Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > lla.thelonelymen >

µÚ25½Ú

lla.thelonelymen-µÚ25½Ú

С˵£º lla.thelonelymen ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



¡¡But¡¡first£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡his¡¡guns¡¡and¡¡ammunition£»¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡nothing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Apaches¡¡if¡¡they¡¡found¡¡him¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡full¡¡belt¡¡of¡¡ammunition¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡some¡¡loose¡¡cartridges¡£¡¡And¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡swallow¡¡of¡¡water¡¡in¡¡the¡¡canteen¡£
¡¡In¡¡his¡¡pocket¡¡I¡¡found¡¡a¡¡stub¡¡of¡¡pencil¡¡and¡¡some¡¡old¡¡papers¡¡on¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡learning¡¡to¡¡write¡¡his¡¡name¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡gotten¡¡somebody¡¡to¡¡write¡¡it¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡or¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡it¡¡from¡¡something¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡practiced£»¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡again£»¡¡on¡¡many¡¡different¡¡surfaces¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡do¡¡so£»¡¡nor¡¡likely¡¡had¡¡anyone¡¡else£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡proud¡¡man£»¡¡ashamed¡¡to¡¡let¡¡us¡¡know¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡write£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡cared¡£
¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡address£»¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡show¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡anyone¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡belonged¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡he¡¡had¡¡talked¡¡of£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡took¡¡what¡¡money¡¡he¡¡had£»¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡dollars¡¡and¡¡some¡¡pesos£»¡¡to¡¡give¡¡to¡¡her¡£
¡¡Scarcely¡¡twenty¡¡minutes¡¡was¡¡used¡¡in¡¡burying¡¡the¡¡body¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡leading¡¡the¡¡spare¡¡horse£»¡¡I¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡arroyo¡¡and¡¡followed¡¡it¡¡for¡¡perhaps¡¡a¡¡mile£»¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡sand¡¡leaving¡¡no¡¡tracks¡¡that¡¡could¡¡be¡¡recognized¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡came¡¡out¡¡I¡¡started¡¡across¡¡country¡£
¡¡The¡¡sun¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡down¡¡by¡¡now¡¡and¡¡the¡¡desert¡¡was¡¡cool¡£¡¡Off¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡a¡¡quail¡¡call¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡I¡¡hoped¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡real¡¡quail¡£
¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡stiff¡¡and¡¡cold¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡worked¡¡my¡¡fingers¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡easy¡¡for¡¡my¡¡gun¡£¡¡Shifting¡¡to¡¡Rocca's¡¡horse£»¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡on¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡trail£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡went¡¡ahead£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡water¡£¡¡The¡¡green¡¡place¡¡I'd¡¡seen¡¡from¡¡afar¡¡should¡¡be¡¡near¡£
¡¡The¡¡black¡¡horse¡¡pulled¡¡up¡¡alongside¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡Rocca's¡¡horse¡¡quickened¡¡its¡¡pace¡£¡¡They¡¡smelled¡¡it¡£
¡¡An¡¡arroyo¡¡opened¡¡on¡¡my¡¡right¡¡and¡¡I¡¡found¡¡my¡¡way¡¡into¡¡it£»¡¡listened£»¡¡then¡¡walked¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡on£»¡¡knowing¡¡the¡¡arroyo¡¡would¡¡end¡¡where¡¡the¡¡water¡¡was¡£¡¡The¡¡arroyo¡¡gaped£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡into¡¡a¡¡small¡¡oasis¡¡darkening¡¡with¡¡the¡¡cool¡¡of¡¡evening¡£
¡¡There¡¡were¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡cottonwoods£»¡¡some¡¡mesquite¡¡and¡¡willows£»¡¡and¡¡slopes¡¡green¡¡with¡¡grass£»¡¡and¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡a¡¡glimmer¡¡of¡¡water¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡birds¡¡twittering¡£¡¡The¡¡horses¡¡tugged¡¡at¡¡their¡¡bits£»¡¡wanting¡¡to¡¡go¡¡forward¡£¡¡Winchester¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡them¡¡slowly£»¡¡ready¡¡with¡¡a¡¡spur¡¡if¡¡need¡¡be¡£
¡¡Suddenly¡¡my¡¡way¡¡was¡¡blocked¡¡by¡¡a¡¡low¡¡stone¡¡wall¡¡that¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡trincheras¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡people¡¡built¡¡to¡¡terrace¡¡and¡¡till¡¡their¡¡land£»¡¡or¡¡sometimes¡¡for¡¡dams¡£¡¡I'd¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡them¡¡in¡¡Mexico¡£
¡¡Dismounting£»¡¡I¡¡led¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡around¡¡it¡¡and¡¡down¡¡to¡¡a¡¡broken¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡something¡¡dark¡¡and¡¡shadowy¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sound¡¡but¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rustle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cottonwood¡¡leaves¡£¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡ahead¡¡to¡¡an¡¡opening¡¡among¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡to¡¡an¡¡ancient¡¡ruin¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡once¡¡been¡¡a¡¡considerable¡¡structure£»¡¡built¡¡right¡¡from¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pool¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡¡where¡¡it¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡native¡¡rock¡£
¡¡Only¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡remained£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡a¡¡wall¡¡that¡¡reached¡¡up¡¡to¡¡six¡¡feet£»¡¡slanting¡¡down¡¡to¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡three¡¡feet¡¡near¡¡the¡¡water¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡green¡¡grass¡¡all¡¡around£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡stillness¡¡that¡¡came¡¡from¡¡utter¡¡isolation¡£
¡¡First¡¡off£»¡¡I¡¡let¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡drink¡¡sparingly£»¡¡and¡¡drank¡¡myself£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡filled¡¡Rocca's¡¡canteen¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡while¡¡I¡¡kept¡¡my¡¡ears¡¡tuned¡¡for¡¡any¡¡sound¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡tracks¡¡around¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see£»¡¡no¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡campfires£»¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡show¡¡anybody¡¡had¡¡been¡¡here¡¡at¡¡all¡¡in¡¡years¡£
¡¡Picketing¡¡the¡¡horses£»¡¡I¡¡found¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡that¡¡protected¡¡me¡¡on¡¡two¡¡sides¡£¡¡A¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡fallen¡¡adobe¡¡bricks¡¡mingled¡¡with¡¡chunks¡¡of¡¡rock¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡used¡¡in¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡formed¡¡a¡¡partial¡¡breastwork¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡sides¡£
¡¡Tired¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sleep¡¡in¡¡me¡£¡¡Places¡¡like¡¡this¡¡made¡¡a¡¡man¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡sad¡£¡¡Somebody¡¡had¡¡lived¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡judging¡¡by¡¡the¡¡look¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡different¡¡people¡¡at¡¡different¡¡times¡£¡¡There¡¡had¡¡once¡¡been¡¡a¡¡building¡¡of¡¡native¡¡stone¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡in¡¡and¡¡been¡¡rebuilt¡¡with¡¡adobe¡¡and¡¡rock£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time¡¡was¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡thirty£»¡¡forty¡¡years¡¡back¡£¡¡Indians¡¡had¡¡perhaps¡¡built¡¡the¡¡place¡¡first£»¡¡and¡¡rebuilt¡¡it£»¡¡too¡£¡¡Later¡¡white¡¡people¡¡had¡¡settled¡¡in¡¡here¡¡until¡¡driven¡¡out¡£
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡quiet¡¡place¡£¡¡A¡¡small¡¡garden¡¡patch¡¡had¡¡been¡¡worked¡¡at¡¡one¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡meadow¡¡where¡¡hay¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡cut£»¡¡but¡¡nobody¡¡could¡¡live¡¡long¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡place¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Apaches¡¡on¡¡the¡¡rampage¡£
¡¡I¡¡settled¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡a¡¡while¡¡I¡¡slept¡£¡¡I¡¡awoke¡¡when¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡sun¡¡began¡¡to¡¡filter¡¡through¡¡the¡¡leaves¡£¡¡Everything¡¡was¡¡as¡¡quiet¡¡as¡¡before¡£¡¡I¡¡watered¡¡the¡¡horses£»¡¡saddled¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡move¡¡out£»¡¡but¡¡first¡¡I¡¡had¡¡scouting¡¡to¡¡do¡£
¡¡There¡¡were¡¡crude¡¡steps¡¡cut¡¡from¡¡the¡¡rocks¡¡at¡¡one¡¡side£»¡¡taking¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡natural¡¡steps¡¡left¡¡by¡¡the¡¡erosion¡¡of¡¡rock¡¡layers¡£¡¡Climbing¡¡these£»¡¡I¡¡found¡¡a¡¡natural¡¡hollow¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡shaped¡¡by¡¡hand¡¡into¡¡a¡¡lookout¡¡of¡¡some¡¡fort£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡view¡¡in¡¡all¡¡directions¡£
¡¡For¡¡several¡¡minutes¡¡I¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡desert£»¡¡but¡¡saw¡¡nothing¡£¡¡Back¡¡down¡¡below¡¡again£»¡¡I¡¡dug¡¡into¡¡my¡¡saddlebags¡¡for¡¡the¡¡small¡¡packet¡¡of¡¡coffee¡¡I¡¡always¡¡carried¡¡for¡¡emergencies¡£¡¡Often¡¡I¡¡carried¡¡some¡¡jerky¡¡and¡¡flour£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡there¡¡was¡¡only¡¡the¡¡coffee¡£
¡¡I¡¡built¡¡a¡¡small¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡rinsed¡¡out¡¡an¡¡old¡¡clay¡¡jar¡¡I¡¡found¡£¡¡When¡¡I'd¡¡made¡¡coffee¡¡I¡¡filled¡¡a¡¡cup¡¡and¡¡prowled¡¡around£»¡¡and¡¡finding¡¡some¡¡chia£»¡¡I¡¡gathered¡¡a¡¡handful¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seeds¡¡and¡¡ate¡¡them¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡went¡¡up¡¡for¡¡another¡¡look¡£
¡¡Off¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡¡I¡¡glimpsed¡¡a¡¡buzzard¡£¡¡There¡¡might¡¡be¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡steer£»¡¡or¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡friends£»¡¡and¡¡buzzards¡¡do¡¡not¡¡always¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡a¡¡man¡¡to¡¡die¡£
¡¡Due¡¡north¡¡I¡¡rode£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡swung¡¡wide¡¡to¡¡the¡¡east£»¡¡cutting¡¡for¡¡a¡¡sign¡£¡¡Whatever¡¡was¡¡up¡¡ahead¡¡must¡¡have¡¡left¡¡tracks¡¡getting¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡what¡¡I¡¡was¡¡up¡¡against¡£
¡¡¡¨Tell£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡told¡¡myself£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡better¡¡ride¡¡easy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡saddle¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡you're¡¡headin'¡¡into¡¡trouble¡£¡¨
¡¡That¡¡black¡¡nicked¡¡an¡¡ear¡¡at¡¡me¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡show¡¡he¡¡agreed¡£¡¡A¡¡lonely¡¡man¡¡a¡­horseback¡¡in¡¡wild¡¡country¡¡gets¡¡to¡¡carryin'¡¡on¡¡conversations¡¡with¡¡his¡¡horse£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡horses¡¡bee¡¡right¡¡knowledgeable¡¡and¡¡understanding¡£
¡¡No¡¡tracks¡£¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡up¡¡on¡¡the¡¡east¡¡of¡¡where¡¡the¡¡buzzard¡¡circled£»¡¡and¡¡swung¡¡in¡¡closer¡£¡¡Standing¡¡in¡¡my¡¡stirrups¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡the¡¡country¡¡over£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡first¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡only¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡prickly¡¡pear¡¡around£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡clumps¡¡of¡¡cholla£»¡¡all¡¡white¡¡thorns¡¡on¡¡top£»¡¡brown¡¡underneath¡£
¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡horse¡¡down£»¡¡a¡¡saddled¡¡horse¡£
¡¡Circling¡¡around¡¡it£»¡¡rifle¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡I¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡and¡¡called¡¡out£º¡¡¡¨Spanish£¿¡¡Is¡¡that¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡A¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡buzzards¡¡roosting¡¡in¡¡a¡¡palo¡¡verde¡¡tree¡¡nearby¡¡looked¡¡mighty¡¡upset¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡dropped¡¡his¡¡wings¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡scare¡¡me¡¡off¡¡or¡¡stampede¡¡my¡¡horses¡£
¡¡No¡¡answer¡¡came¡¡back¡£¡¡So¡¡I¡¡cut¡¡a¡¡little¡¡closer£»¡¡then¡¡drew¡¡up¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡around¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡all¡¡just¡¡as¡¡it¡¡should¡¡be£»¡¡sunlit¡¡and¡¡still¡£
¡¡My¡¡black¡¡was¡¡curious£»¡¡too¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡sense¡¡something¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡it¡¡made¡¡him¡¡curious£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡something¡¡he¡¡shied¡¡from¡£¡¡Probably¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡horse¡£
¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡him¡¡slowly¡¡forward£»¡¡the¡¡hammer¡¡of¡¡my¡¡Winchester¡¡eared¡¡back¡¡for¡¡trouble¡£
¡¡The¡¡shirt¡¡was¡¡what¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡first£»¡¡men¡¡the¡¡boots£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Mexican¡¡spurs¡¡with¡¡the¡¡big¡¡rowels¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Spanish¡£
¡¡I¡¡swung¡¡down¡¡and£»¡¡having¡¡tied¡¡the¡¡black¡¡to¡¡a¡¡mesquite£»¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡up¡¡to¡¡him¡£
¡¡He¡¡was¡¡lying¡¡face¡¡down¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sand£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡pulled¡¡his¡¡saddlebags¡¡across¡¡his¡¡kidneys£»¡¡so¡¡he'd¡¡been¡¡alive¡¡and¡¡conscious¡¡when¡¡he¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡buzzards¡¡went¡¡for¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡the¡¡kidneys¡¡first£»¡¡so¡¡he'd¡¡rolled¡¡on¡¡his¡¡face¡¡and¡¡pulled¡¡those¡¡saddlebags¡¡over¡¡him¡£¡¡They¡¡might¡¡not¡¡help¡¡much£»¡¡but¡¡getting¡¡them¡¡off¡¡him¡¡might¡¡bring¡¡him¡¡to¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡the¡¡buzzards¡¡off¡£
¡¡Lifting¡¡the¡¡saddlebags¡¡free£»¡¡I¡¡rolled¡¡him¡¡over¡£
¡¡There¡¡was¡¡blood¡¡all¡¡over¡¡the¡¡front¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡dried¡¡blood¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡e¡¡from¡¡a¡¡shoulder¡¡wound¡£¡¡And¡¡there¡¡was¡¡blood¡¡lower¡¡down¡¡that¡¡came¡¡from¡¡some¡¡place¡¡in¡¡his¡¡middle¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡breathing¡£
¡¡We¡¡were¡¡right¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡buzzards¡¡could¡¡attract¡¡more¡¡than¡¡me£»¡¡so£»¡¡good¡¡for¡¡him¡¡or¡¡not£»¡¡we¡¡had¡¡to¡¡move¡£
¡¡He¡¡muttered¡¡something£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡let¡¡him¡¡know¡¡who¡¡was¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¡Spanish£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You'll¡¡see¡¡that¡¡girl¡¡in¡¡Tucson¡¡yet¡£¡¨
¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡fixing¡¡him¡¡up¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡Gathering¡¡him¡¡into¡¡my¡¡arms£»¡¡I¡¡went¡¡with¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spare¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡put¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡saddle£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡lashed¡¡his¡¡wrists¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pommel¡¡and¡¡his¡¡boots¡¡into¡¡the¡¡stirrups¡£¡¡I¡¡taken¡¡his¡¡saddlebags£»¡¡although¡¡what¡¡was¡¡in¡¡them¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡checked¡¡his¡¡horse£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡animal¡¡was¡¡dead¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡rifle¡¡in¡¡the¡¡saddle¡¡scabbard£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡took¡¡it¡¡along¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡canteen¡£
¡¡We¡¡rode¡¡out¡¡of¡¡there¡¡at¡¡a¡¡good¡¡clip¡£¡¡The¡¡country¡¡ahead¡¡promised¡¡nothing¡£¡¡We¡¡had¡¡two£»¡¡three¡¡days¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡the¡¡border£»¡¡but¡¡we'd¡¡not¡¡be¡¡safe¡¡until¡¡we¡¡got¡¡to¡¡Pete¡¡Kitchen's¡¡or¡¡to¡¡the¡¡settlement¡¡on¡¡the¡¡border¡£
¡¡Taking¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡every¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡mask¡¡my¡¡trail£»¡¡and¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡down¡¡the¡¡dust£»¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡north£»¡¡leading¡¡Spanish¡¡on¡¡Rocca's¡¡horse¡£¡¡The¡¡wind¡¡was¡¡picking¡¡up¡¡a¡¡mite£»¡¡which¡¡might¡¡drift¡¡enough¡¡sand¡¡to¡¡cover¡¡my¡¡tracks£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡small¡¡chance¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡in¡¡time¡£¡¡Several¡¡times¡¡I¡¡slowed¡¡down£»¡¡checking¡¡animal¡¡tracks£»¡¡and¡¡watching¡¡for¡¡any¡¡sign¡¡that¡¡might¡¡indicate¡¡water¡£
¡¡The¡¡trail¡¡behind¡¡was¡¡empty£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡ahead¡¡looked¡¡clear¡£¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡in¡¡my¡¡own¡¡small¡¡world¡¡of¡¡sunlight£»¡¡the¡¡movement¡¡of¡¡horses£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡dust¡¡and¡¡sweat¡£¡¡Ahead¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡a¡¡sawtooth¡¡range¡¡showed¡¡itself¡¡above¡¡the¡¡flatter¡¡country¡¡around¡¡us¡£
¡¡I¡¡slowed¡¡my¡¡horse¡¡to¡¡a¡¡walk£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡were¡¡dark¡¡streaks¡¡of¡¡sweat¡¡along¡¡his¡¡flanks¡£¡¡An¡¡arroyo¡¡opened¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡into¡¡it¡¡and¡¡found¡¡a¡¡way¡¡up¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡bank¡£¡¡A¡¡towering¡¡butte¡¡was¡¡ahead¡¡for¡¡destination¡£
¡¡The¡¡bullet¡¡smashed¡¡against¡¡the¡¡p

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ