roughing it-第42章

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foot　of　water　in　the　insignificant　riveror　maybe　two　feet；　the　stream
was　not　wider　than　a　back　alley　in　a　village；　and　its　banks　were　scarcely
higher　than　a　man's　head。

So；　where　was　the　flood　to　come　from？　　We　canvassed　the　subject　awhile
and　then　concluded　it　was　a　ruse；　and　that　the　Indians　had　some　better
reason　for　leaving　in　a　hurry　than　fears　of　a　flood　in　such　an
exceedingly　dry　time。

At　seven　in　the　evening　we　went　to　bed　in　the　second　storywith　our
clothes　on；　as　usual；　and　all　three　in　the　same　bed；　for　every　available
space　on　the　floors；　chairs；　etc。；　was　in　request；　and　even　then　there
was　barely　room　for　the　housing　of　the　inn's　guests。　　An　hour　later　we
were　awakened　by　a　great　turmoil；　and　springing　out　of　bed　we　picked　our
way　nimbly　among　the　ranks　of　snoring　teamsters　on　the　floor　and　got　to
the　front　windows　of　the　long　room。　　A　glance　revealed　a　strange
spectacle；　under　the　moonlight。　　The　crooked　Carson　was　full　to　the　brim；
and　its　waters　were　raging　and　foaming　in　the　wildest　waysweeping
around　the　sharp　bends　at　a　furious　speed；　and　bearing　on　their　surface　a
chaos　of　logs；　brush　and　all　sorts　of　rubbish。　　A　depression；　where　its
bed　had　once　been；　in　other　times；　was　already　filling；　and　in　one　or　two
places　the　water　was　beginning　to　wash　over　the　main　bank。　　Men　were
flying　hither　and　thither；　bringing　cattle　and　wagons　close　up　to　the
house；　for　the　spot　of　high　ground　on　which　it　stood　extended　only　some
thirty　feet　in　front　and　about　a　hundred　in　the　rear。　　Close　to　the　old
river　bed　just　spoken　of；　stood　a　little　log　stable；　and　in　this　our
horses　were　lodged。

While　we　looked；　the　waters　increased　so　fast　in　this　place　that　in　a　few
minutes　a　torrent　was　roaring　by　the　little　stable　and　its　margin
encroaching　steadily　on　the　logs。　　We　suddenly　realized　that　this　flood
was　not　a　mere　holiday　spectacle；　but　meant　damageand　not　only　to　the
small　log　stable　but　to　the　Overland　buildings　close　to　the　main　river；
for　the　waves　had　now　come　ashore　and　were　creeping　about　the　foundations
and　invading　the　great　hay…corral　adjoining。　　We　ran　down　and　joined　the
crowd　of　excited　men　and　frightened　animals。　　We　waded　knee…deep　into　the
log　stable；　unfastened　the　horses　and　waded　out　almost　waist…deep；　so
fast　the　waters　increased。　　Then　the　crowd　rushed　in　a　body　to　the　hay…
corral　and　began　to　tumble　down　the　huge　stacks　of　baled　hay　and　roll　the
bales　up　on　the　high　ground　by　the　house。　　Meantime　it　was　discovered
that　Owens；　an　overland　driver；　was　missing；　and　a　man　ran　to　the　large
stable；　and　wading　in；　boot…top　deep；　discovered　him　asleep　in　his　bed；
awoke　him；　and　waded　out　again。　　But　Owens　was　drowsy　and　resumed　his
nap；　but　only　for　a　minute　or　two；　for　presently　he　turned　in　his　bed；
his　hand　dropped　over　the　side　and　came　in　contact　with　the　cold　water！
It　was　up　level　with　the　mattress！　　He　waded　out；　breast…deep；　almost；
and　the　next　moment　the　sun…burned　bricks　melted　down　like　sugar　and　the
big　building　crumbled　to　a　ruin　and　was　washed　away　in　a　twinkling。

At　eleven　o'clock　only　the　roof　of　the　little　log　stable　was　out　of
water；　and　our　inn　was　on　an　island　in　mid…ocean。　　As　far　as　the　eye
could　reach；　in　the　moonlight；　there　was　no　desert　visible；　but　only　a
level　waste　of　shining　water。　　The　Indians　were　true　prophets；　but　how
did　they　get　their　information？　　I　am　not　able　to　answer　the　question。
We　remained　cooped　up　eight　days　and　nights　with　that　curious　crew。
Swearing；　drinking　and　card　playing　were　the　order　of　the　day；　and
occasionally　a　fight　was　thrown　in　for　variety。　　Dirt　and　verminbut　let
us　forget　those　features；　their　profusion　is　simply　inconceivableit　is
better　that　they　remain　so。

There　were　two　menhowever；　this　chapter　is　long　enough。




CHAPTER　XXXI。

There　were　two　men　in　the　company　who　caused　me　particular　discomfort。
One　was　a　little　Swede；　about　twenty…five　years　old；　who　knew　only　one
song；　and　he　was　forever　singing　it。　　By　day　we　were　all　crowded　into　one
small；　stifling　bar…room；　and　so　there　was　no　escaping　this　person's
music。　　Through　all　the　profanity；　whisky…guzzling；　〃old　sledge〃　and
quarreling；　his　monotonous　song　meandered　with　never　a　variation　in　its
tiresome　sameness；　and　it　seemed　to　me；　at　last；　that　I　would　be　content
to　die；　in　order　to　be　rid　of　the　torture。　　The　other　man　was　a　stalwart
ruffian　called　〃Arkansas；〃　who　carried　two　revolvers　in　his　belt　and　a
bowie　knife　projecting　from　his　boot；　and　who　was　always　drunk　and　always
suffering　for　a　fight。　　But　he　was　so　feared；　that　nobody　would
accommodate　him。　　He　would　try　all　manner　of　little　wary　ruses　to　entrap
somebody　into　an　offensive　remark；　and　his　face　would　light　up　now　and
then　when　he　fancied　he　was　fairly　on　the　scent　of　a　fight；　but
invariably　his　victim　would　elude　his　toils　and　then　he　would　show　a
disappointment　that　was　almost　pathetic。　　The　landlord；　Johnson；　was　a
meek；　well…meaning　fellow；　and　Arkansas　fastened　on　him　early；　as　a
promising　subject；　and　gave　him　no　rest　day　or　night；　for　awhile。　　On　the
fourth　morning；　Arkansas　got　drunk　and　sat　himself　down　to　wait　for　an
opportunity。　　Presently　Johnson　came　in；　just　comfortably　sociable　with
whisky；　and　said：

〃I　reckon　the　Pennsylvania　'lection〃

Arkansas　raised　his　finger　impressively　and　Johnson　stopped。　　Arkansas
rose　unsteadily　and　confronted　him。　　Said　he：

〃Wha…what　do　you　know　aabout　Pennsylvania？　　Answer　me　that。　　Whawhat
do　you　know　'bout　Pennsylvania？〃

〃I　was　only　goin'　to　say〃

〃You　was　only　goin'　to　say。　　You　was！　　You　was　only　goin'　to　saywhat
was　you　goin'　to　say？　　That's　it！　　That's　what　I　want　to　know。　　I　want　to
know　whawhat　you　（'ic）　what　you　know　about　Pennsylvania；　since　you're
makin'　yourself　so　d…d　free。　　Answer　me　that！〃

〃Mr。　Arkansas；　if　you'd　only　let　me〃

〃Who's　a　henderin'　you？　　Don't　you　insinuate　nothing　agin　me！don't　you
do　it。　　Don't　you　come　in　here　bullyin'　around；　and　cussin'　and　goin'　on
like　a　lunaticdon't　you　do　it。　　'Coz　I　won't　stand　it。　　If　fight's　what
you　want；　out　with　it！　　I'm　your　man！　　Out　with　it！〃

Said　Johnson；　backing　into　a　corner；　Arkansas　following；　menacingly：

〃Why；　I　never　said　nothing；　Mr。　Arkansas。　　You　don't　give　a　man　no
chance。　　I　was　only　goin'　to　say　that　Pennsylvania　was　goin'　to　have　an
election　next　weekthat　was　allthat　was　everything　I　was　goin'　to　say
I　wish　I　may　never　stir　if　it　wasn't。〃

〃Well　then　why　d'n't　you　say　it？　　What　did　you　come　swellin'　around　that
way　for；　and　tryin'　to　raise　trouble？〃

〃Why　I　didn't　come　swellin'　around；　Mr。　ArkansasI　just〃

〃I'm　a　liar　am　I！　　Ger…reat　Caesar's　ghost〃

〃Oh；　please；　Mr。　Arkansas；　I　never　meant　such　a　thing　as　that；　I　wish　I
may　die　if　I　did。　　All　the　boys　will　tell　you　that　I've　always　spoke　well
of　you；　and　respected　you　more'n　any　man　in　the　house。　　Ask　Smith。　　Ain't
it　so；　Smith？　　Didn't　I　say；　no　longer　ago　than　last　night；　that　for　a
man　that　was　a　gentleman　all　the　time　and　every　way　you　took　him；　give　me
Arkansas？　　I'll　leave　it　to　any　gentleman　here　if　them　warn't　the　very
words　I　used。　　Come；　now；　Mr。　Arkansas；　le's　take　a　drinkle's　shake
hands　and　take　a　drink。　　Come　upeverybody！　　It's　my　treat。　　Come　up；
Bill；　Tom；　Bob；　Scottycome　up。　　I　want　you　all　to　take　a　drink　with　me
and　Arkansasold　Arkansas；　I　call　himbully　old　Arkansas。　　Gimme　your
hand　agin。　　Look　at　him；　boysjust　take　a　look　at　him。　　Thar　stands　the
whitest　man　in　America！and　the　man　that　denies　it　has　got　to　fight　me；
that's　all。　　Gimme　that　old　flipper　agin！〃

They　embraced；　with　drunken　affection　on　the　landlord's　part　and
unresponsive　toleration　on　the　part　of　Arkansas；　who；　bribed　by　a　drink；
was　disappointed　of　his　prey　once　more。　　But　the　foolish　landlord　was　so
happy　to　have　escaped　butchery；　that　he　went　on　talking　when　he　ought　to
have　marched　himself　out　of　danger。　　The　consequence　was　that　Arkansas
shortly　began　to　glower　upon　him　dangerously；　and　presently　said：

〃Lan'lord；　will　you　p…please　make　that　remark　over　agin　if　you　please？〃

〃I　was　a…sayin'　to　Scotty　that　my　father　was　up'ards　of　eighty　year　old
when　he　died。〃

〃Was　that　all　that　you　said？〃

〃Yes；　that　was　all。