These periodical journeys never occupied less than two weeks, and in the present instance he had been absent several days beyond that period, so that some anxiety was felt for him, since every trip was attended with more or less danger. He was exposed to the peril3 of storms, snowslides, wild animals and hostile Indians. The elemental disturbances4 in the Sierras are sometimes of a terrific nature. Twice he had lost a mule5, and once both animals went spinning down a precipice6 for a thousand feet, in an avalanche7 of snow and were never found again. Vose’s only consolation8 in the last instance was that it occurred when on his way to Sacramento, while in the former case he saved one of the precious kegs, which he insisted was the means of saving him in turn from perishing in the Arctic temperature.
The shadowy trail wound in and out among the 84 gorges9 and cañons, beside towering mountain walls, at a dizzying elevation10, over ridges11 above the snow line, across table lands, through forests of pine and cedar12 and tumultuous mountain torrents13, where he took his life in his hands every time he made the venture.
The unerring marksmanship of Vose and his alertness reduced the danger from the fierce grizzly14 bears and ravening15 mountain wolves to the minimum, but the red men were an ever present peril. He had served as the target of many a whizzing arrow and stealthy rifle shot, but thus far had emerged with only a few insignificant16 hurts. He was ready at the stated times to set out on his journey, and appeared indeed to welcome the change in the existence which otherwise became tiresome17 and monotonous18. It mattered not that his friends often intimated that he was starting on his last venture of that nature, for he believed that his “time” had been set and it mattered naught19 what he did, since it could not be changed.
Vose explained that the cause of his last delay was the old one––Indians. They had pursued and pestered20 him so persistently21 that he was compelled to hunt out a new trail, longer and more difficult that the old one, and which came within a hair of landing him into the very camp of his enemies. However, everything had turned out well, and he brought with him the most prized cargo22 that ever arrived in New Constantinople.
85
First of all, were the two casks of freight, which had suffered so slight leakage23, that Landlord Ortigies complimented the vigilance of the messenger. Then he brought with him fully24 a hundred letters and newspapers. Each citizen received one, and many had several. In every instance, the grateful recipient25 paid Vose a dollar for his mail, so that the reward was generous, including as it did a liberal honorarium26 from the proprietor27 of the Heavenly Bower.
In addition to the mail and freight, there were a number of articles to which no special reference is needed. In one package, however, every one was deeply interested, and Nellie Dawson more than the others. Unknown to the father, a goodly sum had been entrusted28 to Adams, with which to purchase such articles as it was believed the child needed. These included material for numerous new dresses of gorgeous pattern, stockings, shoes, slippers29, ribbons, hats and even gloves, trinkets and playthings beyond enumeration30.
When these were spread out before the little one, she clapped her hands and danced with delight. She had never dreamed of or seen such bewildering wealth, and the miners were repaid a hundred fold, while the grateful parent thanked them for their thoughtful kindness.
With no other person of her sex in the settlement, it would naturally be thought that she lacked in many of the little attentions which only a mother or adult female 86 friend can give, but such was not the case. There was not a man among them all, who had not been taught in the hard school of necessity to become his own tailor and conservator of clothing. Many had natural taste, and had not wholly forgotten the education and training received in the homes of civilization, before they became adventurers and wanderers. A consensus31 of views, all moved by the same gentle impulse, resulted in Nellie Dawson being clothed in a garb32 which would hardly have caused criticism in the metropolis33 of our country. Not only that, but she was abundantly provided against all kinds of weather, and with Vose Adams making his regular trips westward34, there was no possibility of her ever knowing the want of thoughtful care.
The education of the little one was never neglected. Enough has been told to show her brightness, and even had not her teacher been inspired by his affection for the little one, the task of imparting knowledge to such an apt pupil must have been a constant pleasure. This work, as we have shown, fell by common consent to the parson, Felix Brush, though his choice at first was not unanimous. Wade35 Ruggles was so insistent36 that he should have a part in the work, that he was allowed a trial, but it cannot be said the result of several days’ effort was satisfactory. A stealthy inspection37 of the blackboard by
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CHAPTER IX THE CLOUD OF WAR
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