the outlet-第26节
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I had never before witnessed； though the rainfall； after the first dash； was light in quantity。 Several times the rain ceased entirely； when the phosphorus； like a prairie fire； appeared on every hand。 Great sheets of it flickered about； the cattle and saddle stock were soon covered； while every bit of metal on our accoutrements was coated and twinkling with phosphorescent light。 My gauntlets were covered； and wherever I touched myself； it seemed to smear and spread and refuse to wipe out。 Several times we were able to hold up and quiet the cattle； but along their backs flickered the ghostly light； while across the herd； which occupied acres； it reminded one of the burning lake in the regions infernal。 As the night wore on； several showers fell； accompanied by almost incessant bolts of lightning； but the rainfall only added moisture to the ground and this acted like fuel in reviving the phosphor。 Several hours before dawn ； great sheets of the fiery elements chased each other across the northern sky； lighting up our surroundings until one could have read ordinary print。 The cattle stood humped or took an occasional step forward； the men sat their horses； sullen and morose； forming new resolutions for the future； in which trail work was not included。 But morning came at last； cool and cloudy； a slight recompense for the heat which we had endured since leaving Dodge。
With the breaking of day； the herd was turned back on its course。 For an hour or more the cattle grazed freely； and as the sun broke through the clouds； they dropped down like tired infantry on a march； and we allowed them an hour's rest。 We were still some three or four miles eastward of the trail； and after breakfasting and changing mounts we roused the cattle and started on an angle for the trail； expecting to intercept it before noon。 There was some settlement in the Smoky River Valley which must be avoided； as in years past serious enmity had been engendered between settlers and drovers in consequence of the ravages of Texas fever among native cattle。 I was riding on the left point； and when within a short distance of the trail； one of the boys called my attention to a loose herd of cattle； drifting south and fully two miles to the west of us。 It was certainly something unusual； and as every man of us scanned them； a lone horseman was seen to ride across their front； and； turning them； continue on for our herd。 The situation was bewildering； as the natural course of every herd was northward； but here was one apparently abandoned like a water…logged ship at sea。
The messenger was a picture of despair。 He proved to be the owner of the abandoned cattle； and had come to us with an appeal for help。 According to his story； he was a Northern cowman and had purchased the cattle a few days before in Dodge。 He had bought the outfit complete； with the understanding that the through help would continue in his service until his range in Wyoming was reached。 But it was a Mexican outfit； foreman and all； and during the storm of the night before； one of the men had been killed by lightning。 The accident must have occurred near dawn； as the man was not missed until daybreak； and like ours； his cattle had drifted with the storm。 Some time was lost in finding the body； and to add to the panic that had already stricken the outfit； the shirt of the unfortunate vaquero was burnt from the corpse。 The horse had escaped scathless； though his rider met death； while the housings were stripped from the saddle so that it fell from the animal。 The Mexican foreman and vaqueros had thrown their hands in the air； steeped in superstition； they considered the loss of their comrade a had omen； and refused to go farther。 The herd was as good as abandoned unless we could lend a hand。
The appeal was not in vain。 Detailing four of my men； and leaving Jack Splann as segundo in charge of our cattle； I galloped away with the stranger。 As we rode the short distance between the two herds and I mentally reviewed the situation； I could not help but think it was fortunate for the alien outfit that their employer was a Northern cowman instead of a Texan。 Had the present owner been of the latter school； there would have been more than one dead Mexican before a valuable herd would have been abandoned over an unavoidable accident。 I kept my thoughts to myself； however； for the man had troubles enough； and on reaching his drifting herd； we turned them back on their course。 It was high noon when we reached his wagon and found the Mexican outfit still keening over their dead comrade。 We pushed the cattle； a mixed herd of about twenty…five hundred； well past the camp； and riding back； dismounted among the howling vaqueros。 There was not the semblance of sanity among them。 The foreman； who could speak some little English； at least his employer declared he could； was carrying on like a madman； while a majority of the vaqueros were playing a close second。 The dead man had been carried in and was lying under a tarpaulin in the shade of the wagon。 Feeling that my boys would stand behind me； and never offering to look at the corpse； I inquired in Spanish of the vaqueros which one of the men was their corporal。 A heavy…set； bearded man was pointed out； and walking up to him； with one hand I slapped him in the face and with the other relieved him of a six…shooter。 He staggered back； turned ashen pale； and before he could recover from the surprise； in his own tongue I berated him as a worthless cur for deserting his employer over an accident。 Following up the temporary advantage； I inquired for the cook and horse…wrangler； and intimated clearly that there would be other dead Mexicans if the men were not fed and the herd and saddle stock looked after； that they were not worthy of the name of vaqueros if they were lax in a duty with which they had been intrusted。
〃But Pablo is dead；〃 piped one of the vaqueros in defense。
〃Yes； he is；〃 said GG Cederdall in Spanish； bristling up to the vaquero who had volunteered the reply； 〃and we'll bury him and a half…dozen more of you if necessary； but the cattle will not be abandonednot for a single hour。 Pablo is dead； but he was no better than a hundred other men who have lost their lives on this trail。 If you are a lot of locoed sheep…herders instead of vaqueros； why didn't you stay at home with the children instead of starting out to do a man's work。 Desert your employer； will you？ Not in a country where there is no chance to pick up other men。 Yes； Pablo is dead； and we'll bury him。〃
The aliens were disconcerted； and wilted。 The owner picked up courage and ordered the cook to prepare dinner。 We loaned our horses to the wrangler and another man； the remuda was brought in； and before we sat down to the midday meal； every vaquero had a horse under saddle； while two of them had ridden away to look after the grazing cattle。 With order restored； we set about systematically to lay away the unfortunate man。 A detail of vaqueros under Cederdall prepared a grave on the nearest knoll； and wrapping the corpse in a tarpaulin； we buried him like a sailor at sea。 Several vaqueros were visibly affected at the graveside； and in order to pacify them； I suggested that we unload the wagon of supplies and haul up a load of rock from a near…by outcropping ledge。 Pablo had fallen like a good soldier at his post； I urged； and it was befitting that his comrades should mark his last resting…place。 To our agreeable surprise the corporal hurrahed his men and the wagon was unloaded in a jiffy and dispatched after a load of rock。 On its return； we spent an hour in decorating the mound； during which time lament was expressed for the future of Pablo's soul。 Knowing the almost universal faith of this alien race； as we stood around the finished mound； Cederdall； who was Catholic born； called for contributions to procure the absolution of the Church。 The owner of the cattle was the first to respond； and with the aid of my boys and myself； augmented later by the vaqueros； a purse of over fifty dollars was raised and placed in charge of the corporal； to be expended in a private mass on their return to San Antonio。 Meanwhile the herd and saddle stock had started； and reloading the wagon； we cast a last glance at the little mound which made a new landmark on the old trail。
The owner of the cattle was elated over the restoration of order。 My contempt for him； however； had not decreased； the old maxim of fools rushing in where angels feared to tread had only been again exemplified。 The inferior races may lack in courage and leadership； hut never in cunning and craftiness。 This alien outfit had detected some weakness in the armor of their new employer； and when the emergency arose； were ready to take advantage of the situation。 Yet under an old patron； these same men would never dare to mutiny or assert themselves。 That there were possible breakers ahead for this cowman there was no doubt； for every day that those Mexicans traveled into a strange country； their Aztec blood would yearn for their Southern home。 And since the unforeseen could not be guarded against； at the first opportunity I warned the stranger that it was altogether too soon to shout。 To his anxious inquiries I replied that his very presence with the h
