the lost road-第10节

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nigger　ran。　　Aintree　fired　twice；　then　I　got　to　him　and　knocked　
the　gun　out　of　his　hand　with　my　nightstick。〃

There　was　a　pause。　　Until　he　was　sure　his　voice　would　be　steady　
and　official；　the　boy　lieutenant　did　not　speak。

〃Did　he　hit　the　negro？〃　he　asked。

〃I　don't　know；〃　Meehan　answered。　　〃The　man　jumped　for　the　darkest　
spot　he　could　find。〃　　The　voice　of　Meehan　lost　its　professional　
calm　and　became　personal　and　aggrieved。

〃Aintree's　on　his　way　to　see　you　now；　lieutenant。　　He's　going　to　
report　me。〃

〃For　what？〃

The　voice　over　the　telephone　rose　indignantly。

〃For　knocking　the　gun　out　of　his　hand。　　He　says　it's　an　assault。
He's　going　to　break　me！〃

Standish　made　no　comment。

〃Report　here；〃　he　ordered。

He　heard　Bullard　hurrying　up　the　hill　and　met　him　at　the　foot　of　
the　steps。

〃There's　a　nigger；〃　began　Bullard；　〃lying　under　some　bushes〃

〃Hush！〃　commanded　Standish。

From　the　path　below　came　the　sound　of　footsteps　approaching　
unsteadily；　and　the　voice　of　a　man　swearing　and　muttering　to　
himself。　　Standish　pulled　the　ex…cowboy　into　the　shadow　of　the　
darkness　and　spoke　in　eager　whispers。

〃You　understand；〃　he　concluded；　〃you　will　not　report　until　you　
see　me　pick　up　a　cigar　from　the　desk　and　light　it。　　You　will　wait
out　here　in　the　darkness。　　When　you　see　me　light　the　cigar；　you
will　come　in　and　report。〃

The　cowboy　policeman　nodded；　but　without　enthusiasm。　　〃I　
understand；　lieutenant；〃　he　said；　〃but；〃　he　shook　his　head　doubtfully；
〃it　sizes　up　to　me　like　what　those　police　up　in　New　York　call　a
'frame…up。'〃

Standish　exclaimed　impatiently。

〃It's　not　my　frame…up！〃　he　said。　　〃The　man's　framed　himself　up。
All　I'm　going　to　do　is　to　nail　him　to　the　wall！〃

Standish　had　only　time　to　return　to　his　desk　when　Aintree　stumbled
up　the　path　and　into　the　station…house。　　He　was　〃fighting　drunk；〃
ugly；　offensive；　all　but　incoherent　with　anger。

〃You　in　charge？〃　he　demanded。　　He　did　not　wait　for　an　answer。　
〃I've　been　'saulted！〃　he　shouted。　　〃'Saulted　by　one　of　your　damned　
policemen。　　He　struck　mestruck　me　when　I　was　protecting　myself。　
He　had　a　nigger　with　him。　　First　the　nigger　tripped　me；　then；　when
I　tried　to　protect　myself；　this　thug　of　yours　hits　me；　clubs　me；　you　
unnerstan'；　clubs　me！　　I　want　him〃

He　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　Meehan；　who　moved　into　the　
light　from　the　lamps　and　saluted　his　lieutenant。

〃That's　the　man！〃　roared　Aintree。　　The　sight　of　Meehan　whipped　him
into　greater　fury。

〃I　want　that　man　broke。　　I　want　to　see　you　strip　his　shield　off　
himnow；　you　unnerstan'；　nowfor　'saulting　me；　for　'saulting　an　
officer　in　the　United　States　army。　　And；　if　you　don't；〃　he　threw　
himself　into　a　position　of　the　prize…ring；　〃I'll　beat　him　up　and　
you；　too。〃　　Through　want　of　breath；　he　stopped；　and　panted。　　Again
his　voice　broke　forth　hysterically。　　〃I'm　not　afraid　of　your　damned　
night…sticks；〃　he　taunted。　　〃I　got　five　hundred　men　on　top　this　hill；　
all　I've　got　to　do　is　to　say　the　word；　and　they'll　rough…house　this　
place　and　throw　it　into　the　cutand　you　with　it。〃

Standish　rose　to　his　feet；　and　across　the　desk　looked　steadily　at
Aintree。　　To　Aintree　the　steadiness　of　his　eyes　and　the　quietness
of　his　voice　were　an　added　aggravation。

〃Suppose　you　did；〃　said　Standish；　〃that　would　not　save　you。〃

〃From　what？〃　roared　Aintree。　　〃Think　I'm　afraid　of　your　night…
sticks？〃

〃From　arrest！〃

〃Arrest　me！〃　yelled　Aintree。　　〃Do　you　know　who's　talking　to　you？　
Do　you　know　who　I　am？　I'm　Major　Aintree；　damn　you；　commanding　
the　infantry。　　An'　I'm　here　to　charge　that　thug〃

〃You　are　here　because　you　are　under　arrest；〃　said　Standish。　　〃You
are　arrested　for　threatening　the　police；　drunkenness；　and　assaulting
a　citizen　with　intent　to　kill〃　　The　voice　of　the　young　man　turned　shrill
and　rasping。　　〃And　if　the　man　should　die〃

Aintree　burst　into　a　bellow　of　mocking　laughter。

Standish　struck　the　desk　with　his　open　palm。

〃Silence！〃　he　commanded。

〃Silence　to　me！〃　roared　Aintree；　〃you　impertinent　pup！〃　He　flung　
himself　forward；　shaking　his　fist。　　〃I'm　Major　Aintree。　　I'm　your　
superior　officer。　　I'm　an　officer　an'　a　gentleman〃

〃You　are　not！〃　replied　Standish。　　〃You　are　a　drunken　loafer！〃

Aintree　could　not　break　the　silence。　　Amazement；　rage；　stupefaction
held　him　in　incredulous　wonder。　　Even　Meehan　moved　uneasily。　
Between　the　officer　commanding　the　infantry　and　an　officer　of　
police；　he　feared　the　lieutenant　would　not　survive。

But　he　heard　the　voice　of　his　lieutenant　continuing；　evenly；　
coldly；　like　the　voice　of　a　judge　delivering　sentence。

〃You　are　a　drunken　loafer；〃　repeated　the　boy。　　〃And　you　know　it。　
And　I　mean　that　to…morrow　morning　every　one　on　the　Zone　shall　know
it。　　And　I　mean　to…morrow　night　every　one　in　the　States　shall　know
it。　　You've　killed　a　man；　or　tried　to；　and　I'm　going　to　break　you。〃
With　his　arm　he　pointed　to　Meehan。　　〃Break　that　man？〃　he　demanded。
〃For　doing　his　duty；　for　trying　to　stop　a　murder？　Strip　him　of　his
shield？〃　The　boy　laughed　savagely。　　〃It's　you　I　am　going　to　strip；
Aintree；〃　he　cried；　〃you　'hero　of　Batangas'；　I'm　going　to　strip　you　
naked。　　I'm　going　to　'cut　the　buttons　off　your　coat；　and　tear　the　stripes
away。'　　I'm　going　to　degrade　you　and　disgrace　you；　and　drive　you　out
of　the　army！〃　He　threw　his　note…book　on　the　table。　　〃There's　your　dossier；
Aintree；〃　he　said。　　〃For　three　months　you've　been　drunk；　and　there's　your
record。　　The　police　got　it　for　me；　it's　written　there　with　dates　and　the　names
of　witnesses。　　I'll　swear　to　it。　I've　been　after　you　to　get　you；　and　I've　got
you。
With　that　book；　with　what　you　did　to…night；　you'll　leave　the　army。　　You
may　resign；　you　may　be　court…martialled；　you　may　be　hung。　　I　don't
give　a　damn　what　they　do　to　you；　but　you　will　leave　the　army！〃

He　turned　to　Meehan；　and　with　a　jerk　of　the　hand　signified　Aintree。

〃Put　him　in　a　cell；〃　he　said。　　〃If　he　resists〃

Aintree　gave　no　sign　of　resisting。　　He　stood　motionless；　his　arms
hanging　limp；　his　eyes　protruding。　　The　liquor　had　died　in　him；　and
his　anger　had　turned　chill。　　He　tried　to　moisten　his　lips　to　speak；
but　his　throat　was　baked；　and　no　sound　issued。　　He　tried　to　focus
his　eyes　upon　the　menacing　little　figure　behind　the　desk；　but　
between　the　two　lamps　it　swayed；　and　shrank　and　swelled。　　Of　one　
thing　only　was　he　sure；　that　some　grave　disaster　had　overtaken
him；　something　that　when　he　came　fully　to　his　senses　still　would
overwhelm　him；　something　he　could　not　conquer　with　his　fists。
His　brain；　even　befuddled　as　it　was；　told　him　he　had　been　caught
by　the　heels；　that　he　was　in　a　trap；　that　smashing　this　boy　who　
threatened　him　could　not　set　him　free。　　He　recognized；　and　it　was
this　knowledge　that　stirred　him　with　alarm；　that　this　was　no　
ordinary　officer　of　justice；　but　a　personal　enemy；　an　avenging　
spirit　who；　for　some　unknown　reason；　had　spread　a　trap；　who；　for
some　private　purpose　of　revenge；　would　drag　him　down。

Frowning　painfully；　he　waved　Meehan　from　him。

〃Wait；〃　he　commanded。　　〃I　don'　unnerstan'。　　What　good's　it　goin'　to
do　you　to　lock　me　up　an'　disgrace　me？　　What　harm　have　I　done　you？
Who　asked　you　to　run　the　army；　anyway？　Who　are　you？〃

〃My　name　is　Standish；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　　〃My　father　was　colonel
of　the　Thirty…third　when　you　first　joined　it　from　the　Academy。〃

Aintree　exclaimed　with　surprise　and　enlightenment。　　He　broke　into
hurried　speech；　but　Standish　cut　him　short。

〃And　General　Standish　of　the　Mexican　War；〃　he　continued；　〃was　my
grandfather。　　Since　Washington　all　my　people　have　been　officers　of
the　regular　army；　and　I'd　been　one；　too；　if　I'd　been　bright　enough。
That's　why　I　respect　the　army。　　That's　why　I'm　going　to　throw　you
out　of　it。　　You've　done　harm　fifty　men　as　good　as　you　can't　undo。
You've　made　drunkards　of　a　whole　battalion。　　You've　taught　boys
who　looked　up　to　you；　as　I　looked　up　to　you　once；　to　laugh　at
discipline；　to　make　swine　of　themselves。　　You've　set　them　an　example。
I'm　going　to　make　an　example　of　you。　　That's　all　there　is　to　this。　　I've
got　no　grudge　against　you。　　I'm　not　vindictive；　I'm　sorry　for　you。　　But；〃
he　paused　and　pointed　his　hand　at　Aintree　as　though　it　held　a　gun；
〃you　are　going　to　leave　the　army！〃

Like　a　man　coming　out　of　an　ugly　dream；　Aintree　opened　and　shut　
his　eyes；　shivered；　and　stretched　his　great　muscles。　　They　watched
him　with　an　effort　of　the　will　force　himself　back　to　consciousness。
When　again　he　spoke；　his　tone　was　sane。

〃See　here；　Standish；〃　he　began；　〃I'll　not　beg　of　you　or　any　man。
I　only　ask　you　to　think　what　you're　doing。　　This　means　my　finish。　
If　you　force　this　through　to…night　it　means　court…martial；　it　means
I　lose　my　commission；　I　loselose　things　you　know　nothing　about。
And；　if　I've　got　a　record　for　drinking；　I've　got　a　record　for　other　
things；　too。　　Don't　forget　that！〃

Standish　shook　his　head。　　〃I　didn't　forget　it；〃　he　said。

〃Well；　suppose　I　did；〃　demanded　Aintree。　　〃Suppose　I　did　go　on
the　loose；　just　to　pass　the　time；　just　because　I'm　sick　of　this　damned
ditch？　Is　it　fair　to　wipe　out　all　that　went　before；　for　that？　I'm　the
youngest　major　in　the　army；　I　served　in　three　campaigns；　I'm　a
medal…of…honor　man；　I've　got　a　career　ahead　of　me；　andand　I'm
g