roughing it-第30节

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breadth　of　sand。　　Often；　as　we　lay　on　our　faces；　a　granite　boulder；　as
large　as　a　village　church；　would　start　out　of　the　bottom　apparently；　and
seem　climbing　up　rapidly　to　the　surface；　till　presently　it　threatened　to
touch　our　faces；　and　we　could　not　resist　the　impulse　to　seize　an　oar　and
avert　the　danger。　　But　the　boat　would　float　on；　and　the　boulder　descend
again；　and　then　we　could　see　that　when　we　had　been　exactly　above　it；　it
must　still　have　been　twenty　or　thirty　feet　below　the　surface。　　Down
through　the　transparency　of　these　great　depths；　the　water　was　not　merely
transparent；　but　dazzlingly；　brilliantly　so。　　All　objects　seen　through　it
had　a　bright；　strong　vividness；　not　only　of　outline；　but　of　every　minute
detail；　which　they　would　not　have　had　when　seen　simply　through　the　same
depth　of　atmosphere。　　So　empty　and　airy　did　all　spaces　seem　below　us；　and
so　strong　was　the　sense　of　floating　high　aloft　in　mid…nothingness；　that
we　called　these　boat…excursions　〃balloon…voyages。〃

We　fished　a　good　deal；　but　we　did　not　average　one　fish　a　week。　　We　could
see　trout　by　the　thousand　winging　about　in　the　emptiness　under　us；　or
sleeping　in　shoals　on　the　bottom；　but　they　would　not　bitethey　could　see
the　line　too　plainly；　perhaps。　　We　frequently　selected　the　trout　we
wanted；　and　rested　the　bait　patiently　and　persistently　on　the　end　of　his
nose　at　a　depth　of　eighty　feet；　but　he　would　only　shake　it　off　with　an
annoyed　manner；　and　shift　his　position。

We　bathed　occasionally；　but　the　water　was　rather　chilly；　for　all　it
looked　so　sunny。　　Sometimes　we　rowed　out　to　the　〃blue　water；〃　a　mile　or
two　from　shore。　　It　was　as　dead　blue　as　indigo　there；　because　of　the
immense　depth。　　By　official　measurement　the　lake　in　its　centre　is　one
thousand　five　hundred　and　twenty…five　feet　deep！

Sometimes；　on　lazy　afternoons；　we　lolled　on　the　sand　in　camp；　and　smoked
pipes　and　read　some　old　well…worn　novels。　　At　night；　by　the　camp…fire；　we
played　euchre　and　seven…up　to　strengthen　the　mindand　played　them　with
cards　so　greasy　and　defaced　that　only　a　whole　summer's　acquaintance　with
them　could　enable　the　student　to　tell　the　ace　of　clubs　from　the　jack　of
diamonds。

We　never　slept　in　our　〃house。〃　　It　never　recurred　to　us；　for　one　thing；
and　besides；　it　was　built　to　hold　the　ground；　and　that　was　enough。　　We
did　not　wish　to　strain　it。

By　and　by　our　provisions　began　to　run　short；　and　we　went　back　to　the　old
camp　and　laid　in　a　new　supply。　　We　were　gone　all　day；　and　reached　home
again　about　night…fall；　pretty　tired　and　hungry。　　While　Johnny　was
carrying　the　main　bulk　of　the　provisions　up　to　our　〃house〃　for　future
use；　I　took　the　loaf　of　bread；　some　slices　of　bacon；　and　the　coffee…pot；
ashore；　set　them　down　by　a　tree；　lit　a　fire；　and　went　back　to　the　boat　to
get　the　frying…pan。　　While　I　was　at　this；　I　heard　a　shout　from　Johnny；
and　looking　up　I　saw　that　my　fire　was　galloping　all　over　the　premises！
Johnny　was　on　the　other　side　of　it。　　He　had　to　run　through　the　flames　to
get　to　the　lake　shore；　and　then　we　stood　helpless　and　watched　the
devastation。

The　ground　was　deeply　carpeted　with　dry　pine…needles；　and　the　fire
touched　them　off　as　if　they　were　gunpowder。　　It　was　wonderful　to　see　with
what　fierce　speed　the　tall　sheet　of　flame　traveled！　　My　coffee…pot　was
gone；　and　everything　with　it。　　In　a　minute　and　a　half　the　fire　seized
upon　a　dense　growth　of　dry　manzanita　chapparal　six　or　eight　feet　high；
and　then　the　roaring　and　popping　and　crackling　was　something　terrific。
We　were　driven　to　the　boat　by　the　intense　heat；　and　there　we　remained；
spell…bound。

Within　half　an　hour　all　before　us　was　a　tossing；　blinding　tempest　of
flame！　　It　went　surging　up　adjacent　ridgessurmounted　them　and
disappeared　in　the　canons　beyondburst　into　view　upon　higher　and　farther
ridges；　presentlyshed　a　grander　illumination　abroad；　and　dove　again
flamed　out　again；　directly；　higher　and　still　higher　up　the　mountain…side…
…threw　out　skirmishing　parties　of　fire　here　and　there；　and　sent　them
trailing　their　crimson　spirals　away　among　remote　ramparts　and　ribs　and
gorges；　till　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach　the　lofty　mountain…fronts　were
webbed　as　it　were　with　a　tangled　network　of　red　lava　streams。　　Away
across　the　water　the　crags　and　domes　were　lit　with　a　ruddy　glare；　and　the
firmament　above　was　a　reflected　hell！

Every　feature　of　the　spectacle　was　repeated　in　the　glowing　mirror　of　the
lake！　　Both　pictures　were　sublime；　both　were　beautiful；　but　that　in　the
lake　had　a　bewildering　richness　about　it　that　enchanted　the　eye　and　held
it　with　the　stronger　fascination。

We　sat　absorbed　and　motionless　through　four　long　hours。　　We　never　thought
of　supper；　and　never　felt　fatigue。　　But　at　eleven　o'clock　the
conflagration　had　traveled　beyond　our　range　of　vision；　and　then　darkness
stole　down　upon　the　landscape　again。

Hunger　asserted　itself　now；　but　there　was　nothing　to　eat。　　The　provisions
were　all　cooked；　no　doubt；　but　we　did　not　go　to　see。　　We　were　homeless
wanderers　again；　without　any　property。　　Our　fence　was　gone；　our　house
burned　down；　no　insurance。　　Our　pine　forest　was　well　scorched；　the　dead
trees　all　burned　up；　and　our　broad　acres　of　manzanita　swept　away。　　Our
blankets　were　on　our　usual　sand…bed；　however；　and　so　we　lay　down　and　went
to　sleep。　　The　next　morning　we　started　back　to　the　old　camp；　but　while
out　a　long　way　from　shore；　so　great　a　storm　came　up　that　we　dared　not　try
to　land。　　So　I　baled　out　the　seas　we　shipped；　and　Johnny　pulled　heavily
through　the　billows　till　we　had　reached　a　point　three　or　four　miles
beyond　the　camp。　　The　storm　was　increasing；　and　it　became　evident　that　it
was　better　to　take　the　hazard　of　beaching　the　boat　than　go　down　in　a
hundred　fathoms　of　water；　so　we　ran　in；　with　tall　white…caps　following；
and　I　sat　down　in　the　stern…sheets　and　pointed　her　head…on　to　the　shore。
The　instant　the　bow　struck；　a　wave　came　over　the　stern　that　washed　crew
and　cargo　ashore；　and　saved　a　deal　of　trouble。　　We　shivered　in　the　lee　of
a　boulder　all　the　rest　of　the　day；　and　froze　all　the　night　through。　　In
the　morning　the　tempest　had　gone　down；　and　we　paddled　down　to　the　camp
without　any　unnecessary　delay。　　We　were　so　starved　that　we　ate　up　the
rest　of　the　Brigade's　provisions；　and　then　set　out　to　Carson　to　tell　them
about　it　and　ask　their　forgiveness。　　It　was　accorded；　upon　payment　of
damages。

We　made　many　trips　to　the　lake　after　that；　and　had　many　a　hair…breadth
escape　and　blood…curdling　adventure　which　will　never　be　recorded　in　any
history。




CHAPTER　XXIV。

I　resolved　to　have　a　horse　to　ride。　　I　had　never　seen　such　wild；　free；
magnificent　horsemanship　outside　of　a　circus　as　these　picturesquely…clad
Mexicans；　Californians　and　Mexicanized　Americans　displayed　in　Carson
streets　every　day。　　How　they　rode！　　Leaning　just　gently　forward　out　of
the　perpendicular；　easy　and　nonchalant；　with　broad　slouch…hat　brim　blown
square　up　in　front；　and　long　riata　swinging　above　the　head；　they　swept
through　the　town　like　the　wind！　　The　next　minute　they　were　only　a　sailing
puff　of　dust　on　the　far　desert。　　If　they　trotted；　they　sat　up　gallantly
and　gracefully；　and　seemed　part　of　the　horse；　did　not　go　jiggering　up　and
down　after　the　silly　Miss…Nancy　fashion　of　the　riding…schools。　　I　had
quickly　learned　to　tell　a　horse　from　a　cow；　and　was　full　of　anxiety　to
learn　more。　　I　was　resolved　to　buy　a　horse。

While　the　thought　was　rankling　in　my　mind；　the　auctioneer　came　skurrying
through　the　plaza　on　a　black　beast　that　had　as　many　humps　and　corners　on
him　as　a　dromedary；　and　was　necessarily　uncomely；　but　he　was　〃going；
going；　at　twenty…two！horse；　saddle　and　bridle　at　twenty…two　dollars；
gentlemen！〃　and　I　could　hardly　resist。

A　man　whom　I　did　not　know　（he　turned　out　to　be　the　auctioneer's　brother）
noticed　the　wistful　look　in　my　eye；　and　observed　that　that　was　a　very
remarkable　horse　to　be　going　at　such　a　price；　and　added　that　the　saddle
alone　was　worth　the　money。　　It　was　a　Spanish　saddle；　with　ponderous
'tapidaros'；　and　furnished　with　the　ungainly　sole…leather　covering　with
the　unspellable　name。　　I　said　I　had　half　a　notion　to　bid。　　Then　this
keen…eyed　person　appeared　to　me　to　be　〃taking　my　measure〃；　but　I
dismissed　the　suspicion　when　he　spoke；　for　his　manner　was　full　of
guileless　candor　and　truthfulness。　　Said　he：

〃I　know　that　horseknow　him　well。　　You　are　a　stranger；　I　take　it；　and　so
you　might　think　he　was　an　American　horse；　maybe；　but　I　assure　you　he　is
not。　　He　is　nothing　of　the　kind；　butexcuse　my　speaking　in　a　low　voice；
other　people　being　nearhe　is；　without　the　shadow　of　a　doubt；　a　Genuine
Mexican　Plug！〃

I　did　not　know　what　a　Genuine　Mexican　Plug　was；　but　there　was　something
about　this　man's　way　of　saying　it；　that　made　me　swear　inwardly　that　I
would　own　a　Genuine　Mexican　Plug；　or　die。

〃Has　he　any　othereradvantages？〃　　I　inquired；　suppressing　what
eagerness　I　could。

He　hooked　his　forefinger　in　the　pocket　of　my　army…shirt；　led　me　to　one
side；　and　breathed　in　my　ear　impressively　these　words：

〃He　can　out…buck　anything　in　America！〃

〃Going；　going；　goingat　twenttyfour　dollars　and　a　half；　gen〃

〃Twenty…seven！〃　I　shouted；　in　a　frenzy。

〃And　sold！〃　said　the　auctioneer；　and　passed　over　the　Genuin