arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第19节
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forward by means of shrill cowboy cries and beating of quirts。 The cattle
were only too eager to go。 From my position on a little rise above the
stray…herd I could see the leaders breaking into a run； their heads thrown
forward as they snuffed their freedom。 On the mesa side the sentinel
riders quietly withdrew。 From the rear and flanks the horsemen closed in。
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The cattle poured out in a steady stream through the opening thus left on
the mesa side。 The fringe of cowboys followed； urging them on。
Abruptly the cavalcade turned and came loping back。 The cattle continued
ahead on a trot； gradually spreading abroad over the landscape； losing
their integrity as a herd。 Some of the slower or hungrier dropped out and
began to graze。 Certain of the more wary disappeared to right or left。
Now； after the day's work was practically over； we had our first accident。
The horse ridden by a young fellow from Dos Cabesas slipped； fell； and
rolled quite over his rider。 At once the animal lunged to his feet； only to
he immediately seized by the nearest rider。 But the Dos Cabesas man lay
still； his arms and legs spread abroad； his head doubled sideways in a
horribly suggestive manner。 We hopped off。 Two men straightened him
out； while two more looked carefully over the indications on the ground。
〃All right；〃 sang out one of them； 〃the horn didn't catch him。〃 He
pointed to the indentation left by the pommel。 Indeed five minutes
brought the man to his senses。 He complained of a very twisted back。
Homer set one of the men in after the bed…wagon； by means of which the
sufferer was shortly transported to camp。 By the end of the week he was
again in the saddle。 How men escape from this common accident with
injuries so slight has always puzzled me。 The horse rolls completely
over his rider； and yet it seems to be the rarest thing in the world for the
latter to be either killed or permanently injured。 Now each man
had the privilege of looking through the J H cuts to see if by chance steers
of his own had been included in them。 When all had expressed
themselves as satisfied； the various bands were started to the corrals。
From a slight eminence where I had paused to enjoy the evening I looked
down on the scene。 The three herds； separated by generous distance one
from the other； crawled leisurely along； the riders； their hats thrust back；
lolled in their saddles； shouting conversation to each other； relaxing after
the day's work； through the clouds strong shafts of light belittled the living
creatures； threw into proportion the vastness of the desert。
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CHAPTER SEVEN A CORNER IN
HORSES
It was dark night。 The stay…herd bellowed frantically from one of the
big corrals； the cow…and…calf…herd from a second。 Already the remuda；
driven in from the open plains； scattered about the thousand acres of
pasture。 Away from the conveniences of fence and corral； men would
have had to patrol all night。 Now； however； everyone was gathered about
the camp fire。 Probably forty cowboys were in the group；
representing all types； from old John； who had been in the business forty
years； and had punched from the Rio Grande to the Pacific； to the Kid；
who would have given his chance of salvation if he could have been taken
for ten years older than he was。 At the moment Jed Parker was holding
forth to his friend Johnny Stone in reference to another old crony who had
that evening joined the round…up。 〃Johnny；〃 inquired Jed with
elaborate gravity； and entirely ignoring the presence of the subject of
conversation； 〃what is that thing just beyond the fire； and where did it
come from？〃 Johnny Stone squinted to make sure。
〃That？〃 he replied。 〃Oh； this evenin' the dogs see something run
down a hole； and they dug it out； and that's what they got。〃
The newcomer grinned。
〃The trouble with you fellows；〃 he proffered 〃is that you're so plumb
alkalied you don't know the real thing when you see it。〃
〃That's right；〃 supplemented Windy Bill drily。 〃HE come from New
York。〃 〃No！〃 cried Jed。 〃You don't say so？ Did he come in one box
or in two？〃 Under cover of the laugh； the newcomer made a raid on
the dutch ovens and pails。 Having filled his plate； he squatted on his
heels and fell to his belated meal。 He was a tall； slab…sided individual；
with a lean； leathery face； a sweeping white moustache； and a grave and
sardonic eye。 His leather chaps were plain and worn； and his hat had
been fashioned by time and wear into much individuality。 I was not
surprised to hear him nicknamed Sacatone Bill。
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〃Just ask him how he got that game foot；〃 suggested Johnny Stone to
me in an undertone； so； of course； I did not。 Later someone told me that
the lameness resulted from his refusal of an urgent invitation to return
across a river。 Mr。 Sacatone Bill happened not to be riding his own horse
at the time。 The Cattleman dropped down beside me a moment later。
〃I wish；〃 said he in a low voice； 〃we could get that fellow talking。 He is
a queer one。 Pretty well educated apparently。 Claims to be writing a
book of memoirs。 Sometimes he will open up in good shape； and
sometimes he will not。 It does no good to ask him direct； and he is as shy
as an old crow when you try to lead him up to a subject。 We must just lie
low and trust to Providence。〃 A man was playing on the mouth
organ。 He played excellently well； with all sorts of variations and frills。
We smoked in silence。 The deep rumble of the cattle filled the air with
its diapason。 Always the shrill coyotes raved out in the mesquite。
Sacatone Bill had finished his meal； and had gone to sit by Jed Parker； his
old friend。 They talked together low…voiced。 The evening grew； and the
eastern sky silvered over the mountains in anticipation of the moon。
Sacatone Bill suddenly threw back his head and laughed。 〃Reminds
me f the time I went to Colorado！〃 he cried。 〃He's off！〃 whispered
the Cattleman。
A dead silence fell on the circle。 Everybody shifted position the
better to listen to the story of Sacatone Bill。
About ten year ago I got plumb sick of punchin' cows around my part
of the country。 She hadn't rained since Noah； and I'd forgot what water
outside a pail or a trough looked like。 So I scouted around inside of me
to see what part of the world I'd jump to； and as I seemed to know as little
of Colorado and minin' as anything else； I made up the pint of bean soup I
call my brains to go there。 So I catches me a buyer at Henson and turns
over my pore little bunch of cattle and prepared to fly。 The last day I
hauled up about twenty good buckets of water and threw her up against
the cabin。 My buyer was settin' his hoss waitin' for me to get ready。 He
didn't say nothin' until we'd got down about ten mile or so。
〃Mr。 Hicks；〃 says he； hesitatin' like； 〃I find it a good rule in this
country not to overlook other folks' plays； but I'd take it mighty kind if
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you'd explain those actions of yours with the pails of water。〃
〃Mr。 Jones；〃 says I； 〃it's very simple。 I built that shack five year
ago；and it's never rained since。 I just wanted
