"Itblows,"saidJoeWingate.
　　AsiftoaccentthewordsofthespeakeraheavygustofwindatthatmomentshookthelonglightwoodenstructurewhichservedasthegeneralstoreofSidonsettlement,inContraCosta.Evenafterithadpassedaprolongedwhistlecamethroughthekeyhole,sides,andopeningsoftheclosedglassfrontdoors,thatservedequallyforwindows,andfilledthecanvasceilingwhichhidtheroofabovelikeabellyingsail.Awaveofenthusiasticemotionseemedtobecommunicatedtoalineofstrawhatsandsou-westerssuspendedfromacross-beam,andswungthemwitheveryappearanceoffestiverejoicing,whileafewdusters,overcoats,and"hickory"shirtshangingonthesidewallsexhibitedsuchmarkedthoughidioticanimationthatithadtheeffectofasatiricalcommentonthelazy,purposelessfiguresofthefourlivinginmatesofthestore.
　　NedBillingsmomentarilyraisedhisheadandshouldersdepressedinthebackofhiswoodenarmchair,glancedwearilyaround,said,"Youbet,it'snoslouchofastorm,"andthenlapsedagainwithfurtherextendedlegsandanaddedsenseofcomfort.
　　Herethethirdfigure,whichhadbeenleaninglistlesslyagainsttheshelves,puttingasidethearmofaswayingovercoatthatseemedtobeemptilyembracinghim,walkedslowlyfrombehindthecountertothedoor,examineditsfastenings,andgazedattheprospect.Hewastheownerofthestore,andtheviewwasafamiliarone,——alongstretchoftreelesswastebeforehimmeetinganequalstretchofdrearyskyabove,andnighthoveringsomewherebetweenthetwo.Thiswasindicatedbysplashesofdarkershadowasifwashedinwithindiaink,andalighterlow-lyingstreakthatmighthavebeenthehorizon,butwasnot.Totheright,onalinewiththefrontdoorofthestore,wereseveralscattered,widelydispersedobjects,that,althoughvagueinoutline,wererigidenoughinanglestosuggestshedsorbarns,butcertainlynottrees.
　　"There'saheapmorewettocomeaforethewindgoesdown,"hesaid,glancingatthesky."Harktothat,now!"
　　Theylistenedlazily.Therewasafaintmurmurfromtheshinglesabove;thensuddenlythewholewindowwasfilmedandblurredasiftheentireprospecthadbeenwipedoutwithadampsponge.Themanturnedlistlesslyaway.
　　"That'sthekindthatsoaksin;tharwon'tbemuchteamin'overTasajaraforthenexttwoweeks,Ireckon,"saidthefourthlounger,who,seatedonahighbarrel,wasnibbling——albeitcriticallyandfastidiously——biscuitsanddriedapplesalternatelyfromopenboxesonthecounter."It'sluckyyou'vegotinyourwinterstock,Harkutt."
　　TheshrewdeyesofMr.Harkutt,proprietor,glancedattheoccupationofthespeakerasifevenhisforesightmighthaveitspossibledrawbacks,buthesaidnothing.
　　"There'llbenoshowforSidonuntilyou'vegotawagonroadfromheretothecreek,"saidBillingslanguidly,fromthedepthsofhischair."Butwhat'stheuseo'talkin'?Tharain'tenergyenoughinallTasajaratobuildit.AGod-forsakenplace,thattwomonthsoftheyearcanonlybereachedbyamail-rideronceaweek,don'tlookezifitwasgoin'tobreakitsbackhaulin'ingoodsandsettlers.Itellyewhat,gentlemen,itmakesmesick!"Andapparentlyithadenfeebledhimtotheextentofinterferingwithhisaiminthatexpectorationofdisgustagainstthestovewithwhichheconcludedhissentence.
　　"Whydon'tYOUbuildit?"askedWingate,carelessly.
　　"Iwouldn'tonprinciple,"saidBillings."It'sgov'mentwork.
　　WhatdidwewhoopupthingsherelastspringtoelectKennedytothelegislationfor?WhatdidIrigupmyshedandathousandfeetoflumberforbenchesatthebarbecuefor?Why,togetKennedyelectedandmakehimgetabillpassedfortheroad!That'sMY
　　shareofbuildingit,ifitcomestothat.AndIonlywishsomefolks,thatblowenoughaboutwhatoughterbedonetobulgeoutthatceiling,wouldonlydoasmuchasIhavedoneforSidon."
　　Asthisremarkseemedtohaveapersonalaswellaslocalapplication,thestorekeeperdiplomaticallyturnedit."There'sagoodmanyasDON'TbelievethataroadfromheretothecreekisgoingtodoanygoodtoSidon.It'sverywelltosaythecreekisanembarcadero,butcallin'itsodon'tputanoughwaterintoittofloatasteamboatfromthebay,norclearoutthereedsandtulesinit.EveniftheStatebuildsyouroads,itain'tgotnocalltomakeTasajaraCreeknavigableforye;andasthatwillcostasmuchastheroad,Idon'tseewherethemoney'scomin'fromforboth."
　　"There'swaterenoughinfrontof'LigeCurtis'sshanty,andhislocationisonlyamilealongthebank,"returnedBillings.
　　"Waterenoughforhimtolazeawayhistimefishin'whenhe'ssober,anddeepenoughtodrownhimwhenhe'sdrunk,"saidWingate.
　　"Ifyoucallthatanembarcadero,youkinbuyitanydayfrom'Lige,——title,possession,andshantythrownin,——forademijohno'
　　whiskey."
　　Thefourthmanheredistastefullythrewbackahalf-nibbledbiscuitintothebox,andlanguidlyslippedfromthebarreltothefloor,fastidiouslyflickingthecrumbsfromhisclothesashedidso."I
　　reckonsomebody'llgetitfornothing,if'Ligedon'tpullupmightysoon.He'lleithergooffhisheadwithjim-jamsorjumpintothecreek.He'saboutasneardesp'ritastheymake'em,andhavin'nopartnertolookafterhim,andhimaloneinthetules,ther''snotellin'WHAThemaydo."
　　Billings,stretchedatfulllengthinhischair,heregurgledderisively."Desp'rit!——ketchhim!Why,that'shislittlegame!
　　He'sjistplayin'offhisdesp'ritconditiontofrightenSidon.
　　Wheneveranyoneaskshimwhyhedon'tgotowork,wheneverhe'shardupforadrink,wheneverhe'shadtoomuchortoolittle,he'sworkin'thatdesp'ritdodge,andeventalkin'o'killin'himself!
　　Why,lookhere,"hecontinued,momentarilyraisinghimselftoasittingpostureinhisdisgust,"itwasonlylastweekhewasoveratRawlett'stryingtoraiseprovisionsandwhiskeyouterhiswaterrightsonthecreek!Fact,sir,——haditallwrittendownlawyer-
　　likeonpaper.Rawlettdidn'texactlyseeitinthatlight,andtoldhimso.Thenheupwiththedesp'ritdodgeandbegantoworkthat.Saidifhehadtostarveinaswamplikeadoghemightaswellkillhimselfatonce,andwouldtooifhecouldaffordtheweppins.Johnsonsaiditwasnotabadidea,andofferedtolendhimhisrevolver;Bilsonhandeduphisshot-gun,andleftitalongsideofhim,andturnedhisheadawayconsiderate-likeandthoughtfulwhileRawletthandedhimaboxofratpizonoverthecounter,incasehepreferredsuthin'morequiet.Well,whatdid'Ligedo?Nothin'!Smiledkindersickly,lookedsorterwild,andshutup.Hedidn'tsuicidemuch.No,sir!Hedidn'tkillhimself,——nothe.Why,oldBixby——andhe'sadeaconingoodstandin'——allowed,in'Lige'shearin'andfor'Lige'sbenefit,thatself-destructionwasbetternorbadexample,andproveditbyScripturetoo.Andyet'Ligedidnothin'!Desp'rit!He'sonlydesp'rittolazearoundandfishalldayoffaloginthetules,andsoakupwithwhiskey,until,betwixtfeveran'agueandthejumps,hekindershakeshisselffreeo'responsibility."
　　Alongsilencefollowed;itwassomehowfeltthatthesubjectwasincongruouslyexciting;Billingsallowedhimselftolapseagainbehindthebackofhischair.Meantimeithadgrownsodarkthatthedullglowofthestovewasbeginningtooutlineafainthaloontheceilingevenwhileitplungedthefurtherlinesofshelvesbehindthecounterintogreaterobscurity.
　　"Timetolightup,Harkutt,ain'tit?"saidWingate,tentatively.
　　"Well,Iwasreckoningezit'ssuchawildnighttherewouldn'tbeanyusekeepin'open,andwhenyoufellowsleftI'djustshutupforgoodandmakethingsfast,"saidHarkutt,dubiously.Beforehisguestshadtimetofullyweighthisdelicatehint,anothergustofwindshookthetenement,andevenforcedtheunboltedupperpartofthedoortoyieldfarenoughtoadmitaneagercurrentofhumidairthatseemedtojustifythewisdomofHarkutt'ssuggestion.
　　Billingsslowlyandwithasighassumedasittingpostureinthechair.Thebiscuit-nibblerselectedafreshdaintyfromthecounter,andWingateabstractedlywalkedtothewindowandrubbedtheglass.Skyandwaterhadalreadydisappearedbehindacurtainofdarknessthatwasilluminatedbyasinglepointoflight——thelampinthewindowofsomeinvisiblebutnearerhouse——whichthrewitsraysacrosstheglisteningshallowsintheroad."Well,"saidWingate,buttoninguphiscoatinslowdejection,"IreckonI
　　oughterbetravelin'tohelptheoldwomandothechoresbeforesupper."Hehadjustrecognizedthelightinhisowndining-room,andknewbythatsignthathislong-waitinghelpmeethadfinallydonethechoresherself.
　　"Somefolkshaveitmightyeasy,"saidBillings,withlong-drawndiscontent,ashestruggledtohisfeet."You'veonlyasteptogo,andyer'smeandPetersthere"——indicatingthebiscuit-nibbler,whowasbeginningtoshowalarmingsignsofreturningtothebarrelagain——"hevgottotrapsefivetimesthatdistance."
　　"More'nhalfamile,ifitcomestothat,"saidPeters,gloomily.
　　Hepausedinputtingonhisovercoatasifthinkingbetterofit,whileeventhemorefortunateandcontiguousWingatelanguidlylapsedagainstthecounteragain.
　　Themomentwasacriticalone.Billingswasevidentlyalsoregretfullyeyingthechairhehadjustquitted.Harkuttresolvedonaheroiceffort.
　　"Come,boys,"hesaid,withbriskconviviality,"takeapartingdrinkwithmebeforeyougo."Producingablackbottlefromsomeobscuritybeneaththecounterthatsmeltstronglyofindia-rubberboots,heplaceditwithfourglassesbeforehisguests.Eachmadeafeintofholdinghisglassagainsttheopaquewindowwhilefillingit,althoughnothingcouldbeseen.Asuddentumultofwindandrainagainshookthebuilding,butevenafterithadpassedtheglassdoorstillrattledviolently.
　　"Justseewhat'sloose,Peters,"saidBillings;"you'renearestit."
　　Peters,stillholdingtheundrainedglassinhishand,walkedslowlytowardsit.
　　"It'ssuthin'——orsomebodyoutside,"hesaid,hesitatingly.
　　Thethreeotherscameeagerlytohisside.Throughtheglass,cloudedfromwithinbytheirbreath,andfilmedfromwithoutbytherain,somevagueobjectwasmoving,andwhatseemedtobeamopoftangledhairwasapparentlybrushingagainstthepane.Thedoorshookagain,butlessstrongly.Billingspressedhisfaceagainsttheglass."Hol'on,"hesaidinaquickwhisper,——"it's'Lige!"
　　Butitwastoolate.Harkutthadalreadydrawnthelowerbolt,andamanstumbledfromtheouterobscurityintothedarkerroom.
　　Theinmatesdrewawayasheleanedbackforamomentagainstthedoorthatclosedbehindhim.Thendimly,butinstinctively,discerningtheglassofliquorwhichWingatestillmechanicallyheldinhishand,hereachedforwardeagerly,tookitfromWingate'ssurprisedandunresistingfingers,anddraineditatagulp.Thefourmenlaughedvaguely,butnotascheerfullyastheymight.
　　"Iwasjustshuttingup,"beganHarkutt,dubiously.
　　"Iwon'tkeepyouaminit,"saidtheintruder,nervouslyfumblinginthebreastpocketofhishickoryshirt."It'samatterofbusiness——Harkutt——I"——Buthewasobligedtostopheretowipehisfaceandforeheadwiththeendsofaloosehandkerchieftiedroundhisthroat.Fromtheaction,andwhatcouldbeseenofhispale,exhaustedface,itwasevidentthatthemoistureuponitwasbeadsofperspiration,andnottherainwhichsomeabnormalheatofhisbodywasconvertingintovaporfromhissoddengarmentsashestoodthere.
　　"I'vegotadocumenthere,"hebeganagain,producingarollofpapertremblinglyfromhispocket,"thatI'dlikeyoutoglanceover,andperhapsyou'd"——Hisvoice,whichhadbeenfeverishlyexalted,herebrokeandrattledwithacough.
　　Billings,Wingate,andPetersfellapartandlookedoutofthewindow."It'stoodarktoreadanythingnow,'Lige,"saidHarkutt,withevasivegoodhumor,"andIain'tlightin'upto-night."
　　"ButIcantellyouthesubstanceofit,"saidtheman,withafaintnessthathoweverhadallthedistinctnessofawhisper,"ifyou'lljuststepinsideaminute.It'samatterofimportanceandabargain"——
　　"Ireckonwemustbegoin',"saidBillingstotheothers,withmarkedemphasis."We'rekeepin'Harkuttfromshuttin'up.""Good-
　　night!""Good-night!"addedPetersandWingate,ostentatiouslyfollowingBillingshurriedlythroughthedoor."Solong!"
　　Thedoorclosedbehindthem,leavingHarkuttalonewithhisimportunateintruder.Possiblyhisresentmentathiscustomers'
　　selfishabandonmentofhimatthismomentdevelopedavaguespiritofoppositiontothemandmitigatedhisfeelingtowards'Lige.Hegropedhiswaytothecounter,struckamatch,andlitacandle.
　　Itsfeebleraysfaintlyilluminatedthepale,drawnfaceoftheapplicant,setinatangleofwet,unkempt,party-coloredhair.Itwasnotthefaceofanordinarydrunkard;althoughtremulousandsensitivefromsomeartificialexcitement,therewasnoENGORGEMENT
　　orcongestioninthefeaturesorcomplexion,albeittheyweremorbidandunhealthy.Theexpressionwasofasufferingthatwasasmuchmentalasphysical,andyetinsomevaguewayappearedunmeaning——andunheroic.
　　"Iwanttoseeyouaboutsellingmyplaceonthecreek.Iwantyoutotakeitoffmyhandsforabargain.Iwanttogetquitofit,atonce,forjustenoughtotakemeouto'this.Idon'twantanyprofit;onlymoneyenoughtogetaway."Hisutterance,whichhadacertainkindofcultivation,heregrewthickandharshagain,andhelookedeagerlyatthebottlewhichstoodonthecounter.
　　"Lookhere,'Lige,"saidHarkutt,notunkindly."It'stoolatetodoanythin'tonight.Youcomeinto-morrow."Hewouldhaveadded"whenyou'resober,"butforatrader'ssenseofpolitenesstoapossiblecustomer,andprobablysomedoubtoftheman'sactualcondition.
　　"GodknowswhereorwhatImaybetomorrow!Itwouldkillmetogobackandspendanothernightasthelast,ifIdon'tkillmyselfonthewaytodoit."
　　Harkutt'sfacedarkenedgrimly.ItwasindeedasBillingshadsaid.Thepitiableweaknessoftheman'smannernotonlymadehisdesperationinadequateandineffective,butevenlentitallthecheapnessofacting.And,asiftoaccenthissimulationofapart,hisfingers,feeblygropinginhisshirtbosom,slippedaimlesslyandhelplesslyfromtheshininghandleofapistolinhispockettowanderhesitatinglytowardsthebottleonthecounter.
　　Harkutttookthebottle,pouredoutaglassoftheliquor,andpusheditbeforehiscompanion,whodrankiteagerly.Whetheritgavehimmoreconfidence,orhisattentionwasnolongerdiverted,hewentonmorecollectedlyandcheerfully,andwithnotraceofhispreviousdesperationinhismanner."Come,Harkutt,buymyplace.It'sabargain,Itellyou.I'llsellitcheap.Ionlywantenoughtogetawaywith.Givemetwenty-fivedollarsandit'syours.See,there'sthepapers——thequitclaim——alldrawnupandsigned."Hedrewtherollofpaperfromhispocketagain,apparentlyforgetfuloftheadjacentweapon.
　　"Lookhere,'Lige,"saidHarkutt,withabusiness-likestraighteningofhislips,"Iain'tbuyin'anylandinTasajara,——leastofallyoursonthecreek.I'vegotmoreinvestedherealreadythanI'llevergetbackagain.ButItellyouwhatI'lldo.Yousayyoucan'tgobacktoyourshanty.Well,seein'howroughitisoutside,andthatthewatersofthecreekareprobablyalloverthetrailbythistime,Ireckonyou'reaboutright.Now,there'sfivedollars!"
　　Helaiddownacoinsharplyonthecounter."TakethatandgoovertoRawlett'sandgetabedandsomesupper.Inthemornin'youmaybeabletostrikeupatradewithsomebodyelse——orchangeyourmind.Howdidyougethere?Onyourhoss?"
　　"Yes."
　　"Heain'tstarvedyet?"
　　"No;hecaneatgrass.Ican't."
　　EithertheliquororHarkutt'spracticalunsentimentaltreatmentofthesituationseemedtogivehimconfidence.HemetHarkutt'seyemoresteadilyasthelatterwenton."YoukinturnyourhossforthenightintomystockcorralnexttoRawlett's.It'llsaveyoupayin'forfodderandstablin'."
　　Themantookupthecoinwithacertainslowgravitywhichwasalmostlikedignity."Thankyou,"hesaid,layingthepaperonthecounter."I'llleavethatassecurity."
　　"Don'twantit,'Lige,"saidHarkutt,pushingitback.
　　"I'dratherleaveit."
　　"ButsupposeyouhaveachancetosellittosomebodyatRawlett's?"
　　continuedHarkutt,withaprecautionthatseemedironical.
　　"Idon'tthinkthere'smuchchanceofthat."
　　Heremainedquiet,lookingatHarkuttwithanoddexpressionasherubbedtheedgeofthecointhatheheldbetweenhisfingersabstractedlyonthecounter.Somethinginhisgaze——ratherperhapstheapparentabsenceofanythinginitapproximatetothepresentoccasion——wasbeginningtoaffectHarkuttwithavagueuneasiness.
　　Providentiallyaresumedonslaughtofwindandrainagainstthepaneseffectedadiversion."Come,"hesaid,withbriskpracticality,"you'dbetterhurryontoRawlett'sbeforeitgetsworse.Haveyourclothesdriedbyhisfire,takesuthin'toeat,andyou'llbeallright."Herubbedhishandscheerfully,asifsummarilydisposingofthesituation,andincidentallyofall'Lige'stroubles,andwalkedwithhimtothedoor.Nevertheless,astheman'slookremainedunchanged,hehesitatedamomentwithhishandonthehandle,inthehopethathewouldsaysomething,evenifonlytorepeathisappeal,buthedidnot.ThenHarkuttopenedthedoor;themanmovedmechanicallyout,andatthedistanceofafewfeetseemedtomeltintotherainanddarkness.