"Itblows,"saidJoeWingate.
AsiftoaccentthewordsofthespeakeraheavygustofwindatthatmomentshookthelonglightwoodenstructurewhichservedasthegeneralstoreofSidonsettlement,inContraCosta.Evenafterithadpassedaprolongedwhistlecamethroughthekeyhole,sides,andopeningsoftheclosedglassfrontdoors,thatservedequallyforwindows,andfilledthecanvasceilingwhichhidtheroofabovelikeabellyingsail.Awaveofenthusiasticemotionseemedtobecommunicatedtoalineofstrawhatsandsou-westerssuspendedfromacross-beam,andswungthemwitheveryappearanceoffestiverejoicing,whileafewdusters,overcoats,and"hickory"shirtshangingonthesidewallsexhibitedsuchmarkedthoughidioticanimationthatithadtheeffectofasatiricalcommentonthelazy,purposelessfiguresofthefourlivinginmatesofthestore.
NedBillingsmomentarilyraisedhisheadandshouldersdepressedinthebackofhiswoodenarmchair,glancedwearilyaround,said,"Youbet,it'snoslouchofastorm,"andthenlapsedagainwithfurtherextendedlegsandanaddedsenseofcomfort.
Herethethirdfigure,whichhadbeenleaninglistlesslyagainsttheshelves,puttingasidethearmofaswayingovercoatthatseemedtobeemptilyembracinghim,walkedslowlyfrombehindthecountertothedoor,examineditsfastenings,andgazedattheprospect.Hewastheownerofthestore,andtheviewwasafamiliarone,——alongstretchoftreelesswastebeforehimmeetinganequalstretchofdrearyskyabove,andnighthoveringsomewherebetweenthetwo.Thiswasindicatedbysplashesofdarkershadowasifwashedinwithindiaink,andalighterlow-lyingstreakthatmighthavebeenthehorizon,butwasnot.Totheright,onalinewiththefrontdoorofthestore,wereseveralscattered,widelydispersedobjects,that,althoughvagueinoutline,wererigidenoughinanglestosuggestshedsorbarns,butcertainlynottrees.
"There'saheapmorewettocomeaforethewindgoesdown,"hesaid,glancingatthesky."Harktothat,now!"
Theylistenedlazily.Therewasafaintmurmurfromtheshinglesabove;thensuddenlythewholewindowwasfilmedandblurredasiftheentireprospecthadbeenwipedoutwithadampsponge.Themanturnedlistlesslyaway.
"That'sthekindthatsoaksin;tharwon'tbemuchteamin'overTasajaraforthenexttwoweeks,Ireckon,"saidthefourthlounger,who,seatedonahighbarrel,wasnibbling——albeitcriticallyandfastidiously——biscuitsanddriedapplesalternatelyfromopenboxesonthecounter."It'sluckyyou'vegotinyourwinterstock,Harkutt."
TheshrewdeyesofMr.Harkutt,proprietor,glancedattheoccupationofthespeakerasifevenhisforesightmighthaveitspossibledrawbacks,buthesaidnothing.
"There'llbenoshowforSidonuntilyou'vegotawagonroadfromheretothecreek,"saidBillingslanguidly,fromthedepthsofhischair."Butwhat'stheuseo'talkin'?Tharain'tenergyenoughinallTasajaratobuildit.AGod-forsakenplace,thattwomonthsoftheyearcanonlybereachedbyamail-rideronceaweek,don'tlookezifitwasgoin'tobreakitsbackhaulin'ingoodsandsettlers.Itellyewhat,gentlemen,itmakesmesick!"Andapparentlyithadenfeebledhimtotheextentofinterferingwithhisaiminthatexpectorationofdisgustagainstthestovewithwhichheconcludedhissentence.
"Whydon'tYOUbuildit?"askedWingate,carelessly.
"Iwouldn'tonprinciple,"saidBillings."It'sgov'mentwork.
WhatdidwewhoopupthingsherelastspringtoelectKennedytothelegislationfor?WhatdidIrigupmyshedandathousandfeetoflumberforbenchesatthebarbecuefor?Why,togetKennedyelectedandmakehimgetabillpassedfortheroad!That'sMY
shareofbuildingit,ifitcomestothat.AndIonlywishsomefolks,thatblowenoughaboutwhatoughterbedonetobulgeoutthatceiling,wouldonlydoasmuchasIhavedoneforSidon."
Asthisremarkseemedtohaveapersonalaswellaslocalapplication,thestorekeeperdiplomaticallyturnedit."There'sagoodmanyasDON'TbelievethataroadfromheretothecreekisgoingtodoanygoodtoSidon.It'sverywelltosaythecreekisanembarcadero,butcallin'itsodon'tputanoughwaterintoittofloatasteamboatfromthebay,norclearoutthereedsandtulesinit.EveniftheStatebuildsyouroads,itain'tgotnocalltomakeTasajaraCreeknavigableforye;andasthatwillcostasmuchastheroad,Idon'tseewherethemoney'scomin'fromforboth."
"There'swaterenoughinfrontof'LigeCurtis'sshanty,andhislocationisonlyamilealongthebank,"returnedBillings.
"Waterenoughforhimtolazeawayhistimefishin'whenhe'ssober,anddeepenoughtodrownhimwhenhe'sdrunk,"saidWingate.
"Ifyoucallthatanembarcadero,youkinbuyitanydayfrom'Lige,——title,possession,andshantythrownin,——forademijohno'
whiskey."
Thefourthmanheredistastefullythrewbackahalf-nibbledbiscuitintothebox,andlanguidlyslippedfromthebarreltothefloor,fastidiouslyflickingthecrumbsfromhisclothesashedidso."I
reckonsomebody'llgetitfornothing,if'Ligedon'tpullupmightysoon.He'lleithergooffhisheadwithjim-jamsorjumpintothecreek.He'saboutasneardesp'ritastheymake'em,andhavin'nopartnertolookafterhim,andhimaloneinthetules,ther''snotellin'WHAThemaydo."
Billings,stretchedatfulllengthinhischair,heregurgledderisively."Desp'rit!——ketchhim!Why,that'shislittlegame!
He'sjistplayin'offhisdesp'ritconditiontofrightenSidon.
Wheneveranyoneaskshimwhyhedon'tgotowork,wheneverhe'shardupforadrink,wheneverhe'shadtoomuchortoolittle,he'sworkin'thatdesp'ritdodge,andeventalkin'o'killin'himself!
Why,lookhere,"hecontinued,momentarilyraisinghimselftoasittingpostureinhisdisgust,"itwasonlylastweekhewasoveratRawlett'stryingtoraiseprovisionsandwhiskeyouterhiswaterrightsonthecreek!Fact,sir,——haditallwrittendownlawyer-
likeonpaper.Rawlettdidn'texactlyseeitinthatlight,andtoldhimso.Thenheupwiththedesp'ritdodgeandbegantoworkthat.Saidifhehadtostarveinaswamplikeadoghemightaswellkillhimselfatonce,andwouldtooifhecouldaffordtheweppins.Johnsonsaiditwasnotabadidea,andofferedtolendhimhisrevolver;Bilsonhandeduphisshot-gun,andleftitalongsideofhim,andturnedhisheadawayconsiderate-likeandthoughtfulwhileRawletthandedhimaboxofratpizonoverthecounter,incasehepreferredsuthin'morequiet.Well,whatdid'Ligedo?Nothin'!Smiledkindersickly,lookedsorterwild,andshutup.Hedidn'tsuicidemuch.No,sir!Hedidn'tkillhimself,——nothe.Why,oldBixby——andhe'sadeaconingoodstandin'——allowed,in'Lige'shearin'andfor'Lige'sbenefit,thatself-destructionwasbetternorbadexample,andproveditbyScripturetoo.Andyet'Ligedidnothin'!Desp'rit!He'sonlydesp'rittolazearoundandfishalldayoffaloginthetules,andsoakupwithwhiskey,until,betwixtfeveran'agueandthejumps,hekindershakeshisselffreeo'responsibility."
Alongsilencefollowed;itwassomehowfeltthatthesubjectwasincongruouslyexciting;Billingsallowedhimselftolapseagainbehindthebackofhischair.Meantimeithadgrownsodarkthatthedullglowofthestovewasbeginningtooutlineafainthaloontheceilingevenwhileitplungedthefurtherlinesofshelvesbehindthecounterintogreaterobscurity.
"Timetolightup,Harkutt,ain'tit?"saidWingate,tentatively.
"Well,Iwasreckoningezit'ssuchawildnighttherewouldn'tbeanyusekeepin'open,andwhenyoufellowsleftI'djustshutupforgoodandmakethingsfast,"saidHarkutt,dubiously.Beforehisguestshadtimetofullyweighthisdelicatehint,anothergustofwindshookthetenement,andevenforcedtheunboltedupperpartofthedoortoyieldfarenoughtoadmitaneagercurrentofhumidairthatseemedtojustifythewisdomofHarkutt'ssuggestion.
Billingsslowlyandwithasighassumedasittingpostureinthechair.Thebiscuit-nibblerselectedafreshdaintyfromthecounter,andWingateabstractedlywalkedtothewindowandrubbedtheglass.Skyandwaterhadalreadydisappearedbehindacurtainofdarknessthatwasilluminatedbyasinglepointoflight——thelampinthewindowofsomeinvisiblebutnearerhouse——whichthrewitsraysacrosstheglisteningshallowsintheroad."Well,"saidWingate,buttoninguphiscoatinslowdejection,"IreckonI
oughterbetravelin'tohelptheoldwomandothechoresbeforesupper."Hehadjustrecognizedthelightinhisowndining-room,andknewbythatsignthathislong-waitinghelpmeethadfinallydonethechoresherself.
"Somefolkshaveitmightyeasy,"saidBillings,withlong-drawndiscontent,ashestruggledtohisfeet."You'veonlyasteptogo,andyer'smeandPetersthere"——indicatingthebiscuit-nibbler,whowasbeginningtoshowalarmingsignsofreturningtothebarrelagain——"hevgottotrapsefivetimesthatdistance."
"More'nhalfamile,ifitcomestothat,"saidPeters,gloomily.
Hepausedinputtingonhisovercoatasifthinkingbetterofit,whileeventhemorefortunateandcontiguousWingatelanguidlylapsedagainstthecounteragain.
Themomentwasacriticalone.Billingswasevidentlyalsoregretfullyeyingthechairhehadjustquitted.Harkuttresolvedonaheroiceffort.
"Come,boys,"hesaid,withbriskconviviality,"takeapartingdrinkwithmebeforeyougo."Producingablackbottlefromsomeobscuritybeneaththecounterthatsmeltstronglyofindia-rubberboots,heplaceditwithfourglassesbeforehisguests.Eachmadeafeintofholdinghisglassagainsttheopaquewindowwhilefillingit,althoughnothingcouldbeseen.Asuddentumultofwindandrainagainshookthebuilding,butevenafterithadpassedtheglassdoorstillrattledviolently.
"Justseewhat'sloose,Peters,"saidBillings;"you'renearestit."
Peters,stillholdingtheundrainedglassinhishand,walkedslowlytowardsit.
"It'ssuthin'——orsomebodyoutside,"hesaid,hesitatingly.
Thethreeotherscameeagerlytohisside.Throughtheglass,cloudedfromwithinbytheirbreath,andfilmedfromwithoutbytherain,somevagueobjectwasmoving,andwhatseemedtobeamopoftangledhairwasapparentlybrushingagainstthepane.Thedoorshookagain,butlessstrongly.Billingspressedhisfaceagainsttheglass."Hol'on,"hesaidinaquickwhisper,——"it's'Lige!"
Butitwastoolate.Harkutthadalreadydrawnthelowerbolt,andamanstumbledfromtheouterobscurityintothedarkerroom.
Theinmatesdrewawayasheleanedbackforamomentagainstthedoorthatclosedbehindhim.Thendimly,butinstinctively,discerningtheglassofliquorwhichWingatestillmechanicallyheldinhishand,hereachedforwardeagerly,tookitfromWingate'ssurprisedandunresistingfingers,anddraineditatagulp.Thefourmenlaughedvaguely,butnotascheerfullyastheymight.
"Iwasjustshuttingup,"beganHarkutt,dubiously.
"Iwon'tkeepyouaminit,"saidtheintruder,nervouslyfumblinginthebreastpocketofhishickoryshirt."It'samatterofbusiness——Harkutt——I"——Buthewasobligedtostopheretowipehisfaceandforeheadwiththeendsofaloosehandkerchieftiedroundhisthroat.Fromtheaction,andwhatcouldbeseenofhispale,exhaustedface,itwasevidentthatthemoistureuponitwasbeadsofperspiration,andnottherainwhichsomeabnormalheatofhisbodywasconvertingintovaporfromhissoddengarmentsashestoodthere.
"I'vegotadocumenthere,"hebeganagain,producingarollofpapertremblinglyfromhispocket,"thatI'dlikeyoutoglanceover,andperhapsyou'd"——Hisvoice,whichhadbeenfeverishlyexalted,herebrokeandrattledwithacough.
Billings,Wingate,andPetersfellapartandlookedoutofthewindow."It'stoodarktoreadanythingnow,'Lige,"saidHarkutt,withevasivegoodhumor,"andIain'tlightin'upto-night."
"ButIcantellyouthesubstanceofit,"saidtheman,withafaintnessthathoweverhadallthedistinctnessofawhisper,"ifyou'lljuststepinsideaminute.It'samatterofimportanceandabargain"——
"Ireckonwemustbegoin',"saidBillingstotheothers,withmarkedemphasis."We'rekeepin'Harkuttfromshuttin'up.""Good-
night!""Good-night!"addedPetersandWingate,ostentatiouslyfollowingBillingshurriedlythroughthedoor."Solong!"
Thedoorclosedbehindthem,leavingHarkuttalonewithhisimportunateintruder.Possiblyhisresentmentathiscustomers'
selfishabandonmentofhimatthismomentdevelopedavaguespiritofoppositiontothemandmitigatedhisfeelingtowards'Lige.Hegropedhiswaytothecounter,struckamatch,andlitacandle.
Itsfeebleraysfaintlyilluminatedthepale,drawnfaceoftheapplicant,setinatangleofwet,unkempt,party-coloredhair.Itwasnotthefaceofanordinarydrunkard;althoughtremulousandsensitivefromsomeartificialexcitement,therewasnoENGORGEMENT
orcongestioninthefeaturesorcomplexion,albeittheyweremorbidandunhealthy.Theexpressionwasofasufferingthatwasasmuchmentalasphysical,andyetinsomevaguewayappearedunmeaning——andunheroic.
"Iwanttoseeyouaboutsellingmyplaceonthecreek.Iwantyoutotakeitoffmyhandsforabargain.Iwanttogetquitofit,atonce,forjustenoughtotakemeouto'this.Idon'twantanyprofit;onlymoneyenoughtogetaway."Hisutterance,whichhadacertainkindofcultivation,heregrewthickandharshagain,andhelookedeagerlyatthebottlewhichstoodonthecounter.
"Lookhere,'Lige,"saidHarkutt,notunkindly."It'stoolatetodoanythin'tonight.Youcomeinto-morrow."Hewouldhaveadded"whenyou'resober,"butforatrader'ssenseofpolitenesstoapossiblecustomer,andprobablysomedoubtoftheman'sactualcondition.
"GodknowswhereorwhatImaybetomorrow!Itwouldkillmetogobackandspendanothernightasthelast,ifIdon'tkillmyselfonthewaytodoit."
Harkutt'sfacedarkenedgrimly.ItwasindeedasBillingshadsaid.Thepitiableweaknessoftheman'smannernotonlymadehisdesperationinadequateandineffective,butevenlentitallthecheapnessofacting.And,asiftoaccenthissimulationofapart,hisfingers,feeblygropinginhisshirtbosom,slippedaimlesslyandhelplesslyfromtheshininghandleofapistolinhispockettowanderhesitatinglytowardsthebottleonthecounter.
Harkutttookthebottle,pouredoutaglassoftheliquor,andpusheditbeforehiscompanion,whodrankiteagerly.Whetheritgavehimmoreconfidence,orhisattentionwasnolongerdiverted,hewentonmorecollectedlyandcheerfully,andwithnotraceofhispreviousdesperationinhismanner."Come,Harkutt,buymyplace.It'sabargain,Itellyou.I'llsellitcheap.Ionlywantenoughtogetawaywith.Givemetwenty-fivedollarsandit'syours.See,there'sthepapers——thequitclaim——alldrawnupandsigned."Hedrewtherollofpaperfromhispocketagain,apparentlyforgetfuloftheadjacentweapon.
"Lookhere,'Lige,"saidHarkutt,withabusiness-likestraighteningofhislips,"Iain'tbuyin'anylandinTasajara,——leastofallyoursonthecreek.I'vegotmoreinvestedherealreadythanI'llevergetbackagain.ButItellyouwhatI'lldo.Yousayyoucan'tgobacktoyourshanty.Well,seein'howroughitisoutside,andthatthewatersofthecreekareprobablyalloverthetrailbythistime,Ireckonyou'reaboutright.Now,there'sfivedollars!"
Helaiddownacoinsharplyonthecounter."TakethatandgoovertoRawlett'sandgetabedandsomesupper.Inthemornin'youmaybeabletostrikeupatradewithsomebodyelse——orchangeyourmind.Howdidyougethere?Onyourhoss?"
"Yes."
"Heain'tstarvedyet?"
"No;hecaneatgrass.Ican't."
EithertheliquororHarkutt'spracticalunsentimentaltreatmentofthesituationseemedtogivehimconfidence.HemetHarkutt'seyemoresteadilyasthelatterwenton."YoukinturnyourhossforthenightintomystockcorralnexttoRawlett's.It'llsaveyoupayin'forfodderandstablin'."
Themantookupthecoinwithacertainslowgravitywhichwasalmostlikedignity."Thankyou,"hesaid,layingthepaperonthecounter."I'llleavethatassecurity."
"Don'twantit,'Lige,"saidHarkutt,pushingitback.
"I'dratherleaveit."
"ButsupposeyouhaveachancetosellittosomebodyatRawlett's?"
continuedHarkutt,withaprecautionthatseemedironical.
"Idon'tthinkthere'smuchchanceofthat."
Heremainedquiet,lookingatHarkuttwithanoddexpressionasherubbedtheedgeofthecointhatheheldbetweenhisfingersabstractedlyonthecounter.Somethinginhisgaze——ratherperhapstheapparentabsenceofanythinginitapproximatetothepresentoccasion——wasbeginningtoaffectHarkuttwithavagueuneasiness.
Providentiallyaresumedonslaughtofwindandrainagainstthepaneseffectedadiversion."Come,"hesaid,withbriskpracticality,"you'dbetterhurryontoRawlett'sbeforeitgetsworse.Haveyourclothesdriedbyhisfire,takesuthin'toeat,andyou'llbeallright."Herubbedhishandscheerfully,asifsummarilydisposingofthesituation,andincidentallyofall'Lige'stroubles,andwalkedwithhimtothedoor.Nevertheless,astheman'slookremainedunchanged,hehesitatedamomentwithhishandonthehandle,inthehopethathewouldsaysomething,evenifonlytorepeathisappeal,buthedidnot.ThenHarkuttopenedthedoor;themanmovedmechanicallyout,andatthedistanceofafewfeetseemedtomeltintotherainanddarkness.