the flying u ranch-第17节
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told the fellows why they did so。 They very kindly pulled a
tarpaulin over the three to protect them in a measure from the
chill night that was close upon them； and they wished them good
night and pleasant dreams； and rode away home。
On the way they met Weary and Happy Jack； galloping anxiously to
the battle scene。 Slim； it appeared from Weary's rapid
explanation； had arrived at the ranch with his horse in a lather
and with a four…inch furrow in the fleshiest part of his leg；
where a bullet had flicked him in passing。 The tale he told had
led Weary to believe that Slim was the sole survivor of that
reckless company。
〃Mamma！ I'm so glad to see you boys able to fork your horses and
swear natural； that I don't believe I can speak my little piece
about staying on your own side the fence and letting trouble do
some of the hunting；〃 he exclaimed thankfully。 〃I wish you'd
stayed at home and left these blamed Dots alone。 But； seeing yuh
didn't； I'm tickled to death to hear you didn't kill anybody off。
I don't want the folks to come home and find the whole bunch in
the pen。 It might look as if〃
〃You don't want the folks to come home and find the whole ranch
sheeped off； either； and the herders camping up in the white
house； do yuh？〃 Pink inquired pointedly。 〃I kinda think；〃 he
added dryly； 〃those same herders will feel like going away around
Flying U fences with their sheep。 I don't believe they'll do any
cutting across。〃
〃I betche old Dunk'll make it interestin' fer this outfit； just
the same；〃 Happy Jack predicted。 〃Tyin' up three men uh hisn；
like that； and ropin' their tent and draggin' it off； ain't
things he'll pass up。 He'll have a possy out hereyou see if he
don't！〃
〃In that case； I'll be sorry for you； Happy；〃 purred Miguel close
beside him。 〃You're the only one in the outfit that looks capable
of such a vile deed。〃
〃Oh； Dunk won't do anything；〃 Weary said cheerfully。 〃You'll have
to take those guns back； though。 They might take a notion to call
that stealing！〃
〃You forget；〃 the Native Son reminded calmly； 〃that we left them
three good ropes in exchange。〃
Whereupon the Happy Family laughed and went to offer their
unsought sympathy to Slim。
CHAPTER X。 The Happy Family Herd Sheep
The boys of the Flying U had many faults in common； aside from
certain individual frailties； one of their chief weaknesses was
over…confidence in their own ability to cope with any situation
which might arise； unexpectedly or otherwise； and a belief that
others felt that same confidence in them； and that enemies were
wont to sit a long time counting the cost before venturing to
offer too great an affront。 Also they believedand made it
manifest in their conversationthat they could even bring the
Old Man back to health if they only had him on the ranch where
they could get at him。 They maligned the hospitals and Chicago
doctors most unjustly； and were agreed that all he needed was to
be back on the ranch where somebody could look after him right。
They asserted that； if they ever got tired of living and wanted
to cash in without using a gun or anything； they'd go to a
hospital and tell the doctors to turn loose and try to cure them
of something。
This by way of illustration； also as an explanation of their
sleeping soundly that night； instead of watching for some hostile
demonstration on the part of the Dot outfit。 To a manone never
counted Happy Jack's prophecies of disaster as being anything
more than a personal deformity of thoughtthey were positive in
their belief that the Dot sheepherders would be very； very
careful not to provoke the Happy Family to further manifestations
of disapproval。 They knew what they'd get； if they tried any more
funny business； and they'd be mighty careful where they drove
their sheep after this。
So； with the comfortable glow of victory in their souls； they
laid them down； and； when the animated discussion of that night's
adventure flagged； as their tongues grew sleep…clogged and their
eyelids drooped； they slept in peace； save when Slim； awakened by
the soreness of his leg； grunted a malediction or two before he
began snoring again。
They rose and ate their breakfast in a fair humor with the world。
One grows accustomed to the thought of sickness； even when it
strikes close to the affections； and； with the resilience of
youth and hope； life adjusts itself to make room for the specter
of fear； so that it does not crowd unduly； but stands
half…forgotten in the background of one's thoughts。 For that
reason they no longer spoke soberly because of the Old Man lying
hurt unto death in Chicago。 And； when they mentioned the Dot
sheep and men； they spoke as men speak of the vanquished。
With the taste of hot biscuits and maple syrup still lingering
pleasantly against their palates； they went out and were
confronted with sheep； blatting sheep； stinking sheep；
devastating sheep； Dot sheep。 On the south side of the coulee； up
on the bluff； grazed the band。 They fed upon the brow of the hill
opposite the ranch buildings； they squeezed under the fence and
spilled a ragged fringe of running； gray animals down the slope。
Half a mile away though the nearest of them were； the murmur of
them； the smell of them； the whole intolerable presence of them；
filled the Happy Family with an amazed loathing too deep for
words。
Technically； that high； level stretch of land bounding Flying U
coulee on the south was open range。 It belonged to the
government。 The soil was not fertile enough even for the most
optimistic of 〃dry land〃 farmers to locate upon it； and this was
before the dry…land farming craze had swept the country；
gathering in all public land as claims。 J。 G。 Whitmore had
contented himself with acquiring title to the whole of the Flying
U coulee； secure in his belief that the old order of things would
not change； in his life…time； at least； and that the unwritten
law of the range land； which leaves the vicinity of a ranch to
the use of the ranch owner； would never be repealed by new
customs imposed by a new class of people。
Legally； there was no trespassing of the Dots； beyond the two or
three hundred which had made their way through the fence。
Morally； however； and by right of custom； their offense would not
be much greater if they came on down the hill and invaded the Old
Man's pet meadows； just beyond the 〃little pasture。〃
Ladies may read this story； so I am not going to pretend to
repeat the things they said； once they were released from dumb
amazement。 I should be compelled to improvise and substitute
which would remove much of the flavor。 Let bare facts suffice； at
present。
They saddled in haste； and in haste they rode to the scene。 This；
they were convinced； was the band herded by the bug…killer and
the man from Wyoming； and the nerve of those two almost excited
the admiration of the Happy Family。 It did not； however； deter
them from their purpose。
Weary； to look at him； was no longer in the mood to preach
patience and a turning of the other cheek。 He also made that
change of heart manifest in his speech when Pink； his eyes almost
black； rode up close and gritted at him：
〃Well； what's the orders now？ Want me to go back and get the wire
nippers so we can let them poor little sheep down into the
meadow？ Maybe we better ask the herders down to have some of
Patsy's grub； too； I don't believe they had time to cook much
breakfast。 And it wouldn't be a bad idea to haze our own stuff
clear off the range。 I'm afraid Dunk's sheep are going to fare
kinda slim； if we go on letting our cattle eat all the good
grass！〃 Pink did not often indulge in such lengthy sarcasm；
especially toward his beloved Weary； but his exasperation toward
Weary's mild tactics had been growing apace。
Weary's reply； I fear； will have to be omitted。 It was terribly
unrefined。
〃I want you boys to spread out； around the whole bunch；〃 was his
first printable utterance； 〃and haze these sheep just as far
south as they can get without taking to the river。 Don't get all
het up chasing 'em yourselfmake the men （Weary did not call
them men； he called them something very naughty） that's paid for
it do the driving。〃
〃And； if they don't go；〃 drawled the smooth voice of the Native
Son； 〃what shall we do； amigo？ Slap them on the wrist？〃
Weary twisted in the saddle and sent him a baleful glance； which
was not at all like Weary the sunny…hearted。
〃If you can't figure that out for yourself；〃 he snapped； 〃you had
better go back and wipe the dishes for Patsy； and； when that's
done； you can pull the weeds out of his radishes。 Maybe he'll
give you a nickel to buy candy with； if you do it good。〃 Before
he faced to the front again his harsh glance swept the faces of
his companions。
They were grinning； every man of them； and he knew why。 To see
him lose
