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interrogation from the passengers。 〃I can't make him out。 His eyes are
open； but he cannot speak or move。 Take a look at him； Doc。〃
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A rough unprofessional…looking man here descended from the inside
of the coach； and； carelessly thrusting aside the other curious passengers；
suddenly leant over the heap of clothes in a professional attitude。
〃He is dead；〃 said one of the passengers。
The rough man let the passive head sink softly down again。 〃No such
luck for him；〃 he said curtly； but not unkindly。 〃It's a stroke of paralysis
and about as big as they make 'em。 It's a toss…up if he ever speaks or
moves again as long as he lives。〃
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CHAPTER I
When Alvin Mulrady announced his intention of growing potatoes
and garden 〃truck〃 on the green slopes of Los Gatos； the mining
community of that region； and the adjacent hamlet of 〃Rough…and…
Ready；〃 regarded it with the contemptuous indifference usually shown by
those adventurers towards all bucolic pursuits。 There was certainly no
active objection to the occupation of two hillsides； which gave so little
promise to the prospector for gold that it was currently reported that a
single prospector； called 〃Slinn；〃 had once gone mad or imbecile through
repeated failures。 The only opposition came； incongruously enough；
from the original pastoral owner of the soil； one Don Ramon Alvarado；
whose claim for seven leagues of hill and valley； including the now
prosperous towns of Rough…and…Ready and Red Dog； was met with simple
derision from the squatters and miners。 〃Looks ez ef we woz goin' to
travel three thousand miles to open up his dd old wilderness； and then
pay for the increased valoo we give itdon't it？ Oh； yes； certainly！〃 was
their ironical commentary。 Mulrady might have been pardoned for
adopting this popular opinion； but by an equally incongruous sentiment；
peculiar； however； to the man； he called upon Don Ramon； and actually
offered to purchase the land； or 〃go shares〃 with him in the agricultural
profits。 It was alleged that the Don was so struck with this concession
that he not only granted the land； but struck up a quaint reserved
friendship for the simple…minded agriculturist and his family。 It is
scarcely necessary to add that this intimacy was viewed by the miners with
the contempt that it deserved。 They would have been more
contemptuous； however； had they known the opinion that Don Ramon
entertained of their particular vocation； and which he early confided to
Mulrady。
〃They are savages who expect to reap where they have not sown； to
take out of the earth without returning anything to it but their precious
carcasses； heathens； who worship the mere stones they dig up。〃 〃And
was there no Spaniard who ever dug gold？〃 asked Mulrady； simply。 〃Ah；
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there are Spaniards and Moors；〃 responded Don Ramon； sententiously。
〃Gold has been dug； and by caballeros； but no good ever came of it。
There were Alvarados in Sonora； look you； who had mines of SILVER；
and worked them with peons and mules； and lost their moneya gold mine
to work a silver onelike gentlemen！ But this grubbing in the dirt with
one's fingers； that a little gold may stick to them； is not for caballeros。
And then； one says nothing of the curse。〃
〃The curse！〃 echoed Mary Mulrady； with youthful feminine
superstition。 〃What is that？〃
〃You knew not； friend Mulrady； that when these lands were given to
my ancestors by Charles V。； the Bishop of Monterey laid a curse upon any
who should desecrate them。 Good！ Let us see！ Of the three
Americanos who founded yonder town； one was shot； another died of a
feverpoisoned； you understand； by the soiland the last got himself
crazy of aguardiente。 Even the scientifico；* who came here years ago
and spied into the trees and the herbs： he was afterwards punished for his
profanation； and died of an accident in other lands。 But；〃 added Don
Ramon； with grave courtesy； 〃this touches not yourself。 Through me；
YOU are of the soil。〃
* Don Ramon probably alluded to the eminent naturalist Douglas；
who visited California before the gold excitement； and died of an accident
in the Sandwich Islands。
Indeed； it would seem as if a secure if not a rapid prosperity was the
result of Don Ramon's manorial patronage。 The potato patch and market
garden flourished exceedingly； the rich soil responded with magnificent
vagaries of growth； the even sunshine set the seasons at defiance with
extraordinary and premature crops。 The salt pork and biscuit consuming
settlers did not allow their contempt of Mulrady's occupation to prevent
their profiting by this opportunity for changing their diet。 The gold they
had taken from the soil presently began to flow into his pockets in
exchange for his more modest treasures。 The little cabin； which barely
sheltered his familya wife； son； and daughterwas enlarged； extended；
and refitted； but in turn abandoned for a more pretentious house on the
opposite hill。 A whitewashed fence replaced the rudely…split rails； which
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had kept out the wilderness。 By degrees； the first evidences of
cultivationthe gashes of red soil； the piles of brush and undergrowth； the
bared boulders； and heaps of stone melted away； and were lost un