A half hour later the two men, having deposited the women safely in the Sherwoods' rooms at the Bella Union, and having been unceremoniously dismissed by Mrs. Sherwood, strolled together to the veranda1. They had not, until now, had a chance to exchange six words.
The newcomer, who announced himself as Milton Keith from Baltimore, proved to have a likable and engaging personality. He was bubbling with interest and enthusiasm; and these qualities, provided they are backed solidly, are always prepossessing. Sherwood, quietly studying him, concluded that such was the case. His jaw2 and mouth were set in firm lines; his eye, while dancing and mischievous3, had depths of capability4 and reserves of forcefulness. But Sherwood was, by inclination5 and by the necessities of his profession, a close observer of men. Another, less practised, might have seen here merely an eager, rather talkative, apparently6 volatile7, very friendly, quite unreserved young man of twenty-five. Any one, analytical8 or otherwise, could not have avoided feeling the attractive force of the youth's personality, the friendly quality that is nine tenths individual magnetism9 and one tenth the cast of mind that initially10 takes for granted the other man's friendliness11.
At the moment Keith was boyishly avid12 for the sights of the new city. In these modern days of long journeys, a place so remote as San Francisco, in the most commonplace of circumstances, gathers to its reputation something of the fabulous13. How much more true then of a city built from sand dunes14 in four years; five times swept by fire, yet rising again and better before its ashes were extinct; the resort of all the picturesque15, unknown races of the earth--the Chinese, the Chileno, the Mexican, the Spanish, the Islander, the Moor16, the Turk--not to speak of ordinary foreigners from Russia, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the out-of-the-way corners of Europe; the haunt of the wild and striking individuals of all these races. "Sydney ducks" from the criminal colonies; "shoulder strikers" direct from the tough wards17 of New York; long, lean, fever-haunted crackers18 from the Georgia mountains or the Louisiana canebrakes; Pike County desperadoes; long-haired men from the trapping countries; hard-fisted, sardonic19 state of Maine men fresh from their rivers; and Indian fighters from the Western Reserve; grasping, shrewd commercial Yankees; fire-eating Southern politicians; lawyers, doctors, merchants, chiefs, and thiefs, the well-educated and the ignorant, the high-minded and the scalawags, all dumped down together on a sand hill to work out their destinies; a city whose precedents20, whose morals, whose laws, were made or adapted on the spot; where might in some form or another--revolver, money, influence--made its only right; whose history ranged in three years the gamut21 of human passion, strife22, and development; whose background was the fabled24 El Dorado whence the gold in unending floods poured through its sluices25. To the outside world tales of these things had come. They did not lose in the journey. The vast loom26 of actual occurrences rose above the horizon like mirages27. Names and events borrowed a half-legendary quality from distances, as elsewhere from time. Keith had heard of Coleman, of Terry, of Broderick, Brannan, Gwin, Geary, as he had heard of the worthies28 of ancient history; he had visualized29 the fabled splendours of San Francisco's great gambling30 houses, of the excitements of her fervid31, fevered life, as he might have visualized the magnificences of pagan Rome; he had listened to tales of her street brawls32, her vast projects, the buccaneering raids of her big men, her Vigilance Committee of the year before, as he would have listened to the stories of one of Napoleon's veterans. Now, by the simple process of a voyage that had seemed literally33 interminable but now was past, he had landed in the very midst of fable23. It was like dying, he told Sherwood eagerly, like going irretrievably to a new planet. All his old world now seemed as remote, as insubstantial, as phantomlike, as this had seemed.
"Even yet I can't believe it's all so," he cried, walking excitedly back and forth34, and waving an extinct cigar. "I've got to see it, touch it! Why, I know it all in advance. That must be where the Jenny Lind Theatre stood-- before the fire--just opposite? I thought so! And the bay used to come up to Montgomery Street, only a block down! You see, I know it all! And when we came in, and I saw all those idle ships lying at anchor, just as they have lain since their crews deserted35 them in '49 to go to the mines--and I know why they haven't been used since, why they will continue to lie there at anchor until they rot or sink--"
"Do you?" said Sherwood, who was vastly amused and greatly taken by this fresh enthusiasm.
"Yes, the clipper ships!" Keith swept on. "The first cargoes36 in this new market make the money--the fastest clippers--poor old hulks--but you brought in the argonauts!"
So he ran on, venting37 his impatience38, so plainly divided between his sense of duty in staying near his wife and his great desire to slip the leash39, that Sherwood smiled to himself. Once again he mentioned Coleman and the Vigilantes of '51.
"I suppose he's around here? I may see him?"
"Oh, yes," said Sherwood, "you'll see him. But if you would accept a bit of advice, go slow. You must remember that such a movement makes enemies, arouses opposition40. A great many excellent people--whom you will know--are a little doubtful about all that."
Keith mentioned other names.
"I know them all. They are among the most influential41 members of the bar." He glanced at a large watch. "Just at this hour we might find them at the Monumental engine house. What do you say?"
"I should like nothing better!" cried Keith.
"Your wife's illness is not likely to require immediate42 attendance?" suggested Sherwood inquiringly.
"She's only seasick--horrible voyage--she's always under the weather on shipboard--three weeks of it from Panama--Nan's as strong as a horse," replied Keith, with obvious impatience.
They walked across the Plaza43 to the Monumental fire engine house, a square brick structure of two stories, with wide folding doors, and a bell cupola apart. Keith paused to admire the engine. It was of the type usual in those days, consisting of a waterbox with inlet and outlet44 connections, a pump atop, and parallel pump rails on either side, by the hand manipulation of which the water was thrown with force from the box. The vehicle was drawn45 by means of a long rope, carried on a drum. This could be slacked off at need to accommodate as high as a hundred men or as few as would suffice to move her. So far this engine differed in no manner from those Keith had seen in the East. But this machine belonged to a volunteer company, one of many and all rivals. It was gayly coloured. On the sides of its waterbox were scenic46 paintings of some little merit. The woodwork was all mahogany. Its brass47 ornamentation was heavy and brought to a high state of polish. From a light rack along its centre dangled48 two beautifully chased speaking trumpets49, and a row of heavy red-leather helmets. Axes nestled in sockets50. A screaming gilt51 eagle, with wings outspread, hovered52 atop. Alongside the engine stood the hook and ladder truck and the hose cart. These smaller and less important vehicles were painted in the same scheme of colour, were equally glittering and polished. Keith commented on all this admiringly.
"Yes," said Sherwood, "you see, since the big fires, it has become a good deal a matter of pride. There are eleven volunteer companies, and they are great rivals in everything, political and social, as well as in the line of regular business, so to speak. Mighty53 efficient. You'll have to join a company, of course; and you better look around a little before deciding. Each represents something different--some different element. They are really as much clubs as fire companies."
They mounted to the upper story, where Keith found himself in a long room, comfortably fitted with chairs, tables, books, and papers. A double door showed a billiard table in action. Sherwood indicated a closed door across the hall.
"Card rooms," said he briefly54.
The air was blue with smoke and noisy with rather vociferative conversation and laughter. Several groups of men were gathered in little knots. A negro in white duck moved here and there carrying a tray.
Sherwood promptly55 introduced Keith to many of these men, and he was as promptly asked to name his drink. Keith caught few of the names, but he liked the hearty56, instant cordiality. Remarking on the beauty and order of the machines, loud cries arose for "Taylor! Bert Taylor!" After a moment's delay a short, stocky, very red-faced man, with rather a fussy57 manner, came forward.
"Mr. Keith," said a tall, dark youth, with a pronounced Southern accent, "I want foh to make you acquainted with Mr. Tayloh. Mr. Tayloh is at once the patron saint of the Monumentals, but to a large extent its 'angel' as well --I hope you understand the theatrical58 significance of that term, suh. He is motheh, fatheh, guardeen, and dry nurse to every stick, stone, and brick, every piece of wood, brass, or rubbah, every inch of hose, and every man _and_ Irishman on these premises59." Taylor had turned an embarrassed brick red. "Mr. Keith," went on the dark youth, explanatorily, "was just sayin' that though he had inspected carefully many fire equipments, per'fessional and amateur, he had nevah feasted his eyes on so complete an outfit60 as that of our Monumentals."
Keith had not said all this, but possibly he had meant it. The brick-red, stocky little man was so plainly embarrassed and anxious to depart that Keith racked his brains for something to say. All he could remember was the manufacturer's nameplate on the machine downstairs.
"I see you have selected the Hunaman engine, sir," said he. The little man's eye brightened.
"It may be, sir, that you favour the piano-box type--of the sort made by Smith or Van Ness?" he inquired politely.
"It is a point on which my opinion is still-suspended," replied Keith with great gravity.
The little man moved nearer, and his shyness fell from him.
"Oh, but really there is no choice, none whatever!" he cried. "I'm sure, sir, I can convince you in five minutes. I assure you we have gone into the subject thoroughly61--this Hunaman cost us over five thousand dollars; and you may be certain we went very thoroughly into the matter before making the investment----"
He went on talking in his self-effacing, deprecatory, but very earnest fashion. The other men in the group, Keith felt, were watching with covert62 amusement. Occasionally, he thought to catch half-concealed grins at his predicament. In less than the five minutes the claims of the piano box were utterly63 demolished64. Followed a dissertation65 on methods of fighting fire; and then a history of the Monumental Company--its members, its officers, and its proud record. "And our bell--did you know that?--is the bell used by the Vigilantes--" He broke off suddenly in confusion, his embarrassment66 descending67 on him again. A moment later he sidled away.
"But I found him very interesting!" protested Keith, in answer to implied apologies.
"Bert is invaluable68 here; but he's a lunatic on fire apparatus69. We couldn't get along without him, but it's sometimes mighty difficult to get on _with_ him," said some one.
Keith was making a good impression without consciously trying to do so. His high spirits of youth and enthusiasm were in his favour; and as yet he had no interests to come into conflict with those of any one present. More drinks were ordered and fresh cigars lighted. From Sherwood they now learned that Keith had but just landed, and intended to settle as a permanent resident. As one man they uprose.
"And yo' wastin' of yo' time indoors!" mourned the dark Southerner. "And so much to see!"
Enthusiastically they surrounded him and led him forth. Only a very old, very small, very decadent70 village is devoid71 of what is modernly called the "booster" spirit. In those early days of slow transportation and isolated72 communities, local patriotism73 was much stronger than it is now. And something about the air's wine of the Pacific slope has always, and probably will always, make of every man an earnest proselyte for whatever patch of soil he calls home. But add to these general considerations the indubitable facts of harbour, hill, health, opportunity, activity, and a genuine history, if of only three years, one can no longer marvel74 that every man, each in his own way, saw visions.
In the course of the next few hours Keith got confused and mixed impressions of many things. The fortresslike warehouses75; the plank76 roads; the new Jenny Lind Theatre; the steam paddies eating steadily77 into the sand hills at the edge of town; the Dramatic Museum; houses perched on the crumbling78 edges of hills; houses sunk far below the level of new streets, with tin cans and ducks floating around them; new office buildings; places where new office buildings were going to be or merely ought to be; land that in five years was going to be worth fabulous sums; unlikely looking spots where historic things had stood or had happened--all these were pointed79 out to him. He was called upon to exercise the eye of faith; to reconstruct; to eliminate the unfinished, the mean, the sordid80; to overlook the inadequate81; to build the city as it was sure to be; and to concern himself with that and that only. He admired Mount Tamalpais over the way. He was taken up a high hill--a laborious82 journey--to gaze on the spot where he would have been able to see Mount Diabolo, if only Mount Diabolo had been visible. And every few blocks he was halted and made to shake hands with some one who was always immediately characterized to him impressively, under the breath--"Colonel Baker83, sir, one of the most divinely endowed men with the gift of eloquence84, sir"; "Mr. Rowlee, sir, editor of one of our leading journals"; "Judge Caldwell, sir at present one of the ornaments85 of our bench"; "Mr. Ben Sansome, sir, a leadin' young man in our young but vigorous social life"; and so on.
These introductions safely and ceremoniously accomplished86, each newcomer insisted on leading the way to the nearest bar.
"I insist, sir. It is just the hour for my afternoon toddy."
After some murmuring of expostulation, the invitation was invariably accepted.
There was always a barroom immediately adjacent. Keith was struck by the number and splendour of these places. Although San Francisco was only three years removed from the tent stage, and although the freightage from the centres of civilization was appalling87, there was no lack of luxury. Mahogany bars with brass rails, huge mirrors with gilt frames, pyramids of delicate crystal, rich hangings, oil paintings of doubtful merit but indisputable interest, heavy chandeliers of prism glasses, most elaborate free lunches, and white-clad barkeepers--such matters were common to all. In addition, certain of the more pretentious88 boasted special attractions. Thus, one place supported its ceiling on crystal pillars; another--and this was crowded--had dashing young women to serve the drinks, though the mixing was done by men; a third offered one of the new large musical boxes capable of playing several very noisy tunes89; a fourth had imported a marvellous piece of mechanism90: a piece of machinery91 run by clockwork, exhibiting the sea in motion, a ship tossing on its bosom92; on shore, a water mill in action, a train of cars passing over a bridge, a deer chase with hounds, huntsmen, and game, all in pursuit or flight, and the like. The barkeepers were marvels93 of dexterity94 and of especial knowledge. At command they would deftly95 and skilfully96 mix a great variety of drinks--cocktails, sangarees, juleps, bounces, swizzles, and many others. In mixing these drinks it was their especial pride to pass them at arm's length from one tall glass to another, the fluid describing a long curve through the air, but spilling never a drop.
In these places Keith pledged in turn each of his new acquaintances, and was pledged by them. Never, he thought, had he met so jolly, so interesting, so experienced a lot of men. They had not only lived history, they had made it. They were so full of high spirits and the spirit of play. His heart warmed to them mightily97; and over and over he told himself that he had made no mistake in his long voyage to new fields of endeavour. On the other hand, he, too, made a good impression. Naturally the numerous drinks had something to do with this mutual98 esteem99; but also it was a fact that his boyish, laughing, half-reckless spirit had much in common with the spirit of the times. Quite accidentally he discovered that the tall, dark Southern youth was Calhoun Bennett. This then seemed to him a remarkable100 coincidence.
"Why, I have a letter of introduction to you!" he said.
Again and again he recurred101 to this point, insisting on telling everybody how extraordinary the situation was.
"Here I've been talking to him for three hours," he exclaimed, "and never knew who he was, and all the time I had a letter of introduction to him!"
This and a warm irresponsible glow of comradeship were the sole indications of the drinks he had had. Keith possessed102 a strong head. Some of the others were not so fortunate. Little Rowlee was frankly103 verging104 on drunkenness.
The afternoon wind was beginning to die, and the wisps of high fog that had, since two o'clock, been flying before it, now paused and forgathered to veil the sky. Dusk was falling.
"Look here," suggested Rowlee suddenly; "let's go to Allen's Branch and have a good dinner, and then drift around to Belle's place and see if there's any excitement to be had thereabouts."
"Belle--our local Aspasia, sah," breathed a very elaborate, pompous105, elderly Southerner, who had been introduced as Major Marmaduke Miles.
But this suggestion brought to Keith a sudden realization106 of the lateness of the hour, the duration of his absence, and the fact that, not only had he not yet settled his wife in rooms of her own, but had left her on the hands of strangers. For the first time he noticed that Sherwood was not of the party.
"When did Sherwood leave?" he cried.
"Oh, a right sma't time ago," said Bennett.
Keith started to his feet.
"I should like to join you," said he, "but it is impossible now."
A chorus of expostulation went up at this.
"But I haven't settled down yet!" persisted Keith. "I don't know even whether my baggage is at the hotel."
They waived107 aside his objections; but finding him obdurate108, perhaps a little panicky over the situation, they gave over urging the point.
"But you must join us later in the evening," said they.
The idea grew.
"I tell you what," said Rowlee, with half-drunken gravity; "he's got to come back. We can't afford to lose him this early. And he can't afford to lose us. The best life of this glorious commonwealth109 is as yet a sealed book to him. It is our sacred duty, gentlemen, to break those seals. What does he know of our temples of Terpsichore? Our altars to the gods of chance? Our bowers110 of the Cyprians?"
He would have gone on at length, but Keith, laughingly protesting, trying to disengage himself from the detaining hands, broke in with a promise to return. But little Rowlee was not satisfied.
"I think we should take no chances," he stated. "How would it be to appoint a committee to 'company him and see that he gets back?"
Keith's head was clear enough to realize with dismay that this brilliant idea was about to take. But Ben Sansome, seizing the situation, locked his arm firmly in Keith's.
"I'll see personally that he gets back," said he.
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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capability
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| n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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volatile
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| adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质 | |
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analytical
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| adj.分析的；用分析法的 | |
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magnetism
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| n.磁性，吸引力，磁学 | |
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initially
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| adv.最初，开始 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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avid
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| adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的 | |
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fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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dunes
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| 沙丘( dune的名词复数 ) | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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wards
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| 区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
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crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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precedents
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| 引用单元； 范例( precedent的名词复数 )； 先前出现的事例； 前例； 先例 | |
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gamut
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| n.全音阶，(一领域的)全部知识 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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fable
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| n.寓言；童话；神话 | |
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fabled
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| adj.寓言中的，虚构的 | |
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sluices
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| n.水闸( sluice的名词复数 )；（用水闸控制的）水；有闸人工水道；漂洗处v.冲洗( sluice的第三人称单数 )；（指水）喷涌而出；漂净；给…安装水闸 | |
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loom
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| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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mirages
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| n.海市蜃楼，幻景( mirage的名词复数 ) | |
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worthies
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| 应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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visualized
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| 直观的，直视的 | |
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gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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fervid
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| adj.热情的；炽热的 | |
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brawls
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| 吵架，打架( brawl的名词复数 ) | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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cargoes
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venting
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| 消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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scenic
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| adj.自然景色的，景色优美的 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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dissertation
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| n.（博士学位）论文，学术演讲，专题论文 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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decadent
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| adj.颓废的，衰落的，堕落的 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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warehouses
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| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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pretentious
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| adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的 | |
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tunes
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| n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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verging
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| 接近，逼近（verge的现在分词形式） | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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107
waived
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| v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 )；搁置；推迟；放弃（权利、要求等） | |
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obdurate
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| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
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109
commonwealth
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| n.共和国，联邦，共同体 | |
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bowers
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| n.（女子的）卧室( bower的名词复数 )；船首锚；阴凉处；鞠躬的人 | |
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