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safely leave me until then。〃
In another moment Rand was plunging down the 〃slide。〃 But it was
past midnight when he struggled over the last bowlder up the
ascent； dragging the half…exhausted medical wisdom of Brown's Ferry
on his arm。
〃I've been gone long； doctor；〃 said Rand feverishly； 〃and she
looked SO death…like when I left。 If we should be too late！〃
The doctor stopped suddenly； lifted his head； and pricked his ears
like a hound on a peculiar scent。 〃We ARE too late；〃 he said； with
a slight professional laugh。
Indignant and horrified； Rand turned upon him。
〃Listen；〃 said the doctor； lifting his hand。
Rand listened； so intently that he heard the familiar moan of the
river below； but the great stony field lay silent before him。 And
then； borne across its bare barren bosom； like its own
articulation； came faintly the feeble wail of a new…born babe。
III。
STORM。
The doctor hurried ahead in the darkness。 Rand； who had stopped
paralyzed at the ominous sound； started forward again mechanically；
but as the cry arose again more distinctly； and the full
significance of the doctor's words came to him； he faltered；
stopped； and； with cheeks burning with shame and helpless
indignation； sank upon a stone beside the shaft； and； burying his
face in his hands； fairly gave way to a burst of boyish tears。 Yet
even then the recollection that he had not cried since； years ago；
his mother's dying hands had joined his and Ruth's childish fingers
together； stung him fiercely； and dried his tears in angry heat
upon his cheeks。
How long he sat there； he remembered not； what he thought； he
recalled not。 But the wildest and most extravagant plans and
resolves availed him nothing in the face of this forever desecrated
home； and this shameful culmination of his ambitious life on the
mountain。 Once he thought of flight； but the reflection that he
would still abandon his brother to shame； perhaps a self…contented
shame； checked him hopelessly。 Could he avert the future？ He
MUST； but how？ Yet he could only sit and stare into the darkness
in dumb abstraction。
Sitting there； his eyes fell upon a peculiar object in a crevice of
the ledge beside the shaft。 It was the tin pail containing his
dinner； which； according to their custom； it was the duty of the
brother who staid above ground to prepare and place for the brother
who worked below。 Ruth must； consequently； have put it there
before he left that morning； and Rand had overlooked it while
sharing the repast of the strangers at noon。 At the sight of this
dumb witness of their mutual cares and labors； Rand sighed； half in
brotherly sorrow； half in a selfish sense of injury done him。
He took up the pail mechanically； removed its cover； andstarted；
for on top of the carefully bestowed provisions lay a little note；
addressed to him in Ruth's peculiar scrawl。
He opened it with feverish hands； held it in the light of the
peaceful moon； and read as follows：
DEAR； DEAR BROTHER；When you read this； I shall be far away。 I go
because I shall not stay to disgrace you； and because the girl that
I brought trouble upon has gone away too； to hide her disgrace and
mine； and where she goes； Rand； I ought to follow her； and； please
God； I will！ I am not as wise or as good as you are； but it seems
the best I can do； and God bless you； dear old Randy； boy！ Times
and times again I've wanted to tell you all； and reckoned to do so；
but whether you was sitting before me in the cabin； or working
beside me in the drift； I couldn't get to look upon your honest
face； dear brother； and say what things I'd been keeping from you
so long。 I'll stay away until I've done what I ought to do； and if
you can say； 〃Come； Ruth；〃 I will come； but； until you can say it；
the mountain is yours； Randy； boy； the mine is yours； the cabin is
yours； ALL is yours。 Rub out the old chalk…marks； Rand； as I rub
them out here in my＇A few words here were blurred and indistinct；
as if the moon had suddenly become dim…eyed too＇。 God bless you；
brother！
P。S。You know I mean Mornie all the time。 It's she I'm going to
seek； but don't you think so bad of her as you do； I am so much
worse than she。 I wanted to tell you that all along； but I didn't
dare。 She's run away from the Ferry half crazy； said she was going
to Sacramento； and I am going there to find her alive or dead。
Forgive me； brother！ Don't throw this down right away； hold it in
your hand a moment； Randy； boy； and try hard to think it's my hand
in yours。 And so good…by； and God bless you； old Randy！
From your loving brother；
RUTH。
A deep sense of relief overpowered every other feeling in Rand's
breast。 It was clear that Ruth had not yet discovered the truth of
Mornie's flight： he was on his way to Sacramento； and before he
could return； Mornie could be removed。 Once despatched in some
other direction； with Ruth once more returned and under his
brother's guidance； the separation could be made easy and final。
There was evidently no marriage as yet； and now； the fear of an
immediate meeting over； there should be none。 For Rand had already
feared this； had recalled the few infelicitous relations； legal and
illegal； which were common to the adjoining camp；the flagrantly
miserable life of the husband of a San Francisco anonyma who lived
in style at the Ferry； the shameful carousals and more shameful
quarrels of the Frenchman and Mexican woman who 〃kept house〃 at
〃the Crossing；〃 the awful spectacle of the three half…bred Indian
children who played before the cabin of a fellow miner and
townsman。 Thank Heaven； the Eagle's Nest on Table Mountain should
never be pointed at from the valley as another
A heavy hand upon his arm brought him trembling to his feet。 He
turned； and met the half…anxious； half…contemptuous glance of the
doctor。
〃I'm sorry to disturb you；〃 he said dryly； 〃but it's about time you
or somebody else put in an appearance at that cabin。 Luckily for
HER； she's one woman in a thousand； has had her wits about her
better than some folks I know； and has left me little to do but
make her comfortable。 But she's gone through too much；fought her
little fight too gallantly；is altogether too much of a trump to
be played off upon now。 So rise up out of that； young man； pick up
your scattered faculties； and fetch a womansome sensible creature
of her own sexto look after her； for； without wishing to be
personal； I'm dd if I trust her to the likes of you。〃
There was no mistaking Dr。 Duchesne' s voice and manner； and Rand
was affected by it； as most people were throughout the valley of
the Stanislaus。 But he turned upon him his frank and boyish face；
and said simply； 〃But I don't know any woman； or where to get one。〃
The doctor looked at him again。 〃Well； I'll find you some one；〃 he
said； softening。
〃Thank you！〃 said Rand。
The doctor was disappearing。 With an effort Rand recalled him。
〃One moment； doctor。〃 He hesitated； and his cheeks were glowing。
〃You'll please say nothing about this down there〃he pointed to
the valley〃for a time。 And you'll say to the woman you send〃
Dr。 Duchesne； whose resolute lips were