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We really had nothing to say。 We were like the profane man who could not
〃do the subject justice；〃 the whole situation was so painfully ridiculous
and humiliating that words were tame and we did not know where to
commence anyhow。
The joy in our hearts at our deliverance was poisoned； well…nigh
dissipated； indeed。 We presently began to grow pettish by degrees； and
sullen； and then； angry at each other； angry at ourselves； angry at
everything in general； we moodily dusted the snow from our clothing and
in unsociable single file plowed our way to the horses； unsaddled them；
and sought shelter in the station。
I have scarcely exaggerated a detail of this curious and absurd
adventure。 It occurred almost exactly as I have stated it。 We actually
went into camp in a snow…drift in a desert； at midnight in a storm；
forlorn and hopeless； within fifteen steps of a comfortable inn。
For two hours we sat apart in the station and ruminated in disgust。
The mystery was gone； now； and it was plain enough why the horses had
deserted us。 Without a doubt they were under that shed a quarter of a
minute after they had left us； and they must have overheard and enjoyed
all our confessions and lamentations。
After breakfast we felt better； and the zest of life soon came back。
The world looked bright again； and existence was as dear to us as ever。
Presently an uneasiness came over megrew upon meassailed me without
ceasing。 Alas； my regeneration was not completeI wanted to smoke！
I resisted with all my strength； but the flesh was weak。 I wandered away
alone and wrestled with myself an hour。 I recalled my promises of reform
and preached to myself persuasively； upbraidingly； exhaustively。 But it
was all vain； I shortly found myself sneaking among the snow…drifts
hunting for my pipe。 I discovered it after a considerable search； and
crept away to hide myself and enjoy it。 I remained behind the barn a
good while； asking myself how I would feel if my braver； stronger； truer
comrades should catch me in my degradation。 At last I lit the pipe； and
no human being can feel meaner and baser than I did then。 I was ashamed
of being in my own pitiful company。 Still dreading discovery； I felt
that perhaps the further side of the barn would be somewhat safer； and so
I turned the corner。 As I turned the one corner； smoking； Ollendorff
turned the other with his bottle to his lips； and between us sat
unconscious Ballou deep in a game of 〃solitaire〃 with the old greasy
cards！
Absurdity could go no farther。 We shook hands and agreed to say no more
about 〃reform〃 and 〃examples to the rising generation。〃
The station we were at was at the verge of the Twenty…six…Mile Desert。
If we had approached it half an hour earlier the night before； we must
have heard men shouting there and firing pistols； for they were expecting
some sheep drovers and their flocks and knew that they would infallibly
get lost and wander out of reach of help unless guided by sounds。
While we remained at the station； three of the drovers arrived； nearly
exhausted with their wanderings； but two others of their party were never
heard of afterward。
We reached Carson in due time； and took a rest。 This rest； together with
preparations for the journey to Esmeralda； kept us there a week； and the
delay gave us the opportunity to be present at the trial of the great
land…slide case of Hyde vs。 Morganan episode which is famous in Nevada
to this day。 After a word or two of necessary explanation； I will set
down the history of this singular affair just as it transpired。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
The mountains are very high and steep about Carson； Eagle and Washoe
Valleysvery high and very steep； and so when the snow gets to melting
off fast in the Spring and the warm surface…earth begins to moisten and
soften； the disastrous land…slides commence。 The reader cannot know what
a land…slide is； unless he has lived in that country and seen the whole
side of a mountain taken off some fine morning and deposited down in the
valley； leaving a vast； treeless； unsightly scar upon the mountain's
front to keep the circumstance fresh in his memory all the years that he
may go on living within seventy miles of that place。
General Buncombe was shipped out to Nevada in the invoice of Territorial
officers； to be United States Attorney。 He considered himself a lawyer
of parts； and he very much wanted an opportunity to manifest itpartly
for the pure gratification of it and partly because his salary was
Territorially meagre （which is a strong expression）。 Now the older
citizens of a new territory look down upon the rest of the world with a
calm； benevolent compassion； as long as it keeps out of the waywhen it
gets in the way they snub it。 Sometimes this latter takes the shape of a
practical joke。
One morning Dick Hyde rode furiously up to General Buncombe's door in
Carson city and rushed into his presence without stopping to tie his
horse。 He seemed much excited。 He told the General that he wanted him
to conduct a suit for him and would pay him five hundred dollars if he
achieved a victory。 And then； with violent gestures and a world of
profanity； he poured out his grief。 He said it was pretty well known
that for some years he had been farming （or ranching as the more
customary term is） in Washoe District； and making a successful thing of
it； and furthermore it was known that his ranch was situated just in the
edge of the valley； and that Tom Morgan owned a ranch immediately above
it on the mountain side。
And now the trouble was； that one of those hated and dreaded land…slides
had come and slid Morgan's ranch； fences； cabins； cattle； barns and
everything down on top of his ranch and exactly covered up every single
vestige of his property； to a depth of about thirty…eight feet。 Morgan
was in possession and refused to vacate the premisessaid he was
occupying his own cabin and not interfering with anybody else'sand said
the cabin was standing on the same dirt and same ranch it had always
stood on； and he would like to see anybody make him vacate。
〃And when I reminded him；〃 said Hyde； weeping； 〃that it was on top of my
ranch and that he was trespassing； he had the infernal meanness to ask me
why didn't I stay on my ranch and hold possession when I see him
a…coming！ Why didn't I stay on it； the blathering lunaticby George；
when I heard that racket and looked up that hill it was just like the
whole world was a…ripping and a…tearing down that mountain side
splinters； and cord…wood； thunder and lightning； hail and snow； odds and
ends of hay stacks； and awful clouds of dust！trees going end over end
in the air； rocks as big as a house jumping 'bout a thousand feet high
and busting into ten million pieces； cattle turned inside out and
a…coming head on with their tails hanging out between their teeth！and
in the midst of all that wrack and destruction sot that cussed Morgan on
his gate…post； a…wondering why I didn't stay and hold possession！ Laws
bless me； I just took one glimpse； General； and lit out'n the county in
three jumps exactly。
〃But what grinds me is that that Morgan hangs on there and won't mo