the red one(ºìÉ«µÄÄÇÈË)-µÚ13²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
moment¡¡at¡¡her¡¡face£»¡¡white£»¡¡plump£»¡¡tiny£»¡¡and¡¡implacable£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡up¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡do¡¡you¡¡account¡¡for¡¡such¡¡a¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡being¡¡there£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡queried¡¡
of¡¡Julian¡¡Jones¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡solid¡gold¡¡meteor¡¡that¡¡fell¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sky£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨¡¡It¡¡was¡¡carried¡¡there¡¡by¡¡
the¡¡Indians¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Up¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡mountain¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡enormous¡¡¡¡¡¡weight¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡size£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
objected¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Just¡¡as¡¡easy£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡be¡¡stumped¡¡by¡¡that¡¡proposition¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡44¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡45¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡RED¡¡ONE¡¡
myself£»¡¡after¡¡I¡¡got¡¡my¡¡memory¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡how¡¡in¡¡Sam¡¡Hill¡¡¡¡¡'¡¡I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡
begin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡spend¡¡¡¡¡¡hours¡¡¡¡¡¡figuring¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
answer¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡downright¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡idiotic£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡easy¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡paused£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡
announced£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡didn't¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡you¡¡just¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡they¡¡did¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡did¡¡and¡¡they¡¡didn't£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡his¡¡enigmatic¡¡reply¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡they¡¡
never¡¡carried¡¡that¡¡monster¡¡nugget¡¡up¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡they¡¡did¡¡was¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡
up¡¡its¡¡contents¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡waited¡¡until¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡enlightenment¡¡dawn¡¡in¡¡my¡¡face¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡then¡¡of¡¡course¡¡melted¡¡all¡¡the¡¡gold£»¡¡or¡¡welded¡¡it£»¡¡or¡¡smelted¡¡it£»¡¡all¡¡
into¡¡one¡¡piece¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡know¡¡the¡¡first¡¡Spaniards¡¡down¡¡there£»¡¡under¡¡a¡¡leader¡¡
named¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pizarro£»¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡gang¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡robbers¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡cut¡¡¡¡¡¡¡throats¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡
through¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡country¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡hoof¡and¡mouth¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡disease£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡killed¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
Indians¡¡off¡¡like¡¡cattle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡see£»¡¡the¡¡Indians¡¡had¡¡lots¡¡of¡¡gold¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Well£»¡¡what¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡Spaniards¡¡¡¡¡¡didn't¡¡¡¡¡¡get£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡surviving¡¡¡¡¡¡Indians¡¡¡¡¡¡hid¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡big¡¡
chunk¡¡on¡¡top¡¡the¡¡mountain£»¡¡and¡¡it's¡¡been¡¡waiting¡¡there¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡for¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡
and¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡go¡¡in¡¡on¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡here£»¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Lagoon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡Palace¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡Fine¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Arts£»¡¡¡¡ended¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
acquaintance¡¡with¡¡Julian¡¡Jones¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡my¡¡agreeing¡¡to¡¡finance¡¡the¡¡adventure£»¡¡
he¡¡¡¡¡¡promised¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡call¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡hotel¡¡¡¡¡¡next¡¡¡¡¡¡morning¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡letters¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
Seth¡¡Manners¡¡and¡¡the¡¡railroad£»¡¡and¡¡conclude¡¡arrangements¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡did¡¡
not¡¡call¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡¡¡¡¡evening¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡telephoned¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡hotel¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡was¡¡informed¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡the¡¡
clerk¡¡that¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Julian¡¡Jones¡¡and¡¡wife¡¡had¡¡departed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡early¡¡afternoon£»¡¡
with¡¡their¡¡baggage¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Can¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Jones¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡rushed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡hidden¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
Nebraska£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡good¡bye£»¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡was¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡her¡¡
smile¡¡that¡¡recalled¡¡the¡¡vulpine¡¡complacency¡¡of¡¡Mona¡¡Lisa£»¡¡the¡¡Wise¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Kohala£»¡¡Hawaii£»¡¡MAY¡¡5£»¡¡1916¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡45¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡46¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡RED¡¡ONE¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LIKE¡¡ARGUS¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡ANCIENT¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡TIMES¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡IT¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡summer¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡1897£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡trouble¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡Tarwater¡¡
family¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Grandfather¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Tarwater£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡remaining¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡properly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡subdued¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
crushed¡¡for¡¡a¡¡quiet¡¡decade£»¡¡had¡¡broken¡¡out¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡time¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡
Klondike¡¡¡¡¡¡fever¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡unvarying¡¡¡¡¡¡symptom¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡attacks¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡song¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡¡¡¡¡chant¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡raised£»¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡remembered¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡
than¡¡the¡¡first¡¡stanza¡¡and¡¡but¡¡three¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡family¡¡knew¡¡his¡¡
feet¡¡were¡¡itching¡¡and¡¡his¡¡brain¡¡was¡¡tingling¡¡with¡¡the¡¡old¡¡madness£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡
lifted¡¡his¡¡hoarse¡cracked¡¡voice£»¡¡now¡¡falsetto¡cracked£»¡¡in£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Like¡¡Argus¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡times£»¡¡We¡¡leave¡¡this¡¡modern¡¡Greece£»¡¡Tum¡¡¡
tum£»¡¡tum¡tum£»¡¡tum£»¡¡tum£»¡¡tum¡tum£»¡¡To¡¡shear¡¡the¡¡Golden¡¡Fleece¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ten¡¡¡¡¡¡years¡¡¡¡¡¡earlier¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡lifted¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡chant£»¡¡¡¡¡¡sung¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡air¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡
¡¨Doxology£»¡¨¡¡when¡¡afflicted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fever¡¡to¡¡go¡¡gold¡mining¡¡in¡¡Patagonia¡£¡¡
The¡¡multitudinous¡¡family¡¡had¡¡sat¡¡upon¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡had¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡time¡¡doing¡¡
it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡else¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡failed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡shake¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡resolution£»¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡applied¡¡
lawyers¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡threat¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡out¡¡guardianship¡¡papers¡¡and¡¡of¡¡
confining¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡state¡¡asylum¡¡for¡¡the¡¡insane¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡was¡¡reasonable¡¡
for¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had£»¡¡a¡¡quarter¡¡of¡¡a¡¡century¡¡before£»¡¡speculated¡¡away¡¡all¡¡but¡¡
ten¡¡¡¡¡¡meagre¡¡¡¡¡¡acres¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡California¡¡¡¡¡¡principality£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡displayed¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡
better¡¡business¡¡acumen¡¡ever¡¡since¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡application¡¡of¡¡lawyers¡¡to¡¡John¡¡Tarwater¡¡was¡¡like¡¡the¡¡application¡¡of¡¡
a¡¡mustard¡¡plaster¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡judgment£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡the¡¡gentry£»¡¡more¡¡than¡¡
any¡¡other£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡skinned¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡Tarwater¡¡acres¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So£»¡¡at¡¡
the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Patagonian¡¡fever£»¡¡the¡¡very¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡so¡¡drastic¡¡a¡¡remedy¡¡
was¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡cure¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡quickly¡¡demonstrated¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡crazy¡¡by¡¡
shaking¡¡the¡¡fever¡¡from¡¡him¡¡and¡¡agreeing¡¡not¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Patagonia¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Next£»¡¡he¡¡demonstrated¡¡how¡¡crazy¡¡he¡¡really¡¡was£»¡¡by¡¡deeding¡¡over¡¡to¡¡his¡¡
family£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡unsolicited£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡ten¡¡¡¡¡¡acres¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡Tarwater¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Flat£»¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡house£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡barn£»¡¡
outbuildings£»¡¡and¡¡water¡rights¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Also¡¡did¡¡he¡¡turn¡¡over¡¡the¡¡eight¡¡hundred¡¡
dollars¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡bank¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡long¡saved¡¡¡¡¡¡salvage¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡wrecked¡¡¡¡¡¡fortune¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡46¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡47¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡RED¡¡ONE¡¡
But¡¡for¡¡this¡¡the¡¡family¡¡found¡¡no¡¡cause¡¡for¡¡committal¡¡to¡¡the¡¡asylum£»¡¡since¡¡
such¡¡committal¡¡would¡¡necessarily¡¡invalidate¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Grandfather¡¡is¡¡sure¡¡peeved£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mary£»¡¡his¡¡oldest¡¡daughter£»¡¡herself¡¡a¡¡
grandmother£»¡¡when¡¡her¡¡father¡¡quit¡¡smoking¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡All¡¡he¡¡had¡¡retained¡¡for¡¡himself¡¡was¡¡a¡¡span¡¡of¡¡old¡¡horses£»¡¡a¡¡mountain¡¡
buckboard£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡crowded¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Further£»¡¡¡¡¡¡having¡¡
affirmed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡beholden¡¡to¡¡none¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡he¡¡got¡¡the¡¡contract¡¡to¡¡
carry¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡United¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡States¡¡¡¡¡¡mail£»¡¡¡¡¡¡twice¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡week£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡Kelterville¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡over¡¡
Tarwater¡¡¡¡¡¡Mountain¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Old¡¡Almaden¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sporadically¡¡¡¡¡¡worked¡¡
quick¡silver¡¡mine¡¡in¡¡the¡¡upland¡¡cattle¡¡country¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡his¡¡old¡¡horses¡¡it¡¡took¡¡
all¡¡his¡¡time¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡two¡¡weekly¡¡round¡¡trips¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡for¡¡ten¡¡years£»¡¡rain¡¡
or¡¡shine£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡missed¡¡a¡¡trip¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡had¡¡he¡¡failed¡¡once¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡his¡¡
week's¡¡¡¡¡¡board¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡Mary's¡¡¡¡¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡¡¡¡¡board¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡insisted¡¡¡¡¡¡on£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
convalescence¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡Patagonian¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fever£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡paid¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡strictly£»¡¡
though¡¡he¡¡had¡¡given¡¡up¡¡tobacco¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Huh£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡confided¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ruined¡¡water¡¡wheel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Tarwater¡¡Mill£»¡¡
which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡built¡¡from¡¡the¡¡standing¡¡timber¡¡and¡¡which¡¡had¡¡ground¡¡wheat¡¡
for¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡settlers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Huh£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They'll¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡put¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡poor¡¡¡¡¡¡farm¡¡¡¡so¡¡
long¡¡as¡¡I¡¡support¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡without¡¡a¡¡penny¡¡to¡¡my¡¡name¡¡it¡¡ain't¡¡likely¡¡
any¡¡lawyer¡¡fellows'll¡¡come¡¡snoopin'¡¡around¡¡after¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡yet£»¡¡¡¡¡¡precisely¡¡¡¡¡¡because¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡highly¡¡¡¡¡¡rational¡¡¡¡¡¡acts£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡held¡¡
that¡¡John¡¡Tarwater¡¡was¡¡mildly¡¡crazy£¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡lifted¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡chant¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Like¡¡Argus¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡Ancient¡¡
Times£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡1849£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡when£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡twenty¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡years'¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡age£»¡¡¡¡¡¡violently¡¡
attacked¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Californian¡¡¡¡¡¡fever£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡sold¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡hundred¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡forty¡¡
Michigan¡¡acres£»¡¡forty¡¡of¡¡it¡¡cleared£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡price¡¡of¡¡four¡¡yoke¡¡of¡¡oxen£»¡¡and¡¡
a¡¡wagon£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡started¡¡across¡¡the¡¡Plains¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡turned¡¡¡¡¡¡off¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡Fort¡¡¡¡¡¡Hall£»¡¡¡¡where¡¡the¡¡¡¡Oregon¡¡¡¡¡¡emigration¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡
north'ard£»¡¡and¡¡swung¡¡south¡¡for¡¡Californy£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡his¡¡way¡¡of¡¡concluding¡¡the¡¡
narrative¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡arduous¡¡¡¡¡¡journey¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡Bill¡¡¡¡¡¡Ping¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡used¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡rope¡¡
grizzlies¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡underbrush¡¡of¡¡Cache¡¡Slough¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Sacramento¡¡Valley¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Years¡¡of¡¡freighting¡¡and¡¡mining¡¡had¡¡followed£»¡¡and£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡stake¡¡gleaned¡¡
from¡¡the¡¡Merced¡¡placers£»¡¡he¡¡satisfied¡¡the¡¡land¡hunger¡¡of¡¡his¡¡race¡¡and¡¡time¡¡
by¡¡settling¡¡in¡¡Sonoma¡¡County¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡47¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡48¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡RED¡¡ONE¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡During¡¡the¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡of¡¡carrying¡¡the¡¡mail¡¡across¡¡Tarwater¡¡Township£»¡¡up¡¡
Tarwater¡¡Valley£»¡¡and¡¡over¡¡Tarwater¡¡Mountain£»¡¡most¡¡all¡¡of¡¡which¡¡land¡¡had¡¡
once¡¡been¡¡his£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡spent¡¡his¡¡time¡¡dreaming¡¡of¡¡winning¡¡back¡¡that¡¡land¡¡
before¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡died¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡now£»¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡huge¡¡¡¡¡¡gaunt¡¡¡¡¡¡form¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡erect¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
been¡¡for¡¡years£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡glinting¡¡of¡¡blue¡¡fires¡¡in¡¡his¡¡small¡¡and¡¡close¡set¡¡eyes£»¡¡
he¡¡was¡¡lifting¡¡his¡¡ancient¡¡chant¡¡again¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡he¡¡goes¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡William¡¡Tarwater¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Nobody¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¨¡¡laughed¡¡Harris¡¡Topping£»¡¡day¡¡labourer£»¡¡husband¡¡of¡¡
Annie¡¡Tarwater£»¡¡and¡¡father¡¡of¡¡her¡¡nine¡¡children¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡kitchen¡¡door¡¡opened¡¡to¡¡admit¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡returning¡¡from¡¡feeding¡¡
his¡¡¡¡¡¡horses¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡song¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡ceased¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡lips£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡Mary¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡irritable¡¡
from¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡burnt¡¡¡¡¡¡hand¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡grandchild¡¡¡¡¡¡whose¡¡¡¡¡¡stomach¡¡¡¡¡¡refused¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡digest¡¡
properly¡¡diluted¡¡cows'¡¡milk¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Now¡¡there¡¡ain't¡¡no¡¡use¡¡you¡¡carryin'¡¡on¡¡that¡¡way£»¡¡father£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡tackled¡¡
him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡time's¡¡past¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡cut¡¡and¡¡run¡¡for¡¡a¡¡place¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Klondike£»¡¡
and¡¡singing¡¡won't¡¡buy¡¡you¡¡nothing¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Just¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡same£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡answered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡quietly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡bet¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡that¡¡
Klondike¡¡place¡¡and¡¡pick¡¡up¡¡enough¡¡gold¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡back¡¡the¡¡Tarwater¡¡lands¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Old¡¡fool£¡¡¨¡¡Annie¡¡contributed¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡couldn't¡¡¡¡¡¡buy¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡less'n¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡¡¡¡¡hundred¡¡¡¡¡¡thousand¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
then¡¡some£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡William's¡¡effort¡¡at¡¡squelching¡¡him¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡I¡¡could¡¡pick¡¡up¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡thousand£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡some£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡was¡¡
only¡¡there£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡retorted¡¡placidly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡God¡¡you¡¡can't¡¡walk¡¡there£»¡¡or¡¡you'd¡¡be¡¡startin'£»¡¡I¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡Mary¡¡
cried¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ocean¡¡travel¡¡costs¡¡money¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡have¡¡money£»¡¨¡¡her¡¡father¡¡said¡¡humbly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡you¡¡ain't¡¡got¡¡any¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡forget