lla.thelonelymen-第22节

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orse　is　another。　Both　of　them　are　small；　both　are　quick　and　smart。　I　think　we　might；　if　we　can　make　any　sort　of　a　way　to；　get　the　girl　and　those　youngsters　out　of　here。　Might　even　be　a　chance　for　us。〃
　He　studied　the　layout　again。　If　that　slab　toppled　over；　it　would　leave　a　steep　slide　of　gravel　and　broken　rock。　With　a　couple　of　husky　men　pulling　and　a　horse　scrambling；　it　might　work。　With　one　horse　on　top　and　a　rope　around　the　pommel；　we　might　get　another　out。
　Battles　got　down　into　the　crack　and　scraped　some　good　footing　for　himself；　and　then　put　his　shoulder　against　the　slab。　Together　we　pushed；　we　strained。　Of　a　sudden　she　gave。　I　slid　lower　to　get　a　better　purchase；　and　we　tried　it　again。　She　tilted　a　bit；　then　stuck。　Try　as　we　might；　we　couldn't　push　that　slab　any　further。
　We　backed　off　and　studied　the　situation；　and　John　J。　kept　looking　at　that　crack。　It　was　a　whole　lot　wider　than　it　had　been；　and　slanted　steeply　down　to　the　gravel　slope　below。
　He　looked　at　the　crack；　and　then　he　looked　at　me　again。　〃Shall　we　try　it？〃　he　asked。
　Well；　now。　It　was　almighty　steep；　but　it　was　all　we　had。　I'd　seen　wild　horses　scramble　up　some　steep　slopes；　but　none　as　bad　as　this　…　but　with　a　little　help　。。。
　We　went　back　down　into　the　hollow　below　where　the　others　waited；　and　I　took　a　long　pull　at　a　canteen。　When　I　looked　up　to　where　we'd　been　it　fairly　turned　my　stomach。　What　we　needed　was　a　set　of　wings。
　I　saw　that　they　had　rigged　a　little　shade　for　Rocca　…　a　poncho　over　a　couple　of　rocks；　propped　up　with　a　stick。　I　went　over　and　squatted　down　beside　him。　〃I'm　hit　pretty　hard；　amigo；〃he　said。
　〃You'll　make　it。〃
　He　looked　up　to　the　rock　where　I'd　been。　〃What　you　got　in　mind？〃
　〃That's　the　only　way　out　for　the　two　little　horses；　the　girl　and　the　youngsters。　That　girl's　got　savvy。　Get　them　out　of　here；　and　she's　a　good　bet　to　make　the　border。〃
　〃I　keep　thinkin'　of　that　ranch　back　yonder；〃　Rocca　said；　〃of　those　trees；　an'　the　grass。〃
　〃It　was　quite　a　place。〃
　〃If　a　man　had　to　die；　that　would　be　the　best　he'd　be　likely　to　find。　I　figure　heaven　must　be　like　that。　Not　that　I'm　likely　to　make　it。〃　He　looked　at　me。　〃When　you　going　to　try　it？〃
　〃It's　ing　on　for　evenin'。　I　think　we'll　try　then。〃
　He　closed　his　eyes。　〃Wish　I　could　help。〃
　Dorset　came　over　and　I　laid　it　out　for　her。　We　were　going　to　try　to　get　them　out；　and　she　was　to　light　a　shuck　for　the　border；　hiding　out　by　day；　riding　in　the　evening　or　early　morning。　But　she　already　knew　what　she　needed　to　do。
　She　didn't　ask　any　foolish　questions；　either。　She　knew　what　was　likely　to　happen　here；　and　she　knew　what　we　needed　was　a　miracle。
　〃When　you　get　back；〃　I　told　her；　〃you　might　write　a　letter　to　Tyrel　Sackett；　up　in　Mora。　You　tell　him　about　it。　Tell　him　about　Laura；　too　…　how　she　sent　me　down　here　on　a　wild…goose　chase。〃
　〃I'll　do　that；〃　Dorset　said　quietly。　〃When　it　es　to　that；　I　may　go　to　see　her　myself。〃
　〃Leave　her　be。　She's　poison。〃　It　was　no　trouble　for　Dorset；　Harry　Brook；　and　the　other　youngsters　to　get　to　the　top。　Children　are　good　at　scrambling　in　rough　places；　and　they　took　it　as　a　lark。　While　Battles　stood　guard　after；　it　was　up　to　Spanish　and　me　to　get　the　horses　up。
　The　little　buckskin　was　quick　and　nimble。　She　climbed　the　gravel　slope　with　me　leading　on　the　bridle；　and　though　she　went　to　her　knees　once；　she　made　it。　But　when　I　looked　up　at　that　crack　in　the　rock；　I　had　my　doubts。
　Knowing　the　route；　I　went　ahead；　leading　the　buckskin。　Spanish　came　along　behind；　but　when　I　climbed　into　the　crack　the　mustang　pulled　back　and　just　wasn't　having　any　part　of　it。
　Spanish；　he　was　right　behind　her；　and　he　took　off　his　sombrero　and　hit　her　a　lick　across　the　behind。　She　was　almighty　startled　and　gave　a　big　jump；　and　before　she　knew　what　had　happened　she　had　her　front　feet　on　the　crack　and　her　hind　feet　scrambling　for　a　grip　on　the　slope。
　Me；　I　tugged　at　the　bridle。　Spanish　hit　her　another　lick　with　his　hat　and　she　scrambled　into　the　crack。　There　we　held　up　for　a　mite；　to　catch　our　wind。
　It　was　the　cool　of　evening　now；　with　the　sky　still　pale　blue　in　the　far…off　place　where　the　sun　had　gone　down；　but　overhead　there　were　a　few　stars。　Sitting　back　there　on　a　rock；　holding　the　bridle；　I　took　long；　deep　breaths　of　that　cool　air。
　All　of　a　sudden　the　mare　decided　she　wasn't　too　almighty　fortable　standing　spread　out　on　the　steep　side　of　a　hill；　so　of　her　own　notion　she　scrambled　a　few　steps　higher；　then　stopped；　and　we　let　her　be。　It　was　still　a　far　piece　to　the　top。
　After　we'd　all　caught　our　breath　we　started　on；　and　it　was　a　struggle。　But　little　by　little　we　scrambled　up　until　at　last　we　got　on　top。　By　that　time　it　was　full　dark　and　we　still　had　the　other　horse　to　bring　up。
　Battles　was　down　there　alone；　or　as　good　as。　Rocca　was　in　no　shape　to　lend　a　hand；　and　might　be　asleep。　The　Apaches　didn't　attack　at　night　as　a　rule；　for　they　had　the　notion　that　if　a　man　was　killed　in　the　darkness　his　soul　would　wander　forever　in　darkness。　But　if　they　did　try　ing　up　that　slope　in　the　dark；　Battles　could　never　hold　them。
　Leaving　Dorset　with　the　mare　and　the　youngsters；　Spanish　and　me　made　our　way　back　into　the　basin。　By　the　time　we　reached　the　bottom　we　were　so　almighty　tired　we　were　staggering；　and　we　just　naturally　caved　in。　John　J。　reported　no　movement　as　far　as　he　knew　of。　Rocca　was　sleeping。　He　had　lost　a　lot　of　blood；　and　we　had　no　way　of　treating　a　wound。　Up　on　the　mesa　we　might　find　one　of　the　herbs　the　Indians　used；　but　down　here　there　was　nothing。
　Spanish　worked　a　hollow　for　his　hip　in　the　sand　and　went　to　sleep。　After　I　took　John　J。's　place；　he　did　the　same。
　It　was　still；　and　overhead　the　stars　were　bright　as　they　can　only　be　in　a　desert　sky。　A　coolness　came　up　from　the　barranca　below；　and　I　listened　for　any　whisper　of　sound；　struggling　against　my　own　weariness　and　the　need　for　sleep。　But　a　few　minutes　of　sleep　might　mean　death　for　all　of　us。　Only　my　wariness　stood　guard；　and　the　thought　of　them　trusting　me。
　A　long　while　later；　Spanish　came　to　me。　〃You　better　get　a　little　sleep；〃　he　said；　〃but　if　we're　figuring　on　getting　that　horse　up　the　mountain；　it　won't　be　much。〃
　There　was　no　need　for　me　to　move。　I　just　let　go　and　closed　my　eyes；　and　when　I　woke　up　it　was　with　a　hand　on　my　shoulder。
　〃They're　stirrin'　around　down　there；〃　Spanish　said；　〃and　it's　gettin'　on　toward　dawn。〃
　〃You　two　hold　'em；〃　I　said；　getting　up。　〃I'll　take　that　other　horse　up　the　mountain。〃
　〃Alone？　It　can't　be　done。〃
　〃It's　got　to　be；〃　I　said。　〃The　Apaches　will　figure　it　out　if　we　wait。　Maybe　they　already　have。〃
　John　J。　was　on　his　feet；　his　gun　belted　on　and　his　Winchester　in　his　hand；　a　spare　cartridge　belt　draped　over　his　shoulder。
　〃If　it　gets　bad；　pull　back　to　Rocca　here；　and　make　a　stand；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　get　back　as　soon　as　I　can。〃
　He　indicated　the　horses。　〃Do　you　think　we　could　make　a　break　for　it？　Down　the　slope　and　right　into　them；　shooting　all　the　while？〃
　It　was　a　thought；　and　I　said　so；　but　I　told　him　no；　not　yet。　Then　I　went　and　caught　up　the　other　mustang　and　headed　for　the　slope。　Oddly　enough；　Dorset's　horse　took　to　it　as　if　it　was　home　country。　More　than　likely　she　could　smell　the　other　horse；　and　knew　it　had　gone　this　way。　Maybe　she　could　also　smell　Dorset。　Wild　horses　can　follow　a　trail　as　good　as　any　wolf　…　I've　seen　them　do　it　many　a　time。　And　the　other　horse；　with　us　working　to　help；　had　maybe　made　the　trail　a　little　better。
　The　horse　had　to　struggle；　and　I　tugged　and　braced　myself　and　pulled；　and　that　game　little　horse　stayed　right　with　it。　With　daybreak　tinting　the　sky；　we　made　it　to　the　rim。
　And　then　we　heard　the　shots。　Somebody　down　there　was　using　a　Winchester。
　We　heard　the　chatter　of　the　rifle；　then　a　few　slower；　paced　shots。　There　was　silence；　then　another　shot。
　The　children　were　wide…eyed　and　scared；　but　they　were　pioneer　youngsters；　and　no　telling　the　trouble　they'd　seen　before　this。　Dorset　stepped　into　the　saddle　and　I　taken　her　hand。
　〃Ride；〃　I　said；　〃and　stay　with　it。　Hide　out　by　day；　ride　by　night；〃　I　told　her　again。　〃Don't　shoot　unless　they　get　close；　and　then　shoot　to　kill。　I　figure　you're　going　to　make　it。　We　can　hold　them　a　day　or　two。〃
　She　put　her　hand　on　mine。　〃Tell；　thank　them　for　me；　will　you？　All　of　them？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　The　shooting　down　there　was　steady　now。　They　needed　me　down　there。　I　knew　how　Apaches　could　e　up　a　slope。　Nothing　to　shoot　at　but　a　few　bobbing；　flashing　figures；　you　scarce　saw　them　when　they　vanished；　appeared　again　elsewhere；　and　came　on。
　Dorset　knew　it；　too。　She　turned　her　horse；　lifted　a　hand；　and　they　rode　off　into　the　ing　morning。　I　taken　one　look　and　then　I　hit　the　slope　a…sliding。　Far　below　I　could　see　the　Indians。
　Battles　was　on　the　rim；　bellied　down　behind　rock　slabs。　Far　off；　near　the　stream；　I　could　see　the　Apache　ponies；　but　nothing　was　moving　on　the　slope。　Behind　Battles　I　could　see　Spanish；　and　he　was　rolling　some　rocks　into　place；　lifting　others；　making　a　sort　of　rough　wall　from　where　John　J。　was　firing　to　where　Rocca　was　lying。　He　was　getting　set　for　a　last…ditch　fight；　and　the　lay　of　the　land　sort　of　favored　our　position　by　being　a　mite　lower　than　the　rest　of　the　hollow。
　Of　a　sudden　an　Apache　came　up　from　behind　a　rock　and　started　to　move