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heard that prospecting was a religious occupation before。 But I
shouldn't wonder if you're right； Barker boy。 So let's liquor up。〃
Nevertheless he did not move； nor did the others。 The fire leaped
higher； bringing out the rude rafters and sternly economic details
of the rough cabin； and making the occupants in their seats before
the fire look gigantic by contrast。
〃Who shut the door？〃 said Demorest after a pause。
〃I did；〃 said Barker。 〃I reckoned it was getting cold。〃
〃Better open it again； now that the fire's blazing。 It will light
the way if any of the men from below want to drop in this evening。〃
Stacy stared at his companion。 〃I thought that it was understood
that we were giving them that dinner at Boomville tomorrow night；
so that we might have the last evening here by ourselves in peace
and quietness？〃
〃Yes； but if any one DID want to come it would seem churlish to
shut him out；〃 said Demorest。
〃I reckon you're feeling very much as I am；〃 said Stacy； 〃that this
good fortune is rather crowding to us three alone。 For myself； I
know；〃 he continued； with a backward glance towards a blanketed；
covered pile in the corner of the cabin； 〃that I feel rather
oppressed byby its specific gravity； I calculateand sort of
crampy and twitchy in the legs； as if I ought to 'lite' out and do
something； and yet it holds me here。 All the same； I doubt if
anybody will come upexcept from curiosity。 Our luck has made
them rather sore down the hill； for all they're coming to the
dinner to…morrow。〃
〃That's only human nature；〃 said Demorest。
〃But；〃 said Barker eagerly； 〃what does it mean？ Why； only this
afternoon； when I was passing the 'Old Kentuck' tunnel； where those
Marshalls have been grubbing along for four years without making a
single strike； I felt ashamed to look at them； and as they barely
nodded to me I slinked by as if I had done them an injury。 I don't
understand it。〃
〃It somehow does not seem to square with this 'gift of God' idea of
yours； does it？〃 said Stacy。 〃But we'll open the door and give
them a show。〃
As he did so it seemed as if the night were their only guest； and
had been waiting on the threshold to now enter bodily and pervade
all things with its presence。 With that cool； fragrant inflow of
air they breathed freely。 The red edge had gone from Black Spur；
but it was even more clearly defined against the sky in its
towering blackness。 The sky itself had grown lighter； although the
stars still seemed mere reflections of the solitary pin…points of
light scattered along the concave valley below。 Mingling with the
cooler； restful air of the summit； yet penetratingly distinct from
it； arose the stimulating breath of the pines below； still hot and
panting from the day…long sun。 The silence was intense。 The far…
off barking of a dog on the invisible river…bar nearly a mile
beneath them came to them like a sound in a dream。 They had risen；
and； standing in the doorway； by common consent turned their faces
to the east。 It was the frequent attitude of the home…remembering
miner； and it gave him the crowning glory of the view。 For； beyond
the pine…hearsed summits； rarely seen except against the evening
sky； lay a thin； white cloud like a dropped portion of the Milky
Way。 Faint with an indescribable pallor； remote yet distinct
enough to assert itself above and beyond all surrounding objects；
it was always there。 It was the snow…line of the Sierras。
They turned away and silently reseated themselves； the same thought
in the minds of each。 Here was something they could not take away；
something to be left forever and irretrievably behind；left with
the healthy life they had been leading； the cheerful endeavor； the
undying hopefulness which it had fostered and blessed。 Was what
they WERE taking away worth it？ And oddly enough； frank and
outspoken as they had always been to each other； that common
thought remained unuttered。 Even Barker was silent； perhaps he was
also thinking of Kitty。
Suddenly two figures appeared in the very doorway of the cabin。
The effect was startling upon the partners； who had only just
reseated themselves； and for a moment they had forgotten that the
narrow band of light which shot forth from the open door rendered
the darkness on either side of it more impenetrable； and that out
of this darkness； although themselves guided by the light； the
figures had just emerged。 Yet one was familiar enough。 It was the
Hill drunkard； Dick Hall； or； as he was called； 〃Whiskey Dick；〃 or；
indicated still more succinctly by the Hill humorists； 〃Alky Hall。〃
Everybody had seen that sodden； puffy； but good…humored face；
everybody had felt the fiery exhalations of that enormous red
beard； which always seemed to be kept in a state of moist； unkempt
luxuriance by liquor； everybody knew the absurd dignity of manner
and attempted precision of statement with which he was wont to
disguise his frequent excesses。 Very few； however； knew； or cared
to know； the pathetic weariness and chilling horror that sometimes
looked out of those bloodshot eyes。
He was evidently equally unprepared for the three silent seated
figures before the door； and for a moment looked at them blankly
with the doubts of a frequently deceived perception。 Was he sure
that they were quite real？ He had not dared to look at his
companion for verification； but smiled vaguely。
〃Good…evening；〃 said Demorest pleasantly。
Whiskey Dick's face brightened。 〃Good…evenin'； good…evenin'
yourselves； boysand see how you like it！ Lemme interdrush my ole
frien' William J。 Steptoe； of Red Gulch。 StepshoSteptoeis
shtayish stay〃 He stopped； hiccupped； waved his hand gravely；
and with an air of reproachful dignity concluded； 〃sojourning for
the present on the Bar。 We wish to offer our congrashulashen and
felishfelish〃 He paused again； and； leaning against the door…
post； added severely； 〃itations。〃
His companion； however； laughed coarsely； and； pushing past Dick；
entered the cabin。 He was a short； powerful man； with a closely
cropped crust of beard and hair that seemed to adhere to his round
head like moss or lichen。 He cast a glancefurtive rather than
curious around the cabin； and said； with a familiarity that had not
even good humor to excuse it； 〃So you're the gay galoots who've
made the big strike？ Thought I'd meander up the Hill with this old
bloat Alky； and drop in to see the show。 And here you are； feeling
your oats； eh？ and not caring any particular G…d dn if school
keeps or not。〃
〃Show Mr。 Steptoethe whiskey；〃 said Demorest to Stacy。 Then
quietly addressing Dick； but ignoring Steptoe as completely as
Steptoe had ignored his unfortunate companion； he said； 〃You quite
startled us at first。 We did not see you come up the trail。〃
〃No。 We came up the back trail to please Steptoe； who wanted to
see round the cabin；〃 said Dick； glancing nervousl