oft hat, a striped
flannel shirt open at the neck, a broad leathern belt, and muddy
trousers tucked into muddy wading-boots. His appearance was
picturesque enough without help from his dress. He had a mighty
length of arm and breadth of shoulders; a handsome, but thin and
almost delicately fair, face, with blue eyes, and a surprisingly
well-kept beard. The colour of this beard and of his hair--which he
wore pretty long--was a light auburn. Just now the folds of his
raiment were full of moist sawdust; and as he came he brought the
scent of the pine-woods with him.

"'How's the Bishop?' asked this giant, jerking his head towards the
little balcony of No. 67.

"Before I could hit on a discreet answer, he followed the question up
with another:

"'What'll you take?'

"I saw that he had something to say, and allowed him to lead the way
to a saloon a little way down the road. 'Simpson's Pioneers'
Symposium' was the legend above the door. A small, pimply-faced man
in seedy black--whom I guessed at once, and correctly, to be
'Huz-and-Buz'--lounged by the bar inside; and across the counter the
bar-keeper had his banjo slung, and was gently strumming the
accompaniment of 'Hey, Juliana!'

"'Put that down,' commanded my new acquaintance; and then, turning to
Huz-and-Buz, 'Git!'

"The architect raised the brim of his hat to me, bowed servilely, and
left.

"'Short or long?'

"I said I would take a short drink.

"'A brandy sour?'

"'A 'brandy sour' will suit me.'

"He kept his eye for a moment on the bar-tender, who began to bustle
around with the bottles and glasses; then turned upon me.

"'Now, then.'

"'About the Bishop, as you call him?'

"He nodded.

"'Well, you're not to tell him so; but he's going to die.'

"'Quick?'

"'I think so.'

"He nodded. 'I knew that,' he said, and was silent for a minute;
then resumed, 'No; he won't be told. We take an interest in that
young man.'

"'Meaning by 'we'?'

"'The citizens of Eucalyptus as a body. My name's William Anderson:
Captain Bill they call me. I was one of the first settlers in
Eucalyptus. I've seen it high, and I've seen it low. And I'm going
to be the last man to quit; that's the captain's place. And when I
say this or that is public opinion in Eucalyptus, it's got to be.
I drink to your health, Doctor.'

"'Thank you,' said I. 'Then I may count on your silence? The poor
chap is so powerfully set on crossing the Rockies and getting to