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Hooker。 But above all and before all was the wild desire to get
away from these maddening streets and their bewildering occupants。
He ran back to the baker's； gathered his purchases together； took
advantage of a friendly doorway to strap them on his boyish
shoulders； slipped into a side street； and struck out at once for
the outskirts。
It had been his first intention to take stage to the nearest mining
district； but the diminution of his small capital forbade that
outlay； and he decided to walk there by the highroad； of whose
general direction he had informed himself。 In half an hour the
lights of the flat； struggling city； and their reflection in the
shallow； turbid river before it； had sunk well behind him。 The air
was cool and soft； a yellow moon swam in the slight haze that rose
above the tules； in the distance a few scattered cottonwoods and
sycamores marked like sentinels the road。 When he had walked some
distance he sat down beneath one of them to make a frugal supper
from the dry rations in his pack； but in the absence of any spring
he was forced to quench his thirst with a glass of water in a
wayside tavern。 Here he was good…humoredly offered something
stronger； which he declined； and replied to certain curious
interrogations by saying that he expected to overtake his friends
in a wagon further on。 A new distrust of mankind had begun to make
the boy an adept in innocent falsehood； the more deceptive as his
careless； cheerful manner； the result of his relief at leaving the
city； and his perfect ease in the loving companionship of night and
nature； certainly gave no indication of his homelessness and
poverty。
It was long past midnight； when； weary in body； but still hopeful
and happy in mind； he turned off the dusty road into a vast rolling
expanse of wild oats； with the same sense of security of rest as a
traveler to his inn。 Here； completely screened from view by the
tall stalks of grain that rose thickly around him to the height of
a man's shoulder； he beat down a few of them for a bed； on which he
deposited his blanket。 Placing his pack for a pillow； he curled
himself up in his blanket； and speedily fell asleep。
He awoke at sunrise； refreshed； invigorated； and hungry。 But he
was forced to defer his first self…prepared breakfast until he had
reached water； and a less dangerous place than the wild…oat field
to build his first camp fire。 This he found a mile further on；
near some dwarf willows on the bank of a half…dry stream。 Of his
various efforts to prepare his first meal； the fire was the most
successful； the coffee was somewhat too substantially thick； and
the bacon and herring lacked definiteness of quality from having
been cooked in the same vessel。 In this boyish picnic he missed
Susy； and recalled； perhaps a little bitterly； her coldness at
parting。 But the novelty of his situation； the brilliant sunshine
and sense of freedom； and the road already awakening to dusty life
with passing teams； dismissed everything but the future from his
mind。 Readjusting his pack； he stepped on cheerily。 At noon he
was overtaken by a teamster； who in return for a match to light his
pipe gave him a lift of a dozen miles。 It is to be feared that
Clarence's account of himself was equally fanciful with his
previous story； and that the teamster parted from him with a
genuine regret； and a hope that he would soon be overtaken by his
friends along the road。 〃And mind that you ain't such a fool agin
to let 'em make you tote their dod…blasted tools fur them！〃 he
added unsuspectingly； pointing to Clarence's mining outfit。 Thus
saved the heaviest part of the day's journey； for the road was
continually rising from the plains during the last six miles；
Clarence was yet able to cover a considerable distance on foot
before he halted for supper。 Here he was again fortunate。 An
empty lumber team watering at the same spring； its driver offered
to take Clarence's purchasesfor the boy had profited by his late
friend's suggestion to personally detach himself from his
equipmentto Buckeye Mills for a dollar； which would also include
a 〃shakedown passage〃 for himself on the floor of the wagon。 〃I
reckon you've been foolin' away in Sacramento the money yer parents
give yer for return stage fare； eh？ Don't lie； sonny；〃 he added
grimly； as the now artful Clarence smiled diplomatically； 〃I've
been thar myself！〃 Luckily； the excuse that he was 〃tired and
sleepy〃 prevented further dangerous questioning； and the boy was
soon really in deep slumber on the wagon floor。
He awoke betimes to find himself already in the mountains。 Buckeye
Mills was a straggling settlement； and Clarence prudently stopped
any embarrassing inquiry from his friend by dropping off the wagon
with his equipment as they entered it； and hurriedly saying 〃Good…
by〃 from a crossroad through the woods。 He had learned that the
nearest mining camp was five miles away； and its direction was
indicated by a long wooden 〃flume；〃 or water…way； that alternately
appeared and disappeared on the flank of the mountain opposite。
The cooler and drier air； the grateful shadow of pine and bay； and
the spicy balsamic odors that everywhere greeted him； thrilled and
exhilarated him。 The trail plunging sometimes into an undisturbed
forest； he started the birds before him like a flight of arrows
through its dim recesses； at times he hung breathlessly over the
blue depths of canyons where the same forests were repeated a
thousand feet below。 Towards noon he struck into a rude road
evidently the thoroughfare of the localityand was surprised to
find that it； as well as the adjacent soil wherever disturbed； was
a deep Indian red。 Everywhere； along its sides； powdering the
banks and boles of trees with its ruddy stain； in mounds and
hillocks of piled dirt on the road； or in liquid paint…like pools；
when a trickling stream had formed a gutter across it； there was
always the same deep sanguinary color。 Once or twice it became
more vivid in contrast with the white teeth of quartz that peeped
through it from the hillside or crossed the road in crumbled
strata。 One of those pieces Clarence picked up with a quickening
pulse。 It was veined and streaked with shining mica and tiny
glittering cubes of mineral that LOOKED like gold！
The road now began to descend towards a winding stream； shrunken by
drought and ditching； that glared dazzingly in the sunlight from
its white bars of sand； or glistened in shining sheets and
channels。 Along its banks； and even encroaching upon its bed； were
scattered a few mud cabins； strange…looking wooden troughs and
gutters； and here and there； glancing through the leaves； the white
canvas of tents。 The stumps of felled trees and blackened spaces；
as of recent fires； marked the stream on either side。 A sudden
sense of disappointment overcame Clarence。 It looked vulgar；
common； and worse than allFAMILIAR。 It was like the unlovely
outskirts of a dozen other prosaic settlements he had seen in less
romantic localities。 In that muddy red stream； pouring out of a
wooden gutter； in which three or four bearded； slouching； half…
naked figures were raking