the three partners-第8节

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！



mustang；　nothing　could　be　more　unconscious　and　utterly　indifferent

than　his　attitude。　　He　did　not　seem　to　know　of　the　proximity　of　any

other　traveler；　and　to　care　less。　　His　handsome　head　was　slightly

thrown　back；　as　if　he　was　caroling　after　his　usual　fashion；　but　the

distance　was　too　great　to　make　his　melody　audible　to　them；　or　to

allow　Barker's　shout　of　invitation　to　reach　him。　　Suddenly　he

lowered　his　tightened　rein；　the　mustang　sprang　forward；　and　with　a

flash　of　silver　spurs　and　bridle　fripperies　he　had　disappeared。

But　as　the　trail　he　was　pursuing　crossed　theirs　a　mile　beyond；　it

seemed　quite　possible　that　they　should　again　meet　him。



They　were　now　fairly　into　the　Boomville　valley；　and　were　entering　a

narrow　arroyo　bordered　with　dusky　willows　which　effectually

excluded　the　view　on　either　side。　　It　was　the　bed　of　a　mountain

torrent　that　in　winter　descended　the　hillside　over　the　trail　by

which　they　had　just　come；　but　was　now　sunk　into　the　thirsty　plain

between　banks　that　varied　from　two　to　five　feet　in　height。　　The

muleteer　had　advanced　into　the　narrow　channel　when　he　suddenly　cast

a　hurried　glance　behind　him；　uttered　a　〃Madre　de　Dios！〃　and　backed

his　mule　and　his　precious　freight　against　the　bank。　　The　sound　of

hoofs　on　the　trail　in　their　rear　had　caught　his　quicker　ear；　and　as

the　three　partners　turned　they　beheld　three　horsemen　thundering

down　the　hill　towards　them。　　They　were　apparently　Mexican　vaqueros

of　the　usual　common　swarthy　type；　their　faces　made　still　darker　by

the　black　silk　handkerchief　tied　round　their　heads　under　their

stiff　sombreros。　　Either　they　were　unable　or　unwilling　to　restrain

their　horses　in　their　headlong　speed；　and　a　collision　in　that

narrow　passage　was　imminent；　but　suddenly；　before　reaching　its

entrance；　they　diverged　with　a　volley　of　oaths；　and　dashing　along

the　left　bank　of　the　arroyo；　disappeared　in　the　intervening

willows。　　Divided　between　relief　at　their　escape　and　indignation　at

what　seemed　to　be　a　drunken；　feast…day　freak　of　these　roystering

vaqueros；　the　little　party　re…formed；　when　a　cry　from　Barker

arrested　them。　　He　had　just　perceived　a　horseman　motionless　in　the

arroyo　who；　although　unnoticed　by　them；　had　evidently　been　seen　by

the　Mexicans。　　He　had　apparently　leaped　into　it　from　the　bank；　and

had　halted　as　if　to　witness　this　singular　incident。　　As　the　clatter

of　the　vaqueros'　hoofs　died　away　he　lightly　leaped　the　bank　again

and　disappeared。　　But　in　that　single　glimpse　of　him　they　recognized

Jack　Hamlin。　　When　they　reached　the　spot　where　he　had　halted；　they

could　see　that　he　must　have　approached　it　from　the　trail　where　they

had　previously　seen　him；　but　which　they　now　found　crossed　it　at

right　angles。　　Barker　was　right。　　He　had　really　kept　them　at　easy

distance　the　whole　length　of　the　journey。



But　they　were　now　reaching　its　end。　　When　they　issued　at　last　from

the　arroyo　they　came　upon　the　outskirts　of　Boomville　and　the　great

stage…road。　　Indeed；　the　six　horses　of　the　Pioneer　coach　were　just

panting　along　the　last　half　mile　of　the　steep　upgrade　as　they

approached。　　They　halted　mechanically　as　the　heavy　vehicle　swayed

and　creaked　by　them。　　In　their　ordinary　working　dress；　sunburnt

with　exposure；　covered　with　dust；　and　carrying　their　rifles　still

in　their　hands；　they；　perhaps；　presented　a　sufficiently

characteristic　appearance　to　draw　a　few　facessome　of　them　pretty

and　intelligentto　the　windows　of　the　coach　as　it　passed。　　The

sensitive　Barker　was　quickest　to　feel　that　resentment　with　which

the　Pioneer　usually　met　the　wide…eyed　criticism　of　the　Eastern

tourist　or　〃greenhorn；〃　and　reddened　under　the　bold　scrutiny　of　a

pair　of　black　inquisitive　eyes　behind　an　eyeglass。　　That　annoyance

was　communicated；　though　in　a　lesser　degree；　even　to　the　bearded

Demorest　and　Stacy。　　It　was　an　unexpected　contact　with　that　great

world　in　which　they　were　so　soon　to　enter。　　They　felt　ashamed　of

their　appearance；　and　yet　ashamed　of　that　feeling。　　They　felt　a

secret　satisfaction　when　Barker　said；　〃They'd　open　their　eyes　wider

if　they　knew　what　was　in　that　pack…saddle；〃　and　yet　they　corrected

him　for　what　they　were　pleased　to　call　his　〃snobbishness。〃　　They

hurried　a　little　faster　as　the　road　became　more　frequented；　as　if

eager　to　shorten　their　distance　to　clean　clothes　and　civilization。



Only　Demorest　began　to　linger　in　the　rear。　　This　contact　with　the

stagecoach　had　again　brought　him　face　to　face　with　his　buried　past。

He　felt　his　old　dream　revive；　and　occasionally　turned　to　look　back

upon　the　dark　outlines　of　Black　Spur；　under　whose　shadow　it　had

returned　so　often；　and　wondered　if　he　had　left　it　there　forever；

and　it　were　now　slowly　exhaling　with　the　thinned　and　dying　smoke　of

their　burning　cabin。



His　companions；　knowing　his　silent　moods；　had　preceded　him　at　some

distance；　when　he　heard　the　soft　sound　of　ambling　hoofs　on　the

thick　dust；　and　suddenly　the　light　touch　of　Jack　Hamlin's　gauntlet

on　his　shoulder。　　The　mustang　Jack　bestrode　was　reeking　with　grime

and　sweat；　but　Jack　himself　was　as　immaculate　and　fresh　as　ever。

With　a　delightful　affectation　of　embarrassment　and　timidity　he

began　flicking　the　side　buttons　of　his　velvet　vaquero　trousers　with

the　thong　of　his　riata。　　〃I　reckoned　to　sling　a　word　along　with　you

before　you　went；〃　he　said；　looking　down；　〃but　I'm　so　shy　that　I

couldn't　do　it　in　company。　　So　I　thought　I'd　get　it　off　on　you

while　you　were　alone。〃



〃We've　seen　you　once　or　twice　before；　this　morning；〃　said　Demorest

pleasantly；　〃and　we　were　sorry　you　didn't　join　us。〃



〃I　reckon　I　might　have；〃　said　Jack　gayly；　〃if　my　horse　had　only

made　up　his　mind　whether　he　was　a　bird　or　a　squirrel；　and　hadn't

been　so　various　and　promiscuous　about　whether　he　wanted　to　climb　a

tree　or　fly。　　He's　not　a　bad　horse　for　a　Mexican　plug；　only　when　he

thinks　there　is　any　devilment　around　he　wants　to　wade　in　and　take　a

hand。　　However；　I　reckoned　to　see　the　last　of　you　and　your　pile

into　Boomville。　　And　I　DID。　　When　I　meet　three　fellows　like　you

that　are　clean　white　all　through　I　sort　of　cotton　to　'em；　even　if

I'M　a　little　of　a　brunette　myself。　　And　I've　got　something　to　give

you。〃



He　took　from　a　fold　of　his　scarlet　sash　a　small　parcel　neatly

folded　in　white　paper　as　fresh　and　spotless　as　himself。　　Holding　it

in　his　fingers；　he　went　on：　〃I　happened　to　be　at　Heavy　Tree　Hill

early　this　morning　before　sun…up。　　In　the　darkness　I　struck　your

cabin；　and　I　reckonI　struck　somebody　else！　　At　first　I　thought　it

was　one　of　you　chaps　down　on　your　knees　praying　at　the　rear　of　the

cabin；　but　the　way　the　fellow　lit　out　when　he　smelt　me　coming　made

me　think　it　wasn't　entirely　fasting　and　prayer。　　However；　I　went　to

the　rear　of　the　cabin；　and　then　I　reckoned　some　kind　friend　had

been　bringing　you　kindlings　and　firewood　for　your　early　breakfast。

But　that　didn't　satisfy　me；　so　I　knelt　down　as　he　had　knelt；　and

then　I　sawwell；　Mr。　Demorest；　I　reckon　I　saw　JUST　WHAT　YOU　HAVE

SEEN！　　But　even　then　I　wasn't　quite　satisfied；　for　that　man　had

been　grubbing　round　as　if　searching　for　something。　　So　I　searched

tooand　I　found　IT。　　I've　got　it　here。　　I'm　going　to　give　it　to

you；　for　it　may　some　day　come　in　handy；　and　you　won't　find　anything

like　it　among　the　folks　where　you're　going。　　It's　something　unique；

as　those　fine…art…collecting　sharps　in　'Frisco　saysomething　quite

matchless；　unless　you　try　to　match　it　one　day　yourself！　　Don't　open

the　paper　until　I　run　on　and　say　'So　long'　to　your　partners。　　Good…

by。〃



He　grasped　Demorest's　hand　and　then　dropped　the　little　packet　into

his　palm；　and　ambled　away　towards　Stacy　and　Barker。　　Holding　the

packet　in　his　hand　with　an　amused　yet　puzzled　smile；　Demorest

watched　the　gambler　give　Stacy's　hand　a　hearty　farewell　shake　and　a

supplementary　slap　on　the　back　to　the　delighted　Barker；　and　then

vanish　in　a　flash　of　red　sash　and　silver　buttons。　　At　which

Demorest；　walking　slowly　towards　his　partners；　opened　the　packet；

and　stood　suddenly　still。　　It　contained　the　dried　and　bloodless

second　finger　of　a　human　hand　cut　off　at　the　first　joint！



For　an　instant　he　held　it　at　arm's　length；　as　if　about　to　cast　it

away。　　Then　he　grimly　replaced　it　in　the　paper；　put　it　carefully　in

his　pocket；　and　silently　walked　after　his　companions。





CHAPTER　I





A　strong　southwester　was　beating　against　the　windows　and　doors　of

Stacy's　Bank　in　San　Francisco；　and　spreading　a　film　of　rain　between

the　regular　splendors　of　its　mahogany　counters　and　sprucely　dressed

clerks　and　the　usual　passing　pedestrian。　　For　Stacy's　new　banking…

house　had　long　since　received　the　epithet　of　〃palatial〃　from　an

enthusiastic　local　press　fresh　from　the　〃opening〃　luncheon　in　its

richly　decorated　directors'　rooms；　and　it　was　said　that　once　a

homely　would…be　depositor　from　One　Horse　Gulch　was　so　cowed　by　its

magnificence　that　his　heart　failed　him　at　the　last　moment；　and

mumbling　an　apology　to　the　elegant　receiving　teller；　fled　w