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of Sandy Bar； before breakfast； on the left bank of the Stanislaus。 He
toiled up through the chimisal that clothed the southern slope of the hill
until he reached the bald； storm…scarred cap of the mountain； ironically
decked with the picked； featherless plumes of a few dying pines。 One；
stripped of all but two lateral branches； brought a boyish recollection to
his fevered brain。 Against a background of dull sunset fire； it extended
two gaunt armsblack； rigid； and pathetic。 Calvary！
With the very word upon his lips； he threw himself； face downwards；
on the ground beneath it； and； with his fingers clutched in the soil； lay
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there for some moments； silent and still。 In this attitude； albeit a skeptic
and unorthodox man； he prayed。 I cannot sayindeed I DARE not say
that his prayer was heard； or that God visited him thus。 Let us rather
hope that all there was of God in him； in this crucial moment of agony and
shame； strove outward and upward。 Howbeit； when the moon rose he
rose too； perhaps a trifle less steady than the planet； and began to descend
the hill with feverish haste； yet with this marked difference between his
present haste and his former recklessness； that it seemed to have a well…
defined purpose。 When he reached the road again； he struck into a well…
worn trail； where； in the distance； a light faintly twinkled。 Following this
beacon； he kept on； and at last flung himself heavily against the door of
the little cabin from whose window the light had shone。 As he did so； it
opened upon the figure of a square； thickset man； who； in the impetuosity
of Catron's onset； received him； literally； in his arms。
〃Captain Dick；〃 said Roger Catron； hoarsely； 〃Captain Dick； save me！
For God's sake； save me！〃
Captain Dick； without a word； placed a large； protecting hand upon
Catron's shoulder； allowed it to slip to his waist； and then drew his visitor
quietly； but firmly； within the cabin。 Yet； in the very movement； he had
managed to gently and unobtrusively possess himself of Catron's pistol。
〃Save ye！ From which？〃 asked Captain Dick； as quietly and
unobtrusively dropping the Derringer in a flour sack。
〃From everything；〃 gasped Catron； 〃from the men that are hounding
me； from my family； from my friends； but most of allfrom； from
myself！〃
He had； in turn； grasped Captain Dick； and forced him frenziedly
against the wall。 The captain released himself； and； taking the hands of
his excited visitor； said slowly；
〃Ye wan some blue masssuthin' to unload your liver。 I'll get it up
for ye。〃
〃But； Captain Dick； I'm an outcast； shamed； disgraced〃
〃Two on them pills taken now； and two in the morning；〃 continued the
captain； gravely； rolling a bolus in his fingers； 〃will bring yer head to the
wind again。 Yer fallin' to leeward all the time； and ye want to brace up。〃
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〃But； Captain；〃 continued the agonized man； again clutching the
sinewy arms of his host； and forcing his livid face and fixed eyes within a
few inches of Captain Dick's； 〃hear me！ You must and shall hear me。
I've been in jaildo you hear？in jail； like a common felon。 I've been
sent to the asylum； like a demented pauper。 I've〃
〃Two now； and two in the morning；〃 continued the captain； quietly
releasing one hand only to place two enormous pills in the mouth of the
excited Catron； 〃thar nowa drink o' whiskythar； that'll do just enough
to take the taste out of yer mouth； wash it down； and belay it； so to speak。
And how are the mills running； gin'rally； over at the Bar？〃
〃Captain Dick； hear meif you ARE my friend； for God's sake hear me！
An hour ago I should have been a dead man〃
〃They say that Sam Bolin hez sold out of the Excelsior〃
〃Captain Dick！ Listen； for God's sake； I have suffered〃
But Captain Dick was engaged in critically examining his man。 〃I
guess I'll ladle ye out some o' that soothin' mixture I bought down at
Simpson's t' other day；〃 he said； reflectively。 〃And I onderstand the boys
up on the Bar think the rains will set in airly。〃
But here Nature was omnipotent。 Worn by exhaustion； excitement；
and fever； and possibly a little affected by Captain Dick's later potion；
Roger Catron turned white； and lapsed against the wall。 In an instant
Captain Dick had caught him； as a child； lifted him in his stalwart arms；
wrapped a blanket around him； and deposited him in his bunk。 Yet； even
in his prostration； Catron made one more despairing appeal for mental
sympathy from his host。
〃I know I'm sickdying； perhaps；〃 he gasped； from under the blankets；
〃but promise me； whatever comes； tell my wifesay to〃
〃It has been lookin' consid'ble like rain； lately； hereabouts；〃 continued
the captain； coolly； in a kind of amphibious slang； characteristic of the
man； 〃but in these yer latitudes no man kin set up to be a weather sharp。〃
〃Captain！ will you hear me？〃
〃Yer goin' to sleep； now；〃 said the captain； potentially。
〃But； Captain； they are pursuing me！ If they should track me here？〃
〃Thar is a rifle over thar； and yer's my navy revolver。 When I've
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emptied them； and want you to bear a hand； I'll call ye。 Just now your
lay is to turn in。 It's my watch。〃
There was something so positive； strong； assuring； and a little
awesome in the captain's manner； that the trembling； nervously… prostrated
man beneath the blankets forbore to question further。 In a few moments
his breathing； albeit hurried and irregular； announced that he slept。 The
captain then arose； for a moment critically examined the sleeping man；
holding his head a little on one side； whistling softly； and stepping
backwards to get a good perspective； but always with contemplative good
humor； as if Catron were a work of art； which he （the captain） had created；
yet one that he was not yet entirely satisfied with。 Then he put a large
pea…jacket over his flannel blouse； dragged a Mexican serape from the
corner； and putting it over his shoulders； opened the cabin door； sat down
on the doorstep； and leaning back against the door… post； composed
himself to meditation。 The moon lifted herself slowly over the crest of
Deadwood Hill； and looked down； not unkindly； on his broad； white；
shaven face； round and smooth as her own disc； encircled with a thin
fringe of white hair and whiskers。 Indeed； he looked so like the prevailing
caricatures in a comic almanac of planets； with dimly outlined features；
that the moon would have been quite justified in flirting with him； as she
clearly did； insinuating a twinkle into his keen； gray eyes； making the
shadow of a dimple on his broad； fat chin； and otherwise idealizing him
after the fashion of her hero…worshiping sex。 Touched by these benign
influences； Captain Dick presently broke forth in melody。 His song was
various； but chiefly； I think； confined to the recital of the exploits of one
〃Lorenzo；〃 who； as related by himself；
〃Shipped on board of a Liner； 'Renzo； boys；
Renzo；〃
a fact that seemed to have deprived him at once of all metre；
grammar； or even the power of coherent narration。 At times a groan or a
half…articulate cry would come from the 〃bunk〃 whereon Roger Catron lay；
a circumstance that always seemed to excite Captain Dick to greater effort
and more rapid vocalization。 Toward morning； in the midst of a