The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-02
BRET HARTE'S NEW STORY.
hLTr-A CtLTRORNTA ROMANCE.
PART CHAPTER I

road streams OH and upward Ike tho einuOus
trail OF fiery rocket until it II cXtinguishcd In
tho blue shadows OF tho Coast Range. there Is on
cmbaycd terrace near tho summit hodecd by
dwarf frs. At every bend of the hcat-ladcn
road the oye rested upon it wstfully; all along
the flank Of the mountain, which seemed to
pant and culver in the oven-likc air; through
rising dust. tho slow creaking OF dragging
wheels. tho monotonous cry OF tired springs.
and tho muflled beat OF plungng hoofs IL held
out promise OF sheltered GOODNESS and green
siloncos beyond. Sunburned and anxious faces
yoRrned toward 1t from the dizzy. swaying
tops OF stage coaches from tagging teams far
below from tho binding white canvas covers
OF mountain schooners." and from scorching
saddles that seem TO weigh down the scram-
bling sweating animals beneath. But It
would seem that the hone was vain. the
promise Elusive. When the terrace was reached
Il appeared not only to have caught and gath
cred all the heat of the valley below. but to
have evolved q Are OF its own from
some hidden cratcr-lko source unknown.
Nevertheless, instead of.prostrating and en-
ervating man and beast. 1t was said to
have induced the widest exaltation. The
heated air was filed and sitting with
resinous exhalations. The dolirious spices of
balm. bay. spruce, juniper. yerba buena. wild
syrnga. and strange aromatic herbs as yet UNI
classified, distilled and evaporated in that
mighty heat, and seemed to fire with mdsum-
mer madness all who breathed theirfumes. They
stung. smarted. stimulated. intoxicated. 1t
was said that the most jadcd and foot-sore
horses became furious and ungovernabe under
their influence; weared teamsters and mule
toers who had exhausted their profanity in the
ascent drank fresh draughts Of inspiration in
this fiery air. extended their vocabulary. and
created new and startling forms Of objurGation.
1t is recorded that one bibuous stage driver
exhausted description and condensed its vir-
tues in a single phrase: Gin and ginger"
This felicitous epithet. flung out in generous
comparison with his favorite drink rum and
gum" chung to 1t ever after.
Such was the current comment on this vale Of
spices. Like most human criticism II was
hasty and superficial. No one yet had been
known to have penetrated deeply its mysteri-
GUS recessos. 1t was still far below the summit
and its wayside inn. 1t had escaped tho in
truding foot of hunter and prospector: and the
inquisitive patrol of the County Surveyor had
only skrted its boundary. Ii remained for Mr.
Lance Harriott to complete its exploration.
His reasons for SO doing were simple He had
made the journey thither underneath tho
stage COACH and clnging to its axle He had
chosen this hazardous mode of conveyance at
night as the coach crept by his place of con-
cealment in the wayside brush. to elude the
Sheriff Of Monterey County and his posse. who
were after him. He had not made himself
known to his fellow passengers as they already
knew him as gambler. an outlaw. and desper-
ado; he deemed it unwise to present himself in
his newer reputation OF a man who had just slain
brother gambler in quarrel. and for whom
a reward was offered. He slipped from the axle
as the stage coach swirled past the brushing
branches of fir. and for an instant lay I'M
noticed, scarcely distinguishable mound of
dust in the broken burrows of the road. Then.
moro like a boast than man, he crept on his
hands and knees into the steaming under
brush. Here he lay still until the catter OF
harness and the sound Of voices faded in the
distance. Had he boen followed II would have
been difficult to detect in that inert mass Of
rags any scmbancc to a known form or figure
hideous reddish mask of dust and clay oh
liberated his face; his hands were shapclcss
stumps exaggerated in his trailing sleeves
And when he rose. staggering like a drunken
man. and plunged wildly into the recesses Of
the wood, Il cloud OF dust followed him. and
pieces and patches Of his frayed and rotten
garments chung to the impeding branches
Twice he fell. but. maddened and upheld by
the snartlng spices and stimulating aroma Of
the air. he kept on his course.
Gradually the heat became less oppressive {:
once when he stopped and leaned exhaustcdly
against q saping, he fancied he saw the zephyr
no could not yet feel in the gittering and trcm-
bling Of leaves in tho distance before him.
Again the deep stiffness was moved with faint
signing rustic. and he knew he must be near
Ing the edge of the thiclct. The spell of silence
thus broken was followed by a fainter more
musical interruption-tho CLASSY tinkle of
waterl A step further his foot trembed on the
verge OF slight ravine, still closely eanopied
by the interlacing boughs overhead. A tiny
stream that he could have damned with his
hand yet fingered in this parched red cash in
the hillside and trckled into a deep, irrgu-
lar. wcli-lIke cavity. that again overllowed and
sent its slight surplus on. 1t had been the
luxurious retreat Of many n spotted trout: 1t
vas to BIO the bath Of Lance IIarriott Without
\ moments hesitation. without removing u
single garment, he slipped cautiously into it,
~ II fearful OF losing single drop. His head
Disappeared from tho level Of tho bank: the
solitude was again unbroken. Only two objects
remained upon the edge of tho ravne-his re-
voiver and tobacco pouch.
few minutes elapsed. fearless blue Jay
llightod on the bank and made u prospecting.
peck ut the tobacco pouch 1t yielded in favor
Of gopher who ndAaVorcd to draw it toward
us nolc. Dut IN turn EaHc way TO red squirrel.
whose attention was divided however, between
tho pouch and the revolver. which he regarded
with mschicvous fascination. Then there was
n splash grunt. n sudden dispersion OF ami
mated nature and the head Of Mr.. LANCE lIar-
riott appeared above the bank. 1t was a start
hing transformation. Not only that he had
BY this Wholesale process washed himself and
his light drill" garments entirely clean, but
that he had apparently by the same operation.
morally coHnscd hmseit. and loft every stain
and ugly blot Of his late misdocds and repu-
trtion in his bath. His face abbott scratched
here and there was rosy, round. shining with
irreproeilble good humor and youthful lcyity.
His large blue eyes wero nfantino in their in.
nOeent surprise and thOughtlossncss. Drip
ping yet with water and painting, he rested
his elbows lazily on the bank and became
INSTANTLY absorbed wi h boys delight in the
movements Of tho gopher. who. after the first
slarm. returned cautiously to abduct the to-
bacco pouch. II any familiar had failed to do
:oct Lance Harriott in this hibiscus masque-
RADIO Of dust and CRIME and Ntters. still less
would any passing stranger have recognized in
this blond fann the possible outcast and muir
Lprcr And when with n swirl of his gpattrrinn