"Isay——itain’taHER,isit?"saidUncleJim。
UncleBillyachievedadiabolicalwinkandacreditableblushathislie。
"Billy?"
"Jim!"
AndundercoverofthisfestivegallantryUncleBillyescaped。Heranthroughthegatheringdarkness,andtoileduptheshiftingsandstothetopofthehill,wherehefoundthecarriagewaiting。
"Wot,"saidUncleBillyinalowconfidentialtonetothecoachman,"wotdoyou’Friscofellersallowtobethebest,biggest,andriskiestgamblin’-saloonhere?Suthin’high-toned,youknow?"
Thenegrogrinned。Itwastheusualcaseoftheextravagantspendthriftminer,thoughperhapshehadexpectedadifferentquestionandorder。
"Deyisde’Polka,’de’ElDorado,’andde’Arcade’saloon,boss,"
hesaid,flickinghiswhipmeditatively。"Mostgentsfromdeminespreferde’Polka,’fordeyisdancingwiddegalsfrownin。Butderealprimafacieplaceforgentswhogoforbuckin’agindetigerandstraight-outgamblin’isde’Arcade。’"
"Drivetherelikethunder!"saidUncleBilly,leapingintothecarriage……
Truetohisword,UncleBillywasathispartner’sshantyearlythenextmorning。Helookedalittletired,buthappy,andhadbroughtadraftwithhimforfivehundredandseventy-fivedollars,whichheexplainedwasthetotalofhiscapital。UncleJimwasoverjoyed。TheywouldstartforNapathatveryday,andconcludethepurchaseoftheranch;UncleJim’ssprainedfootwasasufficientreasonforhisgivinguphispresentvocation,whichhecouldalsosellatasmallprofit。Hisdomesticarrangementswereverysimple;therewasnothingtotakewithhim——therewaseverythingtoleavebehind。Andthatafternoon,atsunset,thetworeunitedpartnerswereseatedonthedeckoftheNapaboatassheswungintothestream。
UncleBillywasgazingovertherailingwithalookofabstractedrelieftowardstheGoldenGate,wherethesinkingsunseemedtobedrawingtowardshimintheoceanagoldenstreamthatwasforeverpouringfromtheBayandthethree-hilledcitybesideit。WhatUncleBillywasthinkingof,orwhatthepicturesuggestedtohim,didnottranspire;forUncleJim,who,emboldenedbyhisholiday,wasluxuriatinginaneveningpaper,suddenlyutteredalong-drawnwhistle,andmovedclosertohisabstractedpartner。"Lookyer,"
hesaid,pointingtoaparagraphhehadevidentlyjustread,"justyoulistentothis,andseeifweain’tlucky,youandme,tobejestwotweair——trustin’toourownhardwork——andnotthinkin’o’
’strikes’and’fortins。’Jestunbuttonyerears,Billy,whileI
reeloffthisyerthingI’vejeststruckinthepaper,andseewhatd——dfoolssomemenkinmakeo’themselves。Andthattheerreporterwotwroteit——musthevseeditreely!"
UncleJimclearedhisthroat,andholdingthepaperclosetohiseyesreadaloudslowly:——
"’Asceneofexcitementthatrecalledthepalmydaysof’49waswitnessedlastnightattheArcadeSaloon。Astranger,whomighthavebelongedtothatrecklessepoch,andwhoboreeveryevidenceofbeingasuccessfulPikeCountymineroutona"spree,"appearedatoneofthetableswithanegrocoachmanbearingtwoheavybagsofgold。Selectingafaro-bankashisbaseofoperations,hebegantobetheavilyandwithapparentrecklessness,untilhisplayexcitedthebreathlessattentionofeveryone。Inafewmomentshehadwonasumvariouslyestimatedatfromeightytoahundredthousanddollars。Arumorwentroundtheroomthatitwasaconcertedattemptto"breakthebank"ratherthanthedrunkenfreakofaWesternminer,dazzledbysomesuccessfulstrike。Tothistheorytheman’scarelessandindifferentbearingtowardshisextraordinarygainslentgreatcredence。Theattempt,ifsuchitwas,however,wasunsuccessful。Afterwinningtentimesinsuccessiontheluckturned,andtheunfortunate"bucker"wasclearedoutnotonlyofhisgains,butofhisoriginalinvestment,whichmaybeplacedroughlyattwentythousanddollars。Thisextraordinaryplaywaswitnessedbyacrowdofexcitedplayers,whowerelessimpressedbyeventhemagnitudeofthestakesthantheperfectsang-froidandrecklessnessoftheplayer,who,itissaid,atthecloseofthegametossedatwenty-dollargold-piecetothebankerandsmilinglywithdrew。Themanwasnotrecognizedbyanyofthehabituesoftheplace。’
"There!"saidUncleJim,ashehurriedlyslurredovertheFrenchsubstantiveattheclose,"didyeeverseesuchGod-forsakenfoolishness?"
UncleBillyliftedhisabstractedeyesfromthecurrent,stillpouringitsunreturninggoldintothesinkingsun,andsaid,withadeprecatorysmile,"Never!"
NoreveninthedaysofprosperitythatvisitedtheGreatWheatRanchof"FallandFoster"didheevertellhissecrettohispartner。
SEEYUP
Idon’tsupposethathisprogenitorsevergavehimthatname,or,indeed,thatitwasaNAMEatall;butitwascurrentlybelievedthat——aspronounced"SeeUP"——itmeantthatliftingoftheouterangleoftheeyecommontotheMongolian。Ontheotherhand,IhadbeentoldthattherewasanoldChinesecustomofaffixingsomemottoorlegend,orevenasentencefromConfucius,asasignabovetheirshops,andthattwoormorewords,whichmightbemerelyequivalentto"Virtueisitsownreward,"or"Richesaredeceitful,"werebelievedbythesimpleCalifornianminertobethenameoftheoccupanthimself。Howbeit,"SeeYup"accepteditwiththesmilingpatienceofhisrace,andneverwentbyanyother。Ifoneofthetunnelmenalwaysaddressedhimas"Brigadier-General,"
"Judge,"or"Commodore,"itwasunderstoodtobeonlytheAmericanfondnessforironictitle,andwasneverusedexceptinpersonalconversation。InappearancehelookedlikeanyotherChinaman,woretheordinarybluecottonblouseandwhitedrawersoftheSampancoolie,and,inspiteoftheapparentcleanlinessandfreshnessofthesegarments,alwaysexhaledthatsingularmedicatedodor——halfopium,halfginger——whichwerecognizedasthecommon"Chinesesmell。"
Ourfirstinterviewwascharacteristicofhispatientquality。Hehaddonemywashingforseveralmonths,butIhadneveryetseenhim。Ameetingatlasthadbecomenecessarytocorrecthisimpressionsregarding"buttons"——whichhehadseemedtoconsiderasmereexcrescences,toberemovedlikesuperfluousdirtfromsoiledlinen。Ihadexpectedhimtocallatmylodgings,buthehadnotyetmadehisappearance。Oneday,duringthenoontiderecessofthelittlefrontierschooloverwhichIpresided,Ireturnedratherearly。Twoorthreeofthesmallerboys,whowereloiteringabouttheschool-yard,disappearedwithacertainguiltyprecipitationthatIsuspectedforthemoment,butwhichIpresentlydismissedfrommymind。Ipassedthroughtheemptyschool-roomtomydesk,satdown,andbegantopreparethecominglessons。PresentlyI
heardafaintsigh。Lookingup,tomyintenseconcern,I
discoveredasolitaryChinamanwhomIhadoverlooked,sittinginarigidattitudeonabenchwithhisbacktothewindow。Hecaughtmyeyeandsmiledsadly,butwithoutmoving。
"Whatareyoudoinghere?"Iaskedsternly。
"Mewasheeshilts;metalkee’buttons。’"
"Oh!you’reSeeYup,areyou?"
"Alleesame,John。"
"Well,comehere。"
Icontinuedmywork,buthedidnotmove。
"Comehere,hangit!Don’tyouunderstand?"
"Meshabbee,’commeyea。’ButmenoshabbeeMellicanboy,whocatcheeme,alleesame。YOU’commeyea’——YOUshabbee?"
Indignant,butbelievingthattheunfortunatemanwasstillinfearofpersecutionfromthemischievousurchinswhomIhadevidentlyjustinterrupted,Iputdownmypenandwentovertohim。HereI
discovered,tomysurpriseandmortification,thathislongpigtailwasheldhardandfastbytheclosedwindowbehindhimwhichtheyoungrascalshadshutdownuponit,afterhavingfirstnoiselesslyfisheditoutsidewithahookandline。Iapologized,openedthewindow,andreleasedhim。Hedidnotcomplain,althoughhemusthavebeenfixedinthatuncomfortablepositionforsomeminutes,butplungedatonceintothebusinessthatbroughthimthere。
"ButWHYdidn’tyoucometomylodgings?"Iasked。
Hesmiledsadlybutintelligently。
"MishtelBally[Mr。Barry,mylandlord]heowcemefivedolleefowashee,washee。Henopayeeme。HesayheknockhelleeouteemealleetimeIcomeforpayee。SomenocomeHOUSEE,mecomeSCHOOLEE,Shabbee?Mellicanboynogood,butnotsobigasMellicanman。NocanhurteeChinamansomuch。Shabbee?"
Alas!Iknewthatthiswasmainlytrue。Mr。JamesBarrywasanIrishman,whosefinerreligiousfeelingsrevoltedagainstpayingmoneytoaheathen。IcouldnotfinditinmyhearttosayanythingtoSeeYupaboutthebuttons;indeed,Ispokeincomplimentarytermsabouttheglossofmyshirts,andIthinkI
meeklybeggedhimtocomeagainformywashing。WhenIwenthomeI
expostulatedwithMr。Barry,butsucceededonlyinextractingfromhimtheconvictionthatIwasoneof"thimblackRepublicanfellysthatworshipednaygurs。"Ihadsimplymadeanenemyofhim。ButI
didnotknowthat,atthesametime,IhadmadeafriendofSeeYup!
Ibecameawareofthisafewdayslater,bytheappearanceonmydeskofasmallpotcontainingaspecimenofcamelliajaponicainflower。Iknewtheschool-childrenwereinthehabitofmakingpresentstomeinthisfurtivefashion,——leavingtheirownnosegaysofwildflowers,orperhapsaclusterofrosesfromtheirparents’
gardens,——butIalsoknewthatthisexoticwastooraretocomefromthem。IrememberedthatSeeYuphadaChinesetasteforgardening,andafriend,anotherChinaman,whokeptalargenurseryintheadjoiningtown。Butmydoubtsweresetatrestbythediscoveryofasmallrollofredrice-papercontainingmywashing-
bill,fastenedtothecamelliastalk。ItwasplainthatthisminglingofbusinessanddelicategratitudewasclearlySeeYup’sownidea。Asthefinestflowerwasthetopmostone,Ipluckeditforwearing,whenIfound,tomyastonishment,thatitwassimplywiredtothestalk。Thisledmetolookattheothers,whichI
foundalsowired!Morethanthat,theyseemedtobeaninferiorflower,andexhaledthatcold,earthyodorpeculiartothecamellia,even,asIthought,toanexcess。Acloserexaminationresultedinthediscoverythat,withtheexceptionofthefirstflowerIhadplucked,theywereoneandallingeniouslyconstructedofthinslicesofpotato,marvelouslycuttoimitatethevegetablewaxinessandformalityoftherealflower。Theworkshowedaninfiniteandalmostpatheticpatienceindetail,yetstrangelyincommensuratewiththeresult,admirableasitwas。Nevertheless,thiswasalsolikeSeeYup。Butwhetherhehadtriedtodeceiveme,orwhetherheonlywishedmetoadmirehisskill,Icouldnotsay。Andashispersecutionbymyscholarshadleftabalanceofconsiderationinhisfavor,Isenthimawarmnoteofthanks,andsaidnothingofmydiscovery。
Asouracquaintanceprogressed,Ibecamefrequentlytherecipientofothersmallpresentsfromhim:apotofpreservesofaqualityI
couldnotpurchaseinshops,andwhosecontentsintheircrafty,gingerydissimulationsodefieddefinitionthatIneverknewwhethertheywereanimal,vegetable,ormineral;twoorthreehideousChineseidols,"forluckee,"andadiabolicalfire-workwithanirregularspasmodicactivitythatwouldsometimesbeprolongeduntilthenextmorning。Inreturn,IgavehimsomeapparentlyhopelessorallessonsinEnglish,andcertainsentencestobecopied,whichhedidwithmarvelousprecision。Irememberoneinstancewhenthispeculiarfacultyofimitationwasdisastrousinresult。Insettinghimacopy,IhadblurredawordwhichI
promptlyerased,andthentracedthelettersmoredistinctlyoverthescratchedsurface。Tomysurprise,SeeYuptriumphantlyproducedHIScopywiththeerasionitselfcarefullyimitated,and,infact,muchmoreneatlydonethanmine。
Inourconfidentialintercourse,Ineverseemedtoreallygetnearertohim。Hissympathyandsimplicityappearedlikehisflowers——tobeagood-humoredimitationofmyown。Iamsatisfiedthathisparticularlysoullesslaughwasnotderivedfromanyamusementheactuallyfelt,yetIcouldnotsayitwasforced。Inhisaccurateimitations,Ifanciedhewasonlytryingtoevadeanyresponsibilityofhisown。THATdevolveduponhistaskmaster!Intheattentionhedisplayedwhennewideaswerepresentedtohim,therewasaslightcondescension,asifhewerelookingdownuponthemfromhisthreethousandyearsofhistory。
"Don’tyouthinktheelectrictelegraphwonderful?"Iaskedoneday。
"VerygoodforMellicanman,"hesaid,withhisaimlesslaugh;
"plentymakeehimjump!"
Inevercouldtellwhetherhehadconfoundeditwithelectro-
galvanism,orwasonlysatirizingourAmericanhasteandfeverishness。Hewascapableofeither。Forthatmatter,weknewthattheChinesethemselvespossessedsomemeansofsecretlyandquicklycommunicatingwithoneanother。AnynewsofgoodorillimporttotheirracewasquicklydisseminatedthroughthesettlementbeforeWEknewanythingaboutit。Aninnocentbasketofclothesfromthewash,sentupfromtheriver-bank,becameinsomewayalibraryofinformation;asingleslipofrice-paper,aimlesslyflutteringinthedustoftheroad,hadthemysteriouseffectofdivergingawholegangofcoolietrampsawayfromoursettlement。
WhenSeeYupwasnotsubjecttothepersecutionsofthemoreignorantandbrutalhewasalwaysasourceofamusementtoall,andIcannotrecallaninstancewhenhewasevertakenseriously。Theminersfounddiversionseveninhisallegedfraudsandtrickeries,whetherinnocentorretaliatory,andwerefondofrelatingwithgreatgustohisevasionoftheForeignMiners’Tax。ThiswasanoppressivemeasureaimedprincipallyattheChinese,whohumblyworkedtheworn-out"tailings"oftheirChristianfellowminers。
ItwasstatedthatSeeYup,knowingthedifficulty——alreadyalludedto——ofidentifyinganyparticularChinamanbyNAME,conceivedtheadditionalideaofconfusingrecognitionbyintensifyingthemonotonousfacialexpression。Havingpaidhistaxhimselftothecollector,heatoncepassedthereceipttohisfellows,sothatthecollectorfoundhimselfconfrontedindifferentpartsofthesettlementwiththereceiptandtheaimlesslaughof,apparently,SeeYuphimself。AlthoughweallknewthattherewereadozenChinamenormoreatworkatthemines,thecollectorneverwasabletocollectthetaxfrommorethanTWO,——SeeYupandoneSeeYin,——
andsogreatwasTHEIRfacialresemblancethattheunfortunateofficialforalongtimehuggedhimselfwiththeconvictionthathehadmadeSeeYupPAYTWICE,andwithheldthemoneyfromthegovernment!ItisveryprobablethattheCalifornian’srecognitionofthesanctityofajoke,andhisbeliefthat"cheatingthegovernmentwasonlycheatinghimself,"largelyaccountedforthesympathiesoftherestoftheminers。
Butthesesympathieswerenotalwaysunanimous。
OneeveningIstrolledintothebar-roomoftheprincipalsaloon,which,sofarasmereupholsteryandcomfortwent,wasalsotheprincipalhouseinthesettlement。Thefirstrainshadcommenced;
thewindowswereopen,fortheinfluenceofthesouthwesttradespenetratedeventhisfar-offmountainminingsettlement,but,oddlyenough,therewasafireinthelargecentralstove,aroundwhichtheminershadcollected,withtheirsteamingbootselevatedonaprojectingironrailingthatencircledit。Theywerenotattractedbythewarmth,butthestoveformedasocialpivotforgossip,andsuggestedthatmysticcircledeartothegregariousinstinct。Yettheyweredecidedlyadespondentgroup。Forsomemomentsthesilencewasonlybrokenbyagasp,asigh,amutteredoath,oranimpatientchangeofposition。Therewasnothinginthefortunesofthesettlement,norintheirownindividualaffairstosuggestthisgloom。Thesingulartruthwasthattheywere,oneandall,sufferingfromthepangsofdyspepsia。
Incongruousassuchacomplaintmightseemtotheirhealthyenvironment,——theiroutdoorlife,theirdailyexercise,thehealingbalsamofthemountainair,theirenforcedtemperanceindiet,andtheabsenceofallenervatingpleasures,——itwasneverthelesstheincontestablefact。Whetheritwastheresultofthenervous,excitabletemperamentwhichhadbroughtthemtogetherinthisfeverishhuntforgold;whetheritwasthequalityofthetinnedmeatsorhalf-cookedprovisionstheyhastilybolted,begrudgingthetimeittooktoprepareandtoconsumethem;whethertheytoooftensupplantedtheirmealsbytobaccoorwhiskey,thesingularphysiologicaltruthremainedthattheseyoung,finelyselectedadventurers,livingthelivesofthenatural,aboriginalman,andlookingthepictureofhealthandstrength,actuallysufferedmorefromindigestionthanthepampereddwellersofthecities。Thequantityof"patentmedicines,""bitters,""pills,""panaceas,"and"lozenges"soldinthesettlementalmostexceededtheamountoftheregularprovisionswhoseeffectstheyweresupposedtocorrect。
Thesuffererseagerlyscannedadvertisementsandplacards。Therewereoccasional"runs"onnew"specifics,"andgeneralconversationeventuallyturnedintoadiscussionoftheirrespectivemerits。A
certainchildlikefaithandtrustineachnewremedywasnottheleastdistressingandpatheticofthesymptomsofthesegrown-up,beardedmen。
"Well,gentlemen,"saidCyrusParker,glancingaroundathisfellowsufferers,"yekintalkofyourpatentmedicines,andI’vetackled’emall,butonlytheotherdayIstrucksuthin’thatI’mgoin’tohangonto,youbet。"
Everyeyewasturnedmoodilytothespeaker,butnoonesaidanything。
"AndIdidn’tgetitouteradvertisements,noroffofcirculars。I
gotitoutermyhead,justbysolidthinking,"continuedParker。
"Whatwasit,Cy?"saidoneunsophisticatedandinexperiencedsufferer。
Insteadofreplying,Parker,likeatrueartist,knowinghehadtheearofhisaudience,dramaticallyflashedaquestionuponthem。
"DidyoueverhearofaChinamanhavingdyspepsy?"
"NeverheardhehadsabeenoughtohevANYTHING,"saidascorner。
"No,butDIDye?"insistedParker。
"Well,no!"chorusedthegroup。Theywereevidentlystruckwiththefact。
"Ofcourseyoudidn’t,"saidParkertriumphantly。"’CostheyAIN’T。Well,gentlemen,itdidn’tseemtomethesquarethingthatapeskyloto’yellow-skinnedheathensshouldbebuiltdifferenttoawhiteman,andneverknowthetortur’thataChristianfeels;andoneday,arterdinner,whenIwasjusta-lyin’flatdownonthebank,squirmin’,andclutchingtheshortgrasstokeepfromyellin’,whoshouldgobybutthatpizenedSeeYup,withagrinonhisface。
"’MellicanmanplentyplayeetohimJossaftereatin’,’sezhe;’butChinamansmelleepunk,alleesame,andnohabgot。’
"Iknewtheslimycusswasjustpurtendin’hethoughtIwasprayin’
tomyJoss,butIwasthatweakIhadn’tstren’th,boys,toheavearockathim。Yetitgavemeanidea。"
"Whatwasit?"theyaskedeagerly。
"Iwentdowntohisshopthenextday,whenhewasalone,andIwasfeelingmightybad,andIgotholdofhispigtailandIallowedI’dstuffitdownhisthroatifhedidn’ttellmewhathemeant。Thenhetookapieceofpunkandlitit,andputitundermynose,and,darnmyskin,gentlemen,youmigh’n’tbelieveme,butinaminuteI
feltbetter,andafterawhiffortwoIwasallright。"
"Wasitpow’fulstrong,Cy?"askedtheinexperiencedone。
"No,"saidParker,"andthat’sjustwhat’sgotme。Itwasasorto’dreamy,spicysmell,likeahotnight。ButasIcouldn’tgo’round’mongyouboyswithalightedpieceo’punkinmyhand,ezifIwassettin’offFourthofJulyfirecrackers,Iaskedhimifhecouldn’tfixmeupsuthin’inanothershapethatwouldbehandiertousewhenIwastookbad,andI’dreckontopayhimforitlikeezI’dpayforanyotherpatentmedicine。Sohefixedmeupthis。"
Heputhishandinhispocket,anddrewoutasmallredpaperwhich,whenopened,disclosedapinkpowder。Itwasgravelypassedaroundthegroup。
"Why,itsmellsandtasteslikeginger,"saidone。
"Itisonlyginger!"saidanotherscornfully。
"Mebbeitis,andmebbeitisn’t,"returnedCyParkerstoutly。
"Mebbeut’sonlymyfancy。Butifit’sthesorto’stufftobringonthatfancy,andthatfancyCURESme,it’sallthesame。I’vegotabouttwodollars’wortho’thatfancyorthatginger,andI’mgoingtosticktoit。Youhearme!"Andhecarefullyputitbackinhispocket。
Atwhichcriticismsandgibesbrokeforth。Ifhe(CyParker),awhiteman,wasgoingto"demeanhimself"byconsultingaChinesequack,he’dbetterbuyupaloto’idolsandstand’emuparoundhiscabin。Ifhehadthatsorto’confidenceswithSeeYup,heoughttogotoworkwithhimonhischeaptailings,andbefumigatedallatthesametime。Ifhe’dbeensmokinganopiumpipe,insteadofsmellingpunk,heoughttobemanenoughtoconfessit。Yetitwasnoticeablethattheywereallveryanxioustoexaminethepacketagain,butCyParkerwasalikeindifferenttodemandorentreaty。
AfewdayslaterIsawAbeWynford,oneoftheparty,comingoutofSeeYup’swash-house。Hemutteredsomethinginpassingabouttheinfamousdelayinsendinghomehiswashing,butdidnotlingerlonginconversation。ThenextdayImetanotherminerATthewash-
house,butHElingeredsolongonsometriflingdetailsthatI
finallylefthimtherealonewithSeeYup。WhenIcalleduponPokerJackofShasta,therewasasingularsmellofincenseinHIS
cabin,whichheattributedtotheveryresinousqualityofthefirlogshewasburning。IdidnotattempttoprobethesemysteriesbyanydirectappealtoSeeYuphimself:Irespectedhisreticence;
indeed,ifIhadnot,Iwasquitesatisfiedthathewouldhaveliedtome。Enoughthathiswash-housewaswellpatronized,andhewasdecidedly"gettingon。"
ItmighthavebeenamonthafterwardsthatDr。Duchesnewassettingabrokenboneinthesettlement,andaftertheoperationwasover,hadstrolledintothePalmettoSaloon。Hewasanoldarmysurgeon,muchrespectedandlovedinthedistrict,althoughperhapsalittlefearedforthehonestroughnessandmilitaryprecisionofhisspeech。Afterhehadexchangedsalutationswiththeminersinhisusualheartyfashion,andacceptedtheirinvitationtodrink,CyParker,withacertainaffectedcarelessnesswhichdidnot,however,concealasingularhesitationinhisspeech,began:——
"I’vebeenwantin’toaskyeaquestion,Doc,——asorto’darnedfoolquestion,yeknow,——nothinginthewayofconsultation,don’tyousee,thoughit’skinerinthewayo’yourpurfeshun。Sabe?"
"Goon,Cy,"saidthedoctorgood-humoredly,"thisismydispensaryhour。"
"Oh!itain’tanythingaboutsymptoms,Doc,andthereain’tanythingthematterwithme。It’sonlyjusttoaskyeifyehappenedtoknowanythingaboutthemedicalpracticeoftheseyerChinamen?"
"Idon’tknow,"saidthedoctorbluntly,"andIdon’tknowANYBODY
whodoes。"
Therewasasuddensilenceinthebar,andthedoctor,puttingdownhisglass,continuedwithslightprofessionalprecision:——
"Yousee,theChineseknownothingofanatomyfrompersonalobservation。Autopsiesanddissectionareagainsttheirsuperstitions,whichdeclarethehumanbodysacred,andareconsequentlyneverpracticed。"
Therewasaslightmovementofinquiringinterestamongtheparty,andCyParker,afterameaningglanceattheothers,wentonhalfaggressively,halfapologetically:——
"Incourse,theyain’tsurgeonslikeyou,Doc,butthatdon’tkeepthemfromhavingtheirownlittlemedicines,justasdogseatgrass,youknow。NowIwanttoputittoyou,asafa’r-mindedman,ifyoumeantersaythat,jestbecausethoseoldwomenwhosarveoutyarbsandspringmedicinesinfamiliesdon’tknowanythingofanatomy,theyain’tfittogiveustheirsimpleandnat’ralmedicines?"
"ButtheChinesemedicinesarenotsimpleornatural,"saidthedoctorcoolly。
"Notsimple?"echoedtheparty,closingroundhim。
"Idon’tmeantosay,"continuedthedoctor,glancingaroundattheireager,excitedfaceswithanappearanceofwonder,"thattheyarepositivelynoxious,unlesstakeninlargequantities,fortheyarenotdrugsatall,butIcertainlyshouldnotcallthem’simple。’DoYOUknowwhattheyprincipallyare?"
"Well,no,"saidParkercautiously,"perhapsnotEXACTLY。"
"Comealittlecloser,andI’lltellyou。"
NotonlyParker’sheadbuttheotherswerebentoverthecounter。
Dr。Duchesneutteredafewwordsinatoneinaudibletotherestofthecompany。Therewasaprofoundsilence,brokenatlastbyAbeWynford’svoice:——
"Yekinpourmeoutaboutthreefingerso’whiskey,Barkeep。I’lltakeitstraight。"
"Sametome,"saidtheothers。
Themengulpeddowntheirliquor;twoofthemquietlypassedout。
Thedoctorwipedhislips,buttonedhiscoat,andbegantodrawonhisriding-gloves。
"I’veheerd,"saidPokerJackofShasta,withafaintsmileonhiswhiteface,ashetoyedwiththelastdropsofliquorinhisglass,"thatthedarnedfoolssometimessmellpunkasamedicine,eh?"
"Yes,THAT’Scomparativelydecent,"saidthedoctorreflectively。
"It’sonlysawdustmixedwithalittlegumandformicacid。"
"Formicacid?Wot’sthat?"
"Averypeculiaracidsecretedbyants。Itissupposedtobeusedbythemoffensivelyinwarfare——justastheskunk,eh?"
ButPokerJackofShastahadhurriedlydeclaredthathewantedtospeaktoamanwhowaspassing,andhaddisappeared。Thedoctorwalkedtothedoor,mountedhishorse,androdeaway。Inoticed,however,thattherewasaslightsmileonhisbronzed,impassiveface。Thisledmetowonderifhewasentirelyignorantofthepurposeforwhichhehadbeenquestioned,andtheeffectofhisinformation。Iwasconfirmedinthebeliefbytheremarkablecircumstancesthatnothingmorewassaidofit;theincidentseemedtohaveterminatedthere,andthevictimsmadenoattempttorevengethemselvesonSeeYup。Thattheyhadoneandall,secretlyandunknowntooneanother,patronizedhim,therewasnodoubt;
but,atthesametime,astheyevidentlywerenotsurethatDr。
DuchesnehadnothoaxedtheminregardtothequalityofSeeYup’smedicines,theyknewthatanattackontheunfortunateChinamanwouldineithercaserevealtheirsecretandexposethemtotheridiculeoftheirbrotherminers。Sothematterdropped,andSeeYupremainedmasterofthesituation。
Meantimehewasprospering。Thecooliegangheworkedontheriver,whennotengagedinwashingclothes,were"pickingover"the"tailings,"orrefuseofgravel,leftonabandonedclaimsbysuccessfulminers。Astherewasnomoreexpenseattendingthisthaninstone-breakingorrag-picking,andthefeedingofthecoolies,whichwasridiculouslycheap,therewasnodoubtthatSeeYupwasreapingafairweeklyreturnfromit;but,ashesenthisreceiptstoSanFranciscothroughcooliemanagers,aftertheChinesecustom,anddidnotusetheregularExpressCompany,therewasnowayofascertainingtheamount。Again,neitherSeeYupnorhisfellowcountrymeneverappearedtohaveanymoneyaboutthem。
Inrudertimesandmorerecklesscamps,raidswereoftenmadebyruffiansontheircabinsortheirtravelinggangs,butneverwithanypecuniaryresult。Thiscondition,however,itseemedwasdestinedtochange。
OneSaturdaySeeYupwalkedintoWells,Fargo&Co。’sExpressofficewithapackageofgold-dust,which,whendulyweighed,wasvaluedatfivehundreddollars。ItwasconsignedtoaChinesecompanyinSanFrancisco。WhentheclerkhandedSeeYupareceipt,heremarkedcasually:——
"Washingseemstopay,SeeYup。"
"Washeevellygoodpay。Youwanteewashee,John?"saidSeeYupeagerly。
"No,no,"saidtheclerk,withalaugh。"Iwasonlythinkingfivehundreddollarswouldrepresentthewashingofagoodmanyshirts。"
"Noleplesentwasheeshirtsatall!Catcheegold-dustwhenwasheetailings。Shabbee?"
TheclerkDID"shabbee,"andliftedhiseyebrows。ThenextSaturdaySeeYupappearedwithanotherpackage,worthaboutfourhundreddollars,directedtothesameconsignee。
"Didn’tpanoutquitesorichthisweek,eh?"saidtheclerkengagingly。
"No,"returnedSeeYupimpassively;"nexttimehepayeemore。"
WhenthethirdSaturdaycame,withtheappearanceofSeeYupandfourhundredandfiftydollars’worthofgold-dust,theclerkfelthewasnolongerboundtokeepthesecret。Hecommunicatedittoothers,andintwenty-fourhoursthewholesettlementknewthatSeeYup’scooliecompanyweretakingoutanaverageoffourhundreddollarsperweekfromtherefuseandtailingsoftheoldabandonedPalmettoclaim!
Theastonishmentofthesettlementwasprofound。Inearlierdaysjealousyandindignationatthesuccessofthesedegradedheathensmighthavetakenamoreactiveandaggressiveshape,anditwouldhavefaredillwithSeeYupandhiscompanions。Butthesettlementhadbecomemoreprosperousandlaw-abiding;therewereoneortwoEasternfamiliesandsomeforeigncapitalalreadythere,anditsjealousyandindignationwererestrictedtosevereinvestigationandlegalcriticism。FortunatelyforSeeYup,itwasanold-
establishedmininglawthatanabandonedclaimanditstailingsbecamethepropertyofwhoeverchosetoworkit。ButitwasallegedthatSeeYup’scompanyhadinreality"struckalead,"——
discoveredahithertounknownveinororiginaldepositofgold,notworkedbythepreviouscompany,andhavingfailedlegallytodeclareitbypreemptionandpublicregistry,intheirfoolishdesireforsecrecy,hadthusforfeitedtheirrighttotheproperty。
Asurveillanceoftheirworking,however,didnotestablishthistheory;thegoldthatSeeYuphadsentawaywasofthekindthatmighthavebeenfoundinthetailingsoverlookedbythelatePalmettoowners。Yetitwasaverylargeyieldformererefuse。
"ThemPalmettoboysweremightykeerlessafterthey’dmadetheirbig’strike’andgottoworkonthevein,andIreckontheythrewalotofgoldaway,"saidCyParker,whorememberedtheirlarge-
handedrecklessnessinthe"flushdays。""On’ythatWEdidn’tthinkitwaswhiteman’sworktorakeoveranotherman’sleavin’s,wemighthevhadwhatthemdernedChinamenhevdroppedinto。Tellyewhat,boys,we’vebeenalittletoo’highandmighty,’andwe’llhevtoclimbdown。"
Atlasttheexcitementreacheditsclimax,anddiplomacywasemployedtoeffectwhatneitherintimidationnorespionagecouldsecure。UnderthepretenseofdesiringtobuyoutSeeYup’scompany,aselectcommitteeoftheminerswaspermittedtoexaminethepropertyanditsworkings。Theyfoundthegreatbankofstonesandgravel,representingthecast-outdebrisoftheoldclaim,occupiedbySeeYupandfourorfiveploddingautomaticcoolies。
Attheendoftwohoursthecommitteereturnedtothesaloonburstingwithexcitement。Theyspokeundertheirbreath,butenoughwasgatheredtosatisfythecuriouscrowdthatSeeYup’spileoftailingswasrichbeyondtheirexpectations。Thecommitteehadseenwiththeirowneyesgoldtakenoutofthesandandgraveltotheamountoftwentydollarsinthetwoshorthoursoftheirexamination。Andtheworkhadbeenperformedinthestupidest,clumsiest,yetPATIENTChineseway。Whatmightnotwhitemendowithbetterappointedmachinery!Asyndicatewasatonceformed。
SeeYupwasofferedtwentythousanddollarsifhewouldselloutandputthesyndicateinpossessionoftheclaimintwenty-fourhours。TheChinamanreceivedtheofferstolidly。Asheseemedinclinedtohesitate,Iamgrievedtosaythatitwasintimatedtohimthatifhedeclinedhemightbesubjecttoembarrassingandexpensivelegalproceedingstoprovehisproperty,andthatcompanieswouldbeformedto"prospect"thegroundoneithersideofhisheapoftailings。SeeYupatlastconsented,withtheprovisothatthemoneyshouldbepaidingoldintothehandsofaChineseagentinSanFranciscoonthedayofthedeliveryoftheclaim。ThesyndicatemadenooppositiontothischaracteristicprecautionoftheChinaman。Itwaslikethemnottotravelwithmoney,andtheimplieduncomplimentarysuspicionofdangerfromthecommunitywasoverlooked。SeeYupdepartedthedaythatthesyndicatetookpossession。Hecametoseemebeforehewent。I
congratulatedhimuponhisgoodfortune;atthesametime,Iwasembarrassedbytheconvictionthathewasunfairlyforcedintoasaleofhispropertyatafigurefarbelowitsrealvalue。
Ithinkdifferentlynow。
Attheendoftheweekitwassaidthatthenewcompanyclearedupaboutthreehundreddollars。Thiswasnotsomuchasthecommunityhadexpected,butthesyndicatewasapparentlysatisfied,andthenewmachinerywasputup。Attheendofthenextweekthesyndicateweresilentastotheirreturns。OneofthemmadeahurriedvisittoSanFrancisco。ItwassaidthathewasunabletoseeeitherSeeYuportheagenttowhomthemoneywaspaid。ItwasalsonoticedthattherewasnoChinamanremaininginthesettlement。
Thenthefatalsecretwasout。
TheheapoftailingshadprobablyneveryieldedtheSeeYupcompanymorethantwentydollarsaweek,theordinarywageofsuchacompany。SeeYuphadconceivedthebrilliantideaof"booming"itonaborrowedcapitaloffivehundreddollarsingold-dust,whichheOPENLYtransmittedbyexpresstohisconfederateandcreditorinSanFrancisco,whointurnSECRETLYsentitbacktoSeeYupbycooliemessengers,tobeagainopenlytransmittedtoSanFrancisco。
Thepackageofgold-dustwasthuspassedbackwardsandforwardsbetweendebtorandcreditor,tothegraveedificationoftheExpressCompanyandthefatalcuriosityofthesettlement。Whenthesyndicatehadgorgedthebaitthusthrownout,SeeYup,onthedaytheself-invitedcommitteeinspectedtheclaim,promptly"salted"thetailingsbyCONSCIENTIOUSLYDISTRIBUTINGTHEGOLD-DUST
OVERITsodeftlythatitappearedtobeitsnaturalcompositionandyield。
IhaveonlytobidfarewelltoSeeYup,andclosethisreminiscenceofamisunderstoodman,byaddingtheopinionofaneminentjuristinSanFrancisco,towhomthefactsweresubmitted:"Socleverwasthisallegedfraud,thatitisextremelydoubtfulifanactionwouldlieagainstSeeYupinthepremises,therebeingnolegalevidenceofthe’salting,’andnonewhateverofhisactualallegationthatthegold-dustwastheORDINARYyieldofthetailings,thatimplicationrestingentirelywiththecommitteewhoexamineditunderfalsepretense,andwhosubsequentlyforcedthesalebyintimidation。"
THEDESBOROUGHCONNECTIONS
"Thenitisn’taquestionofpropertyornextofkin?"saidtheconsul。
"Lord!no,"saidtheladyvivaciously。"Why,goodnessme!I
reckonoldDesboroughcould,atanytimebeforehedied,have’boughtup’or’boughtout’thewholelotofhisrelativesonthissideofthebigpond,nomatterwhattheywereworth。No,it’sonlyamatterofcuriosityandjustsociableness。"
TheAmericanconsulatSt。Kentigornfeltmuchrelieved。Hehadfeareditwasonlytheoldstoryofdelusivequestsforimaginaryestatesandimpossibleinheritanceswhichhehadconfrontedsoofteninnervouswan-eyedenthusiastsandobstreperousclaimantsfromhisownland。Certainlytherewasnosuggestionofthisintherichlydressedandbe-diamondedmatronbeforehim,norinherprettydaughter,charminginaParisfrock,alivewiththeconsciousnessofbeautyandadmiration,andyetalittleennuyefromgratifiedindulgence。HeknewthemothertobethewealthywidowofaNewYorkmillionaire,thatshewastravelingforpleasureinEurope,andachancemeetingwithheratdinnerafewnightsbeforehadledtothishalf-capricious,half-confidentialappointmentattheconsulate。
"No,"continuedMrs。Desborough;"Mr。DesboroughcametoAmerica,whenasmallboy,withanunclewhodiedsomeyearsago。Mr。
DesboroughneverseemedtohankermuchafterhisEnglishrelativesaslongasIknewhim,butnowthatIandSadieareoverhere,whyweguessedwemightlook’emupandsortofsample’em!’Desborough’
’sratheragoodname,"addedthelady,withacomplacencythat,however,hadasuggestionofqueryinit。
"Yes,"saidtheconsul;"fromtheFrench,Ifancy。"
"Mr。DesboroughwasEnglish——veryEnglish,"correctedthelady。
"ImeanitmaybeanoldNormanname,"saidtheconsul。
’Norman’sgoodenoughforME,"saidthedaughter,reflecting。
"We’lljustsettleitasNorman。IneverthoughtaboutthatDES。"
"Onlyyoumayfinditcalled’Debborough’here,andspeltso,"saidtheconsul,smiling。
MissDesboroughliftedherprettyshouldersandmadeacharminggrimace。"Thenwewon’tacknowledge’em。NoDebboroughforme!"
"Youmightputanadvertisementinthepapers,likethe’nextofkin’notice,intimating,intheregularway,thattheywould’hearofsomethingtotheiradvantage’——astheycertainlywould,"
continuedtheconsul,withabow。"ItwouldbesucharefreshingchangetothekindofthingI’maccustomedto,don’tyouknow——thisideaofoneofmycountrywomencomingoverjusttobenefitEnglishrelatives!ByJove!Iwouldn’tmindundertakingthewholethingforyou——it’ssuchanovelty。"Hewasquitecarriedawaywiththeidea。
Butthetwoladieswerefarfromparticipatinginthisjoyousoutlook。"No,"saidMrs。Desboroughpromptly,"thatwouldn’tdo。
Yousee,"shewentonwithsuperbfrankness,"thatwouldbejustgivingourselvesaway,andsayingwhoWEwerebeforewefoundoutwhatTHEYwerelike。Mr。DesboroughwasallrightinHISway,butwedon’tknowanythingabouthisFOLKS!Weain’thereonamissiontoimprovetheDesboroughs,nortogatherinany’losttribes。’"
Itwasevidentthat,inspiteofthehumorofthesituationandthelevityoftheladies,therewasacharacteristicnationalpracticalnessaboutthem,andtheconsul,withasigh,atlastgavetheaddressofoneortworesponsibleexpertsingenealogicalinquiry,ashehadoftendonebefore。Hefeltitwasimpossibletoofferanyadvicetoladiesasthoroughlycapableofmanagingtheirownaffairsashisfaircountrywomen,yethewasnotwithoutsomecuriositytoknowtheresultoftheirpracticalsentimentalquest。
Thatheshouldeverhearofthemagainhedoubted。HeknewthataftertheirfirstlonelinesshadwornoffintheirgregariousgatheringataLondonhoteltheywerenotlikelytoconsortwiththeirowncountrypeople,whoindeedwereapttofightshyofoneanother,andeventoindulgeininvidiouscriticismofoneanotherwhenadmittedinthatsocietytowhichtheywereallequallystrangers。SohetookleaveofthemontheirwaybacktoLondonwiththebeliefthattheiracquaintanceterminatedwiththatbriefincident。Buthewasmistaken。
Intheyearfollowinghewasspendinghisautumnvacationatacountryhouse。Itwasanhistorichouse,andhadalwaysstruckhimasbeing——eveninthatcountryofhistoricseats——asingularexampleofthevicissitudesofEnglishmanorialestatesandthemutationsofitslords。Hishostinhisprimehadbeenrecalledfromforeignservicetounexpectedlysucceedtoanuncle’stitleandestate。Thatestate,however,hadcomeintothepossessionoftheuncleonlythroughhismarriagewiththedaughterofanoldfamilywhoseportraitsstilllookeddownfromthewallsupontheyoungestandalienbranch。Therewerelikenesses,effigies,memorials,andreminiscencesofstillolderfamilieswhohadoccupieditthroughforfeiturebywarorthefavoritismofkings,andinitsstatelycloistersandruinedchapelwasstillfeltthedeadhandofitsevictedreligiousfounders,whichcouldnotbeshakenoff。
Itwasthisstrangeindividualitythataffectedallwhosawit。
For,howeverchangedwerethosewithinitswalls,whoeverwereitsinheritorsorinhabiters,ScroobyPrioryneverchangednoraltereditsowncharacter。Howeverincongruousorill-assortedtheportraitsthatlookedfromitswalls,——soillmetthattheymighthaveflownatoneanother’sthroatsinthelongnightswhenthefamilywereaway,——thegreathouseitselfwasindependentofthemall。Thebe-wigged,be-laced,andbe-furbelowedofoneday’sgathering,theround-headed,steel-fronted,andprim-kerchiefedcongregationofanotherday,andeventheblack-coated,bare-armed,andbare-shoulderedassemblageofto-dayhadnoeffectontheausteritiesofthePriory。Modernhousesmightshowthetastesandprepossessionsoftheirdwellers,mighthavecaughtsomepassingtrickofthehour,orhaverecordedtheaugmentedfortunesorluxuriousnessoftheowner,butScroobyPriorynever!Noonehaddaredeventodisturbitsouterrigidintegrity;thebreachesoftimeandsiegewereleftuntouched。Ithelditscalmindifferentswayoverallwhopasseditslow-archedportals,andtheconsulwasfaintobelievethathe——aforeignvisitor——wasnomorealientothehousethanitspresentowner。
"I’mexpectingaverycharmingcompatriotofyoursto-morrow,"saidLordBeverdaleastheydrovefromthestationtogether。"Youmusttellmewhattoshowher。"
"IshouldthinkanycountrywomanofminewouldbequitesatisfiedwiththePriory,"saidtheconsul,glancingthoughtfullytowardsthepiledimlyseenthroughthepark。
"Ishouldn’tlikehertobeboredhere,"continuedBeverdale。
"AlgymetheratRome,whereshewasoccupyingapalacewithhermother——they’reveryrich,youknow。HefoundshewasstayingwithLadyMineveratHedhamTowers,andIwentoverandinvitedherwithalittleparty。She’saMissDesborough。"
Theconsulgaveaslightstart,andwasawarethatBeverdalewaslookingathim。
"Perhapsyouknowher?"saidBeverdale。
"Justenoughtoagreewithyouthatsheischarming,"saidtheconsul。"Idinedwiththem,andsawthemattheconsulate。"
"Ohyes;Ialwaysforgetyouareaconsul。Then,ofcourse,youknowallaboutthem。Isupposethey’reveryrich,andinsocietyoverthere?"saidBeverdaleinavoicethatwasquiteanimated。
Itwasontheconsul’slipstosaythatthelateMr。DesboroughwasanEnglishman,andeventospeakplayfullyoftheirproposedquest,butasuddeninstinctwithheldhim。Afterall,perhapsitwasonlyacaprice,oridea,theyhadforgotten,——perhaps,whoknows?——thattheywerealreadyashamedof。Theyhadevidently"goton"inEnglishsociety,ifthatwastheirrealintent,anddoubtlessMissDesborough,bythistime,wasquiteascontentwiththechanceofbecomingrelatedtotheEarlofBeverdale,throughhissonandheir,Algernon,asiftheyhadfoundarealLordDesboroughamongtheirownrelatives。TheconsulknewthatLordBeverdalewasnotarichman,thatlikemostmenofoldfamilyhewasnotaslavetoclassprejudice;indeed,theconsulhadseenveryfewnoblemenoffthestageoroutofthepagesofanovelwhowere。Sohesaid,withaslightaffectationofauthority,thattherewasaslittledoubtoftheyounglady’swealthastherewasofherpersonalattractions。
Theywerenearingthehousethroughalongavenueofchestnutswhosevariegatedleaveswerealreadybeginningtostrewthegroundbeneath,andtheycouldseethevistaopenuponthemullionedwindowsofthePriory,lightedupbytheyellowOctobersunshine。
Inthatsunshinestoodatall,clean-limbedyoungfellow,dressedinashooting-suit,whomtheconsulrecognizedatonceasLordAlgernon,thesonofhiscompanion。Asiftoaccentthegracesofthisvisionofyouthandvigor,nearhim,intheshadow,anoldmanhadhalted,hatinhand,stillholdingtherakewithwhichhehadbeengatheringthedeadleavesintheavenue;hisbackbent,partlywithyears,partlywiththeobeisanceofaservitor。Therewassomethingsomarkedinthiscontrast,inthisoldmanstandingintheshadowofthefadingyear,himselfasdriedandwitheredastheleaveshewasraking,yetpausingtomakehisreverencetothispassingsunshineofyouthandprosperityinthepresenceofhiscomingmaster,thattheconsul,astheysweptby,lookedafterhimwithastirringofpain。
"Ratheranoldmantobestillatwork,"saidtheconsul。
Beverdalelaughed。"Youmustnotlethimhearyousayso;heconsidershimselfquiteasfitasanyyoungermanintheplace,and,byJove!thoughhe’snearlyeighty,I’minclinedtobelieveit。He’snotoneofourpeople,however;hecomesfromthevillage,andistakenonatoddtimes,partlytopleasehimself。
Hisgreataimistobeindependentofhischildren,——hehasagranddaughterwhoisoneofthemaidsatthePriory,——andtokeephimselfoutoftheworkhouse。Hedoesnotcomefromtheseparts——
somewherefarthernorth,Ifancy。Buthe’satoughlot,andhasadealofworkinhimyet。"
"Seemstobegoingabitstalelately,"saidLordAlgernon,"andI
thinkisgettingalittlequeerinhishead。Hehasatrickofstoppingandstaringstraightahead,attimes,whenheseemstogooffforaminuteortwo。There!"continuedtheyoungman,withalightlaugh。"Isay!he’sdoingitnow!"Theybothturnedquicklyandgazedatthebentfigure——notfiftyyardsaway——standinginexactlythesameattitudeasbefore。But,evenastheygazed,heslowlyliftedhisrakeandbeganhismonotonousworkagain。
AtScroobyPriory,theconsulfoundthatthefameofhisfaircountrywomanhadindeedprecededher,andthattheotherguestswerequiteasanxioustoseeMissDesboroughashewas。OneofthemhadalreadymetherinLondon;anotherknewherasoneofthehousepartyattheDukeofNorthforeland’s,whereshehadbeenacentralfigure。Someofhernaivesalliesandfrankcriticismswererepeatedwithgreatunctionbythegentlemen,andwithsomeslighttrepidationanda"fearfuljoy"bytheladies。HewasmorethaneverconvincedthatmotheranddaughterhadforgottentheirlinealDesboroughs,andheresolvedtoleaveanyallusiontoittotheyoungladyherself。