lahoma(拉霍马)-第1节
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LAHOMA
LAHOMA
by John Breckenridge Ellis
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LAHOMA
CHAPTER I
THE TOUCH OF A CHILD
〃I have given my word of honormy sacred oathnot to betray what I
have discovered here。〃
At these words from the prisoner； a shout arose in which oaths and
mocking laughter mingled like the growling and snapping of hunger…
maddened wolves。
〃Then if I must die；〃 Gledware cried； his voice； in its shrill excitement；
dominating the ferocious insults of the ruffians； 〃don't kill the childyou
see she is asleepand she's so youngonly five。 Even if she were awake；
she wouldn't know how to tell about this cabin。 For God's sake； don't kill
the little girl！〃
Since the seizure of Gledware； the child had been lying on the rude
table in the midst of a greasy pack of cardscards that had been thrown
down at the sound of his galloping horse。 The table supported； also； much
of the booty captured from the wagon…train； while on the dirt floor beside
it were prizes of the freebooting expedition； too large to find resting…place
on the boards。 Nor was this all。 Mingled with stolen garments； cans and
boxes of provisions； purses and bags of gold； were the Indian disguises in
which the highwaymen from No…Man's Land had descended on the
prairie…schooners on their tedious journey from Abilene； Kansas； toward
the Southwest。
In the midst of this confusion of disguises； booty and playing…cards；
surrounded by cruel and sensual faces； the child slept soundly； her lips
slightly parted； her cheeks delicately flushed； her face eloquent in its
appeal of helplessness； innocence and beauty。 One of the band； a tall
broad…shouldered man of middle…age； with an immense quantity of
whiskers perhaps worn as a visible sign of inward wildness； was； despite
his hardened nature； moved to remonstrance。 Under cover of lurid oaths
and outrageous obscenity； he advanced his opinion that 〃the kid〃 needn't
be shot just because her father was a sneak…jug spy。
〃Shut up！〃 roared a tremendous voice； not directly to the intercessor；
or to the prisoner； but to all present。 Evidently it was a voice of authority；
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LAHOMA
for comparative silence followed the command。 The speaker stepped
forward； thrust his fingers through his intensely red shock of hair； and
continued； with one leg thrust forward：
〃You know I am something of an orator； or I guess you wouldn't of
made me your leader。 Now； as long as I'm your leader； I'm going to lead；
but； I ain't never unreasonable； and when talk is needed； I'm copious
enough。 I am called 'Red Kimball；' and my brother yonder； he is knowed
as 'Kansas Kimball。' What else is knowed of us is this： that we wasn't
never wont to turn loose a spy when once ketched。 Here is a man who says
he is Henry Gledwarethough God knows if that's so； he comes galloping
up to the door just as we are in the midst of a game。 I stakes all my share
of the spoils on the game； and Brick Willock is in a fair way to win it； that
I admit； but in comes this here spy〃
The prisoner in a frenzied voice disclaimed any purpose of spying。
That morning； he had driven the last wagon of the train； containing his
invalid wife and his stepdaughterfor the child lying on the table was his
wife's daughter。 At the alarm that the first wagon had been attacked by
Indians； he had turned about his horses and driven furiously over the
prairie； he knew not whither。 All that day he had fled； seeing no one；
hearing no pursuing horse…beat。 At night his wife； unable； in her weak
condition； to sustain the terrible jolting； had expired。 Taking nothing from
the wagon but his saddle； he had mounted one of the horses with the child
before him； and had continued his flight； the terrific wind at his back。
Unaware that the wind had changed； he had traversed horseback much of
the distance traveled during the day； and at about two in the morningthat
is to say； about all hour agoseeing a light； he had ridden straight toward it；
to find shelter from the storm。
The prisoner narrated all this in nervous haste； though he had already
given every particular； time and again。 His form as well as his voice
trembled with undisguised terror； and indeed； the red and cruel eyes
fastened contemptuously on him might have caused a much braver man
than Gledware to shudder visibly。
〃Well； pard；〃 said the leader of the band； waiting until he had finished；
〃you can't never claim that you ain't been given your say； for I do admire
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LAHOMA
free speech。 I want to address you reasonable； and make this plain and
simple； as only a man that has been alleged to be something of an orator
can accomplish。 My men and me has had our conference； and it's decided
that both of you has got to be shot； and immediate。 The reasons is none but
what a sensible man must admit； and such I take you to be。 I am sorry this
has happened； and so is my men； and we wish you well。 It's a hard saying；
pard； but whatever your intentions； a spy you have proved。 For what do
you find on busting open our door？ Here we sit playing with our booty for
stakes； and our Indian togs lying all about。 You couldn't help knowing that
we was the 'Indians' that gutted them wagons and put up the fight that left
every man and woman dead on the field except that there last wagon you
are telling us about。 You might wish you didn't know the same； but once
knowed； we ain't going to let you loose。 As to that wagon you claim to
have stole away from under our very noses〃
A skeptical laugh burst from the listeners。
Gledware eagerly declared that if he had the remotest idea in what
direction it had been left； he would be glad to lead them to the spot。 He
could describe it and its contents
〃You see； pard；〃 Red Kimball interposed； 〃you are everlasting losing
sight of the point。 This here is 1880； which I may say is a recent date。
Time was when a fellow could live in Cimarron； and come and go free and
no questions askedand none answered。 But civilization is a…pressing us
hard； and these days is not our fathers' days。 We are pretty independent
even yet in old Cimarron； but busybodies has got together trying to make
it a regular United States territory； and they ain't going to stand for a real
out…and…out band of highwaymen such as used to levy on stage…coaches
and wagon…trains without exciting no more remarks than the buffaloes。
You may be sorry times is changed； so am I； but if times IS fresh； we
might as well look 'em in the face。 Us fellows has been operating for some
years； but whatever we do is blamed on the Indians。 That there is a secret
that would ruin our business； if it got out。 Tomorrow； a gang of white men
will be depredating in the Washita country to get revenge for today's
massacre； and me and my men couldn't join in the fun with easy
consciences if we knowed you was somewheres loose； to tell your story。〃
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Again Gledware protested that he would never betray the band。
〃Oh； cut this short；〃 interposed Kansas Kimball； with an oath。
〃Daylight will catch us and nothing done； if we listen to that white…livered
spy。 We don't believe in that wagon he talks about； and as for this kid； he
brought her along just to save his bacon。〃
〃No； as God lives！〃 cried Gledware。 〃Can't you see she is dead for
sleep？ She was terrified out of her wits all day； and I've ridden with her all
night。 Don't kill her； men〃 He turned impassioned eyes on the leader。
〃Look at herso youngso unsuspecting yo
