"1849." "A nation pours west in a mad flood." "Gold-Gold in California." "Gold in the streams." "Gold at the grass roots." "Gold in the blowing dust." "Yellow, malleable, friable, spendable gold!" "1865." "The days of '49 are gone." "Pick and pan have gleaned the surface," "And the adventurers have moved on to new diggings." "The doors of their deserted shanties" "Swing idle on broken bolts." "But still a war-weary, land-hungry people" "Sweeps westward where a new gold is come out of California." "The plows rip the fallow lawn." "For this is the new gold," "The flowing yellow gold of wheat." "In '68 the seed is sown." "Its roots suck the dark richness below." "Its tops stand golden in a golden sunlight," "And the great wheat empire is born." "For 10 years it flourishes." "Then again the news flashes eastward" " Gold!" "Gold above the valley of the Sacramento." "Gold and a way to get at it." "Again the adventurers rush westward." "But this time, they come in pushing Pullmans." "No more pick-And-Pan scratching." "This is 1877." "This is bedrock gold." "Great squat hydraulic monitors," "With the pressure of the melting snows" "Of the high sierras behind them, rip the mountains apart." "Money and machines " "A new Midas tearing apart the quiet hills," "Leaving a raw welter." "Gold and yet more gold." "Out of a single sluice box in a single spring" "Is snatched a million dollars." "Gold for ships and schools and cities." "Gold for guns and the sinews of war." "Pouring eastward, it chokes the channels of commerce." "It travels the wealth of the world." "And for every precious yellow ounce," "Tons of mud, gravel, and rubble are dumped into the streams" "That feed the golden wheat empire below." "The floods spread." "The wheat ranchers protest." "But up in the mountains," "The monitors lash out their yelling tongues." "Where there is gold, men are going to get it." "Knee-Deep in their flooded fields," "The ranchers watch their golden acres strangle and die." "Dikes and Levies break" "And are patiently, desperately plugged again." "And slowly, sullenly," "They set themselves for the long, bitter fight" "Against the power of gold." "Those two in the middle!" "Much obliged." "Yes, sir." "Hey, watch out." "Howdy, sir." "Welcome to Tenspot." "Yeah." "Mr. Whitney." "Drummer, I take it?" "Well, you can take it straight or with water." "It's a free country." "You might be an eastern tourist?" "Might." "Where's this room?" "The second floor, front." "Oh, say." "Did you say you was a drummer?" "Well, now, you know, I used to drum " "Played the bass drum in the town band." "But I lost it once playing for a picnic." "Three whiskeys." "This stuff tastes like varnish." "Why don't you get some decent whiskey?" "Give me another one." "Mr. Lance, don't you think you've had enough?" "Nobody asked you what you thought." "All I want from you is that bottle of rye," "And I want it quick." "All right." "You're Ferris' boy, aren't you?" "Yeah, what about it?" "Take it easy, lance." "Go on home." "This is no place for drunken little boys." "Why don't you mind your own business?" "You mind your own business." "Take your hands off me!" "All right, boys." "The fight's over." "I'll take care of him." "Here." "Have a drink." "How do you feel?" "Sober as a judge." "Why did you hit me?" "Because I thought you were too young to die." "Thanks." "Come on." "Let's get out of here." "Here's your hat." "Howdy, Mr. Lance." "Howdy, Joshua." "Come on in, Mr. Whitney." "Come in, Mr. Whitney." "Thanks." "He's all right." "Down, boy." "Come on." "Make yourself at home." "Let me take your hat." "Thank you." "Lance, where have you been?" "Why" " Oh." "This is my sister Serena, Mr. Whitney." "Hello." "How do you do?" "But " "Why don't you wipe your mouth?" "It's all over apple." "You wait." "You're gonna catch it, Mr. Ferris." "Oh, lance, what did you do to czar?" "He came home this morning lame." "I know." "I know." "I'm sorry." "Listen, sprat, how about telling father we're here?" "Tell him I've got a guest." "You know, kind of honey him a little." "There's a sweet kid." "Well, I don't know." "He's awfully mad, lance." "Well, try." "All right." "I'll try." "She can generally handle him." "I hope so." "Look." "Don't say anything about what happened in the bar." "No, of course not." "Thanks." "Lance." "Lance, he wants you." "Uh-Oh." "Thanks, sprat." "Be nice, lance." "Please." "Don't worry." "I'll be nice." "Well, here goes." "Good luck." "I'll need it." "Well, I hope your father" "Won't be too hard on him, miss Ferris." "Lance is so trifling sometimes that..." "Have an apple, Mr. Whitney." "An apple?" "Yes." "Oh." "Oh." "Thanks very much." "Why do you do that?" "Oh, that?" "Habit, I guess." "Back home in Vermont, we test them that way." "Yeah, it's called apple-Knocking." "Well, how can you tell?" "Well, if it sounds" " Plunk" " Like that, it's mellow." "But if it just clinks, why, it hasn't set yet." "Here, you try one." "See?" "They both plunk." "I never knew that." "Well, kids, you know." "Well, that is" " That is, very young ladies " "They don't generally bother about these things." "You know, they generally take them as they come," "Green or otherwise." "I'm not so young as you think, Mr. Whitney." "I'm 17." "No." "Well, almost 17." "Oh." "And I've got a 50-Acre fruit orchard of my own." "You have?" "Yes, I have." "That is, it's on my father's land," "And I use his teams and labor." "But I paid for my own trees, and I do my own pruning," "And I run a two-Horse harrow." "You do?" "Perhaps you tell me what's so very funny?" "Well, I will, now, if you promise not to get mad." "Promise?" "Yes." "They say that California has the smallest stoves" "And the biggest liars in the united states." "I think lance will be back in a few minutes." "Now, please, miss Ferris." "You said you wouldn't get mad." "I'm sorry." "You don't have to believe me." "Oh, sure, I believe you." "50-Acre orchard." "Would you like to see it?" "Yes, I'd like it very much." "All right." "I'll show it to you." "50 acres, huh?" "Let's see." "That ought to bring in about a... a 1,000-Bushel crop, huh?" "1,500, Mr. Whitney, when the trees are really set." "Well, maybe." "You know, this ought to be pretty good fruit country." "These are very good apples." "Weren't grown here, were they?" "No, they weren't." "I didn't think so." "They need snow." "Nitrogen goes in the soil," "But potash really gives them their flavor." "Well, you do know something about fruit, don't you?" "Mm-Hmm." "A little." "Mr. Whitney." "Lance has been telling me about your kindness." "Happy to meet you, sir." "Pleasure, sir." "Father, Mr. Whitney's been telling me about California." "He says we have the smallest stoves" "And the biggest liars in the united states." "Well, I never noticed about the stoves." "Anyhow, we do have the best native brandy." "Dare say we could find a use for some." "Come along, Mr. Whitney." "Excuse me, ma'am." "Lance tells me you're a mining man, Mr. Whitney." "Used to be a farmer, but they sent me to school," "And somehow I came out an engineer." "And sometimes I think that's getting to be the trouble" "With this country" " Too much education." "Young fellas like you start drawing lines on paper," "Then all of a sudden there's a snorting tin teakettle" "Running about on rails," "Rushing people from one place to the other and back again." "Say it saves time." "Maybe you can tell me, Mr. Whitney " "Saves time for what?" "More lines on paper." "And then the next thing we know," "There's a machine they call a hydraulic monitor" "Tearing a mountain to pieces." "Don't let father get started on slickings" "Or we'll be here all day." "Well, I'm sorry if they're making trouble for you, sir." "Oh, there's nothing personal in it, Mr. Whitney." "Won't you sit down?" "Our quarrel isn't with you." "It's with your bosses." "They're called pirates in San Francisco." "Well, I don't think it's their fault either, sir." "It's a matter of pushing ahead." "No one wants to harm the ranchers." "But the stuff's there, and we've got to get it out." "If we didn't, someone else would." "It's something you can't stop" "Any more than you can stop" "From putting rails across the country." "Matter of progress." "We'll stop it, Mr. Whitney," "When the courts get around to it." "I'm ready, Mr. Whitney!" "Ready for what?" "Mr. Whitney wants to see my orchard." "You said you'd like to see it, didn't you?" "Well, yes" " Jared's going with me." "We've got some things to talk over." "Well, I'd like to see it very much." "Go on over to your orchards, sprat, and leave us alone." "Come on, Jared." "Well, I'm sorry, but... it's quite all right." "Yeah, well, maybe we could make it some other time." "It doesn't matter." "We're in a hurry, sprat." "Goodbye." "It's up to you, ed." "I'll bet 4 right into that one-Card draw." "I'm out." "I'll just stay." "Hey!" "What are you doing in here?" "Couldn't you read that sign on the gate?" "I did read it." "Who's in charge here?" "You're looking at the headman right now." "I'll raise you 4." "Well, if you're in charge, what's " "No, we ain't hiring nobody today, mister," "So be sure you close the gate on your way out." "What's the matter with those monitors?" "They're not working." "Say, who are you " "Cyrus McCormick on a tour of inspection?" "Whitney's the name." "I'm the new superintendent." "Superintendent, eh?" "I better clean those flumes on the north end." ""Introducing Mr. Jared Whitney. "" "Looks like we got a whole new superintendent." "I bet he was even to college, boys." "One of them new dude engineers, huh?" "I asked you a question." "What's wrong with those monitors?" "Yonder they lie." "Maybe you can figure out what's wrong with them, Willie." "Maybe." "And the name isn't Willie." "It's Whitney" " Mr. Whitney." "Why, you... is it tight?" "Yes, sir." "The bolts were loose." "Yes, sir." "That's what held your pressure back." "All right!" "Turn them on!" "Full pressure!" "Aim her high." "Watch that knob, now." "Give a hand." "Now, listen, Mr. Minton." "The company sent me down here to take charge of this mine" "Because you're behind schedule." "Consequently, you can get your time" "And get out, or go to work." "And that goes for the rest of you." "Well, what about it?" "You heard what he said." "Get back to work." "My, my." "All right, more water!" "Take it off the overburden and hit it on the gravel!" "And do it right!" "The new boss will make you go to college and learn how!" "Look at that " "Muddying up the rivers with their dirty mess," "Ruining our fields with their slickings," "Spoiling the country." "The law don't let you stand up on a mountain" "And fling mud in the face of a man down below." "California's a gold state, Chris " "Always has been." "That hydraulic king crowd's got money and smart lawyers." "I tell you, we can't stop them." "Smartest lawyers in the world" "Can't change what's right and what's wrong." "That's what Sutter said." "He thought the law would protect his plantings" "Against the gold rush." "That was years ago, Ralph, before any law was out here." "Well, you know what happened." "Sutter saw California for what it is and ought to be " "The finest planting country on earth." "And look at Sutter now." "Broke as a jaybird." "Who asked you, you meddling old fool?" "Bring every hand on the place down here" "And fix these levies like I told you." "Yes, sir, colonel." "Time for dinner, Ralph." "Enoch, go pick up miss Serena." "Yes, your honor." "Come on, Joshua." "Better take a seat in the back there" "Where you'll be safe from the rising water." "Come on, Jim!" "Whoa." "Dinnertime, miss Serena!" "Your father and your uncle Ralph have already gone ahead." "All right, Enoch!" "Just a minute!" "Whoa, Jim!" "Ho, ho, ho!" "Come on." "Come take the lines." "How does my orchard look?" "Looks sort of like you did that age" " All legs." "Well, you just wait and see." "In two more years," "They'll be the biggest trees you've ever seen." "Maybe so, if them slickings don't cover them up." "Giddap." "Down, Thor." "Oh, I'll never be fooled by a gal" "Never be fooled by a gal" "When she looks at you and winks her eye" "Then you know darn well it's just a lie" "I'll never be fooled by a gal" "Lance, you sampled that brandy pretty well before dinner." "Thanks for the checkup, aunt Rosanne." "Lance, if I " "Well, there never was a Ferris" "Who couldn't hold his liquor." "I'll join you." "Ramon, the brandy." "Down, Thor." "You already bit him once." "That animal petrifies me." "It isn't safe around here." "Serena can use him in the orchard." "She'll need some protection there." "Ha." "Fool orchard." "Taking up 50 good acres of land to mess around with fruit." "Well, at least they'll be peaches and plums in the house." "I reckon you'll be glad enough to eat the fruit." "I'll have 1,000 bushels next year," "And they'll bring us $800." "You'll save the family fortune at the expense of your looks." "It isn't worth it, Serena." "Look at your hands." "They're like whip leather." "She's making a fool of herself." "Goes around like a laborer." "Hmm." "Look at you." "If you'd even look like a decent laborer," "Instead of a miserable dude." "If you'd quit liquoring up " "Shut your head, sprat!" "Lanceford, you'll apologize for that remark." "Do you hear me?" "I beg your pardon." "I'm sure you didn't intend it." "And, Serena, you leave the table for losing your temper." "But you do look like a dude, and you do liquor up!" "Serena." "And you won't work." "Chris, I do wish you'd chain up that awful beast." "What's the good of a dog like that anyhow?" "For one thing, to scare off that mining riffraff" "If they ever set foot on my land again." "The trouble with you, father," "Is that you're not willing to accept advancement." "Gold is under the soil, not on top of it." "Farming was all right in its day." "Lanceford, that dog at least has breeding." "It knows a mine-mucker from a gentleman even if you don't." "What do you expect me to be, father?" "I'm sure that lance only meant to be " "That's very kind of you, aunt Rosanne," "But I'll do my own explaining" " If I have to." "You'll excuse me, sir." "Oh, be fair with the boy, Chris." "You can't expect him to be a plaster saint." "Only one thing bothers me." "He's a lot less interested in this ranch" "Than he is in that mining crowd." "I wouldn't mind his kicking around with his own class," "But this scum of the earth from the mines." "Hold on, Chris." "Some of the biggest men in California came out of mining." "With the ideals and traditions of highwaymen." "That San Francisco mining crowd " "Chris, you dare say that." "Why" " Why my own father " "There, sweetheart." "I'm sure Chris didn't mean your father." "Of" " Of course not." "I never figured you'd think I meant a man like him." "Why, Harrison McCooey, Rosanne, your father?" "Everybody respects him." "Thank you, Chris." "I suppose it was silly of me." "Forgive me." "Don't be late, darling." "Well, I suppose I'll be accused now of losing my temper." "Have a cigar, Ralph." "You know, Chris, Serena takes after you." "She's stubborn." "But lance was right in one respect." "About what?" "Wheat's a thing of the past." "There's stuff in the ground of California" "You never planted, and it'll swamp you." "Wherever there's gold, Chris, men are going to find it." "Not against the law." "The decision was against them in the courts last year." "Now how long will it stand" "With all that money stacked up against it?" "Here, that's no way to cut a cigar." "It's my way." "Why, 10 years from now," "The whole Sacramento valley will be under mud and slickings." "Quit making speeches and tell me what's on your mind." "Chris, I want to sell." "I've decided to get into gold." "You'd sell your land?" "My own brother?" "You're talking crazy." "If you think so," "Make me an offer for my share of Bannockburn." "Now, look here, Ralph." "I used to put diapers on you." "I'll do it again if you don't quit this foolishness." "Why, in 200 years, no Ferris has sold his land," "Except to buy more land." "Come on." "Have a ball of brandy." "And tell Rosanne I meant no offense." "I've asked you to make me an offer, Chris." "Well, then, even though wheat is selling low," "And just to show you how wrong you are, $100,000." "It's a trade." "Ralph, you wouldn't sell your land." "I said it was a trade." "Cash of course." "Cash?" "I thought my check would be sufficient." "Still, if you insist." "Chris, don't be silly." "Of course your check is good." "I only wanted to get " "You'll get your cash." "All I ask is that you'll be gone from here by the morning." "Hi, youngster!" "Well, hello." "What's the matter?" "Aren't we on speaking terms?" "Hello." "Ooh." "Well, perhaps I better come back some other time" "When you're not so busy, to see your orchard." "Oh." "So you did remember." "Yeah." "Well, now that you're here, what do you think of it?" "Let's see." "It's great." "You're doing a fine job." "But you took off quite a chunk, though." "Oh, I don't do it all myself." "Still, 50 acres." "That's a lot for a man." "Oh, I can do it." "It's not work for me." "It's fun." "Ah, pretty dirty fun." "Oh, may I help you?" "No, I can usually manage." "Oh, just once." "All right." "I want to show you something." "What do you want to show me?" "Something I think will save you" "A lot of time on your irrigation." "Oh, good." "Now, watch this." "Now we'll make a trench between these two trees." "A trench, eh?" "Yeah, connecting the two." "You work on that end and make it a little deeper." "Deeper than your end." "If you like." "I see." "That's the way." "What's this gonna be for?" "I'll show you in a minute." "Yeah, that's all right." "Now, here." "Watch this." "Well!" "See that?" "Well!" "Now, you can do that right through the orchard." "See the time it'll save you?" "Why, that's perfectly wonderful!" "Simple, isn't it?" "I should say it is!" "Now we'll do it over here." "Why, nobody around here has ever thought about it." "You know, I always prided myself" "On knowing all about orchards," "But I see I've much more to learn." "Come to think of it," "I haven't seen another orchard in California." "But I must say," "This is the finest fruit-Growing soil I ever saw." "I'm so glad to hear you say that." "You know, I can't get anybody at the house" "To pay any attention to it." "They just laugh." "Don't you worry." "You'll have the last laugh." "Mr. Whitney, you don't know what it means" "To talk to somebody who really understands and who " "Well, who doesn't make fun of you." "I suppose when you first met me," "You thought me an awful sprat." "I'd like to apologize." "Oh, I'm sorry." "Oh, don't worry." "I'm used to dirt." "But don't men like women who have nice white hands?" "Oh, women, yes," "But it really isn't important, youngster." "I'm not a youngster." "That's right." "I forgot." "You're a grown woman." "Let's try the next one." "812 sacks, all from the lower 40." ""812"... before the slicking hit her, it was at 1,560." ""1,560."" "That was two years ago." "Well, why didn't you say so?" "Now you've got me all confused." "Well, did you find Mr. Lance?" "Uh, he's coming." "Where was he?" "In the bed, sound asleep." "Get loading, you lazy ignoramus." "You bet your life." "412 sacks." ""400 and... "" "Lance!" "You call me, sir?" "11:00 in the morning, and you're still in your bed." "Has been out here since before daylight." "You know we're short of hands." "Most of the men have gone to work in the mines." "Hardly blame them for wanting to earn more money." "Besides, they like mining." "They're probably as sick as I am of wheat fields." "Lance." "This is nothing new, sir." "You know I never intend to be a farmer." "I'd like to get away for a couple of months." "If you could lend me $400 or $500." "What?" "Oh, don't worry about the money, sir." "I'll pay you back." "Everybody's making money in San Francisco." "San Fran" " Well, sir, you've got your nerve." "Why, you can almost pick up money in the streets there." "Look at uncle Ralph." "Well, look at him." "Sold his birthright for a mess of mine stock." "Is that what you want?" "I want to go someplace where there's some life " "Some future for me, that's all." "Future?" "Why, my boy, one day this whole ranch" "Will be yours and Serena's." "And by that time, it will be under 3 feet of mud." "Ask anybody." "Ask Jared." "I'm not asking any Yankee miner" "To help run my family affairs." "Jared's my friend, sir." "Oh." "So he's the one who's been putting ideas" "Of San Francisco into your head." "It was my own idea." "And if you'd only lend me the money, I'd " "I'm not financing any wild-Goose chase to San Francisco." "But, sir " "And that, lance, is final." "Whoa." "Morning, Mackenzie." "Fetching to get yourself run over, Chris?" "Oh, I was thinking of something else." "Reckon we're all doing a lot of thinking these days." "Leastways this year, you've got a crop to harvest." "More than I can say." "Mine's flooded out - 600 acres." "You're not the only one, Mac." "No one seems to know where it will all end." "Something's got to be done mighty soon, Chris." "Giddap." "Now, watch." "If you open the valves too fast, you'll wreck the pipe." "Fascinating!" "What?" "!" "I said it's fascinating!" "I can't hear you!" "I don't blame you!" "Hey!" "Ease up on that pressure a little!" "What is it, lance?" "I've forgotten now." "How can anyone think with the roar of those cannons" "Splitting their eardrums?" "Anyway, it's action." "Well, if you feel so strongly about it," "Why don't you do something?" "I am gonna do something." "I'm on my way now." "Where?" "To San Francisco." "San Francisco?" "Yes, I want to get away from here." "I'm sick and tired of wheat." "Your father know you're going?" "No." "He wouldn't stake me." "So I'm going on my own." "But just wait till I land there." "Yeah." "Be sure you land on both feet." "What are you gonna do when you get there?" "I don't know yet." "Uncle Ralph will give me all the help I need." "Unless one of the young ladies takes you at hand first." "I know all about women." "Sure, you do, and horses, too." "Elephant." "There's my train." "I got to hurry." "Goodbye, fella." "Goodbye." "Look me up when you get in town, won't you?" "First thing." "Where will I find you?" "At the poodle dog bar." "You know, me and john I. Sullivan." "Goodbye, fella!" "Goodbye!" "Good luck!" "Hurry up, Joshua!" "We got to make that train!" "Wait for me, Mr. Lance." "Step on rather light and nip my head off." "Whoa." "Whoa." "Wait for me now." "Whoa." "Come on!" "Come on, Joshua!" "I'm coming!" "Dorothy!" "Gene!" "Well, I-I suppose I should be getting along." "I'd ask you to stay for dinner," "But father seems to be late." "Oh, thanks, but I" " Ramon?" "Ramon, didn't my father say when he'd be back?" "No, miss Serena." "That's all right." "They'll save me some dinner at the camp." "I'll see you soon." "I hope so." "Here he comes now." "Don't go." "Father, I was beginning to worry about you." "Sorry, Serena." "Good evening, sir." "Good evening, Mr. Whitney." "Father, what's happened?" "Where have you been?" "I just left john Mackenzie." "His wife and child were killed." "Mrs. Mackenzie?" "And gene?" "Where?" "How?" "The ground washed from under their house," "And the roof caved in." "They brought the bodies into town." "Where's lance?" "Father, lance isn't here." "He's gone." "Gone?" "Where?" "To San Francisco." "Don't wait dinner for me." "You two go ahead." "And so I suggest we follow this orderly procedure." "Talk all the law you want to, Chris." "But when you spend almost a lifetime" "Of clearing a homestead and putting in a crop" "And the slickings spreads down over it," "I tell you, you feel almost like killing someone." "Listen, men!" "We wait for the courts, and what'll happen?" "Nothing!" "Nothing!" "Nothing!" "They got lawyers and money behind them." "They'll keep putting us off two, three years " "Then where are you?" "Jim, in the long run " "The devil with the long run." "I've worked, saved, paid my bills regular," "And I don't propose to give up 20 years of hard work" "Without a fight!" "This is a matter of life and death" "To you, to me, to all of us!" "I can't stand another harvest like this last one," "And I don't intend to!" "Wait a minute!" "Wait a minute!" "I'm a Massachusetts man, and I believe in law and order." "But the only way we'll get law this time" "Is through the muzzle end of a rifle." "I say take a gang up there with guns and clear them out!" "Now, wait." "Listen to me." "I want to see that riffraff driven out of here" "As much as any man among you." "But killing and mob rule never got anybody anything." "Whatever we've lost now is nothing to what we'd lose" "By taking the law into our own hands." "That would be plain suicide." "What " "What's there to choose" "Between suicide and murder, Chris?" "What more can a man lose than I have?" "I've seen my wheat floating down the river," "Watched my cattle starving to death in a clover pasture," "And my well choked up with mud." "So have I, Mac." "I know that." "We all have." "But have you seen your wife and baby" "Killed in front of your eyes?" "Have you heard them scream for you" "And then watch them being crushed to death" "Under your own roof before you could get to them?" "Have you seen that?" "Well, I have." "And before god I tell you I'm going to get the murderers" "Who did it if I have to go up there alone!" "We'll go with you, Mac." "Silence!" "All of you!" "Sit down a minute!" "If you're set to do it this way, go ahead." "But before you rush up there" "And cover yourselves with blood and glory," "Let me tell you what you're going to lose." "Now, you may know me, everyone of you." "Have I ever lied to you or advised you wrong?" "No." "No, you haven't." "Most of us came out here together in '65." "We fought and worked together to make this valley a home" "For ourselves and our children " "Years of work." "Everything on earth, we owned." "And now you want to throw it away in one hotheaded hour," "Get yourself shot or hanged," "Just as the law itself is getting ready" "To drive the miners out." "Is that common sense?" "You men asked me here to help you organize." "All right, I'll help." "I'll work with you any way you decide." "But try it my way first." "Give the courts a chance." "If they turn us down..." "I'll fight with you." "I'll lead you up there." "I promise you that." "All right, Chris." "We'll wait." "Is that all right with you, men?" "I'm with you, Chris." "And I hope we're right." "But there's a time element against us." "These men won't wait long." "Good night, Chris." "Good night, doc." "Did you hear anything?" "No." "What's the matter?" "Are you nervous?" "No." "Tired?" "No, I'm not tired." "Well, there's something the matter." "I'm worried about father." "He should have been back long ago." "Oh, please don't worry." "He'll be back presently." "You mustn't upset yourself." "I can't forget the look on those men's faces" "When they called for him tonight." "Ah, yes." "I remember." "I saw some of them coming out of town." "Did they say anything to you?" "Well, no, not out loud." "Jared, they were talking about the mine," "About going up there and" " And cleaning it out." "Well, if they do, they better come up there shooting." "Oh, Serena." "We're not asking for trouble." "But we're not running away from it, either." "Oh, Jared, everything was so right" "The other day in the orchard " "Working together and helping the trees to grow." "Why can't it stay that way?" "I'm afraid there's going to be trouble." "Oh, Jared." "Poor darling." "Whose horse is that, Enoch?" "It belongs to Mr. Whitney." "Promise you won't worry?" "I promise." "Good night." "Good night." "Good evening, Mr. Ferris." "Mr. Whitney, I'll have to ask you" "Not to come here to Bannockburn again." "Would you mind explaining just why, sir?" "If you insist." "I don't care for your abuse of my hospitality." "And I don't care for the use you're making of it" "To further your aims with Serena." "I hope my meaning is plain." "It's plain enough, but it doesn't make sense." "I have the opposite impression." "Furthermore, since we're talking plain, I'll tell you" "That I'm not going to have a fortune-Hunting miner" "Hanging around my daughter." "I've seen enough of your kind to last me." "There'll be no further association" "Between yourself and members of my family." "Mr. Ferris, I don't like your word "fortune hunter. "" "I didn't say what I might have" "Because I like you and respect you," "And because you're Serena's father." "But I will say this now" " I love Serena." "I love her, and I don't care what you think." "Mr. Whitney, I'm giving you warning to keep away from here" "And to keep away from Serena." "You can keep me from seeing Serena" " For a while." "But she'll be of age before long," "And then you and this whole valley can't keep us apart." "Good night, sir." "71,000." "That's not enough, Whitney." "I know it's not enough." "And I've been yelling about it for months." "Don't any of that bunch in San Francisco" "Ever read my reports?" "I don't know." "They don't read mine half the time." "It seems all they want to know is," "Why aren't you shipping out more?" "Sure, I'll ship them more." "Just give me a decent water pressure up here," "And I'll send them enough to put in their ears." "I'm not blaming you." "I'm just telling you what they say." "The water's here if they'd only listen." "I draw out a detailed plan for a new dam" "In every report I sent up there." "Well, I'll remind them, if you want." "No, you won't." "I'll tell them myself." "Going to to san Francisco in the morning." "I think you're right." "That's the punch." "Positive." "No greater mare in the country can beat her at six furlongs." "You're crazy." "What's the matter with the Stanford mare walkaway?" "Hasn't got a chance." "I'm getting 3 to 1 on Baldwin's bay gelding." "Best tour that ever come to Oakland" " Bar none." "Can you imagine?" "Down in panama they're thinking of building a canal" "From the Atlantic to the pacific ocean?" "Times are changing." "Jared." "Lance!" "I told you you'd find me at the poodle dog bar." "That's right." "I remember." "But, uh, where's john I. Sullivan?" "He's right over there in the top hat." "Here, this calls for a celebration." "Sit down." "Frank?" "Yes, sir." "Would you bring some more champagne?" "Oh, not this early." "Why not?" "Go ahead, frank." "In San Francisco, they drink it for breakfast." "How do you like San Francisco?" "I've never had such a time in my life, Jared." "Why, people are rolling in gold up here." "It grows on trees." "Yeah, I know." "I know." "We have to shake the trees for them." "But how about you?" "Are you up on business?" "Yes, I came up to see my boss." "I've been trying to locate him for the last three days." "What's his name?" "Harrison McCooey." "Ever hear of him?" "Harrison McCooey?" "And you've been looking for him for three days?" "Oh, you know him?" "Do I know him?" "Oh, here they come now." "I thought you girls would never come back." "Lana Crabtree, and she's even more beautiful" "Off than she is " "Oh." "Rosanne, this is Jared Whitney." "I just stumbled into him." "Pleasure, ma'am." "Not the Jared Whitney?" "Lance has spoken of you so often." "You know, you're sort of a hero to him." "Oh, well." "We're old friends." "Oh Molly, darling, I'm so sorry." "Mr. Whitney, may I present miss Molly Featherstone?" "Delighted." "How do you do?" "Come on, girls." "Let's sit down." "Jared's been in town three days looking for his boss." "He's been sitting in his office from morning till night," "Waiting for him to come in." "Why, who do you think his boss is?" "I give up." "Who?" "The honorable Harrison McCooey." "Yes, he's my boss, all right." "I used to think he was mine, too." "What?" "He's aunt Rosanne's father." "Oh, now, I " "But you've come to the right place" "To find him, Mr. Whitney." "Harry's one of the original fixtures at this bar." "Isn't he, darling?" "Yes." "Father's on his way here now." "We're all driving to the races." "Why don't you come along with us?" "Oh, thanks very much, but " "Oh, sure you can, Jared." "There's plenty of room for us all." "Well, perhaps Mr. Mccooey" "Wouldn't like to mix business with pleasure." "That's the way everything's done in San Francisco." "Whoa." "Exactly 7 minutes from the top of Nob hill." "Some fool luck we got here at all." "I think that deserves a drink, eh?" "Don't you think one is enough after that wild ride?" "Three of my special." "All right, Mr. Mccooey." "Oh, here's father now." "Hi, boys." "Betting on your horse today, Harrison." "You can't lose." "Hello, girls." "You all ready?" "Hello, Molly." "You look lovely." "Father, this is Jared Whitney." "He's an old friend of lance's." "How do you do, sir?" "How are you, Mr. Mccooey?" "Mr. Whitney's been looking for you for days, father." "Not looking for a job, are you?" "He's already working for you." "Working for me?" "Where?" "Golden moon mine, sir." "I'm in charge there." "Whitney?" "Oh, of course." "To be sure." "Anything wrong at the mine?" "Somebody down here seems to think so." "I can guess who it is." "Come along, darling." "We don't want to be late." "Mr. Crocker gave me a tip for the first race." "Mr. Whitney, I want you to meet my partners " "Frank crouch, major Walsh." "How do you do, sir?" "Mr. Whitney is superintendent of our golden moon mine." "Oh, is that so?" "Ah, the lifesaver." "Whitney, you'll have to grind your ax with crouch here." "He's the attorney for the firm." "Best lawyer west of the Rockies." "Hadn't we better get started, father?" "The races begin soon." "Drive you there in a half an hour." "I guarantee it." "You keep your eye off him, Molly." "Oh, you're gonna be selfish about it?" "Come on." "I'll prove it." "Mr. Mccooey, really, I have a lot to do this afternoon." "You're going with us." "Oh, no, thank you." "Oh, sure you are." "We settled that." "Why, of course you're coming." "But, Mr. Mccooey, I came here to talk business with you." "Oh, let business wait for the office tomorrow." "Come on, boys, I got the greatest hunch" "On the third race you ever saw." "Mrs. Ferris, I've worked for your father for a year," "But never had the opportunity of meeting him." "They said he was hard to reach." "Oh, well, that's absurd." "We're the friendliest family in the world." "Our water supply comes from the mountains," "Down these ravines, through this natural basin," "Along about 3,000 feet to our dam." "Here at the neck of the basin, the opening is 360 feet." "Now, if you throw a dam across here," "You'll have a reservoir" "Capable of holding 3 or 4 million gallons." "Sounds all right the way you tell it," "But how much would a dam like that cost?" "Roughly a quarter million dollars." "It's out of the question." "The golden moon would never be able to work it off." "Why not, Mr. Ferris?" "The inspiration and sunset" "Get their water from the same source." "And if you consolidate the three mines," "You build your dam," "You can operate winter and summer, 24 hours a day." "You say the inspiration and the sunset both use water" "From the same source we do?" "That's right." "Where's our present reservoir?" "Here." "I think the idea's mighty smart." "Sounds good to me if we can consolidate." "If it's good, we can work it out." "Whitney, I'm thinking you've been wasted" "Out there in the field." "You belong right here in San Francisco." "We'll furnish you with an office" "And a reasonable expense account." "We need bright fellows with good ideas." "Gentlemen, the meeting's adjourned." "Let's all go down to the exchange" "And have a drink on it." "The plan to consolidates the best thing I've heard." "That's a great suggestion." "Sure, we build a dam" "And shut those other two mines off from the water." "Then they'll have to sell." "Why didn't we think of that ourselves?" "We're not engineers." "Oh, don't mention this squeeze-Out to Whitney." "He mightn't understand modern business methods" "On the stock exchange." "Will you get this off on the night train if possible?" "Yes, sir." "I'll take it down myself." "Thank you." "I wish I could help you, ma'am, but Mr. Whitney's gone." "He's gone?" "Left" " Quicker than that." "San Francisco, I think." "Although he didn't tell me." "You know, he always was kind of closemouthed." "I never did have much luck getting him to talk." "Well, uh, how long ago did he leave?" "Oh, two or three weeks ago, maybe more, maybe less." "You know, the days, they start to roll into one another," "And they" " They get me all mixed up." "Well, uh, thank you." "Oh, that's all right." "Not at all." "Hello, Serena." "Oh, father." "I didn't know you were here." "Well, I was just clearing up a little business." "It's nearly dinnertime." "I'd almost forgotten." "What's the trouble, honey?" "Oh, nothing, father." "Nothing at all." "You don't have to tell me." "I know." "It's this Whitney fellow, isn't it?" "You probably found out he's gone away." "Didn't you?" "Yes." "He might at least have said goodbye." "Oh, well, you know these mining men " "Here today and gone tomorrow." "You can't depend much on any one of them." "Sit down, Serena." "Now, my dear, I know how embarrassing it is for you" "To discuss this matter." "Well, it's equally awkward for me." "I'd far sooner have you talk about this idea of yours" "Of growing fruit in California." "I didn't know you cared so much for the fellow." "Serena, you can't be in love with a Yankee mine-mucker." "I am." "But it's ridiculous!" "Well, in the first place," "You're nothing but a little girl." "What do you know about being in love anyway?" "Listen, honey." "I know what's best for you." "I couldn't have a mining man in the " "You sent him away." "How could I have sent him away?" "The man's a free agent, isn't he?" "Well, then, what did you mean?" "You haven't seen as much of life as I have, my dear," "Or of men like Whitney." "You'll get over this." "Father, I want to know what happened," "What made him go like that!" "Well, I sort of traded with him." "Traded?" "For him to get out and to stay out." "He wouldn't do a thing like that." "I don't believe you." "Serena, I want you to understand " "Dinner, sir." "Mr. Ferris." "You'll excuse me, father." "Sell 700 sunset." "Yes, sir." "Buy the share of golden moon that's offered." "All right." "Want to pick up 600 golden moon at 260?" "Take it." "Sell 500 inspiration." "Inspiration fell 18 points already." "Sell inspiration." "Keep on selling it as long as you can find a buyer." "500!" "598!" "398!" "Put at least that on sunset." "5,000" " Golden moon!" "It's up 260." "I'll pay 500!" "500!" "I'll pay 800!" "1,000." "Darling, it's the tiniest little room." "I hope you don't mind." "We weren't expecting you, and we're really quite crowded " "What?" " With lance and" " Moy, you may go." "I'll take care of miss Serena." "Yes, ma'am." "Oh, and bring her a cool drink." "She must be very fatigued after her long journey." "Yes, ma'am." "My dear, wherever did you get all these dresses?" "Oh, I had them made in Tenspot." "Why?" "Well, they're rather pretty for the country," "But they're not quite what we're wearing in town this year." "Oh." "Yes." "Yes, that's rather pretty." "But, uh, I think we can improve it." "Oh, aunt Rosanne, I hope I'm not inconveniencing you." "I should have let you know I was coming of course," "But I-I didn't decide till the last minute." "My dear, we love having you." "Oh, thank you, aunt Rosanne." "I really came because" " Well, for one thing," "I wanted to talk to uncle Ralph about father." "You'll probably see him on thursday night." "We're entertaining in honor of general grant." "Oh, that reminds me." "We must do something about finding an escort for you." "Let me see" " There's the pope boy " "Please don't bother, aunt Rosanne." "I don't need anybody, really." "My dear, you can't go running around town alone." "This isn't Tenspot, you know." "And, Serena, dear, you're not a child any longer." "Forgive me." "Morning, Wong." "Good morning, Mr. Whitney." "Hello, Jared." "Hello, there." "Flowers again." "Jared, didn't I tell you you weren't to do this anymore?" "Oh, they're lovely." "How sweet of you." "Oh!" "Oh, I'm so sorry." "Serena, come down, darling." "You know Jared Whitney, don't you?" "Of course you do." "Lance told me how you teased her about the apples." "They were apples, weren't they, darling?" "I can never remember." "Serena, I had no idea." "When did you get here?" "Just an hour ago." "Why didn't you tell me she was here?" "I-I didn't remember that you knew each other." "Oh, aren't they ravishing?" "He just spoils me to death." "Darling, tell him how nice he is while I put them in water." "Serena, why didn't you tell me you were coming?" "I would have met you at the train." "I didn't know." "Well, I can't tell you how happy I am that you're here." "There's so much to ask you and to tell you and " "Well, it's" " It's been so long." "Jared?" "Have Wong open a bottle of champagne, will you?" "Listen, Serena, I've simply got to see you alone." "But aunt Rosanne." "Never mind aunt Rosanne." "Let's get out of here." "Jared?" "Hurry up!" "Quick!" "Jared?" "It's a different life, Serena," "But it's fun and crammed full of excitement." "But, you know, I sometimes miss the mine" "And the real work of getting the gold out." "I've missed you, too, Serena." "Have you, Jared?" "Are you sure?" "Why do you ask that?" "Because I don't understand what happened," "Why you left without a word." "I wanted to see you." "I tried, but I couldn't." "It wasn't allowed." "You see, it's hard to say." "I " "I understand." "But you might have explained." "You could have written." "But I did." "Didn't you get my letters?" "No." "Oh." "Well, it doesn't matter now." "Serena, ever since our last night at Bannockburn," "I found out something I should have known long before." "I love you." "I've known it for a long time." "That's all that matters, isn't it?" "Mr. And Mrs. Paul." "Mr. And Mrs. Huntington." "Mr. And Mrs. Drucker." "These women of the black troupe company" "Are utterly shameless." "They actually wear tights" " They're so revealing." "I don't understand these new inventions." "A fellow by the name of bell calls the thing a telephone." "The honorable George Hearst." "Senator Hearst, we're delighted." "Mrs. Ferris, you're just as charming tonight as ever." "You're such a flatterer, senator." "George, glad you're back." "Jared?" "Jared, I've been searching everywhere for you." "Come along." "I have some important people you should meet." "Senator Hearst, may I present Mr. Whitney?" "How do you do?" "Senator." "Mr. Whitney's in charge of our new mine at Tenspot." "Oh, really?" "I hear you've hit a rich field up there." "We think so, sir." "Well, when you find anything you think's gold, throw it away." "When you find gold, you'll know it." "Excuse us." "Certainly." "How's all the family, George?" "Oh, fine, fine." "Only I'm a little worried" "About that boy of mine" " Willie." "He's got an idea that he wants to go" "Into the newspaper business." "He wants us to buy the examiner." "You figure he can make any money out of it?" "I doubt it." "There's no real money in newspapers." "I'm inclined to agree with you." "Oh, aunt Rosanne." "I can't thank you enough for this lovely dress." "Do I look all right?" "Darling, you're lovely, of course," "But your hair, it's rather provincial, don't you think?" "Shall I go back and change it?" "Oh, no, you haven't time." "You've been fussing for hours." "And, Serena, please don't call me "aunt"." "Call me Rosanne, the way lance does." "Another thing, Serena" " Stop throwing yourself at Jared." "He's in love with another woman, one of my closest friends." "Rosanne, general grant." "General Ulysses s." "Grant." "Mrs. Ferris." "Mr. Ferris." "General, it's a great honor." "Delighted to be here, I'm sure." "General, this is indeed a pleasure." "Thank you, Mrs. Ferris." "May we present you to some of our friends, general?" "I'd be glad to meet them." "Good evening, sir." "Good evening." "I must see Mr. Ferris." "Yes, just a moment, sir." "Hello, Mr. Crouch." "Hello, lance." "Where's your uncle?" "I've got to see him." "It's very important." "Well, come with me." "I'll take you to him." "Ralph?" "Yes?" "Ah, crouch, glad you could come." "Have a drink." "Later." "Something wrong?" "Yeah." "What is it?" "Look at this." ""Golden moon case moved up" "For immediate hearing in federal court. "" "Oh, that's bad." "Lance?" "Yes." "You join us there, too." "I'll need you." "And the bankers back east were telling me" "About a young fellow named Edison" "Who was trying to interest them in a new light" "That looked like a red-Hot hairpin in a bottle." "Harry, meet me in the library." "Uncle Ralph." "I" " I don't mean to disturb you, uncle Ralph," "But you're so busy I never get a chance to see you." "Well, what is it, Serena?" "What's so urgent?" "It's about father." "He's almost desperate." "Unless you help him, uncle Ralph," "We'll lose Bannockburn." "Listen, child, the loss of Bannockburn" "Is only a drop in the bucket" "Compared to the millions we stand to lose" "If that bullheaded father of yours has his way." "Fine time to ask my help." "Father didn't know my reason for coming here." "Well, Ralph, what is it?" "Sorry, darling." "I can't discuss it now." "All right, gentlemen." "In my study." "What's the matter?" "Nothing." "How about a dance, sprat?" "Sit down, gentlemen." "Well, what's the commotion?" "Someone in Sacramento slipped up on us." "What?" "The federal court's going to hear" "The ranchers' case on the 2nd." "That's wednesday." "Exactly." "You have four days." "How did they get away with a thing like that?" "That crowd at Bannockburn must be desperate." "They'll take any chance." "What will that mean to the market?" "It'll be off for a while, but it can't last." "You better scuttle up to Sacramento" "The first thing in the morning, crouch." "I can start tonight." "Well, that's better." "You go with him, Whitney." "He'll need your help in preparing our case." "Well, go ahead." "Get started." "There's a train at 11:40." "If you hurry, you can catch it." "That's good." "In the meantime," "We'll send up orders to barricade the mine" "Against any hot-Headed fools" "That might try to jump the gun on us." "We'll oblige those ranchers court or no court." "Now, listen." "I'll tell you what we'll do." "Pardon me, lance." "I'd like to talk to Serena." "Do you mind?" "I don't mind." "And I'm sure she doesn't." "What's the matter?" "I want to say goodbye to you quickly." "You're leaving?" "Well, just for a few days." "I've got to go to Sacramento." "Jared, is there going to be trouble?" "Trouble?" "Why should there be trouble?" "Please tell me the truth." "Well, I don't know." "I mean, we've got a business, and we need to protect it." "Oh, and this is what you meant at Bannockburn" "When you said if they come up, they better come shooting?" "Oh, it wouldn't go as far as that." "Please believe me." "I know these men." "Jared, I've tried to see it your way." "I wanted to." "But I can't." "I can't believe that my father" "And all the people I've known since I was a child are wrong." "They're honest, hardworking people," "And all they want is their land." "What do these men want?" "Money and more money." "And they don't care how they get it." "They're wrong, Jared." "And if you stay with them, you'll be wrong, too." "Oh, darling." "You're taking this thing much too seriously." "No, I'm not." "I came up from the valley just a few days ago," "And I know how those men feel." "If you push them too far, they'll fight," "And there'll be men killed." "And you'll have that on your conscience" "All the rest of your life." "No, darling, you don't understand." "There isn't going to be any killing." "If you go on with those men, Jared," "There'll never be any happiness for us." "Can't I make you understand" "That it's my responsibility?" "My job?" "I beg your pardon." "We've got to hurry, Whitney." "All right." "I'm sorry, darling." "We just got time to make it." "What's the matter?" "What is it, sprat?" "I'm going back home, lance." "I can't stay here any longer." "I just can't." "Sure, if you want to." "I'm sick of this place and these people." "They're not real, lance." "They're not our kind." "Did somebody hurt you, honey?" "Well, then, what is the trouble?" "I'm going back to father because he needs me." "Uncle Ralph and Jared and all the others are fighting him." "You see, lance, you and I have always quarreled" "With father because " "Because he didn't see things the way we did." "But he's standing up for something" "That he knows is right," "And it's not in our blood to let him fight it out alone." "I'm going back to him." "There's a train in a couple of hours." "I'll get a carriage " "Never mind." "I can make it myself." "Didn't you always say we Ferrises stand together?" "Lance." "And I guess we still do, sprat." "This hearing will decide a great issue." "Proceed." "Your honor, I'd like for Mr. Ferris" "To close our case in this hearing," "Speaking his mind for us all." "Judge Clayburn, what else can you need to know?" "You've heard both sides." "To them, this injunction we're asking for" "Is only a matter of dividends, a little gold, more or less." "But to us ranchers, it means life or death." "Our land is all we've got." "We bought it to make homes for ourselves and our children." "Between us, we've cleared 100,000 acres" "That once was wasteland, scrub, and desert." "On it, we raised wheat - 10 million bushels a year," "And it goes out to feed the world," "Even to France and England." "Each year, a million men, women, and children" "Depend on us for their daily bread." "We have only one question to ask " "Does the law of this country give one man the right" "To ruin another man's land," "To stand on a mountain and throw mud in his face?" "Because that's what the miners are doing to us," "And that's why we've come to you," "Because we trust in the law," "And we trust a court acting under it" "As we trust in god himself." "Your honor, I'm glad we finally found somebody" "Who could add up the complaints of these gentlemen," "Someone who could speak his mind for all of them." "Now we know where we stand." "Now maybe we can get down to cases." "Mr. Ferris, you say that you and your men bought this land." "Yes, sir." "We did." "You paid the Spaniards $8 an acre for it, didn't you?" "But, your honor, this morning in court," "He places a value of $800 an acre on it." "Now, that's quite a neat little profit, don't you think?" "Wheat alone's worth that." "Oh, yes." "Wheat." "Of course." "I forget you feed a million people in France and England." "But our gold feeds 10 million to your one," "And they are 10 million Americans." "Now, you farmers have been stuck up there" "In your hills since 1867." "You don't know and you don't care" "What's happening to the rest of this country." "Great cities like Chicago and New York," "Railroads like the central pacific, ships, machinery " "All of it built with gold." "But what do you care about progress?" "You've got a piece of land." "And gold" " Money" " The very lifeblood of this country " "That must wait," "Because there's been a little damage done" "To a few bushels of wheat." "Mr. Ferris, you say that you and your men" "Have reclaimed 100,000 acres of wasteland," "But I say to you gold has reclaimed a nation," "Kept this country going through the civil war" "And won it in the end." "Your honor, if you cut off this gold supply from America," "You're cutting off her very life," "Just as sure as if you choked a woman's throat" "Between your hands." "And that responsibility is yours." "I will take this matter under consideration." "I will submit my decision to both parties within 24 hours." "Court is adjourned." "It's Sacramento." ""Christopher Ferris," ""Tenspot, California." ""Sacramento valley farmers" "Are granted injunction... "" ""Golden moon mine." "Judge Clayburn. "" "We've done it!" "Well?" "Gentlemen, we've lost the suit." "Impossible." "Hydraulicking's been judged a public nuisance." "What used to be a civil suit for damages" "Is now a criminal offense." "Put it in plain language." "What's it mean?" "It means if we keep on," "We're bucking the federal government." "Your brother's taken out an injunction" "Against the golden moon mine." "They haven't had time to serve it." "No, and they're not going to serve it." "If they want a fight, they're going to get it." "Whitney, you get up there and hold them off," "Even if you have to shoot." "Can't do it, McCooey." "It would mean open war." "All right, then." "It's war." "But you defend that mine at any cost." "Have you figured out what the cost will be?" "Don't be a fool, Whitney." "A few men might get hurt, of course." "We can't help that." "It isn't a matter of a few men." "I know those ranchers." "There'll be 300 of them up there" "At that barricade if you refuse service." "That isn't a fight." "It's a massacre." "Call it anything you like." "We're not going to accept service, and that's final." "In three months, we'll have that decision reversed." "In the meantime, the golden moon's going right on operating" "If we have to blast out every rancher in the valley." "Now, listen, McCooey." "Hydraulicking is over, and you know it." "That's for us to decide, Whitney." "Now, you listen to me, all of you." "I strung with you as long as you were acting legally." "But when it comes to rebelling against the law" "And planning wholesale murder, I'm through!" "And another thing " "As long as I'm in charge of the golden moon mine," "They'll be no killing." "And you can take it or leave it." "Gentlemen, when you want to reach me, I'll be at the mine." "I was afraid we couldn't trust him." "Don't worry about Whitney." "I've made other arrangements." "Mr. Minton." "Gentlemen, this is Mr. Minton, our foreman." "How are you?" "How do you do, gentlemen?" "Have a chair." "Thanks." "Well, what's on your mind?" "Get the rest of those rifles." "Take as many as you can and fill up your pockets." "Grogan, you know how to use that thing?" "Sure." "But I'd first like to know why I'm using it?" "To keep your thick head in one piece." "All right." "Come on." "Oh, he's had time enough to get up there" "And back twice over." "Maybe he's never coming back." "Must have got cold feet," "Just like the last time he come here" "And served the injunction." "If I had my way," "We wouldn't wait for a federal injunction." "We'd go up there ourselves." "Mac, we said we'd wait." "Besides, there's no sense in all of us going up there." "They might take it the wrong way." "Here he comes!" "Well, what happened?" "What happened?" "What happened?" "I wouldn't get mixed up in a thing like this" "For all the money in the world." "As a rule it's easy." "All you have to do is give the man his papers." "But these miners" " They don't care about the law." "They've got barricades, and they've got men with guns," "And they intend to use them." "Are you scared?" "Well, why should I go up there and let them kill me?" "I have a wife and three children." "And if you ranchers want this injunction served," "You'll have to serve it yourselves." "Here." "Let me have it." "I'll serve it." "My job as much as yours, lance." "I'll go with you." "Mine too, Mac." "Open the gate!" "It's Mr. Whitney!" "Do you expect the unites states army to attack?" "We ain't aiming for no one to sneak in" "And give us a surprise party." "Your hides will be safe." "You bet they will." "I meant what I said, Harris." "The first mother son of you who starts any trouble" "With these valley people will answer to me." "Just remember that." "All right." "All right!" "Stretch out along down there!" "Come on!" "Get in there!" "Hey, you two!" "Fill in down there along the line!" "Minton!" "What are you doing?" "Who told you to issue those guns?" "I got my orders the same place you got yours." "You keep out of this, Whitney." "You been fired." "What are you talking about?" "Hey!" "All of you, drop those guns!" "You get your time and get out." "This mine is being closed by a federal law." "It ain't closed yet, Whitney, and it ain't gonna be closed." "This mine will keep right on operating, law or no law." "If anybody leaves here, it's gonna be you!" "There's your discharge, mister!" "Tell those men to keep their eyes open!" "Some of the ranchers are coming up the road, boys." "You sure are coming to the right shop, old-Timers!" "Old man Ferris' kid" " He's probably drunk again." "Stop if you know what's good for you!" "Where's Jared Whitney?" "He ain't seeing nobody today." "Well, we're gonna see him," "And we're not leaving till we do." "I've got a greeting from the federal court for you." "Hey!" "Drop those guns!" "Open that gate!" "Turn around and get going!" "Stop, lance!" "He'll kill you!" "Lance." "Keep back!" "What's happened to lance?" "Don't blame Whitney, boys." "It wasn't his fault." "The boy never had a chance, Chris." "Whitney ran down to warn us," "But they fired before he could reach us." "Bring him into the library and put him on the couch." "There." "Sprat." "I..." "I wouldn't try to talk, son." "I've got to." "It wasn't Jared's fault." "He tried to tell me, but..." "I wouldn't listen." "Hang on, boy." "Us Ferrises don't quit." "Gather your men together, Mackenzie, and get your guns." "Jared " "Why did they send him, Serena" " A kid like that?" "It would have been the same for anyone else." "Whoever went up would have been killed." "And now father and the others are going." "No." "They can't." "And they'll kill and be killed," "And every home in this valley will be like this one." "Well, they can't!" "They mustn't!" "Come on." "Giddap!" "Mister, my feet sure is hurting." "After the fight, maybe they never will bother you again." "Here they come, wide open." "When they get within range, pick off every living son of them." "I'm going over to the north barricade." "Eddie, you and Joe come with me." "Halt." "Jim." "We're dividing the force into three parts " "One to spread up on each side of the ravine to cover the flanks." "The main body here for a frontal attack." "Ed, you lead one force - 30 men up that side." "Jim, you take the same number of men up there." "And keep undercover." "Wait!" "When the miners start shooting," "Keep them busy with a running fire" "While we go up the hill." "And if we don't get up, you keep trying until you do." "Start up." "This here's exactly the same situation" "We had at Gettysburg, remember?" "John on cemetery ridge." "Louisiana boys on the left." "Longstreet on the right." "And us" " We make Pickett's charge." "I hope we have better luck this time, Enoch." "Pshaw." "Me and Lula belle here " "We'll still be the fussing up." "No, Enoch, you stay behind." "Need a good man to take care of the horses." "Well, we'll win, just like we won at Chickamauga." "You boys all won?" "Well, if we hadn't, you wouldn't be running around loose." "Come on, boys!" "Let's get these horses under cover!" "Come on!" "They're coming up in three directions." "There's a bunch in the middle" "And a bunch sneaking up each side." "Get ready, men." "The party's about to begin." "Fellas, wait!" "There's another way in there, a better way." "Please believe me that this is suicide." "Just give me 30 minutes," "And get your men out of this ravine at once." "That's all I ask." "Can't you see that I'm with you, Mr. Ferris?" "Please believe me when I tell you" "That lance was my best friend." "We'll wait." "Get up in those hills and keep undercover, men!" "Wonder what they're waiting for." "Maybe they want a personal invite." "I'll give them one." "No, don't shoot." "You'll liable to scare them away," "And we'll miss all the fun." "I can't stand this waiting any longer, Chris." "Let's get moving." "I said we'd wait." "Hey, slag, there goes Whitney." "Wonder what he's doing up there." "He's got a bundle of dynamite and he's headed for the dam." "There's the signal!" "Wait, men, wait!" "You got him that time." "Get to the barricade!" "I got to make sure I got him!" "Enoch, the horses" " Cut them loose!" "The water!" "Get out of here, men!" "The dam's breaking!" "In the case of the Sacramento valley farmers" "Vs." "The golden moon mining syndicate," "Supreme court of California denies the appeal" "Of the defense." "Court fully realizes that its decision" "Is of far-Reaching importance," "Not only to this state, but to the entire nation." "From the evidence we have heard," "It is clearly established that the debris from the mines" "Has choked the rivers and spread over the valley," "Destroying thousands of acres" "And covering a fruitful land with barrenness." "No system of law on earth" "Tolerates the use of one man's property in this way," "So as to destroy the property of another." "Unquestionably, the acts of the defendant" "Constitute a public nuisance," "And as such they are unlawful in their inception" "And in their continuance." "Therefore, the supreme court confirms the decision" "Of the lower court" "And grants the plaintiffs the relief as claimed." "We order that the decree be so entered." "Let this also be recorded for the future." "The claim of the defendant may be true " "That gold is the blood of the nation " "But the earth is its heart and its soul." "The land is for the people." "It doesn't change." "Its fruits are more precious and inexhaustible." "And, god willing, may it continue to survive its spoils." "But there's another gold here, a gold we could never see." "Someday, orchards will cover this valley," "The one beyond, and the one beyond that," "Clear down to the ocean." "And there'll be long rows of trees as far as a man can see," "All gold and green and heavily laden with prunes" "And grape vineyards in the hills." "And someday, somehow," "They're going to ship it across the continent" "To all the world." "That's the future of California " "Not gold." "And it will be our future, too, Jared." "Isn't that something to live and work for?"