to the last man-第7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！


angles；　and　was　bordered　by　cedar　and　pinyon；　jack…pine　and　juniper；
mescal　and　manzanita。　　Quite　sharply；　going　around　a　ridge；　the　road
led　Jean's　eye　down　to　a　small　open　flat　of　marshy；　or　at　least　grassy；
ground。　　This　green　oasis　in　the　wilderness　of　red　and　timbered　ridges
marked　another　change　in　the　character　of　the　Basin。　　Beyond　that　the
country　began　to　spread　out　and　roll　gracefully；　its　dark…green　forest
interspersed　with　grassy　parks；　until　Jean　headed　into　a　long；　wide
gray…green　valley　surrounded　by　black…fringed　hills。　　His　pulses
quickened　here。　　He　saw　cattle　dotting　the　expanse；　and　here　and
there　along　the　edge　log　cabins　and　corrals。

As　a　village；　Grass　Valley　could　not　boast　of　much；　apparently；　in　the
way　of　population。　　Cabins　and　houses　were　widely　scattered；　as　if　the
inhabitants　did　not　care　to　encroach　upon　one　another。　　But　the　one
store；　built　of　stone；　and　stamped　also　with　the　characteristic
isolation；　seemed　to　Jean　to　be　a　rather　remarkable　edifice。　　Not
exactly　like　a　fort　did　it　strike　him；　but　if　it　had　not　been　designed
for　defense　it　certainly　gave　that　impression；　especially　from　the　long；
low　side　with　its　dark　eye…like　windows　about　the　height　of　a　man's
shoulder。　　Some　rather　fine　horses　were　tied　to　a　hitching　rail。
Otherwise　dust　and　dirt　and　age　and　long　use　stamped　this　Grass　Valley
store　and　its　immediate　environment。

Jean　threw　his　bridle；　and；　getting　down；　mounted　the　low　porch　and
stepped　into　the　wide　open　door。　　A　face；　gray　against　the　background
of　gloom　inside；　passed　out　of　sight　just　as　Jean　entered。　　He　knew　he
had　been　seen。　　In　front　of　the　long；　rather　low…ceiled　store　were　four
men；　all　absorbed；　apparently；　in　a　game　of　checkers。　　Two　were　playing
and　two　were　looking　on。　　One　of　these；　a　gaunt…faced　man　past　middle
age；　casually　looked　up　as　Jean　entered。　　But　the　moment　of　that　casual
glance　afforded　Jean　time　enough　to　meet　eyes　he　instinctively　distrusted。
They　masked　their　penetration。　　They　seemed　neither　curious　nor　friendly。
They　saw　him　as　if　he　had　been　merely　thin　air。

〃Good　evenin'；〃　said　Jean。

After　what　appeared　to　Jean　a　lapse　of　time　sufficient　to　impress　him
with　a　possible　deafness　of　these　men；　the　gaunt…faced　one　said；
〃Howdy；　Isbel！　〃

The　tone　was　impersonal；　dry；　easy；　cool；　laconic；　and　yet　it　could
not　have　been　more　pregnant　with　meaning。　　Jean's　sharp　sensibilities
absorbed　much。　　None　of　the　slouch…sombreroed；　long…mustached　Texans
for　so　Jean　at　once　classed　themhad　ever　seen　Jean；　but　they　knew
him　and　knew　that　he　was　expected　in　Grass　Valley。　　All　but　the　one
who　had　spoken　happened　to　have　their　faces　in　shadow　under　the
wide…brimmed　black　hats。　　Motley…garbed；　gun…belted；　dusty…booted；
they　gave　Jean　the　same　impression　of　latent　force　that　he　had
encountered　in　Colter。

〃Will　somebody　please　tell　me　where　to　find　my　father；　Gaston　Isbel？〃
inquired　Jean；　with　as　civil　a　tongue　as　he　could　command。

Nobody　paid　the　slightest　attention。　　It　was　the　same　as　if　Jean　had
not　spoken。　　Waiting；　half　amused；　half　irritated；　Jean　shot　a　rapid
glance　around　the　store。　　The　place　had　felt　bare；　and　Jean；　peering
back　through　gloomy　space；　saw　that　it　did　not　contain　much。　　Dry　goods
and　sacks　littered　a　long　rude　counter；　long　rough　shelves　divided
their　length　into　stacks　of　canned　foods　and　empty　sections；　a　low
shelf　back　of　the　counter　held　a　generous　burden　of　cartridge　boxes；
and　next　to　it　stood　a　rack　of　rifles。　　On　the　counter　lay　open　cases
of　plug　tobacco；　the　odor　of　which　was　second　in　strength　only　to　that
of　rum。

Jean's　swift…roving　eye　reverted　to　the　men；　three　of　whom　were
absorbed　in　the　greasy　checkerboard。　　The　fourth　man　was　the　one
who　had　spoken　and　he　now　deigned　to　look　at　Jean。　　Not　much　flesh
was　there　stretched　over　his　bony；　powerful　physiognomy。　　He　stroked
a　lean　chin　with　a　big　mobile　hand　that　suggested　more　of　bridle
holding　than　familiarity　with　a　bucksaw　and　plow　handle。　　It　was
a　lazy　hand。　　The　man　looked　lazy。　　If　he　spoke　at　all　it　would　be
with　lazy　speech。　yet　Jean　had　not　encountered　many　men　to　whom　he
would　have　accorded　more　potency　to　stir　in　him　the　instinct　of
self…preservation。

〃Shore；〃　drawled　this　gaunt…faced　Texan；　〃old　Gass　lives　aboot　a　mile
down　heah。　　〃With　slow　sweep　of　the　big　hand　he　indicated　a　general
direction　to　the　south；　then；　appearing　to　forget　his　questioner；
he　turned　his　attention　to　the　game。

Jean　muttered　his　thanks　and；　striding　out；　he　mounted　again；　and
drove　the　pack　mule　down　the　road。　　〃Reckon　I've　ran　into　the　wrong
folds　to…day；〃　he　said。　　〃If　I　remember　dad　right　he　was　a　man　to　make
an'　keep　friends。　　Somehow　I'll　bet　there's　goin'　to　be　hell。〃　　Beyond
the　store　were　some　rather　pretty　and　comfortable　homes；　little　ranch
houses　back　in　the　coves　of　the　hills。　　The　road　turned　west　and　Jean
saw　his　first　sunset　in　the　Tonto　Basin。　　It　was　a　pageant　of　purple
clouds　with　silver　edges；　and　background　of　deep　rich　gold。　　Presently
Jean　met　a　lad　driving　a　cow。　　〃Hello；　Johnny！〃　he　said；　genially；　and
with　a　double　purpose。　　〃My　name's　Jean　Isbel。　　By　Golly！　I'm　lost　in
Grass　Valley。　　Will　you　tell　me　where　my　dad　lives？〃

〃Yep。　　Keep　right　on；　an'　y'u　cain't　miss　him；〃　replied　the　lad；　with
a　bright　smile。　　〃He's　lookin'　fer　y'u。〃

〃How　do　you　know；　boy？〃　queried　Jean；　warmed　by　that　smile。

〃Aw；　I　know。　　It's　all　over　the　valley　thet　y'u'd　ride　in　ter…day。
Shore　I　wus　the　one　thet　tole　yer　dad　an'　he　give　me　a　dollar。〃

〃Was　he　glad　to　hear　it？〃　asked　Jean；　with　a　queer　sensation　in
his　throat。

〃Wal；　he　plumb　was。〃

〃An'　who　told　you　I　was　goin'　to　ride　in　to…day？〃

〃I　heerd　it　at　the　store；〃　replied　the　lad；　with　an　air　of　confidence。
〃Some　sheepmen　was　talkin'　to　Greaves。　　He's　the　storekeeper。　　I　was
settin'　outside；　but　I　heerd。　　A　Mexican　come　down　off　the　Rim　ter…day
an'　he　fetched　the　news。〃　　Here　the　lad　looked　furtively　around；　then
whispered。　　〃An'　thet　greaser　was　sent　by　somebody。　　I　never　heerd　no
more；　but　them　sheepmen　looked　pretty　plumb　sour。　　An'　one　of　them；
comin'　out；　give　me　a　kick；　darn　him。　　It　shore　is　the　luckedest　day
fer　us　cowmen。〃

〃How's　that；　Johnny？〃

〃Wal；　that's　shore　a　big　fight　comin'　to　Grass　Valley。　　My　dad　says
so　an'　he　rides　fer　yer　dad。　　An'　if　it　comes　now　y'u'll　be　heah。〃

〃Ahuh！〃　laughed　Jean。　　〃An'　what　then；　boy？〃

The　lad　turned　bright　eyes　upward。　　〃Aw；　now；　yu'all　cain't　come　thet
on　me。　　Ain't　y'u　an　Injun；　Jean　Isbel？　　Ain't　y'u　a　hoss　tracker　thet
rustlers　cain't　fool？　　Ain't　y'u　a　plumb　dead　shot？　　Ain't　y'u　wuss'ern
a　grizzly　bear　in　a　rough…an'…tumble？　。　。　。　Now　ain't　y'u；　shore？〃

Jean　bade　the　flattering　lad　a　rather　sober　good　day　and　rode　on
his　way。　　Manifestly　a　reputation　somewhat　difficult　to　live　up　to
had　preceded　his　entry　into　Grass　Valley。

Jean's　first　sight　of　his　future　home　thrilled　him　through。　　It　was
a　big；　low；　rambling　log　structure　standing　well　out　from　a　wooded
knoll　at　the　edge　of　the　valley。　　Corrals　and　barns　and　sheds　lay
off　at　the　back。　　To　the　fore　stretched　broad　pastures　where　numberless
cattle　and　horses　grazed。　　At　sunset　the　scene　was　one　of　rich　color。
Prosperity　and　abundance　and　peace　seemed　attendant　upon　that　ranch；
lusty　voices　of　burros　braying　and　cows　bawling　seemed　welcoming　Jean。
A　hound　bayed。　　The　first　cool　touch　of　wind　fanned　Jean's　cheek　and
brought　a　fragrance　of　wood　smoke　and　frying　ham。

Horses　in　the　Pasture　romped　to　the　fence　and　whistled　at　these
newcomers。　　Jean　espied　a　white…faced　black　horse　that　gladdened
his　sight。　　〃Hello；　Whiteface！　　I'll　sure　straddle　you；〃　called　Jean。
Then　up　the　gentle　slope　he　saw　the　tall　figure　of　his　fatherthe
same　as　he　had　seen　him　thousands　of　times；　bareheaded；　shirt　sleeved；
striding　with　long　step。　　Jean　waved　and　called　to　him。

〃Hi；　You　Prodigal！〃　came　the　answer。　　Yes；　the　voice　of　his　father
and　Jean's　boyhood　memories　flashed。　　He　hurried　his　horse　those　last
few　rods。　　Nodad　was　not　the　same。　　His　hair　shone　gray。

〃Here　I　am；　dad；〃　called　Jean；　and　then　he　was　dismounting。　　A　deep；
quiet　emotion　settled　over　him；　stilling　the　hurry；　the　eagerness；
the　pang　in　his　breast。

〃Son；　I　shore　am　glad　to　see　you；〃　said　his　father；　and　wrung　his　hand。
〃Wal；　wal；　the　size　of　you！　　Shore　you've　grown；　any　how　you　favor
your　mother。〃

Jean　felt　in　the　iron　clasp　of　hand；　in　the　uplifting　of　the　handsome
head；　in　the　strong；　fine　light　of　piercing　eyes　that　there　was　no
difference　in　the　spirit　of　his　father。　　But　the　old　smile　could　not
hide　lines　and　shades　strange　to　Jean。

〃Dad；　I'm　as　glad　as　you；〃　replied　Jean；　heartily。　　〃It　seems　long
we've　been　parted；　now　I　see　you。　　Are　You　well；　dad；　an'　all　right？〃

〃Not　complainin'；　son。　I　can　ride　all　day　same　as　ever；〃　he　said。
〃Come。　　Never　mind　your　hosses。　　They'll　be　looked　after。
Come　meet　the　folks。　。　。　。　Wal；　wal；　you　got　heah　at　last。〃

On　the　porch　of　the　house　a　group　awaited　Jean's　coming；　rather
silently；　he　thought。　　Wide…eyed　children　were　there；　very　shy　and
watchful。　　The　dark　face　of　his　sister　corresponded　with　the　image
of　her　in　his　memory。　　She　appeared　taller；　more　woman