Gold

  CHAPTER XIV

  SUTTER'S FORT

  Sutter's Fort was situated at the edge of the live-oak park. We found itto resemble a real fort, with high walls, bastions, and a single gate ateach end through which one entered to a large enclosed square, perhaps ahundred and fifty yards long by fifty wide. The walls were not piercedfor guns; and the defence seemed to depend entirely on the juttingbastions. The walls were double, and about twenty-five feet apart. Thusby roofing over this space, and dividing it with partitions, Sutter hadmade up his barracks, blacksmith shop, bakery, and the like. Later inour investigations we even ran across a woollen factory, a distillery, abilliard room, and a bowling alley! At the southern end of this longspace stood a two-story house. Directly opposite the two-story house andat the other end of the enclosure was an adobe corral.

  The place was crowded with people. A hundred or so miners rushed hereand there on apparently very important business, or loafed contentedlyagainst the posts or the sun-warmth of adobe walls. In this latteroccupation they were aided and abetted by a number of the nativeCalifornians. Perhaps a hundred Indians were leading horses, carryingburdens or engaged in some other heavy toil. They were the first we hadseen, and we examined them with considerable curiosity. A good many ofthem were nearly naked; but some had on portions of battered civilizedapparel. Very few could make up a full suit of clothes; but contentedthemselves with either a coat, or a shirt, or a pair of pantaloons, oreven with only a hat, as the case might be. They were very swarthy,squat, villainous-looking savages, with big heads, low foreheads, coarsehair, and beady little eyes.

  We stopped for some time near the sentry box at the entrance,accustoming ourselves to the whirl and movement. Then we set out to findMcClellan. He was almost immediately pointed out to us, a short, square,businesslike man, with a hard gray face, dealing competently with thepressure. A score of men surrounded him, each eager for his attention.While we hovered, awaiting our chance, two men walked in through thegate. They were accorded the compliment of almost a complete silence onthe part of those who caught sight of them.

  The first was a Californian about thirty-five or forty years of age, aman of a lofty, stern bearing, swarthy skin, glossy side whiskers, andbright supercilious eyes. He wore a light blue short jacket trimmed withscarlet and with silver buttons, a striped silk sash, breeches ofcrimson velvet met below by long embroidered deerskin boots. A blackkerchief was bound crosswise on his head entirely concealing the hair;and a flat-crowned, wide, gray hat heavily ornamented with silvercompleted this gorgeous costume. He moved with the assured air of thearistocrat. The splendour of his apparel, the beauty of his face andfigure, and the grace of his movements attracted the first glance fromall eyes. Then immediately he was passed over in favour of hiscompanion.

  The latter was a shorter, heavier man, of more mature years. In fact hisside whiskers were beginning to turn gray. His costume was plain, butexquisitely neat, and a strange blend of the civil and the military. Thejacket for example, had been cut in the trim military fashion, but wasworn open to exhibit the snowy cascade of the linen beneath. But nobodypaid much attention to the man's dress. The dignity and assured calm ofhis face and eye at once impressed one with conviction of unusualquality.

  Johnny stared for a moment, his brows knit. Then with an exclamation, hesprang forward.

  "Captain Sutter!" he cried.

  Sutter turned slowly, to look Johnny squarely in the face, his attitudeone of cold but courteous inquiry. Johnny was approaching, hat in hand.I confess he astonished me. We had known him intimately for some months,and always as the harum-scarum, impulsive, hail fellow, bubbling,irresponsible. Now a new Johnny stepped forward, quiet, high-bred,courteous, self-contained. Before he had spoken a word, Captain Sutter'saloof expression had relaxed.

  "I beg your pardon for addressing you so abruptly," Johnny was saying."The surprise of the moment must excuse me. Ten years ago, sir, I hadthe pleasure of meeting you at the time you visited my father inVirginia."

  "My dear boy!" cried Sutter. "You are, of course the son of ColonelFairfax. But ten years ago--you were a very young man!"

  "A small boy, rather," laughed Johnny.

  They chatted for a few moments, exchanging news, I suppose, though theyhad drawn beyond our ear-shot. In a few moments we were summoned, andpresented; first to Captain Sutter, then to Don Gaspar Martinez. Thelatter talked English well. Yank and I, both somewhat silent andembarrassed before all this splendour of manner, trailed the triumphalprogress like two small boys. We were glad to trail, however. CaptainSutter took us about, showing us in turn all the many industries of theplace.

  "The old peaceful life is gone," said he. "The fort has become a tradingpost for miners. It is difficult now to get labour for my crops, and Ihave nearly abandoned cultivation. My Indians I have sent out to minefor me."

  He showed us a row of long troughs outside the walls to which his Indianworkmen had come twice a day for their rations of wheat porridge. "Theyscooped it out with their hands," he told us, "like animals." Also hepointed out the council circle beneath the trees where he used to meetthe Indians. He had great influence with the surrounding tribes; and hadalways managed to live peacefully with them.

  "But that is passing," said he. "The American miners, quite naturally,treat them as men; and they are really children. It makesmisunderstanding, and bloodshed, and reprisals. The era of good feelingis about over. They still trust me, however, and will work for me."

  Don Gaspar here excused himself on the ground of business, promising torejoin us later.

  "That trouble will come upon us next," said Captain Sutter, noddingafter the Spaniard's retreating form. "It is already beginning. TheCalifornians hold vast quantities of land with which they do almostnothing. A numerous and energetic race is coming; and it will requireroom. There is conflict there. And their titles are mixed; very mixed.It will behoove a man to hold a very clear title when the time comes."

  "Your own titles are doubtless clear and strong," suggested Johnny.

  "None better. My grant here came directly from the Mexican governmentitself." The Captain paused to chuckle, "I suspect that the reason itwas given me so freely was political--there existed at that time adesire to break up the power of the Missions; and the establishment ofrival colonies on a large scale would help to do that. The governmentevidently thought me competent to undertake the opening of this newcountry."

  "Your grant is a large one?" surmised Johnny.

  "Sixty miles by about twelve," said Captain Sutter.

  We had by now finished our inspection, and stood by the southern gate.

  "I am sorry," said Captain Sutter, "that I am not in a position to offeryou hospitality. My own residence is at a farm on the Feather River.This fort, as no doubt you are aware, I have sold to the traders. In thechanged conditions it is no longer necessary to me."

  "Do you not regret the changed conditions?" asked Johnny after a moment."I can imagine the interest in building a new community--all theseindustries, the training of the Indians to work, the growing of crops,the raising of cattle."

  "One may regret changed conditions; but one cannot prevent theirchanging," said Captain Sutter in his even, placid manner. "The oldcondition was a very pleasant dream; this is a reality."

  We walked back through the enclosure. Our companion was greeted on allsides with the greatest respect and affection. To all he responded withbenign but unapproachable dignity. From the vociferating group he calledthe trader, McClellan, to whom he introduced us, all three, with urbaneformality.

  "These young men," he told McClellan, who listened to him intently, hisbrows knit, "are more than acquaintances, they are very especial oldfriends of mine. I wish to bespeak your good offices for what they mayrequire. They are on their way to the mines. And now, gentlemen, Irepeat, I am delighted to have had this opportunity; I wish you the bestof luck; and I sincerely hope you may be able to visit me at FeatherRiver, where you are always sure of a hearty welcome. Treat them well,McClellan."
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  "You know, Cap'n, friends of your'n are friends of mine," said McClellanbriefly.

  At the end of half an hour we found ourselves in possession of twopack-horses and saddles, and a load of provisions.

  "Look out for hoss thieves," advised McClellan. "These yere Greaserswill follow you for days waitin' for a chance to git your stock. Don'tpicket with rawhide rope or the coyotes are likely to knaw yore animilesloose. Better buy a couple of ha'r ropes from the nearest Mex. Take careof yoreselves. Good-bye." He was immediately immersed in his flood ofbusiness.

  We were in no hurry to return, so we put in an hour or so talking withthe idlers. From them we heard much praise for Sutter. He had sent outsuch and such expeditions to rescue snow-bound immigrants in themountains; he had received hospitably the travel-worn transcontinentals;he had given freely to the indigent; and so on without end. I am veryglad that even at second hand I had the chance to know thisgreat-hearted old soldier of Charles X while in the glory of hispossessions and the esteem of men. Acre by acre his lands were filchedfrom him; and he died in Washington vainly petitioning Congress forrestitution.