room.Butherehehaltedagainonthethresholdwithaquickreturnofhisoldhabitsofcaution.Thedoorwasslightlyopen;
　　apparentlyhisangryoutbreakofanhouragohadnotaffectedthespiritsofhisdaughters,forhecouldheartheirhilariousvoicesminglingwiththoseofthestrangers.Theywereevidentlystillfortune-telling,butthistimeitwasthepropheticanddiviningaccentsofMr.RiceaddressedtoClementinawhichwerenowplainlyaudible.
　　"Iseeheapsofmoneyandagreatmanyfriendsinthechangethatiscomingtoyou.Dearme!howmanysuitors!ButIcannotpromiseyouanymarriageasbrilliantasmyfriendhasjustofferedyoursister.Youmaybecertain,however,thatyou'llhaveyourownchoiceinthis,asyouhaveinallthings."
　　"Thankyoufornothing,"saidClementina'svoice."Butwhatarethosehorridblackcardsbesidethem?——that'strouble,I'msure."
　　"Notforyou,thoughnearyou.Perhapssomeoneyoudon'tcaremuchforanddon'tunderstandwillhaveaheapoftroubleonyouraccount,——yes,onaccountoftheseveryriches;see,hefollowsthetenofdiamonds.Itmaybeasuitor;itmaybesomeonenowinthehouse,perhaps."
　　"Hemeanshimself,MissClementina,"struckinGrant'svoicelaughingly.
　　"You'renotlistening,MissHarkutt,"saidRicewithhalf-seriousreproach."Perhapsyouknowwhoitis?"
　　ButMissClementina'sreplywassimplyahurriedrecognitionofherfather'spalefacethatheresuddenlyconfrontedherwiththeopeningdoor.
　　"Why,it'sfather!"
　　CHAPTERIII.
　　InhisstrangementalconditioneventhechangefromHarkutt'sfeeblecandletotheouterdarknessforamomentblindedElijahCurtis,yetitwaspartofthatmentalconditionthathekeptmovingsteadilyforwardasinatranceordream,thoughatfirstpurposelessly.Thenitoccurredtohimthathewasreallylookingforhishorse,andthattheanimalwasnotthere.Thisforamomentconfusedandfrightenedhim,firstwiththesuppositionthathehadnotbroughthimatall,butthatitwaspartofhisdelusion;secondly,withtheconvictionthatwithouthishorsehecouldneitherproceedonthecoursesuggestedbyHarkutt,nortakeanothermorevagueonethatwasdimlyinhismind.Yetinhishopelessvacillationitseemedareliefthatnowneitherwaspracticable,andthatheneeddonothing.Perhapsitwasamysteriousprovidence!
　　Theexplanation,however,wasmuchsimpler.ThehorsehadbeentakenbytheluxuriousandindolentBillingsunknowntohiscompanions.Overcomeatthedreadfulprospectofwalkinghomeinthatweather,thisperfectproductoflethargicSidonhadartfullyallowedPetersandWingatetoprecedehim,and,cautiouslyunloosingthetetheredanimal,hadsafelypassedtheminthedarkness.Whenhegainedhisowninclosurehehadlazilydismounted,and,withasharpcutonthemustang'shaunches,senthimgallopingbacktorejoinhismaster,withwhatresulthasbeenalreadytoldbytheunsuspectingPetersintheprecedingchapter.
　　Yetnoconceptionofthispossibilityentered'LigeCurtis'salcoholizedconsciousness,partofwhosemorbidphantasyitwastodistortorexaggerateallnaturalphenomena.HehadavagueideathathecouldnotgobacktoHarkutt's;alreadyhisvisitseemedtohavehappenedlong,longago,andcouldnotberepeated.Hewouldwalkon,enwrappedinthisuncompromisingdarknesswhichconcealedeverything,suggestedeverything,andwasresponsibleforeverything.
　　Itwasverydark,forthewind,havinglulled,nolongerthinnedtheveilofcloudsabove,nordissipatedasteamingmistthatappearedtorisefromthesoddenplain.Yethemovedeasilythroughthedarkness,seemingtobeupheldbyitassomethingtangible,uponwhichhemightlean.Attimeshethoughtheheardvoices,——notaparticularvoicehewasthinkingof,butstrangevoices——ofcourseunrealtohispresentfancy.Andthenheheardoneofthesevoices,unlikeanyvoiceinSidon,andveryfaintandfaroff,askingifit"wasanywherenearSidon?"——evidentlysomeonelostlikehimself.Heansweredinavoicethatseemedquiteasunrealandasfaint,andturnedinthedirectionfromwhichitcame.Therewasalightmovinglikeawill-o'-the-wispfarbeforehim,yetbelowhimasifcomingoutofthedepthsoftheearth.Itmustbefancy,buthewouldsee——ah!
　　Hehadfallenviolentlyforward,andatthesamemomentfelthisrevolverleapfromhisbreastpocketlikealivingthing,andaninstantafterexplodeupontherockwhereitstruck,blindinglyilluminatingthedeclivitydownwhichhewasplunging.Thesulphurousstingofburningpowderwasinhiseyesandnose,yetinthatswiftrevealingflashhehadtimetoclutchthestemsofatrailingvinebesidehim,butnottosavehisheadfromsharpcontactwiththesamerockyledgethathadcaughthispistol.Thepainandshockgavewaytoasickeningsenseofwarmthattherootsofhishair.Giddyandfaint,hisfingersrelaxed,hefelthimselfsinking,withalanguorthatwashalfacquiescence,down,down,——
　　until,withanothershock,awildgaspingforair,andaswiftreaction,heawokeinthecold,rushingwater!
　　Clearandperfectlyconsciousnow,thoughfranticallyfightingforexistencewiththecurrent,hecoulddimlyseeafloatingblackobjectshootingbytheshore,attimesstrikingtheprojectionsofthebank,untilinitsrecoilitswunghalfroundanddriftedbroadsideontowardshim.Hewasnearenoughtocatchthefrayedendsofatrailingropethatfastenedthestructure,whichseemedtobeafewlogs,together.Withaconvulsiveeffortheatlastgainedafootinguponit,andthenfellfaintingalongitslength.
　　Itwastheraftwhichthesurveyorsfromtheembarcaderohadjustabandoned.
　　Hedidnotknowthis,norwouldhehavethoughtitotherwisestrangethataraftmightbeapartofthedriftoftheoverflow,evenhadhebeenentirelyconscious;buthissenseswerefailing,thoughhewasstillabletokeepasecurepositionontheraft,andtovaguelybelievethatitwouldcarryhimtosomereliefandsuccor.Howlonghelayunconsciousheneverknew;inhisafter-
　　recollectionsofthatnight,itseemedtohavebeenhauntedbydreamsofpassingdimbanksandstrangeplaces;ofafaceandvoicethathadbeenpleasanttohim;ofaterrorcominguponhimasheappearedtobenearingaplacelikethathomethathehadabandonedinthelonelytules.Hewasrousedatlastbyaviolentheadache,asifhissoftfelthathadbeenchangedintoatighteningcrownofiron.Liftinghishandtohisheadtotearoffitscovering,hewassurprisedtofindthathewaswearingnohat,butthathismattedhair,stiffenedanddriedwithbloodandooze,wasclinginglikeacaptohisskullinthehotmorningsunlight.Hiseyelidsandlashesweregluedtogetherandweighteddownbythesamesanguinaryplaster.Hecrawledtotheedgeofhisfrailraft,notwithoutdifficulty,foritoscillatedandrockedstrangely,anddippedhishandinthecurrent.Whenhehadclearedhiseyesheliftedthemwithashockofamazement.Creeks,banks,andplainhaddisappeared;hewasaloneonabendofthetossingbayofSanFrancisco!
　　Hisfirstandonlysense——clearedbyfastingandquickenedbyreaction——wasoneofinfiniterelief.Hewasnotonlyfreefromthevagueterrorsoftheprecedingdaysandnights,buthiswholepastseemedtobelostandsunkforeverinthisillimitableexpanse.ThelowplainofTasajara,withitssteadfastmonotonyoflightandshadow,hadsunkbeneathanotherlevel,butonethatglistened,sparkled,wasinstinctwithvaryinglife,andmovedandevendancedbelowhim.Thelowpalisadesofregularlyrecurringtulesthathadfencedin,impeded,butneverrelievedtheblanknessofhishorizon,wereforeverswallowedupbehindhim.Alltrailofpastdegradation,allrecordofpainandsuffering,allfootprintsofhiswanderingandmisguidedfeetweresmoothlywipedoutinthatobliteratingsea.Hewasphysicallyhelpless,andhefeltit;hewasindanger,andheknewit,——buthewasfree!
　　Happilytherewasbutlittlewindandtheseawasslight.Theraftwasstillintactsofarashecouldjudge,buteveninhisignoranceheknewitwouldscarcelystandthesurgesofthelowerbay.LikemostCalifornianswhohadpassedthestraitsofCarquinezatnightinasteamer,hedidnotrecognizethelocality,noreventhedistantpeakofTamalpais.Therewereafewdottingsailsthatseemedasremote,asuncertain,andasunfriendlyasseabirds.Theraftwasmotionless,almostasmotionlessashewasinhiscrampedlimbsandsun-dried,stiffenedclothes.Tooweaktokeepanuprightposition,withoutmast,stick,oroartoliftasignalabovethatvastexpanse,itseemedimpossibleforhimtoattractattention.Evenhispistolwasgone.
　　Suddenly,inanattempttoraisehimself,hewasstruckbyaflashsoblindingthatitseemedtopiercehisachingeyesandbrainandturnedhimsick.Itappearedtocomefromacrevicebetweenthelogsatthefurtherendoftheraft.Creepingpainfullytowardsithesawthatitwasatriangularslipofhighlypolishedmetalthathehadhithertooverlooked.Hedidnotknowthatitwasa"flashing"mirrorusedintopographicalobservation,whichhadslippedfromthesurveyors'instrumentswhentheyabandonedtheraft,buthisexcitedfacultiesinstinctivelydetecteditsvaluetohim.Heliftedit,and,facingthesun,raiseditatdifferentangleswithhisfeeblearms.Buttheeffortwastoomuchforhim;
　　theraftpresentlyseemedtobewhirlingwithhismovement,andheagainfell
　　"Ahoythere!"
　　Thevoicewascloseupon——inhisveryears.Heopenedhiseyes.
　　Theseastillstretchedemptilybeforehim;thedottingsailsstillunchangedanddistant.Yetastrangeshadowlayupontheraft.Heturnedhisheadwithdifficulty.Ontheoppositeside——socloseuponhimastobealmostoverhishead——thegreatwhitesailsofaschoonerhoveredabovehimlikethewingsofsomeenormousseabird.Thenaheavyboomswungacrosstheraft,solowthatitwouldhaveswepthimawayhadhebeeninanuprightposition;thesidesofthevesselgrazedtheraftandshefellslowlyoff.A
　　terriblefearofabandonmenttookpossessionofhim;hetriedtospeak,butcouldnot.Thevesselmovedfurtheraway,buttheraftfollowed!Hecouldseenowitwasbeingheldbyaboat-hook,——
　　couldseetheodd,eagercuriosityontwofacesthatwereraisedabovethetaffrail,andwiththatsenseofreliefhiseyesagainclosedinunconsciousness.
　　Afeelingofchilliness,followedbyagratefulsensationofdrawingcloserundersomewarmcovering,astingingtasteinhismouthoffieryliquorandthearomaticsteamofhotcoffee,werehisfirstreturningsensations.Hisheadandneckwereswathedincoarsebandages,andhisskinstiffenedandsmartingwithsoap.Hewaslyinginarudeberthunderahalf-deckfromwhichhecouldseetheskyandthebellyingsail,andpresentlyabeardedfacefilledwithroughandpracticalconcernthatpeereddownuponhim.
　　"Hulloo!comin'round,eh?Holdon!"ThenextmomentthestrangerhadleapeddownbesideElijah.Heseemedtobeanoddminglingofthesailorandrancherowiththeshrewdnessofaseaporttrader.
　　"Hulloo,boss!Whatwasit?Afreefight,orawash-out?"
　　"Awash-out!"*Elijahgraspedtheideaasaninspiration.Yes,hiscabinhadbeeninundated,hehadtakentoaraft,hadbeenknockedofftwiceorthrice,andhadlosteverything——evenhisrevolver!
　　*Aminingtermforthetemporaryinundationofaclaimbyflood;
　　alsousedforthesterilizingeffectoffloodonfertilesoil.
　　Themanlookedrelieved."Thenitain'tafreefight,norhavin'
　　yourcrustbustedandbein'robbedbybeachcombers,eh?"
　　"No,"saidElijah,withhisfirstfaintsmile.
　　"Glado'that,"saidthemanbluntly."Thentharain'tnopolicebusinesstotieuptoin'Frisco?Wewerestucktharaweekonce,justbecausewechancedtopickupafellerwho'dbeenfoundgaggedandthenthrownoverboardbywharfthieves.Hadtodanceattendanceatcourttharandlostourtrip."Hestoppedandlookedhalf-patheticallyattheprostrateElijah."Lookyer!yeain'tjustdyin'togoashoreNOWandseeyerfriendsandsendmessages,areye?"
　　Elijahshudderedinwardly,butoutwardlysmiledfaintlyashereplied,"No!"
　　"Andthetideandwindjestservin'usnow,yewouldn'tmindkeepin'straightonwithusthistrip?"
　　"Whereto?"askedElijah.
　　"SantyBarbara."
　　"No,"saidElijah,afteramoment'spause."I'llgowithyou."
　　Themanleapedtohisfeet,liftedhisheadabovetheupperdeck,shouted"Lethergofree,Jerry!"andthenturnedgratefullytohispassenger."Lookyer!Awash-outisawash-out,Ireckon,putitanywayyoulike;itdon'tputanythingbackintotheland,oranythingbackintoyourpocketafterwards,eh?No!Andyerwelloutofit,pardner!Nowthere'sarightsmartchanceforlocatin'
　　jestbackofSantyBarbara,wheretharain'tnoGod-forsakentulestooverflow;andezfarezthelandandlickerliesye'needn'ttakeanywaterinyours'efyedon'twantit.Youkinstartfreshthar,pardner,andbrailup.What'sthematterwithyou,oldman,isonlyfever'n'agurketchedinthemtules!Ikinseeitinyoureyes.NowyouholdonwharyoubetillIgoforrardandseeeverythingtaut,andthenI'llcomebackandwe'llhaveatalk."
　　Andtheydid.Theresultofwhichwasthatattheendofaweek'stossingandseasickness,ElijahCurtiswaslandedatSantaBarbara,pale,thin,butself-containedandresolute.AndhavingfoundfavorintheeyesoftheskipperoftheKittyHawk,generaltrader,lumber-dealer,andranch-man,aweeklaterhewaslocatedontheskipper'slandandinstalledintheskipper'sservice.Andfromthatday,forfiveyearsSidonandTasajaraknewhimnomore.
　　CHAPTERIV.
　　ItwaspartofthefunctionsofJohnMiltonHarkutttotakedowntheearlymorningshuttersandsweepoutthestoreforhisfathereachdaybeforegoingtoschool.Itwasapeculiarityofthisperformancethathewasapttolingeroverit,partlyfromthefactthatitputofftheevilhouroflessons,partlythatheimpartedintotheprocessapurelyimaginativeandromanticelementgatheredfromhislatestnovel-reading.Inthishewasusuallyassistedbyoneortwoschool-fellowsontheirwaytoschool,whoalwaysenviedhimhissuperiormenialoccupation.Togotoschool,itwasfelt,wasacommoncalamityofboyhoodthatcalledintoplayonlythesimplestformsofevasion,whereastotakedownactualshuttersinabonafidestore,andwieldarealbroomthatraisedapalpablecloudofdust,wassomethingthatreallytaxedthenoblestexertions.AnditwasthemorningafterthearrivalofthestrangersthatJohhMiltonstoodontheverandaofthestoreostentatiouslyexaminingthehorizon,withhishandshadinghiseyes,asoneofhiscompanionsappeared.
　　"Hollo,Milt!wotyerdoin'?"
　　JohnMiltonstarteddramatically,andthenviolentlydashedatoneoftheshuttersandbegantodetachit."Ha!"hesaidhoarsely.
　　"Cleartheshipforaction!Opentheports!Ondeckthere!
　　Steady,youlubbers!"Inaninstanthisenthusiasticschool-fellowwasathissideattackinganothershutter."Along,lowschoonerbearingdownuponus!Lively,lads,lively!"continuedJohnMilton,desistingamomenttotakeanotherdramaticlookatthedistantplain."Howdoessheheadnow?"hedemandedfiercely.
　　"Sou'bysou'east,sir,"respondedtheotherboy,franticallydancingbeforethewindow."Butshe'llweatherit."
　　Theyeachthenwrestedanothershutteraway,violentlydepositingthem,astheyrantoandfro,inarackatthecorneroftheveranda.Addedtoanextraordinaryandunnecessaryclatteringwiththeirfeet,theyaccompaniedtheirmovementswithasingularhissingsound,supposedtoindicateinonebreaththefuryoftheelements,thebustleoftheeagercrew,andthewildexcitementofthecomingconflict.Whenthelastshutterwasclearedaway,JohnMilton,withthecry"Manthestarboardguns!"dashedintothestore,whosefloorwasmarkedbythemuddyfootprintsofyesterday'sbuyers,seizedabroomandbegantosweepviolently.Acloudofdustarose,intowhichhiscompanionatonceprecipitatedhimselfwithanotherbroomandaloudBANG!toindicatethesomewhatbelatedsoundofcannon.Forafewsecondsthetwoboyspliedtheirbroomsdesperatelyinthatstiflingatmosphere,accompanyingeachlongsweepandpuffofdustoutoftheopendoorwiththereportofexplosionsandloudHA'S!ofdefiance,untilnotonlythestore,buttheverandawasobscuredwithacloudwhichthemorningsunstruggledvainlytopierce.Inthemidstofthistumultanddustyconfusion——happilyunheardandunsuspectedinthesecludeddomesticinteriorofthebuilding——ashrilllittlevoicearosefromtheroad.
　　"Thinkyou'remightysmart,don'tye?"
　　Thetwonavalheroesstoppedintheirimaginaryfury.and,asthedustofconflictclearedaway,recognizedlittleJohnnyPetersgazingatthemwithmingledinquisitivenessandenvy.
　　"Guessyedon'tknowwhathappeneddowntherunlastnight,"hecontinuedimpatiently."'LigeCurtisgotkilled,orkilledhisself!Bloodallovertherockdownthar.Seedit,myseff.Dadpickeduphissix-shooter,——onebarrelgoneoff.Mydadwasthefirsttofinditout,andhe'sbintoSquireKerbytellin'him."
　　Thetwocompanions,albeitburningwithcuriosity,affectedindifferenceandpre-knowledge.
　　"Dadsezyourfatherdruv'Ligeouterthestorelassnight!Dadsezyourfather's'sponsible.Dadsezyourfatherezgoodezkilledhim.Dadsezthesquire'llsettheconstableonyourfather.Yah!"Butherethesmallinsulterincontinentlyfled,pursuedbyboththeboys.Nevertheless,whenhehadmadegoodhisescape,JohnMiltonshowedneitheradispositiontotakeuphisformernauticalrole,nortofollowhiscompaniontovisitthesanguinarysceneofElijah'sdisappearance.Hewalkedslowlybacktothestoreandcontinuedhisworkofsweepingandputtinginorderwithanabstractedregularity,andnotraceofhisformerexuberantspirits.
　　Thefirstoneofthoseinstinctivefearswhicharecommontoimaginativechildren,andoftenassumethefunctionsofpremonition,hadtakenpossessionofhim.Theoddityofhisfather'smannertheeveningbefore,whichhadonlyhalfconsciouslymadeitsindelibleimpressiononhissensitivefancy,hadrecurredtohimwithJohnnyPeters'sspeech.Hehadnoideaofliterallyacceptingtheboy'scharges;hescarcelyunderstoodtheirgravity;buthehadamiserablefeelingthathisfather'sangerandexcitementlastnightwasbecausehehadbeendiscoveredhuntinginthedarkforthatpaperof'LigeCurtis's.ItWAS'LigeCurtis'spaper,forhehadseenitlyingthere.Asuddendreadfulconvictioncameoverhimthathemustnever,neverletanyoneknowthathehadseenhisfathertakeupthatpaper;thathemustneveradmitit,eventoHIM.
　　Itwasnottheboy'sfirstknowledgeofthatattitudeofhypocrisywhichthegrownupworldassumestowardschildhood,andinwhichtheinnocentvictimseventuallyacquiescewithaMachiavelliansubtletythatatlastavengesthem,——butitwashisfirstknowledgethatthathypocrisymightnotbesoinnocent.Hisfatherhadconcealedsomethingfromhim,becauseitwasnotright.
　　Butifchildhooddoesnotforget,itseldombroodsandisnotabovebeingdiverted.Andthetwosurveyors——ofwhoseheroicadventinaraftJohnMiltonhadonlyheardthatmorningwiththeirtraveledways,theirstrangeinstrumentsandstrangertalk,capturedhisfancy.Keptinthebackgroundbyhissisterswhenvisitorscame,asanunpresentablefeatureinthehousehold,hehowevermanagedtolingernearthestrangerswhen,incompanywithEuphemiaandClementina,afterbreakfasttheystrolledbeneaththesparklingsunlightintherudegardeninclosurealongtheslopingbanksofthecreek.Itwaswiththeaveragebrother'ssupremecontemptthathelistenedtohissisters'"practicin'"uponthegoodnessofthesesuperiorbeings;itwaswithanexceptionalpitythatheregardedtheevidentadmirationofthestrangersinreturn.HefeltthatinthecaseofEuphemia,whosometimesevincedalaudablecuriosityinhispleasures,andaflatteringignoranceofhisreading,thismightbepardonable;butwhatanyonecouldfindintheuselessstatuesqueClementinapassedhiscomprehension.Couldtheynotseeatoncethatshewas"justthatkindofperson"whowouldlieabedinthemorning,pretendingshewassick,inordertomakePhemiedothehousework,andmakehim,JohnMilton,cleanherbootsandfetchthingsforher?Wasitnotperfectlyplaintothemthatherpresentsickeningpolitenesswassolelywithaviewtoextractfromthemcaramels,rock-candy,andgumdrops,whichshewouldmeanlykeepherself,andperhapssome"buggy-riding"later?Alas,JohnMilton,itwasnot!Forstandingtherewithhertall,perfectly-
　　proportionedfigureoutlinedagainstawillow,anelasticbranchofwhichshehaddrawndownbyonecurvedarmaboveherhead,andonwhichsheleaned——aseverybodyleanedagainstsomethinginSidon——
　　thetwoyoungmensawonlyastrayinggoddessinaglorifiedrosebudprint.Whethertheclearly-cutprofilepresentedtoRice,orthefullfacethatcaptivatedGrant,eachsuggestedpossibilitiesofposition,pride,poetry,andpassionthatastonishedwhileitfascinatedthem.Byoneofthoseinstinctsknownonlytothefreemasonryofthesex,Euphemialentherselftothisadvertisementofhersister'scharmsbysubtlecomparisonwithherownprettinesses,andthuscombinedagainsttheircommonenemy,man.
　　"Clementinacertainlyisperfect,tokeephersupremacyoverthatprettylittlesister,"thoughtRice.
　　"Whatafascinatinglittlecreaturetoholdherownagainstthattall,handsomegirl,"thoughtGrant.