Thence，untilmorning，seaandshorewereatracklesswaste，boundedonlybythewarningthundersoftheunseensea。Thestationitself，arudelybuiltcabin，withtwowindows，——onefurnishedwithatelescope，——lookedlikeaheapofdriftwood，orastrandedwreckleftbytheretiringsea；thesemaphore——theonlyobjectforleagues——liftedabovetheundulatingdunes，tookuponitselfvariousshapes，moreorlessgloomy，accordingtothehourorweather，——ablastedtree，themastsandclingingsparsofabeachedship，adismantledgallows；or，withthebackgroundofagoldensunsetacrosstheGate，anditsarmsextendedatrightangles，toamorehopefulfancyitmighthaveseemedthemissionaryCross，whichtheenthusiastPortalaliftedonthatheathenshoreahundredyearsbefore。
NotthatDickJarman——thesolitarystationkeeper——everindulgedthisfancy。AnescapedconvictfromoneofherBritannicMajesty\'spenalcolonies，a“stowaway“intheholdofanAustralianship，hehadlandedpennilessinSanFrancisco，fearfulofcontactwithhismorehonestcountrymenalreadythere，andliabletodetectionatanymoment。Luckilyforhim，theEnglishimmigrationconsistedmainlyofgold-seekersenroutetoSacramentoandthesouthernmines。Hewasprudentenoughtoresistthetemptationtofollowthem，andacceptedthepostofsemaphorekeeper，——thefirstworkofferedhim，——whichthemeanestimmigrant，filledwithdreamsofgold，wouldhavescorned。Hisemployersaskedhimnoquestions，anddemandednoreferences；hispostcouldbescarcelydeemedoneoftrust，——therewasnopropertyforhimtoabscondwithbutthetelescope；hewasremovedfromtemptationandevilcompanyinhislonelywaste；hisdutieswereasmechanicalastheinstrumentheworked，andinterruptionofthemwouldbeinstantlyknownatSanFrancisco。Forthishewouldreceivehisboardandlodgingandseventy-fivedollarsamonth，——asumtoberidiculedinthose“flushdays，“butwhichseemedtothebroken-spiritedandhalf-
famishedstowawayaprincelyindependence。
Andthentherewasrestandsecurity！Hewasfreefromthattorturinganxietyandfearofdetectionwhichhadhauntedhimnightanddayforthreemonths。Theceaselessvigilanceandwatchfuldreadhehadknownsincehisescape，hecouldlayasidenow。Therudecabinonthesanddunewastohimasthelong-soughtcavetosomehuntedanimal。Itseemedimpossiblethatanyonewouldseekhimthere。Hewassparedalikethecontactofhisenemiesortheshameofrecognizingevenafriendlyface，untilbyeachhewouldbeforgotten。Fromhiscoignofvantageonthatdesolatewaste，andwiththeaidofhistelescope，nostrangercouldapproachwithintwoorthreemilesofhiscabinwithoutundergoinghisscrutiny。Andattheworst，ifhewaspursuedhere，beforehimwasthetracklessshoreandtheboundlesssea！
Andattimestherewasacertainsatisfactioninwatching，unseenandinperfectsecurity，thedecksofpassingships。Withtheaidofhisglasshecouldmingleagainwiththeworldfromwhichhewasdebarred，andgloomilywonderwhoamongthosepassengersknewtheirsolitarywatcher，orhadheardofhisdeeds；itmighthavemadehimgloomierhadheknownthatinthoseeagerfacesturnedtowardsthegoldenhaventherewaslittlethoughtofanythingbutthemselves。