arizona nights-第3部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



was　wide；　well　grown　with　oak　trees；　and　belly　deep　in　rich　horse

feedan　ideal　place　to　camp　were　it　not　for　the　fact　that　a　thin

sheet　of　water　a　quarter　of　an　inch　deep　was　flowing　over　the

entire　surface　of　the　ground。　　We　spurred　on　desperately；

thinking　of　a　warm　fire　and　a　chance　to　steam。





The　roof　of　the　shack　had　fallen　in；　and　the　floor　was　six　inches

deep　in　adobe　mud。　　



We　did　not　dismountthat　would　have　wet　our　saddlesbut　sat　on

our　horses　taking　in　the　details。　　Finally　Uncle　Jim　came　to　the

front　with　a　suggestion。　



〃I　know　of　a　cave；〃　said　he；　〃close　under　a　butte。　　It's　a　big

cave；　but　it　has　such　a　steep　floor　that　I'm　not　sure　as　we　could

stay　in　it；　and　it's　back　the　other　side　of　that　ridge。〃



〃I　don't　know　how　the　ridge　is　to　get　back　overit　was　slippery

enough　coming　this　wayand　the　cave　may　shoot　us　out　into　space；

but　I'd　like　to　LOOK　at　a　dry　place　anyway；〃　replied　the

Cattleman。　　



We　all　felt　the　same　about　it；　so　back　over　the　ridge　we　went。　

About　half　way　down　the　other　side　Uncle　Jim　turned　sharp　to　the

right；　and　as　the　〃hog　back〃　dropped　behind　us；　we　found

ourselves　out　on　the　steep　side　of　a　mountain；　the　perpendicular

cliff　over　us　to　the　right；　the　river　roaring　savagely　far　down

below　our　left；　and　sheets　of　water　glazing　the　footing　we　could

find　among　the　boulders　and　debris。　　Hardly　could　the　ponies　keep

from　slipping　sideways　on　the　slope；　as　we　proceeded　farther　and

farther　from　the　solidity　of　the　ridge　behind　us；　we　experienced

the　illusion　of　venturing　out　on　a　tight　rope　over　abysses　of

space。　　Even　the　feeling　of　danger　was　only　an　illusion；　however；

composite　of　the　falling　rain；　the　deepening　twilight；　and　the

night　that　had　already　enveloped　the　plunge　of　the　canon　below。　　

Finally　Uncle　Jim　stopped　just　within　the　drip　from　the　cliffs。　



〃Here　she　is；〃　said　he。　　



We　descended　eagerly。　　A　deer　bounded　away　from　the　base　of　the

buttes。　　The　cave　ran　steep；　in　the　manner　of　an　inclined　tunnel；

far　up　into　the　dimness。　　We　had　to　dig　our　toes　in　and　scramble

to　make　way　up　it　at　all；　but　we　found　it　dry；　and　after　a　little

search　discovered　a　foot…ledge　of　earth　sufficiently　broad　for　a

seat。　　



〃That's　all　right；〃　quoth　Jed　Parker。　〃Now；　for　sleeping　places。〃



We　scattered。　　Uncle　Jim　and　Charley　promptly　annexed　the　slight

overhang　of　the　cliff　whence　the　deer　had　jumped。　　It　was　dry　at

the　moment；　but　we　uttered　pessimistic　predictions　if　the　wind

should　change。　　Tom　Rich　and　Jim　Lester　had　a　little　tent；　and

insisted　on　descending　to　the　canon…bed。　　



〃Got　to　cook　there；　anyways；〃　said　they；　and　departed　with　the

two　pack　mules　and　their　bed　horse。　　



That　left　the　Cattleman；　Windy　Bill；　Jed　Parker；　and　me。　　In　a

moment　Windy　Bill　came　up　to　us　whispering　and　mysterious。　　



〃Get　your　cavallos　and　follow　me；〃　said　he。　　



We　did　so。　　He　led　us　two　hundred　yards　to　another　cave；　twenty

feet　high；　fifteen　feet　in　diameter；　level　as　a　floor。　



〃How's　that？〃　he　cried　in　triumph。　〃Found　her　just　now　while　I

was　rustling　nigger…heads　for　a　fire。〃　



We　unpacked　our　beds　with　chuckles　of　joy；　and　spread　them

carefully　within　the　shelter　of　the　cave。　　Except　for　the　very

edges；　which　did　not　much　matter；　our　blankets　and　〃so…guns；〃

protected　by　the　canvas　〃tarp；〃　were　reasonably　dry。　　Every　once

in　a　while　a　spasm　of　conscience　would　seize　one　or　the　other　of

us。　



〃It　seems　sort　of　mean　on　the　other　fellows；〃　ruminated　Jed

Parker。



〃They　had　their　first　choice；〃　cried　we　all。　



〃Uncle　Jim's　an　old　man；〃　the　Cattleman　pointed　out。　　



But　Windy　Bill　had　thought　of　that。　　〃I　told　him　of　this　yere

cave　first。　　But　he　allowed　he　was　plumb　satisfied。〃　　



We　finished　laying　out　our　blankets。　　The　result　looked　good　to

us。　　We　all　burst　out　laughing。　



〃Well；　I'm　sorry　for　those　fellows；〃　cried　the　Cattleman。　　We

hobbled　our　horses　and　descended　to　the　gleam　of　the　fire；　like

guilty　conspirators。　　There　we　ate　hastily　of　meat；　bread　and

coffee；　merely　for　the　sake　of　sustenance。　　It　certainly　amounted

to　little　in　the　way　of　pleasure。　　The　water　from　the　direct

rain；　the　shivering　trees；　and　our　hat　brims　accumulated　in　our

plates　faster　than　we　could　bail　it　out。　　The　dishes　were　thrust

under　a　canvas。　　Rich　and　Lester　decided　to　remain　with　their

tent；　and　so　we　saw　them　no　more　until　morning。



We　broke　off　back…loads　of　mesquite　and　toiled　up　the　hill；

tasting　thickly　the　high　altitude　in　the　severe　labour。　　At　the

big　cave　we　dumped　down　our　burdens；　transported　our　fuel

piecemeal　to　the　vicinity　of　the　narrow　ledge；　built　a　good　fire；

sat　in　a　row；　and　lit　our　pipes。　　In　a　few　moments；　the　blaze　was

burning　high；　and　our　bodies　had　ceased　shivering。　　Fantastically

the　firelight　revealed　the　knobs　and　crevices；　the　ledges　and　the

arching　walls。　　Their　shadows　leaped；　following　the　flames；

receding　and　advancing　like　playful　beasts。　　Far　above　us　was　a

single　tiny　opening　through　which　the　smoke　was　sucked　as　through

a　chimney。　　The　glow　ruddied　the　men's　features。　　Outside　was

thick　darkness；　and　the　swish　and　rush　and　roar　of　rising

waters。　　Listening；　Windy　Bill　was　reminded　of　a　story。　　We

leaned　back　comfortably　against　the　sloping　walls　of　the　cave；

thrust　our　feet　toward　the　blaze；　smoked；　and　hearkened　to　the

tale　of　Windy　Bill。

　



There's　a　tur'ble　lot　of　water　running　loose　here；　but　I've　seen

the　time　and　place　where　even　what　is　in　that　drip　would　be

worth　a　gold　mine。　　　That　was　in　the　emigrant　days。　　They　used

to　come　over　south　of　here；　through　what　they　called　Emigrant

Pass；　on　their　way　to　Californy。　I　was　a　kid　then；　about　eighteen

year　old；　and　what　I　didn't　know　about　Injins　and　Agency　cattle

wasn't　a　patch　of　alkali。　　I　had　a　kid　outfit　of　h'ar　bridle；

lots　of　silver　and　such；　and　I　used　to　ride　over　and　be　the

handsome　boy　before　such　outfits　as　happened　along。



They　were　queer　people；　most　of　'em　from　Missoury　and

such…like　southern　seaports；　and　they　were　tur'ble　sick　of

travel　by　the　time　they　come　in　sight　of　Emigrant　Pass。　　Up　to

Santa　Fe　they　mostly　hiked　along　any　old　way；　but　once　there　they

herded　up　together　in　bunches　of　twenty　wagons　or　so；　'count　of

our　old　friends；　Geronimo　and　Loco。　　A　good　many　of　'em　had

horned　cattle　to　their　wagons；　and　they　crawled　along　about　two

miles　an　hour；　hotter'n　hell　with　the　blower　on；　nothin'　to

look　at　but　a　mountain　a　week　way；　chuck　full　of　alkali；　plenty

of　sage…brush　and　rattlesnakesbut　mighty　little　water。



Why；　you　boys　know　that　country　down　there。　　Between　the

Chiricahua　Mountains　and　Emigrant　Pass　it's　maybe　a　three　or　four

days'　journey　for　these　yere　bull…slingers。



Mostly　they　filled　up　their　bellies　and　their　kegs；　hoping　to

last　through；　but　they　sure　found　it　drier　than　cork　legs；　and

generally　long　before　they　hit　the　Springs　their　tongues　was

hangin'　out　a　foot。　　You　see；　for　all　their　plumb　nerve　in　comin'

so　far；　the　most　of　them　didn't　know　sic'em。　　They　were　plumb

innocent　in　regard　to　savin'　their　water；　and　Injins；　and　such；

and　the　long…haired　buckskin　fakes　they　picked　up　at　Santa　Fe　for

guides　wasn't　much　better。　



That　was　where　Texas　Pete　made　his　killing。　　



Texas　Pete　was　a　tough　citizen　from　the　Lone　Star。　　He　was　about

as　broad　as　he　was　long；　and　wore　all　sorts　of　big　whiskers　and

black　eyebrows。　　His　heart　was　very　bad。　　You　never　COULD　tell

where　Texas　Pete　was　goin'　to　jump　next。　　He　was　a　side…winder

and　a　diamond…back　and　a　little　black　rattlesnake　all　rolled

into　one。　　I　believe　that　Texas　Pete　person　cared　about　as　little

for　killin'　a　man　as　for　takin'　a　drinkand　he　shorely　drank

without　an　effort。　　Peaceable　citizens　just　spoke　soft　and　minded

their　own　business；　onpeaceable　citizens　Texas　Pete　used　to　plant

out　in　the　sagebrush。　



Now　this　Texas　Pete　happened　to　discover　a　water　hole　right　out

in　the　plumb　middle　of　the　desert。　　He　promptly　annexed　said

water　hole；　digs　her　out；　timbers　her　up；　and　lays　for　emigrants。



He　charged　two　bits　a　headman　or　beastand　nobody　got　a

mouthful　till　he　paid　up　in　hard　coin。　　



Think　of　the　wads　he　raked　in！　　I　used　to　figure　it　up；　just　for

the　joy　of　envyin'　him；　I　reckon。　　An　average　twenty…wagon

outfit；　first　and　last；　would　bring　him　in　somewheres　about　fifty

dollarsand　besides　he　had　forty…rod　at　four　bits　a　glass。　　And

outfits　at　that　time　were　thicker'n　spatter。　　



We　used　all　to　go　down　sometimes　to　watch　them　come　in。　　When

they　see　that　little　canvas　shack　and　that　well；　they　begun　to

cheer　up　and　move　fast。　　And　when　they　see　that　sign；　〃Water；　two

bits　a　head；〃　their　eyes　stuck　out　like　two　raw　oysters。　　



Then　come　the　kicks。　　What　a　howl　they　did　raise；　shorely。　　But

it　didn't　do　no　manner　of　good。　　Texas　Pete　didn't　do　nothin'　but

sit　there　and　smoke；　with　a　kind　of　sulky　gleam　in　one　corner　of

his　eye。　　He　didn't　even　take　the　trouble　to　answer；　but　his

Winchester　lay　across　his　lap。　　There　wasn't　no　humour　in　the

situation　for　him。



〃How　much　is　your　water　for　humans？〃　asks　one　emigrant。



〃Can't　you　read　that　sign？〃　Texas　Pete　asks　him。



〃But　you　don't　mean　two　bits　a　head　for　HUMANS！〃　yells　the　man。

〃Why；　you　can　get　whisky　for　that！〃



〃You　can　read　the　sign；　can't　you？〃　insists　Texas　Pete。



〃I　can　read　it　all　right？〃　says　the　man；　tryin'　a　new　deal；　〃but

they　tell　me　not　to　believe　more'n　half　I　read。〃



But　that　don't　go；　and　Mr。　Emigrant　shells　out　with　the　rest。　　



I　didn't　blame　them　for　raisin'　their　howl。　　Why；　at　that　time

the　regular　water　holes　was　chargin'　five　cents　a　head　from　the

government　freighters；　and　the　motto　was　always　〃Hold　up　Uncle

Sam；〃　at　that。　　Once　in　a　while　some　outfit　would　get　mad　and　go

chargin'　off　dry；　but　it　was　a　long；　long　way　to　the　Springs；　and

mighty　hot　and　dusty。　　Texas　Pete　and