the heritage of the sioux-第25节
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〃Here's what's left of the hobbles the buckskin wore;〃 he said; holding up the
cut loops of a figure…eight rope hobble。 〃Kinda speaks for itself; don't it?〃
They crowded around to inspect this plain evidence of stealing。 Afterwards
they stood hard…eyed and with a flush on their cheek…bones; considering what
was the best and wisest way to meet this emergency。 As to hunting afoot for
their horses; the chance of success was almost too small to be considered at
all; Pink's horse was not fit for further travel until he had rested。 There
was one pair of field glasses …and there were nine irate men to whom inaction
was intolerable。
〃One thing we can do; if we have to;〃 Luck said at last; with the fighting
look in his face which moving…picture people had cause to remember。 〃We can
help ourselves to any horses we run across。 Applehead; how's the best way to
go about it?〃
Applehead; thus pushed into leadership; chewed his mustache and eyed the mesa
sourly。 〃Well; seein' they've set us afoot; I calc'late we're jest about
entitled to any dang thing we run across that's ridable;〃 he acceded。 〃'N' the
way I'd do; would be to git on high groun' with them glasses 'n' look fer
hosses。 'N' then head fer 'em 'n' round 'em up afoot 'n' rope out what we
want。 They's enough of us t' mebby git a mount apiece; but it shore ain't
goin' t' be no snap; now I'm tellin' ye。 'N' if yuh do that;〃 he added; 〃yuh
want t' leave a man er two in camp'n' they want to keep their dang eyes
peeled; lemme tell yuh! Ef we was t' find ourselves afoot an' our grub 'n'
outfit stole〃
〃We won't give them that chance at us。〃 Luck was searching with his eyes for
the nearest high point that was yet not too far from camp。 〃I think I'll just
take Andy up on that pinnacle there; and camp down by that pile of boulders。
The rest of you stay around camp and rest yourselves while you've got the
chance。 In a couple of hours; Applehead; you and Lite come up and take our
place; then Miguel and Bud; and after that Weary and Happy。 Pink; you go and
bed down in the shade somewhere and go to sleepand quit worrying over last
night。 Nobody could have done any better than you did。 It was just one put
over on the bunch; and you happened to be the particular goat; that's all。
〃Now; if one of us waves his hat over his head; all of you but Happy and Bud
and Pink come up with your rifles and your ropes; because we'll have some
horses sighted。 If we wave from side to side; like this; about even with our
belts; you boys want to look out for trouble。 So one of you keep an eye on us
all the time we're up there。 We'll be up outa reach of any trouble ourselves;
if I remember that little pinnacle right。〃 He hung the strap that held the
leather case of the glasses over one shoulder; picked up his rifle and his
rope and started off; with Andy similarly equipped coming close behind him。
The mesa; when they reached the pinnacle and looked down over the wide expanse
of it; glimmered like clear; running water with the heat waves that rose from
the sand。 Away to the southward a scattered band of sheep showed in a mirage
that made them look long…legged as camels and half convinced them both that
they were seeing the lost horses; until the vision changed and shrunk the
moving objects to mere dots upon the mesa。
Often before they had watched the fantastic airpictures of the desert mirage;
and they knew well enough that what they saw might be one mile away or twenty。
But unless the atmospheric conditions happened to be just right; what was
pictured in the air could not be depended upon to portray truthfully what was
reflected。 They sat there and saw the animals suddenly grow clearly defined
and very close; and discovered at last that they were sheep; and that a man
was walking beside the flock; and even while they watched it and wondered if
the sheep were really as close as they seemed; the vision slowly faded into
blank; wavery distance and the mesa lay empty and quivering under the sun。
〃Fine chance we've got of locating anything;〃 Andy grumbled; 〃if it's going to
be miragy all day。 We could run our fool heads off trying to get up to a bunch
that would puff out into nothing。 Makes a fellow think of the stories they
tell about old prospectors going crazy trying to find mirage water…holes。 I'm
glad we didn't get hung up at a dry camp; Luck。 Yuh realize what that would be
like?〃
〃Oh; I may have some faint idea;〃 Luck drawled whimsically。 〃Look over there;
Andy over toward Albuquerque。 Is that a mirage again; or do you see something
moving?〃
Andy; having the glasses; swung them slowly to the southeast。 After a minute
or two he shook his head and gave the glasses to Luck。 〃There was one square
look I got; and I'd been willing to swear it was our saddle…bunch;〃 he said。
〃And then they got to wobbling and I couldn't make out what they are。 They
might be field mice; or they might be giraffesI'm darned if I know which。〃
Luck focussed the glasses; but whatever the objects had been; they were no
longer to he seen。 So the two hours passed and they saw Applehead and Lite
come slowly up the hill from camp bearing their rifles and their ropes and a
canteen of fresh water; as the three things they might find most use for。
These two settled themselves to watch for horsestheir own range horses。 When
they were relieved they reported nothing save a continued inclination on the
part of the atmosphere to be what Andy called miragy。 So; the day passed;
chafing their spirits worse than any amount of active trouble would have done。
Pink slept and brooded by turns; still blaming himself for the misfortune。 The
others moped; or took their turns on the pinnacle to strain their eyes
unavailingly into the four corners of the earthor as much as they could in
those directions。
With the going of the sun Applehead and Lite; sitting out their second guard
on the pinnacle; discussed seriously the desperate idea of going in the night
to the nearest Navajo ranch and helping themselves to what horses they could
find about the place。 The biggest obstacle was their absolute ignorance of
where the nearest ranch lay。 Not; surely; that half…day's ride back towards
Albuquerque; where they bad seen but one pony and that a poor specimen of
horseflesh。 Another obstacle would be the dogs; which could be quieted only
with bullets。
〃We might git hold of something to ride;〃 Applehead stated glumly; 〃an' then
agin the chances is we wouldn't git nothin' more'n a scrap on our hands。 'N'
I'm tellin' yuh right now; Lite; I ain't hankerin' fer no fuss till I git a
hoss under me。〃
〃Me either;〃 Lite testified succinctly。 〃Say; is that something coming; away
up that draw the camp's in? Seems to me I saw something pass that line of
lava; about half a mile over。〃
Applehead stood up and peered into the half darkness。 In a couple of minutes
he said: 〃Ye better git down an' tell the boys t' be on the watch; Lite。 They
can't see no hat…wavin' this time uh day。 They's somethin' movin' up to…wards
camp; but what er who they be I can't make out in the dark。 Tell Luck〃
〃What's the matter with us both going?〃 Lite asked; cupping his hands around
his eyes that he might see better。 〃It's getting too dark to do any good up
here〃
〃Well; I calc'late mebby yore right;〃 Applehead admitted; and began to pick
his way down over the rocks。 〃Ef them's Injuns; the bigger we stack up in camp
the better。 If it's Ramon 'n' his bunch; I want t' git m' hands on 'im。〃
He must have turned the matter over pretty thoroughly in his mind; for when
the two reached camp he had his ideas fixed and his plans all perfected。 He
told Luck that somebody was working down the draw in the dark; and that it
looked like a Navvy trick; and that they had better be ready for them; because
they weren't coming just to pass the time of day〃now I'm tellin' ye!〃
The nerves of the Happy Family were raw enough by now to welcome anything that
promised action; even an Indian fight would not be so much a disaster as a
novel way of breaking the monotony。 Applehead; with the experience gathered in
the old days when he was a young fellow with a freighting outfit and old
Geronimo was terrorizing all this country; sent them back in compact half
circle just within the shelter of the trees and several rods 。away from their
campfire and the waterhole。 There; lying crouched behind their saddles with
their rifles across the seat…sides and with ammunition belts full of
cartridges; they waited for whatever might be coming in the dark。
〃It's horses;〃 Pink exclaimed under his breath; as faint sounds came down the
draw。 〃Maybe〃
〃Horsesand an Injun laying along the back of every one; most likely;〃
Applehead returned grimly。 〃An old Navvy trick; that isdon't let 'em fool
ye; boys! You jest wait; 'n' I'll tell ye 'when t' shoot; er whether t' shoot
at all。 They can't fool MEnow I'm tellin' yuh!