down the mother lode-第8节

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Indian　Vengeance

V

〃Those　brave　old　bricks　of　forty…nine！　What　lives　they　lived！　What　deaths　they　died！　Their　ghosts　are　many。　Let　them　keep　Their　vast　possessions。　The　Piute；　The　tawny　warrior；　will　dispute　No　boundary　with　these　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。

…　Joaquin　Miller。



High　water　on　the　American　came；　usually；　when　the　first　warm　rains　melted　the　snow　on　the　mountains。

The　placer　miners　toiled　at　furious　pace　all　during　the　summer　and　fall。　The　water；　then　not　more　than　a　rivulet；　was　deflected　through　flumes　from　the　river　bed；　so　that　all　the　sand　of　the　bars　could　be　put　through　the　sluices。

The　men　worked　till　the　last　possible　moment　in　the　narrow　river　bed；　only　leaving　in　time　to　save　their　lives；　and　abandoning　everything　to　the　sudden　rush　of　the　water。　Their　sluices；　logs；　flumes；　water…wheels；　all　their　mining　paraphernalia；　sometimes　even　their　living　outfits；　were　swept　away　in　the　floods。

The　river　was　known　to　rise　from　20　to　60　feet　in　24　hours；　in　its　narrow　and　precipitous　walls。

At　flood　time；　then；　we　often　went　down　to　the　river　through　the　orchard　of　big　old　cherry　trees　planted　by　my　grandfather；　to　watch　the　mass　of　wreckage　rushing　by。　Great　logs　would　go　down　end　over　end；　mining　machinery　caught　in　the　limbs　of　uprooted　trees；　quantities　of　lumber；　and　once　a　miner's　bunk　with　sodden　gray　blanket　and　a　wet　and　frantic　squirrel　upon　it。　I　worried　for　days　over　the　fate　of　that　squirrel。

They　tell　the　story　of　a　Chinaman　floating　down　upon　a　log。

〃Hello；　John；　where　you　go？〃　was　shouted。　John　shook　his　head；　sadly。

〃Me　no　sabe！　Maybe　Saclimento　…　maybe　San　Flancisco。　No　got　time　talkee；　now。〃

*　*　*　*　*

〃Look；　the　water　is　up　to　the　top　of　the　old　stone　pier；〃　said　one　of　the　others。

〃Mammy　Kate's　'ghost'　would　have　a　hard　time　haunting　it　now；〃　I　laughed。　〃He'd　be　under　twenty　feet　of　water。〃

〃What　ghost？〃

〃Why；　the　tollkeeper's；　of　the　old　bridge。　The　one　who　hated　the　Indians　so。〃

〃The　Bear　River　tribe？〃

〃They　were　Diggers；　but　I　think　that　nobody　knew　exactly　which　ones　were　guilty。　It　was　a　fine　bridge；　the　first　suspension　bridge　in　Placer　county。〃

〃It　was　washed　away　in　the　floods　during　the　winter　of　'61　and　'62；　wasn't　it？〃

〃Yes　and　they　built　the　new　one　a　mile　up　the　river　at　Rattlesnake　Bar；　where　it　still　hangs。〃

〃What　about　the　tollkeeper？〃

Here　is　the　story　…　with　a　bit　of　a　prologue。

*　*　*　*　*

Captain　Ezekiel　Merritt；　one　of　the　〃Bear　Flag〃　party　in　Sonoma；　came　in　'49　to　try　his　luck　at　mining　on　the　Middle　Fork　of　the　American。　His　party　came　at　last；　through　a　deep　canyon　to　a　large　bar　on　which　they　found　among　unmistakable　evidences　of　a　plundered　camp　both　white　man's　and　Indian's　hair。　A　great　ash　heap　containing　calcined　bones　was　undoubtedly　the　funeral　pyre　of　white　men　and　red　men　alike；　and　some　yelling　savages　upon　the　upper　bluff　confirmed　the　tragedy　which　Captain　Merritt's　party　had　been　too　late　to　avert。

They　drove　the　Indians　away　and　Captain　Merritt　cut　into　the　bark　of　an　alder　the　name　〃Murderer's　Bar；〃　by　which　the　place　has　been　called　ever　since。

The　Merritt　party　stayed　to　work　the　bar。　Before　the　summer　passed　the　river　swarmed　with　men；　some　of　whom　joined　forces　to　make　up　mining　companies。　One　of　the　rules　of　such　a　company：　〃Any　shareholder　getting　drunk　during　the　time　he　should　be　on　duty；　shall　pay　into　the　common　treasury　of　the　company　a　fine　of　one　ounce　of　gold　dust　and　shall　forfeit　all　dividends　during　such　time。〃　These　fines；　in　some　instances；　became　so　frequent　as　to　cause　a　total　disruption　of　the　company。

The　Indians　returned　to　their　villages　in　the　hills。　The　foothill　Indians　were　not　a　particularly　intelligent　lot。　They　were　Diggers；　so　named　on　account　of　their　habits　of　digging　in　the　ground　for　roots；　and　the　larva　of　various　insects　for　food。　Eggs　of　ants；　and　the　maggots　found　in　wasp's　nests　were　considered　great　delicacies。

They　also　ate　dried　grasshoppers　and　young　clover　plants　cooked　as　greens。　They　ground　acorns　and　manzanita　berries　into　meal　with　the　stone　mortars　and　pestles　so　commonly　found　through　the　countryside　and　gathered　and　stored　great　caches　of　pine　burrs　full　of　nuts　for　the　winter。　They　were　not　as　a　rule　quarrelsome；　but　…　。

*　*　*　*　*

〃Good　morning；　Phineas。　I　have　brought　your　grub　from　Auburn；　and　here　is　the　bill。〃

It　was　a　bright　day　in　June　and　Phineas　Longley；　tollkeeper　for　the　new　suspension　bridge　on　Whiskey　Bar；　had　had　a　busy　morning。　There　was　a　barbecue　that　day　at　the　town　on　the　other　side；　and　a　stream　of　people　had　come　down　the　Whiskey　Bar　turnpike　and　crossed　the　bridge。　It　was　getting　warm　and　he　was　tired；　and　he　read　the　bill　gloomily：

〃1　bottle　gin；　6。00；　2　lbs。　biscuits；　2。50；　1　ham；　24。00；　1　bottle　pickles；　6。00；　4　fathoms　rope；　5。00；　1　watermelon；　4。00；　1　tin　pan；　16。00；　2　apples；　3。00。〃

Longley　stuffed　the　bill　in　his　pocket；　and　returned　for　his　noon　meal　to　his　log　cabin　on　shore。

It　was　quite　palatial　…　boasting　a　real　floor　made　of　puncheons；　or　hewn　logs。　A　bunk；　against　the　wall；　was　made　of　a　second　log　set　four　feet　from　the　log　wall；　with　a　hammock　mattress　of　sacking　stuffed　with　dried　bracken　stretched　between　them。　There　was　the　usual　huge　fireplace　of　granite　rocks　used　for　both　warmth　and　cooking；　and　a　box　pantry…cupboard　nailed　to　the　wall。

His　cup　and　plate　and　saucer　were　of　tin；　and　his　cutlery　was　an　iron　spoon；　a　three…tined　fork　and　a　hunting　dagger。　The　dishes　had　not　been　washed　for　weeks。

In　warm　weather　he　kept　a　few　things　in　a　small　palisade　driven　in　the　shallow　water　at　the　river　's　edge；　which　was　cool　the　year　'round。

Longley　put　his　raised　bread　dough　in　a　frying　pan；　put　a　second　pan　on　top；　raked　the　ashes　off　some　coals；　and　started　it　baking。　A　man　on　horseback；　driving　two　pack　animals　before　him；　stopped　at　the　low　doorway。

〃Hello；　John！　Glad　to　see　you；〃　called　Longley。

〃Glad　to　get　here。　Like　to　sleep　in　a　house　again。　Tired　of　shaking　the　lizards　out　of　my　blankets　every　morning。〃

〃Ever　shake　out　a　rattler？〃

〃Not　yet；　though　they　say　it's　been　done　more　than　once。〃

〃You're　just　in　time。　Turn　the　beasts　into　the　corral。　And　then　will　you　just　ride　back　to　Kitty　Douglas'　for　me？　She　promised　me　a　pie；　and　I　need　a　new　starter　for　my　sour　dough　（batter）。　By　that　time　everything　will　be　ready　to　eat。〃

〃You　mean　the　'Kitty　Douglas'　of　the　signs　I've　just　passed？〃　asked　John；　grinning。

〃Yes。　What　were　they；　today？〃

〃'Fresh　pies；　by　Kitty　Douglas；'　'Bread　made　every　day；　by　Kitty　Douglas；'　'New…laid　eggs　every　day；　by　Kitty　Douglas'！〃

〃Kitty's　cooking　is　as　fair　as　the　reputation　of　her　house　is　not。　She　charges　two　dollars　for　a　meal　of　pork　and　beans。〃

〃'Tis　the　regular　price　everywhere。　I'll　be　back　soon。〃　After　the　meal　John　went　to；　the　barbecue；　imbibing　rather　freely　of　the　fire…water　barrel　and　making　a　night　of　it。

Heavy　travel　continued　over　the　bridge　all　afternoon　…　a　prairie　schooner　with　three　oxen；　two　mules　and　a　bronco　pulling　it；　a　prospector　in　his　red　flannel　undershirt；　driving　a　laden　donkey；　a　hurdy…gurdy　troupe　on　its　way　to　the　barbecue；　a　stage…coach　drawn　by　six　half…broken　wild　horses；　an　old　Spanish　settler　on　a　beautiful；　black　thoroughbred；　a　late　arrival　from　Oregon；　mounted　upon　a　sturdy　mule　with　his　young　wife　upon　a　pillion　behind　him；　and　a　whole　drove　of　China…men　being　taken　out　to　work　a　white　man's　claim　up　on　the　Divide。

There　passed　Welch　miners；　who　were　to　be　the　fore…runners　of　quartz　mining；　miners　from　Australia；　who　were　to　replace　the　wooden　〃bateas〃　of　the　Mexicans　with　the　rocker　and　the　iron　gold…pan；　and　the　term　of　〃specimen〃　with　〃nugget。〃

Finally　came　a　hale；　old　voyaguer　whom　Longley　greeted　heartily　as　he　swung　open　the　toll　gate：

〃Greetings；　Monsieur　Francois　Gendron；　and　from　whence　came　you　today？〃　The　big　Frenchman　handed　over　the　〃six…bits〃　toll　for　himself　and　his　horse。

〃From　New　Helvetia。〃

〃Ah　…　Sacramento。〃

〃And　I　am　bound　for　the　North　Fork　Dry　Diggings。〃

〃Auburn？〃　smiled　Longley。

〃Bah！　the　new　names！　In　my　day　we　called　them　differently。　I　came　across　the　Rockies　in　'32；　Monsieur。　But　I　must　be　en　route　…　here　are　sheep　coming。〃

After　the　sheep　were　counted　and　gone；　Longley　glanced　scowlingly　across　the　bridge　and　hastily　closed　the　tollgate。　A　band　of　Indians；　several　on　ponies　but　most　of　them　on　foot；　crossed　the　bridge　and　halted　before　him。

〃Go　back；　ye　varmints！〃　growled　Longley。

〃No　Indian　pay；〃　said　the　old　chief。　〃He　go　the　bridge　and　the　road　…　no　pay。〃

〃Well；　the　Chinamen　paid。〃

〃But　the　Indians；　no！　No　pay。　Me　go　Whiskey　Bar　…　big　pow…wow。　Plenty　ox；　plenty　bear　meat；　plenty　firewater　…　〃

〃You　go　back！〃　roared　the　tollkeeper；　swearing；　〃and　go　ford　the　river。　That's　good　enough　for　a　Digger！　The　ferry's　been　taken　off；　but　the　water　is　not　so　high。〃

The　old　Indian　scowled；　and　the　young　bucks　began　a　guttural　complaint　which　he　silenced　with　a　gesture　and　a　grunt　of　command。

〃Water　is　cold；　and　those；〃　pointing　to　the　sheep；　〃have　passed。〃

〃You　go　back；　I　tell　you！　I　hate　every　filthy　brute　of　you！　My　best　pal　was　sent　to　glory　in　that　funeral　fire　on　Murderer's　Bar；　and　no　In