the mountains(山脉)-第26节
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with a weather…beaten face of mahogany on which was superimposed a
sweeping mustache and beetling eye… brows。 These had originally been
brown； but the sun had bleached them almost white in remarkable contrast
to his complexion。 Eyes keen as sunlight twinkled far down beneath the
shadows of the brows and a floppy old sombrero hat。 The usual flannel
shirt； waistcoat； mountain…boots； and six…shooter completed the outfit。
He might have been forty； but was probably nearer sixty years of age。
〃Howdy； boys；〃 said he； and dropped to the fireside； where he
promptly annexed a coal for his pipe。
We all greeted him； but gradually the talk fell to him and Wes。 It was
commonplace talk enough from one point of view： taken in essence it was
merely like the inquiry and answer of the civilized man as to another's
itinerary〃Did you visit Florence？ Berlin？ St。 Petersburg？〃and then the
comparing of impressions。 Only here again that old familiar magic of
unfamiliar names threw its glamour over the terse sentences。
〃Over beyond the Piute Monument；〃 the old prospector explained；
〃down through the Inyo Range； a leetle north of Death Valley〃
〃Back in seventy…eight when I was up in Bay Horse Canon over by
Lost River〃
〃Was you ever over in th' Panamit Mountains？ North of th'
Telescope Range？〃
That was all there was to it； with long pauses for drawing at the pipes。
Yet somehow in the aggregate that catalogue of names gradually
established in the minds of us two who listened an impression of long
years； of wide wilderness； of wandering far over the face of the earth。
The old man had wintered here； summered a thousand miles away； made
his strike at one end of the world； lost it somehow； and cheerfully tried for
a repetition of his luck at the other。 I do not believe the possibility of
wealth； though always of course in the background； was ever near enough
his hope to be considered a motive for action。 Rather was it a dream；
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remote； something to be gained to…morrow； but never to…day； like the
mediaeval Christian's idea of heaven。 His interest was in the search。
For that one could see in him a real enthusiasm。 He had his smattering of
theory； his very real empirical knowledge； and his superstitions； like all
prospectors。 So long as he could keep in grub； own a little train of burros；
and lead the life he loved； he was happy。
Perhaps one of the chief elements of this remarkable interest in the
game rather than the prizes of it was his desire to vindicate his guesses or
his conclusions。 He liked to predict to himself the outcome of his
solitary operations； and then to prove that prediction through laborious
days。 His life was a gigantic game of solitaire。 In fact； he mentioned a
dozen of his claims many years apart which he had developed to a certain
point；〃so I could see what they was；〃and then abandoned in favor of
fresher discoveries。 He cherished the illusion that these were properties
to whose completion some day he would return。 But we knew better； he
had carried them to the point where the result was no longer in doubt and
then； like one who has no interest in playing on in an evidently prescribed
order； had laid his cards on the table to begin a new game。
This man was skilled in his profession； he had pursued it for thirty odd
years； he was frugal and industrious； undoubtedly of his long series of
discoveries a fair percentage were valuable and are producing…properties
to…day。 Yet he confessed his bank balance to be less than five hundred
dollars。 Why was this？ Simply and solely because he did not care。 At
heart it was entirely immaterial to him whether he ever owned a dollar
above his expenses。 When he sold his claims； he let them go easily； loath
to bother himself with business details； eager to get away from the fuss
and nuisance。 The few hundred dollars he received he probably sunk in
unproductive mining work； or was fleeced out of in the towns。 Then
joyfully he turned back to his beloved mountains and the life of his slow
deep delight and his pecking away before the open doors of fortune。 By
and by he would build himself a little cabin down in the lower pine
mountains； where he would grow a white beard； putter with occult
wilderness crafts； and smoke long contemplative hours in the sun before
his door。 For tourists he would braid rawhide reins and quirts； or make
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buckskin。 The jays and woodpeckers and Douglas squirrels would
become fond of him。 So he would be gathered to his fathers； a gentle old
man whose life had been spent harmlessly in the open。 He had had his
ideal to which blindly he reached； he had in his indirect way contributed
the fruits of his labor to mankind； his recompenses he had chosen
according to his desires。 When you consider these things； you perforce
have to revise your first notion of him as a useless sort of old ruffian。 As
you come to know him better； you must love him for the kindliness； the
simple honesty； the modesty； and charity that he seems to draw from his
mountain environment。 There are hundreds of him buried in the great
canons of the West。
Our prospector was a little uncertain as to his plans。 Along toward
autumn he intended to land at some reputed placers near Dinkey Creek。
There might be something in that district。 He thought he would take a
look。 In the mean time he was just poking up through the countryhe
and his jackasses。 Good way to spend the summer。 Perhaps he might
run across something 'most anywhere； up near the top of that mountain
opposite looked mineralized。 Didn't know but what he'd take a look at
her to…morrow。
He camped near us during three days。 I never saw a more modest；
self…effacing man。 He seemed genuinely； childishly； almost helplessly
interested in our fly…fishing； shooting； our bear…skins； and our travels。
You would have thought from his demeanor which was sincere and not
in the least ironical that he had never seen or heard anything quite like
that before； and was struck with wonder at it。 Yet he had cast flies before
we were born； and shot even earlier than he had cast a fly； and was a very
Ishmael for travel。 Rarely could you get an account of his own
experiences； and then only in illustration of something else。
〃If you…all likes bear…hunting；〃 said he； 〃you ought to get up in eastern
Oregon。 I summered there once。 The only trouble is； the brush is thick
as hair。 You 'most always have to bait them； or wait for them to come
and drink。 The brush is so small you ain't got much chance。 I run onto
a she… bear and cubs that way once。 Didn't have nothin' but my six…
shooter； and I met her within six foot。〃 He stopped with an air of finality。
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〃Well； what did you do？〃 we asked。
〃Me？〃 he inquired； surprised。 〃Oh； I just leaked out of th' landscape。〃
He prospected the mountain opposite； loafed with us a little； and then
decided that he must be going。 About eight o'clock in the morning he
passed us； hazing his burros； his tall； lean figure elastic in defiance of
years。
〃So long； boys；〃 he called； 〃good luck！〃
〃So long；〃 we responded heartily。 〃Be good to yourself。〃
He plunged into the river without hesitation； emerged
