"
We at once stand face to face with the characters of that mining camp. "The
assemblage numbered about a hundred men. One or two of these were actual
fugitives from justice, some were criminal, and all were reckless." We
shall remember "Kentuck" and Oakhurst and "Stumpy," christening the baby:--
"'I proclaim you Thomas Luck, according to the laws of the United States
and the State of California, so help me God.' It was the first time that
the name of the Deity had been otherwise uttered than profanely in the
camp."
There are two sentences describing the situation of Roaring Camp:--
"The camp lay in a triangular valley between two hills and a river. The
only outlet was a steep trail over the summit of a hill that faced the
cabin, now illuminated by the rising moon."
Poe would have approved of the introduction of this bit of description, for
it heightens the pathetic effect and focuses attention upon the mother.
Even that "steep trail" is so artistically introduced that she
"... might have seen it from the rude bunk whereon she lay,--seen it
winding like a silver thread until it was lost in the stars above....
Within an hour she had climbed, as it were, that rugged road that led to
the stars, and so passed out of Roaring Camp, its sin and shame,
forever.
Pages:
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442