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Once more native imbecility had carried the day； and I had lost a
million！ It was the 〃blind lead〃 over again。
Let us not dwell on this miserable matter。 If I were inventing these
things； I could be wonderfully humorous over them； but they are too true
to be talked of with hearty levity； even at this distant day。 ＇True； and
yet not exactly as given in the above figures； possibly。 I saw Marshall；
months afterward； and although he had plenty of money he did not claim to
have captured an entire million。 In fact I gathered that he had not then
received 50；000。 Beyond that figure his fortune appeared to consist of
uncertain vast expectations rather than prodigious certainties。 However；
when the above item appeared in print I put full faith in it； and
incontinently wilted and went to seed under it。＇ Suffice it that I so
lost heart； and so yielded myself up to repinings and sighings and
foolish regrets； that I neglected my duties and became about worthless；
as a reporter for a brisk newspaper。 And at last one of the proprietors
took me aside； with a charity I still remember with considerable respect；
and gave me an opportunity to resign my berth and so save myself the
disgrace of a dismissal。
CHAPTER LIX。
For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era。 C。 H。 Webb had
established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian； but
high merit was no guaranty of success； it languished； and he sold out to
three printers； and Bret Harte became editor at 20 a week； and I was
employed to contribute an article a week at 12。 But the journal still
languished； and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden； a rich man and a
pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive
luxury without much caring about the cost of it。 When he grew tired of
the novelty； he re…sold to the printers； the paper presently died a
peaceful death； and I was out of work again。 I would not mention these
things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs
that characterize life on the Pacific coast。 A man could hardly stumble
into such a variety of queer vicissitudes in any other country。
For two months my sole occupation was avoiding acquaintances； for during
that time I did not earn a penny； or buy an article of any kind； or pay
my board。 I became a very adept at 〃slinking。〃 I slunk from back street
to back street； I slunk away from approaching faces that looked familiar；
I slunk to my meals； ate them humbly and with a mute apology for every
mouthful I robbed my generous landlady of； and at midnight； after
wanderings that were but slinkings away from cheerfulness and light； I
slunk to my bed。 I felt meaner； and lowlier and more despicable than the
worms。 During all this time I had but one piece of moneya silver ten
cent pieceand I held to it and would not spend it on any account； lest
the consciousness coming strong upon me that I was entirely penniless；
might suggest suicide。 I had pawned every thing but the clothes I had
on； so I clung to my dime desperately； till it was smooth with handling。
However； I am forgetting。 I did have one other occupation beside that of
〃slinking。〃 It was the entertaining of a collector （and being
entertained by him；） who had in his hands the Virginia banker's bill for
forty…six dollars which I had loaned my schoolmate； the 〃Prodigal。〃 This
man used to call regularly once a week and dun me； and sometimes oftener。
He did it from sheer force of habit； for he knew he could get nothing。
He would get out his bill； calculate the interest for me； at five per
cent a month； and show me clearly that there was no attempt at fraud in
it and no mistakes； and then plead； and argue and dun with all his might
for any sumany little trifleeven a dollareven half a dollar； on
account。 Then his duty was accomplished and his conscience free。 He
immediately dropped the subject there always； got out a couple of cigars
and divided； put his feet in the window； and then we would have a long；
luxurious talk about everything and everybody； and he would furnish me a
world of curious dunning adventures out of the ample store in his memory。
By and by he would clap his hat on his head； shake hands and say briskly：
〃Well； business is businesscan't stay with you always！〃and was off in
a second。
The idea of pining for a dun！ And yet I used to long for him to come；
and would get as uneasy as any mother if the day went by without his
visit； when I was expecting him。 But he never collected that bill； at
last nor any part of it。 I lived to pay it to the banker myself。
Misery loves company。 Now and then at night； in out…of…the way； dimly
lighted places； I found myself happening on another child of misfortune。
He looked so seedy and forlorn； so homeless and friendless and forsaken；
that I yearned toward him as a brother。 I wanted to claim kinship with
him and go about and enjoy our wretchedness together。 The drawing toward
each other must have been mutual； at any rate we got to falling together
oftener； though still seemingly by accident； and although we did not
speak or evince any recognition； I think the dull anxiety passed out of
both of us when we saw each other； and then for several hours we would
idle along contentedly； wide apart； and glancing furtively in at home
lights and fireside gatherings； out of the night shadows； and very much
enjoying our dumb companionship。
Finally we spoke； and were inseparable after that。 For our woes were
identical； almost。 He had been a reporter too； and lost his berth； and
this was his experience； as nearly as I can recollect it。 After losing
his berth he had gone down； down； down； with never a halt： from a
boarding house on Russian Hill to a boarding house in Kearney street；
from thence to Dupont； from thence to a low sailor den； and from thence
to lodgings in goods boxes and empty hogsheads near the wharves。 Then；
for a while； he had gained a meagre living by sewing up bursted sacks of
grain on the piers； when that failed he had found food here and there as
chance threw it in his way。 He had ceased to show his face in daylight；
now； for a reporter knows everybody； rich and poor； high and low； and
cannot well avoid familiar faces in the broad light of day。
This mendicant BlucherI call him that for conveniencewas a splendid
creature。 He was full of hope； pluck and philosophy； he was well read
and a man of cultivated taste； he had a bright wit and was a master of
satire； his kindliness and his generous spirit made him royal in my eyes
and changed his curb…stone seat to a throne and his damaged hat to a
crown。
He had an adventure； once； which sticks fast in my memory as the most
pleasantly grotesque that ever touched my sympathies。 He had been
without a penny for two months。 He had shirked about obscure streets；
among friendly dim lights； till the thing had become second nature to
him。 But at last he was driven abroad in daylight。 The cause was
sufficient； he had not tasted food for forty…eight hours； and he could
not endure the misery of his hunger in idle hiding。 He came along a back
street； glowering at the loaves in bake