desert gold-第16节

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〃That's　my　Papago　herdsman。　　I　keep　watch　over　the　horses　now　day　and　night。　　Lord；　how　I'd　hate　to　have　Rojas　or　Salazarany　of　those　bandit　rebelsfind　my　horses！。。。Gale；　can　you　ride？〃

Dick　modestly　replied　that　he　could；　according　to　the　Eastern　idea　of　horsemanship。

〃You　don't　need　to　be　half　horse　to　ride　one　of　that　bunch。　　But　over　there　in　the　other　field　I've　iron…jawed　broncos　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　tackleexcept　to　see　the　fun。　　I've　an　outlaw　I'll　gamble　even　Laddy　can't　ride。〃

〃So。　　How　much'll　you　gamble？〃　asked　Laddy；　instantly。

The　ringing　of　a　bell；　which　Belding　said　was　a　call　to　supper；　turned　the　men　back　toward　the　house。　　Facing　that　way；　Gale　saw　dark；　beetling　ridges　rising　from　the　oasis　and　leading　up　to　bare；　black　mountains。　　He　had　heard　Belding　call　them　No　Name　Mountains；　and　somehow　the　appellation　suited　those　lofty；　mysterious；　frowning　peaks。

It　was　not　until　they　reached　the　house　and　were　about　to　go　in　that　Belding　chanced　to　discover　Gale's　crippled　hand。

〃What　an　awful　hand！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Where　the　devil　did　you　get　that？〃

〃I　stove　in　my　knuckles　on　Rojas；〃　replied　Dick。

〃You　did　that　in　one　punch？　　Say；　I'm　glad　it　wasn't　me　you　hit！　Why　didn't　you　tell　me？　　That's　a　bad　hand。　　Those　cuts　are　full　of　dirt　and　sand。　　Inflammation's　setting　in。　　It's　got　to　be　dressed。　　Nell！〃　he　called。

There　was　no　answer。　　He　called　again；　louder。

〃Mother；　where's　the　girl？〃

〃She's　there　in　the　dining…room；〃　replied　Mrs。　Belding。

〃Did　she　hear　me？〃　he　inquired；　impatiently。

〃Of　course。〃

〃Nell！〃　roared　Belding。

This　brought　results。　　Dick　saw　a　glimpse　of　golden　hair　and　a　white　dress　in　the　door。　　But　they　were　not　visible　longer　than　a　second。

〃Dad；　what's　the　matter？〃　asked　a　voice　that　was　still　as　sweet　as　formerly；　but　now　rather　small　and　constrained。

〃Bring　the　antiseptics；　cotton；　bandagesand　things　out　here。　Hurry　now。〃

Belding　fetched　a　pail　of　water　and　a　basin　from　the　kitchen。　　His　wife　followed　him　out；　and；　upon　seeing　Dick's　hand；　was　all　solicitude。　　Then　Dick　heard　light；　quick　footsteps；　but　he　did　not　look　up。

〃Nell；　this　is　Mr。　GallDick　Gale；　who　came　with　the　boys　last　last　night；〃　said　Belding。　　〃He's　got　an　awful　hand。　　Got　it　punching　that　greaser　Rojas。　　I　want　you　to　dress　it。。。。Gale；　this　is　my　step…daughter；　Nell　Burton；　of　whom　I　spoke。　　She's　some　good　when　there's　somebody　sick　or　hurt。　　Shove　out　your　fist；　my　boy；　and　let　her　get　at　it。　　Supper's　nearly　ready。〃

Dick　felt　that　same　strange；　quickening　heart　throb；　yet　he　had　never　been　cooler　in　his　life。　　More　than　anything　else　in　the　world　he　wanted　to　look　at　Nell　Burton；　however；　divining　that　the　situation　might　be　embarrassing　to　her；　he　refrained　from　looking　up。　　She　began　to　bathe　his　injured　knuckles。　　He　noted　the　softness；　the　deftness　of　her　touch；　and　then　it　seemed　her　fingers　were　not　quite　as　steady　as　they　might　have　been。　　Still；　in　a　moment　they　appeared　to　become　surer　in　their　work。　　She　had　beautiful　hands；　not　too　large；　though　certainly　not　small；　and　they　were　strong；　brown；　supple。　　He　observed　next；　with　stealthy；　upward…stealing　glance；　that　she　had　rolled　up　her　sleeves；　exposing　fine；　round　arms　graceful　in　line。　　Her　skin　was　brownno；　it　was　more　gold　than　brown。　　It　had　a　wonderful　clear　tint。　　Dick　stoically　lowered　his　eyes　then；　putting　off　as　long　as　possible　the　alluring　moment　when　he　was　to　look　into　her　face。　　That　would　be　a　fateful　moment。　　He　played　with　a　certain　strange　joy　of　anticipation。　　When；　however；　she　sat　down　beside　him　and　rested　his　injured　hand　in　her　lap　as　she　cut　bandages；　she　was　so　thrillingly　near　that　he　yielded　to　an　irrepressible　desire　to　look　up。　　She　had　a　sweet；　fair　face　warmly　tinted　with　that　same　healthy　golden…brown　sunburn。　　Her　hair　was　light　gold　and　abundant；　a　waving　mass。　　Her　eyes　were　shaded　by　long；　downcast　lashes；　yet　through　them　he　caught　a　gleam　of　blue。

Despite　the　stir　within　him；　Gale；　seeing　she　was　now　absorbed　in　her　task；　critically　studied　her　with　a　second　closer　gaze。　She　was　a　sweet；　wholesome；　joyous；　pretty　girl。

〃Shore　it　musta　hurt？〃　replied　Laddy；　who　sat　an　interested　spectator。

〃Yes；　I　confess　it　did；〃　replied　Dick；　slowly；　with　his　eyes　on　Nell's　face。　　〃But　I　didn't　mind。〃

The　girl's　lashes　swept　up　swiftly　in　surprise。　　She　had　taken　his　words　literally。　　But　the　dark…blue　eyes　met　his　for　only　a　fleeting　second。　　Then　the　warm　tint　in　her　cheeks　turned　as　red　as　her　lips。　　Hurriedly　she　finished　tying　the　bandage　and　rose　to　her　feet。

〃I　thank　you；〃　said　Gale；　also　rising。

With　that　Belding　appeared　in　the　doorway；　and　finding　the　operation　concluded；　called　them　in　to　supper。　　Dick　had　the　use　of　only　one　arm；　and　he　certainly　was　keenly　aware　of　the　shy；　silent　girl　across　the　table；　but　in　spite　of　these　considerable　handicaps　he　eclipsed　both　hungry　cowboys　in　the　assault　upon　Mrs。　Belding's　bounteous　supper。　　Belding　talked；　the　cowboys　talked　more　or　less。　　Mrs。　Belding　put　in　a　word　now　and　then；　and　Dick　managed　to　find　brief　intervals　when　it　was　possible　for　him　to　say　yes　or　no。　　He　observed　gratefully　that　no　one　round　the　table　seemed　to　be　aware　of　his　enormous　appetite。

After　supper；　having　a　favorable　opportunity　when　for　a　moment　no　one　was　at　hand；　Dick　went　out　through　the　yard；　past　the　gardens　and　fields；　and　climbed　the　first　knoll。　　From　that　vantage　point　he　looked　out　over　the　little　hamlet；　somewhat　to　his　right；　and　was　surprised　at　its　extent；　its　considerable　number　of　adobe　houses。　　The　overhanging　mountains；　ragged　and　darkening；　a　great　heave　of　splintered　rock；　rather　chilled　and　affronted　him。

Westward　the　setting　sun　gilded　a　spiked；　frost…colored；　limitless　expanse　of　desert。　　It　awed　Gale。　　Everywhere　rose　blunt；　broken　ranges　or　isolated　groups　of　mountains。　　Yet　the　desert　stretched　away　down　between　and　beyond　them。　　When　the　sun　set　and　Gale　could　not　see　so　far；　he　felt　a　relief。

That　grand　and　austere　attraction　of　distance　gone；　he　saw　the　desert　nearer　at　handthe　valley　at　his　feet。　　What　a　strange　gray；　somber　place！　　There　was　a　lighter　strip　of　gray　winding　down　between　darker　hues。　　This　he　realized　presently　was　the　river　bed；　and　he　saw　how　the　pools　of　water　narrowed　and　diminished　in　size　till　they　lost　themselves　in　gray　sand。　　This　was　the　rainy　season；　near　its　end；　and　here　a　little　river　struggled　hopelessly；　forlornly　to　live　in　the　desert。　　He　received　a　potent　impression　of　the　nature　of　that　blasted　age…worn　waste　which　he　had　divined　was　to　give　him　strength　and　work　and　love。



V

A　Desert　Rose

Belding　assigned　Dick　to　a　little　room　which　had　no　windows　but　two　doors；　one　opening　into　the　patio；　the　other　into　the　yard　on　the　west　side　of　the　house。　　It　contained　only　the　barest　necessities　for　comfort。　　Dick　mentioned　the　baggage　he　had　left　in　the　hotel　at　Casita；　and　it　was　Belding's　opinion　that　to　try　to　recover　his　property　would　be　rather　risky；　on　the　moment　Richard　Gale　was　probably　not　popular　with　the　Mexicans　at　Casita。　　So　Dick　bade　good…by　to　fine　suits　of　clothes　and　linen　with　a　feeling　that；　as　he　had　said　farewell　to　an　idle　and　useless　past；　it　was　just　as　well　not　to　have　any　old　luxuries　as　reminders。　　As　he　possessed；　however；　not　a　thing　save　the　clothes　on　his　back；　and　not　even　a　handkerchief；　he　expressed　regret　that　he　had　come　to　Forlorn　River　a　beggar。

〃Beggar　hell！〃　exploded　Belding；　with　his　eyes　snapping　in　the　lamplight。　　〃Money's　the　last　thing　we　think　of　out　here。　　All　the　same；　Gale；　if　you　stick　you'll　be　rich。〃

〃It　wouldn't　surprise　me；〃　replied　Dick；　thoughtfully。　　But　he　was　not　thinking　of　material　wealth。　　Then；　as　he　viewed　his　stained　and　torn　shirt；　he　laughed　and　said　〃Belding；　while　I'm　getting　rich　I'd　like　to　have　some　respectable　clothes。〃

〃We've　a　little　Mex　store　in　town；　and　what　you　can't　get　there　the　women　folks　will　make　for　you。〃

When　Dick　lay　down　he　was　dully　conscious　of　pain　and　headache；　that　he　did　not　feel　well。　　Despite　this；　and　a　mind　thronging　with　memories　and　anticipations；　he　succumbed　to　weariness　and　soon　fell　asleep。

It　was　light　when　he　awoke；　but　a　strange　brightness　seen　through　what　seemed　blurred　eyes。　　A　moment　passed　before　his　mind　worked　clearly；　and　then　he　had　to　make　an　effort　to　think。　　He　was　dizzy。

When　he　essayed　to　lift　his　right　arm；　an　excruciating　pain　made　him　desist。　　Then　he　discovered　that　his　arm　was　badly　swollen；　and　the　hand　had　burst　its　bandages。　　The　injured　member　was　red；　angry；　inflamed；　and　twice　its　normal　size。　　He　felt　hot　all　over；　and　a　raging　headache　consumed　him。

Belding　came　stamping　into　the　room。

〃Hello；　Dick。　　Do　you　know　it's　late？　　How's　the　busted　fist　this　morning？〃

Dick　tried　to　sit　up；　but　his　effort　was　a　failure。　　He　got　about　half　up；　then　felt　himself　weakly　sliding　back。

〃I　guessI'm　pretty　sick；〃　he　said。

He　saw　Belding　lean　over　him；　feel　his　face；　and　speak；　and　then　everything　seemed　to　drift；　not　into　darkness；　but　into　some　region　where　he　had　dim　perceptions　of　gray　moving　things；　and　of　voices　that　were　remote。　　Then　there　came　an　interval　when　all　was　blank。　He　knew　not　whether　it　was　o