the heritage of the sioux-第33节

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So　when　Applehead　and　his　three；　coming　in　from　the　north；　approached　the

grove；　they　did　it　under　cover　of　a　draw　that　hid　them　from　sight。　From　the

shots　that　were　fired；　Applehead　guessed　the　truth；　that　Luck's　bunch　had

sensed　danger　before　they　had　actually　ridden　into　the　Frying…pan　itself；　and

that　the　Navajos　were　trying　to　drive　them　out　of　the　rocks；　and　were　not

making　much　of　a　success　of　it。



〃Now；〃　Applehead　instructed　the　three　when　they　were　as　close　as　they　could

get　to　the　grove　without　being　seen；　〃I　calc'late　about　the　best　thing　we　kin

do；　boys；　is　t'　spur　up　our　hosses　and　ride　in　amongst　'em　shooting　and

a…hollerin'。　Mebby　we　kin　jest　natcherlay　stampede　'embut　we've　sure　got　t'

git　through　In'　git　under　cover　mighty　dang　suddent；　er　they'll　come　to

theirselves　an'　wipe　us　clean　off'n　the　mapif　they's　enough　of　'em。　These

here　that's　comin'　along　after　us；　they'll　help　t'　swell　the　party；　oncet　they

git　here。　I　calc'late　they　figger　't　we're　runnin'　head…on　into　a　mess　uh

trouble；　'n'　they　don't　want　t'　colleck　any　stray　bullets'n'　that's　why

they've　dropped　back　in　the　last　half　mile　er　so。　Haze　them　pack　bosses　up

this　way；　Pink；　so'st　they　won't　git　caught　up　'fore　they　git　t'　what　the　rest

air。　Best　use　yore　six…guns　fer　this；　boysthat'll　leave　ye　one　hand　t'　guide

yore　bosses　with；　and　they're　handier　all　around　in　closework。　Air　ye　ready？

Then　come　onfoller　me　'n'　come　a…whoopin'！〃



A…whooping　they　came；　up　out　of　the　draw　and　in　among　the　trees　as　though　they

had　a　regiment　behind　them。　Certain　crouching　figures　jumped；　sent　startled

glances　behind　them　and　ran　like　partridges　for　cover　farther　on。　Only　one　or

two　paused　to　send　a　shot　at　these　charging　fiends　who　seemed　bent　on　riding

them　down　and　who　yelled　like　devils　turned　loose　from　the　pit。　And　before

they　had　found　safe　covert　on　the　farther　fringes　of　the　grove　and　were　ready

to　meet　the　onslaught；　the　clamor　had　ceased　and　the　white　men　had　joined

those　others　among　the　rocks。



So　now　there　were　nine　men　cornered　here　on　the；　edge　of　the　Frying…pan；　with

no　water　for　their　horses　and　not　much　hope　of　getting　out　of　there。



〃Darn　you；　Applehead；　why　didn't　you　keep　out　of　this　mess？〃　Luck　demanded

with　his　mouth　drawn　down　viciously　at　the　corners　and　his　eyes　warm　with

affection　and　gratitude。　〃What　possessed　your　fool　heart　to　ride　into　this

trap？〃



〃We…ell；　dang　it；　we　had　t'　ride　som'ers；　didn't　we？〃　Applehead；　safe　behind　a

bowlder；　pulled　off　his　greasy；　gray　Stetson　and　polished　his　bald　head

disconcertedly。　〃Had　a　bunch　uh　Navvies　hangin'　t'　our　heels　like

tumbleweed'n'　we　been　doin'　some　RIDIN'；　now；　I'm　a　tellin'　ye！　'F　Lite；

here；　hadn't　kep'　droppin'　one　now　an'　then　fur　the　rest　t'　devour；　I

calc'late　we'd　bin　et　up；　a　mile　er　two　back！〃



Lite　looked　up　from　shoving　more　cartridges　into　his　rifle…magazine。　〃If　we

hadn't　had　a　real；　simon…pure　go…getter　to　boss　the　job；〃　he　drawled；　〃I

reckon　all　the　shooting　I　did　wouldn't　have　cut　any　ice。　Ain't　that　right；

boys？〃



Pink；　resting　his　rifle　in　a　niche　of　the　boulder　and　moving　it　here　and　there

trying　to　fix　his　sights　on　a　certain　green　sweater　back　in　the　woods　that　he

had　glimpsed　a　minute　before；　nodded　assent。　〃You're　durn　tootin'　it's　right！〃

he　testified。



Weary　looked　shining…eyed　at　Applehead's　purple　face。　〃Sure；　that's　right！〃　he

emphasized。　〃And　I　don't　care　how　much　of　a　trap　you　call　this；　it　isn't　a

patching　to　the　one　Applehead　busted　us　out　of。　He's　what　I　call　a　Real　One；

boys。〃



〃Aw；　shet　yore　dang　head　'n'　git　yore　rifles　workin'！〃　Applehead　blurted。

〃This　yere　ain't　no　time　fer　kiddin'；　'n'　I'm　tellin'　yuh　straight。　What's

them　fellers　acrost　the　Fryin'…pan　think　they're　tryin'　t'　do？　luck　le's　you'n

me　make　a　few　remarks　over　that　way；　'n'　leave　the　boys　t'　do　some　gun…talk

with　these　here　babies　behind　us。　Dang　it；　if　I　knowed　of　a　better　place　'n'

what　this　is　fer　holdin'　'em　off；　I'd　say　make　a　run　fer　it。　But　I　don't　'n'

that's　fact。　Yuh　musta　sprung　the　trap　'fore　yuh　got　inside；　'cause　they　shore

aimed　t'　occupy　this　nest　uh　rocks　theirselves；　with　you　fellers　down　there　in

the　Fryin'…pan　where　they　could　git　at　yuh。



〃Thar's　one　of　'em　up　on　the　rim…rocksee　'im？standin'　thar；　by　granny；

like　he　was　darin'　somebody　t'　cut　loose！　Here；　Lite；　you　spill　some　lead　up

thar。　We'll　learn　'im　t'　act　up　smart〃



〃Hey；　hold　on！〃　Luck　grabbed　Lite's　arm　as　he　was　raising　his　rifle　for　a

close　shot　at　the　fellow。　〃Don't　shoot！　Don't　you　see？　Thaf's　the　peace…sign

he's　making！〃



〃Well；　now；　dang　it；　he　better　be　makin'　peace…signs！〃　growled　Applehead

querulously；　and　sat　down　heavily　on　a　shelf　of　the　rock。　〃'Cause　Lite；　here；

shore　woulda　tuk　an　ear　off'n　him　in　another　minnute；　now　I'm　tellin'　ye！〃







CHAPTER　XIX。　PEACE　TALK



Across　the　Frying…pan　an　Indian　stood　boldly　out　upon　a　jutting　point　of　rock

and　raised　a　hand　in　the　sweeping　upward　motion　of　the　peace…sign。　The

questing　bullets　that　came　seeking　for　bone　and　flesh　among　the　rocks　and

bushes　came　no　more　when　the　signal　was　passed　from　those　who　saw　to　those

farther　back　who　could　not　see　the　figure　silhouetted　against　the　brilliant

blue　of　the　sky。　A　moment　he　stood；　made　the　sign　again；　and　waited。



〃That's　peace…sign；　sure　as　you're　born！〃　Luck　cried　breathlessly；　and　went

scrambling　through　the　bushes　to　where　he　might　stand　in　the　open；　on　the　very

rim　of　the　basin。　Applehead　yelled　to　him　to　come　back　and　not　make　a　dang

fool　of　himself；　but　luck　gave　no　heed　to　the　warning。　He　stood　out　in　the

blazing　sunshine　and　gave　the　peace…sign　in　reply。



On　the…rim　rock　the　Indian　stood　motionless　while　he　might　have　taken　three　or

four　breaths。　Then　with　his　hand　he　gave　the　sign　for　〃pow…wow〃　and　waited

again。



Luck；　his　pulse　thrilling　at　the　once　familiar　gesture　which　his　tribal

〃father；〃　old　chief　Big　Turkey；　used　to　give　when　he　came　stalking　up　for　his

daily　confab　with　his　adopted　son；　gave　back　the　sign　with　a　hand　that

trembled　noticeably。　Whereupon　the　Indian　on　the　farther　rim　turned　and　began

dignifiedly　to　climb　through　a　rift　in　the　ledge　down　into　the　Frying…pan。



〃He　wants　a　pow…wow；〃　Luck　called　back　to　the　bunch。　〃You　fellows　stay　where

you're　at　I'm　going　out　there　in　the　middle　and　talk　to　him。〃



〃Now；　Luck；　don't　let　'em　make　a　dang　monkey　outa　ye；〃　Applehead　protested

anxiously。　〃Injuns　is　tricky〃



〃That's　all　right。　You　can　keep　a　couple　of　rifles　sighted　on　that　old

chiefthat's　what　he　is；　I　take　it；　from　his　actions　and　his　talking　'sign'

and　then　if　they　pot　me；　you　can　pot　him。　But　they　won't。　I　know　Injuns　better

than　you　do；　Applehead。　He　just　wants　to　talk　things　overand　I'm　certainly

willing　that　he　should！〃



〃Well；　Lite；　you　keep　your　sights　lined　up　on　that　Injun；　then。　'N'　if　they's

a　crooked　move　made　towards　Luck；　you　cut　loose'n'　say！　You　shoot　to　kill；

this　time！〃　He　shook　his　finger　in　Lite's　face　admonishingly。　〃'S　all　right　t'

nip　〃em　here　'n'　take　a　hunk　out　there　jest　t'　kinda　take　their　minds　off'n

us…'s　all　right　enough　so　fur；　'n'　I　ain't　kickin'　none　'cause　yuh　ain't

killed　off　yuh　hit。　But　if　this　here's　a　trick　t'　git　Luck；　you　KILL　that

Injun。　'N'　if　you　don't　do　it　I'll　go　out　there　m'self　'n'　choke　the　dang

skunk　t'　death！〃



〃I'll　kill　himdon't　worry　about　that；〃　Lite　promisedand　the　look　in　his

eyes　told　them　that　the　Indian　was　doomed　at　the　first　sign　of　treachery。



〃You　fellers　wanta　keep　an　eye　peeled　fer　them　in　the　grove；〃　Applehead

warned。　〃We　ain't　goin'　t'　give　'em　no　chanst　t'　sneak　up　'n'　skulp　us　whilst

we're　watchin'　Luck　'n'　his　dang…fool　pow…wowin'　out　there　in　the　middle。〃



〃Aw；　gwan！　They　wouldn't　DAST　skelp　white　folks！〃　There　was　a　wail　in　the

voice　of　Happy　Jack。



〃They　dast　if　they　git　the　chanst；〃　Applehead　retorted　fretfully。　〃'N'　if　you

don't　wanta　loose　that　there　red　mop　uh　yourn　ye　better　keep　yer　eyes　open；

now　I'm　tellin'　yuh！〃　He　refilled　his　rifle　magazine　and　took　up　his　station

beside　Lite　Avery　where　he　could　watch　the　Frying…pan　through　the　bushes

without　exposing　himself　to　a　treacherous　shot　from　the　rim…rock。



At　the　foot　of　the　sandstone　ledge　the　Indian　stood　with　his　bright　red

blanket　wrapped　around　him　watching　Luck。　On　his　own　side　Luck　stood　just

clear　of　the　rock　huddle　and　watched　the　Indian。　Presently　he　of　the　red

blanket　lifted　his　hand　in　the　gesture　of　peace；　and　started　deliberately　out

across　the　bare　little　basin。　From　his　own　side；　Luck；　returning　again　the

gesture；　went　out　to　meet　him。　In　the　center　they　met；　and　eyed　each　other

frankly。　Still　eyeing　Luck；　the　old　Indian　put　out　his　hand　Indian　fashion；

and　Luck　grave　it　one　downward　shake　and　let　go。



〃How？〃　he　grunted；　and　in　the　Indian　custom　of　preparing　for　a　leisurely

pow…wow　as　he　had　been　taught　by　the　Sioux；　he　squatted　upon　his　boot　heels

and　reached　for　his　cigarette　paper