to the last man-第8节

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of　her　in　his　memory。　　She　appeared　taller；　more　womanly；　as　she
embraced　him。　　〃Oh；　Jean；　Jean；　I'm　glad　you've　come！〃　she　cried；
and　pressed　him　close。　　Jean　felt　in　her　a　woman's　anxiety　for　the
present　as　well　as　affection　for　the　past。　　He　remembered　his　aunt
Mary；　though　he　had　not　seen　her　for　years。　　His　half　brothers；
Bill　and　Guy；　had　changed　but　little　except　perhaps　to　grow　lean
and　rangy。　　Bill　resembled　his　father；　though　his　aspect　was　jocular
rather　than　serious。　　Guy　was　smaller；　wiry；　and　hard　as　rock；　with
snapping　eyes　in　a　brown；　still　face；　and　he　had　the　bow…legs　of　a
cattleman。　　Both　had　married　in　Arizona。　　Bill's　wife；　Kate；　was　a
stout；　comely　little　woman；　mother　of　three　of　the　children。　　The
other　wife　was　young；　a　strapping　girl；　red　headed　and　freckled；　with
wonderful　lines　of　pain　and　strength　in　her　face。　　Jean　remembered；
as　he　looked　at　her；　that　some　one　had　written　him　about　the　tragedy
in　her　life。　　When　she　was　only　a　child　the　Apaches　had　murdered　all
her　family。　　Then　next　to　greet　Jean　were　the　little　children；　all　shy；
yet　all　manifestly　impressed　by　the　occasion。　　A　warmth　and　intimacy
of　forgotten　home　emotions　flooded　over　Jean。　　Sweet　it　was　to　get
home　to　these　relatives　who　loved　him　and　welcomed　him　with　quiet
gladness。　　But　there　seemed　more。　　Jean　was　quick　to　see　the　shadow
in　the　eyes　of　the　women　in　that　household　and　to　sense　a　strange
reliance　which　his　presence　brought。

〃Son；　this　heah　Tonto　is　a　land　of　milk　an'　honey；〃　said　his　father；
as　Jean　gazed　spellbound　at　the　bounteous　supper。

Jean　certainly　performed　gastronomic　feats　on　this　occasion；　to　the
delight　of　Aunt　Mary　and　the　wonder　of　the　children。　　〃Oh；　he's
starv…ved　to　death；〃　whispered　one　of　the　little　boys　to　his　sister。
They　had　begun　to　warm　to　this　stranger　uncle。　　Jean　had　no　chance
to　talk；　even　had　he　been　able　to；　for　the　meal…time　showed　a　relaxation
of　restraint　and　they　all　tried　to　tell　him　things　at　once。　　In　the
bright　lamplight　his　father　looked　easier　and　happier　as　he　beamed
upon　Jean。

After　supper　the　men　went　into　an　adjoining　room　that　appeared　most
comfortable　and　attractive。　　It　was　long；　and　the　width　of　the　house；
with　a　huge　stone　fireplace；　low　ceiling　of　hewn　timbers　and　walls　of
the　same；　small　windows　with　inside　shutters　of　wood；　and　home…made
table　and　chairs　and　rugs。

〃Wal；　Jean；　do　you　recollect　them　shootin'…irons？〃　inquired　the　rancher；
pointing　above　the　fireplace。　　Two　guns　hung　on　the　spreading　deer
antlers　there。　　One　was　a　musket　Jean's　father　had　used　in　the　war
of　the　rebellion　and　the　other　was　a　long；　heavy；　muzzle…loading
flintlock　Kentucky；　rifle　with　which　Jean　had　learned　to　shoot。

〃Reckon　I　do；　dad；〃　replied　Jean；　and　with　reverent　hands　and　a　rush
of　memory　he　took　the　old　gun　down。

〃Jean；　you　shore　handle　thet　old　arm　some　clumsy；〃　said　Guy　Isbel；
dryly。　　And　Bill　added　a　remark　to　the　effect　that　perhaps　Jean　had
been　leading　a　luxurious　and　tame　life　back　there　in　Oregon；　and　then
added；　　〃But　I　reckon　he's　packin'　that　six…shooter　like　a　Texan。〃

〃Say；　I　fetched　a　gun　or　two　along　with　me；〃　replied　Jean；　jocularly。
〃Reckon　I　near　broke　my　poor　mule's　back　with　the　load　of　shells　an'
guns。　　Dad；　what　was　the　idea　askin'　me　to　pack　out　an　arsenal？〃

〃Son；　shore　all　shootin'　arms　an'　such　are　at　a　premium　in　the　Tonto；〃
replied　his　father。　　〃An'　I　was　givin'　you　a　hunch　to　come　loaded。〃

His　cool；　drawling　voice　seemed　to　put　a　damper　upon　the　pleasantries。
Right　there　Jean　sensed　the　charged　atmosphere。　　His　brothers　were
bursting　with　utterance　about　to　break　forth；　and　his　father　suddenly
wore　a　look　that　recalled　to　Jean　critical　times　of　days　long　past。
But　the　entrance　of　the　children　and　the　women　folk　put　an　end　to
confidences。　　Evidently　the　youngsters　were　laboring　under　subdued
excitement。　　They　preceded　their　mother；　the　smallest　boy　in　the　lead。
For　him　this　must　have　been　both　a　dreadful　and　a　wonderful　experience；
for　he　seemed　to　be　pushed　forward　by　his　sister　and　brother　and
mother；　and　driven　by　yearnings　of　his　own。　　〃There　now；　Lee。　　Say；
'Uncle　Jean；　what　did　you　fetch　us？'　　The　lad　hesitated　for　a　shy；
frightened　look　at　Jean；　and　then；　gaining　something　from　his　scrutiny
of　his　uncle；　he　toddled　forward　and　bravely　delivered　the　question
of　tremendous　importance。

〃What　did　I　fetch　you；　hey？〃　cried　Jean；　in　delight；　as　he　took　the
lad　up　on　his　knee。　　〃Wouldn't　you　like　to　know？　　I　didn't　forget；　Lee。
I　remembered　you　all。　　Oh！　the　job　I　had　packin'　your　bundle　of　presents。
。　。　。　Now；　Lee；　make　a　guess。〃

〃I　dess　you　fetched　a　dun；〃　replied　Lee。

〃A　dun！I'll　bet　you　mean　a　gun；〃　laughed　Jean。　　〃Well；　you　four…year…old
Texas　gunman！　　Make　another　guess。〃

That　appeared　too　momentous　and　entrancing　for　the　other　two　youngsters；
and；　adding　their　shrill　and　joyous　voices　to　Lee's；　they　besieged　Jean。

〃Dad；　where's　my　pack？　〃　cried　Jean。　　〃These　young　Apaches　are　after
my　scalp。〃

〃Reckon　the　boys　fetched　it　onto　the　porch；〃　replied　the　rancher。

Guy　Isbel　opened　the　door　and　went　out。　　〃By　golly！　heah's　three
packs；〃　he　called。　　〃Which　one　do　you　want；　Jean？〃

〃It's　a　long；　heavy　bundle；　all　tied　up；〃　replied　Jean。

Guy　came　staggering　in　under　a　burden　that　brought　a　whoop　from
the　youngsters　and　bright　gleams　to　the　eyes　of　the　women。　　Jean
lost　nothing　of　this。　　How　glad　he　was　that　he　had　tarried　in
San　Francisco　because　of　a　mental　picture　of　this　very　reception
in　far…off　wild　Arizona。

When　Guy　deposited　the　bundle　on　the　floor　it　jarred　the　room。
It　gave　forth　metallic　and　rattling　and　crackling　sounds。

〃Everybody　stand　back　an'　give　me　elbow　room；〃　ordered　Jean；
majestically。　　〃My　good　folks；　I　want　you　all　to　know　this　is
somethin'　that　doesn't　happen　often。　　The　bundle　you　see　here
weighed　about　a　hundred　pounds　when　I　packed　it　on　my　shoulder
down　Market　Street　in　Frisco。　　It　was　stolen　from　me　on　shipboard。
I　got　it　back　in　San　Diego　an'　licked　the　thief。　　It　rode　on　a　burro
from　San　Diego　to　Yuma　an'　once　I　thought　the　burro　was　lost　for　keeps。
It　came　up　the　Colorado　River　from　Yuma　to　Ehrenberg　an'　there　went
on　top　of　a　stage。　　We　got　chased　by　bandits　an'　once　when　the　horses
were　gallopin'　hard　it　near　rolled　off。　　Then　it　went　on　the　back　of
a　pack　horse　an'　helped　wear　him　out。　　An'　I　reckon　it　would　be
somewhere　else　now　if　I　hadn't　fallen　in　with　a　freighter　goin'　north
from　Phoenix　to　the　Santa　Fe　Trail。　　The　last　lap　when　it　sagged　the
back　of　a　mule　was　the　riskiest　an'　full　of　the　narrowest　escapes。
Twice　my　mule　bucked　off　his　pack　an'　left　my　outfit　scattered。
Worst　of　all；　my　precious　bundle　made　the　mule　top　heavy　comin'　down
that　place　back　here　where　the　trail　seems　to　drop　off　the　earth。
There　I　was　hard　put　to　keep　sight　of　my　pack。　　Sometimes　it　was
on　top　an'　other　times　the　mule。　　But　it　got　here　at　last。　。　。　。
An'　now　I'll　open　it。〃

After　this　long　and　impressive　harangue；　which　at　least　augmented
the　suspense　of　the　women　and　worked　the　children　into　a　frenzy；
Jean　leisurely　untied　the　many　knots　round　the　bundle　and　unrolled　it。
He　had　packed　that　bundle　for　just　such　travel　as　it　had　sustained。
Three　cloth…bound　rifles　he　laid　aside；　and　with　them　a　long；　very
heavy　package　tied　between　two　thin　wide　boards。　　From　this　came　the；
metallic　clink。　　〃Oo；　I　know　what　dem　is！〃　cried　Lee；　breaking　the
silence　of　suspense。　　Then　Jean；　tearing　open　a　long　flat　parcel；
spread　before　the　mute；　rapt…eyed　youngsters　such　magnificent　things；
as　they　had　never　dreamed　ofpicture　books；　mouth…harps；　dolls；
a　toy　gun　and　a　toy　pistol；　a　wonderful　whistle　and　a　fox　horn；
and　last　of　all　a　box　of　candy。　　Before　these　treasures　on　the　floor；
too　magical　to　be　touched　at　first；　the　two　little　boys　and　their
sister　simply　knelt。　　That　was　a　sweet；　full　moment　for　Jean；　yet
even　that　was　clouded　by　the　something　which　shadowed　these　innocent
children　fatefully　born　in　a　wild　place　at　a　wild　time。　　Next　Jean
gave　to　his　sister　the　presents　he　had　brought　herbeautiful　cloth
for　a　dress；　ribbons　and　a　bit　of　lace；　handkerchiefs　and　buttons　and
yards　of　linen；　a　sewing　case　and　a　whole　box　of　spools　of　thread；
a　comb　and　brush　and　mirror；　and　lastly　a　Spanish　brooch　inlaid　with
garnets。　　〃There；　Ann；〃　said　Jean；　〃I　confess　I　asked　a　girl　friend
in　Oregon　to　tell　me　some　things　my　sister　might　like。〃　　Manifestly
there　was　not　much　difference　in　girls。　　Ann　seemed　stunned　by　this
munificence；　and　then　awakening；　she　hugged　Jean　in　a　way　that　took
his　breath。　　She　was　not　a　child　any　more；　that　was　certain。　　Aunt　Mary
turned　knowing　eyes　upon　Jean。　　〃Reckon　you　couldn't　have　pleased　Ann
more。　　She's　engaged；　Jean；　an'　where　girls　are　in　that　state　these
things　mean　a　heap。　。　。　。　Ann；　you'll　be　married　in　that！〃　　And　she
pointed　to　the　beautiful　folds　of　material　that　Ann　had　spread　out。

〃What's　this？〃　demanded　Jean。　　His　sister's　blushes　were　enough　to
convict　her；　and　they　were　mightily　becoming；　too。

〃Here；　Aunt　Mary；〃　went　on　Jean；　〃here's　yours；　an'　here's　somethin'
for　each　of　my　new　sisters。〃　　This　distribution　left　the　women　as　happy
and　occupied；　almost；　as