the trail of the white mule-第4部分

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which　the　gaunt　tree　seemed　to　point。　　He　spat　out　a　stale　quid
of　tobacco　and　took　a　fresh　one；　squinted　again　toward　the　butte
and　looked　at　Casey。

〃She's　country　I　never　prospected　in；　back　in　there。　　I've
follered　poorer　advice　than　a　Joshuay。　　Le's　try　it　a　whirl。〃

Thus　it　came　to　pass　that　Casey　Ryan　forsook　his　Ford　for　a
strange　partner　with　two　burros　and　a　clouded　past；　and　fared
forth　across　the　barren　foothills　with　no　better　guidance　than
the　rigid；　outstretched　limb　of　a　great；　gaunt　Joshua　tree。



CHAPTER　THREE

In　a　still　sunny　gulch　which　shadows　would　presently　fill　to　the
brim；　Casey　Ryan　was　reaching；　soiled　bandanna　in　his　hand；　to
pull　a　pot　of　bubbling　coffee　from　the　coals；a　pot　now
blackened　with　the　smoke　of　many　campfires　to　prove　how
thoroughly　a　part　of　the　open　land　it　had　become。　　Something
nipped　at　his　right　shoulder；　and　at　the　same　instant　ticked　the
coffeepot　and　overturned　it　into　a　splutter　of　steam　and　hot
ashes。　　The　spiteful　crack　of　a　rifle　shot　followed　close。　　Casey
ducked　behind　a　nose　of　rock；　and　big　Barney　Oakes　scuttled　for
cover；　spilling　bacon　out　of　the　frying　pan　as　he　went。

For　a　week　the　two　had　been　camped　in　this　particular　gulch；
which　drew　in　to　a　mere　wrinkle　on　the　southwestern　slope　of　the
black…topped　butte；　toward　which　the　Joshua　tree　in　the　pass　had
directed　them。　　Nearly　a　week　they　had　spent　toiling　across　the
hilly；　waterless　waste；　with　two　harrowing　days　when　their
canteens　flopped　empty　on　the　burros　and　big　Barney　stumbled
oftener　than　Casey　liked　to　see。　　Casey　himself　had　gone　doggedly
ahead；　his　body　bent　forward；　his　square　shoulders　sagging　a　bit；
but　with　never　a　thought　of　doing　anything　but　go　on。

A　red　splotch　high　up　on　the　side　of　this　gulch　promised　〃water
formation〃　as　prospectors　have　a　way　of　putting　it。　　They　had
found　the　water；　else　adventure　would　have　turned　to　tragedy。　
Near　the　water　they　had　also　found　a　promising　outcropping　of
silver…bearing　quartz。　　Barney's　blowpipe　had　this　very　day　shown
them　silver　in　castle…building　quantities。

Just　at　this　moment；　however；　they　were　not　thinking　of　mines。
They　were　eyeing　a　round　hole　in　the　coffeepot　from　which　a　brown
rivulet　ran　spitting　into　the　blackening　coals。

Casey　was　the　more　venturesome。　　He　raised　himself　to　see　if　he
could　discover　where　the　bullet　had　come　from；　and　very　nearly
met　the　fate　of　the　coffeepot。　　He　felt　the　wind　of　a　second
bullet　that　spatted　against　a　boulder　near　Barney。　　Barney
burrowed　deeper　into　his　covert。

Casey　went　down　on　all　fours　and　crawled　laboriously　toward　a
concealing　bank　covered　thick　with　brush。　　A　third　bullet　clipped
a　twig　of　sage　just　about　three　inches　above　the　middle　of　his
back；　and　Casey　flattened　on　his　stomach　and　swore。　　Some　one　on
the　peak　of　the　hill　had　good　eyesight；　he　decided。　　Neither
spoke；　other　than　to　swear　in　undertones；　for　voices　carried　far
in　that　clear　atmosphere；　and　nothing　could　be　gained　by
conversation。

Darkness　never　had　poured　so　slowly　into　that　gulch　since　the
world　was　young。　　The　campfire　had　died　to　black　embers　before
Casey　ventured　from　his　covert；　and　Barney　Oakes　seemed　to　have
holed　up　for　the　season。　　Unless　you　have　lived　for　a　long　while
in　a　land　altogether　empty　of　any　human　life　save　your　own；　you
cannot　realize　the　effect　of　having　mysterious　bullets　zip　past
your　ears　and　ruin　your　supper　for　you。

〃Somebody's　gunnin'　fer　us；　looks　like　t'　me；〃　Barney　observed
belatedly　in　a　hoarse　whisper；　from　his　covert。

〃Found　that　out；　did　yuh？　　Well；　it　ain't　the　first　time　Casey's
been　shot　at　and　missed；〃　Casey　retorted　peevishly　in　the　lee　of
the　bank。　　〃Say！　I　knowed　the　sing　of　bullets　before　I　was　old
enough　to　carry　a　tune。〃

〃So'd　I；〃　boasted　Barney；　〃but　that　ain't　sayin'　I　learned　t'
like　the　song。〃

〃What　I'm　figurin'　out　now；〃　said　Casey；　〃is　how　to　get　up　there
an'　AT　'am。　　An'　how　we　kin　do　it　without　him　seein'　us。　　Goin'
t'　be　kinda　ticklishbut　it　ain't　the　first　ticklish　job　Casey
Ryan　ever　tackled。〃

〃It　can't　be　did；〃　Barney　stated　flatly。　　〃An'　if　it　could　be
did；　I　wouldn't　do　it。　　I　ain't　as　easy　t'　miss　as　what　you　be。　
I　got　bulk。〃

〃A　hole　bored　through　your　tallow　might　mebbe　do　you　good；〃　Casey
suggested　harshly。　　〃Might　let　in　a　little　sand。　　You　can't　never
tell〃

〃My　vitals；〃　said　Barney　with　dignity；　〃is　just　as　close　to　the
surface　as　what　your　vitals　be。　　I　ain't　so　fatI'm　big。　　An'　I
got　all　the　sand　I　need。　　I　also　have　got　sense；　which　some　men
lacks〃

〃What　yuh　figurin'　on　doin'？〃　Casey　wanted　to　know。　　〃Set　here
under　a　bush　an'　let　'em　pick　yuh　up　same　as　they　would　a
cottontail；　mebbe？　We　got　a　hull　night　to　work　in；　an'　Casey's
eyes　is　as　good　as　anybody's　in　the　dark。　　More'n　that；　Casey's
six…gun　kin　shoot　just　as　hard　an'　fast　as　a　riflelet　'im　git
close　enough。〃

Barney　did　not　want　to　be　left　alone　and　said　so　frankly。　
Neither　did　he　want　to　climb　the　butte。　　He　could　see　no　possible
gain　in　climbing　to　meet　an　enemy　or　enemies　who　could　hear　the
noise　of　approach。　It　was　plain　suicide；　he　declared；　and　Barney
Oakes　was　not　ready　to　die。

But　Casey　could　never　listen　to　argument　when　a　fight　was　in
prospect。　He　filled　a　canteen；　emptied　a　box　of　cartridges　into
his　pocket；　stuck　his　old；　Colt　six…shooter　inside　his　trousers
belt；　and　gave　Barney　some　parting　instruction　under　his　breath。

Barney　was　to　move　camp　down　under　the　bank　by　the　spring；　and
dig　himself　in　there；　so　that　the　only　approach　would　be　up　the
narrow　gulch。　　He　would　then　wait　until　Casey　returned。

〃Somebody's　after　our　outfit；　most　likely；〃　Casey　reasoned。　〃It
ain't　the　first　time　I've　knowed　it　to　happen。　　So　you　put　the
hull　outfit　outa　sight　down　there　an'　stand　guard　over　it。　　If
we'd　'a'　run　when　they　opened　up；　they'd　uh　cleaned　us　out　and
left　us　flat。　　They's　two　of　us；　an'　we'll　git　'em　from　two
sides。〃

He　stuffed　cold　bannock　into　the　pocket　that　did　not　hold　the
cartridges　and　disappeared；　climbing　the　side　of　the　gulch
opposite　the　point　which　held　their　ambitious　marksman。

To　Barney's　panicky　expostulations　he　had　given　little　heed。　〃If
yore　vitals　is　as　close　to　your　hide　as　what　you　claim；〃　Casey
had　said　impatiently；　〃an'　you　don't　want　any　punctures　in　'em；
git　to　work　an'　git　that　hide　of　yourn　outa　sight。　It'll　take
some　diggin'；　they's　a　lot　of　yuh　to　cover。〃

Barney；　therefore；　dug　like　a　badger　with　a　dog　snuffing　at　its
tail。　Casey；　on　the　other　hand；　climbed　laboriously　in　the
darkness　a　bluff　he　had　not　attempted　to　climb　by　daylight。　　It
was　hard　work　and　slow；　for　he　felt　the　need　of　going　quietly。　
What　lay　over　the　rim…rock　he　did　not　know；　though　he　meant　to
find　out。

Daylight　found　him　leaning　against　a　smooth　ledge　which　formed　a
part　of　the　black　capping　he　had　seen　from　the　road。　　He　had
spent　the　night　toiling　over　boulders　and　into　small　gulches　and
out　again；　trying　to　find　some　crevice　through　which　he　might
climb　to　the　top。　Now　he　was　just　about　where　he　had　been　several
hours　before；　and　even　Casey　Ryan　could　not　help　realizing　what　a
fine　target　he　would　make　if　he　attempted　to　climb　back　down　the
bluff　to　camp　before　darkness　again　hid　his　movements。

Standing　there　puffing　and　wondering　what　to　do　next；　he　saw　the
two　burros　come　picking　their　way　toward　the　spring　for　their
morning　drink　and　a　handful　apiece　of　rolled　oats　which　Barney
kept　to　bait　them　into　camp。　　The　lead　burro　was　within　easy
flinging　distance　of　a　rock；　from　camp；　when　the　thin；
unmistakable　crack　of　a　rifle…shot　came　from　the　right；　high　up
on　the　rim　somewhere　beyond　Casey。　　The　lead　burro　pitched
forward；　struggled　to　get　up；　fell　again　and　rolled　over；　lodging
against　a　rock　with　its　four　feet　sticking　up　at　awkward　angles
in　the　air。

The　second　burro；　always　quick　to　take　alarm；　wheeled　and　went
galloping　away　down　the　draw。　　But　he　couldn't　outgallop　the
bullet　that　sent　him　in　a　complete　somersault　down　the　slope。　
Barney　might　keep　the　rest　of　his　rolled　oats；　for　the　burros
were　through　wanting　them。

Casey　squinted　along　the　rim　of　black　rock　that　crested　the　peak
irregularly　like　a　stiff；　ragged　frill　of　mourning　stuff　the　gods
had　thrown　away。　　He　could　not　see　the　man　who　had　shot　the
burros。　By　the　intervals　between　shots；　Casey　guessed　that　one
man　was　doing　the　shooting；　though　it　was　probable　there　were
others　in　the　gang。　And　now　that　the　burros　were　dead；　it　became
more　than　ever　necessary　to　locate　the　gang　and　have　it　out　with
them。　　That　necessity　did　not　worry　Casey　in　the　least。　　The　only
thing　that　troubled　him　now　was　getting　up　on　the　rim　without
being　seen。

It　was　characteristic　of　Casey　Ryan　that；　though　he　moved　with
caution；　he　nevertheless　moved　toward　their　unseen　enemy。　　Not
for　a　long；　long　while　had　Casey　been　cautious　in　his　behavior；
and　the　necessity　galled　him。　　If　the　hidden　marksman　had　missed
that　last　burro；　Casey　would　probably　have　taken　a　longer　chance。　
But　to　date；　every　bullet　had　gone　straight　to　its　destination；
which　was　enough　to　make　any　man　think　twice。

Once　during　the　forenoon；　while　Casey　was　standing　against　the
rim…rock　staring　glumly　down　upon　the　camp；　Barney's　hat；　perched
on　a　pick　handle；　lifted　its　crown　above　the　edge　of　his　hiding
place；　an　old；　old　trick　Barney　was　playing　to　see　if　the　rifle
were　still　there　and　working。　　The　rifle　worked　very　well　indeed；
for　Barney　was　presently　flattened　into　his　retreat；　swearing　and
poking　his　finger　through　a　round　hole　in　his　hat。

Casey　seized　the　opportunity　created　by　the　diversion　and
scurried　like　a　lizard　across　a　bare；　gravelly　slide　that　had
been　bothering　him　for　half　an　hour。　　By　mid…afternoon　he　reached
a　crevice　that　looked　promising　enough　when　he　craned　up　it；　but
which　nearly　broke　his　neck　when　he　had　climbed　halfway　up。　
Never　before　had　he　been　compelled　to　measure　so　exactly　his
breadth　and　thickness。　　It　was　drawing　matters　down　rather　fine
when　he　was　compelled　to　back　down　to　where　he　had　elbow　room；
and　remove　his　coat　before　he　could　squeeze　his　body　through　that
crack。　　But　he　did　it；　with　his　six…shooter　inside　his　shirt　and
th