arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第39节
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confidence visibly cooling。
〃Alone！ Do you think you can make her？〃
〃I'll be back with those cattle in not more than ten days。〃 〃And
the man；〃 supplemented the Senor。 〃And the man。 What's more；
I want that money here when I come in。 I don't aim to stay in this
country over night。〃 A grin overspread Buck Johnson's countenance。
He understood。 〃Climate not healthy for you？〃 he hazarded。 〃I guess
you'd be safe enough all right with us。 But suit yourself。 The money
will be here。〃 〃That's agreed？〃 insisted the two…gun man。 〃Sure。〃
〃I want a fresh horseI'll leave minehe's a good one。 I want a little
grub。〃
〃All right。 Parker'll fit you out。〃 The stranger rose。 〃I'll see
you in about ten days。〃 〃Good luck；〃 Senor Buck Johnson wished
him。
CHAPTER FOUR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT
The next morning Buck Johnson took a trip down into the 〃pasture〃 of
five hundred wire…fenced acres。 〃He means business；〃 he confided to
Jed Parker； on his return。 〃That cavallo of his is a heap sight better than
the Shorty horse we let him take。 Jed； you found your man with nerve；
all right。 How did you do it？〃 The two settled down to wait； if not
with confidence； at least with interest。 Sometimes； remembering the
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desperate character of the outlaws； their fierce distrust of any intruder； the
wildness of the country； Buck Johnson and his foreman inclined to the
belief that the stranger had undertaken a task beyond the powers of any
one man。 Again； remembering the stranger's cool grey eye； the poise of
his demeanour； the quickness of his movements； and the two guns with
tied holsters to permit of easy withdrawal； they were almost persuaded that
he might win。 〃He's one of those long…chance fellows；〃 surmised Jed。
〃He likes excitement。 I see that by the way he takes up with my knife
play。 He'd rather leave his hide on the fence than stay in the corral。〃
〃Well； he's all right；〃 replied Senor Buck Johnson；〃and if he ever gets back；
which same I'm some doubtful of； his dinero'll be here for him。〃 In
pursuance of this he rode in to Willets； where shortly the overland train
brought him from Tucson the five thousand dollars in double eagles。
In the meantime the regular life of the ranch went on。 Each morning
Sang； the Chinese cook； rang the great bell； summoning the men。 They
ate； and then caught up the saddle horses for the day； turning those not
wanted from the corral into the pasture。 Shortly they jingled away in
different directions； two by two； on the slow Spanish trot of the cow…
puncher。 All day long thus they would ride； without food or water for
man or beast； looking the range； identifying the stock； branding the young
calves； examining generally into the state of affairs； gazing always with
grave eyes on the magnificent； flaming； changing； beautiful； dreadful
desert of the Arizona plains。 At evening when the coloured atmosphere；
catching the last glow； threw across the Chiricahuas its veil of mystery；
they jingled in again； two by two； untired； unhasting； the glory of the
desert in their deep…set； steady eyes。 And all the day long； while they
were absent； the cattle； too； made their pilgrimage； straggling in singly； in
pairs； in bunches； in long files； leisurely； ruminantly； without haste。
There； at the long troughs filled by the windmill of the blindfolded pump
mule； they drank； then filed away again into the mists of the desert。 And
Senor Buck Johnson； or his foreman； Parker； examined them for their
condition； noting the increase； remarking the strays from another range。
Later； perhaps； they； too； rode abroad。 The same thing happened at nine
other ranches from five to ten miles apart； where dwelt other fierce； silent
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men all under the authority of Buck Johnson。 And when night fell；
and the topaz and violet and saffron and amethyst and mauve and lilac had
faded suddenly from the Chiricahuas； like a veil that has been rent； and the
ramparts had become slate…grey and then blackthe soft…breathed night
wandered here and there over the desert； and the land fell under an
enchantment even stranger than the day's。 So the days went by；
wonderful； fashioning the ways and the characters of men。 Seven passed。
Buck Johnson and his foreman began to look for the stranger。 Eight；
they began to speculate。 Nine； they doubted。 On the tenth they gave
him upand he came。 They knew him first by the soft lowing of
cattle。 Jed Parker； dazzled by the lamp； peered out from the door； and
made him out dimly turning the animals into the corral。 A moment later
his pony's hoofs impacted softly on the baked earth； he dropped from the
saddle and entered the room。 〃I'm late；〃 said he briefly； glancing at the
clock； which indicated ten； 〃but I'm here。〃
His manner was quick and sharp； almost breathless； as though he had
been running。 〃Your cattle are in the corral： all of them。 Have you
the money？〃 〃I have the money here；〃 replied Buck Johnson； laying
his hand against a drawer； 〃and it's ready for you when you've earned it。
I don't care so much for the cattle。 What I wanted is the man who stole
them。 Did you bring him？〃
〃Yes； I brought him；〃 said the stranger。 〃Let's see that money。〃
Buck Johnson threw open the drawer； and drew from it the heavy canvas
sack。 〃It's here。 Now bring in your prisoner。〃 The two…gun man
seemed suddenly to loom large in the doorway。 The muzzles of his
revolvers covered the two before him。 His speech came short and sharp。
〃I told you I'd bring back the cows and the one who rustled them；〃 he
snapped。 〃I've never lied to a man yet。 Your stock is in the corral。 I'll
trouble you for that five thousand。 I'm the man who stole your cattle！〃
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PART III THE RAWHIDE
CHAPTER ONE THE PASSING OF THE COLT'S
FORTY…FIVE
The man of whom I am now to tell you came to Arizona in the early
days of Chief Cochise。 He settled in the Soda Springs Valley； and there
persisted in spite of the devastating forays of that Apache。 After a time
he owned all the wells and springs in the valley； and so； naturally；
controlled the grazing on that extensive free range。 Once a day the cattle；
in twos and threes； in bands； in strings； could be seen winding leisurely
down the deep…trodden and converging trails to the water troughs at the
home ranch； there leisurely to drink； and then leisurely to drift away into
the saffron and violet and amethyst distances of the desert。 At ten other
outlying ranches this daily scene was repeated。 All these cattle belonged
to the man； great by reason of his priority in the country； the balance of his
even character； and the grim determination of his spirit。
When he had first entered Soda Springs Valley his companions had
called him Buck Johnson。 Since then his form had squared； his eyes had
steadied to the serenity of a great authority； his mouth； shadowed by the
moustache and the beard； had closed straight in the line of power and
taciturnity。 There was about him more than a trace of the Spanish。 So
now he was known as Senor Johnson； although in reali
