heyhadallknownhimasashiftless,worthlesscreature.FromthetimehefirstenteredRedwoodCamp,carryinghisentireeffectsinaredhandkerchiefontheendofalong-handledshovel,untilhelazilydriftedoutofitonaplankintheterribleinundationof'56,theyneverexpectedanythingbetterofhim.Inacommunityofstrongmenwithsullenvirtuesandcharminglyfascinatingvices,hewastoleratedaspossessingneither——notevenrisingbyanydominanthumanweaknessorludicrousqualitytotheimportanceofabutt.InthedramatispersonaeofRedwoodCamphewasasimple"super"——whohadonlypassive,speechlessrolesinthosefiercedramasthatweresometimesunrolledbeneathitsgreen-curtainedpines.Namelessandpenniless,hewasoverlookedbythecensusandignoredbythetaxcollector,whileinahotly-contestedelectionforsheriff,wheneventhehead-boardsofthescantcemeterywereconsultedtofillthepoll-lists,itwasdiscoveredthatneithercandidatehadthoughtfittoavailhimselfofhisactualvote.Hewasdebarredtherudeheraldryofanicknameofachievement,andinacampmadeupof"EuchreBills,""PokerDicks,""ProfanePete,"
and"Snap-shotHarry,"wasknownvaguelyas"him,""Skeesicks,"or"thatcoot."Itwasrememberedlongafter,withafeelingofsuperstition,thathehadneverevenmetwiththedignityofanaccident,norreceivedthefleetinghonorofachanceshotmeantforsomebodyelseinanyoftheliberalandbroadlycomprehensiveencounterswhichdistinguishedthecamp.Andtheinundationthatfinallycarriedhimoutofitwaspartlyanticipatedbyhispassiveincompetency,forwhiletheothersescaped——orweredrownedinescaping——hecalmlyfloatedoffonhisplankwithoutanopposingeffort.
Forallthat,ElijahMartin——whichwashisrealname——wasfarfrombeingunamiableorrepellent.Thathewascowardly,untruthful,selfish,andlazy,wasundoubtedlythefact;perhapsitwashispeculiarmisfortunethat,justthen,courage,frankness,generosity,andactivitywerethedominantfactorsinthelifeofRedwoodCamp.Hissubmissivegentleness,hisunquestionedmodesty,hishalfrefinement,andhisamiableexteriorconsequentlyavailedhimnothingagainstthefactthathewasmissedduringaraidoftheDiggerIndians,andliedtoaccountforit;orthathelosthisrighttoagolddiscoverybyfailingtomakeitgoodagainstabully,andselfishlykeptthisdiscoveryfromtheknowledgeofthecamp.Yetthisweaknessawakenednoanimosityinhiscompanions,anditisprobablethattheindifferenceofthecamptohisfateinthisfinalcatastrophecamepurelyfromasimpleforgetfulnessofonewhoatthatsuprememomentwasweaklyincapable.
Suchwasthereputationandsuchtheantecedentsofthemanwho,onthe15thofMarch,1856,foundhimselfadriftinaswollentributaryoftheMinyo.Aspringfreshetofunusualvolumehadfloodedtheadjacentriveruntil,burstingitsbounds,itescapedthroughthenarrow,wedge-shapedvalleythatheldRedwoodCamp.
Foradayandnightthesurchargedriverpouredhalfitswatersthroughthestragglingcamp.Attheendofthattimeeveryvestigeofthelittlesettlementwassweptaway;allthatwasleftwasscatteredfarandwideinthecountry,caughtinthehangingbranchesofwater-sidewillowsandalders,embayedinsluggishpools,draggedoversubmergedmeadows,andonefragment——bearingupElijahMartin——pursuingthedeviouscoursesofanunknowntributaryfiftymilesaway.Hadhebeenarash,impatientman,hewouldhavebeenspeedilydrownedinsomeearlierdesperateattempttoreachtheshore;hadhebeenanordinaryboldman,hewouldhavesucceededintransferringhimselftothebranchesofsomeobstructingtree;buthewasneither,andheclungtohisbrokenraft-likeberthwithanendurancethatwashalftheparalysisofterrorandhalfthepatienceofhabitualmisfortune.Eventuallyhewascaughtinasidecurrent,swepttothebank,andcastashoreonanunexploredwilderness.
Hisfirstconsciousnesswasoneofhungerthatusurpedanysentimentofgratitudeforhisescapefromdrowning.Assoonashiscrampedlimbspermitted,hecrawledoutofthebushesinsearchoffood.Hedidnotknowwherehewas;therewasnosignofhabitation——orevenoccupation——anywhere.Hehadbeentooterrifiedtonoticethedirectioninwhichhehaddrifted——evenifhehadpossessedtheordinaryknowledgeofabackwoodsman,whichhedidnot.Hewashelpless.Inhisbewilderedstate,seeingasquirrelcrackinganutonthebranchofahollowtreenearhim,hemadeahalf-frenzieddartatthefrightenedanimal,whichranaway.
Butthesameassociationofideasinhistorpidandconfusedbrainimpelledhimtosearchforthesquirrel'shoardinthehollowofthetree.Heatethefewhazel-nutshefoundthere,ravenously.
Thepurelyanimalinstinctsatisfied,heseemedtohaveborrowedfromitacertainstrengthandintuition.Helimpedthroughthethicketnotunlikesomeawkward,shyquadrumane,stoppinghereandtheretopeeroutthroughtheopeningsoverthemarshesthatlaybeyond.Hissight,hearing,andeventhesenseofsmellhadbecomepreternaturallyacute.Itwasthelatterwhichsuddenlyarrestedhisstepswiththeodorofdriedfish.Ithadasignificancebeyondthemereinstinctsofhunger——itindicatedthecontiguityofsomeIndianencampment.Andassuch——itmeantdanger,torture,anddeath.
Hestopped,trembledviolently,andtriedtocollecthisscatteredsenses.RedwoodCamphadembroileditselfneedlesslyandbrutallywiththesurroundingIndians,andonlyhelditsownagainstthembyrecklesscourageandunerringmarksmanship.ThefrequentuseofacasualwanderingIndianasatargetforthepractisingriflesofitsmembershadkeptupanundyinghatredintheheartoftheaboriginesandstimulatedthemtoterribleandisolatedreprisals.
ThescalpedandskinneddeadbodyofJackTrainer,tiedonhishorseandheldhideouslyuprightbyacrossofwoodbehindhissaddle,hadpassed,onenight,aslowandghastlyapparition,intocamp;thecorpseofDickRynerhadbeenfoundanchoredontheriver-bed,disembowelledandfilledwithstoneandgravel.ThesolitaryandunprotectedmemberofRedwoodCampwhofellintotheenemy'shandswasdoomed.
ElijahMartinrememberedthis,buthisfearsgraduallybegantosubsideinacertainapathyoftheimagination,which,perhaps,dulledhisapprehensionsandallowedtheinstinctofhungertobecomeagainuppermost.Heknewthatthelowbarktents,orwigwams,oftheIndianswerehungwithstripsofdriedsalmon,andhiswholebeingwasnewcentereduponanattempttostealthilyprocureadeliciousmorsel.Asyethehaddistinguishednoothersignoflifeorhabitation;afewmomentslater,however,andgrownbolderwithananimal-liketrustfulnessinhismomentarysecurity,hecreptoutofthethicketandfoundhimselfnearalong,lowmoundorburrow-likestructureofmudandbarkontheriver-bank.
Asinglenarrowopening,notunliketheentranceofanEsquimauhut,gaveupontheriver.Martinhadnodifficultyinrecognizingthecharacterofthebuilding.Itwasa"sweathouse,"aninstitutioncommontonearlyalltheaboriginaltribesofCalifornia.Halfareligioustemple,itwasalsohalfasanitaryasylum,wasusedasaRussianbathorsuperheatedvault,fromwhichthebraves,swelteringandstiflingallnight,bysmotheredfires,atearlydawnplunged,perspiring,intotheice-coldriver.Theheatandsmokewerefurtherutilizedtodryandcurethelongstripsoffishhangingfromtheroof,anditwasthroughthenarrowaperturethatservedasachimneythattheodorescapedwhichMartinhaddetected.Heknewthatasthebathersonlyoccupiedthehousefrommidnighttoearlymorn,itwasnowprobablyempty.Headvancedconfidentlytowardit.
Hewasalittlesurprisedtofindthatthesmallopenspacebetweenitandtheriverwasoccupiedbyarudescaffolding,likethatonwhichcertaintribesexposedtheirdead,butinthisinstanceitonlycontainedthefeatheredleggings,fringedblanket,andeagle-
plumedhead-dressofsomebrave.Hedidnot,however,lingerinthisplainlyvisiblearea,butquicklydroppedonallfoursandcreptintotheinteriorofthehouse.Herehecompletedhisfeastwiththefish,andwarmedhischilledlimbsontheembersofthestillsmoulderingfires.Itwaswhiledryinghistatteredclothesandshoelessfeetthathethoughtofthedeadbrave'suselessleggingsandmoccasins,anditoccurredtohimthathewouldbelesslikelytoattracttheIndians'attentionfromadistanceandprovokeareadyarrow,ifheweredisguisedasoneofthem.
Crawlingoutagain,hequicklysecured,notonlytheleggings,buttheblanketandhead-dress,andputtingthemon,casthisownclothesintothestream.Abolder,moreenergetic,ormoreprovidentmanwouldhavefollowedtheactbyquicklymakinghiswaybacktothethickettoreconnoitre,takingwithhimasupplyoffishforfutureneeds.ButElijahMartinsuccumbedagaintotherecklessnessofinertia;heyieldedoncemoretotheanimalinstinctofmomentarysecurity.Hereturnedtotheinteriorofthehut,curledhimselfagainontheashes,andweaklyresolvingtosleepuntilmoonrise,andasweaklyhesitating,endedbyfallingintouneasybuthelplessstupor.
Whenheawoke,therisingsun,almostlevelwiththelowentrancetothesweat-house,wasdartingitsdirectraysintotheinterior,asifsearchingitwithfieryspears.Hehadslepttenhours.Herosetremblinglytohisknees.Everythingwasquietwithout;hemightyetescape.Hecrawledtotheopening.Theopenspacebeforeitwasempty,butthescaffoldingwasgone.Theclear,keenairrevivedhim.Ashesprangout,erect,ashoutthatnearlystunnedhimseemedtorisefromtheearthonallsides.Heglancedaroundhiminahelplessagonyoffear.AdozenconcentriccirclesofsquattingIndians,whoseheadswerevisibleabovethereeds,encompassedthebanksaroundthesunkenbaseofthesweat-housewithsuccessiveduskyrings.Everyavenueofescapeseemedclosed.
Perhapsforthatreasontheattitudeofhissurroundingcaptorswaspassiveratherthanaggressive,andtheshrewd,half-Hebraicprofilesnearesthimexpressedonlystoicalwaiting.Therewasastrangesimilarityofexpressioninhisownimmovableapathyofdespair.Hisonlysenseofavertinghisfatewasaconfusedideaofexplaininghisintrusion.HisdesperatememoryyieldedafewcommonIndianwords.Hepointedautomaticallytohimselfandthestream.Hiswhitelipsmoved.
"Icome——from——theriver!"
Agutturalcry,asifthewholeassemblywereclearingtheirthroats,wentroundthedifferentcircles.Thenearestrockedthemselvestoandfroandbenttheirfeatheredheadstowardhim.A
hollow-cheeked,decrepitoldmanaroseandsaid,simply:
"Itishe!Thegreatchiefhascome!
Hewassaved.Morethanthat,hewasre-created.For,bysignsandintimationshewasquicklymadeawarethatsincethedeathoftheirlatechief,theirmedicine-menhadprophesiedthathisperfectsuccessorshouldappearmiraculouslybeforethem,bornenoiselesslyontheriverFROMTHESEA,intheplumesandinsigniaofhispredecessor.ThismerecoincidenceofappearanceandcostumemightnothavebeenconvincingtothebraveshadnotElijahMartin'sactualdeficienciescontributedtotheirunquestionedfaithinhim.Notonlyhisinertpossessionofthesweat-houseandhisapatheticattitudeintheirpresence,buthisutterandcompleteunlikenesstothewhitefrontiersmenoftheirknowledgeandtradition——creaturesoffireandswordandmalevolentactivity——
aswellashismanifestdissimilaritytothemselves,settledtheirconvictionofhissupernaturalorigin.Hisgentle,submissivevoice,hisyieldingwill,hislazyhelplessness,theabsenceofstrangeweaponsandfierceexplosivesinhispossession,hisunwontedsobriety——allprovedhimanexceptiontohisapparentracethatwasinitselfmiraculous.Foritmustbeconfessedthat,inspiteofthecherishedtheoriesofmostromancesandallstatesmenandcommanders,thatFEARisthegreatcivilizerofthesavagebarbarian,andthatheissupposedtoregardtheprowessofthewhitemanandhismysteriousdeath-dealingweaponsasevidenceofhissupernaturaloriginandsuperiorcreation,thefactshavegenerallypointedtothereverse.ElijahMartinwasnotlongindiscoveringthatwhentheMinyohunter,withhisobsoletebow,droppeddeadbyabulletfromaviewlessandapparentlynoiselessspace,itwasNOTconsideredthelightningsofanavengingDeity,butwastraceddirectlytotheambushedrifleofKansasJoe,swayedbyaviciousnessquiteashumanastheirown;thespectacleofBlizzardDick,vergingondeliriumtremens,andriding"amuck"intoanIndianvillagewitharevolverineachhand,didNOTimpressthemasasupernaturalact,norexcitetheirrespectfulaweasmuchasthelessharmfulfrenzyofoneoftheirownmedicine-men;theywereNOTinfluencedbyimplacablewhitegods,whorelaxedonlytodrivehardbargainsandexchangemildewedflourandshoddyblanketsfortheirfishandfurs.IamafraidtheyregardedtheseraidsofChristiancivilizationastheylookedupongrasshopperplagues,famines,inundations,andepidemics;whileanutterlyimpassiveGodwashedhishandsofthemeanshehademployed,andevenencouragedthefaithfultoresistandovercomehisemissaries——thewhitedevils!HadElijahMartinbeenastudentoftheology,hewouldhavebeenstruckwiththesingularresemblanceofthesetheories——
althoughtheapplicationthereofwasreversed——totheChristianfaith.ButElijahMartinhadneithertheimaginationofatheologiannortheinsightofapolitician.Heonlysawthathe,hithertoignoredanddespisedinacommunityofhalf-barbaricmen,nowtranslatedtoacommunityofmenwhollysavage,wasrespectedandworshipped!
ItmighthaveturnedastrongerheadthanElijah's.Hewasatfirstfrightened,fearfullesthisreceptionconcealedsomehiddenirony,orthat,liketheflower-crownedvictimofancientsacrifice,hewasexaltedandsustainedtogiveimportanceandmajestytosomeimpendingmartyrdom.Thenhebegantodreadthathisinnocentdeceit——ifdeceititwas——shouldbediscovered;atlast,partlyfrommeeknessandpartlyfromtheanimalcontentmentofpresentsecurity,heacceptedthesituation.Fortunatelyforhimitwaspurelypassive.TheGreatChiefoftheMinyotribewassimplyanexpressionlessidoloffleshandblood.Thepreviousincumbentofthatofficehadbeenanoldman,impotentandsenselessoflateyearsthroughageanddisease.Thechieftainsandbraveshadconsultedincouncilbeforehim,andperfunctorilysubmittedtheirdecisions,likeofferings,tohisunresponsiveshrine.Inthesameway,allmaterialevents——expeditions,trophies,industries——weresupposedtopassbeforethedull,impassiveeyesofthegreatchief,fordirectacceptance.OntheseconddayofElijah'saccession,twoofthebravesbroughtableedinghumanscalpbeforehim.Elijahturnedpale,trembled,andavertedhishead,andthen,rememberingthedangerofgivingwaytohisweakness,grewstillmoreghastly.Thewarriorswatchedhimwithimpassionedfaces.Agrunt——butwhetherofastonishment,dissent,orapproval,hewouldnottell——wentroundthecircle.
Butthescalpwastakenawayandneveragainappearedinhispresence.
Anincidentstillmorealarmingquicklyfollowed.Twocaptives,whitemen,securelybound,wereonedaybroughtbeforehimontheirwaytothestake,followedbyacrowdofoldandyoungsquawsandchildren.TheunhappyElijahrecognizedintheprisonerstwopackersfromadistantsettlementwhosometimespassedthroughRedwoodCamp.Anagonyofterror,shame,andremorseshookthepseudochieftohiscrestofhighfeathers,andblanchedhisfacebeneathitspaintandyellowochre.Tointerferetosavethemfromthetorturetheywereevidentlytoreceiveatthehandsofthosesquawsandchildren,accordingtocustom,wouldbeexposureanddeathtohimaswellasthemselves;whiletoassistbyhispassivepresenceatthehorriblesacrificeofhiscountrymenwastoomuchforevenhisweakselfishness.Scarcelyknowingwhathedidasthelugubriousprocessionpassedbeforehim,hehurriedlyhidhisfaceinhisblanketandturnedhisbackuponthescene.Therewasadeadsilence.Thewarriorswereevidentlyunpreparedforthisextraordinaryconductoftheirchief.Whatmighthavebeentheiractionitwasimpossibletoconjecture,foratthatmomentalittlesquaw,perhapsimpatientforthesportandpartlyemboldenedbythefactthatshehadbeenselected,onlyafewdaysbefore,asthebetrothedofthenewchief,approachedhimslylyfromtheotherside.ThehorrifiedeyesofElijah,momentarilyraisedfromhisblanket,sawandrecognizedher.Thefeeblenessofaweaknature,thatdarednotmeasureitselfdirectlywiththerealcause,venteditsrageonasecondaryobject.Hedartedaquickglanceofindignationandhatredattheyounggirl.Sheranbackinstartledterrortohercompanions,ahurriedconsultationfollowed,andinanothermomentthewholebevyofgirls,oldwomen,andchildrenwereonthewing,shriekingandcrying,totheirwigwams.
"Yousee,"saidoneoftheprisonerscoollytotheother,inEnglish,"Iwasright.Theyneverintendedtodoanythingtous.
Itwasonlyabluff.TheseMinyosareadifferentsortfromtheothertribes.Theyneverkillanybodyiftheycanhelpit."
"You'rewrong,"saidtheother,excitedly."Itwasthatbigchiefthere,withhisheadinablanket,thatsentthosedogstotherightabout.Hell!didyouseethemrunatjustalookfromhim?
He'sahighandmightyfeller,youbet.Lookathisdignity!"
"That'sso——heain'tnoslouch,"saidtheother,gazingatElijah'smuffledhead,critically."D——difheain'tabornking."
ThesuddenconflictandutterrevulsionofemotionthatthosesimplewordscausedinElijah'sbreastwasalmostincredible.Hehadbeenatfirstastoundedbytherevelationofthepeacefulreputationoftheunknowntribehehadbeencalledupontogovern;
buteventhiscomfortingassurancewasasnothingcomparedtothegreaterrevelationsimpliedinthespeaker'spraiseofhimself.
He,ElijahMartin!thedespised,therejected,theworthlessoutcastofRedwoodCamp,recognizedasa"bornking,"aleader;hispowerfeltbytheverymenwhohadscornedhim!Andhehaddonenothing——stop!hadheactuallydoneNOTHING?WasitnotpossiblethathewasREALLYwhattheythoughthim?Hisbrainreeledunderthestrong,unaccustomedwineofpraise;actinguponhisweakselfishness,itexaltedhimforamomenttotheirmeasureofhisstrength,evenastheirformerbeliefinhisinefficiencyhadkepthimdown.Courageistoooftenonlythememoryofpastsuccess.
Thiswashisfirsteffort;heforgothehadnotearnedit,evenashenowignoredthedangerofearningit.Thefewwordsofunconsciouspraisehadfallenlikethebladeofknighthoodonhiscoweringshoulders;hehadrisenennobledfromthecontact.Thoughhisfacewasstillmuffledinhisblanket,hestooderectandseemedtohavegainedinstature.
Thebraveshadremainedstandingirresolute,andyetwatchful,afewpacesfromtheircaptives.Suddenly,Elijah,stillkeepinghisbacktotheprisoners,turneduponthebraves,withblazingeyes,violentlythrowingouthishandswiththegestureofbreakingbonds.Likeallsuddendemonstrationsofundemonstrativemen,itwasextravagant,weird,andtheatrical.Butitwasmorepotentthanspeech——thespeechthat,evenifeffective,wouldstillhavebetrayedhimtohiscountrymen.Thebraveshurriedlycutthethongsoftheprisoners;anotherimpulsivegesturefromElijah,andthey,too,fled.Whenheliftedhiseyescautiouslyfromhisblanket,captorsandcaptiveshaddispersedinoppositedirections,andhewasalone——andtriumphant!
FromthatmomentElijahMartinwasanotherman.Hewenttobedthatnightinanintoxicatingdreamofpower;hearoseamanofwill,ofstrength.Hereaditintheeyesofthebraves,albeitattimesavertedinwonder.Heunderstood,now,thatalthoughpeacehadbeentheirhabitandcustom,theyhadneverthelesssoughttotesthistheoriesofadministrationwiththeofferingofthescalpsandthecaptives,andinthisdetectionoftheircommonweaknessheforgothisown.Mostheroesrequirethecontrastoftheunheroictosetthemoff;andElijahactuallyfoundhimselfdevisingmeansforstrengtheningthedefensiveandoffensivecharacterofthetribe,andwashimselfstrengthenedbyit.Meanwhiletheescapedpackersdidnotfailtoheightentheimportanceoftheiradventurebyelevatingthecharacterandachievementsoftheirdeliverer;anditwaspresentlyannouncedthroughoutthefrontiersettlementsthatthehithertoinsignificantandpeacefultribeofMinyos,whoinhabitedalargeterritoryborderingonthePacificOcean,haddevelopedintoapowerfulnation,onlykeptfromthewar-pathbyamorepowerfulbutmysteriouschief.TheGovernmentsentanIndianagenttotreatwiththem,initsusualhalf-paternal,half-