下载辰思小说免费APP
TheabsorbinganddisastrousadventureoftheFlyingScudwasnowquiteended；wehaddashedintothesedeepwatersandwehadescapedagaintostarve，wehadbeenruinedandweresaved，hadquarrelledandmadeup；thereremainednothingbuttosingTeDeum，drawaline，andbeginonafreshpageofmyunwrittendiary。IdonotpretendthatIrecoveredallIhadlostwithMamie；itwouldhavebeenmorethanIhadmerited；andI
hadcertainlybeenmoreuncommunicativethanbecameeitherthepartnerorthefriend。Butsheacceptedthepositionhandsomely；andduringtheweekthatInowpassedwiththem，bothsheandJimhadthegracetosparemequestions。ItwastoCalistogathatwewent；therewassomerumourofaNapaland-boomatthemoment，thepossibilityofstirattractedJim，andheinformedmehewouldfindacertainjoyinlookingon，muchasNapoleononSt。Helenatookapleasuretoreadmilitaryworks。Thefieldofhisambitionwasquiteclosed；hewasdonewithaction；andlookedforwardtoaranchinamountaindingle，apatchofcorn，apairofkine，aleisurelyandcontemplativeageinthegreenshadeofforests。“Justletmegetdownonmybackinahayfield。”saidhe，“andyou’llfindthere’snomoresnaptomethanthatmuchputty。”
Andfortwodaystheperfervidbeingactuallyrested。Thethird，hewasobservedinconsultationwiththelocaleditor，andownedhewasintwomindsaboutpurchasingthepressandpaper。“It’sakindofaholdforanidleman。”hesaid，pleadingly；“andifthesectionwastoopenupthewayitoughtto，theremightbedollarsinthething。”Onthefourthdayhewasgonetilldinner-timealone；onthefifthwemadealongpicnicdrivetothefreshfieldofenterprise；andthesixthwaspassedentirelyinthepreparationofprospectuses。ThepioneerofMcBrideCitywasalreadyuprightandself-reliantasofyore；
thefirerekindledinhiseye，theringrestoredtohisvoice；achargersniffingbattleandsayingha-ha，amongthespears。Ontheseventhmorningwesignedadeedofpartnership，forJimwouldnotacceptadollarofmymoneyotherwise；andhavingoncemoreengagedmyself——orthatmortalpartofme，mypurse——amongthewheelsofhismachinery，IreturnedalonetoSanFranciscoandtookquartersinthePalaceHotel。
ThesamenightIhadNarestodinner。Hissunburntface，hisqueerandpersonalstrainoftalk，recalleddaysthatwerescarceoverandthatseemedalreadydistant。Throughthemusicofthebandoutside，andthechinkandclatterofthedining-room，itseemedtomeasifIheardthefoamingofthesurfandthevoicesofthesea-birdsaboutMidwayIsland。Thebruisesonourhandswerenotyethealed；andtherewesat，waitedonbyelaboratedarkies，eatingpompanoanddrinkingicedchampagne。
“ThinkofourdinnersontheNorah，captain，andthenobligemebylookingroundtheroomforcontrast。”
Hetookthesceneinslowly。“Yes，itislikeadream。”hesaid：
“likeasifthedarkieswerereallyaboutasbigasdimes；andagreatbigscuttlemightopenupthere，andJohnsonstickinagreatbigheadandshoulders，andcry，’Eightbells！’——andthewholethingvanish。”
“Well，it’stheotherthingthathasdonethat。”Ireplied。“It’sallbygonenow，alldeadandburied。Amen！sayI。”
“Idon’tknowthat，Mr。Dodd；andtotellyouthefact，Idon’tbelieveit。”saidNares。“There’smoreFlyingScudintheoven；
andthebaker’sname，Itakeit，isBellairs。Hetackledmethedaywecamein：sortofarazeeofpooroldhumanity——juryclothes——fullnewsuitofpimples：knewhimatoncefromyourdescription。IlethimpumpmetillIsawhisgame。Heknowsagooddealthatwedon’tknow，agooddealthatwedo，andsuspectsthebalance。There’stroublebrewingforsomebody。”
IwassurprisedIhadnotthoughtofthisbefore。Bellairshadbeenbehindthescenes；hehadknownDickson；heknewtheflightofthecrew；itwashardlypossiblebutwhatheshouldsuspect；itwascertainifhesuspected，thathewouldseektotradeonthesuspicion。Andsureenough，Iwasnotyetdressedthenextmorningerethelawyerwasknockingatmydoor。Ilethimin，forIwascurious；andhe，aftersomeambiguousprolegomena，roundlyproposedIshouldgoshareswithhim。
“Sharesinwhat？”Iinquired。
“Ifyouwillallowmetoclothemyideainasomewhatvulgarform。”sa
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