lahoma(À»ôÂí)-µÚ19½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
settler¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡gal£»¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡standing¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡open¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡free¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡breech¡¡¡
loaders£»¡¡and¡¡us¡¡hiking¡¡out¡¡for¡¡camp¡¡like¡¡whipped¡¡curs£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡impatient£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡compelled¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡speak¡¡
calmly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨As¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡around¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡spur¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡mountain¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡
fellows¡¡were¡¡in¡¡full¡¡retreat£»¡¡I¡¡object¡¡to¡¡being¡¡classed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡whipped¡¡curs£»¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡you'll¡¡¡¡¡¡bear¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡mind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Mizzoo¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡girl¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡right£»¡¡¡¡¡¡didn't¡¡
you£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡bet¡¡I¡¡did£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡I¡¡see¡¡her£»¡¡I¡¡knowed¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡same¡¡I'd¡¡
came¡¡¡¡¡¡across¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡trail£»¡¡¡¡¡¡seven¡¡¡¡¡¡year¡¡¡¡¡¡ago¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I'd¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡knowed¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
daddy£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡wasn't¡¡no¡¡mistaking¡¡HER¡£¡¡Her¡¡daddy¡¡give¡¡it¡¡to¡¡
us¡¡plain¡¡that¡¡if¡¡he¡¡ever¡¡catched¡¡one¡¡of¡¡us¡¡inside¡¡his¡¡cove¡¡he'd¡¡kill¡¡us¡¡like¡¡so¡¡
many¡¡coyotes£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡reckon¡¡he¡¡would¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡he's¡¡got¡¡as¡¡much¡¡right¡¡to¡¡his¡¡
claim¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡anybody¡¡¡¡¡¡elsethis¡¡¡¡¡¡land¡¡¡¡¡¡don't¡¡¡¡¡¡belong¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡nobody£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡he's¡¡
been¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡squatting¡¡¡¡¡¡considerable¡¡¡¡¡¡longer¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡we've¡¡¡¡¡¡laid¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡ranch¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡right¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡admire¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡able¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡hold¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
rights¡£¡¡Lots¡¡of¡¡folks¡¡has¡¡rights¡¡but¡¡they¡¡ain't¡¡man¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡'em¡£¡¡And¡¡
if¡¡von¡¡could¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡gal£»¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡like¡¡two¡¡big¡¡burning¡¡suns£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡
mouth¡¡closed¡¡like¡¡a¡¡steel¡trap£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡as¡¡steady¡¡on¡¡that¡¡trigger¡¡as¡¡the¡¡
mountain¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡rock¡¡¡¡¡¡behind¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Lord£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bill£¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡trembly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡knock¡kneed£»¡¡
meaching¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡a¡¡husband¡¡she's¡¡a¡going¡¡to¡¡fashion¡¡to¡¡her¡¡hand£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡
these¡¡¡¡days£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡PRETTY£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡None¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡£¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡going¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡waste¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡
here¡¡in¡¡the¡¡desert£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡rode¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡silence£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡save¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡intermittent¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡67¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡68¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LAHOMA¡¡
chuckling¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cattleman¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡visions¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡companions'¡¡¡¡pale¡¡¡¡¡¡faces¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
scurrying¡¡forms¡¡rose¡¡before¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡child£»¡¡¡¡¡¡seven¡¡¡¡¡¡years¡¡¡¡¡¡ago£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡said£»¡¡
when¡¡the¡¡last¡¡hoarse¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡mirth¡¡had¡¡died¡¡away¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡yes£»¡¡me¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡was¡¡bringing¡¡about¡¡two¡¡thousand¡¡head¡¡up¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡Abiline¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡same¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡pardner¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡another¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡
walking¡¡the¡¡trail£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡little¡¡gal¡¡coming¡¡behind¡¡'em¡¡on¡¡her¡¡pony¡£¡¡And¡¡it¡¡
was¡¡this¡¡same¡¡gal¡£¡¡I¡¡reckon¡¡she¡¡was¡¡seven¡¡or¡¡eight¡¡year¡¡old£»¡¡then¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡sir£»¡¡
I¡¡just¡¡thought¡¡as¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡prettier¡¡sight¡¡in¡¡this¡¡
world¡¡and¡¡I¡¡reckon¡¡I¡¡ain't£»¡¡for¡¡when¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡gal¡¡the¡¡other¡¡day£»¡¡
the¡¡gun¡¡she¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡up¡¡to¡¡her¡¡eye¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡dazzled¡¡me¡¡so¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡take¡¡
stock¡¡of¡¡all¡¡her¡¡good¡¡points¡£¡¡But¡¡seeing¡¡that¡¡little¡¡gal¡¡out¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡plains¡¡
it¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡hearing¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡fashioned¡¡hymn¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡country¡¡¡¡meeting¡house¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡knowing¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡big¡¡¡¡¡¡basket¡¡¡¡¡¡dinner¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡follow¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡can't¡¡¡¡¡¡express¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡
deep¡¡than¡¡that¡£¡¡We¡¡went¡¡into¡¡camp¡¡that¡¡evening£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡of¡¡us¡¡got¡¡pretty¡¡
soft¡¡and¡¡mellow£»¡¡what¡¡from¡¡the¡¡unusualness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡meeting£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡asked¡¡
the¡¡old¡¡codger¡¡if¡¡we¡¡could¡¡all¡¡come¡¡over¡¡to¡¡his¡¡camp¡¡and¡¡shake¡¡hands¡¡with¡¡
the¡¡galhe'd¡¡drawed¡¡back¡¡from¡¡us¡¡about¡¡a¡¡mile£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡that¡¡skeered¡¡to¡¡be¡¡
sociable¡£¡¡So¡¡after¡¡considerable¡¡haggling¡¡and¡¡jawing£»¡¡he¡¡said¡¡we¡¡could£»¡¡and¡¡
here¡¡we¡¡come£»¡¡just¡¡about¡¡sundown£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡us¡¡looking¡¡sheepish¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡be¡¡
carved¡¡for¡¡mutton£»¡¡but¡¡everlasting¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡take¡¡that¡¡gal¡¡by¡¡the¡¡paw¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡young¡¡¡¡man¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡often¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡story£»¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
never¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡treated¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡sequel£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡happened¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡then£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Mizzoo£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡
always¡¡stop¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡place¡£¡¡Didn't¡¡you¡¡shake¡¡hands¡¡with¡¡her£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡other¡¡ruminated¡¡in¡¡deep¡¡silence¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time£»¡¡then¡¡rejoined£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡
don't¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡isa¡¡¡¡¡¡fellow¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡talk¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡worst¡¡¡¡¡¡devilment¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
creation¡¡with¡¡a¡¡free¡¡rein£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡words¡¡hot¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡blister¡¡his¡¡tongue£»¡¡
but¡¡let¡¡him¡¡run¡¡up¡¡against¡¡something¡¡simple¡¡like¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡
his¡¡lungs¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡out¡£¡¡I¡¡guess¡¡they¡¡ain't¡¡no¡¡more¡¡to¡¡be¡¡told¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡
all¡¡there¡¡was¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡though¡¡I¡¡might¡¡add¡¡that¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day¡¡we¡¡come¡¡along¡¡by¡¡
old¡¡Whisky¡¡Simeon's¡¡joint¡¡that¡¡sets¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sand¡hills£»¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¡and¡¡
we¡¡put¡¡spurs¡¡to¡¡our¡¡bronks¡¡and¡¡went¡¡whooping¡¡by£»¡¡with¡¡old¡¡Whisky¡¡Sim¡¡a¡¡¡
staring¡¡and¡¡a¡hollering¡¡after¡¡us¡¡like¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡we¡¡was¡¡crazy¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡
as¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡missed¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡drunk¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡five¡¡¡¡¡¡year£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡materials¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡68¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡69¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LAHOMA¡¡
ready¡found¡¡for¡¡its¡¡making¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡ain't¡¡never¡¡forgot¡¡the¡¡little¡¡kid¡¡with¡¡the¡¡
brown¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡that¡¡seen¡¡to¡¡your¡¡bottom¡¡layer£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡water¡witch¡¡
a¡penetrating¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡with¡¡a¡¡glance£»¡¡seeing¡¡through¡¡dirt¡¡and¡¡clay¡¡and¡¡
rocks¡¡to¡¡what¡¡water¡¡they¡¡is¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mizzoo¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡relapsed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡meditative¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡silence£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡man£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
sympathy¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡mood£»¡¡¡¡¡¡kept¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡side£»¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡longer¡¡¡¡¡¡asking¡¡¡¡¡¡questions¡£¡¡
Darkness¡¡came¡¡on¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡grew¡¡late¡¡but¡¡few¡¡words¡¡were¡¡exchanged¡¡
as¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡rode¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡weary¡¡¡¡¡¡miles¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡marked¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡limit¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡range¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡
were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡usual¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡incidents¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡work£»¡¡¡¡¡¡each¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bringing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡customary¡¡
comments¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡midnight¡¡¡¡¡¡luncheon¡¡¡¡¡¡beside¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡small¡¡¡¡¡¡fire£»¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
coffee¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡steamed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡roused¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡something¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡cheerful¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡conversation¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which£»¡¡
however£»¡¡flickered¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡flared¡¡uncertainly¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡bonfire¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡whole¡¡
the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡was¡¡unwontedly¡¡reserved£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡perceiving¡¡it£»¡¡fell¡¡
back¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡contentedly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡resourcespleasant¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡memories¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡rank¡¡
tobacco¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Guess¡¡¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡¡¡¡¡leave¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡now£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡remarked¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡man£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡fire¡¡
had¡¡died¡¡away¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡better¡¡¡¡¡¡turn¡¡¡¡¡¡in£»¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡you're¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡uncommon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dull¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡
Mizzoo¡¡replied¡¡frankly¡£¡¡¡¨'Twould¡¡be¡¡just¡¡about¡¡as¡¡much¡¡company¡¡for¡¡me¡¡if¡¡
you'd¡¡hike¡¡out¡¡and¡¡leave¡¡me¡¡your¡¡picture¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡along¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Instead¡¡of¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡set¡¡out¡¡
at¡¡a¡¡gallop¡¡for¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡mountain¡¡range¡¡which£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gloom£»¡¡seemed¡¡not¡¡
far¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡£¡¡After¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡hour's¡¡¡¡¡¡hard¡¡¡¡¡¡riding£»¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡reached¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡impatience¡¡¡¡¡¡bad¡¡
made¡¡that¡¡hour¡¡seem¡¡almost¡¡interminable£»¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡long¡¡enough¡¡
to¡¡furnish¡¡him¡¡with¡¡any¡¡clear¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡having¡¡come¡£¡¡If£»¡¡as¡¡Mizzoo¡¡had¡¡
declared£»¡¡he¡¡needed¡¡sleep£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡surely¡¡not¡¡think¡¡of¡¡finding¡¡it¡¡near¡¡the¡¡
cove¡¡from¡¡which¡¡his¡¡companions¡¡had¡¡been¡¡warned¡¡under¡¡penalty¡¡of¡¡death¡£¡¡
If¡¡drawn¡¡by¡¡longing¡¡for¡¡another¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cove¡¡he¡¡could¡¡
not¡¡¡¡¡¡expect¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡hour¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡midnight¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡¡¡¡¡here¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was£»¡¡
attracted£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡urged¡¡on£»¡¡by¡¡impulses¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡resist¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡69¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡70¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LAHOMA¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡X¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡FLAG¡¡OF¡¡TRUCE¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Earliest¡¡dawn¡¡found¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡seated¡¡composedly¡¡upon¡¡one¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡flattened¡¡¡¡¡¡outcroppings¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡bill¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡stone¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡lay¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡island¡¡
between¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡plain¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sheltered¡¡cove¡£¡¡As¡¡yet£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡
of¡¡life¡¡within¡¡the¡¡coveboth¡¡the¡¡dugout¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cabin¡¡of¡¡cedar¡¡logs¡¡were¡¡
as¡¡silent¡¡and¡¡as¡¡void¡¡of¡¡movement¡¡as¡¡the¡¡rocks¡¡behind¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡young¡¡
man¡¡watched¡¡first¡¡one£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡as¡¡tireless¡¡and¡¡vigilant¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡
not¡¡been¡¡awake¡¡for¡¡twenty¡four¡¡hours¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡dugout¡¡that¡¡first¡¡started¡¡from¡¡its¡¡night's¡¡repose¡£¡¡Before¡¡the¡¡
sun¡¡showed¡¡itself¡¡over¡¡the¡¡rim¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prairie£»¡¡long¡¡before¡¡its¡¡rays¡¡darted¡¡
over¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡mountain¡crest£»¡¡the¡¡door¡¡was¡¡thrown¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡casing£»¡¡
and¡¡a¡¡great¡¡uncouth¡¡man£»¡¡strong¡¡as¡¡a¡¡giant£»¡¡and¡¡wild¡¡of¡¡aspect¡¡as¡¡a¡¡savage£»¡¡
strode¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡forth£»¡¡¡¡gun¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡hand£»¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡eyes¡¡¡¡sweeping¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡landscape¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡quick¡¡
flashing¡¡glances¡£¡¡Almost¡¡instantly¡¡he¡¡discovered¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡perched¡¡on¡¡the¡¡
granite¡¡block¡¡overlooking¡¡his¡¡retreat¡£¡¡He¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡gun¡¡to¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡young¡¡man¡¡fell¡¡sidewise¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡rocks¡¡and¡¡a¡¡bullet¡¡clipped¡¡the¡¡
edge¡¡of¡¡his¡¡barricade¡£¡¡Remaining¡¡supine£»¡¡he¡¡fastened¡¡his¡¡handkerchief¡¡to¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡end¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡whip¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡waved¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡above¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡rampart¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Having¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡thus¡¡
manifested¡¡his¡¡peaceful¡¡intent£»¡¡he¡¡rose£»¡¡still¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡flag¡¡of¡¡truce¡¡above¡¡
his¡¡¡¡¡¡head£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡remained¡¡¡¡¡¡motionless¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Brick¡¡¡¡¡¡Willock¡¡¡¡¡¡stared¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
moment¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡hostile¡¡indecision£»¡¡then¡¡strode¡¡¡¡¡¡forward¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡¡¡¡¡time£»¡¡¡¡an¡¡
old¡¡¡¡¡¡man£»¡¡¡¡¡¡thin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡tall¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡white¡haired£»¡¡¡¡¡¡issued¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dugout¡¡¡¡¡¡evidently¡¡
attracted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡¡¡gunshot£»¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡soon¡¡after£»¡¡the¡¡¡¡cabin¡¡door¡¡opened£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡
girl¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cove¡¡looked¡¡