arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第30节
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stones and hillsides。 Shadows lay under the stones like animals
crouching。 When we came to the edge of a silvery hill we dropped off
into pitchy blackness。 There we stumbled over boulders for a minute or
so； and began to climb the steep shale on the other side。 This was fearful
work。 The top seemed always miles away。 By morning we didn't seem
to have made much of anywhere。 The same old hollow…looking
mountains with the sharp edges stuck up in about the same old places。
We had got over being very hungry； and； though we were pretty dry； we
didn't really suffer yet from thirst。 About this time Denton ran across
some fishhook cactus； which we cut up and chewed。 They have a sticky
wet sort of inside； which doesn't quench your thirst any； but helps to keep
you from drying up and blowing away。 All that day we plugged
along as per usual。 It was main hard work； and we got to that state where
things are disagreeable； but mechanical。 Strange to say； Schwartz kept in
the lead。 It seemed to me at the time that he was using more energy than
the occasion called forjust as man runs faster before he comes to the
giving…out point。 However； the hours went by； and he didn't seem to get
any more tired than the rest of us。 We kept a sharp lookout for
anything to eat； but there was nothing but lizards and horned toads。
Later we'd have been glad of them； but by that time we'd got out of their
district。 Night came。 Just at sundown we took another wallow in the
surf； and chewed some more fishhook cactus。 When the moon came up
we went on。 I'm not going to tell you how dead beat we got。 We
were pretty tough and strong； for all of us had been used to hard living； but
after the third day without anything to eat and no water to drink； it came to
be pretty hard going。 It got to the point where we had to have some
REASON for getting out besides just keeping alive。 A man would
sometimes rather die than keep alive； anyway； if it came only to that。 But
I know I made up my mind I was going to get out so I could smash up that
Anderson； and I reckon Denton had the same idea。 Schwartz didn't say
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anything； but he pumped on ahead of us； his back bent over； and his
clothes sagging and bulging with the gold he carried。 We used to
travel all night； because it was cool； and rest an hour or two at noon。
That is all the rest we did get。 I don't know how fast we went； I'd got
beyond that。 We must have crawled along mighty slow； though； after our
first strength gave out。 The way I used to do was to collect myself with
an effort； look around for my bearings； pick out a landmark a little
distance off； and forget everything but it。 Then I'd plod along； knowing
nothing but the sand and shale and slope under my feet； until I'd reached
that landmark。 Then I'd clear my mind and pick out another。 But I
couldn't shut out the figure of Schwartz that way。 He used to walk along
just ahead of my shoulder。 His face was all twisted up； but I remember
thinking at the time it looked more as if he was worried in his mind than
like bodily suffering。 The weight of the gold in his clothes bent his
shoulders over。 As we went on the country gradually got to be more
mountainous； and； as we were steadily growing weaker； it did seem things
were piling up on us。 The eighth day we ran out of the fishhook cactus；
and； being on a high promontory； were out of touch with the sea。 For the
first time my tongue began to swell a little。 The cactus had kept me from
that before。 Denton must have been in the same fix； for he looked at me
and raised one eyebrow kind of humorous。 Schwartz was having a
good deal of difficulty to navigate。 I will say for him that he had done
well； but now I could see that his strength was going on him in spite of
himself。 He knew it； all right； for when we rested that day he took all the
gold coins and spread them in a row； and counted them； and put them back
in his pocket； and then all of a sudden snatched out two handfuls and
threw them as far as he could。 〃Too heavy；〃 he muttered； but that was
all he could bring himself to throw away。 All that night we wandered
high in the air。 I guess we tried to keep a general direction； but I don't
know。 Anyway； along late； but before moonriseshe was now on the
waneI came to； and found myself looking over the edge of a twenty…foot
drop。 Right below me I made out a faint glimmer of white earth in the
starlight。 Somehow it reminded me of a little trail I used to know under a
big rock back in Texas。 〃Here's a trail；〃 I thought； more than half loco；
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〃I'll follow it！〃 At least that's what half of me thought。 The other
half was sensible； and knew better； but it seemed to be kind of standing to
one side； a little scornful； watching the performance。 So I slid and
slipped down to the strip of white earth； and； sure enough； it was a trail。
At that the loco half of me gave the sensible part the laugh。 I followed
the path twenty feet and came to a dark hollow under the rock； and in it a
round pool of water about a foot across。 They say a man kills himself
drinking too much； after starving for water。 That may be； but it didn't kill
me； and I sucked up all I could hold。 Perhaps the fishhook cactus had
helped。 Well； sir； it was surprising how that drink brought me around。
A minute before I'd been on the edge of going plumb loco； and here I was
as clear…headed as a lawyer。 I hunted up Denton and Schwartz。
They drank； themselves full； too。 Then we rested。 It was mighty hard
to leave that spring Oh； we had to do it。 We'd have starved sure；
there。 The trail was a game trail； but that did us no good； for we had no
weapons。
How we did wish for the coffeepot； so we could take some away。 We
filled our hats； and carried them about three hours； before the water
began to soak through。 Then we had to drink it in order to save it。
The country fairly stood up on end。 We had to climb separate little
hills so as to avoid rolling rocks down on each other。 It took it out of us。
About this time we began to see mountain sheep。 They would come right
up to the edges of the small cliffs to look at us。 We threw stones at them；
hoping to hit one in the forehead； but of course without any results。
The good effects of the water lasted us about a day。 Then we began to
see things again。 Off and on I could see water plain as could be in every
hollow； and game of all kinds standing around and looking at me。 I knew
these were all fakes。 By making an effort I could swing things around to
where they belonged。 I used to do that every once in a while； just to be
sure we weren't doubling back； and to look out for real water。 But most
of the time it didn't seem to be worth while。 I just let all these visions
riot around and have a good time inside me or outside me； whichever it
was。 I knew I could get rid of them any minute。 Most of the time； if I
was in any doubt； it was easier to throw a stone to see if the animals were
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real or not。 The real ones ran away。 We began to see bands of wild
horses in the uplands。 One day both Denton and I plainly saw one with
saddle marks on him。 If only one of us had seen him； it wouldn't have
counted much； but we both made him out。 This encouraged us
wonderfully； though I don't see why it
