a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第1节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
A MILLIONAIRE OF
ROUGH…AND…READY
by BRET HARTE
1
… Page 2…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
PROLOGUE
There was no mistake this time： he had struck gold at last！
It had lain there before him a moment agoa misshapen piece of
brown…stained quartz； interspersed with dull yellow metal； yielding
enough to have allowed the points of his pick to penetrate its
honeycombed recesses； yet heavy enough to drop from the point of his
pick as he endeavored to lift it from the red earth。
He was seeing all this plainly； although he found himself； he knew not
why； at some distance from the scene of his discovery； his heart foolishly
beating； his breath impotently hurried。 Yet he was walking slowly and
vaguely； conscious of stopping and staring at the landscape； which no
longer looked familiar to him。 He was hoping for some instinct or force
of habit to recall him to himself； yet when he saw a neighbor at work in an
adjacent claim； he hesitated； and then turned his back upon him。 Yet only
a moment before he had thought of running to him； saying； 〃By Jingo！
I've struck it；〃 or 〃Dn it； old man； I've got it〃； but that moment had
passed； and now it seemed to him that he could scarce raise his voice； or；
if he did； the ejaculation would appear forced and artificial。 Neither
could he go over to him coolly and tell his good fortune； and； partly from
this strange shyness； and partly with a hope that another survey of the
treasure might restore him to natural expression； he walked back to his
tunnel。
Yes； it was there！ No mere 〃pocket〃 or 〃deposit；〃 but a part of the
actual vein he had been so long seeking。 It was there； sure enough； lying
beside the pick and the debris of the 〃face〃 of the vein that he had exposed
sufficiently； after the first shock of discovery； to assure himself of the fact
and the permanence of his fortune。 It was there； and with it the refutation
of his enemies' sneers； the corroboration of his friends' belief； the practical
demonstration of his own theories； the reward of his patient labors。 It
was there； sure enough。 But； somehow； he not only failed to recall the
first joy of discovery； but was conscious of a vague sense of responsibility
and unrest。 It was； no doubt； an enormous fortune to a man in his
circumstances： perhaps it meant a couple of hundred thousand dollars； or
2
… Page 3…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
more； judging from the value of the old Martin lead； which was not as rich
as this； but it required to be worked constantly and judiciously。 It was
with a decided sense of uneasiness that he again sought the open sunlight
of the hillside。 His neighbor was still visible on the adjacent claim； but
he had apparently stopped working； and was contemplatively smoking a
pipe under a large pine…tree。 For an instant he envied him his apparent
contentment。 He had a sudden fierce and inexplicable desire to go over
to him and exasperate his easy poverty by a revelation of his own new…
found treasure。 But even that sensation quickly passed； and left him
staring blankly at the landscape again。
As soon as he had made his discovery known； and settled its value； he
would send for his wife and her children in the States。 He would build a
fine house on the opposite hillside； if she would consent to it； unless she
preferred； for the children's sake； to live in San Francisco。 A sense of a
loss of independenceof a change of circumstances that left him no longer
his own master began to perplex him； in the midst of his brightest
projects。 Certain other relations with other members of his family； which
had lapsed by absence and his insignificance； must now be taken up anew。
He must do something for his sister Jane； for his brother William； for his
wife's poor connections。 It would be unfair to him to say that he
contemplated those things with any other instinct than that of generosity；
yet he was conscious of being already perplexed and puzzled。
Meantime； however； the neighbor had apparently finished his pipe； and；
knocking the ashes out of it； rose suddenly； and ended any further
uncertainty of their meeting by walking over directly towards him。 The
treasure…finder advanced a few steps on his side； and then stopped
irresolutely。
〃Hollo； Slinn！〃 said the neighbor； confidently。
〃Hollo； Masters；〃 responded Slinn； faintly。 From the sound of the
two voices a stranger might have mistaken their relative condition。 〃What
in thunder are you mooning about for？ What's up？〃 Then； catching
sight of Slinn's pale and anxious face； he added abruptly； 〃Are you sick？〃
Slinn was on the point of telling him his good fortune； but stopped。
The unlucky question confirmed his consciousness of his physical and
3
… Page 4…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
mental disturbance； and he dreaded the ready ridicule of his companion。
He would tell him later； Masters need not know WHEN he had made the
strike。 Besides； in his present vagueness； he shrank from the brusque；
practical questioning that would be sure to follow the revelation to a man
of Masters' temperament。
〃I'm a little giddy here；〃 he answered； putting his hand to his head；
〃and I thought I'd knock off until I was better。〃
Masters examined him with two very critical gray eyes。 〃Tell ye
what； old man！if you don't quit this dog…goned foolin' of yours in that
God…forsaken tunnel you'll get loony！ Times you get so tangled up in
follerin' that blind lead o' yours you ain't sensible！〃
Here was the opportunity to tell him all； and vindicate the justice of his
theories！ But he shrank from it again； and now； adding to the confusion；
was a singular sense of dread at the mental labor of explanation。 He only
smiled painfully； and began to move away。 〃Look you！〃 said Masters；
peremptorily； 〃ye want about three fingers of straight whiskey to set you
right； and you've got to take it with me。 Dn it； man； it may be the last
drink we take together！ Don't look so skeered！ I meanI made up my
mind about ten minutes ago to cut the whole dd thing； and light out for
fresh diggings。 I'm sick of getting only grub wages out o' this bill。 So
that's what I mean by saying it's the last drink you and me'll take together。
You know my ways： sayin' and doin' with me's the same thing。〃
It was true。 Slinn had often envied Masters' promptness of decision
and resolution。 But he only looked at the grim face of his interlocutor
with a feeble sense of relief。 He was GOING。 And he； Slinn； would not
have to explain anything！
He murmured something about having to go over to the settlement on
business。 He dreaded lest Masters should insist upon going into the
tunnel。
〃I suppose you want to mail that letter；〃 said Masters； drily。 〃The mail
don't go till to…morrow； so you've got time to finish it； and put it in an
envelope。〃
Following the direction of Masters' eyes； Slinn looked down and saw；
to his utter surprise； that he was holding an unfinished pencilled note in his
4
… Page 5…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
hand。 How it came there； when he had written it； he could not tell； he
dimly remembered that one of his first impulses was to write to his wife；
but that he had already done so he had forgotten。 He hastily concealed
the note in his breast… pocket； with a vacant smile。 Masters eyed him half
contemptuously； half compassionately。
〃Don't forget y
