ld lift before a north wind to reveal a
landscape magnificent as a kingdom. Spreading white oaks gave shade, a
spring sang from the side hill on which grew lofty pines, and back to
the east rose the dark or glittering Sierras. The meadow at the back was
gay with mariposa lilies, melodious with bees and birds, aromatic with
the mingled essences of tarweed, lads-love, and the pines. At this happy
elevation the sun lay warm and caressing, but the air tasted cool.

"I could love this," said the woman.

"You'll have a chance," said John Gates, "for when we've made our pile,
we'll always keep this to come back to."

At first they lived in the wagon, which they drew up under one of the
trees, while the oxen recuperated and grew fat on the abundant grasses.
Then in spare moments John Gates began the construction of a house. He
was a man of tremendous energy, but also of many activities. The days
were not long enough for him. In him was the true ferment of
constructive civilization. Instinctively he reached out to modify his
surroundings. A house, then a picket fence, split from the living trees;
an irrigation ditch; a garden spot; fruit trees; vines over the porch;
better stables; more fences; the gradual shaping from the wilderness of
a home--these absorbed his surplus. As a matter of business he worked
with pick and shovel until he had proved the Honey-bug hopeless, then he
started a store on credit. Therein he sold everything from hats to 42
calibre whiskey. To it he brought the same overflowing play-spirit that
had fashioned his home.

"I'm making a very good living," he answered a question; "that is, if
I'm not particular on how well I live," and he laughed his huge laugh.

He was very popular. Shortly they elected him sheriff. He gained this
high office fundamentally, of course, by reason of his courage and
decision of character; but the immediate and visible causes were the
Episode of the Frazzled Mule, and the Episode of the Frying Pan. The one
inspired respect; the other amusement.

The freight company used many pack and draught animals. One day one of
its mules died. The _mozo_ in charge of the corrals dragged the carcass
to the superintendent's office. That individual cursed twice; once at
the mule for dying, and once at the _mozo_ for being a fool. At
nightfall another mule died. This time the _mozo_, mindful of his
berating, did not deliver the body, but conducted the superintendent to
see the sad remains.