flask的名词复数 ) | |
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transacting
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的现在分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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69
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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70
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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71
abruptness
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| n. 突然，唐突 | |
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72
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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73
precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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75
gulch
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| n.深谷，峡谷 | |
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76
canvassed
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| v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的过去式和过去分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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eschewing
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| v.（尤指为道德或实际理由而）习惯性避开，回避( eschew的现在分词 ) | |
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81
pruned
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| v.修剪（树木等）( prune的过去式和过去分词 )；精简某事物，除去某事物多余的部分 | |
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82
dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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83
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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84
impecuniosity
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| n.（经常）没有钱，身无分文，贫穷 | |
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