—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。
