mark twain, a biography, 1835-1866-第47部分

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large　fireplace；　and　a　library　which　included　the　standard　authors。
A　younger　Gillis　boy；　William；　was　there　at　this　time；　so　that　the　family
numbered　five　in　all；　including　Tom　Quartz；　the　cat。　　On　rainy　days　they
would　gather　about　the　big；　open　fire　and　Jim　Gillis；　with　his　back　to
the　warmth；　would　relate　diverting　yarns；　creations　of　his　own；　turned
out　hot　from　the　anvil；　forged　as　he　went　along。　　He　had　a　startling
imagination；　and　he　had　fostered　it　in　that　secluded　place。　　His　stories
usually　consisted　of　wonderful　adventures　of　his　companion；　Dick　Stoker；
portrayed　with　humor　and　that　serene　and　vagrant　fancy　which　builds　as　it
goes；　careless　as　to　whither　it　is　proceeding　and　whether　the　story　shall
end　well　or　ill；　soon　or　late；　if　ever。　　He　always　pretended　that　these
extravagant　tales　of　Stoker　were　strictly　true；　and　Stoker〃forty…six
and　gray　as　a　rat〃earnest；　thoughtful；　and　tranquilly　serene；　would
smoke　and　look　into　the　fire　and　listen　to　those　astonishing　things　of
himself；　smiling　a　little　now　and　then　but　saying　never　a　word。　　What　did
it　matter　to　him？　　He　had　no　world　outside　of　the　cabin　and　the　hills；　no
affairs；　he　would　live　and　die　there；　his　affairs　all　had　ended　long　ago。
A　number　of　the　stories　used　in　Mark　Twain's　books　were　first　told　by　Jim
Gillis；　standing　with　his　hands　crossed　behind　him；　back　to　the　fire；　in
the　cabin　on　jackass　Hill。　　The　story　of　Dick　Baker's　cat　was　one　of
these；　the　jaybird　and　Acorn　story　of　'A　Tramp　Abroad'　was　another；　also
the　story　of　the　〃Burning　Shame；〃　and　there　are　others。　　Mark　Twain　had
little　to　add　to　these　stories；　in　fact；　he　never　could　get　them　to　sound
as　well；　he　said；　as　when　Jim　Gillis　had　told　them。

James　Gillis's　imagination　sometimes　led　him　into　difficulties。　　Once　a
feeble　old　squaw　came　along　selling　some　fruit　that　looked　like　green
plums。　　Stoker；　who　knew　the　fruit　well　enough；　carelessly　ventured　the
remark　that　it　might　be　all　right；　but　he　had　never　heard　of　anybody
eating　it；　which　set　Gillis　off　into　eloquent　praises　of　its　delights；
all　of　which　he　knew　to　be　purely　imaginary；　whereupon　Stoker　told　him　if
he　liked　the　fruit　so　well；　to　buy　some　of　it。　　There　was　no　escape　after
that；　Jim　had　to　buy　some　of　those　plums；　whose　acid　was　of　the　hair…
lifting　aqua…fortis　variety；　and　all　the　rest　of　the　day　he　stewed　them；
adding　sugar；　trying　to　make　them　palatable；　tasting　them　now　and　then；
boasting　meanwhile　of　their　nectar…like　deliciousness。　　He　gave　the
others　a　taste　by　and　bya　withering；　corroding　supand　they　derided
him　and　rode　him　down。　　But　Jim　never　weakened。　　He　ate　that　fearful
brew；　and　though　for　days　his　mouth　was　like　fire　he　still　referred　to
the　luscious　health…giving　joys　of　the　〃Californian　plums。〃

Jackass　Hill　was　not　altogether　a　solitude；　here　and　there　were
neighbors。　　Another　pocket…miner；　named　Carrington；　had　a　cabin　not　far
away；　and　a　mile　or　two　distant　lived　an　old　couple　with　a　pair　of　pretty
daughters；　so　plump　and　trim　and　innocent；　that　they　were　called　the
〃Chapparal　Quails。〃　　Young　men　from　far　and　near　paid　court　to　them；　and
on　Sunday　afternoons　so　many　horses　would　be　tied　to　their　front　fence　as
to　suggest　an　afternoon　service　there。　　Young　〃Billy〃　Gillis　knew　them；
and　one　Sunday　morning　took　his　brother's　friend；　Sam　Clemens；　over　for　a
call。　　They　went　early；　with　forethought；　and　promptly　took　the　girls　for
a　walk。　　They　took　a　long　walk；　and　went　wandering　over　the　hills；　toward
Sandy　Bar　and　the　Stanislausthrough　that　reposeful　land　which　Bret
Harte　would　one　day　light　with　idyllic　romanceand　toward　evening　found
themselves　a　long　way　from　home。　　They　must　return　by　the　nearest　way　to
arrive　before　dark。　　One　of　the　young　ladies　suggested　a　short　cut
through　the　Chemisal；　and　they　started。　　But　they　were　lost；　presently；
and　it　was　late；　very　late；　when　at　last　they　reached　the　ranch。　　The
mother　of　the　〃Quails〃　was　sitting　up　for　them；　and　she　had　something　to
say。　　She　let　go　a　perfect　storm　of　general　denunciation；　then　narrowed
the　attack　to　Samuel　Clemens　as　the　oldest　of　the　party。　　He　remained
mildly　serene。

〃It　wasn't　my　fault；〃　he　ventured　at　last；　〃it　was　Billy　Gillis's　fault。〃

〃No　such　thing。　　You　know　better。　　Mr。　Gillis　has　been　here　often。　　It
was　you。〃

〃But　do　you　realize；　ma'am；　how　tired　and　hungry　we　are？　　Haven't　you　got
a　bite　for　us　to　eat？〃

〃No；　sir；　not　a　bitefor　such　as　you。〃

The　offender's　eyes；　wandering　about　the　room；　spied　something　in　a
corner。

〃Isn't　that　a　guitar　over　there？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　sir；　it　is；　what　of　it？〃

The　culprit　walked　over；　and　taking　it　up；　tuned　the　strings　a　little　and
struck　the　chords。　　Then　he　began　to　sing。　　He　began　very　softly　and　sang
〃Fly　Away；　Pretty　Moth；〃　then　〃Araby's　Daughter。〃　　He　could　sing　very
well　in　those　days；　following　with　the　simpler　chords。　　Perhaps　the
mother　〃Quail〃　had　known　those　songs　herself　back　in　the　States；　for　her
manner　grew　kindlier；　almost　with　the　first　notes。　　When　he　had　finished
she　was　the　first　to　ask　him　to　go　on。

〃I　suppose　you　are　just　like　all　young　folks；〃　she　said。　　〃I　was　young
myself　once。　　While　you　sing　I'll　get　some　supper。〃

She　left　the　door　to　the　kitchen　open　so　that　she　could　hear；　and　cooked
whatever　she　could　find　for　the　belated　party。




XLIX

THE　JUMPING　FROG

It　was　the　rainy　season；　the　winter　of　1864　and　1865；　but　there　were　many
pleasant　days；　when　they　could　go　pocket…hunting；　and　Samuel　Clemens　soon
added　a　knowledge　of　this　fascinating　science　to　his　other　acquirements。
Sometimes　he　worked　with　Dick　Stoker；　sometimes　with　one　of　the　Gillis
boys。　　He　did　not　make　his　fortune　at　pocket…mining；　he　only　laid　its
corner…stone。　　In　the　old　note…book　he　kept　of　that　sojourn　we　find　that；
with　Jim　Gillis；　he　made　a　trip　over　into　Calaveras　County　soon　after
Christmas　and　remained　there　until　after　New　Year's；　probably
prospecting；　and　he　records　that　on　New　Year's　night；　at　Vallecito；　he
saw　a　magnificent　lunar　rainbow　in　a　very　light；　drizzling　rain。　　A　lunax
rainbow　is　one　of　the　things　people　seldom　see。　　He　thought　it　an　omen　of
good…fortune。

They　returned　to　the　cabin　on　the　hill；　but　later　in　the　month；　on　the
they　crossed　over　into　Calaveras　again；　and　began　pocket…hunting　not　far
from　Angel's　Camp。　　The　note…book　records　that　the　bill　of　fare　at　the
Camp　hotel　consisted　wholly　of　beans　and　something　which　bore　the　name　of
coffee；　also　that　the　rains　were　frequent　and　heavy。

　　　　　January　27。　　Same　old　dietsame　old　weatherwent　out　to　the
　　　　　pocket…claimhad　to　rush　back。

They　had　what　they　believed　to　be　a　good　claim。　　Jim　Gillis　declared　the
indications　promising；　and　if　they　could　only　have　good　weather　to　work
it；　they　were　sure　of　rich　returns。　　For　himself；　he　would　have　been
willing　to　work；　rain　or　shine。　　Clemens；　however；　had　different　views　on
the　subject。　　His　part　was　carrying　water　for　washing　out　the　pans　of
dirt；　and　carrying　pails　of　water　through　the　cold　rain　and　mud　was　not
very　fascinating　work。　　Dick　Stoker　came　over　before　long　to　help。
Things　went　a　little　better　then；　but　most　of　their　days　were　spent　in
the　bar…room　of　the　dilapidated　tavern　at　Angel's　Camp；　enjoying　the
company　of　a　former　Illinois　River　pilot；　Ben　Coon；　＇This　name　has　been
variously　given　as　〃Ros　Coon；〃　〃Coon　Drayton；〃　etc。　　It　is　given　here　as
set　down　in　Mark　Twain's　notes；　made　on　the　spot。　　Coon　was　not　（as　has
been　stated）　the　proprietor　of　the　hotel　（which　was　kept　by　a　Frenchman）；
but　a　frequenter　of　it。＇　　a　solemn；　fat…witted　person；　who　dozed　by　the
stove；　or　old　slow；　endless　stories；　without　point　or　application。
Listeners　were　a　boon　to　him；　for　few　came　and　not　many　would　stay。　　To
Mark　Twain　and　Jim　Gillis；　however；　Ben　Coon　was　a　delight。　　It　was
soothing　and　comfortable　to　listen　to　his　endless　narratives；　told　in
that　solemn　way；　with　no　suspicion　of　humor。　　Even　when　his　yarns　had
point；　he　did　not　recognize　it。　　One　dreary　afternoon；　in　his　slow；
monotonous　fashion；　he　told　them　about　a　froga　frog　that　had　belonged
to　a　man　named　Coleman；　who　trained　it　to　jump；　but　that　failed　to　win　a
wager　because　the　owner　of　a　rival　frog　had　surreptitiously　loaded　the
trained　jumper　with　shot。　　The　story　had　circulated　among　the　camps；　and
a　well…known　journalist；　named　Samuel　Seabough；　had　already　made　a　squib
of　it；　but　neither　Clemens　nor　Gillis　had　ever　happened　to　hear　it
before。　　They　thought　the　tale　in　itself　amusing；　and　the　〃spectacle　of　a
man　drifting　serenely　along　through　such　a　queer　yarn　without　ever
smiling　was　exquisitely　absurd。〃　　When　Coon　had　talked　himself　out；　his
hearers　played　billiards　on　the　frowsy　table；　and　now　and　then　one　would
remark　to　the　other：

〃I　don't　see　no　p'ints　about　that　frog　that's　any　better'n　any　other
frog；〃　and　perhaps　the　other　would　answer：

〃I　ain't　got　no　frog；　but　if　I　had　a　frog　I'd　bet　you。〃

Out　on　the　claim；　between　pails　of　water；　Clemens；　as　he　watched　Jim
Gillis　or　Dick　Stoker　〃washing；〃　would　be　apt　to　say；　〃I　don't　see　no
p'ints　about　that　pan　o'　dirt　that's　any　better'n　any　other　pan　o'　dirt；〃
and　so　they　kept　it　up。

Then　the　rain　would　come　again　and　interfere　with　their　work。　　One
afternoon；　when　Clemens　and　Gillis　were　following　certain　tiny…sprayed
specks　of　gold　that　were　leading　them　to　pocketsomewhere　up　the　long
slope；　the　chill　downpour　set　in。　　Gillis；　as　usual；　was　washing；　and
Clemens　carrying　water。　　The　〃color〃　was　getting　better　with　every　pan；
and　Jim　Gillis　believed　that　now；　after　their　long　waiting；　they　were　to
be　rewarded。　　Possessed　with　the　miner's　passion；　he　would　have　gone　on
washing　and　climbing　toward　the　precious　pocket；　regardless　of
everything。　　Clemens；　however；　shivering　and　disgusted；　swore　that　each
pail　of　water　was　his　last。　　His　teeth　were　chattering　and　he　was　wet
through。　　Finally　he　said；　in　his　deliberate　way：

〃Jim；　I　won't　carry　any　more　water。　　This　work　is　too　disagreeable。〃

Gillis　had　just　taken　out　a　panful　of　dirt。

〃Bring　one　more　pail；　Sam；〃　he　pleaded。

〃Oh；　hell；　Jim；　I　won't　do　it；　I'm　freezing！〃

〃Just　one　more　pail；　Sam；〃　he　pleaded。

〃No；　sir；　not　a　drop；　not　if　I　kn