lahoma(拉霍马)-第39节
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guessed that he and Mr。 Gledware had been conspiring in the summer…
house。 What a chance I had missed to act the good scout！
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〃But it seemed no use to go down； after Red Kimball had left。 If Mr。
Gledware was still in the summer…house； I knew he was alone； and if he'd
returned to the house； all was over for the night。 I was wondering what
new plot they had formed； and how I was to find out about it； when my
eye was caught by a movement in the hedge that runs down to the side…
gate。 The movement was as slight as possible； but as there wasn't ANY
breeze； it made me shiver a little； for I knew somebody was skulking there。
I watched； and pretty soon something passed through the gate； light and
quick and stealthy； like the shadow of a cloud。 Only； there wasn't any
cloud； and in the flash of moonlight I saw it was our old friendRed
Feather。
〃Almost as soon as I recognized him； he had disappeared behind a
large lilac…bush； but I had seen what he held in the hand behind his back
it was a long unsheathed knife。 The lilac…bush stood close to the summer…
house。 He fell flat to the ground； and though I couldn't see him； after that I
knew he was wriggling his way around the bush。 You would have been
ashamed of me for a minute or two； for I kept sitting beside the window as
if I had been turned to a statue of ice。 I felt just that cold； too！
〃But maybe I didn't stay there as long as it seemed。 First thing I knew；
I was running downstairs as lightly and swiftly as I could； and out through
the door at the end of the side hall that had been left wide openand I was
at the summer…house door like a flash。 There was a wide path of moonlight
across the concrete floor and right in that glare was a sight never to be
forgottenRed Feather； about to stab Mr。 Gledware to the heart！ He held
Mr。 Gledware by the throat with one hand； and his other hand held the
knife up for the blow。 Mr。 Gledware lay on his back； and Red Feather had
one knee pressed upon his breast。 In the light； Mr。 Gledware's face was
purple and dreadfully distorted； but the Indian looked about as usualjust
serious and unchangeable。
〃When I reached the doorway； I blotted out most of the moonlight； and
I drew back so Red Feather could see who I was。 He looked up and let go
of Mr。 Gledware's throat； but didn't move； otherwise。 'RED FEATHER！' I
said。 'GIVE ME THAT KNIFE。'
〃Mr。 Gledware； recognizing my voice； tried to entreat me to save him；
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but he was half…strangled； and only made sounds that turned me faint； to
know that the man my mother had married was such a coward。
〃Red Feather told me that if I came any nearer； or if I cried for help； he
would murder that man and escape； but that if I would step into the
shadow and listen； he'd give his reason for doing it before it was done。 So
I went across the room from him to save time； hoping I could persuade
him to change his mind。 I stood in the shadow； and in a low voice； I
reminded him of his kindness to me； and of our kindness to him； and I
begged for Mr。 Gledware's life。
〃Red Feather asked me if I knew Mr。 Gledware was my stepfather； yet
hadn't acknowledged it to me。 I said yes。 He asked me if I didn't know Mr。
Gledware had kept still about it because he didn't want the trouble and
expense of taking care of me。 I said； of course I had thought of that。 He
asked if I knew he had deserted my mother's dead body in the desert to
save his miserable life。 I said I knew that； but he had taken me with him；
and he had tried to save me； and I was going to save him。
〃Red Feather shook his head。 No； he said； I could not save him； for he
would be dead in two or three minutesand then he bent over Mr。
Gledware； who all this time was afraid to move or to make a sound。 I
hurried to remind him that he hadn't told me his reason for wanting to kill
the man。
〃Then Red Feather said that when that man rode with me among the
Indians； Red Feather's daughter had taken a fancy to him； and Mr。
Gledware had married her； and I had been kept away from him so he'd
forget me and not turn his thoughts toward his own people； and they had
taught me that my name was Willock because they were going to take me
to you； Brick。 Isn't it wonderful？ That day you found the deserted wagon；
and buried my mother； Red Feather was watching you from the mountain
and he wouldn't kill you because you made that grave and knelt down to
talk to the Great Spirit。 Afterward； when he rode home and found that his
daughter and Mr。 Gledware were to be married； he made up his mind that
if you succeeded in keeping hidden from Red Kimball and his band； you
would be the one to take care of me。 And when two years had passed and
you were still safe； he brought me to you！ What a glad day that was！
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〃When Red Feather's daughter wanted Mr。 Gledware's life saved； it
was so。 And Red Feather gave them a great stretch of land； and Mr。
Gledware got to be important in the tribe； he made himself one of them；
and they thought him greater than their own chief。 At the end of a few
years； there was the great agitation over the boomers coming to the
Oklahoma country； and much talk of the land being thrown open。 The
Indians didn't want it done； and they joined together to send some one to
Washington to address congress on the subject。 Mr。 Gledware was such an
orator that they thought him irresistible； so they selected him； and； for his
fee； they collected over fifty thousand dollars。 Think of it！
〃Of course he didn't go near Washington。 It was the time of Kansas
City's great boom。 He went there and bought up city lots； and sold out at
the right time； and that's why he's rich today。 In the meantime； the Indians
didn't know what had become of him； and Red Feather's daughter died
from shame over her desertionjust pined away and hid herself from her
people till she was starved to death。 That's why Red Feather meant to kill
Mr。 Gledware。
〃When he had finished； Red Feather bent over Mr。 Gledware and said
to him； 'Me speak all true？ Tell Lahomame speak all true？'
〃And the man whispered feebly； 'It is all truedon't kill me； for God's
sake； don't kill mesave me； Lahoma； MY CHILD！'
〃I begged him not to kill the man。 Red Feather said to me； 'You hear
how he treat my daughter！ You my friend； Lahoma。 You know all that； and
yet you tell me not kill him？'
〃'I say not kill him。'
〃'Then you hate my daughter？'
〃'My mother could marry him； Red Feather； and I can beg for his life。'
〃He shook his head。 'No； Lahoma； he die； he leave my daughter to die
and this hand do to him what he do to her。'
〃I never felt so helpless； so horribly weak and useless！ There I was；
only a few yards away； and the man was my stepfather； and his enemy was
our friend。 And not far away stood the man's big house filled with guests
among them strong men who could have overpowered dozens of Indians。
But what could I do？
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〃Then I had a thought。 'Let him live； Red Feather；' I said； 'but strip him
of all his ill…gotten property。 Turn him loose in the world without a penny；
it'll be punishment enough。 You can't bring back your daughter by killing
him； but you can make him give up all he has in return for stealing the
money from your tribe。'
〃I don't know why I thought of that； and I don't know why it made
instant appeal to Red Feather's mind。 I saw at once that he was going to
consent。 All he said was； 'Talk to him' But I knew what he meant。
〃So I crossed the room and looked down at the man。 'Mr。 Gledware；' I
said； 'are you willing to give up all your possessions in order to save your
life？'
〃'Oh； yes；' he gasped。 'A thousand times； yes！ God bless you； La
