第1章

OPENINGSINTHEOLDTRAIL

byBretHarteAMERCURYOFTHEFOOT-HILLS

ItwashighhotnoonontheCasketRidge。ItsveryscantshadewasrestrictedtoafewdwarfScotchfirs，andwassoperpendicularlycastthatLeonidasBoone，seekingshelterfromtheheat，wasobligedtodrawhimselfupunderoneofthem，asifitwereanumbrella。Occasionally，withaboy’sperversity，hepermittedonebaredfoottoprotrudebeyondthesharplymarkedshadowuntiltheburningsunforcedhimtodrawitinagainwithathrillofsatisfaction。Therewasnoearthlyreasonwhyhehadnotsoughtthelargershadowsofthepine-treeswhichrearedthemselvesagainsttheRidgeontheslopebelowhim，exceptthathewasaboy，andperhapsevenmoresuperstitiousandopinionatedthanmostboys。

Havinggotunderthistreewithinfinitecare，hehadmadeuphismindthathewouldnotmovefromituntilitslineofshadereachedandtouchedacertainstoneonthetrailnearhim！WHYhedidthishedidnotknow，butheclungtohissublimepurposewiththecourageandtenacityofayouthfulCasabianca。Hewascramped，tickledbydustandfirsprays；hewassupremelyuncomfortable——buthestayed！Awoodpeckerwasmonotonouslytappinginanadjacentpine，withmeasuredintervalsofsilence，whichhealwaysfirmlybelievedwasacertaintelegraphyofthebird’sownmaking；agreen-and-goldlizardflashedbyhisfoottostiffenitselfsuddenlywitharigidityequaltohisown。StillHEstirrednot。

Theshadowgraduallycreptnearerthemysticstone——andtouchedit。

Hesprangup，shookhimself，andpreparedtogoabouthisbusiness。

Thiswassimplyanerrandtothepost-officeatthecross-roads，scarcelyamilefromhisfather’shouse。Hewasalreadyhalfwaythere。Hehadtakenonlythebetterpartofonehourforthisdesultoryjourney！

However，henowproceededonhisway，divergingonlytofollowafreshrabbit-trackafewhundredyards，tonotethattheanimalhaddoubledtwiceagainstthewind，andthen，naturally，hewasobligedtolookcloselyforothertrackstodetermineitspursuers。Hepausedalso，butonlyforamoment，torapthriceonthetrunkofthepinewherethewoodpeckerwasatwork，whichheknewwouldmakeitceaseworkforatime——asitdid。Havingthusrenewedhisrelationswithnature，hediscoveredthatoneofthelettershewastakingtothepost-officehadslippedinsomemysteriouswayfromthebosomofhisshirt，wherehecarriedthem，pasthiswaist-bandintohistrouser-leg，andwasabouttomakeacasualdeliveryofitselfonthetrail。Thiscausedhimtotakeouthislettersandcountthem，whenhefoundonemissing。Hehadbeengivenfourletterstopost——hehadonlythree。Therewasabigoneinhisfather’shandwriting，twoindistinctiveonesofhismother’s，andasmalleroneofhissister’s——THATwasgone！Notatalldisconcerted，hecalmlyretracedhissteps，followinghisowntracksminutely，withagrimfaceandadistinctdelightintheprocess，whilelooking——perfunctorily——fortheletter。Inthemidstofthisslowprogressabrightideastruckhim。Hewalkedbacktothefir-treewherehehadrested，andfoundthelostmissive。Ithadslippedoutofhisshirtwhenheshookhimself。Hewasnotparticularlypleased。

Heknewthatnobodywouldgivehimcreditforhistroubleingoingbackforit，orhisastutenessinguessingwhereitwas。Heheavedthesighofmisunderstoodgenius，andagainstartedforthepost-office。Thistimehecarriedthelettersopenlyandostentatiouslyinhishand。

Presentlyheheardavoicesay，\"Hey！\"Itwasagentle，musicalvoice，——astranger’svoice，foritevidentlydidnotknowhowtocallhim，anddidnotsay，\"Oh，Leonidas！\"or\"You——lookhere！\"Hewasabreastofalittleclearing，guardedbyalowstockadeofbarkpalings，andbeyonditwasasmallwhitedwelling-house。Leonidasknewtheplaceperfectlywell。Itbelongedtothesuperintendentofaminingtunnel，whohadlatelyrentedittosomestrangersfromSanFrancisco。Thusmuchhehadheardfromhisfamily。Hehadamountainboy’scontemptforcityfolks，andwasnothimselfinterestedinthem。Yetasheheardthecall，hewasconsciousofaslightlyguiltyfeeling。Hemighthavebeentrespassinginfollowingtherabbit’strack；hemighthavebeenseenbysomeonewhenhelosttheletterandhadtogobackforit——allgrown-uppeoplehadawayofofferingthemselvesaswitnessesagainsthim！

Hescowledalittleasheglancedaroundhim。Thenhiseyefellonthecallerontheothersideofthestockade。

Tohissurpriseitwasawoman：apretty，gentle，fragilecreature，allsoftmuslinandlaces，withherfingersinterlocked，andleaningbothelbowsonthetopofthestockadeasshestoodunderthecheckeredshadowofabuckeye。

\"Comehere——please——won’tyou？\"shesaidpleasantly。

ItwouldhavebeenimpossibletoresisthervoiceifLeonidashadwantedto，whichhedidn’t。Hewalkedconfidentlyuptothefence。

Shereallywasverypretty，witheyeslikehissetter’s，andascaressing。Andtherewerelittlepuckersandsatinycreasesaroundherdelicatenostrilsandmouthwhenshespoke，whichLeonidasknewwere\"expression。\"

\"I——I\"——shebegan，withcharminghesitation；thensuddenly，\"What’syourname？\"

\"Leonidas。\"

\"Leonidas！That’saprettyname！\"HethoughtitDIDsoundpretty。

\"Well，Leonidas，Iwantyoutobeagoodboyanddoagreatfavorforme，——averygreatfavor。\"

Leonidas’sfacefell。Thiskindofpreludeandformulawasfamiliartohim。Itwasusuallyfollowedby，\"Promisemethatyouwillneverswearagain，\"or，\"thatyouwillgostraighthomeandwashyourface，\"orsomeotherirrelevantpersonality。Butnobodywiththatsortofeyeshadeversaidit。Sohesaid，alittleshylybutsincerely，\"Yes，ma’am。\"

\"Youaregoingtothepost-office？\"

Thisseemedaveryfoolish，womanishquestion，seeingthathewasholdinglettersinhishand；buthesaid，\"Yes。\"

\"Iwantyoutoputaletterofmineamongyoursandpostthemalltogether，\"shesaid，puttingonelittlehandtoherbosomanddrawingoutaletter。Henoticedthatshepurposelyheldtheaddressedsidesothathecouldnotseeit，buthealsonoticedthatherhandwassmall，thin，andwhite，eventoafainttintofblueinit，unlikehissister’s，thebaby’s，oranyotherhandhehadeverseen。\"Canyouread？\"shesaidsuddenly，withdrawingtheletter。

Theboyflushedslightlyatthequestion。\"OfcourseIcan，\"hesaidproudly。

\"Ofcourse，certainly，\"sherepeatedquickly；\"but，\"sheadded，withamischievoussmile，\"youmustn’tNOW！Promiseme！Promisemethatyouwon’treadthisaddress，butjustposttheletter，likeoneofyourown，intheletter-boxwiththeothers。\"

Leonidaspromisedreadily；itseemedtohimagreatfussaboutnothing；perhapsitwassomekindofgameorabet。Heopenedhissunburnthand，holdinghisownletters，andsheslippedhers，facedownward，betweenthem。Hersoftfingerstouchedhisintheoperation，andseemedtoleaveapleasantwarmthbehindthem。

\"Promisemeanotherthing，\"sheadded；\"promisemeyouwon’tsayawordofthistoanyone。\"

\"Ofcourse！\"saidLeonidas。

\"That’sagoodboy，andIknowyouwillkeepyourword。\"Shehesitatedamoment，smilinglyandtentatively，andthenheldoutabrighthalf-dollar。Leonidasbackedfromthefence。\"I’drathernot，\"hesaidshyly。

\"ButasapresentfromME？\"

Leonidascolored——hewasreallyproud；andhewasalsobrightenoughtounderstandthatthepossessionofsuchunboundedwealthwouldprovokedangerousinquiryathome。Buthedidn’tliketosayit，andonlyreplied，\"Ican’t。\"

Shelookedathimcuriously。\"Then——thankyou，\"shesaid，offeringherwhitehand，whichfeltlikeabirdinhis。\"Nowrunon，anddon’tletmekeepyouanylonger。\"Shedrewbackfromthefenceasshespoke，andwavedhimaprettyfarewell。Leonidas，halfsorry，halfrelieved，dartedaway。

Herantothepost-office，whichheneverhaddonebefore。Loyallyheneverlookedatherletter，nor，indeed，athisownagain，swingingthehandthatheldthemfarfromhisside。Heenteredthepost-officedirectly，goingatoncetotheletter-boxanddepositingthepreciousmissivewiththeothers。Thepost-officewasalsothe\"countrystore，\"andLeonidaswasinthehabitofstillfurtherprotractinghiserrandstherebylingeringinthatstimulatingatmosphereofsugar，cheese，andcoffee。Butto-dayhisstaywasbrief，sotransitorythatthepostmasterhimselfinferredaudiblythat\"oldmanBoonemusthavebeentanningLeewithahickoryswitch。\"ButthesimplereasonwasthatLeonidaswishedtogobacktothestockadefenceandthefairstranger，ifhaplyshewasstillthere。Hisheartsankas，breathlesswithunwontedhaste，hereachedtheclearingandtheemptybuckeyeshade。Hewalkedslowlyandwithsaddiffidencebythedesertedstockadefence。Butpresentlyhisquickeyediscernedaglintofwhiteamongthelaurelsnearthehouse。ItwasSHE，walkingwithapparentindifferenceawayfromhimtowardsthecorneroftheclearingandtheroad。Butthisheknewwouldbringhertotheendofthestockadefence，wherehemustpass——anditdid。Sheturnedtohimwithabrightsmileofaffectedsurprise。\"Why，you’reasswift-footedasMercury！\"

Leonidasunderstoodherperfectly。Mercurywastheothernameforquicksilver——andthatwaslively，youbet！Hehadoftenspiltsomeonthefloortoseeitmove。Shemustbeawfullycutetohavenoticedittoo——cuterthanhissisters。Hewasquitebreathlesswithpleasure。

\"Iputyourletterintheboxallright，\"heburstoutatlast。

\"Withoutanyoneseeingit？\"sheasked。

\"Surepop！naryone！Thepostmasterstuckouthishandtograbit，butIjustletonthatIdidn’tseehim，andshoveditinmyself。\"

\"You’reassharpasyou’regood，\"shesaidsmilingly。\"Now，there’sjustONEthingmoreIwantyoutodo。Forgetallaboutthis——won’tyou？\"

Hervoicewasverycaressing。Perhapsthatwaswhyhesaidboldly：

\"Yes，ma’am，allexceptYOU。\"

\"Dearme，whatacompliment！Howoldareyou？\"

\"Goin’onfifteen，\"saidLeonidasconfidently。

\"Andgoingveryfast，\"saidtheladymischievously。\"Well，then，youneedn’tforgetME。Onthecontrary，\"sheadded，afterlookingathimcuriously，\"Iwouldratheryou’drememberme。Good-by——or，rather，good-afternoon——ifI’mtoberemembered，Leon。\"

\"Good-afternoon，ma’am。\"

Shemovedaway，andpresentlydisappearedamongthelaurels。Butherlastwordswereringinginhisears。\"Leon\"——everybodyelsecalledhim\"Lee\"forbrevity；\"Leon\"——itwasprettyasshesaidit。

Heturnedaway。Butitsochancedthattheirpartingwasnottopassunnoticed，for，lookingupthehill，Leonidasperceivedhiseldersisterandlittlebrothercomingdowntheroad，andknewthattheymusthaveseenhimfromthehilltop。Itwasliketheir\"snoopin’\"！

Theyrantohimeagerly。

\"Youweretalkingtothestranger，\"saidhissisterbreathlessly。

\"Shespoketomefirst，\"saidLeonidas，onthedefensive。

\"Whatdidshesay？\"

\"Wantedtoknowtheeleckshunnews，\"saidLeonidaswithcoolmendacity，\"andItoldher。\"

Thisimprobablefictionneverthelesssatisfiedthem。\"Whatwasshelike？Oh，dotellus，Lee！\"continuedhissister。

Nothingwouldhavedelightedhimmorethantoexpatiateuponherloveliness，thesoftwhitebeautyofherhands，the\"cunning\"

littlepuckersaroundherlips，herbrighttendereyes，theangelictextureofherrobes，andthemusicaltinkleofhervoice。ButLeonidashadnoconfidant，andwhathealthyboyevertrustedhissisterinsuchmatter！\"YOUsawwhatshewaslike，\"hesaid，withevasivebluntness。

\"But，Lee\"——

ButLeewasadamant。\"Goandaskher，\"hesaid。

\"Likeasnotyouweresassytoher，andsheshutyouup，\"saidhissisterartfully。Buteventhiscruelsuggestion，whichhecouldhavesoeasilyflouted，didnotdrawhim，andhisingeniousrelationsflounceddisgustedlyaway。

ButLeonidaswasnotsparedanyfurtherallusiontothefairstranger；forthefactofherhavingspokentohimwasdulyreportedathome，andatdinnerhisreticencewasagainsorelyattacked。\"Justlikeher，inspiteofallherairsandgraces，tohangoutalongthefencelikeanyordinaryhiredgirl，jabberin’

withanybodythatwentalongtheroad，\"saidhismotherincisively。

Heknewthatshedidn’tlikehernewneighbors，sothisdidnotsurprisenorgreatlypainhim。Neitherdidtheprosaicfactsthatwerenowfirstmadeplaintohim。HisdivinitywasaMrs。

Burroughs，whosehusbandwasconductingaseriesofminingoperations，andprospectingwithagangofmenontheCasketRidge。

Ashisdutyrequiredhiscontinualpresencethere，Mrs。BurroughswasforcedtoforegothecivilizedpleasuresofSanFranciscoforafrontierlife，forwhichshewasillfitted，andinwhichshehadnointerest。AllthiswasavagueirrelevancetoLeonidas，whoknewheronlyasagoddessinwhitewhohadbeenfamiliartohim，andkind，andtowhomhewastiedbythedeliciousjoyofhavingasecretincommon，andhavingdoneheraspecialfavor。Healthyyouthclingstoitsownimpressions，letreason，experience，andevenfactsargueevertothecontrary。

Sohekepthersecretandhisintact，andwasrewardedafewdaysafterwardsbyadistantviewofherwalkinginthegarden，withamanwhomherecognizedasherhusband。Itisneedlesstosaythat，withoutanyextraneousthought，themansufferedinLeonidas’sestimationbyhispropinquitytothegoddess，andthathedeemedhimvastlyinferior。

Itwasastillgreaterrewardtohisfidelitythatsheseizedanopportunitywhenherhusband’sheadwasturnedtowaveherhandtohim。Leonidasdidnotapproachthefence，partlythroughshynessandpartlythroughamoresubtleinstinctthatthismanwasnotinthesecret。Hewasright，foronlythenextday，ashepassedtothepost-office，shecalledhimtothefence。

\"Didyouseemewavemyhandtoyouyesterday？\"sheaskedpleasantly。

\"Yes，ma’am；but\"——hehesitated——\"Ididn’tcomeup，forIdidn’tthinkyouwantedmewhenanyoneelsewasthere。\"

Shelaughedmerrily，andliftinghisstrawhatfromhishead，ranthefingersoftheotherhandthroughhisdampcurls。\"You’rethebrightest，dearestboyIeverknew，Leon，\"shesaid，droppingherprettyfacetothelevelofhisown，\"andIoughttohaverememberedit。ButIdon’tmindtellingyouIwasdreadfullyfrightenedlestyoumightmisunderstandmeandcomeandaskforanotherletter——beforeHIM。\"Assheemphasizedthepersonalpronoun，herwholefaceseemedtochange：thelightofherblueeyesbecamemereglitteringpoints，hernostrilsgrewwhiteandcontracted，andherprettylittlemouthseemedtonarrowintoastraightcruelline，likeacat’s。\"NotawordevertoHIM，ofallmen！Doyouhear？\"shesaidalmostbrusquely。Then，seeingtheconcernintheboy’sface，shelaughed，andaddedexplanatorily：

\"He’sabad，badman，Leon，rememberthat。\"

Thefactthatshewasspeakingofherhusbanddidnotshocktheboy’smoralsenseintheleast。Thesacrednessofthoserelations，andevenofbloodkinship，is，Ifear，notalwayssocleartotheyouthfulmindaswefondlyimagine。ThatMr。BurroughswasabadmantohaveexcitedthischangeinthislovelywomanwasLeonidas’sonlyconclusion。Herememberedhowhissister’ssoft，prettylittlekitten，purringonherlap，usedtogetitsbackupandspitatthepostmaster’syellowhound。

\"Ineverwishedtocomeunlessyoucalledmefirst，\"hesaidfrankly。

\"What？\"shesaid，inherhalfplayful，halfreproachful，butwhollycaressingway。\"YoumeantosayyouwouldnevercometoseemeunlessIsentforyou？Oh，Leon！andyou’dabandonmeinthatway？\"

ButLeonidaswassetinhisownboyishsuperstition。\"I’djustdelightinbeingsentforbyyouanytime，Mrs。Burroughs，andyoukinalwaysfindme，\"hesaidshyly，butdoggedly；\"but\"——Hestopped。

\"Whatanopinionatedyounggentleman！Well，IseeImustdoallthecourting。SoconsiderthatIsentforyouthismorning。I’vegotanotherletterforyoutomail。\"Sheputherhandtoherbreast，andoutoftheprettyfrillingsofherfrockproduced，asbefore，withthesamefaintperfumeofviolets，aletterlikethefirst。Butitwasunsealed。\"Now，listen，Leon；wearegoingtobegreatfriends——youandI。\"Leonidasfelthischeeksglowing。

\"Youaregoingtodomeanothergreatfavor，andwearegoingtohavealittlefunandagreatsecretallbyourownselves。Now，first，haveyouanycorrespondent——youknow——anyonewhowritestoyou——anyboyorgirl——fromSanFrancisco？\"

Leonidas’scheeksgrewredder——alas！fromalesshappyconsciousness。

Heneverreceivedanyletters；nobodyeverwrotetohim。Hewasobligedtomakethisshamefuladmission。

Mrs。Burroughslookedthoughtful。\"ButyouhavesomefriendinSanFrancisco——someonewhoMIGHTwritetoyou？\"shesuggestedpleasantly。

\"IknewaboyoncewhowenttoSanFrancisco，\"saidLeonidasdoubtfully。\"Atleast，heallowedhewasgoin’there。\"

\"Thatwilldo，\"saidMrs。Burroughs。\"Isupposeyourparentsknowhimorofhim？\"

\"Why，\"saidLeonidas，\"heusedtolivehere。\"

\"Betterstill。For，yousee，itwouldn’tbestrangeifheDID

write。Whatwasthegentleman’sname？\"

\"JimBelcher，\"returnedLeonidashesitatingly，bynomeanssurethattheabsentBelcherknewhowtowrite。Mrs。Burroughstookatinypencilfromherbelt，openedthelettershewasholdinginherhand，andapparentlywrotethenameinit。Thenshefoldeditandsealedit，smilingcharminglyatLeonidas’spuzzledface。

\"Now，Leon，listen；forhereisthefavorIamasking。Mr。JimBelcher\"——shepronouncedthenamewithgreatgravity——\"willwritetoyouinafewdays。ButinsideofYOURletterwillbealittlenotetome，whichyouwillbringme。Youcanshowyourlettertoyourfamily，iftheywanttoknowwhoitisfrom；butnoonemustseeMINE。Canyoumanagethat？\"

\"Yes，\"saidLeonidas。Then，asthewholeideaflasheduponhisquickintelligence，hesmileduntilheshowedhisdimples。Mrs。

Burroughsleanedforwardoverthefence，liftedhistornstrawhat，anddroppedaflutteringlittlekissonhisforehead。Itseemedtotheboy，flushedandrosyasamaid，asifshehadleftashiningstarthereforeveryonetosee。

\"Don’tsmilelikethat，Leon，you’repositivelyirresistible！Itwillbeanicelittlegame，won’tit？Nobodyinitbutyouandme——

andBelcher！We’lloutwitthemyet。And，yousee，you’llbeobligedtocometome，afterall，withoutmyasking。\"

Theybothlaughed；indeed，quiteadimpled，bright-eyed，rosy，innocentpair，thoughIthinkLeonidaswasthemoremaidenly。

\"And，\"addedLeonidas，withbreathlesseagerness，\"Icansometimeswriteto——to——Jim，andincloseyourletter。\"

\"Angelofwisdom！certainly。Well，now，let’ssee——haveyougotanylettersforthepostto-day？\"Hecoloredagain，forinanticipationofmeetingherhehadhurriedupthefamilypostthatmorning。Heheldouthisletters：shethrustherownamongthem。

\"Now，\"shesaid，layinghercool，softhandagainsthishotcheek，\"runalong，dear；youmustnotbeseenloiteringhere。\"

Leonidasranoff，buoyeduponambientair。Itseemedjustlikeafairy-book。Herehewas，theconfidantofthemostbeautifulcreaturehehadseen，andtherewasamysteriouslettercomingtohim——Leonidas——andnoonetoknowwhy。Andnowhehada\"call\"toseeheroften；shewouldnotforgethim——heneedn’tloiterbythefenceposttoseeifshewantedhim——andhisboyishprideandshynesswereappeased。TherewasnoquestionofmoralethicsraisedinLeonidas’smind；heknewthatitwouldnotbetherealJimBelcherwhowouldwritetohim，butthatmadetheprospectthemoreattractive。Nordidanothercircumstancetroublehisconscience。Whenhereachedthepost-office，hewassurprisedtoseethemanwhomheknewtobeMr。Burroughstalkingwiththepostmaster。Leonidasbrushedbyhimanddepositedhislettersintheboxindiscreettriumph。Thepostmasterwasevidentlyofficiallyresentingsomeimputationonhiscarelessness，and，concludinghisdefense，\"No，sir，\"hesaid，\"youkinbetyourbootsthatefanyletterhezgoneastrayforyouoryourwife——Yesaidyourwife，didn’tye？\"

\"Yes，\"saidBurroughshastily，withaglancearoundtheshop。

\"Well，foryouoranybodyatyourhouse——itain’therethat’sthefault。Youhearme！Iknoweveryletterthatcomesinandgoesouterthisoffice，Ireckon，andhandle’emall，\"——Leonidasprickeduphisears，——\"andifanybodyoughterknow，it’sme。Yekinpastethatinyourhat，Mr。Burroughs。\"Burroughs，apparentlydisconcertedbytheintrusionofathirdparty——Leonidas——uponwhatwasevidentlyaprivateinquiry，murmuredsomethingsurlily，andpassedout。

Leonidaswaspuzzled。Thatbigmanseemedtobe\"snoopin’\"aroundforsomething！Heknewthathedarednottouchtheletter-bag，——

LeonidashadheardsomewherethatitwasadeadlycrimetotouchanylettersaftertheGovernmenthadgotholdofthemonce，andhehadnofearsforthesafetyofhers。Butoughthenotgobackatonceandtellheraboutherhusband’svisit，andthealarmingfactthatthepostmasterwaspersonallyacquaintedwithalltheletters？

Heinstantlysaw，too，thewisdomofherinclosingherletterhereafterinanotheraddress。Yethefinallyresolvednottotellherto-day，——itwouldlooklike\"hanginground\"again；and——anothersecretreason——hewasafraidthatanyallusiontoherhusband’sinterferencewouldbringbackthatchangeinherbeautifulfacewhichhedidnotlike。Thebettertoresisttemptation，hewentbackanotherway。

Itmustnotbesupposedthat，whileLeonidasindulgedinthissecretpassionforthebeautifulstranger，itwastotheexclusionofhisboyishhabits。Itmerelytooktheplaceofhisintellectualvisionsandhisromanticreading。Henolongercarriedbooksinhispocketonhislazyrambles。Whatweremediaevallegendsofhigh-bornladiesandtheirpagestothisrealromanceofhimselfandMrs。Burroughs？WhatweretheexploitsofboycaptainsandjuveniletrappersandtheIndianmaidensandSpanishsenoritastowhatwasnowpossibletohimselfandhisdivinityhere——uponCasketRidge！Theverygroundaroundherwasnowconsecratedtoromanceandadventure。Consequently，hevisitedafewtrapsonhiswaybackwhichhehadsetfor\"jackass-rabbits\"andwildcats，——thelatteravindictivereprisalforaggressionuponanorphanbroodofmountainquailwhichhehadtakenunderhisprotection。For，whilehenourishedakeenloveofsport，itwascontrolledbyaboy’slargerunderstandingofnature：apantheisticsympathywithmanandbeastandplant，whichmadehimkeenlyalivetothestrangecrueltiesofcreation，revealedtohimsomequeeranimalfeuds，andmadehimachivalrouspartisanoftheweaker。Hehadevengoneoutofhiswaytodefend，byingeniouscontrivancesofhisown，thehoardofagoldensquirrelandthetreasuresofsomewildbeesfromapredatorybear，althoughitdidnotpreventhimlaterfromcapturingthesquirrelbyanequallyingeniouscontrivance，andfromeventuallyeatingsomeofthehoney。

Hewaslatehomethatevening。Butthiswas\"vacation，\"——thedistrictschoolwasclosed，andbutforthehousehold\"chores，\"

whichoccupiedhisearlymornings，eachlongsummerdaywasaholiday。Sotwoorthreepassed；andthenonemorning，onhisgoingtothepost-office，thepostmasterthrewdownuponthecounterarealandratherbulkyletter，dulystamped，andaddressedtoMr。LeonidasBoone！Leonidaswastoodiscreettoopenitbeforewitnesses，butinthesolitudeofthetrailhomebroketheseal。

Itcontainedanotherletterwithnoaddress——clearlytheoneSHE

expected——and，moremarvelousstill，asheafoftrout-hooks，withdelicategut-snellssuchasLeonidashadonlydaredtodreamof。

Thelettertohimselfwaswritteninaclear，distincthand，andranasfollows：——

DEARLEE，——HowareyougettingononoldCasketRidge？Itseemsacoon’sagesinceyouandmewastogether，andtimesIgettothinkImustjustrunupandseeyou！We’rehavingbullytimesin’Frisco，youbet！thoughthereain’tanythingwildworthshuckstogotosee——’ceptthesealionsattheCliffHouse。They’rejuststunning——bigasagrizzly，andbigger——climbingoverabigrockorswimminginthesealikeanotterormuskrat。I’msendingyousomesnellsandhooks，suchasyoucan’tgetatCasket。Usethefineonesforpot-holesandthebiggeronesforrunningwaterorfalls。

Letmeknowwhenyou’vegot’em。WritetoLockBoxNo。1290。

That’swheredad’sletterscome。Sonomoreatpresent。

Fromyourstruly，JIMBELCHER。

NotonlydidLeonidasknowthatthiswasnotfromtherealJim，buthefeltthevaguecontactofanew，charming，andoriginalpersonalitythatfascinatedhim。Ofcourse，itwasonlynaturalthatoneofHERfriends——ashemustbe——shouldbeequallydelightful。TherewasnojealousyinLeonidas’sdevotion；heknewonlyajoyinthisfellowshipofadmirationforherwhichhewassatisfiedthattheotherboymustfeel。Andonlytherightkindofboycouldknowtheimportanceofhisravishinggift，andthisJimwasevidently\"noslouch\"！Yet，inLeonidas’snewjoyhedidnotforgetHER！Heranbacktothestockadefenceandloungedupontheroadinviewofthehouse，butshedidnotappear。

Leonidaslingeredonthetopofthehill，ostentatiouslyexaminingayounghickoryforagreenswitch，buttonoeffect。Thenitsuddenlyoccurredtohimthatshemightbestayinginpurposely，and，perhapsalittlepiquedbyherindifference，heranoff。

Therewasamountainstreamhardby，nowdwindledinthesummerdrouthtoameretricklingthreadamongtheboulders，andtherewasacertain\"pot-hole\"thathehadlongknown。Itwasthelurking-

placeofaphenomenaltrout，——analmosthistoricfishinthedistrict，whichhadlongresistedtheattemptofsuchrudesportsmenasminers，orevenexpertslikehimself。Fewhadseenit，exceptasavague，shadowybulkinthefourfeetofdepthandgloominwhichithid；onlyoncehadLeonidas’squickeyefeastedonitsfairproportions。OnthatmemorableoccasionLeonidas，havingexhaustedeverykindoflureofpaintedflyandlivingbait，wasrisingfromhiskneesbehindthebank，whenapinkfive-centstampdislodgedfromhispocketflutteredintheair，anddescendedslowlyuponthestillpool。Horrifiedathisloss，Leonidasleanedovertorecoverit，whentherewasaflashlikelightningintheblackdepths，adozenchangesoflightandshadowonthesurface，alittlewhirlingwavesplashingagainstthesideoftherock，andthepostagestampwasgone。Morethanthat——foroneinstantthetroutremainedvisible，stationaryandexpectant！Whetheritwastheinstinctofsport，orwhetherthefishhaddetectedanew，subtle，andoriginalflavorinthegumandpaper，Leonidasneverknew。Alas！hehadnotanotherstamp；hewasobligedtoleavethefish，butcarriedabrilliantideaawaywithhim。Eversincethenhehadcherishedit——andanotherextrastampinhispocket。Andnow，withthisstrongbutgossamer-likesnell，thisnewhook，andthisfreshlycuthickoryrod，hewouldmakethetrial！

Butfatewasagainsthim！Hehadscarcelydescendedthenarrowtrailtothepine-fringedmarginofthestreambeforehisquickeardetectedanunusualrustlingthroughtheadjacentunderbrush，andthenavoicethatstartledhim！ItwasHERS！Inaninstantallthoughtofsporthadfled。Withabeatingheart，halfopenedlips，andupliftedlashes，Leonidasawaitedthecomingofhisdivinitylikeatimorousvirginatherfirsttryst。

ButMrs。Burroughswasclearlynotinanequallyresponsivemood。

Withherfairfacereddenedbythesun，thedamptendrilsofherunwoundhairclingingtoherforehead，andhersmartlittleslippersredwithdust，therewasalsoaquerulouslightinhereyes，andastillmorequerulouspinchinhernostrils，asshestoodpantingbeforehim。

\"Youtiresomeboy！\"shegasped，holdingonelittlehandtohersideasshegrippedherbrambledskirtaroundherankleswiththeother。

\"Whydidn’tyouwait？Whydidyoumakemerunallthisdistanceafteryou？\"

Leonidastimidlyandpoignantlyprotested。Hehadwaitedbeforethehouseandonthehill；hethoughtshedidn’twanthim。

\"Couldn’tyouseethatTHATMANkeptmein？\"shewentonpeevishiy。

\"Haven’tyousenseenoughtoknowthathesuspectssomething，andfollowsmeeverywhere，doggingmyfootstepseverytimethepostcomesin，andevengoingtothepost-officehimself，tomakesurethatheseesallmyletters？Well，\"sheaddedimpatiently，\"haveyouanythingforme？Whydon’tyouspeak？\"

Crushedandremorseful，Leonidasproducedherletter。Shealmostsnatcheditfromhishand，openedit，readafewlines，andherfacechanged。Asmilestrayedfromhereyestoherlips，andbackagain。Leonidas’sheartwaslifted；shewassoforgivingandsobeautiful！

\"Isheaboy，Mrs。Burroughs？\"askedLeonidasshyly。

\"Well——notexactly，\"shesaid，hercharmingfaceallradiantagain。

\"He’solderthanyou。Whathashewrittentoyou？\"

Leonidasputhisletterinherhandforreply。

\"IwishIcouldseehim，youknow，\"hesaidshyly。\"Thatletter’sbully——it’sjustrats！Ilikehimpow’ful。\"

Mrs。Burroughshadskimmedthroughtheletter，butnotinterestedly。

\"Youmustn’tlikehimmorethanyoulikeme，\"shesaidlaughingly，caressinghimwithhervoiceandeyes，andevenherstrayinghand。

\"Icouldn’tdothat！InevercouldlikeanybodyasIlikeyou，\"

said。Leonidasgravely。Therewassuchappallingtruthfulnessintheboy’svoiceandfranklyopenedeyesthatthewomancouldnotevadeit，andwasslightlydisconcerted。Butshepresentlystartedupwithavexatiouscry。\"There’sthatwretchfollowingmeagain，Idobelieve，\"shesaid，staringatthehilltop。\"Yes！Look，Leon，he’sturningtocomedownthistrail。What’stobedone？Hemustn’tseemehere！\"

Leonidaslooked。ItwasindeedMr。Burroughs；buthewasevidentlyonlytakingashortcuttowardstheRidge，wherehismenwereworking。Leonidashadseenhimtakeitbefore。Butitwastheprincipaltrailonthesteephillside，andtheymusteventuallymeet。Amanmightevadeitbyscramblingthroughthebrushtoalowerandroughertrail；butawoman，never！ButanideahadseizedLeonidas。\"Icanstophim，\"hesaidconfidentlytoher。

\"YoujustlielowherebehindthatrocktillIcomeback。Hehasn’tseenyouyet。\"

ShehadbarelytimetodrawbackbeforeLeonidasdarteddownthetrailtowardsherhusband。Yet，inherintensecuriosity，sheleanedoutthenextmomenttowatchhim。Hepausedatlast，notfarfromtheapproachingfigure，andseemedtokneeldownonthetrail。Whatwashedoing？Herhusbandwasstillslowlyadvancing。

Suddenlyhestopped。Atthesamemomentsheheardtheirtwovoicesinexcitedparley，andthen，toheramazement，shesawherhusbandscramblehurriedlydownthetrailtothelowerlevel，andwithanoccasionalbackwardglance，hastenawayuntilhehadpassedbeyondherview。

ShecouldscarcelyrealizehernarrowescapewhenLeonidasstoodbyherside。\"Howdidyoudoit？\"shesaideagerly。

\"Witharattler！\"saidtheboygravely。

\"Withawhat？\"

\"Arattlesnake——pizensnake，youknow。\"

\"Arattlesnake？\"shesaid，staringatLeonidaswithaquicksnatchingawayofherskirts。

Theboy，whoseemedtohaveforgottenherinhisotherabstractionofadventure，nowturnedquickly，withdevotedeyesandareassuringsmile。

\"Yes；butIwouldn’tlethimhurtyou，\"hesaidgently。

\"ButwhatdidyouDO？\"

Helookedathercuriously。\"Youwon’tbefrightenedifIshowyou？\"hesaiddoubtfully。\"There’snothin’tobeafeerdofs’longasyou’rewithme，\"headdedproudly。

\"Yes——thatis\"——shestammered，andthen，hercuriositygettingthebetterofherfear，sheaddedinawhisper：\"Showmequick！\"

Heledthewayupthenarrowtrailuntilhestoppedwherehehadkneltbefore。Itwasanarrow，sunnyledgeofrock，scarcelywideenoughforasinglepersontopass。Hesilentlypointedtoacleftintherock，andkneelingdownagain，begantowhistleinasoft，flutteringway。Therewasamomentofsuspense，andthenshewasconsciousofanawfulglidingsomething，——amovementsomeasuredyetsoexquisitelygracefulthatshestoodenthralled。Anarrow，flattened，expressionlessheadwasfollowedbyafootlongstripofyellow-barredscales；thentherewasapause，andtheheadturned，inabeautifullysymmetricalhalf-circle，towardsthewhistler。

Thewhistlingceased；thesnake，withhalfitsbodyoutofthecleft，remainedpoisedinairasifstiffenedtostone。

\"There，\"saidLeonidasquietly，\"that’swhatMr。Burroughssaw，andthat’sWHYhescootedoffthetrail。IjustcalledoutWilliamHenry，——IcallhimWilliamHenry，andheknowshisname，——andthenIsangouttoMr。Burroughswhatwasup；anditwasluckyIdid，forthenextmomenthe’dhavebeenontopofhimandhavebeenstruck，forrattlersdon’tgivewaytoanyone。\"

\"Oh，whydidn’tyoulet\"——Shestoppedherselfquickly，butcouldnotstopthefierceglintinhereyenorthesharpcurveinhernostril。Luckily，Leonidasdidnotseethis，beingpreoccupiedwithhisothergracefulcharmer，WilliamHenry。

\"Buthowdidyouknowitwashere？\"saidMrs。Burroughs，recoveringherself。

\"Fetchedhimhere，\"saidLeonidasbriefly。

\"Whatinyourhands？\"shesaid，drawingback。

\"No！madehimfollow！IHAVEhandledhim，butitwasafterI’dfirstmadehimstrikehispizenoutuponastick。Yeknow，afterhestrikesfourtimesheain’tgotanypizenleft。Thenyekindoanythin’withhim，andheknowsit。Heknowsme，youbet！I’vebinthreemonthstrainin’him。Look！Don’tbefrightened，\"hesaid，asMrs。Burroughsdrewhurriedlyback；\"seehimmindme。Nowscoothome，WilliamHenry。\"

Heaccompaniedthecommandwithaslow，dominantmovementofthehickoryrodhewascarrying。Thesnakedroppeditshead，andslidnoiselesslyoutofthecleftacrossthetrailanddownthehill。

\"Thinksmyrodiswitch-hazel，whichrattlerscan’tabide，\"

continuedLeonidas，droppingintoaboy’sbreathlessabbreviatedspeech。\"Livesdownyourway——justbackofyourfarm。Showyesomeday。Sunshimselfonaflatstoneeveryday——alwayscold——

nevercangetwarm。Eh？\"

Shehadnotspoken，butwasgazingintospacewithabreathlessrigidityofattitudeandafixedlookinhereye，notunlikethemotionlessorbsofthereptilethathadglidedaway。

\"Doesanybodyelseknowyoukeephim？\"sheasked。

\"Naryone。Inevershowedhimtoanybodybutyou，\"repliedtheboy。

\"Don’t！Youmustshowmewherehehidesto-morrow，\"shesaid，inheroldlaughingway。\"Andnow，Leon，Imustgobacktothehouse。\"

\"MayIwritetohim——toJimBelcher，Mrs。Burroughs？\"saidtheboytimidly。

\"Certainly。Andcometometo-morrowwithyourletter——Iwillhavemineready。Good-by。\"Shestoppedandglancedatthetrail。\"Andyousaythatifthatmanhadkepton，thesnakewouldhavebittenhim？\"

\"Surepop！——ifhe’dtrodonhim——ashewassureto。Thesnakewouldn’thaveknownhedidn’tmeanit。It’sonlynatural，\"

continuedLeonidas，withglowingpartisanshipforthegentleandabsentWilliamHenry。\"YOUwouldn’tliketobetroddenupon，Mrs。

Burroughs！\"

\"No！I’dstrikeout！\"shesaidquickly。Shemadearapidmotionforwardwithherlowforeheadandlevelhead，leavingitrigidthenextmoment，sothatitremindedhimofthesnake，andhelaughed。

Atwhichshelaughedtoo，andtrippedaway。

Leonidaswentbackandcaughthistrout。Buteventhistriumphdidnotremoveavaguesenseofdisappointmentwhichhadcomeoverhim。

HehadoftenpicturedtohimselfaHeaven-sentmeetingwithherinthewoods，awalkwithher，alone，wherehecouldpickhertherarestflowersandherbsandshowherhiswoodlandfriends；andithadonlyendedinthis，andanexhibitionofWilliamHenry！HeoughttohavesavedHERfromsomething，andnotherhusband。Yethehadnoill-feelingforBurroughs，onlyadesiretocircumventhim，onbehalfoftheunprotected，ashewouldhavebaffledahawkorawildcat。Hewenthomeindismalspirits，butlaterthateveningconstructedaboyishletterofthankstotheapocryphalBelcherandtoldhimallabout——thetrout！

Hebroughtherhisletterthenextday，andreceivedherstoinclose。Shewaspleasant，herowncharmingselfagain，butsheseemedmoreinterestedinotherthingsthanhimself，as，forinstance，thedocileWilliamHenry，whosehiding-placeheshowed，andwhosefewtricksshemadehimexhibittoher，andwhichthegratifiedLeonidasacceptedasadelicateformofflatterytohimself。Buthisyearning，innocentspiritdetectedasomethinglacking，whichhewastooproudtoadmiteventohimself。Itwashisownfault；heoughttohavewaitedforher，andnotgoneforthetrout！

Soafortnightpassedwithaninterchangeofthevicariousletters，andbrief，hopeful，anddisappointingmeetingstoLeonidas。Toaddtohisunhappiness，hewasobligedtolistentosneeringdisparagementofhisgoddessfromhisfamily，andcriticismswhich，happily，hisinnocencedidnotcomprehend。Itwashisownmotherwhoaccusedherofshamefully\"makingup\"tothegood-lookingexpressmanatchurchlastSunday，anddeclaredthatBurroughsoughtto\"lookafterthatwifeofhis，\"——twostatementswhichthesimpleLeonidascouldnotreconcile。Hehadseentheincident，andonlythoughthermorelovelythanever。Whyshouldnottheexpressmanthinksotoo？Andyettheboywasnothappy；somethingintrudeduponhissports，uponhisbooks，makingthemdullandvapid，andyetthatsomethingwasshe！Hegrewpaleandpreoccupied。Ifhehadonlysomeoneinwhomtoconfide——someonewhocouldexplainhishopesandfears。Thatonewasnearerthanhethought！

Itwasquitethreeweekssincetherattlesnakeincident，andhewaswanderingmoodilyoverCasketRidge。HewasneartheCasket，thatabruptupheavalofquartzandgneiss，shapedlikeacoffer，fromwhichthemountaintookitsname。ItwasafavoritehauntofLeonidas，oneofwhoseboyishsuperstitionswasthatitcontainedatreasureofgold，andoneofwhosebrightestdreamshadbeenthatheshouldyetdiscoverit。Thishedidnotdoto-day，butlookingupfromtherocksthathewaslistlesslyexamining，hemadethealmostasthrillingdiscoverythatnearhimonthetrailwasadistinguished-lookingstranger。

Hewasbestridingashapelymustang，whichwellbecamehishandsomefaceandslight，elegantfigure，andhewaslookingatLeonidaswithanamusedcuriosityandacertaineasyassurancethatweredifficulttowithstand。Itwaswiththesamefascinatingself-

confidenceofsmile，voice，andmannerthatherodeuptotheboy，andleaninglightlyoverhissaddle，saidwithexaggeratedpoliteness：\"IbelieveIhavethepleasureofaddressingMr。

LeonidasBoone？\"

TherisingcolorinLeonidas’sfacewasapparentlyasufficientanswertothestranger，forhecontinuedsmilingly，\"ThenpermitmetointroducemyselfasMr。JamesBelcher。Asyouperceive，Ihavegrownconsiderablysinceyoulastsawme。Infact，I’vedonenothingelse。It’ssurprisingwhatafellowcandowhenhesetshismindononething。Andthen，youknow，they’realwaystellingyouthatSanFranciscoisa’growingplace。’Thataccountsforit！\"

Leonidas，dazed，dazzled，butdelighted，showedallhiswhiteteethinashylaugh。Atwhichtheenchantingstrangerleapedfromhishorselikeaveryboy，drewhisarmthroughtherein，andgoinguptoLeonidas，liftedtheboy’sstrawhatfromhisheadandranhisfingersthroughhiscurls。Therewasnothingoriginalinthat——

everybodydidthattohimasapreliminarytoconversation。ButwhenthisingenuousfinegentlemanputhisownPanamahatonLeonidas’shead，andclappedLeonidas’stornstrawonhisown，and，passinghisarmthroughtheboy’s，begantowalkonwithhim，Leonidas’ssimpleheartwentouttohimatonce。

\"Andnow，Leon，\"saidthedelightfulstranger，\"let’syouandmehaveatalk。There’sanicecoolspotundertheselaurels；I’llstakeoutPepita，andwe’lljustlieoffthereandgab，andnotcareifschoolkeepsornot。\"

\"Butyouknowyouain’treallyJimBelcher，\"saidtheboyshyly。