arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第6节
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or five feet； and Tim got off his hoss。
〃I think that will do；〃 says he。
〃You may come out。 Billy； my son； cover him。 Now； Mr。 Texas
Pete；〃 he says； cold as steel； 〃there is the grave。 We will place the hoss in
it。 Then I intend to shoot you and put you in with the hoss； and write you
an epitaph that will be a comfort to such travellers of the Trail as are
honest； and a warnin' to such as are not。 I'd as soon kill you now as an
hour from now； so you may make a break for it if you feel like it。〃
He stooped over to look into the hole。 I thought he looked an extra
long time； but when he raised his head his face had changed complete。
〃March！〃 says he very brisk。
We all went back to the shack。 From the corral Tim took Texas Pete's
best team and hitched her to the old schooner。
〃There；〃 says he to the man。 〃Now you'd better hit the trail。 Take
that whisky keg there for water。 Good…bye。〃
We sat there without sayin' a word for some time after the schooner
had pulled out。 Then Tim says； very abrupt：
〃I've changed my mind。〃
He got up。
〃Come on； Billy；〃 says he to me。 〃We'll just leave our friend tied up。
I'll be back to…morrow to turn you loose。 In the meantime it won't hurt
you a bit to be a little uncomfortable； and hungryand thirsty。〃
We rode off just about sundown； leavin' Texas Pete lashed tight。
Now all this knocked me hell…west and crooked； and I said so； but I
couldn't get a word out of Gentleman Tim。 All the answer I could get
was just little laughs。
We drawed into the ranch near midnight； but next mornin' Tim had a
long talk with the boss； and the result was that the whole outfit was
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ARIZONA NIGHTS
instructed to arm up with a pick or a shovel apiece； and to get set for Texas
Pete's。 We got there a little after noon； turned the old boy outwithout
firearmsand then began to dig at a place Tim told us to； near that grave of
Texas Pete's。 In three hours we had the finest water…hole developed you
ever want to see。 Then the boss stuck up a sign that said：
PUBLIC WATER…HOLE。 WATER； FREE。
〃Now you old skin；〃 says he to Texas Pete； 〃charge all you want to on
your own property。 But if I ever hear of your layin' claim to this other
hole； I'll shore make you hard to catch。〃
Then we rode off home。 You see； when Gentleman Tim inspected
that grave； he noted indications of water； and it struck him that runnin' the
old renegade out of business was a neater way of gettin' even than merely
killin' him。
Somebody threw a fresh mesquite on the fire。 The flames leaped up
again； showing a thin trickle of water running down the other side of the
cave。 The steady downpour again made itself prominent through the re…
established silence。
〃What did Texas Pete do after that？〃 asked the Cattleman。
〃Texas Pete？〃 chuckled Windy Bill。 〃Well； he put in a heap of his
spare time lettin' Tim alone。〃
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ARIZONA NIGHTS
CHAPTER THREE THE
REMITTANCE MAN
After Windy Bill had finished his story we began to think it time to
turn in。 Uncle Jim and Charley slid and slipped down the chute…like
passage leading from the cave and disappeared in the direction of the
overhang beneath which they had spread their bed。 After a moment we
tore off long bundles of the nigger…head blades； lit the resinous ends at our
fire； and with these torches started to make our way along the base of the
cliff to the other cave。
Once without the influence of the fire our impromptu links cast an
adequate light。 The sheets of rain became suddenly visible as they
entered the circle of illumination。 By careful scrutiny of the footing I
gained the entrance to our cave without mishap。 I looked back。 Here
and there irregularly gleamed and spluttered my companions' torches。
Across each slanted the rain。 All else was of inky blackness except
where； between them and me； a faint red reflection shone on the wet rocks。
Then I turned inside。
Now； to judge from the crumbling powder of the footing； that cave had
been dry since Noah。 In fact； its roof was nearly a thousand feet thick。
But since we had spread our blankets； the persistent waters had soaked
down and through。 The thousand…foot roof had a sprung a leak。 Three
separate and distinct streams of water ran as from spigots。 I lowered my
torch。 The canvas tarpaulin shone with wet； and in its exact centre
glimmered a pool of water three inches deep and at least two feet in
diameter。
〃Well； I'll be；〃 I began。 Then I remembered those three wending their
way along a wet and disagreeable trail； happy and peaceful in anticipation
of warm blankets and a level floor。 I chuckled and sat on my heels out of
the drip。
First came Jed Parker； his head bent to protect the fire in his pipe。 He
gained the very centre of the cave before he looked up。
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ARIZONA NIGHTS
Then he cast one glance at each bed； and one at me。 His grave；
hawk…like features relaxed。 A faint grin appeared under his long
moustache。 Without a word he squatted down beside me。
Next the Cattleman。 He looked about him with a comical expression
of dismay； and burst into a hearty laugh。
〃I believe I said I was sorry for those other fellows；〃 he remarked。
Windy Bill was the last。 He stooped his head to enter； straightened
his lank figure； and took in the situation without expression。
〃Well； this is handy；〃 said he； 〃I was gettin' tur'ble dry； and was
thinkin' I would have to climb way down to the creek in all this rain。〃
He stooped to the pool in the centre of the tarpaulin and drank。
But now our torches began to run low。 A small dry bush grew near
the entrance。 We ignited it； and while it blazed we hastily sorted a
blanket apiece and tumbled the rest out of the drip。
Our return without torches along the base of that butte was something
to remember。 The night was so thick you could feel the darkness
pressing on you； the mountain dropped abruptly to the left； and was strewn
with boulders and blocks of stone。 Collisions and stumbles were
frequent。 Once I stepped off a little ledge five or six feetnothing worse
than a barked shin。 And all the while the rain； pelting us unmercifully；
searched out what poor little remnants of dryness we had been able to
retain。
At last we opened out the gleam of fire in our cave； and a minute later
were engaged in struggling desperately up the slant that brought us to our
ledge and the slope on which our fire burned。
〃My Lord！〃 panted Windy Bill； 〃a man had ought to have hooks on his
eyebrows to climb up here！〃
We renewed the fireand blessed the back…load of mesquite we had
packed up earlier in the evening。 Our blankets we wrapped around our
shoulders； our feet we hung over the ledge toward the blaze； our backs we
leaned against the hollow slant of the cave's wall。 We were not
uncomfortable。 The beat of the rain sprang up in the darkness； growing
louder and louder； like horsemen passing on a hard road。 Gradually we
dozed off。
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For a time everything was pleasant。 Dreams came fused with
realities； the firelight faded from consciousness or returned fantastic to our
half…awakening； a delicious numbness overspread our tired bodies。 The
shadows leaped； became solid； monstrous。 We fell asleep。
After a time the fact obtru
