—CulledfromMr。A。G。Burnside’s"EccentriciticsofCrime，"bykindpermissionofthepublishers，Messrs。HolidayandWhitsund。

THEDREAMOFDEBS

Iawokefullyanhourbeforemycustomarytime。Thisinitselfwasremarkable，andIlayverywideawake，ponderingoverit。

Somethingwasthematter，somethingwaswrong—Iknewnotwhat。I

wasoppressedbyapremonitionofsomethingterriblethathadhappenedorwasabouttohappen。Butwhatwasit？Istrovetoorientmyself。IrememberedthatatthetimeoftheGreatEarthquakeof1906manyclaimedtheyawakenedsomemomentsbeforethefirstshockandthatduringthesemomentstheyexperiencedstrangefeelingsofdread。WasSanFranciscoagaintobevisitedbyearthquake？

Ilayforafullminute，numblyexpectant，butthereoccurrednoreelingofwallsnorshockandgrindoffallingmasonry。Allwasquiet。Thatwasit！Thesilence！NowonderIhadbeenperturbed。

Thehumofthegreatlivecitywasstrangelyabsent。Thesurfacecarspassedalongmystreet，atthattimeofday，onanaverageofoneeverythreeminutes;butinthetensucceedingminutesnotacarpassed。Perhapsitwasastreet—railwaystrike，wasmythought;orperhapstherehadbeenanaccidentandthepowerwasshutoff。Butno，thesilencewastooprofound。Iheardnojarandrattleofwaggonwheels，norstampofiron—shodhoofsstrainingupthesteepcobble—stones。

Pressingthepush—buttonbesidemybed，Istrovetohearthesoundofthebell，thoughIwellknewitwasimpossibleforthesoundtorisethreestoriestomeevenifthebelldidring。Itrangallright，forafewminuteslaterBrownenteredwiththetrayandmorningpaper。Thoughhisfeatureswereimpassiveasever，Inotedastartled，apprehensivelightinhiseyes。Inoted，also，thattherewasnocreamonthetray。

"TheCreamerydidnotdeliverthismorning，"heexplained;"nordidthebakery。"

Iglancedagainatthetray。TherewerenofreshFrenchrolls—

onlyslicesofstalegrahambreadfromyesterday，themostdetestableofbreadsofarasIwasconcerned。

"Nothingwasdeliveredthismorning，sir，"Brownstartedtoexplainapologetically;butIinterruptedhim。

"Thepaper？"

"Yes，sir，itwasdelivered，butitwastheonlything，anditisthelasttime，too。Therewon’tbeanypaperto—morrow。Thepapersaysso。CanIsendoutandgetyousomecondensedmilk？"

Ishookmyhead，acceptedthecoffeeblack，andspreadopenthepaper。Theheadlinesexplainedeverything—explainedtoomuch，infact，forthelengthsofpessimismtowhichthejournalwentwereridiculous。Ageneralstrike，itsaid，hadbeencalledallovertheUnitedStates;andmostforebodinganxietieswereexpressedconcerningtheprovisioningofthegreatcities。

Ireadonhastily，skimmingmuchandrememberingmuchoflabourtroublesinthepast。Foragenerationthegeneralstrikehadbeenthedreamoforganizedlabour，whichdreamhadarisenoriginallyinthemindofDebs，oneofthegreatlabourleadersofthirtyyearsbefore。Irecollectedthatinmyyoungcollege—settlementdaysI

hadevenwrittenanarticleonthesubjectforoneofthemagazinesandthatIhadentitledit"TheDreamofDebs。"AndImustconfessthatIhadtreatedtheideaverycavalierlyandacademicallyasadreamandnothingmore。Timeandtheworldhadrolledon，Gomperswasgone，theAmericanFederationofLabourwasgone，andgonewasDebswithallhiswildrevolutionaryideas;butthedreamhadpersisted，andhereitwasatlastrealizedinfact。ButI

laughed，asIread，atthejournal’sgloomyoutlook。Iknewbetter。Ihadseenorganizedlabourworstedintoomanyconflicts。

Itwouldbeamatteronlyofdayswhenthethingwouldbesettled。

Thiswasanationalstrike，anditwouldn’ttaketheGovernmentlongtobreakit。

Ithrewthepaperdownandproceededtodress。ItwouldcertainlybeinterestingtobeoutinthestreetsofSanFranciscowhennotawheelwasturningandthewholecitywastakinganenforcedvacation。

"Ibegyourpardon，sir，"Brownsaid，ashehandedmemycigar—

case，"butMr。Harmmedhasaskedtoseeyoubeforeyougoout。"

"Sendhiminrightaway，"Ianswered。

Harmmedwasthebutler。WhenheenteredIcouldseehewaslabouringundercontrolledexcitement。Hecameatoncetothepoint。

"WhatshallIdo，sir？Therewillbeneededprovisions，andthedeliverydriversareonstrike。Andtheelectricityisshutoff—

Iguessthey’reonstrike，too。"

"Aretheshopsopen？"Iasked。

"Onlythesmallones，sir。Theretailclerksareout，andthebigonescan’topen;buttheownersandtheirfamiliesarerunningthelittleonesthemselves。"

"Thentakethemachine，"Isaid，"andgotheroundsandmakeyourpurchases。Buyplentyofeverythingyouneedormayneed。Getaboxofcandles—no，gethalf—a—dozenboxes。And，whenyou’redone，tellHarrisontobringthemachinearoundtotheclubforme—notlaterthaneleven。"

Harmmedshookhisheadgravely。"Mr。HarrisonhasstruckalongwiththeChauffeurs’Union，andIdon’tknowhowtorunthemachinemyself。"

"Oh，ho，hehas，hashe？"said。"Well，whennextMisterHarrisonhappensaroundyoutellhimthathecanlookelsewhereforaposition。"

"Yes，sir。"

"Youdon’thappentobelongtoaButlers’Union，doyou，Harmmed？"

"No，sir，"wastheanswer。"AndevenifIdidI’dnotdesertmyemployerinacrisislikethis。No，sir，Iwould—"

"Allright，thankyou，"Isaid。"Nowyougetreadytoaccompanyme。I’llrunthemachinemyself，andwe’lllayinastockofprovisionstostandasiege。"

ItwasabeautifulfirstofMay，evenasMaydaysgo。Theskywascloudless，therewasnowind，andtheairwaswarm—almostbalmy。

Manyautoswereout，buttheownersweredrivingthemthemselves。

Thestreetswerecrowdedbutquiet。Theworkingclass，dressedinitsSundaybest，wasouttakingtheairandobservingtheeffectsofthestrike。Itwasallsounusual，andwithalsopeaceful，thatIfoundmyselfenjoyingit。Mynervesweretinglingwithmildexcitement。Itwasasortofplacidadventure。IpassedMissChickering。Shewasatthehelmofherlittlerunabout。Sheswungaroundandcameafterme，catchingmeatthecorner。

"Oh，Mr。Corf！"’shehailed。"DoyouknowwhereIcanbuycandles？

I’vebeentoadozenshops，andthey’reallsoldout。It’sdreadfullyawful，isn’tit？"

Buthersparklingeyesgavethelietoherwords。Liketherestofus，shewasenjoyingithugely。Quiteanadventureitwas，gettingthosecandles。Itwasnotuntilwewentacrossthecityanddownintotheworking—classquartersouthofMarketStreetthatwefoundsmallcornergroceriesthathadnotyetsoldout。MissChickeringthoughtoneboxwassufficient，butIpersuadedherintotakingfour。Mycarwaslarge，andIlaidinadozenboxes。Therewasnotellingwhatdelaysmightariseinthesettlementofthestrike。

Also，Ifilledthecarwithsacksofflour，baking—powder，tinnedgoods，andalltheordinarynecessariesoflifesuggestedbyHarmmed，whofussedaroundandcluckedoverthepurchaseslikeananxiousoldhen。

Theremarkablething，thatfirstdayofthestrike，wasthatnoonereallyapprehendedanythingserious。Theannouncementoforganizedlabourinthemorningpapersthatitwaspreparedtostayoutamonthorthreemonthswaslaughedat。Andyetthatveryfirstdaywemighthaveguessedasmuchfromthefactthattheworkingclasstookpracticallynopartinthegreatrushtobuyprovisions。Ofcoursenot。Forweeksandmonths，craftilyandsecretly，thewholeworkingclasshadbeenlayinginprivatestocksofprovisions。

Thatwaswhywewerepermittedtogodownandbuyoutthelittlegroceriesintheworking—classneighbourhoods。

ItwasnotuntilIarrivedattheclubthatafternoonthatIbegantofeelthefirstalarm。Everythingwasinconfusion。Therewerenoolivesforthecocktails，andtheservicewasbyhitchesandjerks。Mostofthemenwereangry，andallwereworried。AbabelofvoicesgreetedmeasIentered。GeneralFolsom，nursinghiscapaciouspaunchinawindow—seatinthesmoking—roomwasdefendinghimselfagainsthalf—a—dozenexcitedgentlemenwhoweredemandingthatheshoulddosomething。

"WhatcanIdomorethanIhavedone？"hewassaying。"TherearenoordersfromWashington。IfyougentlemenwillgetawirethroughI’lldoanythingIamcommandedtodo。ButIdon’tseewhatcanbedone。ThefirstthingIdidthismorning，assoonasI

learnedofthestrike，wastoorderinthetroopsfromthePresidio—threethousandofthem。They’reguardingthebanks，theMint，thepostoffice，andallthepublicbuildings。Thereisnodisorderwhatever。Thestrikersarekeepingthepeaceperfectly。

Youcan’texpectmetoshootthemdownastheywalkalongthestreetswithwivesandchildrenallintheirbestbibandtucker。"

"I’dliketoknowwhat’shappeningonWallStreet，"IheardJimmyWomboldsayasIpassedalong。Icouldimaginehisanxiety，forI

knewthathewasdeepinthebigConsolidated—Westerndeal。

"Say，Corf，"Atkinsonbustleduptome，"isyourmachinerunning？"

"Yes，"Ianswered，"butwhat’sthematterwithyourown？"

"Brokendown，andthegaragesareallclosed。Andmywife’ssomewherearoundTruckee，Ithink，stalledontheoverland。Can’tgetawiretoherforloveormoney。Sheshouldhavearrivedthisevening。Shemaybestarving。Lendmeyourmachine。"

"Can’tgetitacrossthebay，"Halsteadspokeup。"Theferriesaren’trunning。ButItellyouwhatyoucando。There’sRollinson—oh，Rollinson，comehereamoment。Atkinsonwantstogetamachineacrossthebay。HiswifeisstuckontheoverlandatTruckee。Can’tyoubringtheLurletteacrossfromTiburonandcarrythemachineoverforhim？"

TheLurlettewasatwo—hundred—ton，ocean—goingschooner—yacht。

Rollinsonshookhishead。"Youcouldn’tgetalongshoremantolandthemachineonboard，evenifIcouldgettheLurletteover，whichIcan’t，forthecrewaremembersoftheCoastSeamen’sUnion，andthey’reonstrikealongwiththerest。"

"Butmywifemaybestarving，"IcouldhearAtkinsonwailingasI

movedon。

Attheotherendofthesmoking—roomIranintoagroupofmenbunchedexcitedlyandangrilyaroundBertieMessener。AndBertiewasstirringthemupandproddingtheminhiscool，cynicalway。

Bertiedidn’tcareaboutthestrike。Hedidn’tcaremuchaboutanything。Hewasblase—atleastinallthecleanthingsoflife;

thenastythingshadnoattractionforhim。Hewasworthtwentymillions，allofitinsafeinvestments，andhehadneverdoneatapofproductiveworkinhislife—inheriteditallfromhisfatherandtwouncles。Hehadbeeneverywhere，seeneverything，anddoneeverythingbutgetmarried，andthislastinthefaceofthegrimanddeterminedattackofafewhundredambitiousmammas。

Foryearshehadbeenthegreatestcatch，andasyethehadavoidedbeingcaught。Hewasdisgracefullyeligible。Ontopofhiswealthhewasyoung，handsome，and，asIsaidbefore，clean。Hewasagreatathlete，ayoungblondgodthatdideverythingperfectlyandadmirablywiththesolitaryexceptionofmatrimony。Andhedidn’tcareaboutanything，hadnoambitions，nopassions，nodesiretodotheverythingshedidsomuchbetterthanothermen。

"Thisissedition！"onemaninthegroupwascrying。Anothercalleditrevoltandrevolution，andanothercalleditanarchy。

"Ican’tseeit，"Bertiesaid。"Ihavebeenoutinthestreetsallmorning。Perfectorderreigns。Ineversawamorelaw—abidingpopulace。There’snousecallingitnames。It’snotanyofthosethings。It’sjustwhatitclaimstobe，ageneralstrike，andit’syourturntoplay，gentlemen。"

"Andwe’llplayallright！"criedGarfield，oneofthetractionmillionaires。"We’llshowthisdirtwhereitsplaceis—thebeasts！WaittilltheGovernmenttakesahand。"

"ButwhereistheGovernment？"Bertieinterposed。"Itmightaswellbeatthebottomoftheseasofarasyou’reconcerned。Youdon’tknowwhat’shappeningatWashington。Youdon’tknowwhetheryou’vegotaGovernmentornot。"

"Don’tyouworryaboutthat，"Garfieldblurtedout。

"IassureyouI’mnotworrying，"Bertiesmiledlanguidly。"Butitseemstomeit’swhatyoufellowsaredoing。Lookintheglass，Garfield。"

Garfielddidnotlook，buthadhelookedhewouldhaveseenaveryexcitedgentlemanwithrumpled，iron—greyhair，aflushedface，mouthsullenandvindictive，andeyeswildlygleaming。

"It’snotright，Itellyou，"littleHanoversaid;andfromhistoneIwassurethathehadalreadysaiditanumberoftimes。

"Nowthat’sgoingtoofar，Hanover，"Bertiereplied。"Youfellowsmakemetired。You’reallopen—shopmen。You’veerodedmyeardrumswithyourendlessgabblefortheopenshopandtherightofamantowork。You’veharanguedalongthoselinesforyears。

Labourisdoingnothingwrongingoingoutonthisgeneralstrike。

ItisviolatingnolawofGodnorman。Don’tyoutalk，Hanover。

You’vebeenringingthechangestoolongontheGod—givenrighttowork……ornottowork;youcan’tescapethecorollary。It’sadirtylittlesordidscrap，that’sallthewholethingis。You’vegotlabourdownandgougedit，andnowlabour’sgotyoudownandisgougingyou，that’sall，andyou’resquealing。"

Everymaninthegroupbrokeoutinindignantdenialsthatlabourhadeverbeengouged。

"No，sir！"Garfieldwasshouting。"We’vedonethebestforlabour。

Insteadofgougingit，we’vegivenitachancetolive。We’vemadeworkforit。Wherewouldlabourbeifithadn’tbeenforus？"

"Awholelotbetteroff，"Bertiesneered。"You’vegotlabourdownandgougediteverytimeyougotachance，andyouwentoutofyourwaytomakechances。"

"No！No！"werethecries。

"Therewastheteamsters’strike，righthereinSanFrancisco，"

Bertiewentonimperturbably。"TheEmployers’Associationprecipitatedthatstrike。Youknowthat。AndyouknowIknowit，too，forI’vesatintheseveryroomsandheardtheinsidetalkandnewsofthefight。Firstyouprecipitatedthestrike，thenyouboughttheMayorandtheChiefofPoliceandbrokethestrike。A

prettyspectacle，youphilanthropistsgettingtheteamstersdownandgougingthem。

"Holdon，I’mnotthroughwithyou。It’sonlylastyearthatthelabourticketofColoradoelectedagovernor。Hewasneverseated。

Youknowwhy。YouknowhowyourbrotherphilanthropistsandcapitalistsofColoradoworkedit。Itwasacaseofgettinglabourdownandgougingit。YoukeptthepresidentoftheSouth—westernAmalgamatedAssociationofMinersinjailforthreeyearsontrumped—upmurdercharges，andwithhimoutofthewayyoubrokeuptheassociation。Thatwasgouginglabour，you’lladmit。Thethirdtimethegraduatedincometaxwasdeclaredunconstitutionalwasagouge。Sowastheeight—hourBillyoukilledinthelastCongress。

"Andofallunmitigatedimmoralgouges，yourdestructionoftheclosed—shopprinciplewasthelimit。Youknowhowitwasdone。YouboughtoutFarburg，thelastpresidentoftheoldAmericanFederationofLabour。Hewasyourcreature—orthecreatureofallthetrustsandemployers’associations，whichisthesamething。Youprecipitatedthebigclosed—shopstrike。Farburgbetrayedthatstrike。Youwon，andtheoldAmericanFederationofLabourcrumbledtopieces。Youfollowsdestroyedit，andbysodoingundidyourselves;forrightontopofitbegantheorganizationoftheI。L。W。—thebiggestandsolidestorganizationoflabourtheUnitedStateshaseverseen，andyouareresponsibleforitsexistenceandforthepresentgeneralstrike。YousmashedalltheoldfederationsanddrovelabourintotheI。L。W。，andtheI。L。W。calledthegeneralstrike—stillfightingfortheclosedshop。Andthenyouhavetheeffronterytostandherefacetofaceandtellmethatyounevergotlabourdownandgougedit。Bah！"

Thistimetherewerenodenials。Garfieldbrokeoutinself—

defence—

"We’vedonenothingwewerenotcompelledtodo，ifweweretowin。"

"I’mnotsayinganythingaboutthat，"Bertieanswered。"WhatIamcomplainingaboutisyoursquealingnowthatyou’regettingatasteofyourownmedicine。Howmanystrikeshaveyouwonbystarvinglabourintosubmission？Well，labour’sworkedoutaschemewherebytostarveyouintosubmission。Itwantstheclosedshop，and，ifitcangetitbystarvingyou，why，starveyoushall。"

"Inoticethatyouhaveprofitedinthepastbythoseverylabourgougesyoumention，"insinuatedBrentwood，oneofthewiliestandmostastuteofourcorporationlawyers。"Thereceiverisasbadasthethief，"hesneered。"Youhadnohandinthegouging，butyoutookyourwhackoutofthegouge。"

"Thatisquitebesidethequestion，Brentwood，"Bertiedrawled。

"You’reasbadasHanover，intrudingthemoralelement。Ihaven’tsaidthatanythingisrightorwrong。It’sallarottengame，I

know;andmysolekickisthatyoufellowsaresquealingnowthatyou’redownandlabour’stakingagougeoutofyou。OfcourseI’vetakentheprofitsfromthegougingand，thankstoyou，gentlemen，withouthavingpersonallytodothedirtywork。Youdidthatforme—oh，believeme，notbecauseIammorevirtuousthanyou，butbecausemygoodfatherandhisvariousbrothersleftmealotofmoneywithwhichtopayforthedirtywork。"

"Ifyoumeantoinsinuate—"Brentwoodbeganhotly。

"Holdon，don’tgetall—ruffledup，"Bertieinterposedinsolently。

"There’snouseinplayinghypocritesinthisthieves’den。Thehighandloftyisallrightforthenewspapers，boys’clubs，andSundayschools—that’spartofthegame;butforheaven’ssakedon’tlet’splayitononeanother。Youknow，andyouknowthatI

knowjustwhatjobberywasdoneinthebuildingtrades’strikelastfall，whoputupthemoney，whodidthework，andwhoprofitedbyit。"（Brentwoodflusheddarkly。）"Butwearealltarredwiththesamebrush，andthebestthingforustodoistoleavemoralityoutofit。AgainIrepeat，playthegame，playittothelastfinish，butforgoodness’sakedon’tsquealwhenyougethurt。"

WhenIleftthegroupBertiewasoffonanewtacktormentingthemwiththemoreseriousaspectsofthesituation，pointingouttheshortageofsuppliesthatwasalreadymakingitselffelt，andaskingthemwhattheyweregoingtodoaboutit。AlittlelaterI

methiminthecloak—room，leaving，andgavehimalifthomeinmymachine。

"It’sagreatstroke，thisgeneralstrike，"hesaid，aswebowledalongthroughthecrowdedbutorderlystreets。"It’sasmashingbody—blow。Labourcaughtusnappingandstruckatourweakestplace，thestomach。I’mgoingtogetoutofSanFrancisco，Corf。

Takemyadviceandgetout，too。Headforthecountry，anywhere。

You’llhavemorechance。Buyupastockofsuppliesandgetintoatentoracabinsomewhere。Soonthere’llbenothingbutstarvationinthiscityforsuchaswe。"

HowcorrectBertieMessenerwasIneverdreamed。Idecidedthathewasanalarmist。Asformyself，Iwascontenttoremainandwatchthefun。AfterIdroppedhim，insteadofgoingdirectlyhome，I

wentoninahuntformorefood。Tomysurprise，IlearnedthatthesmallgrocerieswhereIhadboughtinthemorningweresoldout。IextendedmysearchtothePotrero，andbygoodluckmanagedtopickupanotherboxofcandles，twosacksofwheatflour，tenpoundsofgrahamflour（whichwoulddofortheservants），acaseoftinnedcorn，andtwocasesoftinnedtomatoes。Itdidlookasthoughtherewasgoingtobeatleastatemporaryfoodshortage，andIhuggedmyselfoverthegoodlystockofprovisionsIhadlaidin。

ThenextmorningIhadmycoffeeinbedasusual，and，morethanthecream，Imissedthedailypaper。ItwasthisabsenceofknowledgeofwhatwasgoingonintheworldthatIfoundthechiefhardship。Downattheclubtherewaslittlenews。RiderhadcrossedfromOaklandinhislaunch，andHalsteadhadbeendowntoSanJoseandbackinhismachine。TheyreportedthesameconditionsinthoseplacesasinSanFrancisco。Everythingwastiedupbythestrike。Allgrocerystockshadbeenboughtoutbytheupperclasses。Andperfectorderreigned。Butwhatwashappeningovertherestofthecountry—inChicago？NewYork？

Washington？Mostprobablythesamethingsthatwerehappeningwithus，weconcluded;butthefactthatwedidnotknowwithabsolutesuretywasirritating。

GeneralFolsomhadabitofnews。Anattempthadbeenmadetoplacearmytelegraphersinthetelegraphoffices，butthewireshadbeencutineverydirection。Thiswas，sofar，theoneunlawfulactcommittedbylabour，andthatitwasaconcertedacthewasfullyconvinced。HehadcommunicatedbywirelesswiththearmypostatBenicia，thetelegraphlineswereeventhenbeingpatrolledbysoldiersallthewaytoSacramento。Once，foroneshortinstant，theyhadgottheSacramentocall，thenthewires，somewhere，werecutagain。GeneralFolsomreasonedthatsimilarattemptstoopencommunicationwerebeingmadebytheauthoritiesallthewayacrossthecontinent，buthewasnon—committalastowhetherornothethoughttheattemptwouldsucceed。Whatworriedhimwasthewire—cutting;hecouldnotbutbelievethatitwasanimportantpartofthedeep—laidlabourconspiracy。Also，heregrettedthattheGovernmenthadnotlongsinceestablisheditsprojectedchainofwirelessstations。

Thedayscameandwent，andforawhileitwasahumdrumtime。

Nothinghappened。Theedgeofexcitementhadbecomeblunted。Thestreetswerenotsocrowded。Theworkingclassdidnotcomeuptownanymoretoseehowweweretakingthestrike。Andtherewerenotsomanyautomobilesrunningaround。Therepair—shopsandgarageswereclosed，andwheneveramachinebrokedownitwentoutofcommission。Theclutchonminebroke，andneitherlovenormoneycouldgetitrepaired。Liketherest，Iwasnowwalking。SanFranciscolaydead，andwedidnotknowwhatwashappeningovertherestofthecountry。ButfromtheveryfactthatwedidnotknowwecouldconcludeonlythattherestofthecountrylayasdeadasSanFrancisco。Fromtimetotimethecitywasplacardedwiththeproclamationsoforganizedlabour—thesehadbeenprintedmonthsbefore，andevidencedhowthoroughlytheI。L。W。hadpreparedforthestrike。Everydetailhadbeenworkedoutlonginadvance。Noviolencehadoccurredasyet，withtheexceptionoftheshootingofafewwire—cuttersbythesoldiers，butthepeopleoftheslumswerestarvingandgrowingominouslyrestless。

Thebusinessmen，themillionaires，andtheprofessionalclassheldmeetingsandpassedresolutions，buttherewasnowayofmakingtheproclamationspublic。Theycouldnotevengetthemprinted。Oneresultofthesemeetings，however，wasthatGeneralFolsomwaspersuadedintotakingmilitarypossessionofthewholesalehousesandofalltheflour，grain，andfoodwarehouses。Itwashightime，forsufferingwasbecomingacuteinthehomesoftherich，andbread—lineswerenecessary。Iknewthatmyservantswerebeginningtodrawlongfaces，anditwasamazing—theholetheymadeinmystockofprovisions。Infact，asIafterwardsurmised，eachservantwasstealingfrommeandsecretingaprivatestockofprovisionsforhimself。

Butwiththeformationofthebread—linescamenewtroubles。TherewasonlysomuchofafoodreserveinSanFrancisco，andatthebestitcouldnotlastlong。Organizedlabour，weknew，haditsprivatesupplies;nevertheless，thewholeworkingclassjoinedthebread—lines。Asaresult，theprovisionsGeneralFolsomhadtakenpossessionofdiminishedwithperilousrapidity。Howwerethesoldierstodistinguishbetweenashabbymiddle—classman，amemberoftheI。L。W。，oraslumdweller？Thefirstandthelasthadtobefed，butthesoldiersdidnotknowalltheI。L。W。meninthecity，muchlessthewivesandsonsanddaughtersoftheI。L。W。men。Theemployershelping，afewoftheknownunionmenwereflungoutofthebread—lines;butthatamountedtonothing。Tomakemattersworse，theGovernmenttugsthathadbeenhaulingfoodfromthearmydepotsonMareIslandtoAngelIslandfoundnomorefoodtohaul。

Thesoldiersnowreceivedtheirrationsfromtheconfiscatedprovisions，andtheyreceivedthemfirst。

Thebeginningoftheendwasinsight。Violencewasbeginningtoshowitsface。Lawandorderwerepassingaway，andpassingaway，Imustconfess，amongtheslumpeopleandtheupperclasses。

Organizedlabourstillmaintainedperfectorder。Itcouldwellaffordto—ithadplentytoeat。IremembertheafternoonattheclubwhenIcaughtHalsteadandBrentwoodwhisperinginacorner。

Theytookmeinontheventure。Brentwood’smachinewasstillinrunningorder，andtheyweregoingoutcow—stealing。Halsteadhadalongbutcherknifeandacleaver。Wewentouttotheoutskirtsofthecity。Hereandtherewerecowsgrazing，butalwaystheywereguardedbytheirowners。Wepursuedourquest，followingalongthefringeofthecitytotheeast，andonthehillsnearHunter’sPointwecameuponacowguardedbyalittlegirl。Therewasalsoayoungcalfwiththecow。Wewastednotimeonpreliminaries。Thelittlegirlranawayscreaming，whileweslaughteredthecow。Iomitthedetails，fortheyarenotnice—

wewereunaccustomedtosuchwork，andwebungledit。

Butinthemidstofit，workingwiththehasteoffear，weheardcries，andwesawanumberofmenrunningtowardus。Weabandonedthespoilsandtooktoourheels。Tooursurprisewewerenotpursued。Lookingback，wesawthemenhurriedlycuttingupthecow。Theyhadbeenonthesamelayasourselves。Wearguedthattherewasplentyforall，andranback。Thescenethatfollowedbeggarsdescription。Wefoughtandsquabbledoverthedivisionlikesavages。Brentwood，Iremember，wasaperfectbrute，snarlingandsnappingandthreateningthatmurderwouldbedoneifwedidnotgetourpropershare。

Andweweregettingoursharewhenthereoccurredanewirruptiononthescene。ThistimeitwasthedreadedpeaceofficersoftheI。L。W。Thelittlegirlhadbroughtthem。Theywerearmedwithwhipsandclubs，andtherewereascoreofthem。Thelittlegirldancedupanddowninanger，thetearsstreamingdownhercheeks，crying："Giveitto’em！Giveitto’em！Thatguywiththespecs—hedidit！Mashhisfaceforhim！Mashhisface！"ThatguywiththespecswasI，andIgotmyfacemashed，too，thoughIhadthepresenceofmindtotakeoffmyglassesatthefirst。My！butwedidreceiveatrouncingaswescatteredinalldirections。

Brentwood，Halstead，andIfledawayforthemachine。Brentwood’snosewasbleeding，whileHalstead’scheekwascutacrosswiththescarletslashofablack—snakewhip。

And，lo，whenthepursuitceasedandwehadgainedthemachine，there，hidingbehindit，wasthefrightenedcalf。Brentwoodwarnedustobecautious，andcreptuponitlikeawolfortiger。Knifeandcleaverhadbeenleftbehind，butBrentwoodstillhadhishands，andoverandoveronthegroundherolledwiththepoorlittlecalfashethrottledit。Wethrewthecarcassintothemachine，covereditoverwitharobe，andstartedforhome。Butourmisfortuneshadonlybegun。Weblewoutatyre。Therewasnowayoffixingit，andtwilightwascomingon。Weabandonedthemachine，Brentwoodpullingandstaggeringalonginadvance，thecalf，coveredbytherobe，slungacrosshisshoulders。Wetookturnaboutcarryingthatcalf，anditnearlykilledus。Also，welostourway。Andthen，afterhoursofwanderingandtoil，weencounteredagangofhoodlums。TheywerenotI。L。W。men，andI

guesstheywereashungryaswe。Atanyrate，theygotthecalfandwegotthethrashing。Brentwoodragedlikeamadmantherestofthewayhome，andhelookedlikeone，withhistornclothes，swollennose，andblackenedeyes。

Therewasn’tanymorecow—stealingafterthat。GeneralFolsomsenthistroopersoutandconfiscatedallthecows，andhistroopers，aidedbythemilitia，atemostofthemeat。GeneralFolsomwasnottobeblamed;itwashisdutytomaintainlawandorder，andhemaintaineditbymeansofthesoldiers，whereforehewascompelledtofeedthemfirstofall。

Itwasaboutthistimethatthegreatpanicoccurred。Thewealthyclassesprecipitatedtheflight，andthentheslumpeoplecaughtthecontagionandstampededwildlyoutofthecity。GeneralFolsomwaspleased。Itwasestimatedthatatleast200，000haddesertedSanFrancisco，andbythatmuchwashisfoodproblemsolved。WelldoIrememberthatday。InthemorningIhadeatenacrustofbread。HalfoftheafternoonIhadstoodinthebread—line;andafterdarkIreturnedhome，tiredandmiserable，carryingaquartofriceandasliceofbacon。Brownmetmeatthedoor。Hisfacewaswornandterrified。Alltheservantshadfled，heinformedme。

Healoneremained。Iwastouchedbyhisfaithfulnessand，whenI

learnedthathehadeatennothingallday，Idividedmyfoodwithhim。Wecookedhalfthericeandhalfthebacon，sharingitequallyandreservingtheotherhalfformorning。Iwenttobedwithmyhunger，andtossedrestlesslyallnight。InthemorningI

foundBrownhaddesertedme，and，greatermisfortunestill，hehadstolenwhatremainedofthericeandbacon。

Itwasagloomyhandfulofmenthatcametogetherattheclubthatmorning。Therewasnoserviceatall。Thelastservantwasgone。

Inoticed，too，thatthesilverwasgone，andIlearnedwhereithadgone。Theservantshadnottakenit，forthereason，I

presume，thattheclubmembersgottoitfirst。Theirmethodofdisposingofitwassimple。DownsouthofMarketStreet，inthedwellingsoftheI。L。W。，thehousewiveshadgivensquaremealsinexchangeforit。Iwentbacktomyhouse。Yes，mysilverwasgone—allbutamassivepitcher。ThisIwrappedupandcarrieddownsouthofMarketStreet。

Ifeltbetterafterthemeal，andreturnedtotheclubtolearniftherewasanythingnewinthesituation。Hanover，Collins，andDakonwerejustleaving。Therewasnooneinside，theytoldme，andtheyinvitedmetocomealongwiththem。Theywereleavingthecity，theysaid，onDakon’shorses，andtherewasaspareoneforme。Dakonhadfourmagnificentcarriagehorsesthathewantedtosave，andGeneralFolsomhadgivenhimthetipthatnextmorningallthehorsesthatremainedinthecityweretobeconfiscatedforfood。Therewerenotmanyhorsesleft，fortensofthousandsofthemhadbeenturnedlooseintothecountrywhenthehayandgraingaveoutduringthefirstdays。Birdall，Iremember，whohadgreatdrayinginterests，hadturnedloosethreehundreddrayhorses。Atanaveragevalueoffivehundreddollars，thishadamountedto$150，000。Hehadhoped，atfirst，torecovermostofthehorsesafterthestrikewasover，butintheendheneverrecoveredoneofthem。TheywerealleatenbythepeoplethatfledfromSanFrancisco。Forthatmatter，thekillingofthearmymulesandhorsesforfoodhadalreadybegun。

FortunatelyforDakon，hehadhadaplentifulsupplyofhayandgrainstoredinhisstable。Wemanagedtoraisefoursaddles，andwefoundtheanimalsingoodconditionandspirited，withalunusedtobeingridden。IrememberedtheSanFranciscoofthegreatearthquakeaswerodethroughthestreets，butthisSanFranciscowasvastlymorepitiable。Nocataclysmofnaturehadcausedthis，but，rather，thetyrannyofthelabourunions。WerodedownpastUnionSquareandthroughthetheatre，hotel，andshoppingdistricts。Thestreetsweredeserted。Hereandtherestoodautomobiles，abandonedwheretheyhadbrokendownorwhenthegasolenehadgivenout。Therewasnosignoflife，savefortheoccasionalpolicemenandthesoldiersguardingthebanksandpublicbuildings。OncewecameuponanI。L。W。manpastingupthelatestproclamation。Westoppedtoread。"Wehavemaintainedanorderlystrike，"itran;"andweshallmaintainordertotheend。Theendwillcomewhenourdemandsaresatisfied，andourdemandswillbesatisfiedwhenwehavestarvedouremployersintosubmission，asweourselvesinthepasthaveoftenbeenstarvedintosubmission。"

"Messener’sverywords，"Collinssaid。"AndI，forone，amreadytosubmit，onlytheywon’tgivemeachancetosubmit。Ihaven’thadafullmealinanage。Iwonderwhathorse—meattasteslike？"

Westoppedtoreadanotherproclamation："Whenwethinkouremployersarereadytosubmitweshallopenupthetelegraphsandplacetheemployers’associationsoftheUnitedStatesincommunication。Butonlymessagesrelatingtopeacetermsshallbepermittedoverthewires。"

Werodeon，crossedMarketStreet，andalittlelaterwerepassingthroughtheworking—classdistrict。Herethestreetswerenotdeserted。LeaningoverthegatesorstandingingroupsweretheI。L。W。men。Happy，well—fedchildrenwereplayinggames，andstouthousewivessatonthefrontstepsgossiping。Oneandallcastamusedglancesatus。Littlechildrenranafterus，crying："Hey，mister，ain’tyouhungry？"Andonewoman，nursingachildatherbreast，calledtoDakon："Say，Fatty，I’llgiveyouamealforyourskate—hamandpotatoes，currantjelly，whitebread，cannedbutter，andtwocupsofcoffee。"

"Haveyounoticed，thelastfewdays，"Hanoverremarkedtome，"thatthere’snotbeenastraydoginthestreets？"

Ihadnoticed，butIhadnotthoughtaboutitbefore。Itwashightimetoleavetheunfortunatecity。WeatlastmanagedtoconnectwiththeSanBrunoRoad，alongwhichweheadedsouth。IhadacountryplacenearMenlo，anditwasourobjective。Butsoonwebegantodiscoverthatthecountrywasworseoffandfarmoredangerousthanthecity。TherethesoldiersandtheI。L。W。keptorder;butthecountryhadbeenturnedovertoanarchy。TwohundredthousandpeoplehadfledfromSanFrancisco，andwehadcountlessevidencesthattheirflighthadbeenlikethatofanarmyoflocusts。

Theyhadswepteverythingclean。Therehadbeenrobberyandfighting。Hereandtherewepassedbodiesbytheroadsideandsawtheblackenedruinsoffarm—houses。Thefencesweredown，andthecropshadbeentrampledbythefeetofamultitude。Allthevegetablepatcheshadbeenrootedupbythefamishedhordes。Allthechickensandfarmanimalshadbeenslaughtered。ThiswastrueofallthemainroadsthatledoutofSanFrancisco。Hereandthere，awayfromtheroads，farmershadheldtheirownwithshotgunsandrevolvers，andwerestillholdingtheirown。Theywarnedusawayandrefusedtoparleywithus。Andallthedestructionandviolencehadbeendonebytheslum—dwellersandtheupperclasses。TheI。L。W。men，withplentifulfoodsupplies，remainedquietlyintheirhomesinthecities。

Earlyintheridewereceivedconcreteproofofhowdesperatewasthesituation。Totherightofusweheardcriesandrifle—shots。

Bulletswhistleddangerouslynear。Therewasacrashingintheunderbrush;thenamagnificentblacktruck—horsebrokeacrosstheroadinfrontofusandwasgone。Wehadbarelytimetonoticethathewasbleedingandlame。Hewasfollowedbythreesoldiers。

Thechasewentonamongthetreesontheleft。Wecouldhearthesoldierscallingtooneanother。Afourthsoldierlimpedoutupontheroadfromtheright，satdownonaboulder，andmoppedthesweatfromhisface。

"Militia，"Dakonwhispered。"Deserters。"

Themangrinnedupatusandaskedforamatch。InreplytoDakon’s"What’stheword？"heinformedusthatthemilitiamenweredeserting。"Nogrub，"heexplained。"They’refeedin’italltotheregulars。"WealsolearnedfromhimthatthemilitaryprisonershadbeenreleasedfromAlcatrazIslandbecausetheycouldnolongerbefed。

Ishallneverforgetthenextsightweencountered。Wecameuponitabruptlyaroundaturnoftheroad。Overheadarchedthetrees。

Thesunshinewasfilteringdownthroughthebranches。Butterflieswereflutteringby，andfromthefieldscamethesongoflarks。

Andthereitstood，apowerfultouringcar。Aboutitandinitlayanumberofcorpses。Ittolditsowntale。Itsoccupants，fleeingfromthecity，hadbeenattackedanddraggeddownbyagangofslumdwellers—hoodlums。Thethinghadoccurredwithintwenty—fourhours。Freshlyopenedmeatandfruittinsexplainedthereasonfortheattack。Dakonexaminedthebodies。

"Ithoughtso，"hereported。"I’veriddeninthatcar。ItwasPerriton—thewholefamily。We’vegottowatchoutforourselvesfromnowon。"

"Butwehavenofoodwithwhichtoinviteattack，"Iobjected。

DakonpointedtothehorseIrode，andIunderstood。

EarlyinthedayDakon’shorsehadcastashoe。Thedelicatehoofhadsplit，andbynoontheanimalwaslimping。Dakonrefusedtorideitfarther，andrefusedtodesertit。So，onhissolicitation，wewenton。Hewouldleadthehorseandjoinusatmyplace。Thatwasthelastwesawofhim;nordidweeverlearnhisend。

Byoneo’clockwearrivedatthetownofMenlo，or，rather，atthesiteofMenlo，foritwasinruins。Corpseslayeverywhere。Thebusinesspartofthetown，aswellaspartoftheresidences，hadbeenguttedbyfire。Hereandtherearesidencestillheldout;

buttherewasnogettingnearthem。Whenweapproachedtoocloselywewerefiredupon。Wemetawomanwhowaspokingaboutinthesmokingruinsofhercottage。Thefirstattack，shetoldushadbeenonthestores，andasshetalkedwecouldpicturethatraging，roaring，hungrymobflingingitselfonthehandfuloftownspeople。

Millionairesandpaupershadfoughtsidebysideforthefood，andthenfoughtwithoneanotheraftertheygotit。ThetownofPaloAltoandStanfordUniversityhadbeensackedinsimilarfashion，welearned。Aheadofuslayadesolate，wastedland;andwethoughtwewerewiseinturningofftomyplace。Itlaythreemilestothewest，snugglingamongthefirstrollingswellsofthefoothills。

Butaswerodealongwesawthatthedevastationwasnotconfinedtothemainroads。Thevanoftheflighthadkepttotheroads，sackingthesmalltownsasitwent;whilethosethatfollowedhadscatteredoutandsweptthewholecountrysidelikeagreatbroom。

Myplacewasbuiltofconcrete，masonry，andtiles，andsohadescapedbeingburned，butitwasguttedclean。Wefoundthegardener’sbodyinthewindmill，litteredaroundwithemptyshot—

gunshells。Hehadputupagoodfight。ButnotracecouldwefindofthetwoItalianlabourers，norofthehouse—keeperandherhusband。Notalivethingremained。Thecalves，thecolts，allthefancypoultryandthoroughbredstock，everything，wasgone。

Thekitchenandthefireplaces，wherethemobhadcooked，wereamess，whilemanycamp—firesoutsideborewitnesstothelargenumberthathadfedandspentthenight。Whattheyhadnoteatentheyhadcarriedaway。Therewasnotabiteforus。

WespenttherestofthenightvainlywaitingforDakon，andinthemorning，withourrevolvers，foughtoffhalf—a—dozenmarauders。

ThenwekilledoneofDakon’shorses，hidingforthefuturewhatmeatwedidnotimmediatelyeat。IntheafternoonCollinswentoutforawalk，butfailedtoreturn。ThiswasthelaststrawtoHanover。Hewasforflightthereandthen，andIhadgreatdifficultyinpersuadinghimtowaitfordaylight。Asformyself，Iwasconvincedthattheendofthegeneralstrikewasnear，andI

wasresolvedtoreturntoSanFrancisco。So，inthemorning，wepartedcompany，Hanoverheadingsouth，fiftypoundsofhorse—meatstrappedtohissaddle，whileI，similarlyloaded，headednorth。

LittleHanoverpulledthroughallright，andtotheendofhislifehewillpersist，Iknow，inboringeverybodywiththenarrativeofhissubsequentadventures。

IgotasfarasBelmont，onthemainroadback，whenIwasrobbedofmyhorse—meatbythreemilitiamen。Therewasnochangeinthesituation，theysaid，exceptthatitwasgoingfrombadtoworse。

TheI。L。W。hadplentyofprovisionshiddenawayandcouldlastoutformonths。ImanagedtogetasfarasBaden，whenmyhorsewastakenawayfrommebyadozenmen。TwoofthemwereSanFranciscopolicemen，andtheremainderwereregularsoldiers。Thiswasominous。Thesituationwascertainlyextremewhentheregularswerebeginningtodesert。WhenIcontinuedmywayonfoot，theyalreadyhadthefirestarted，andthelastofDakon’shorseslayslaughteredontheground。

Asluckwouldhaveit，Isprainedmyankle，andsucceededingettingnofartherthanSouthSanFrancisco。Ilaytherethatnightinanout—house，shiveringwiththecoldandatthesametimeburningwithfever。TwodaysIlaythere，toosicktomove，andonthethird，reelingandgiddy，supportingmyselfonanextemporizedcrutch，ItotteredontowardSanFrancisco。Iwasweakaswell，foritwasthethirddaysincefoodhadpassedmylips。Itwasadayofnightmareandtorment。AsinadreamIpassedhundredsofregularsoldiersdriftingalongintheoppositedirection，andmanypolicemen，withtheirfamilies，organizedinlargegroupsformutualprotection。

AsIenteredthecityIrememberedtheworkman’shouseatwhichI

hadtradedthesilverpitcher，andinthatdirectionmyhungerdroveme。TwilightwasfallingwhenIcametotheplace。Ipassedaroundbythealleywayandcrawleduptheblacksteps，onwhichI

collapsed。Imanagedtoreachoutwiththecrutchandknockonthedoor。ThenImusthavefainted，forIcametointhekitchen，myfacewetwithwater，andwhiskybeingpoureddownmythroat。I

chokedandsplutteredandtriedtotalk。Ibegansayingsomethingaboutnothavinganymoresilverpitchers，butthatIwouldmakeituptothemafterwardiftheywouldonlygivemesomethingtoeat。

Butthehousewifeinterruptedme。

"Why，youpoorman，"shesaid，"haven’tyouheard？Thestrikewascalledoffthisafternoon。Ofcoursewe’llgiveyousomethingtoeat。"

Shebustledaround，openingatinofbreakfastbaconandpreparingtofryit。

"Letmehavesomenow，please，"Ibegged;andIatetherawbacononasliceofbread，whileherhusbandexplainedthatthedemandsoftheI。L。W。hadbeengranted。Thewireshadbeenopenedupintheearlyafternoon，andeverywheretheemployers’associationshadgivenin。Therehadn’tbeenanyemployersleftinSanFrancisco，butGeneralFolsomhadspokenforthem。Thetrainsandsteamerswouldstartrunninginthemorning，andsowouldeverythingelsejustassoonassystemcouldbeestablished。

Andthatwastheendofthegeneralstrike。Ineverwanttoseeanotherone。Itwasworsethanawar。Ageneralstrikeisacruelandimmoralthing，andthebrainofmanshouldbecapableofrunningindustryinamorerationalway。Harrisonisstillmychauffeur。ItwaspartoftheconditionsoftheI。L。W。thatallofitsmembersshouldbereinstatedintheiroldpositions。Brownnevercameback，buttherestoftheservantsarewithme。I

hadn’tthehearttodischargethem—poorcreatures，theywereprettyhard—pressedwhentheydesertedwiththefoodandsilver。

AndnowIcan’tdischargethem。TheyhaveallbeenunionizedbytheI。L。W。Thetyrannyoforganizedlabourisgettingbeyondhumanendurance。Somethingmustbedone。

THESEA—FARMER

"Thatwullbethedoctor’slaunch，"saidCaptainMacElrath。

Thepilotgrunted，whiletheskippersweptonwithhisglassfromthelaunchtothestripofbeachandtoKingstonbeyond，andthenslowlyacrosstheentrancetoHowthHeadonthenorthernside。

"Thetide’sright，andwe’llhaveyoudockedintwohours，"thepilotvouchsafed，withaneffortatcheeriness。"Ring’sEndBasin，isit？"

Thistimetheskippergrunted。

"AdirtyDublinday。"

Againtheskippergrunted。HewaswearywiththenightofwindintheIrishChannelbehindhim，theunbrokenhoursofwhichhehadspentonthebridge。Andhewaswearywithallthevoyagebehindhim—twoyearsandfourmonthsbetweenhomeportandhomeport，eighthundredandfiftydaysbyhislog。

"Properwunterweather，"heanswered，afterasilence。"Thetownisundistinct。Utwullberainun’guidan’heartyfortheday。"

CaptainMacElrathwasasmallman，justcomfortablyabletopeepoverthecanvasdodgerofthebridge。Thepilotandthirdofficerloomedabovehim，asdidthemanatthewheel，abulkyGerman，desertedfromawarship，whomhehadsignedoninRangoon。ButhislackofinchesmadeCaptainMacElrathanolessableman。AtleastsotheCompanyreckoned，andsowouldhehavereckonedcouldhehavehadaccesstothecarefullyandminutelycompiledrecordofhimfiledawayintheofficearchives。ButtheCompanyhadnevergivenhimahintofitsfaithinhim。ItwasnotthewayoftheCompany，fortheCompanywentontheprincipleofneverallowinganemployeetothinkhimselfindispensableorevenexceedinglyuseful;

wherefore，whilequicktocensure，itneverpraised。WhatwasCaptainMacElrath，anyway，saveaskipper，oneskipperoftheeighty—oddskippersthatcommandedtheCompany’seighty—oddfreightersonallthehighwaysandbywaysofthesea？

Beneaththem，onthemaindeck，twoChinesestokerswerecarryingbreakfastfor’ardacrosstherustyironplatesthattoldtheirowngrimstoryofweightandwashofsea。Asailorwastakingdownthelife—linethatstretchedfromtheforecastle，pastthehatchesandcargo—winches，tothebridge—deckladder。

"Aroughvoyage，"suggestedthepilot。

"Aye，shewasfairsmokin’ottimes，butnotthotImindedthotsomuchasthelossin’oftime。Ihatelikeonythun’tulllosstime。"

Sosaying，CaptainMacElrathturnedandglancedaft，aloftandalow，andthepilot，followinghisgaze，sawthemutebutconvincingexplanationofthatlossoftime。Thesmoke—stack，buff—colouredunderneath，waswhitewithsalt，whilethewhistle—

pipeglitteredcrystallineintherandomsunlightthatbrokefortheinstantthroughacloud—rift。Theportlifeboatwasmissing，itsirondavits，twistedandwrenched，testifyingtothemightinessoftheblowthathadbeenstrucktheoldTryapsic。Thestarboarddavitswerealsoempty。Theshatteredwreckofthelifeboattheyhadheldlayonthefiddleybesidethesmashedengine—roomskylight，whichwascoveredbyatarpaulin。Below，tostar—board，onthebridgedeck，thepilotsawthecrushedmess—roomdoor，roughlybulkheadedagainstthepoundingseas。Abreastofit，onthesmokestackguys，andbeingtakendownbythebos’nandasailor，hungthehugesquareofropenettingwhichhadfailedtobreakthoseseasoftheirforce。

"TwiceaforeImentionedthotdoortulltheowners，"saidCaptainMacElrath。"Buttheysaidutwoulddo。Therewasbugseasthottime。Theywasuncreditablebug。Andthotbuggestonedudthedomage。Utfaircarriedawaythedooran’laidutflatonthemesstablean’smashedoutthechief’sroom。Hewasabutsoreaboutut。"

"Itmust’a’beenabigun，"thepilotremarkedsympathetically。

"Aye，utwasthot。Thungswaslivelyforabut。Utfinishedthemate。Hewasonthebrudgewuthme，an’Itoldhumtulltakealooktullthewedgeso’numberonehatch。Shewastakin’watterfreelyan’Iwasnosureo’numberone。Idudnalikethelooko’

ut，an’Iwasfuggerin’maybetullheavetotullthemarn，whenshetookutoverabaftthebrudge。Myword，shewasabugone。Wegotabutofutourselvesonthebrudge。Idudnamissthemateotthefirst，whato’routin’outChipsan’bulkheadun’thotdooran’

stretchun’thetarpaulinoverthesky—light。Thenhewasnowheretobefound。Themenotthewheelsaidasheseenhumgoin’downthelodderjustaforeshehutus。Welookedfor’ard，welookedtullhusroom，ayelookedtulltheengine—room，an’welookedalongaftonthelowerdeck，andtherehewas，onbothsidesthecovertothesteam—piperunnun’tulltheafter—wunches。"

Thepilotejaculatedanoathofamazementandhorror。

"Aye，"theskipperwentonwearily，"an’onbothsidesthesteam—

pipeuzwell。Itellyehewasintwopieces，splutcleanuzaherrin’。Theseamusta—caughthumontheupperbrudgedeck，carriedhumcleanacrossthefiddley，an’bangedhumhead—ontullthepipecover。Itsheeredthroughhumlikesomuchbutter，downatweentheeyes，an’alongthemiddleofhum，sothatonelegan’

armwasfasttulltheonepieceofhum，an’onelegan’armfasttulltheotherpieceofhum。Itullyeutwasfairgrewsome。Weputthumtogetheran’rolledhumincanvasuzwepulledhumout。"

Thepilotsworeagain。

"Oh，utwasnaonythun’tullgreetabout，"CaptainMacElrathassuredhim。"’Twasaguidruddance。Hewasnoasailor，thotmate—

fellow。Hewasonlyfutforapugsty，an’adompuirapologyforthotsame。"

ItissaidthattherearethreekindsofIrish—Catholic，Protestant，andNorth—of—Ireland—andthattheNorth—of—IrelandIrishmanisatransplantedScotchman。CaptainMacElrathwasaNorth—of—Irelandman，and，talkingformuchoftheworldlikeaScotchman，nothingarousedhisirequickerthanbeingmistakenforaScotchman。Irishhestoutlywas，andIrishhestoutlyabided，thoughitwaswithafaintlip—liftofscornthathementionedmereSouth—of—Irelandmen，orevenOrange—men。HimselfhewasPresbyterian，whileinhisowncommunityfivemenwereallthatevermusteredatameetingintheOrangeMen’sHall。HiscommunitywastheIslandMcGill，whereseventhousandofhiskindlivedinsuchamityandsobrietythatinthewholeislandtherewasbutonepolicemanandneverapublic—houseatall。

CaptainMacElrathdidnotlikethesea，andhadneverlikedit。Hewrunghislivelihoodfromit，andthatwasalltheseawas，theplacewhereheworked，asthemill，theshop，andthecounting—

houseweretheplaceswhereothermenworked。Romanceneversangtohimhersirensong，andAdventurehadnevershoutedinhissluggishblood。Helackedimagination。Thewondersofthedeepwerewithoutsignificancetohim。Tornadoes，hurricanes，waterspouts，andtidalwavesweresomanyobstaclestothewayofashipontheseaandofamasteronthebridge—theywerethattohim，andnothingmore。Hehadseen，andyetnotseen，themanymarvelsandwondersoffarlands。Underhiseyelidsburnedthebrazengloriesofthetropicseas，orachedthebittergalesoftheNorthAtlanticorfarSouthPacific;buthismemoryofthemwasofmess—roomdoorsstovein，ofdecksawashandhatchesthreatened，ofunduecoalconsumption，oflongpassages，andoffreshpaint—workspoiledbyunexpectedsquallsofrain。

"Iknowmybuzz’ness，"wasthewayheoftenputit，andbeyondhisbusinesswasallthathedidnotknow，allthathehadseenwiththemortaleyesofhimandyetthatheneverdreamedexisted。Thatheknewhisbusinesshisownerswereconvinced，oratfortyhewouldnothaveheldcommandoftheTryapsic，threethousandtonsnetregister，withacargocapacityofninethousandtonsandvaluedatfifty—thousandpounds。

Hehadtakenupseafaringthroughnoloveofit，butbecauseithadbeenhisdestiny，becausehehadbeenthesecondsonofhisfatherinsteadofthefirst。IslandMcGillwasonlysolarge，andthelandcouldsupportbutacertaindefiniteproportionofthosethatdweltuponit。Thebalance，andalargebalanceitwas，wasdriventotheseatoseekitsbread。Ithadbeensoforgenerations。Theeldestsonstookthefarmsfromtheirfathers;totheothersonsremainedtheseaanditssalt—ploughing。SoitwasthatDonaldMacElrath，farmer’ssonandfarm—boyhimself，hadshiftedfromthesoilhelovedtotheseahehatedandwhichitwashisdestinytofarm。Andfarmedithehad，fortwentyyears，shrewd，cool—headed，sober，industrious，andthrifty，risingfromship’sboyandforecastlehandtomateandmasterofsailing—shipsandthenceintosteam，secondofficer，first，andmaster，fromsmallcommandtolarger，andatlasttothebridgeoftheoldTryapsic—old，tobesure，butworthherfiftythousandpoundsandstillabletobearupinallseas，andweatherherninethousandtonsoffreight。

FromthebridgeoftheTryapsic，thehighplacehehadgainedinthecompetitionofmen，hestaredatDublinharbouropeningout，atthetownobscuredbythedarkskyofthedrearywind—drivenday，andatthetangledtraceryofsparsandriggingoftheharbourshipping。Backfromtwicearoundtheworldhewas，andfrominterminablejunketingsupanddownonfarstretches，home—comingtothewifehehadnotseenineight—and—twentymonths，andtothechildhehadneverseenandthatwasalreadywalkingandtalking。

Hesawthewatchbelowofstokersandtrimmersbobbingoutoftheforecastledoorslikerabbitsfromawarrenandmakingtheirwayaftovertherustydecktothemusteringoftheportdoctor。TheywereChinese，withexpressionless，Sphinx—likefaces，andtheywalkedinpeculiarshamblingfashion，draggingtheirfeetasiftheclumsybrogansweretooheavyfortheirleanshanks。

Hesawthemandhedidnotseethem，ashepassedhishandbeneathhisvisoredcapandscratchedreflectivelyhismopofsandyhair。

Forthescenebeforehimwasbutthebackgroundinhisbrainforthevisionofpeacethatwashis—avisionthatwashisoftenduringlongnightsonthebridgewhentheoldTryapsicwallowedonthevexedoceanfloor，herdecksawash，herriggingthrumminginthegalegustsorsnowsquallsordrivingtropicrain。Andthevisionhesawwasoffarmandfarm—houseandstraw—thatchedoutbuildings，ofchildrenplayinginthesun，andthegoodwifeatthedoor，oflowingkine，andcluckingfowls，andthestampofhorsesinthestable，ofhisfather’sfarmnexttohim，with，beyond，thewoodless，rollinglandandthehedgedfields，neatandorderly，extendingtothecrestofthesmooth，softhills。Itwashisvisionandhisdream，hisRomanceandAdventure，thegoalofallhiseffort，thehighrewardforthesalt—ploughingandthelong，longfurrowsheranupanddownthewholeworldaroundinhisfarmingofthesea。

Insimpletasteandhomelyinclinationthismuch—travelledmapwasmoresimpleandhomelythantheveriestyokel。Seventy—oneyearshisfatherwas，andhadneversleptanightoutofhisownbedinhisownhouseonIslandMcGill。Thatwasthelifeideal，soCaptainMacElrathconsidered，andhewaspronetomarvelthatanyman，notundercompulsion，shouldleaveafarmtogotosea。Tothismuch—travelledmanthewholeworldwasasfamiliarasthevillagetothecobblersittinginhisshop。ToCaptainMacElraththeworldwasavillage。Inhismind’seyehesawitsstreetsathousandleagueslong，aye，andlonger;turningsthatdoubledearth’sstormiestheadlandsorwerethewaytoquietinlandponds;

cross—roads，takenoneway，thatledtoflower—landsandsummerseas，andthatledtheotherwaytobitter，ceaselessgalesandtheperilousbergsofthegreatwestwinddrift。Andthecities，brightwithlights，wereasshopsontheselongstreets—shopswherebusinesswastransacted，wherebunkerswerereplenished，cargoestakenorshifted，andordersreceivedfromtheownersinLondontowntogoelsewhereandbeyond，everalongthelongsea—

lanes，seekingnewcargoeshere，carryingnewcargoesthere，runningfreightswherevershillingsandpencebeckonedandunderwritersdidnotforbid。Butitwasallawearinesstocontemplate，and，savethathewrungfromithisbread，itwaswithoutprofitunderthesun。

Thelastgood—byetothewifehadbeenatCardiff，twenty—eightmonthsbefore，whenhesailedforValparaisowithcoals—ninethousandtonsanddowntohismarks。FromValparaisohehadgonetoAustralia，light，amatterofsixthousandmilesonendwithastormypassageandrunningshortofbunkercoal。CoalsagaintoOregon，seventhousandmiles，andnighasmanymorewithgeneralcargoforJapanandChina。ThencetoJava，loadingsugarforMarseilles，andbackalongtheMediterraneantotheBlackSea，andontoBaltimore，downtohermarkswithcromeore，buffetedbyhurricanes，shortagainofbunkercoalandcallingatBermudatoreplenish。Thenatimecharter，Norfolk，Virginia，loadingmysteriouscontrabandcoalandsailingforSouthAfricaunderordersofthemysteriousGermansupercargoputonboardbythecharterers。OntoMadagascar，steamingfourknotsbythesupercargo’sorders，andthesuspicionformingthattheRussianfleetmightwantthecoal。Confusionanddelays，longwaitsatsea，internationalcomplications，thewholeworldexcitedovertheoldTryapsicandhercargoofcontraband，andthenontoJapanandthenavalportofSassebo。BacktoAustralia，anothertimecharterandgeneralmerchandisepickedupatSydney，Melbourne，andAdelaide，andcarriedontoMauritius，LourencoMarques，Durban，AlgoaBay，andCapeTown。ToCeylonfororders，andfromCeylontoRangoontoloadriceforRioJaneiro。ThencetoBuenosAiresandloadingmaizefortheUnitedKingdomortheContinent，stoppingatSt。Vincent，toreceiveorderstoproceedtoDublin。Twoyearsandfourmonths，eighthundredandfiftydaysbythelog，steamingupanddownthethousand—league—longsea—lanesandbackagaintoDublintown。Andhewaswellaweary。

AlittletughadlaidholdoftheTryapsic，andwithclangandclatterandshoutedcommand，withengineshalf—ahead，slow—speed，orhalf—astern，thebatteredoldsea—trampwasnudgedandnosedandshoulderedthroughthedock—gatesintoRing’sEndBasin。Lineswereflungashore，foreandaft，anda’midshipspringgotout。

Alreadyasmallgroupofthehappyshore—stayingfolkhadclusteredonthedock。

"Ringoff，"CaptainMacElrathcommandedinhisslowthickvoice;

andthethirdofficerworkedtheleveroftheengine—roomtelegraph。

"Gangwayout！"calledthesecondofficer;andwhenthiswasaccomplished，"Thatwilldo。"

Itwasthelasttaskofall，gangwayout。"Thatwilldo"wasthedismissal。Thevoyagewasended，andthecrewshambledeagerlyforwardacrosstherustydeckstowheretheirsea—bagswerepackedandreadyfortheshore。Thetasteofthelandwasstronginthemen’smouths，andstrongitwasintheskipper’smouthashemutteredagruffgooddaytothedepartingpilot，andhimselfwentdowntohiscabin。Upthegangwayweretroopingthecustomsofficers，thesurveyor，theagent’sclerk，andthestevedores。

Quickworkdisposedoftheseandclearedhiscabin，theagentwaitingtotakehimtotheoffice。

"Dudyesendwordtullthewife？"hadbeenhisgreetingtotheclerk。

"Yes，atelegram，assoonasyouwerereported。"

"She’lllikelybecomin’downonthemarnin’train，"theskipperhadsoliloquized，andgoneinsidetochangehisclothesandwash。

Hetookalastglanceabouttheroomandattwophotographsonthewall，oneofthewifetheotherofaninfant—thechildhehadneverseen。Hesteppedoutintothecabin，withitspanelledwallsofcedarandmaple，andwithitslongtablethatseatedten，andatwhichhehadeatenbyhimselfthroughallthewearytime。Nolaughterandclatterandwordyargumentofthemess—roomhadbeenhis。Hehadeatensilently，almostmorosely，hissilenceemulatedbythenoiselessAsiaticwhohadservedhim。Itcametohimsuddenly，theoverwhelmingrealizationofthelonelinessofthosetwoyearsandmore。Allhisvexationsandanxietieshadbeenhisown。Hehadsharedthemwithnoone。Histwoyoungofficersweretooyoungandflighty，thematetoostupid。Therewasnoconsultingwiththem。Onetenanthadsharedthecabinwithhim，thattenanthisresponsibility。Theyhaddinedandsuppedtogether，walkedthebridgetogether，andtogethertheyhadbedded。

"Och！"hemutteredtothatgrimcompanion，"I’mquitofyou，an’

wullquit……forawee。"

Ashorehepassedthelastoftheseamenwiththeirbags，and，attheagent’s，withtheusualdelays，putthroughhisshipbusiness。

Whenaskedoutbythemtodrinkhetookmilkandsoda。

"Iamnoteetotaler，"heexplained;"butforthelifeo’meIcannabidebeerorwhusky。"

Intheearlyafternoon，whenhefinishedpayingoffhiscrew，hehurriedtotheprivateofficewherehehadbeentoldhiswifewaswaiting。

Hiseyeswereforherfirst，thoughthetemptationwasgreattohavemorethanahurriedglimpseofthechildinthechairbesideher。Heheldherofffromhimafterthelongembrace，andlookedintoherfacelongandsteadily，drinkingineveryfeatureofitandwonderingthathecouldmarknochangesoftime。Awarmman，hiswifethoughthim，thoughhadtheopinionofhisofficersbeenaskeditwouldhavebeen：aharshmanandabitterone。

"Wull，Annie，howisutwi’ye？"hequeried，anddrewhertohimagain。

Andagainheheldherawayfromhim，thiswifeoftenyearsandofwhomheknewsolittle。Shewasalmostastranger—moreastrangerthanhisChinesesteward，andcertainlyfarmoreastrangerthanhisownofficerswhomhehadseeneveryday，dayandday，foreighthundredandfiftydays。Marriedtenyears，andinthattimehehadbeenwithhernineweeks—scarcelyahoneymoon。

Eachtimehomehadbeenagettingacquaintedagainwithher。Itwasthefateofthemenwhowentouttothesalt—ploughing。Littletheyknewoftheirwivesandlessoftheirchildren。Therewashischiefengineer—old，near—sightedMacPherson—whotoldthestoryofreturninghometobelockedoutofhishousebyhisfour—yearkiddiethatneverhadlaideyesonhimbefore。

"An’thus’ullbetheloddie，"theskippersaid，reachingoutahesitanthandtothechild’scheek。

Buttheboydrewawayfromhim，shelteringagainstthemother’sside。

"Och！"shecried，"andhedoesnaknowhisownfather。"

"NorIhum。HeavenknowsIcouldnoa—pickedhumoutofacrowd，thoughhe’llbehavin’yournoseI’mthunkun’。"

"An’yourowneyes，Donald。Lookutthem。He’syourownfather，laddie。Kisshumlikethelittlemonyeare。"

Butthechilddrewclosertoher，hisexpressionoffearanddistrustgrowingstronger，andwhenthefatherattemptedtotakehiminhisarmshethreatenedtocry。

Theskipperstraightenedup，andtoconcealthepangathishearthedrewouthiswatchandlookedatit。

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