the trail of the white mule-第6部分

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Los　Angeles；　and　of　the　Little　Woman　there；　he　still　did　not
think　strongly　enough　to　send　him　back　to　them。　　For　with　a
canteen　or　two　of　water；　some　food　and　his　two　capable　legs　to
carry　him；　Casey　Ryan　could　have　made　it　to　Barstow　easily
enough。　　But　because　he　was　Casey　Ryan；　and　Irish；　and　because　he
was　always　on　the　hunt　for　trouble　without　recognizing　it　when　he
met　it　in　the　trail；　it　never　occurred　to　him　to　follow　Barney
down　to　safer　country。

〃That　there　Joshuay　tree　meant　a　lot　more'n　what　it　let　on；
pointin'　up　this　way！〃　　Casey　muttered；　staring　down　upon　a
somnolent　wilderness　blanketed　with　hushed　midnight。　　〃If　it
thinks　it's　got　Casey　whipped；　it　better　think　agin　and　think
quick。　　I'll　give　it　somethin'　to　point　at；　'fore　I　leave　this
here　butte。

〃Funny；　the　way　it　kept　pointin'　up　this　way。　　I've　saw　Joshuays
beforemiles　of　'em。　But　I　never　seen　one　that　looked　so　kinda
human　and　so　kinda　like　it　was　tryin'　to　talk。　　Seems　kinda
funny；　an'　that　old　lady　rockin'　an'　lookin'seems　like　her　an'
the　Joshuay　has　kinda　throwed　in　together；　hopin'　somebody　might
come　along　with　savvy　enough　to　kindaaw；　hell！〃　　So　did　Casey
and　his　Irish　belief　in　the　supernatural　fall　plump　against　the
limitations　of　his　vocabulary。

Against　the　limitations　proscribed　by　his　material　predicament；
however；　Casey　Ryan　set　his　face　with　a　grin。　　Somebody　was　going
to　get　the　big　jolt　of　his　life　before　long；　he　told　himself　over
a　careful　breakfast　fire　built　cunningly　far　back　in　the　crevice
where　a　current　of　air　sucked　into　the　rock　capping　of　the　butte。
Something　was　going　on　up　here　that　shouldn't　go　on。　　He　did　not
know　what　it　was；　but　he　meant　to　stop　it。　　He　did　not　know　who
was　making　Indian　war　on　peaceful　prospectors；　but　Casey　felt
that　they　were　already　as　good　as　licked；　since　he　was　here　with
breakfast　under　his　belt　and　his　six…shooter　tucked　handily
inside　his　waistband。

He　squinted　up　the　crack　in　the　ledge；　made　certain　mental
alterations　in　its　narrow；　jagged　walls；　and　reached　for　the
tough…handled；　efficient　prospector's　pick　he　had　thoughtfully
included　in　his　meagre　equipment。　　Slowly　and　methodically　he
worked　up　the　crevice；　knocking　off　certain　sharp　points　of　rock；
and　knowing　all　the　while　what　would　probably　happen　to　him　if　he
were　overheard。

He　was　not　discovered；　however。　　When　he　laid　elbows　on　the　upper
level　of　the　rim　and　pulled　himself　up；　his　coat　was　on　his　back
where　it　belonged；　and　even　Barney　could　have　followed　him。　　Yet
the　top　showed　no　evidence　of　a　widening　of　the　fissure。　　The
bushy　junipers　hid　him　completely　while　he　reconnoitred　and
considered　what　he　should　do。

Because　the　place　was　close　and　the　invisible　call　was　strong；
Casey　went　first　to　the　rock　hut；　circled　it　carefully　and　found
that　it　was　exactly　what　it　had　seemed　at　first　sight；　a　hidden
place　with　no　evident　opening　save　that　high；　small　window　under
the　eaves。　　There　was　no　sign　of　pathway　leading　to　it；　no　trace
of　life　outside　its　wall。　　But　when　he　crept　close　and　peeked　in
again；　there　sat　the　old　woman　rocking　back　and　forth。　　But
to…day　she　stared　at　the　wall　before　her。

Casey　felt　a　distinct　sensation　of　relief　just　in　knowing　that
she　was；　after　all；　capable　of　moving。　　Now　her　head　was　not
bent；　but　rested　against　the　back　of　her　chair。　　She　was　rocking
steadily；　quietly；　with　never　a　halt。

Casey　rapped　on　the　window　and　waited；　fighting　a　nameless　dread
of　the　mystery　of　her。　　But　she　continued　to　rock　and　to　stare　at
the　wall；　if　she　heard　the　tapping　she　gave　no　sign　whatever。　So
presently　he　turned　away　and　set　himself　to　the　work　of　finding
the　man　with　the　rifle。

To　that　end　he　first　of　all　climbed　the　tallest　pinon　tree　in
sight；　a　tree　that　stood　on　a　rise　of　ground　apart　from　its
brothers。　From　the　concealment　of　its　branches；　he　surveyed　his
surroundings　carefully；　noting　especially　the　notched　unevenness
of　the　butte's　rim　and　how　just　behind　him　it　narrowed
unexpectedly　to　a　thin　ridge　not　more　than　a　couple　of　hundred
yards　in　breadth。　　A　jagged　outcropping　cut　straight　across　and
Casey　saw　how　yesterday　he　had　mistaken　that　ledge　for　the　rim　of
the　butte。　　His　man　must　have　been　out　on　the　point　beyond　him
all　the　while。　　He　was　out　there　now；　very　likely；　there；　or　down
in　the　camp　he　had　watched　yesterday　like　a　vulture。

His　search　having　narrowed　to　an　area　easily　covered　in　an　hour
or　two；　Casey　turned　his　head　and　examined　as　well　as　he　could
the　deep　canyon　that　had　bitten　into　the　butte　and　caused　that
narrow　peak。　Trees　blocked　his　view　there；　and　he　was　feeling
about　for　a　lower　foothold　so　that　he　could　make　the　descent　when
a　voice　from　the　ground　startled　him　considerably。

〃Come　down　outa　there；　before　I　shoot　yuh　down！〃

Casey　looked　down　and　saw　what　he　afterwards　declared　was　the
meanest　looking　man　on　earth；　pointing　straight　at　him　the　widest
muzzled　shotgun　he　had　ever　seen　in　his　life。

Casey　came　down。　　The　last　ten　feet　of　the　distance　he　made　in　a
clean　jump；　planting　his　feet　full　in　the　old　man's　stomach。　The
meanest　looking　man　on　earth　gave　a　grunt　and　crumpled；　with
Casey's　fingers　digging　into　his　throat。

Whether　Casey　would　have　killed　him　or　not　will　never　be　known。
For　just　as　the　man　was　falling　limp　in　his　hands；　another　heavy
body　landed　upon　Casey's　back。　　Casey　felt　a　hard；　chill　circle
pressed　against　his　perspiring　temple。　　His　hands　relaxed　and
fall　away　from　the　throat；　leaving　finger　marks　there　in　the
flesh。

〃Git　up　off'n　him！〃　a　new　voice　commanded　harshly；　and　Casey
obeyed。　His　captor　shifted　the　gun　muzzle　to　the　back　of　Casey's
neck　and　poked　the　gasping；　bearded　old　man　with　his　toe。

〃Git　up；　Paw；　you　old　fool；　you！　　What'd　you　let　'im　light　on　yuh
fer？　　Why　couldn't　you　a　stood　back　a　piece；　outa　reach？　　You
like　to　got　croaked。〃

Casey　found　it　prudent　to　hold　his　head　rather　still；　as　a　man
does　when　he　carries　a　boil　on　his　neck。　　The　muzzle　of　a
six…shooter　has　a　quieting　effect；　when　applied　to　the　person　by
an　unfriendly　hand。　　Casey　did　not　at　once　see　the　intruder。　　But
presently　〃Paw〃　recovered　himself　and　his　shotgun；　and　swung　it
menacingly　toward　Casey。　　Whereupon　the　cold　circle　left　Casey's
medulla　oblongata　and　a　long…faced；　long…legged　youth　stepped
somewhat　hastily　to　one　side。

〃Paw；　you　ol'　fool；　you；　get　your　finger　off'n　that　trigger
whilst　you're　aimin'　at　me！〃　he　exclaimed　pettishly。

〃I　wa'n't　aimin'　at　you。　　I　was　aimin'　at　this　'ere〃　Casey
heard　himself　called　many　names；　any　one　of　which　was　good　for　a
fight　when　Casey　was　free。

〃Aw；　you　shut　up；　Paw。　　You　ain't　gittin'　nobody　nowhere；〃　the
son　interrupted。　　〃You　can't　cuss　'im　t'　deathhe　looks　like　he
could　cut　loose　a　few　of　them　pet　names　hisself　if　he　got　a
chancet。　Yuh　might　tell　us　what　you　was　doin'　up　that　there　tree；
mister。　An'　what　you're　doin'　on　this　here　butte；　anyhow。〃

Casey　looked　at　him。　　Knowing　Casey；　I　should　say　that　his　eyes
were　not　pleasant。　　〃Talk　to　Paw；〃　he　advised　contemptuously。
〃The　two　of　yuh　may　possibly　be　able　to　stand　each　other　without
gittin'　sick；　but　me；　I　never　did　git　used　to　skunks！〃

That　remark　very　nearly　got　him　a　through　ticket　to　Land　Beyond。
But；　being　very　nearly　what　Casey　had　called　them；　they　contented
themselves　with　mouthing　vile　epithets。

〃Better　take　'im　down　to　the　mine　an'　keep　'im　till　Mart　gets
back；　Paw；〃　the　long…jawed　youth　suggested；　when　he　ran　short　of
objurgations。　〃Mart'll　fix　'im　when　he　comes。〃

〃I'd　fix　'im；　here　an'；　now；〃　threatened　Paw；　〃but　Mart；　he's　so
damned　techy　latelywhat　we　oughta　do　is　bust　'is　head　with　a
rock　an；　pitch　'im　over　the　rim。　　That'd　fix　'im。〃

They　wrangled　over　the　suggestion；　and　finally　decided　to　take
him　down　and　turn　him　over　to　one　whom　they　called　Joe。　　Casey
went　along　peaceably；　hopeful　that　he　would　later　have　a　chance
to　fight　back。　He　told　himself　that　they　both　had　heads　like
peanuts；　and　whenever　they　moved；　he　swore；　he　could　hear　their
brains　rattle　in　their　skulls。　It　doesn't　take　brains　to　shoot
straight；　and　he　decided　that　the　lanky　young　man　was　the　one　who
had　shot　from　the　rim…rock。　They　drove　him　down　into　the　narrow；
deep　gulch；　following　a　steep　trail　that　Casey　had　not　seen　the
day　before。　　The　trail　led　them　to　the　mouth　of　a　tunnel；　and　by
the　size　of　the　dump　Casey　judged　that　the　workings　were　of　a
considerable　extent。　　They　were　getting　out　silver　ore；　he
guessed；　after　a　glance　or　two　at　stray　pieces　of　rock。

Joe　was　a　big；　glum…looking　individual　with　his　left　hand
bandaged。　He　chewed　tobacco　industriously　and　maintained　a
complete　silence　while　Hank；　frequently　telling　Paw　to　shut　up；
told　how　and　where　they　had　found　Casey　spying　up　on　the　butte。

〃We　don't　fancy　stray　desert　rats　prowlin'　around　without　no
reason；〃　said　Joe。　　〃Our　boss　that　we're　workin'　for　ain't　at
home。　　We're　lookin'　for　'im　back　any　day　now；　an'　we'll　just
hold　yuh　till　he　comes。　　He　can　do　as　he　likes　about　yuh。　　You'll
have　to　work　fer　your　boardc'm　on　an'　I'll　show　yuh　how。〃

Hank　followed　Casey　and　Joe　into　the　tunnel。　　Casey　made　no
objections　whatever　to　going。　　The　tunnel　was　a　fairly　long　one；
he　noticed；　with　drifts　opening　out　of　it　to　left　and　right。　At
the　end　of　the　main　tunnel；　Joe　turned；　took　Casey's　candle　from
him　and　stuck　it　into　a　seam　in　the　wall；　as　he　had　done　with　his
own。

〃Ever　drill　in　rock？〃　he　asked　shortly。

〃Mebbe　I　have　an'　mebbe　I　ain't；〃　Casey　returned　defiantly。

〃Here's　a　drill；　an'　here's　your　single…jack。　　Now　git　t'　work。
There　ain't　any　loafin'　around　this　camp；　and　spies　never　meant
good　to　nobody。　　Yuh　needn't　expect　to　be　popular　with　usbut
you'll　git　your　grub　if　yuh　earn　it。

Casey　looked　at　the　drill；　took　the　double…headed；　four…pound
hammer　and　hesitated。　　He　has　said　that　it　was　pretty　hard　to
resist　braining　the　two　of　them　at　once。　　But　there　would　still
be　the　old　man　with　the　shotgun；　and　he　admitted　that　he　was
curious　about　the　old　woman　who　rocked　and　rocked。　　He　decided　to
wait　awhile　and　see；　why　these　miners　found　it　necessary　to　shoot
harmless　prospectors　who　came　near　the　butte。　　So　he　spat　into
the　d