arizona nights-第31节
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got to have a guide。 You wait three days and I'll get you one。〃
〃You can't do it；〃 insisted the Senor。 〃I tried every man in the
district。〃
〃Will you wait three days？〃 repeated the foreman。
Johnson pulled loose his latigo。 His first anger had cooled。
〃All right；〃 he agreed； 〃and you can say for me that I'll pay
five thousand dollars in gold and give all the men and horses he
needs to the man who has the nerve to get back that bunch of
cattle； and bring in the man who rustled them。 I'll sure make
this a test case。〃
So Jed Parker set out to discover his man with nerve。
CHAPTER TWO
THE MAN WITH NERVE
At about ten o'clock of the Fourth of July a rider topped the
summit of the last swell of land； and loped his animal down into
the single street of Pereza。 The buildings on either side were
flat…roofed and coated with plaster。 Over the sidewalks extended
wooden awnings； beneath which opened very wide doors into the
coolness of saloons。 Each of these places ran a bar； and also
games of roulette； faro； craps； and stud poker。 Even this early
in the morning every game was patronised。
The day was already hot with the dry； breathless； but
exhilarating； beat of the desert。 A throng of men idling at the
edge of the sidewalks； jostling up and down their centre； or
eddying into the places of amusement； acknowledged the power of
summer by loosening their collars； carrying their coats on their
arms。 They were as yet busily engaged in recognising
acquaintances。 Later they would drink freely and gamble； and
perhaps fight。 Toward all but those whom they recognised they
preserved an attitude of potential suspicion； for here were
gathered the 〃bad men〃 of the border countries。 A certain
jealousy or touchy egotism lest the other man be considered
quicker on the trigger； bolder； more aggressive than himself；
kept each strung to tension。 An occasional shot attracted little
notice。 Men in the cow…countries shoot as casually as we strike
matches； and some subtle instinct told them that the reports were
harmless。
As the rider entered the one street； however； a more definite
cause of excitement drew the loose population toward the centre
of the road。 Immediately their mass blotted out what had
interested them。 Curiosity attracted the saunterers； then in
turn the frequenters of the bars and gambling games。 In a very
few moments the barkeepers； gamblers； and look…out men； held
aloof only by the necessities of their calling； alone of all the
population of Pereza were not included in the newly…formed ring。
The stranger pushed his horse resolutely to the outer edge of the
crowd where； from his point of vantage； he could easily overlook
their heads。 He was a quiet…appearing young fellow； rather
neatly dressed in the border costume； rode a 〃centre fire；〃 or
single…cinch； saddle； and wore no chaps。 He was what is known as
a 〃two…gun man〃： that is to say； he wore a heavy Colt's revolver
on either hip。 The fact that the lower ends of his holsters were
tied down； in order to facilitate the easy withdrawal of the
revolvers； seemed to indicate that he expected to use them。 He
had furthermore a quiet grey eye； with the glint of steel that
bore out the inference of the tied holsters。
The newcomer dropped his reins on his pony's neck； eased himself
to an attitude of attention； and looked down gravely on what was
taking place。 He saw over the heads of the bystanders a tall；
muscular； wild…eyed man； hatless； his hair rumpled into staring
confusion； his right sleeve rolled to his shoulder； a
wicked…looking nine…inch knife in his hand； and a red bandana
handkerchief hanging by one corner from his teeth。
〃What's biting the locoed stranger？〃 the young man inquired of
his neighbour。
The other frowned at him darkly。
〃Dare's anyone to take the other end of that handkerchief in his
teeth； and fight it out without letting go。〃
〃Nice joyful proposition；〃 commented the young man。
He settled himself to closer attention。 The wild…eyed man was
talking rapidly。 What he said cannot be printed here。 Mainly
was it derogatory of the southern countries。 Shortly it became
boastful of the northern； and then of the man who uttered it。
He swaggered up and down； becoming always the more insolent as
his challenge remained untaken。
〃Why don't you take him up？〃 inquired the young man； after a
moment。
〃Not me！〃 negatived the other vigorously。 〃I'll go yore little
old gunfight to a finish； but I don't want any cold steel in
mine。 Ugh！ it gives me the shivers。 It's a reg'lar Mexican
trick！ With a gun it's down and out； but this knife work is too
slow and searchin'。〃
The newcomer said nothing； but fixed his eye again on the raging
man with the knife。
〃Don't you reckon he's bluffing？ 〃be inquired。
〃Not any！〃 denied the other with emphasis。 〃He's jest drunk
enough to be crazy mad。〃
The newcomer shrugged his shoulders and cast his glance
searchingly over the fringe of the crowd。 It rested on a Mexican。
〃Hi； Tony！ come here；〃 he called。
The Mexican approached； flashing his white teeth。
〃Here；〃 said the stranger； 〃lend me your knife a minute。〃
The Mexican； anticipating sport of his own peculiar kind； obeyed
with alacrity。
〃You fellows make me tired；〃 observed the stranger； dismounting。
〃He's got the whole townful of you bluffed to a standstill。 Damn
if I don't try his little game。〃
He hung his coat on his saddle； shouldered his way through the
press； which parted for him readily； and picked up the other
corner of the handkerchief。
〃Now； you mangy son of a gun；〃 said he。
CHAPTER THREE
THE AGREEMENT
Jed Parker straightened his back； rolled up the bandana
handkerchief； and thrust it into his pocket； hit flat with his
hand the touselled mass of his hair； and thrust the long hunting
knife into its sheath。
〃You're the man I want；〃 said he。
Instantly the two…gun man had jerked loose his weapons and was
covering the foreman。
〃AM I！〃 he snarled。
Not jest that way；〃 explained Parker。 〃My gun is on my hoss； and
you can have this old toad…sticker if you want it。 I been
looking for you； and took this way of finding you。 Now； let's go
talk。〃
The stranger looked him in the eye for nearly a half minute
without lowering his revolvers。
〃I go you；〃 said he briefly； at last。
But the crowd； missing the purport； and in fact the very
occurrence of this colloquy； did not understand。 It thought the
bluff had been called； and naturally； finding harmless what had
intimidated it； gave way to an exasperated impulse to get even。
〃You bluffer！〃 shouted a voice； 〃don't you think you can
run any such ranikaboo here！〃
Jed Parker turned humorously to his companion。
〃Do we get that talk？〃 he inquired gently。
For answer the two…gun man turned and walked steadily in the
direction of the man who had shouted。 The latter's hand strayed
uncertainly toward his own weapon； but the movement paused when
the stranger's clear； steel eye rested on it。
〃This gentleman；〃 pointed out the two…gun man softly； 〃is an old
friend of mine。 Don't you get to calling of him names。〃
His eye swept the bystanders calmly。
〃Come on； Jack；〃 said be； addressing Parker。
On the outskirts be encountered the Mexican from whom he bad
borrowed the knife。
〃Here； Tony；〃 said he with a slight laugh； 〃here's a peso。
You'll find your knife back there where I had to drop her。〃
He entered a saloon； nodded to the proprietor； and led the way
through it to a boxlike room containing a board table and two
chairs。
〃Make good；〃he commanded briefly。
〃I'm looking for a man with nerve；〃 explained Parker； with equal
succinctness。 〃You're the man。〃
〃Well？〃
〃Do you know the country south of here？〃
The stranger's eyes narrowed。
〃Proceed；〃 said he。
〃I'm foreman of the Lazy Y of Soda Springs Valley range；〃
explained Parker。 〃I'm looking for a man with sand enough and
sabe of the country enough to lead a posse after cattle…rustlers
into the border country。〃
〃I live in this country；〃 admitted the stranger。
〃So do plenty of others； but their eyes stick out like two raw
oysters when you mention the border country。 Will you tackle
it？〃
〃What's the proposition？〃
〃Come and see the old man。 He'll put it to you。〃
They mounted their horses and rode the rest of the day。 The
desert compassed them about； marvellously changing shape and
colour； and every character； with all the noiselessness of
phantasmagoria。 At evening the desert stars shone steady and
unwinking； like the flames of candles。 By moonrise
