lla.thelonelymen-第26部分

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　He　fired　at　the　squaw　and　I　shot　him　right　through　the　brisket；　and　then　swung　the　gun　to　Wolf；　who　was　ing　up　with　a　Remington　Navy。
　Dorset；　she　suddenly　threw　herself　at　the　man　nearest　her　and　she　hit　him　right　behind　the　knees。　He　was　standing　on　a　bit　of　a　slope；　and　when　she　hit　him　he　buckled　at　the　knees　and　fell　forward　on　the　gravelly　hillside。
　The　man　who'd　been　alongside　the　fire；　instead　of　grabbing　his　gun；　turned　to　lay　hold　of　Dorset；　and　at　the　same　time　that　I　cut　loose　at　Wolf　I　jumped　my　horse　at　Arch。
　He　made　a　quick　step　back　to　get　out　of　the　way；　and　a　rock　rolled　under　his　feet。　He　fell　as　he　drew；　jolting　the　gun　from　his　hand。
　I　swung　my　horse　and　got　in　another　shot　at　Wolf；　who　burned　me　with　one　alongside　the　shoulder。　He　was　just　setting　up　to　take　a　dead　shot　when　my　second　bullet　caught　him；　and　he　backed　up　a　full　step。　My　black　was　on　him；　and　he　rolled　aside；　and　I　felt　bullets　whipping　around　me。
　Somehow　Dorset　had　a　gun。　She　fired　at　one　of　those　boys　and　then　taken　out　running；　the　child　in　her　arms；　for　the　pony　string。
　About　that　time　I　saw　an　Apache　up　on　the　slope；　and　he　was　shooting　down　at　us。　I　swung　my　horse　again　and　went　after　Dorset。
　She　wasn't　wasting　any　time；　and　fortunately　they　had　left　a　couple　of　horses　saddled。　She　pulled　the　drawstring　on　one　of　them　and　swung　the　child　to　the　saddle；　then　she　went　into　the　saddle　herself　with　a　flying　leap　and　we　were　off；　running　our　horses　across　that　desert　like　crazy　folks。
　Maybe　we　were　a　mite　crazy。　I　had　an　idea　we　weren't　going　to　make　it；　but　every　jump　we　took　gave　us　a　better　chance。　Behind　us　I　could　hear　a　fight　taking　place；　and　somebody　else　was　running　a　horse　off　to　the　right。
　Suddenly　the　desert　split　right　open　ahead　of　us；　a　deep　cut　maybe　eight　or　ten　feet　across。　I　saw　Dorset　jump　her　horse；　and　I　slapped　spurs　to　mine　and　that　black　took　to　flying　as　if　it　was　second　nature。　We　both　landed　safe　and　swung　down　into　a　hollow；　raced　across　it　and　up　the　other　side；　and　into　a　forest　of　cholla　where　our　horses　swung　right　and　left　and　about　through　that　prickly　stuff。
　We　leveled　out　in　the　open　and　put　them　to　a　run；　and　when　we　finally　got　them　slowed　down　we　had　made　it　away　。。。　for　now。
　Looking　back；　I　could　see　nothing　behind　us。　We　had　e　several　miles；　and　now　we　walked　the　horses　under　some　cedars　whilst　I　unlimbered　my　Winchester；　checked　it　again；　and　returned　it　to　the　scabbard。　Then　I　reloaded　both　my　six…shooters。　I　could　remember　shooting　four　to　five　tunes；　but　eight　shots　had　been　fired；　showing　I'd　been　doubling　up。　I　had　no　recollection　of　having　drawn　the　second　gun；　but　I　surely　had。　When　I'd　reloaded；　I　moved　alongside　Dorset。　She　was　holding　the　youngster　on　the　saddle　in　front　of　her。　〃What　happened　to　the　others？〃　I　asked。　〃They　got　away。　Harry　is　like　a　little　Apache　himself。　When　those　men　came　up　he　just　disappeared　into　the　brush　with　the　others。〃
　〃Let's　hope　he　made　it。〃
　The　country　was　changing　now。　It　was　much　more　broken；　but　there　was　also　more　growth。　There　had　been　a　desert　shower；　one　of　those　sudden　rains　that　sometimes　deluge　only　a　small　area　and　then　vanish。　This　one　had　left　water　standing　in　the　bottoms　of　the　washes　and　in　hollows　atop　the　rocks。　It　had　filled　the　desert　tanks；　so　we　watered　the　horses。
　My　eyes　felt　like　hot　lumps　in　my　skull；　and　they　seemed　to　move　with　incredible　slowness　when　I　turned　to　look　around。　My　fingers　felt　stiff；　and　I　worked　them　and　tried　to　loosen　them　up。　My　mouth　was　dry；　and　after　I'd　drunk　it　was　dry　again　in　a　few　minutes。
　All　of　a　sudden　I　was　dead　tired　again。　All　the　days　of　driving　ahead；　running；　fighting；　and　worrying　a　way　out　were　beginning　to　catch　up　with　me。　But　we　started　on。
　The　horses　plodded　ahead；　dazed　with　weariness。　Several　times　I　found　myself　dozing　in　the　saddle；　each　time　I'd　wake　up　with　a　start　of　fear；　and　look　all　around。　My　mind　seemed　to　be　in　a　state　of　despair。　Spanish　was　dead　。。。　Tampico　Rocca　was　dead　。。。　where　was　John　J。？
　It　would　soon　be　dark；　and　if　we　expected　to　make　the　border　we　had　to　find　a　place　to　stop　for　rest。　If　it　had　to　be；　we　ourselves　could　keep　going；　but　not　the　horses；　and　without　them　our　chances　were　gone。　〃Do　you　think　they're　following　us？〃　Dorset　asked。　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　answered；　and　said　no　more。　The　sun　disappeared　and　shadows　gathered　in　the　folded　hills。　The　shadows　lifted　questioning　fingers；　stark　against　the　yellow　sky。　The　quail　began　to　talk　across　the　silences；　the　wind　stirred；　rustling　the　dry　leaves　on　the　parched　brush。　Our　horses'　hoofs　whispered　in　the　sand。
　A　lone　coyote　showed　for　an　instant；　then　like　a　shadow　was　gone；　leaving　no　more　sign　than　an　Apache。　A　few　stars　began　to　appear　。。。　one　bright　one　was　low　in　the　sky；　and　held　steady。　Time　to　time　I　looked　at　it；　and　finally　I　said；　〃That　there's　a　light。　A　fire；　maybe。〃　Dorset　turned　her　head　to　look。　〃It's　not　an　Indian　fire；〃　she　said。
　We　drew　up；　and　I　turned；　standing　in　my　stirrups　to　look　back。
　〃It　might　be　the　Haddens；〃　I　said。　She　glanced　at　me。　〃After　you　finished　with　them？　What　you　didn't　get；　the　Apaches　got。　You　took　two　of　them；　I'd　swear。　Maybe　three。〃
　Well；　maybe。　I　wasn't　making　any　claims。　I　never　was　one　to　file　notches　on　a　gun　。。。　a　tinhorn　trick。
　〃Shall　we　try　for　it？〃　I　said。　〃It's　closer　than　the　border。　And　the　border　never　meant　anything　to　an　Apache　except　that　south　of　it　he　was　free　of　the　American　troops。〃
　〃We　can　scout　it；〃　Dorset　answered。　She　swung　her　pony　and　headed　toward　the　fire。
　The　yellow　sky　faded　into　gray　and　velvety　dark。　Even　before　we　came　up　to　it；　I　could　see　it　was　an　Army　fire　。。。　it　looked　big　because　there　were　three　of　them　in　line。　It　was　a　Cavalry　troop　of　maybe　forty　men。　We　pulled　up　and　I　hailed　the　camp。
　〃Howdy；　there。　Is　it　all　right　to　e　in？　There's　a　woman　and　a　child　with　me。〃　Silence　。。。
　It　was　a　long　moment；　and　I　guess　somebody　was　trying　to　make　us　out　with　field　glasses；　though　now　there　was　not　much　light。
　〃All　right；〃　came　the　answer。　〃Ride　in。　Ride　carefully。〃
　I　knew　that　voice。　It　was　Captain　Lewiston。　Lieutenant　Jack　Davis　stood　beside　him。
　Lewiston　looked　from　me　to　Dorset　Binny。　He　tipped　his　hat　〃How　do　you　do；　ma'am。　We　have　been　worried　for　you。〃
　〃I'm　all　right。　Thanks　to　Mr。　Sackett。〃
　〃Did　you　e　upon　any　other　youngsters；　Cap'n？〃　I　asked。　〃Harry　Brook　and　the　Creed　youngsters？〃
　〃They're　here；　and　they're　safe。　That's　why　we　waited　for　you。〃
　We　walked　our　horses　into　camp　and　swung　down。　I　staggered　when　I　hit　ground；　and　Lewiston　was　beside　me。　〃Here；　man；　you'd　better　sit　down。〃
　〃Got　to　care　for　my　horse。　You　take　the　lady　and　the　child；　Cap'n；　I　…　〃
　〃No。〃　Lewiston's　tone　was　suddenly　stern。　He　turned。　〃Corporal；　take　this　man's　horse。　See　that　it　is　cared　for　just　as　mine　is。　The　others　also。〃
　He　turned　back　to　me。　〃Sackett；　I　regret　to　inform　you　that　you　are　under　arrest。〃
　Me；　I　just　looked　at　him。　〃For　crossing　the　border？　Cap'n；　Laura　Sackett　told　me　her　son　had　been　taken　by　the　Apaches。〃
　〃She　has　no　son！〃　Davis　spoke　sharply。　〃Sackett；　that's　a　damned　…　〃
　Lewiston's　voice　cracked　like　a　whip。　〃Lieutenant！〃
　Davis　stopped；　his　face　flushed。　〃I　tell　you；　Captain；　this　man　is　…　〃
　〃Silence！　Lieutenant　Davis；　I　suggest　you　inspect　the　guard。　Whatever　needs　to　be　said　to　Mr。　Sackett；　I　will　say。〃
　Davis　turned　on　his　heel　and　stalked　away。　〃Forgive　him；　Sackett。　He's　young　and　I'm　afraid　he's　smitten　by　Laura　Sackett。　He　is　very　proud；　and　he　feels　he　must　defend　her　honor。〃
　〃Let　him　defend　it；　Cap'n；　but　keep　him　away　from　me。　Him　being　new　to　the　country　I　might　not　shoot　him；　but　I　am　afraid　if　he　said　what　he　started　to　say　he'd　be　shy　a　good　many　teeth。〃
　〃There　will　be　no　fighting。　You　seem　to　have　forgotten；　Sackett。　You　are　under　arrest。〃
　Well；　I　just　walked　over　to　the　fire　and　sat　down。　Then　I　dug　into　my　gear　which　had　been　dropped　there　and　got　out　my　cup。　Reaching　for　the　pot；　I　poured　coffee。
　〃All　right；　Cap'n；〃　I　said；　〃you　tell　me　about　it。　Why　are　you　arresting　me？〃
　〃You　are　under　arrest　for　murder。　You　are　under　arrest　for　the　murder　of　Billy　Higgins。〃
　〃Higgins？〃
　〃We　found　his　body　out　on　the　Yuma　road。　He　had　been　shot　in　the　head。〃
　〃Among　other　things；〃　I　said；　〃the　Apaches　wounded　him；　and　then　they　shot　him　full　of　splinters。〃　〃But　you　killed　him。〃
　〃That's　right；　I　did。〃　Carefully；　with　several　men　standing　about；　I　told　him　what　had　happened　that　day。　Some　of　it　I'd　told　him　before；　back　in　the　Shoo…Fly　when　he　told　me　about　Kahtenny。
　〃He　begged　me　to　shoot　him。　Under　the　same　situation　I'd　have　done　the　same；　more　than　likely。〃
　〃Perhaps。〃　Lewiston　looked　hard　at　me。　〃Sackett；　is　it　not　true　that　your　family　feuded　for　years　with　a　family　named　Higgins？　That　you　hunted　each　other　and　killed　each　other　on　sight？〃
　〃That　was　over　years　ago；〃　I　said。　〃Anyway；　I　ain't　been　back　in　that　country　since　the　war。　As　for　this　Higgins；　I　never　gave　it　no　thought。　It's　been　a　good　while　since　I've　had　any　cause　to　think　of　it。〃
　〃Nevertheless；　Billy　Higgins　is　dead；　killed　by　your　bullet。　I　have　to　warn　you；　Sackett；　the　story　is　out；　and　there's　considerable　feeling　in　Tucson。　Higgins　had　friends　there。〃
　〃But　I　tell　you；　I　…　〃
　〃Don't　tell　me。　Tell　the　jury。〃　He　walked　away　from　me；　and　I　sat　there　by　the　fire；　a…staring　into　it。　I'd　run　a　long　way。　I'd　fought　some　hard　fights。　I'd　stood　off　the　Apaches　and　the　Haddens；　and　now　here　I　was；　arrested　for　a　crime　that　was　no　crime；　but　a　crime　they　could　hang　me　for。
　And　there　was　only　one　person　in　Tucson　likely　to　know　about　that　old　Higgins…Sackett　feud。
　Laura　Sackett　。。。
　
　Chapter　18
　
　You　can　take　it　from　me　that　no　jail　cell　is　a　place　for　a　mountain　boy。　I　was　raised　up　where　folks　looked　to　the　hills；　only　up　where　we　came　from　you　hadn't　chance　to　look　much　higher；　we　were　that　near　the　top　of　the　ridge。
　This　cell　they　put　me　into　had　one　small　window；　too　small　for　me　to　crawl　out　of；　and　a　door　that　was　as　barred　as　could　be。　When　I　heard　that　door　clang　shut　I　wasn't　at　all　happy。　Only　thing　I　knew；　I　was　going　to　catch　up　on　my　sleep；　and　at　least　I　could　eat。　And　right　about　that　tim