the twins of table mountain-第11节

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〃Why？〃　demanded　Ruth　haughtily。

〃Because；　whatever　you've　been　and　done；　I　want　ye　to　have　a　square
show。　　Ole　Nixon　has　been　cavoortin'　round　yer　the　last　two　days；
swearin'　to　kill　you　on　sight　for　runnin'　off　with　his　darter。
Sabe？　　Now；　let　me　ax　ye　two　questions。　　FIRST；　Are　you　heeled？〃

Ruth　responded　to　this　dialectical　inquiry　affirmatively　by　putting
his　hand　on　his　revolver。

〃Good！　　Now；　SECOND；　Have　you　got　the　gal　along　here　with　you？〃

〃No；〃　responded　Ruth　in　a　hollow　voice。

〃That's　better　yet；〃　said　the　man；　without　heeding　the　tone　of　the
reply。　　〃A　womanand　especially　THE　woman　in　a　row　of　this　kind
handicaps　a　man　awful。〃　　He　paused；　and　took　up　the　empty　glass。
〃Look　yer；　Ruth　Pinkney；　I'm　a　square　man；　and　I'll　be　square　with
you。　　So　I'll　just　tell　you　you've　got　the　demdest　odds　agin'　ye。
Pr'aps　ye　know　it；　and　don't　keer。　　Well；　the　boys　around　yer　are
all　sidin'　with　the　old　man　Nixon。　　It's　the　first　time　the　old　rip
ever　had　a　hand　in　his　favor：　so　the　boys　will　see　fair　play　for
Nixon；　and　agin'　YOU。　　But　I　reckon　you　don't　mind　him！〃

〃So　little；　I　shall　never　pull　trigger　on　him；〃　said　Ruth　gravely。

The　bar…keeper　stared；　and　rubbed　his　chin　thoughtfully。　　〃Well；
thar's　that　Kanaka　Joe；　who　used　to　be　sorter　sweet　on　Mornie；
he's　an　ugly　devil；he's　helpin'　the　old　man。〃

The　sad　look　faded　from　Ruth's　eyes　suddenly。　　A　certain　wild
Berserker　ragea　taint　of　the　blood；　inherited　from　heaven　knows
what　Old…World　ancestry；　which　had　made　the　twin…brothers'
Southwestern　eccentricities　respected　in　the　settlementglowed　in
its　place。　　The　barkeeper　noted　it；　and　augured　a　lively　future　for
the　day's　festivities。　　But　it　faded　again；　and　Ruth；　as　he　rose；
turned　hesitatingly　towards　him。

〃Have　you　seen　my　brother　Rand　lately？〃

〃Nary。〃

〃He　hasn't　been　here；　or　about　the　Ferry？〃

〃Nary　time。〃

〃You　haven't　heard；〃　said　Ruth；　with　a　faint　attempt　at　a　smile；
〃if　he's　been　around　here　asking　after　me；sorter　looking　me　up；
you　know？〃

〃Not　much；〃　returned　the　bar…keeper　deliberately。　　〃Ez　far　ez　I
know　Rand；that　ar　brother　o'　yours；he's　one　of　yer　high…toned
chaps　ez　doesn't　drink；　thinks　bar…rooms　is　pizen；　and　ain't　the
sort　to　come　round　yer；　and　sling　yarns　with　me。〃

Ruth　rose；　but　the　hand　that　he　placed　upon　the　table；　albeit　a
powerful　one；　trembled　so　that　it　was　with　difficulty　he　resumed
his　knapsack。　　When　he　did　so；　his　bent　figure；　stooping　shoulders；
and　haggard　face；　made　him　appear　another　man　from　the　one　who　had
sat　down。　　There　was　a　slight　touch　of　apologetic　deference　and
humility　in　his　manner　as　he　paid　his　reckoning；　and　slowly　and
hesitatingly　began　to　descend　the　steps。

The　bar…keeper　looked　after　him　thoughtfully。　　〃Well；　dog　my　skin！〃
he　ejaculated　to　himself；　〃ef　I　hadn't　seen　that　manthat　same
Ruth　Pinkneystraddle　a　friend's　body　in　this　yer　very　room；　and
dare　a　whole　crowd　to　come　on；　I'd　swar　that　he　hadn't　any　grit　in
him。　　Thar's　something　up！〃

But　here　Ruth　reached　the　last　step；　and　turned　again。

〃If　you　see　old　man　Nixon；　say　I'm　in　town；　if　you　see　that　
　〃　（I　regret　to　say　that　I　cannot　repeat　his　exact；　and
brief　characterization　of　the　present　condition　and　natal　antecedents
of　Kanaka　Joe）；　〃say　I'm　looking　out　for　him；〃　and　was　gone。

He　wandered　down　the　road；　towards　the　one　long；　straggling　street
of　the　settlement。　　The　few　people　who　met　him　at　that　early　hour
greeted　him　with　a　kind　of　constrained　civility；　certain　cautious
souls　hurried　by　without　seeing　him；　all　turned　and　looked　after
him；　and　a　few　followed　him　at　a　respectful　distance。　　A　somewhat
notorious　practical　joker　and　recognized　wag　at　the　Ferry
apparently　awaited　his　coming　with　something　of　invitation　and
expectation；　but；　catching　sight　of　Ruth's　haggard　face　and　blazing
eyes；　became　instantly　practical；　and　by　no　means　jocular　in　his
greeting。　　At　the　top　of　the　hill；　Ruth　turned　to　look　once　more
upon　the　distant　mountain；　now　again　a　mere　cloud…line　on　the
horizon。　　In　the　firm　belief　that　he　would　never　again　see　the　sun
rise　upon　it；　he　turned　aside　into　a　hazel…thicket；　and；　tearing
out　a　few　leaves　from　his　pocket…book；　wrote　two　letters；one　to
Rand；　and　one　to　Mornie；　but　which；　as　they　were　never　delivered；
shall　not　burden　this　brief　chronicle　of　that　eventful　day。　　For；
while　transcribing　them；　he　was　startled　by　the　sounds　of　a　dozen
pistol…shots　in　the　direction　of　the　hotel　he　had　recently　quitted。
Something　in　the　mere　sound　provoked　the　old　hereditary　fighting
instinct；　and　sent　him　to　his　feet　with　a　bound；　and　a　slight
distension　of　the　nostrils；　and　sniffing　of　the　air；　not　unknown　to
certain　men　who　become　half　intoxicated　by　the　smell　of　powder。　　He
quickly　folded　his　letters；　and　addressed　them　carefully；　and；
taking　off　his　knapsack　and　blanket；　methodically　arranged　them
under　a　tree；　with　the　letters　on　top。　　Then　he　examined　the　lock
of　his　revolver；　and　then；　with　the　step　of　a　man　ten　years
younger；　leaped　into　the　road。　　He　had　scarcely　done　so　when　he　was
seized；　and　by　sheer　force　dragged　into　a　blacksmith's　shop　at　the
roadside。　　He　turned　his　savage　face　and　drawn　weapon　upon　his
assailant；　but　was　surprised　to　meet　the　anxious　eyes　of　the　bar…
keeper　of　the　Mansion　House。

〃Don't　be　a　dd　fool；〃　said　the　man　quickly。　　〃Thar's　fifty
agin'　you　down　thar。　　But　why　in　h…ll　didn't　you　wipe　out　old　Nixon
when　you　had　such　a　good　chance？〃

〃Wipe　out　old　Nixon？〃　repeated　Ruth。

〃Yes；　just　now；　when　you　had　him　covered。〃

〃What！〃

The　bar…keeper　turned　quickly　upon　Ruth；　stared　at　him；　and　then
suddenly　burst　into　a　fit　of　laughter。　　〃Well；　I've　knowed　you　two
were　twins；　but　damn　me　if　I　ever　thought　I'd　be　sold　like　this！〃
And　he　again　burst　into　a　roar　of　laughter。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　demanded　Ruth　savagely。

〃What　do　I　mean？〃　returned　the　barkeeper。　　〃Why；　I　mean　this。　　I
mean　that　your　brother　Rand；　as　you　call　him；　he'z　binfor　a　young
feller；　and　a　pious　fellerdoin'　about　the　tallest　kind　o'
fightin'　to…day　that's　been　done　at　the　Ferry。　　He　laid　out　that　ar
Kanaka　Joe　and　two　of　his　chums。　　He　was　pitched　into　on　your
quarrel；　and　he　took　it　up　for　you　like　a　little　man。　　I　managed　to
drag　him　off；　up　yer　in　the　hazel…bush　for　safety；　and　out　you
pops；　and　I　thought　you　was　him。　　He　can't　be　far　away。　　Halloo！
There　they're　comin'；　and　thar's　the　doctor；　trying　to　keep　them
back！〃

A　crowd　of　angry；　excited　faces；　filled　the　road　suddenly；　but
before　them　Dr。　Duchesne；　mounted；　and　with　a　pistol　in　his　hand；
opposed　their　further　progress。

〃Back　in　the　bush！〃　whispered　the　barkeeper。　　〃Now's　your　time！〃

But　Ruth　stirred　not。　　〃Go　you　back；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃find
Rand；　and　take　him　away。　　I　will　fill　his　place　here。〃　　He　drew　his
revolver；　and　stepped　into　the　road。

A　shout；　a　report；　and　the　spatter　of　red　dust　from　a　bullet　near
his　feet；　told　him　he　was　recognized。　　He　stirred　not；　but　another
shout；　and　a　cry；　〃There　they　areBOTH　of　'em！〃　made　him　turn。

His　brother　Rand；　with　a　smile　on　his　lip　and　fire　in　his　eye；
stood　by　his　side。　　Neither　spoke。　　Then　Rand；　quietly；　as　of　old；
slipped　his　hand　into　his　brother's　strong　palm。　　Two　or　three
bullets　sang　by　them；　a　splinter　flew　from　the　blacksmith's　shed：
but　the　brothers；　hard　gripping　each　other's　hands；　and　looking
into　each　other's　faces　with　a　quiet　joy；　stood　there　calm　and
imperturbable。

There　was　a　momentary　pause。　　The　voice　of　Dr。　Duchesne　rose　above
the　crowd。

〃Keep　back；　I　say！　keep　back！　　Or　hear　me！for　five　years　I've
worked　among　you；　and　mended　and　patched　the　holes　you've　drilled
through　each　other's　carcassesKeep　back；　I　say！or　the　next　man
that　pulls　trigger；　or　steps　forward；　will　get　a　hole　from　me　that
no　surgeon　can　stop。　　I'm　sick　of　your　bungling　ball　practice！
Keep　back！or；　by　the　living　Jingo；　I'll　show　you　where　a　man's
vitals　are！〃

There　was　a　burst　of　laughter　from　the　crowd；　and　for　a　moment
the　twins　were　forgotten　in　this　audacious　speech　and　coolly
impertinent　presence。

〃That's　right！　　Now　let　that　infernal　old　hypocritical　drunkard；
Mat　Nixon；　step　to　the　front。〃

The　crowd　parted　right　and　left；　and　half　pushed；　half　dragged
Nixon　before　him。

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃this　is　the　man　who　has　just　shot　at
Rand　Pinkney　for　hiding　his　daughter。　　Now；　I　tell　you；　gentlemen；
and　I　tell　him；　that　for　the　last　week　his　daughter；　Mornie　Nixon；
has　been　under　my　care　as　a　patient；　and　my　protection　as　a　friend。
If　there's　anybody　to　be　shot；　the　job　must　begin　with　me！〃

There　was　another　laugh；　and　a　cry　of　〃Bully　for　old　Sawbones！〃
Ruth　started　convulsively；　and　Rand　answered　his　look　with　a
confirming　pressure　of　his　hand。

〃That　isn't　all；　gentlemen：　this　drunken　brute　has　just　shot　at　a
gentleman　whose　only　offence；　to　my　knowledge；　is；　that　he　has；　for
the　last　week；　treated　her　with　a　brother's　kindness；　has　taken　her
into　his　own　home；　and　cared　for　her　wants　as　if　she　were　his　own
sister。〃

Ruth's　hand　again　grasped　his　brother's。　　Rand　colored　and　hung　his
head。

〃There's　more　yet；　gentlemen。　　I　tell　you　that　that　girl；　Mornie
Nixon；　has；　to　my　knowledge；