arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第37节
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will stay with it； and we'll reach his cattle…rustling conscience with a
rope。〃
So it came about that a little army crossed the drift fences and entered
the border country。 Two days later it came out； and mighty pleased to be
able to do so。 The rope had not been used。 The reason for the
defeat was quite simple。 The thief had run his cattle through the lava
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beds where the trail at once became difficult to follow。 This delayed the
pursuing party； they ran out of water； and； as there was among them not
one man well enough acquainted with the country to know where to find
more； they had to return。
〃No use； Buck；〃 said Jed。 〃We'd any of us come in on a gun play； but
we can't buck the desert。 We'll have to get someone who knows the
country。〃 〃That's all rightbut where？〃 queried Johnson。
〃There's Pereza；〃 suggested Parker。 〃It's the only town down near that
country。〃 〃Might get someone there；〃 agreed the Senor。 Next day
he rode away in search of a guide。 The third evening he was back again；
much discouraged。
〃The country's no good；〃 he explained。 〃The regular inhabitants 're a
set of Mexican bums and old soaks。 The cowmen's all from north and
don't know nothing more than we do。 I found lots who claimed to know
that country； but when I told 'em what I wanted they shied like a colt。 I
couldn't hire'em； for no money； to go down in that country。 They ain't got
the nerve。 I took two days to her； too； and rode out to a ranch where they
said a man lived who knew all about it down there。 Nary riffle。 Man
looked all right； but his tail went down like the rest when I told him what
we wanted。 Seemed plumb scairt to death。 Says he lives too close to
the gang。 Says they'd wipe him out sure if he done it。 Seemed plumb
SCAIRT。〃 Buck Johnson grinned。 〃I told him so and he got hosstyle
right off。 Didn't seem no ways scairt of me。 I don't know what's the
matter with that outfit down there。 They're plumb terrorised。〃
That night a bunch of steers was stolen from the very corrals of the
home ranch。 The home ranch was far north； near Fort Sherman itself；
and so had always been considered immune from attack。 Consequently
these steers were very fine ones。 For the first time Buck Johnson lost
his head and his dignity。 He ordered the horses。 〃I'm going to follow
that into Sonora；〃 he shouted to Jed Parker。 〃This thing's got to
stop！〃
〃You can't make her； Buck；〃 objected the foreman。 〃You'll get held up
by the desert； and； if that don't finish you； they'll tangle you up in all those
little mountains down there； and ambush you； and massacre you。 You
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know it damn well。〃
〃I don't give a 〃 exploded Senor Johnson； 〃if they do。 No man can
slap my face and not get a run for it。〃 Jed Parker communed with
himself。
〃Senor；〃 said he； at last；〃it's no good； you can't do it。 You got to have
a guide。 You wait three days and I'll get you one。〃
〃You can't do it；〃 insisted the Senor。 〃I tried every man in the district。〃
〃Will you wait three days？〃 repeated the foreman。 Johnson
pulled loose his latigo。 His first anger had cooled。 〃All right；〃 he
agreed； 〃and you can say for me that I'll pay five thousand dollars in gold
and give all the men and horses he needs to the man who has the nerve to
get back that bunch of cattle； and bring in the man who rustled them。 I'll
sure make this a test case。〃 So Jed Parker set out to discover his man
with nerve。
CHAPTER TWO THE MAN WITH NERVE
At about ten o'clock of the Fourth of July a rider topped the summit of
the last swell of land； and loped his animal down into the single street of
Pereza。 The buildings on either side were flat…roofed and coated with
plaster。 Over the sidewalks extended wooden awnings； beneath which
opened very wide doors into the coolness of saloons。 Each of these
places ran a bar； and also games of roulette； faro； craps； and stud poker。
Even this early in the morning every game was patronised。
The day was already hot with the dry； breathless； but exhilarating； beat
of the desert。 A throng of men idling at the edge of the sidewalks；
jostling up and down their centre； or eddying into the places of amusement；
acknowledged the power of summer by loosening their collars； carrying
their coats on their arms。 They were as yet busily engaged in recognising
acquaintances。 Later they would drink freely and gamble； and perhaps
fight。 Toward all but those whom they recognised they preserved an
attitude of potential suspicion； for here were gathered the 〃bad men〃 of the
border countries。 A certain jealousy or touchy egotism lest the other man
be considered quicker on the trigger； bolder； more aggressive than himself；
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kept each strung to tension。 An occasional shot attracted little notice。
Men in the cow…countries shoot as casually as we strike matches； and
some subtle instinct told them that the reports were harmless。 As the
rider entered the one street； however； a more definite cause of excitement
drew the loose population toward the centre of the road。 Immediately
their mass blotted out what had interested them。 Curiosity attracted the
saunterers； then in turn the frequenters of the bars and gambling games。
In a very few moments the barkeepers； gamblers； and look…out men； held
aloof only by the necessities of their calling； alone of all the population of
Pereza were not included in the newly…formed ring。 The stranger
pushed his horse resolutely to the outer edge of the crowd where； from his
point of vantage； he could easily overlook their heads。 He was a quiet…
appearing young fellow； rather neatly dressed in the border costume； rode
a 〃centre fire；〃 or single…cinch； saddle； and wore no chaps。 He was what
is known as a 〃two…gun man〃： that is to say； he wore a heavy Colt's
revolver on either hip。 The fact that the lower ends of his holsters were
tied down； in order to facilitate the easy withdrawal of the revolvers；
seemed to indicate that he expected to use them。 He had furthermore a
quiet grey eye； with the glint of steel that bore out the inference of the tied
holsters。 The newcomer dropped his reins on his pony's neck； eased
himself to an attitude of attention； and looked down gravely on what was
taking place。 He saw over the heads of the bystanders a tall； muscular；
wild…eyed man； hatless； his hair rumpled into staring confusion； his right
sleeve rolled to his shoulder； a wicked…looking nine…inch knife in his hand；
and a red bandana handkerchief hanging by one corner from his teeth。
〃What's biting the locoed stranger？〃 the young man inquired of his
neighbour。 The other frowned at him darkly。 〃Dare's anyone to
take the other end of that handkerchief in his teeth； and fight it out without
letting go。〃 〃Nice joyful proposition；〃 commented the young man。
He settled himself to closer attention。 The wild…eyed man was talking
rapidly。 What he said cannot be printed here。 Mainly was it derogatory
of the southern countries。 Shortly it became boastful of the northern； and
then of the man who uttered it。
He swaggered up and down； becoming always the more insolent as his
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challenge remained untaken。 〃Why don't you take him
