lla.thelonelymen-第14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！


eep。　It　seemed　like　years　since　I'd　caught　more　than　a　few　catnaps。
　When　I　woke　up　my　mouth　was　dry；　and　I　sat　up；　staring　around；　just　taking　stock。　It　was　almighty　quiet；　a　beautiful　quiet　such　as　you　only　find　in　the　forest。　Far　off；　we　could　hear　the　stir　of　wind　in　the　pines；　a　wonderful　sound。　Closer　to；　there　was　only　the　murmur　of　water　around　the　stones　of　the　creek；　and　a　faint　chirping　of　birds。　It　was　a　natural；　friendly　quiet
　Tampico　Rocca　and　Spanish　came　over　to　me。　Battles　was　on　lookout；　perched　up　among　the　rocks　where　he　could　keep　out　of　sight　and　still　look　the　country　over。　The　youngsters　were　sleeping。
　〃Got　any　idea　where　we　are？〃　I　asked　Rocca。
　〃I　been　thinking　on　it。〃　With　his　finger　he　drew　a　wavy　line　in　the　sand。　〃This　here　is　the　Bavispe；〃　he　said；　and　he　pointed　west。　〃She　lies　right　yonder。　If　we　cross　the　river　there's　some　ranches。　I　wouldn't　count　on　there　being　folks　about；　but　it　could　be。　Mostly　the　Apaches　have　wiped　'em　put；　burned　'em　out；　or　stole　them　out。　But　it　would　be　a　good　place　to　stop。　There'll　be　old　walls；　water；　and　grass。
　〃Next　we　head　for　the　Santa　Margaritas　。。。　I　know　an　old　mining　camp　where　we　can　hole　up。　Then　we　can　head　for　Chinapa；　on　the　Sonora　River。〃
　〃Sounds　good。〃
　Spanish　was　chewing　on　a　blade　of　grass。　〃Fact　remains；〃　he　said；　〃that　we　didn't　get　what　we　e　for。　We　didn't　find　your　nephew。〃
　Rocca　was　looking　at　me；　watching　me。　〃The　little　ones；〃　he　said；　〃they　know　nothing　of　such　a　boy　。。。　and　they　would　know　if　the　Indians　had　him。〃
　〃I　put　no　faith　in　women；〃　Spanish　said；　〃meanin'　no　offense；　but　did　you　ever　。。。　I　mean；　you　and　your　sister…in…law　。。。　〃
　I　looked　right　at　him。　〃I'll　take　no　offense；　Spanish…you've　stood　by　me。　I　never　saw　her　before　we　met　in　Tucson。　I　haven't　seen　my　brother　in　some　time　。。。　never　did　talk　to　him　about　his　affairs。　Little　time　we　had　together　we　mostly　talked　about　the　old　days　and　what　bee　of　folks　we　knew。〃　I　looked　around　at　them。　〃I　ain't　been　home　much。　I've　been　drifting。〃
　Nobody　said　anything　for　a　while；　and　then　Battles；　who　had　e　out　of　the　brush；　said；　〃I　figure　you've　been　lied　to；　Sackett。〃
　〃It　don't　make　sense。〃
　〃Any　reason　she'd　want　you　dead？　You　got　to　realize　。。。　not　many　e　back　from　here。　We　ain't　even　sure　we're　gettin'　back。〃
　〃The　children　never　heard　of　any　other　boy；〃　Rocca　repeated；　〃and　they'd　know。　And；　Harry　Brook　would。　He　speaks　the　language　pretty　good；　and　there's　talk　around　the　Indian　villages。〃
　Well；　there　was　no　use　studying　on　it　now。　We　had　miles　to　travel。　I　said　as　much　and　we　saddled　up　and　moved　down　the　creek。
　Rocca　rode　with　his　head　over　his　shoulder。　I　mean　he　was　a　worried　man。　When　you　see　Apaches　you're　worried；　but　when　you　don't　see　them　you're　maybe　really　in　trouble。　They　could　be　all　around　you。
　When　the　shadows　were　beginning　to　reach　out　from　the　hills　we　came　up　to　a　ranch；　four　tired　men　with　some　tired　children。　As　we　neared　it　we　spread　out　and　I　rode　with　my　Winchester　up　in　my　hands；　my　eyes　moving　under　the　low　brim　of　my　hat；　searching　each　shadow；　each　doubtful　place。
　No　smoke　。。。　no　movement。　Somewhere　a　blue　jay　fussed；　somewhere　a　quail　called　into　the　stillness　and　another　made　reply。　Otherwise　it　was　still。
　Nobody　spoke；　and　we　rode　into　the　yard。　Battles　rode　through　the　gate；　and　I　went　through　a　gap　in　the　ruined　wall。　Spanish　circled　to　the　right；　Rocca　to　the　left。
　The　ranch　was　deserted　。。。　a　ruin。　Fire　had　gutted　it；　and　some　of　the　stone　walls　had　toppled。　The　windows　gapped　like　great；　hollow　eyes　that　stared　upon　nothing。　The　barns　were　a　tumbled　mass　of　burned　timbers　and　the　fallen　stones　of　foundation　walls。　Mesquite　trees　choked　up　the　corrals。
　But　trees　still　shaded　the　ranch　yard。　Water　ran　from　an　iron　pipe　into　a　tank。　An　oak　limb　had　grown　through　an　open　window。　In　the　patio　the　blocks　of　stone　that　paved　it　had　been　thrust　up　by　a　growing　sycamore；　which　was　now　several　niches　through。
　Once　this　ranch　had　been　a　splendid　place；　once　the　fields　had　been　green　and　men　had　worked　here；　lived　here；　and　loved　here。
　We　rode　into　the　thick　grass　where　the　ranch　yard　had　been　and　we　drew　up。　We　heard　only　the　wind　。。。　only　the　trickle　of　water　into　the　tank。　John　J。　Battles　looked　slowly　around　and　said　nothing；　and　Spanish　Murphy　sat　silent　for　a　long　moment。　Then　he　said；　〃This　is　the　sort　of　place　you　dream　about；　when　you're　on　a　long；　dusty　trail；　or　you're　in　the　desert　and　short　of　water。〃
　〃We'd　better　have　a　look　around；〃　I　said。　〃Tamp；　you　scout　to　the　wall　yonder。　Spanish　can　stay　with　the　children。〃
　We　moved　out。　A　rabbit　sprang　from　under　my　feet　and　went　bounding　away。　We　searched　the　place；　but　we　found　nothing；　nothing　at　all。
　There　was　a　watch　tower　on　one　corner　of　the　place；　shrewdly　built　to　observe　the　country　around；　but　now　partly　masked　by　the　tops　of　trees。　While　I　took　the　first　watch；　Battles　put　some　grub　together　for　a　meal。
　The　sun　was　warm　and　pleasant；　but　it　bothered　me　for　I　could　see　too　little　in　the　open　country　to　the　west。　Our　enemies　should　e　from　the　east；　but　trust　an　Apache　to　use　the　sun's　glare　if　he　figured　on　an　attack。　But　the　sun　sank　behind　the　mountains　to　to　westward　and　I　studied　the　country　all　around　with　great　care；　and　saw　nothing。
　Where　were　Dorset　Binny　and　the　boy？　If　they　had　ridden　the　way　we　planned　they　should　be　not　too　far　away；　for　our　course　had　veered　around　and　we；　too；　had　e　west。
　From　the　watch　tower　I　could　study　the　terrain　and　my　eyes　searched　out　all　possible　hiding　places。　The　position　of　the　ranch　had　been　well　chosen。　The　place　had　a　good　field　of　fire　in　every　direction　and　must　have　been　easy　to　defend　back　in　the　old　days；　yet　the　Indians　had　taken　it；　burned　it　out；　and　more　than　likely　killed　everybody　on　the　ranch。
　It　seemed　to　me　at　least　fifteen　to　twenty　men　would　have　been　needed　to　defend　the　ranch。　Maybe　they　were　shorthanded　when　the　attack　came。
　In　the　last　minutes　of　daylight；　I　saw　them　ing　…　two　riders；　not　over　half　a　mile　off。
　I　called　softly　to　Murphy；　who　was　closest　and　knelt　by　one　of　the　openings　left　in　the　wall　for　a　firing　position。　But　I　was　sure　right　from　the　start。　As　they　drew　nearer　I　could　see　them　clear　enough。
　Standing　up　on　the　tower　I　called　out；　〃Dorset！　Dorset　Binny！　e　on　in！〃
　
　Chapter　10
　
　Laura　Pritts　Sackett　was　immaculate。　She　was　cool；　aloof；　yet　she　managed　to　convey　the　idea　that　beneath　that　still　surface　there　was　turmoil；　waiting　to　be　exploited。　A　cold；　emotionless　young　woman；　she　had　learned　very　early　that　the　appearance　of　deep　emotion　and　passion　beneath　the　quiet　exterior　was　a　tool　and　a　weapon　to　be　used；　and　so　she　had　used　it
　Her　adoration　for　her　father　had　resulted　in　hatred　for　all　who　in　any　way　thwarted　or　opposed　him。
　As　the　days　passed　into　weeks　and　she　heard　nothing　from　Mexico；　she　grew　worried。　Suppose；　after　all；　Tell　Sackett　was　not　killed　by　the　Apaches？　Suppose　he　did　return；　and　her　falsehood　was　exposed？　She　was　less　worried；　however；　about　being　exposed　…　she　had　no　intention　of　remaining　in　Tucson　anyway　…　than　about　Sackett　not　being　killed。
　She　knew　enough　about　the　Sacketts　to　know　they　had　a　way　of　getting　out　of　corners。　Suddenly；　she　made　up　her　mind。
　She　would　leave　Tucson。　She　would　go　back　east　without　waiting　any　longer。　She　might　never　hear　what　happened　in　Sonora；　and　there　was　no　sense　in　staying　on　here；　in　this　heat；　and　merely　waiting。　Her　father　had　a　little　property　in　the　East；　and　it　was　time　she　returned　to　settle　the　estate。　But　first　she　would　make　one　final　effort
　She　was　seated　in　the　Shoo…Fly　when　she　reached　that　decision。　She　knew；　as　did　everyone；　about　the　gun　battle　in　the　Quartz　Rock　Saloon；　and　she　had　seen　the　Hadden　boys　around　town。　She　knew　also　that　the　Maddens　had　been　doing　some　talking　about　what　would　happen　when　they　met　Tell　Sackett　and　Tampico　Rocca　again。
　Suddenly　the　door　opened　and　Captain　Lewiston　came　in；　acpanied　by　Lieutenant　Jack　Davis；　whom　she　remembered　from　the　stage　ride　to　Tucson。
　They　came　to　her　table。　〃Mrs。　Sackett；〃　Davis　said；　〃I　want　to　present　Captain　Lewiston。〃
　She　turned　her　wide　blue　eyes　on　the　Captain　and　sensed　a　coolness；　a　reserve。　This　one　would　not　be　so　easy　as　Davis　to　wind　around　her　finger。　〃How　do　you　do；　Captain；〃　she　said。　〃Won't　you　sit　down？〃
　The　men　seated　themselves　and　ordered　coffee。　〃I　hope　you　will　forgive　the　intrusion；　Mrs。　Sackett；〃　Captain　Lewiston　said；　〃but　we　were　wondering　if　you　could　tell　us　anything　about　the　present　location　of　Tell　Sackett。　I　believe　he　is　a　relative　of　yours。〃
　〃He　is　my　brother…in…law；〃　she　said；　〃although　I　had　never　met　him　until　a　few　weeks　ago。　Right　here　in　this　room；　in　fact。　He　was　with　some　other　men。　I　don't　know　where　they　went。　Is　he　in　trouble？〃
　Lewiston　hesitated。　〃Yes　and　no；〃　he　said　finally。　〃If　he　rode　into　Apache　country；　as　we　have　heard　that　he　did；　he　may　be　in　very　serious　trouble　indeed。〃
　She　allowed　her　lip　to　tremble。　〃He　。。。　he　hasn't　been　killed；　has　he？　The　Sacketts　are　reckless；　daring　men；　and　。。。〃　She　let　her　words　trail　away。
　〃We　have　heard　nothing；〃　Lewiston　said。　〃We　are　planning　a　strike　against　the　Apaches　that　will　take　us　deep　into　Mexico。　We　would　not　want　them　stirred　up　by　some　unauthorized　foray　into　their　country。〃
　〃I　。。。　I　did　not　know。　If　anything　should　happen　to　Mr。　Sackett　my　husband　would　be　very　upset。　They　are　very　close。〃
　〃Mrs。　Sackett；　I　understand　you　provided　Mr。　Sackett　with　a　horse？　Is　that　true？〃
　〃Of　course。　His　own　had　been　killed　and　he　was　unable　to　purchase　one。　I　merely　helped。〃　She　smiled。　〃What　else　could　I　do？〃
　Lewiston　was　not　satisfied；　yet　there　was　certainly　nothing　wrong　with　her　story；　nor　had　he　any　reason　to　suspect　she　knew　Tell　Sackett's　whereabouts；　except　the　fact　that　they　were　relatives；　and　had　talked　together。　He　could　not　have　given　any　reason　for　his　dissatisfaction；　but　he　felt　it。　Moreover；　he　had　liked　Tell；　and　he　was　worried　about　him。
　Later　he　said　as　much　to　Davis。　〃Oh；　e　now；　Captain！〃　Davis　said。　〃If　Laura　Sackett　knew　anything　about　Sackett　she　would　tell　you。　What　possible　reason　would　she　have　for　lying？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　But　w