the trail of the white mule-第7部分

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wait　awhile　and　see；　why　these　miners　found　it　necessary　to　shoot
harmless　prospectors　who　came　near　the　butte。　　So　he　spat　into
the　dust　of　the　tunnel　floor；　squinted　at　Joe　for　a　minute　and
went　to　work。

That　day　Casey　was　kept　underground　except　during　the　short
interval　of　〃shooting〃　and　waiting　for　the　dynamite　smoke　to
clear　out　of　the　tunnel；　which　process　Casey　assisted　by
operating　a　hand　blower　much　against　his　will。　　Joe　remained
always　on　guard；　eyeing　Casey　suspiciously。　　When　at　last　he　was
permitted　to　pick　up　his　coat　and　leave　the　tunnel；　night　had
fallen　so　that　the　gulch　was　dim　and　shadowy。　　Casey　was
conducted　to　a　dugout　cabin　where　bacon　was　frying　too　fast　and
smoking　suffocatingly。　　Paw　was　there；　in　a　vile　temper　which
seemed　to　be　directed　toward　the　three　impartially　and　to　have
been　caused　chiefly　by　his　temporary　occupation　as　camp　cook。

Casey　watched　the　old　man　place　food　for　one　person　in　little
dishes　which　he　set　in　a　bake　pan　for　want　of　a　tray。　　He　added　a
small　tin　teapot　of　tea　and　disappeared　from　the　dugout。

〃Two　of　us　waitin'　to　see　your　boss；　huh？〃　　Casey　inquired　boldly
of　Joe。　　〃Can't　we　eat　together？〃

〃You　can　call　yourself　lucky　if　you　eat　at　all；〃　Joe　retorted
glumly。　〃The　old　man's　pretty　sore　at　the　way　you　handled　him。　
He's　runnin'　this　camp；　I　ain't。〃

Casey　let　it　go　at　that；　chiefly　because　he　was　hungry　and　tired
and　did　not　want　to　risk　losing　his　supper　altogether。　　Hounds
like　these；　he　told　himself　bitterly；　were　capable　of　any
crimefrom　smashing　a　man's　skull　and　throwing　him　off　the
rim…rock　to　starving　him　to　death。　　He　was　Casey　Ryan；　ready
always　to　fight　whether　his　chance　of　winning　was　even　or　merely
microscopical；　but　even　so；　Casey　was　not　inclined　toward
suicide。

When　the　old　man　presently　returned　and　the　three　sat　down　to　the
table；　Casey　obeyed　a　gesture　and　sat　down　with　them。　　In　spite
of　Joe's　six…shooter　laid　handily　upon　the　table　beside　his
plate；　Casey　ate　heartily；　though　the　food　was　neither　well
cooked　nor　over　plentiful。

After　supper　he　rose　and　filled　his　pipe　which　they　had　permitted
him　to　keep。　　A　stranger　coming　into　the　cabin　might　not　have
guessed　that　Casey　was　a　prisoner。　　When　the　table　was　cleared
and　Hank　set　about　washing　the　dishes；　Casey　picked　up　a　grimy
dish　towel　branded　black　in　places　where　it　had　rubbed　sooty
kettles；　and　grinned　cheerfully　at　Paw　while　he　dried　a　tin
plate。　　Paw　eyed　him　dubiously　over　a　stinking　pipe；　spat
reflectively　into　the　woodbox　and　crossed　his　legs　the　other　way；
loosely　swinging　an　ill…shod　foot。

〃Y'ain't　told　us　yet　what　brung　yuh　up　on　the　butte；〃　Paw
observed　suddenly。　　〃Yuh　wa'n't　lostyuh　ain't　got　the　mark　uh
no　tenderfoot。　What　was　yuh　doin'　up　in　that　tree？〃

〃Mebbe　I　mighta　been　huntin'　mountain　sheep；〃　Casey　retorted
calmly。

〃Huntin'　mountain　sheep　up　a　tree　is　a　new　one；〃　tittered　Hank。
〃Wish　you'd　give　me　a　swaller　uh　that　brand。　　Must　have　a　kick
like　a　brindle　mule。〃

〃More　likely　'White　Mule。'〃　Casey　cocked　a　knowing　eye　at　Hank。
〃You're　too　late；　young　feller。　　I　chewed　the　cork　day　before
yesterday；〃　he　declared。

While　he　fished　another　plate　out　of　the　pan；　Casey　observed　that
Paw　looked　at　Joe　inquiringly；　and　that　Joe　moved　his　head
sidewise　a　careful　inch；　and　back　again。

〃Moonshine；　huh？〃　Paw　hazarded　hopefully。　　〃Yuh　peddlin'　it；　er
makin'　it？〃

Casey　grinned　secretively。　　〃A　man　can't　be　pinched　without　the
goods；〃　he　observed　shrewdly。　　〃I　was　raised　in　a　country　where
they　took　fools　out　an'　brained　'em　with　an　axe。　　You　fellers
ain't　been　none　too　friendly；　recollect。　　When's　your　boss
expected　home；　did　yuh　say？　　I'd　kinda　like　to　meet　'im。〃

〃He'll　kinda　like　to　meet　you；〃　Joe　returned　darkly。　〃Your
actions　has　been　plumb　suspicious。

〃Nothin'　suspicious　about　MY　actions；〃　Casey　stated　truculently；
throwing　discretion　behind　him。　　〃The　suspiciousness　lays　up　here
somewheres　on　this　butte。　　If　yuh　want　to　know　what　brung　me　up
here；　Casey　Ryan's　the　man　that　can　tell　yuh　to　your　faces。　　I
come　up　here　to　find　out　who's　been　gittin'　busy　with　a
high…power　on　my　camp　down　below。　　Ain't　it　natural　a　man'd　want
to　know　who'd　shot　his　two　burrosan'　'is　pardner？〃　　Casey　had
impulsively　decided　to　throw　in　Barney　for　good　measure。　　〃Casey
Ryan　ain't　the　man　to　set　under　a　bush　an'　be　shot　at　like　a
rabbit。　　You　can　ask　anybody　if　Casey　ever　backed　up　fer　man　er
beast。　　I　come　up　here　huntin'。　Shore　I　did。　　It　wasn't　sheep　I
was　afterthat　there's　my　mistake。　It　was　goats。〃

〃Guess　I　got　yourn；〃　Hank　leered　〃when　stuck　my　gun　in　your　back
hair。〃

〃If　any　one's　'been　usin'　a　high…power　it　wasn't　on　this　butte；〃
Joe　growled。　　〃None　uh　this　bunch　done　any　shootin'。　　Pap　an'
Hank；　they　was　up　here　huntin'　burros　an　I　caught　yuh　up　a　tree
spyin'。　We　got　a　little　band　uh　antelope　up　here　we're
pertectin'。　　Our　boss　got　himself　made　a　deppity　fer　just　such
cases　as　yourn　appears　t'　bepervidin'　your　case　ain't　worse。

〃Now　you　say　your　pardner　was　shot　down　below　in　your　camp。　That
shore　looks　bad　fer　you；　old…timer。　　The　boss'll　shore　have　t'
look　into　it　when　he　gits　here。　　Lucky　we　made　up　our　minds　t'
hold　yuha　murderer；　like　as　not。〃　　He　filled　his　pipe　with
deliberation；　while　Casey；　his　jaw　sagging；　stared　from　one　to
the　other。

Casey　had　meant　to　accuse　them　to　their　faces　of　shooting　Barney
and　the　burros　from　the　rim…rock。　　It　had　occurred　to　him　that　if
they　believed　Barney　dead；　they　might　reveal　something　of　their
purpose　in　the　attack。　　Concealment；　he　felt　vaguely；　would　serve
merely　to　sharpen　their　suspicion　of　him。　　It　had　seemed　very
important　to　Casey　that　these　three　should　not　know　that　Barney
was　probably　well　on　his　way　to　Barstow　by　now。

Barney　in　Barstow　would　mean　Barney　bearing　news　that　Casey　Ryan
was　undoubtedly　murdered　by　outlaws　in　the　Panamints；　which　would
mean　a　few　officers　on　the　trail；　with　Barney　to　guide　them　to
the　spot。　　Paw　and　Hank　and　Joeoutlaws　all；　he　would　have　sworn
would　get　what　Casey　called　their　needin's。　　His　jaw　muscles
tightened　when　he　thought　of　that；　and　the　prospect　held　him
quiet　under　Joe's　injustice。

〃I　can　prove　anything　I'm　asked　to　prove　when　the　time　comes；〃　he
said　sourly；　and　began　to　roll　himself　a　cigarette；　since　his
pipe　had　gone　out。　　〃But　I　ain't　in　any　courtroom　yet；　an'　you
fellers　ain't　any　judge　an'　jury。〃

〃We　got　to　hold　ye；〃　　Paw　spoke　up　unctiously；　as　if　the　decision
had　been　his。　　〃Ef　a　crime's　been　committed；　like　you　say　it　has；
we　got　to　do　our　duty　an'　hold　ye。　　The　boss'll　know　what　to　do
with　yelike　I　said　all　along；　when　I　hauled　ye　down　outa　that
tree；　for　instance。

〃Aw；　shut　up；　Paw；　you　ol'　fool；　you；〃　Hank　commanded　again　with
filial　gentleness。　　〃He　had　yore　tongue　hangin'　out　a　foot　when　I
come　along　an'　captured　'im。　　Don't　go　takin'　no　credit　to
yourself　you　ain't　got　none　comin'。　　Mart'll　know　what　to　do
with　'im；　all　right。　　But　yuh　needn't　go　an'　try　to　let　on　to
Mart　that　you　was　the　one　that　caught　'im。　　He　had　you　caught。　
An'　he'd　a　killed　yuh　if　I　hadn't　showed　up　an'　pulled　'im　off'n
yuh。〃

〃Well　now；　when　it　comes　to　KILLIN'；〃　Casey　interjected
spitefully；　〃I　guess　I　coulda　put　the　two　of　yuh　away　if　I'd　a
wanted　to　right　bad。　Casey　Ryan　ain't　no　killer；　because　he　don't
have　to　be。　　G'wan　an'　hold　me　if　yuh　feel　that　way。　　Grub　ain't
none　too　good；　but　I　can　stand　it　till　your　boss　comes。　　I　want　a
man…to…man　talk　with　him；　anyway。〃



CHAPTER　FIVE

That　night　Casey　slept　soundly　in　a　bunk　built　above　Joe's　bed　in
the　dugout；　with　Hank　and　Paw　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　room
with　their　guns　handy。　　In　the　morning　he　thought　well　enough　of
his　stomach　to　get　up　and　start　breakfast　when　Hank　had　built　the
fire。　He　was　aware　of　Joe's　suspicious　gaze　from　the　lower　bunk；
and　of　the　close　presence　of　Joe's　six…shooter　eyeing　him
balefully　from　underneath　the　top　blanket。　　Hank；　too；　was
watchful　as　a　coyote；　which　he　much　resembled；　in　Casey's
opinion。　　But　Casey　did　not　mind　trifles　of　that　kind；　once　his
mind　was　at　ease　about　the　breakfast　and　he　was　free　to　slice
bacon　the　right　thickness；　and　mix　the　hot…cake　batter　himself。　
For　the　first　time　in　many　weeks　he　sang　if　you　could　call　it
singingover　his　work。

When　Casey　Ryan　sings　over　a　breakfast　fire；　you　may　expect　the
bacon　fried　exactly　right。　　You　may　be　sure　the　hot…cakes　will　be
browned　correctly　with　no　uncooked　dough　inside；　and　that　the
coffee　will　give　you　heart　for　whatever　hardship　the　day　may
hold。

Even　Paw's　surliness　lightened　a　bit　by　the　time　he　had　speared
his　tenth　cake　and　walloped　it　in　the　bacon　grease　before
sprinkling　it　thick　with　sugar　and　settling　the　eleventh　cake　on
top。　　Casey　was　eyeing　the　fourteenth　cake　on　Hank's　plate　when
Joe　looked　up　at　him　over　a　loaded　fork。

〃Save　out　enough　dough　for　three　good　uns；〃　Joe　ordered；　〃an'
fill　that　little　coffee　pot　an'　set　it　to　keep　hot；　before　Hank
hogs　the　hull　thing。　　Dad；　seems　like　you're；　too　busy　t'　think
uh　some　things　Mart　wouldn't　want　forgot。〃　　Paw　looked　quickly　at
Casey；　but　Casey　Ryan　had　played　poker　all　his　life；　and　his
weathered　face　showed　no　expression　beyond　a　momentary　interest；
which　was　natural。

〃Other　feller　hurt　bad？〃　he　inquired　carelessly；　　looking　at
Joe's　bandaged　hand。　　He　almost　grinned　when　he　saw　the　relieved
glances　exchanged　between　Joe　and　Paw。

〃Leg　broke；〃　Joe　mumbled　over　a　mouthful。　　〃Dad；　he　set　it　an'
it's　doin'　all　right。　　He's　up　in　another　cabin。〃　　Through　Hank's
brainless　titter；　Joe　added　carefully；　〃Bad　ground　in　the　first
right…hand　drift。　We　had　to　abandon　it。　　Rocks　big　as　your　head
comin'　in　on　yuh　onexpected。　　None　uh　them　right…hand　drifts　is
safe　fer　a　man　t'　walk　in；　much　less　work。〃

Thereupon　Casey　related　a　thrilling　story　of　a　cave…in；　and
assured　Joe　that　he　and　his　partner　were　lucky　to　get　off　with
mere　broken　bones。　　Casey；　you　will　observe；　was　running　contrary
to　his　nature　and　leaning　to　diplomacy。

For　himself；　I　am　sure　he　would　never　have　troubled　to　placate
them。　He　would　have　taken　the　first　slim　chance　that　offeredor
made　one　and　fought　the　three　to　a　finish。

But　th