NeitherdoIthinkitcouldbesaidthataslightdeafness，whichmightimpartanembarrassingpublicitytoanystatement——thereverseofourgeneralfeeling——thatmightbeconfidedbyanyonetoherprivateear，wasasufficientreason；foritwaspointedoutthatshealwaysunderstoodeverythingthatTomSparrelltoldherinhisordinarytoneofvoice。Briefly，itwasverypossiblethatDelaware——theyoungestMissPiper——didnotlikeus。YetitwasfondlybelievedbyusthattheothersistersfailedtoshowthatindifferencetoourexistenceshownbyMissDelaware，althoughtheheartburnings，misunderstandings，jealousies，hopesandfears，andfinallythechivalrousresignationwithwhichweatlastacceptedthelongforegoneconclusionthattheywerenotforus，andfarbeyondourreach，isnotapartofthisveraciouschronicle。
EnoughthatnoneoftheflirtationsofhereldersistersaffectedorweresharedbytheyoungestMissPiper。Shemovedinthisheart-breakingatmospherewithsublimeindifference，treatinghersisters\'affairswithwhatweconsideredranksimplicityorappallingfrankness。Theirfewadmirerswhowereweakenoughtoattempttogainhermediationorconfidencehadreasontoregretit。
\"It\'snokindo\'usegivin\'megoodies，\"shesaidtoahelplesssuitorofLouisianaPiper\'swhohadofferedtobringhersomesweets，\"forIain\'tgotnoinfluencewithLu，andifIdon\'tgive\'emuptoherwhenshehearsofit，she\'llnagmeandhateyoulikepizen。Unless，\"sheaddedthoughtfully，\"itwaswintergreenlozenges；Lucan\'tstandthem，oranybodywhoeatsthemwithinamile。\"Itisneedlesstoaddthatthemiserableman，thusputuponhisgallantry，wasobligedinhonortoprovideDelwiththewintergreenlozengesthatkepthimindisfavorandatadistance。
Unfortunately，too，anypredilectionorpityforanyparticularsuitorofhersister\'swasattendedbyevenmoredisastrousconsequences。Itwasreportedthatwhileactingas\"gooseberry\"——aroleusuallyassignedtoher——betweenVirginiaPiperandanexceptionallytimidyoungsurveyor，duringaramblesheconceivedararesentimentofhumanitytowardstheunhappyman。Afteronceortwicelingeringbehindintheostentatiouspickingofawaysideflower，or\"runningonahead\"tolookatamountainview，withoutanyapparenteffectontheshyandspeechlessyouth，shedecoyedhimasidewhilehereldersisterrambledindifferentlyandsomewhatscornfullyon。TheyoungestMissPiperleapedupontherailofafence，andwiththestalkofathimbleberryinhermouthswunghersmallfeettoandfroandsurveyedhimdispassionately。
\"Yedon\'tseemtobeketchin\'on？\"shesaidtentatively。
Theyoungmansmiledfeeblyandinterrogatively。
\"Don\'tseemtobeeitherfolleringsuitnortrumpin\'，\"continuedDelbluntly。
\"Isupposeso——thatis，IfearthatMissVirginia\"——hestammered。
\"Speakup！I\'malittledeaf。Sayitagain！\"saidDel，screwinguphereyesandeyebrows。
Theyoungmanwasobligedtoadmitinstentoriantonesthathisprogresshadbeenscarcelysatisfactory。
\"You\'regoin\'ontooslow——that\'sit，\"saidDelcritically。\"Why，whenCaptainSavagemeanderedalongherewithJinny\"（Virginia）
\"lastweek，aforewegotasfarasthishe\'dreeledoffaheapofByronandJamieson\"（Tennyson），\"andsich；andonlyyesterdayJinnyandDoctorBeveridgewasblowin\'thistletopstoknowwhichwasaflirtallalongthetrailpastthecrossroads。Why，yeain\'tpickedezmuchasasingleberryforJinny，letaloneLad\'sLoveorJohnnyJumpupsandKissme\'s，andyekeeptalkin\'acrossme，youtwo，tillI\'mtired。Nowlookhere，\"sheburstoutwithsuddendecision，\"Jinny\'sgoneonaheadinakindo\'huff；butIreckonshe\'sdonethataforetoo，andyou\'llfindher，jestasSpinnerdid，ontheriseofthehill，sittin\'onapinestumpandlookin\'
likethis。\"（HeretheyoungestMissPiperlockedherfingersoverherleftknee，anddrewitslightlyup，——withasublimeindifferencetotheexposureofconsiderablesmall-ankledredstocking，——andwithafar-off，plaintivestare，achievedacolorableimitationofhereldersister\'sprobableattitude。）
\"Thenyoujestgoupsoftly，likeasyouwasabear，andclapyourhandsonhereyes，andsayinadisguisedvoicelikethis\"（hereDelturnedonahighfalsettobeyondanymasculinecompass），\"\'Who\'swho？\'jestlikeinforfeits。\"
\"Butshe\'llbesuretoknowme，\"saidthesurveyortimidly。
\"Shewon\'t，\"saidDelinscornfulskepticism。
\"Ihardlythink\"——stammeredtheyoungman，withanawkwardsmile，\"thatI——infact——she\'lldiscoverme——beforeIcangetbesideher。\"
\"Notifyougosoftly，forshe\'llbesittin\'backtotheroad，so——
gazingaway，so\"——theyoungestMissPiperagainstareddreamilyinthedistance，\"andyou\'llcreepupjustbehind，likethis。\"
\"Butwon\'tshebeangry？Ihaven\'tknownherlong——thatis——don\'tyousee？\"Hestoppedembarrassedly。
\"Can\'thearawordyousay，\"saidDel，shakingherheaddecisively。
\"You\'vegotmydeafear。Speaklouder，orcomecloser。\"
Butheretheinstructionsuddenlyended，onceandforalltime！
Forwhethertheyoungmanwasseriouslyanxioustoperfecthimself；
whetherhewastrulygratefultotheyounggirlandtriedtoshowit；whetherhewasemboldenedbythechildishappealofthelongbrowndistinguishingbraiddownherback，orwhetherhesuddenlyfoundsomethingpeculiarlyprovocativeinthereddishbrowneyesbetweentheirthicksethedgeoflashes，andwiththetrimfigureandpiquantpose，andwasseizedwiththathystericdesperationwhichsometimesattackstimidityitself，Icannotsay！Enoughthathesuddenlyputhisarmaroundherwaistandhislipstohersoftsatincheek，pepperedandsaltedasitwasbysun-frecklesandmountainair，andreceivedasoundboxontheearforhispains。
Theincidentwasclosed。Hedidnotrepeattheexperimentoneithersister。Thedisclosureofhisrebuffseemed，however，togiveasingularsatisfactiontoRedGulch。
WhileitmaybegatheredfromthisthattheyoungestMissPiperwasimpervioustogeneralmasculineadvances，itwasnotuntillaterthatRedGulchwasthrownintoskepticalastonishmentbytherumorsthatallthistimeshereallyhadalover！AllusionhasbeenmadetothechargethatherdeafnessdidnotpreventherfromperfectlyunderstandingtheordinarytoneofvoiceofacertainMr。ThomasSparrell。
Nounduesignificancewasattachedtothisfactthroughtheveryinsignificanceand\"impossibility\"ofthatindividual；——alanky，red-hairedyouth，incapacitatedformanuallaborthroughlameness，——
aclerkinageneralstoreattheCrossRoads！HehadneverbeentherecipientofJudgePiper\'shospitality；hehadnevervisitedthehouseevenwithparcels；apparentlyhisonlyinterviewswithheroranyofthefamilyhadbeenoverthecounter。Todohimjusticehecertainlyhadneverseemedtoseekanyneareracquaintance；hewasnotatthechurchdoorwhenhersisters，beautifulintheirSundaygowns，filedintotheaisle，withlittleDelawarebringinguptherear；hewasnotattheDemocraticbarbecue，thatweattendedwithoutreferencetoourpersonalpolitics，andsolelyforthesakeofJudgePiperandthegirls；nordidhegototheAgriculturalFairBall——opentoall。Hisabstentionwebelievedtobeowingtohislameness；toawholesomeconsciousnessofhisownsocialdefects；oraninordinatepassionforreadingcheapscientifictextbooks，whichdidnot，however，addfluencynorconvictiontohisspeech。Neitherhadhetheabstractionofastudent，forhisaccountswerekeptwithanaccuracywhichstruckus，whodealtatthestore，asignoblypractical，andevenmalignant。Possiblywemighthaveexpressedthisopinionmorestronglybutforacertainrudevigorofreparteewhichhepossessed，andasuggestionthathemighthaveatemperonoccasion。\"Themred-hairedchapsisliketobetetchyandtokinderseebloodthroughtheireyelashes，\"hadbeensuggestedbyanobservingcustomer。
Inshort，littleasweknewoftheyoungestMissPiper，hewasthelastmanweshouldhavesuspectedhertoselectasanadmirer。
Whatwedidknowoftheirpublicrelations，purelycommercialones，impliedthereverseofanycordialunderstanding。TheprovisioningofthePiperhouseholdwasentrustedtoDel，withotherpracticaloddsandendsofhousekeeping，notornamental，andthefollowingissaidtobeatruthfulrecordofoneoftheiroverheardinterviewsatthestore：——
TheyoungestMissPiper，entering，displacingaquantityofgoodsinthecentretomakeasidewaysseatforherself，andlookingaroundloftilyasshetookamemorandum-bookandpencilfromherpocket。
\"Ahem！IfIain\'ttakingyouawayfromyourstudies，Mr。Sparrell，maybeyou\'llbegoodenoughtolookhereaminit；——but\"（inaffectedpoliteness）\"ifI\'mdisturbingyouIcancomeanothertime。\"
Sparrell，placingthebookhehadbeenreadingcarefullyunderthecounter，andadvancingtoMissDelawarewithacompleteignoringofherirony：\"Whatcanwedoforyouto-day，MissPiper？\"
MissDelaware，withgreatsuavityofmanner，examininghermemorandum-book：\"Isupposeitwouldn\'tbeshockingyourdelicatefeelingstoomuchtoinformyouthatthecannedlobsterandoystersyousentusyesterdaywasn\'tfitforhogs？\"
Sparrell（blandly）：\"Theyweren\'tintendedforthem，MissPiper。
IfwehadknownyouwerehavingcompanyoverfromRedGulchtodinner，wemighthaveprovidedsomethingmoresuitableforthem。
Wehaveafairqualityofoil-cakeandcorn-cobsinstock，atreducedfigures。Butthecannedprovisionswereforyourownfamily。\"
MissDelaware（secretlypleasedatthissarcasticallusiontohersister\'sfriends，butconcealingherdelight）：\"Iadmiretohearyoutalkthatway，Mr。Sparrell；it\'sbetterthanminstrelsoracircus。Isupposeyougetitouterthatbook，\"indicatingtheconcealedvolume。\"Whatdoyoucallit？\"
Sparrell（politely）：\"TheFirstPrinciplesofGeology。\"
MissDelaware，leaningsidewaysandcurlingherlittlefingersaroundherpinkear：\"Didyousaythefirstprinciplesof\'geology\'
or\'politeness\'？YouknowIamsodeaf；but，ofcourse，itcouldn\'tbethat。\"
Sparrell（easily）：\"Ohno，youseemtohavethatinyourhand\"——
pointingtoMissDelaware\'smemorandum-book——\"youwerequotingfromitwhenyoucamein。\"
MissDelaware，afteranaffectedsilenceofdeepresignation：
\"Well！it\'stoobadfolkscan\'tjustspendtheirliveslistenin\'tosucheleganttalk；I\'dadmiretodonothingelse！Butthere\'smyfamilyupatCottonwood——andtheymusteat。They\'rethatlowthattheyexpectmetowastemytimegettingfoodfor\'emhere，insteadofdrinkingintheFirstPrinciplesoftheGrocery。\"
\"Geology，\"suggestedSparrellblandly。\"Thehistoryofrockformation。\"
\"Geology，\"acceptedMissDelawareapologetically；\"thehistoryofrocks，whichissonecessaryforknowingjusthowmuchsandyoucanputinthesugar。SoIreckonI\'llleavemylisthere，andyoucanhavethethingstotedtoCottonwoodwhenyou\'vegotthroughwithyourFirstPrinciples。\"
Shetoreoutalistofhercommissionsfromapageofhermemorandum-book，leapedlightlyfromthecounter，threwherbrownbraidfromherleftshouldertoitsproperplacedownherback，shookoutherskirtsdeliberately，andsaying，\"Thankyouforamostimprovin\'afternoon，Mr。Sparrell，\"saileddemurelyoutofthestore。
AfewauditorsofthisnarrativethoughtitinconsistentthatadaughterofJudgePiperandasisteroftheangelichostshouldputupwithamereclerk\'sfamiliarity，butitwaspointedoutthat\"shegavehimasgoodashesent，\"andthestorywasgenerallycredited。Butcertainlynooneeverdreamedthatitpointedtoanymorepreciousconfidencesbetweenthem。
Ithinkthesecretburstuponthefamily，withotherthings，atthebigpicnicatReservoirCanyon。Thisfestivityhadbeenarrangedforweekspreviously，andwasundertakenchieflybythe\"RedGulchContingent，\"aswewerecalled，asaslightreturntothePiperfamilyfortheirfrequenthospitality。ThePipersisterswereexpectedtobringnothingbuttheirownpersonalgracesandattendtotheministrationofsuchviandsanddelicaciesastheboyshadprofuselysupplied。
ThesiteselectedwasReservoirCanyon，abeautiful，triangularvalleywithverysteepsides，oneofwhichwascrownedbytheimmensereservoirofthePioneerDitchCompany。Thesheerflanksofthecanyondescendedinfurrowedlinesofvinesandclingingbushes，likefoldsoffallingskirts，untiltheybrokeagainintoflouncesofspangledshrubberyoverabroadlevelcarpetofmonkshood，mariposas，lupines，poppies，anddaisies。Temperedandsecludedfromthesun\'sraysbyitsloftyshadows，thedeliciousobscurityofthecanyonwasinsharpcontrasttothefierymountaintrailthatinthefullglareofthenoondayskymadeitstortuouswaydownthehillside，likeastreamoflava，toplungesuddenlyintothevalleyandextinguishitselfinitscoolnessasinalake。
Theheavyodorsofwildhoneysuckle，syringa，andceanothusthathungoveritwerelightenedandfreshenedbythesharpspicingofpineandbay。Themountainbreezewhichsometimesshooktheserratedtopsofthelargeredwoodsabovewithachillfromtheremotesnowpeaksevenintheheartofsummer，neverreachedthelittlevalley。
Itseemedanidealplaceforapicnic。Everybodywasthereforeastonishedtohearthatanobjectionwassuddenlyraisedtothisperfectsite。TheywerestillmoreastonishedtoknowthattheobjectorwastheyoungestMissPiper！Pressedtogiveherreasons，shehadrepliedthatthelocalitywasdangerous；thatthereservoirplaceduponthemountain，notoriouslyoldandwornout，hadbeenrenderedmoreunsafebyfalseeconomyinunskillfulandhastyrepairstosatisfyspeculatingstockbrokers，andthatithadlatelyshownsignsofleakageandsappingofitsouterwalls；that，intheeventofanoutbreak，thelittletriangularvalley，fromwhichtherewasnooutlet，wouldbeinstantlyflooded。Askedstillmorepressinglytogiveherauthorityforthesedetails，sheatfirsthesitated，andthengavethenameofTomSparrell。
Thederisionwithwhichthisstatementwasreceivedbyusall，astheopinionofasedentaryclerk，wasquitenaturalandobvious，butnottheangerwhichitexcitedinthebreastofJudgePiper；
foritwasnotgenerallyknownthatthejudgewastheholderofaconsiderablenumberofsharesinthePioneerDitchCompany，andthatlargedividendshadbeenlatelykeptupbyafalseeconomyofexpenditure，toexpeditea\"sharpdeal\"inthestock，bywhichthejudgeandotherscouldselloutofafailingcompany。Rather，itwasbelieved，thatthejudge\'sangerwasdueonlytothediscoveryofSparrell\'sinfluenceoverhisdaughterandhisinterferencewiththesocialaffairsofCottonwood。ItwassaidthattherewasasharpscenebetweentheyoungestMissPiperandthecombinedforcesofthejudgeandtheeldersisters，whichendedintheformer\'sresoluterefusaltoattendthepicnicatallifthatsitewasselected。
AsDelawarewasknowntobefearlesseventothepointofrecklessness，andfondofgayety，herrefusalonlyintensifiedthebeliefthatshewasmerely\"stickin\'upforSparrell\'sjudgment\"
withoutanyreferencetoherownpersonalsafetyorthatofhersisters。Thewarningwaslaughedaway；theopinionofSparrelltreatedwithridiculeasthedyspepticandenviousexpressionofanimpracticalman。Itwaspointedoutthatthereservoirhadlastedalongtimeeveninitsallegedruinousstate；thatonlyamiracleofcoincidencecouldmakeitbreakdownthatparticularafternoonofthepicnic；thatevenifitdidhappen，therewasnodirectproofthatitwouldseriouslyfloodthevalley，oratbestaddmorethanaspiceofexcitementtotheaffair。The\"RedGulchContingent，\"whoWOULDbethere，wasquiteascapableoftakingcareoftheladies，incaseofanyaccident，asanylamecrankwhowouldn\'t，butcouldonlycroakawarningtothemfromadistance。
Afewevenwishedsomethingmighthappenthattheymighthaveanopportunityofshowingtheirsuperiordevotion；indeed，theprospectofcarryingthehalf-submergedsisters，inaconditionofhelplessloveliness，intheirarmstoaplaceofsafetywasafascinatingpossibility。Thewarningwasconspicuouslyineffective；
everybodylookedeagerlyforwardtothedayandtheunchangedlocality；tothegreatesthopefulnessandanticipationwasaddedthestirringofdefiance，andwhenatlasttheappointedhourhadarrived，thepicnicpartypasseddownthetwistingmountaintrailthroughtheheatandglareinafeverofenthusiasm。
Itwasaprettysighttoviewthissparklingprocession——thegirlscoolandradiantintheirwhite，blue，andyellowmuslinsandflyingribbons，the\"Contingent\"initscleanestducks，andblueandredflannelshirts，thejudgewhite-waistcoatedandpanama-
hatted，withanewdignityborrowedfromthepreviouscircumstances，andthreeorfourimpressiveChinamenbringinguptherearwithhampers——asitatlastdebouchedintoReservoirCanyon。
Heretheydispersedthemselvesoverthelimitedarea，scarcelyhalfanacre，withthefreedomofescapedschoolchildren。Theyweresecureintheirwoodlandprivacy。Theywereoverlookedbynohighroadanditspassingteams；theyweresafefromaccidentalintrusionfromthesettlement；indeedtheywentsofarastoeffecttheexclusivenessof\"clique。\"AtfirsttheyamusedthemselvesbycastinghumorouslydefianteyesatthelonglowDitchReservoir，whichpeepedoverthegreenwalloftheridge，sixhundredfeetabovethem；attimestheyevensimulatedanexaggeratedterrorofit，andonerecognizedhumoristdeclaimedagrotesqueappealtoitsforbearance，withdelightfullocalallusions。Otherspretendedtodiscovernearawoodman\'shut，amongthebeltofpinesatthetopofthedescendingtrail，thepeepingfigureoftheridiculousandenviousSparrell。Butallthiswaspresentlyforgottenintheactualfestivity。Smallaswastherangeofthevalley，itstillallowedretreatsduringthedancesforwaitingcouplesamongtheconvenientlaurelandmanzanitabusheswhichflouncedthemountainside。Afterthedancing，old-fashionedchildren\'sgameswererevivedwithgreatlaughterandhalf-heartedandcoyprotestsfromtheladies；notablyonepastimeknownas\"I\'ma-pinin\'，\"inwhichingeniousperformancethevictimwasobligedtostandinthecentreofacircleandpublicly\"pine\"foramemberoftheoppositesex。
SomehilaritywasoccasionedbythemischievousMiss\"Georgy\"Piperdeclaring，whenitcametoherturn，thatshewas\"pinin\'\"foralookatthefaceofTomSparrelljustnow！
Inthislocaltriflingtwohourspassed，untilthepartysatdowntothelong-lookedforrepast。ItwasherethatthehealthofJudgePiperwasneatlyproposedbytheeditorofthe\"Argus。\"Thejudgerespondedwithgreatdignityandsomeemotion。Heremindedthemthatithadbeenhishumbleendeavortopromoteharmony——thatharmonysocharacteristicofAmericanprinciples——insocialashehadinpoliticalcircles，andparticularlyamongthestrangelyconstitutedyetpurelyAmericanelementsoffrontierlife。Heacceptedthepresentfestivitywithitsoverflowinghospitalities，notinrecognitionofhimself——（\"yes！yes！\"）——norofhisfamily——
（enthusiasticprotests）——butofthatAmericanprinciple！Ifatonetimeitseemedprobablethatthesefestivitiesmightbemarredbythemachinationsofenvy——（groans）——orthatharmonyinterruptedbytheimportationoflow-tonedmaterialinterests——（groans）——hecouldsaythat，lookingaroundhim，hehadneverbeforefelt——er——that——
Herethejudgestoppedshort，reeledslightlyforward，caughtatacamp-stool，recoveredhimselfwithanapologeticsmile，andturnedinquiringlytohisneighbor。
Alightlaugh——instantlysuppressed——atwhatwasatfirstsupposedtobetheeffectofthe\"overflowinghospitality\"uponthespeakerhimself，wentaroundthemalecircleuntilitsuddenlyappearedthathalfadozenothershadstartedtotheirfeetatthesametime，withwhitefaces，andthatoneoftheladieshadscreamed。
\"Whatisit？\"everybodywasaskingwithinterrogatorysmiles。
ItwasJudgePiperwhoreplied：——
\"Alittleshockofearthquake，\"hesaidblandly；\"amerethrill！I
think，\"headdedwithafaintsmile，\"wemaysaythatNatureherselfhasapplaudedoureffortsingoodoldCalifornianfashion，andsignifiedherassent。Whatareyousaying，Fludder？\"
\"Iwasthinking，sir，\"saidFludderdeferentially，inalowervoice，\"thatifanythingwaswronginthereservoir，thisshock，youknow，might\"——
Hewasinterruptedbyafaintcrashingandcracklingsound，andlookingup，beheldagood-sizedboulder，evidentlydetachedfromsomegreaterheight，striketheuplandplateauattheleftofthetrailandboundintothefringeofforestbesideit。Aslightcloudofdustmarkeditscourse，andthenlazilyfloatedawayinmidair。Butithadbeenwatchedagitatedly，anditwasevidentthatthatsingularlossofnervousbalancewhichisapttoaffectallthosewhogothroughtheslightestearthquakeexperiencewasfeltbyall。Butsomesenseofhumor，however，remained。
\"Looksasifthewaterriskswetookain\'tgoin\'tocoverearthquakes，\"drawledDickFrisney；\"stillthatwasn\'tabadshot，ifweonlyknewwhattheywereaimingat。\"
\"Dobequiet，\"saidVirginiaPiper，hercheekspinkwithexcitement。
\"Listen，can\'tyou？What\'sthatfunnymurmuringyouhearnowandthenupthere？\"
\"It\'sonlythesnow-windplayin\'withthepinesonthesummit。Yougirlswon\'tallowanybodyanyfunbutyourselves。\"
Buthereascreamfrom\"Georgy，\"who，assistedbyCaptainFairfax，hadmountedacamp-stoolatthemouthofthevalley，attractedeverybody\'sattention。Shewasstandingupright，withdilatedeyes，staringatthetopofthetrail。\"Look！\"shesaidexcitedly，\"ifthetrailisn\'tmoving！\"
Everybodyfacedinthatdirection。Atthefirstglanceitseemedindeedasifthetrailwasactuallymoving；wrigglingandundulatingitstortuouswaydownthemountainlikeahugesnake，onlyswollentotwiceitsusualsize。Butthesecondglanceshowedittobenolongeratrailbutachannelofwater，whosestream，liftedinabore-likewallfourorfivefeethigh，wasplungingdownintothedevotedvalley。
Foraninstanttheywereunabletocomprehendeventhenatureofthecatastrophe。Thereservoirwasdirectlyovertheirheads；theburstingofitswalltheyhadimaginedwouldnaturallybringdownthewaterinadozentricklingstreamsorfallsoverthecliffabovethemandalongtheflanksofthemountain。Butthatitssuddenlyliberatedvolumeshouldoverflowtheuplandbeyondandthendescendinapent-upfloodbytheirowntrailandtheironlyavenueofescape，hadbeenbeyondtheirwildestfancy。
TheymetthissmitingtruthwiththatcharacteristicshortlaughwithwhichtheAmericanusuallyreceivestheblowofFateortheunexpected——asifherecognizedonlytheabsurdityofthesituation。Thentheyrantothewomen，collectedthemtogether，anddraggedthemtovantagesoffanciedsecurityamongthebusheswhichflouncedthelongskirtsofthemountainwalls。ButIleavethispartofthedescriptiontothecharacteristiclanguageofoneoftheparty：——
\"Whenthefloodstruckus，itdidnotseemtotakeanystockofusinparticular，butlaiditselfoutto\'gofor\'thatpicnicforallitwasworth！Itwipeditoffthefaceoftheearthinabouttwenty-fiveseconds！Itfirstmadeacleanbreakfromstemtostern，carryingeverythingalongwithit。ThefirstthingIsawwasoldJudgePiper，puttin\'onhisbestlickstogetawayfromabigcanofstrawberryicecreamthatwastrundlingafterhimandtryingtoemptyitselfonhiscollar，wheneverabiggerwaveliftedit。Hewasfollowedbywhatwasleftofthebrassband；thebigdrumjusthumpin\'itselftokeepabreasto\'theicecream，mixedupwithcamp-stools，music-stands，afewChinamen，andthenwhattheycallinthembigSanFranciscoprocessions\'citizensgenerally。\'
Thehullthingsweptupthecanyoninsideo\'thirtyseconds。Then，whatCaptainFairfaxcalled\'thereflexactioninthelawso\'
motion\'happened，anddarnedifthehullblamedprocessiondidn\'tsweepbackagain——thistimealltheheavyartillery，suchascamp-
kettles，lagerbeerkegs，bottles，glasses，andcrockerythatwasleftbehindtakin\'theleadnow，andJudgePiperandthaticecreamcanbringin\'uptherear。Asthejedgepassedusthesecondtime，wenoticedthatthaticecreamcan——hevin\'swallowedwater——waskinderlosingitswind，andweencouragedtheoldmanbyshoutin\'
out，\'Fivetooneonhim！\'Andthen，youwouldn\'tbelievewhatfollowed。Why，darnmyskin，whenthat\'reflex\'metthecurrentattheotherend，itjustswirledaroundagaininwhatCaptainFairfaxcalledthe\'centrifugalcurve，\'andjustwentroundandroundthecanyonlikeezwhenyerwashin\'thedirtouto\'aprospectin\'pan——
everynowandthenwashin\'someoneoftheboysthatwasinit，likescum，upag\'inthebanks。
\"Wemanagedinthiswaytosnakeoutthejudge，jestezhewassailin\'roundonthehomestretch，passin\'thequarterposttwolengthsaheado\'thecan。Agooddealo\'theicecreamhadwashedaway，butittookustenminutestoshakethecrackediceandpowderedsaltouto\'theoldman\'sclothes，andwarmhimupagaininthelaurelbushwherehewasclinging。Thissorto\'\'Herewegoroundthemulberrybush\'kep\'onuntilmosto\'thehumanswasgotout，andonlythefurnitureo\'thepicnicwasleftintherace。
Thenitgotkindermixedup，andwentsloshin\'roundhereandthere，ezthewaterkep\'comin\'downbythetrail。ThenLuluPiper，whatIwasholdin\'upallthetimeinalaurelbush，getsanidea，forallshewaswetanddraggled；andezthethingswentbobbin\'round，shecallsoutthefigureso\'acotillonto\'em。
\'Twocamp-stoolsforward。\'\'Sashayandbacktoyourplaces。\'
\'Changepartners。\'\'Handsallround。\'
\"Shewascleargrit，youbet！Andthejokecaughtonandtheothergirlsjinedin，anditkindercheered\'em，fortheywaswantin\'it。
ThenFludderallowedtopacify\'embysayin\'hejustfiguredupthesizeo\'thereservoirandthesizeo\'thecanyon，andhekalkilatedthatthecubewasaboutekal，andthecanyoncouldn\'tfloodanymore。AndthenLulu——whowaspeartasajayandcouldn\'tbefooled——speaksupandsays，\'What\'sthematterwiththeditch，Dick？\'
\"Lord！thenweknewthatsheknewtheworst；forofcourseallthewaterintheditchitself——fiftymilesofit！——wasdrainin\'nowintothatreservoirandwasboundtocomedowntothecanyon。\"
Itwasatthispointthatthesituationbecamereallydesperate，fortheyhadnowcrawledupthesteepsidesasfarasthebushesaffordedfoothold，andthewaterwasstillrising。Thechatterofthegirlsceased，therewerelongsilences，inwhichthemendiscussedthewildestplans，andproposedtoteartheirshirtsintostripstomakeropestosupportthegirlsbysticksdrivenintothemountainside。Itwasinoneofthoseintervalsthatthedistinctstrokesofawoodman\'saxewereheardhighontheuplandatthepointwherethetraildescendedtothecanyon。Everyearwasalert，butonlythoseononesideofthecanyoncouldgetafairviewofthespot。ThiswasthegoodfortuneofCaptainFairfaxandGeorgyPiper，whohadclimbedtothehighestbushonthatside，andwerenowstandingup，gazingexcitedlyinthatdirection。
\"Someoneiscuttingdownatreeattheheadofthetrail，\"shoutedFairfax。Theresponseandjoyfulexplanation，\"foradamacrossthetrail，\"wasoneverybody\'slipsatthesametime。
Butthestrokesoftheaxewereslowandpainfullyintermittent。
Impatienceburstout。
\"Yelltohimtohurryup！Whyhaven\'ttheybroughttwomen？\"
\"It\'sonlyoneman，\"shoutedthecaptain，\"andheseemstobeacripple。ByJiminy！——itis——yes！——it\'sTomSparrell！\"
Therewasadeadsilence。Then，Igrievetosay，shameanditstwinbrotherragetookpossessionoftheirweakhumanity。Oh，yes！
Itwasallofapiece！WhyinthenameofFollyhadn\'thesentforanable-bodiedman。Weretheytobedrownedthroughhiscrankyobstinacy？
Theblowsstillwentonslowly。Presently，however，theyseemedtoalternatewithotherblows——butalas！theywereslower，andifpossiblefeebler！
\"Havetheygotanothercrippletowork？\"roaredtheContingentinonefuriousvoice。
\"No——it\'sawoman——alittleone——yes！agirl。Hello！Why，sureasyoulive，it\'sDelaware！\"
AspontaneouscheerburstfromtheContingent，partlyasarebuketoSparrell，Ithink，partlyfromsomeshameovertheirpreviousrage。Hecouldtakeitasheliked。
Stilltheblowswentondistressinglyslow。Thegirlswerehoistedonthemen\'sshoulders；themenwerehalfsubmerged。Thentherewasapainfulpause；thenacrumblingcrash。Anothercheerwentupfromthecanyon。
\"It\'sdown！straightacrossthetrail，\"shoutedFairfax，\"andapartofthebankonthetopofit。\"
Therewasanothermomentofsuspense。Woulditholdorbecarriedawaybythemomentumoftheflood？Itheld！InafewmomentsFairfaxagaingavevoicetothecheeringnewsthattheflowhadstoppedandthesubmergedtrailwasreappearing。Intwentyminutesitwasclear——amuddyriverbed，butpossibleofascent！Ofcoursetherewasnodiminutionofthewaterinthecanyon，whichhadnooutlet，yetitnowwaspossibleforthepartytoswingfrombushtobushalongthemountainsideuntilthefootofthetrail——nolongeranopposingone——wasreached。Thereweresomemisstepsandmishaps，——flounderingsinthewater，andsomedangerousrescues，——
butinhalfanhourthewholeconcoursestooduponthetrailandcommencedtheascent。Itwasaslow，difficult，andlugubriousprocession——Ifearnotthebest-temperedone，nowthatthestimulusofdangerandchivalrywaspast。Whentheyreachedthedammadebythefallentree，althoughtheywereobligedtomakealongdetourtoavoiditssteepsides，theycouldseehowsuccessfullyithaddivertedthecurrenttoadeclivityontheotherside。
Butstrangelyenoughtheyweregreetedbynothingelse！SparrellandtheyoungestMissPiperweregone；andwhentheyatlastreachedthehighroad，theywereastoundedtohearfromapassingteamsterthatnooneinthesettlementknewanythingofthedisaster！
Thiswasthelastdropintheircupofbitterness！Theywhohadexpectedthatthesettlementwaswaitingbreathlesslyfortheirrescue，whoanticipatedthattheywouldbewelcomedasheroes，wereobligedtomeettheill-concealedamusementofpassengersandfriendsattheirdishevelledandbedraggledappearance，whichsuggestedonlytheblunderingmishapsofanordinarysummerouting！
\"Boatin\'inthereservoir，andfellin？\"\"Playingatcanal-boatintheDitch？\"weresomeofthecheerfulhypotheses。Thefleetingsenseofgratitudetheyhadfeltfortheirdelivererswasdissipatedbythetimetheyhadreachedtheirhomes，andtheirrancorincreasedbytheinformationthatwhentheearthquakeoccurredMr。TomSparrellandMissDelawarewereenjoyinga\"pasear\"intheforest——
hehavingahalf-holidaybyvirtueofthefestival——andthattheearthquakehadrevivedhisfearsofacatastrophe。Thetwohadprocuredaxesinthewoodman\'shutanddidwhattheythoughtwasnecessarytorelievethesituationofthepicnickers。Buttheverymodestyofthisaccountoftheirownperformancehadtheeffectofbelittlingthecatastropheitself，andthepicnickers\'reportoftheirexceedingperilwasreceivedwithincredulouslaughter。
ForthefirsttimeinthehistoryofRedGulchtherewasaseriousdivisionbetweenthePiperfamily，supportedbytheContingent，andtherestofthesettlement。TomSparrell\'swarningwasrememberedbythelatter，andtheingratitudeofthepicnickerstotheirrescuerscommentedupon；theactualcalamitytothereservoirwasmoreorlessattributedtotheimprudentandrecklesscontiguityoftherevelersonthatday，andtherewerenotwantingthosewhoreferredtheaccidentitselftothemachinationsoftheschemingDitchDirectorPiper！
ItwassaidthattherewasastormysceneinthePiperhouseholdthatevening。ThejudgehaddemandedthatDelawareshouldbreakoffheracquaintancewithSparrell，andshehadrefused；thejudgehaddemandedofSparrell\'semployerthatheshoulddischargehim，andhadbeenmetwiththeastoundinginformationthatSparrellwasalreadyasilentpartnerintheconcern。AtthisrevelationJudgePiperwasalarmed；whilehemightobjecttoaclerkwhocouldnotsupportawife，asaconsistentdemocrathecouldnotopposeafairlyprosperoustradesman。AfinalappealwasmadetoDelaware；
shewasimploredtoconsiderthesituationofhersisters，whohadallmademoreambitiousmarriagesorwereabouttomakethem。Whyshouldshenowdegradethefamilybymarryingacountrystorekeeper？
ItissaidthatheretheyoungestMissPipermadeamemorablereply，andarevelationthetruthofwhichwasnevergainsaid：——
\"YouallwanterknowwhyI\'mgoingtomarryTomSparrell？\"shequeried，standingupandfacingthewholefamilycircle。
\"Yes。\"
\"WhyIpreferhimtothehullcaboodlethatyougirlshavemarriedoraregoingtomarry？\"shecontinued，meditativelybitingtheendofherbraid。
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，he\'stheonlymanofthewholelotthathasn\'tproposedtomefirst。\"
ItispresumedthatSparrellmadegoodtheomission，orthatthefamilyweregladtogetridofher，fortheyweremarriedthatautumn。AndreallyalatercomparisonofthefamilyrecordsshowsthatwhileCaptainFairfaxremained\"CaptainFairfax，\"andtheothersons-in-lawdidnotadvanceproportionatelyinstandingorriches，thelamestorekeeperofRedGulchbecametheHon。SenatorTomSparrell。
AWIDOWOFTHESANTAANAVALLEY
TheWidowWadewasstandingatherbedroomwindowstaringout，inthatvagueinstinctwhichcompelshumanityinmomentsofdoubtandperplexitytoseekthischangeofobservationorsuperiorillumination。NotthatMrs。Wade\'sdisturbancewasofaseriouscharacter。Shehadpassedtheacutestageofwidowhoodbyatleasttwoyears，andtheslightrednessofhersofteyelidsaswellasthedroopofherprettymouthweremerelytherecognizedoutwardandvisiblesignsofthegrievouslymindedreligiouscommunityinwhichshelived。Themourningshestillworewasalsopartlyinconformitywiththesad-coloredgarmentsofherneighbors，andthenecessitiesoftherainyseason。Shewasincomfortablecircumstances，themistressofalargeranchinthevalley，whichhadlatelybecomemorevaluablebytheextensionofawagonroadthroughitscentre。Shewassimplyworryingwhethersheshouldgotoa\"sociable\"endingwith\"adance\"——adaringinnovationofsomestrangers——atthenewhotel，orcontinuetoeschewsuchfollies，thatwere，accordingtolocalbelief，unsuitedto\"avaleoftears。\"
Indeedatthismomenttheprospectshegazedabstractedlyuponseemedtojustifythatlugubriousdescription。TheSantaAnaValley——alongmonotonouslevel——wasdimlyvisiblethroughmovingcurtainsofrainorveilsofmist，totheblackmourningedgeofthehorizon，andhadlookedlikethatformonths。Thevalley——insomeremoteepochanarmoftheSanFranciscoBay——everyrainyseasonseemedtobetryingtoreverttoitsoriginalcondition，and，longaftertheearlyspringhadlaidonitsliberalcolorinstrips，bands，andpatchesofblueandyellow，theblossomsofmustardandlupineglistenedlikewetpaint。NeverthelessonthatrichalluvialsoilNature\'stearsseemedonlytofattenthewidow\'sacresandincreasehercrops。Herneighbors，too，wereequallyprosperous。YetforsixmonthsoftheyeartherecognizedexpressionofSantaAnawasoneofsadness，andfortheothersixmonths——ofresignation。Mrs。Wadehadyieldedearlytothisinfluence，asshehadtoothers，intheweaknessofhergentlenature，andpartlyasitwasmorebecomingthesingulartragedythathadmadeherawidow。
ThelateMr。WadehadbeenfounddeadwithabulletthroughhisheadinasecludedpartoftheroadoverHeavyTreeHillinSonoraCounty。Nearhimlaytwootherbodies，oneafterwardsidentifiedasJohnStubbs，aresidentoftheHill，andprobablyatravelingcompanionofWade\'s，andtheotheranoteddesperadoandhighwayman，stillmasked，asatthemomentoftheattack。Wadeandhiscompanionhadprobablysoldtheirlivesdearly，andagainstodds，foranothermaskwasfoundontheground，indicatingthattheattackwasnotsingle-handed，andasWade\'sbodyhadnotyetbeenrifled，itwasevidentthattheremaininghighwaymanhadfledinhaste。Thehueandcryhadbeengivenbyapparentlytheonlyoneofthetravelerswhoescaped，butashewashasteningtotaketheoverlandcoachtotheEastatthetime，histestimonycouldnotbesubmittedtothecoroner\'sdeliberation。Thefacts，however，weresufficientlyplainforaverdictofwillfulmurderagainstthehighwayman，althoughitwasbelievedthattheabsentwitnesshadbaselydesertedhiscompanionandlefthimtohisfate，or，aswassuggestedbyothers，thathemightevenhavebeenanaccomplice。
Itwasthiscircumstancewhichprotractedcommentontheincident，andthesufferingsofthewidow，farbeyondthatrapidobliterationwhichusuallyovertooksuchaffairsinthefeverishhasteoftheearlydays。ItcausedhertoremovetoSantaAna，whereheroldfatherhadfeeblyrancheda\"quartersection\"inthevalley。Hesurvivedherhusbandonlyafewmonths，leavinghertheproperty，andoncemoreinmourning。Perhapsthiscontinuityofwoeendearedhertoaneighborhoodwheredistinctiveravagesofdiphtheriaorscarletfevergaveakindofsocialpreeminencetoanyhousehold，andshewassosympatheticallyassistedbyherneighborsinthemanagementoftheranchthat，fromanunkemptandwastefulwilderness，itbecamepayingproperty。Theslim，willowyfigure，softred-liddedeyes，anddeepcrapeof\"SisterWade\"atchurchorprayer-meetingwasgratefultothesoulofthesegloomyworshipers，andintimesheherselffoundthatthearmofthesedyspepticsofmindandbodywasneverthelessstrongandsustaining。Smallwonderthatsheshouldhesitateto-nightaboutplungingintoinconsistent，eventhoughtrifling，frivolities。
Butapartfromthissuperficialreason，therewasanotherinstinctiveonedeepdownintherecessesofMrs。Wade\'stimidheartwhichshehadkepttoherself，andindeedwouldhavetearfullyresentedhaditbeenofferedbyanother。ThelateMr。Wadehadbeen，infact，asingularexampleofthiskindoffrivolousexistencecarriedtoaman-likeexcess。Besidesbeingapatronofamusements，Mr。Wadegambled，raced，anddrank。Hewasoftenhomelate，andsometimesnotatall。Notthatthisconductwasexceptionalinthe\"roaringdays\"ofHeavyTreeHill，butithadgivenMrs。Wadeperhapsanunduepreferenceforalesscertain，evenifamoreseriouslife。
Histragicdeathwas，ofcourse，akindofmartyrdom，whichexaltedhiminthefemininemindtoasaintlymemory；yetMrs。Wadewasnotwithoutacertainreliefinthat。Itwasvoiced，perhapscrudely，bythewidowofAbnerDrakeinavisitofcondolencetothetearfulMrs。WadeafewdaysafterWade\'sdeath。\"It\'savaleo\'sorrow，Mrs。Wade，\"saidthesympathizer，\"butithasitsupsanddowns，andIreckenye\'llbefeelin\'soonprettymuchasIdidaboutAbnerwhenHEwastook。Itwasmightysoothin\'andcomfortin\'tofeelthatwhatevermighthappennow，IalwaysknewjustwharAbnerwaspassin\'
hisnights。\"PoorslimMrs。Wadehadnodisquietingsenseofhumortointerferewithherreceptionofthislargetruth，andsheaccepteditwithaburstofreminiscenttears。
Alongvolleyingshowerhadjustpasseddownthelevellandscape，andwasfollowedbyarollingmistfromthewarmsaturatedsoillikethesmokeofthedischarge。Throughitshecouldseeafaintlighteningofthehiddensun，againdarkeningthroughasuddenonsetofrain，andchangingaswithherconflictingdoubtsandresolutions。Thusgazing，shewasvaguelyconsciousofanadditiontothelandscapeintheshapeofamanwhowaspassingdowntheroadwithapackonhisbacklikethetramping\"prospectors\"shehadoftenseenatHeavyTreeHill。Thatmemoryapparentlysettledhervacillatingmind；shedeterminedshewouldNOTgotothedance。
Butasshewasturningawayfromthewindowasecondfigure，ahorseman，appearedinanotherdirectionbyacross-road，ashortercutthroughherdomain。Thisshehadnodifficultyinrecognizingasoneofthestrangerswhoweregettingupthedance。ShehadnoticedhimatchurchonthepreviousSunday。Ashepassedthehouseheappearedtobegazingatitsoearnestlythatshedrewbackfromthewindowlestsheshouldbeseen。Andthen，fornoreasonwhatever，shechangedhermindoncemore，andresolvedtogotothedance。Gravelyannouncingthisfacttothewifeofhersuperintendentwhokepthousewithherinherloneliness，shethoughtnothingmoreaboutit。Sheshouldgoinhermourning，withperhapstheadditionofawhitecollarandfrill。
Itwasevident，however，thatSantaAnathoughtagooddealmorethanshedidofthisnewidea，whichseemedapartoftheinnovationalreadybegunbythebuildingupofthenewhotel。Itwasarguedbysomethatasthenewchurchandnewschoolhousehadbeenopenedbyprayer，itwasonlynaturalthatalighterfestivityshouldinauguratetheopeningofthehotel。\"Ireckonthatdancin\'
isaboutthenextthingtotravelin\'forgettin\'upanappetiteforrefreshments，andthat\'swhatthelandlordiskalkilatin\'tosarve，\"wastheremarkofagloomybutpracticalcitizenontheverandaof\"TheValleyEmporium。\"\"That\'sso，\"rejoinedabystander；\"andInoticeonthatlastboxo\'pillsIgotforchillsthedirectionssaythatalittle\'agreeableexercise\'——nottooviolent——isagreatassistancetotheworkingo\'thepills。\"
\"IreckonthatthatMr。Brookswho\'sdownherelookin\'artermillproperty，gotupthedance。He\'sbinroundtowncanvassin\'allthewomenfolksanddrummin\'uplikelygalsforit。TheysayheactooallysentaninvitetotheWidderWade，\"remarkedanotherlounger。\"Gosh！he\'sgotcheek！\"
\"Well，gentlemen，\"saidtheproprietorjudicially，\"whilewedon\'tintendtohevanyminin\'campfandangosor\'FriscofalalsroundSantaAny——（SantaAnawasproudofitssimpleagriculturalvirtues）——Iain\'tsohard-shelledasnottogivenewthingsafairtrial。And，afterall，it\'sthewomenfolkthathasthesayaboutit。Why，there\'soldMissFordsezshehasn\'tkickedafutsencesheleftMizoori，butwouldn\'tmindtryingitagin。EztoBrookstakin\'thattrouble——well，Isupposeit\'salongo\'hisbein\'
HEALTHY！\"Heheavedadeepdyspepticsigh，whichwasfaintlyechoedbytheothers。\"Why，lookathimnow，ridin\'roundonthatblackhosso\'his，inthewetsincedaylightandnotcarin\'forblindchillsorrhumatiz！\"
Hewaslookingataserape-drapedhorseman，theonethewidowhadseenonthepreviousnight，whowasnowcanteringslowlyupthestreet。Seeingthegroupontheveranda，herodeup，threwhimselflightlyfromhissaddle，andjoinedthem。Hewasanalert，determined，good-lookingfellowofaboutthirty-five，whosesmooth，smilingfacehardlycommendeditselftoSantaAna，thoughhiseyesweredistinctlysympathetic。Heglancedatthedepressedgrouparoundhimandbecameominouslyserious。
\"Whendidithappen？\"heaskedgravely。
\"Whathappen？\"saidthenearestbystander。
\"TheFuneral，Flood，Fight，orFire。WhichofthefourF\'swasit？\"
\"Whatareyetalkin\'about？\"saidtheproprietorstiffly，scentingsomedangeroushumor。
