登陆注册
5380500000026

第26章

Clemens was back in Esmeralda when the next letter was written, and we begin now to get pictures of that cheerless mining-camp, and to know something of the alternate hopes and discouragements of the hunt for gold--the miner one day soaring on wings of hope, on the next becoming excited, irritable, profane.The names of new mines appear constantly and vanish almost at a touch, suggesting the fairy-like evanescence of their riches.

But a few of the letters here will best speak for themselves; not all of them are needed.It is perhaps unnecessary to say that there is no intentional humor in these documents.

To Orion Clemens, in Carson City:

ESMERALDA, 13th April, 1862.

MY DEAR BROTHER,--Wasson got here night before last "from the wars."Tell Lockhart he is not wounded and not killed--is altogether unhurt.

He says the whites left their stone fort before he and Lieut.Noble got there.A large amount of provisions and ammunition, which they left behind them, fell into the hands of the Indians.They had a pitched battle with the savages some fifty miles from the fort, in which Scott (sheriff) and another man was killed.This was the day before the soldiers came up with them.I mean Noble's men, and those under Cols.

Evans and Mayfield, from Los Angeles.Evans assumed the chief command--and next morning the forces were divided into three parties, and marched against the enemy.Col.Mayfield was killed, and Sergeant Gillespie, also Noble's colonel was wounded.The California troops went back home, and Noble remained, to help drive the stock over here.And, as Cousin Sally Dillard says, this is all I know about the fight.

Work not yet begun on the H.and Derby--haven't seen it yet.It is still in the snow.Shall begin on it within 3 or 4 weeks--strike the ledge in July.Guess it is good--worth from $30 to $50 a foot in California.

Why didn't you send the "Live Yankee" deed-the very one I wanted? Have made no inquiries about it, much.Don't intend to until I get the deed.

Send it along--by mail--d---n the Express--have to pay three times for all express matter; once in Carson and twice here.I don't expect to take the saddle-bags out of the express office.I paid twenty-five cts.

for the Express deeds.

Man named Gebhart shot here yesterday while trying to defend a claim on Last Chance Hill.Expect he will die.

These mills here are not worth a d---n-except Clayton's--and it is not in full working trim yet.

Send me $40 or $50--by mail--immediately.

The Red Bird is probably good--can't work on the tunnel on account of snow.The "Pugh" I have thrown away--shan't re-locate it.It is nothing but bed-rock croppings--too much work to find the ledge, if there is one.

Shan't record the "Farnum" until I know more about it--perhaps not at all.

"Governor" under the snow.

"Douglas" and "Red Bird" are both recorded.

I have had opportunities to get into several ledges, but refused all but three--expect to back out of two of them.

Stir yourself as much as possible, and lay up $100 or $15,000, subject to my call.I go to work to-morrow, with pick and shovel.Something's got to come, by G--, before I let go, here.

Col.Youngs says you must rent Kinkead's room by all means--Government would rather pay $150 a month for your office than $75 for Gen.North's.

Says you are playing your hand very badly, for either the Government's good opinion or anybody's else, in keeping your office in a shanty.Says put Gov.Nye in your place and he would have a stylish office, and no objections would ever be made, either.When old Col.Youngs talks this way, I think it time to get a fine office.I wish you would take that office, and fit it up handsomely, so that I can omit telling people that by this time you are handsomely located, when I know it is no such thing.

I am living with "Ratio Phillips." Send him one of those black portfolios--by the stage, and put a couple of pen-holders and a dozen steel pens in it.

If you should have occasion to dispose of the long desk before I return, don't forget to break open the middle drawer and take out my things.

Envelop my black cloth coat in a newspaper and hang it in the back room.

Don't buy anything while I am here--but save up some money for me.Don't send any money home.I shall have your next quarter's salary spent before you get it, I think.I mean to make or break here within the next two or three months.

Yrs.

SAM

The "wars" mentioned in the opening paragraph of this letter were incident to the trouble concerning the boundary line between California and Nevada.The trouble continued for some time, with occasional bloodshed.The next letter is an exultant one.There were few enough of this sort.We cannot pretend to keep track of the multiplicity of mines and shares which lure the gold-hunters, pecking away at the flinty ledges, usually in the snow.It has been necessary to abbreviate this letter, for much of it has lost all importance with the years, and is merely confusing.Hope is still high in the writer's heart, and confidence in his associates still unshaken.Later he was to lose faith in "Raish," whether with justice or not we cannot know now.

To Orion Clowns, in Carson City:

ESMERALDA, May 11, 1862.

MY DEAR BRO.,--TO use a French expression I have "got my d--d satisfy" at last.Two years' time will make us capitalists, in spite of anything.

同类推荐
  • 颐山诗话

    颐山诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 缁门崇行录

    缁门崇行录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 州县提纲

    州县提纲

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 马自然金丹口诀

    马自然金丹口诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 西域行程记

    西域行程记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我们生于70年代

    我们生于70年代

    本书主要内容为:70年代有自己的朋友,七十年代生人之生长简史,七十年代生人之42个生活烙印,关于70年代
  • 绝地求生之电竞大时代

    绝地求生之电竞大时代

    他是LOL职业选手,被俱乐部开除,戴上三级头,背上98K,换个战场,他依旧横扫无敌。电竞大时代,游戏改变世界,王者终会归来,回首往昔,他只能说:人生有梦,各自精彩。【前期吃鸡后期修仙,不喜慎入】
  • 师子庄严王菩萨请问经

    师子庄严王菩萨请问经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 废材妖妃:鬼帝宠妻狂

    废材妖妃:鬼帝宠妻狂

    前世的羁绊,今生的等待。 跨越时空而来的她,终是回到了这个本该属于她的命运轨迹,且看狡猾如狐的她如何玩转异世。 当她面对人前冷面无情的鬼帝,人后化身宠妻狂魔的男人时,瞬间就……腰酸腿软!!!(本文纯属虚构,如有雷同纯属巧合。本文1v1男女主身心干净绝对宠宠宠。)
  • 龙妃在上:闷骚邪王,你好坏!

    龙妃在上:闷骚邪王,你好坏!

    她是将军府无颜废物嫡女,焰棺重生,睁眼,来自异世的杀手灵魂主宰了这具身体。这世,龙魂觉醒,逆天改命,神兽是跟班,毒术笑苍穹,乾坤素手间!不小心,误惹风华绝代,手段残暴,睥睨众生的神秘妖孽男,从此被缠,被宠。他陪着她,问鼎天下,翱翔九天!
  • 深宫缘之残王悍妃

    深宫缘之残王悍妃

    坊间传闻将军嫡女汪云锦胸无点墨,残暴粗鲁,哪家好男儿敢娶?世人皆知大齐二皇子天生体虚,半生瘫痪,哪家贵女肯嫁?一纸圣旨如惊雷劈下,残王配悍女,从此搅乱江湖朝堂,终将问鼎天下……
  • 这个异能有点六

    这个异能有点六

    “随机异能??”少年一脸懵逼地看着面前的神秘人。“冰果~就是随机异能,骚年~很刺激很好玩的哟~~”神秘人贼兮兮地对着他挑了挑眉。少年有些心动。“欧了!你就确定这个咯~”神秘人见少年半天没个反应,直接敲定,然后瞬间没影了。!!!喂喂喂!!!他还没同意呢!开始少年确实玩的很开心,但是直到某天…“你大爷的随机异能!!”少年瞅了眼背后不足巴掌大小的小翅膀,然后生无可恋地看着面前的n+1个彪形大汉。这么个小翅膀他怎么溜!!完了完了这回要哉了…
  • 笑看温柔闹红尘

    笑看温柔闹红尘

    钱不是万能的,没有钱是万万不能的!温家徒有京城第一豪宅,实则穷得叮当响。穷怕了的温家小姐温柔被皇帝指婚,兴奋得两眼冒光。老天开眼,皇帝指婚的对象可是展莫渊!他是一品将军,那得多有钱!出嫁当日,亲爹欢送——为什么会欢送?她是她爹的养老基金啊!表哥陪嫁——为什么是表哥?她是表哥的衣食父母啊!相公跑路——为什么是跑路?圣旨到,展莫渊立刻起程前往边关,驱除鞑虏,保家护国!展莫渊,别以为躲到千里之外我就会放过你……本姑娘,跟你,没完!
  • 闪闪奇遇记一:糖果山

    闪闪奇遇记一:糖果山

    糖果山里的糖果城堡,满满的全是糖果,糖果宫殿、糖果国王、糖果臣民、糖果马车,满满的糖果一定代表着满满的幸福吗?白糖人、棕糖人、黑糖人在糖果世界里怎样各司其职?萨卡琳公主身体的秘密会威胁到她的地位吗?
  • 打分

    打分

    “不,不,人不是我杀的,我没有杀人!”望着血泊中的祝春玉,阿马紧张得手足无措。可谁能证明呢?现场只有他们两个,没有监控,没有录音。祝春玉怎么死的?真相只有阿马说得清楚。他可以描绘当时的每一个细节,可肯定没一个人信,只有疑点重重,只会越描越黑。对这个女人,尽管心底嘴里无数次冒出让她去死的毒咒,心里无数次腾起杀人的冲动,可真要面对货真价实的死亡,却没一点祝春玉消失后的快感。有的只是恐惧,深不见底的恐惧。祝春玉是他老婆。