desert gold-第26节

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The　probability　of　a　visit　from　the　raiders；　and　a　dash　bolder　than　usual　on　the　outskirts　of　a　ranch；　led　Belding　to　build　a　new　corral。　　It　was　not　sightly　to　the　eye；　but　it　was　high　and　exceedingly　strong。　　The　gate　was　a　massive　affair；　swinging　on　huge　hinges　and　fastening　with　heavy　chains　and　padlocks。　　On　the　outside　it　had　been　completely　covered　with　barb　wire；　which　would　make　it　a　troublesome　thing　to　work　on　in　the　dark。

At　night　Belding　locked　his　white　horses　in　this　corral。　　The　Papago　hersman　slept　in　the　adobe　shed　adjoining。　　Belding　did　not　imagine　that　any　wooden　fence；　however　substantially　built；　could　keep　determined　raiders　from　breaking　it　down。　　They　would　have　to　take　time；　however；　and　make　considerable　noise；　and　Belding　relied　on　these　facts。　　Belding　did　not　believe　a　band　of　night　raiders　would　hold　out　against　a　hot　rifle　fire。　　So　he　began　to　make　up　some　of　the　sleep　he　had　lost。　　It　was　noteworthy；　however；　that　Ladd　did　not　share　Belding's　sanguine　hopes。

Jim　Lash　rode　in；　reporting　that　all　was　well　out　along　the　line　toward　the　Sonoyta　Oasis。　　Days　passed；　and　Belding　kept　his　rangers　home。　　Nothing　was　heard　of　raiders　at　hand。　　Many　of　the　newcomers；　both　American　and　Mexican；　who　came　with　wagons　and　pack　trains　from　Casita　stated　that　property　and　life　were　cheap　back　in　that　rebel…infested　town。

One　January　morning　Dick　Gale　was　awakened　by　a　shrill；　menacing　cry。　　He　leaped　up　bewildered　and　frightened。　He　heard　Belding's　booming　voice　answering　shouts；　and　rapid　steps　on　flagstones。　　But　these　had　not　awakened　him。　　Heavy　breaths；　almost　sobs；　seemed　at　his　very　door。　　In　the　cold　and　gray　dawn　Dick　saw　something　white。　　Gun　in　hand；　he　bounded　across　the　room。　　Just　ouside　his　door　stood　Blanco　Sol。

It　was　not　unusual　for　Sol　to　come　poking　his　head　in　at　Dick's　door　during　daylight。　　But　now　in　the　early　dawn；　when　he　had　been　locked　in　the　corral；　it　meant　raidersno　less。　　Dick　called　softly　to　the　snorting　horse；　and；　hurriedly　getting　into　clothes　and　boots；　he　went　out　with　a　gun　in　each　hand。　　Sol　was　quivering　in　every　muscle。　　Like　a　dog　he　followed　Dick　around　the　house。　Hearing　shouts　in　the　direction　of　the　corrals；　Gale　bent　swift　steps　that　way。

He　caught　up　with　Jim　Lash；　who　was　also　leading　a　white　horse。

〃Hello；　Jim！　　Guess　it's　all　over　but　the　fireworks；〃　said　Dick。

〃I　cain't　say　just　what　has　come　off；〃　replied　Lash。　　〃I've　got　the　Bull。　　Found　him　runnin'　in　the　yard。〃

They　reached　the　corral　to　find　Belding　shaking；　roaring　like　a　madman。　　The　gate　was　open；　the　corral　was　empty。　　Ladd　stooped　over　the　ground；　evidently　trying　to　find　tracks。

〃I　reckon　we　might　jest　as　well　cool　off　an'　wait　for　daylight；〃　suggested　Jim。

〃Shore。　　They've　flown　the　coop；　you　can　gamble　on　that。　　Tom；　where's　the　Papago？〃　　said　Ladd。

〃He's　gone；　Laddygone！〃

〃Double…crossed　us；　eh？　　I　see　here's　a　crowbar　lyin'　by　the　gatepost。　　That　Indian　fetched　it　from　the　forge。　　It　was　used　to　pry　out　the　bolts　an'　steeples。　　Tom；　I　reckon　there　wasn't　much　time　lost　forcin'　that　gate。〃

Belding；　in　shirt　sleeves　and　barefooted；　roared　with　rage。　He　said　he　had　heard　the　horses　running　as　he　leaped　out　of　bed。

〃What　woke　you？〃　asked　Laddy。

〃Sol。　　He　came　whistling　for　Dick。　　Didn't　you　hear　him　before　I　called　you？〃

〃Hear　him！　　He　came　thunderin'　right　under　my　window。　　I　jumped　up　in　bed；　an'　when　he　let　out　that　blast　Jim　lit　square　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　an'　I　was　scared　stiff。　　Dick；　seein'　it　was　your　room　he　blew　into；　what　did　you　think？〃

〃I　couldn't　think。　　I'm　shaking　yet；　Laddy。〃

〃Boys；　I'll　bet　Sol　spilled　a　few　raiders　if　any　got　hands　on　him；〃　said　Jim。　　〃Now；　let's　sit　down　an'　wait　for　daylight。　　It's　my　idea　we'll　find　some　of　the　hosses　runnin'　loose。　　Tom；　you　go　an'　get　some　clothes　on。　　It's　freezin'　cold。　　An'　don't　forget　to　tell　the　women　folks　we're　all　right。〃

Daylight　made　clear　some　details　of　the　raid。　　The　cowboys　found　tracks　of　eight　raiders　coming　up　from　the　river　bed　where　their　horses　had　been　left。　　Evidently　the　Papago　had　been　false　to　his　trust。　　He　few　personal　belongings　were　gone。　　Lash　was　correct　in　his　idea　of　finding　more　horses　loose　in　the　fields。　　The　men　soon　rounded　up　eleven　of　the　whites；　all　more　or　less　frightened；　and　among　the　number　were　Queen　and　Blanca　Mujer。　　The　raiders　had　been　unable　to　handle　more　than　one　horse　for　each　man。　　It　was　bitter　irony　of　fate　that　Belding　should　lose　his　favorite；　the　one　horse　more　dear　to　him　than　all　the　others。　　Somewhere　out　on　the　trail　a　raider　was　fighting　the　iron…jawed　savage　Blanco　Diablo。

〃I　reckon　we're　some　lucky；〃　observed　Jim　Lash。

〃Lucky　ain't　enough　word；〃　replied　Ladd。　　〃You　see；　it　was　this　way。　Some　of　the　raiders　piled　over　the　fence　while　the　others　worked　on　the　gate。　　Mebbe　the　Papago　went　inside　to　pick　out　the　best　hosses。　　But　it　didn't　work　except　with　Diablo；　an'　how　they　ever　got　him　I　don't　know。　　I'd　have　gambled　it'd　take　all　of　eight　men　to　steal　him。　　But　Greasers　have　got　us　skinned　on　handlin'　hosses。〃

Belding　was　unconsolable。　　He　cursed　and　railed；　and　finally　declared　he　was　going　to　trail　the　raiders。

〃Tom；　you　just　ain't　agoin'　to　do　nothin'　of　the　kind；〃　said　Ladd　coolly。

Belding　groaned　and　bowed　his　head。

〃Laddy；　you're　right；〃　he　replied；　presently。　　〃I've　got　to　stand　it。　　I　can't　leave　the　women　and　my　property。　　But　it's　sure　tough。　I'm　sore　way　down　deep；　and　nothin'　but　blood　would　ever　satisfy　me。〃

〃Leave　that　to　me　an'　Jim；〃　said　Ladd。

〃What　do　you　mean　to　do？〃　demanded　Belding；　starting　up。

〃Shore　I　don't　know　yet。。。。Give　me　a　light　for　my　pipe。　　An'　Dick；　go　fetch　out　your　Yaqui。〃




VIII


The　Running　of　Blanco　Sol

The　Yaqui's　strange　dark　glance　roved　over　the　corral；　the　swinging　gate　with　its　broken　fastenings；　the　tracks　in　the　road；　and　then　rested　upon　Belding。

〃Malo；〃　he　said；　and　his　Spanish　was　clear。

〃Shore　Yaqui；　about　eight　bad　men；　an'　a　traitor　Indian；〃　said　Ladd。

〃I　think　he　means　my　herder；〃　added　Belding。　　〃If　he　does；　that　settles　any　doubt　it　might　be　decent　to　haveYaquimalo　PapagoSi？〃

The　Yaqui　spread　wide　his　hands。　　Then　he　bent　over　the　tracks　in　the　road。　　They　led　everywhither；　but　gradually　he　worked　out　of　the　thick　net　to　take　the　trail　that　the　cowboys　had　followed　down　to　the　river。　　Belding　and　the　rangers　kept　close　at　his　heels。　Occasionally　Dick　lent　a　helping　hand　to　the　still　feeble　Indian。　He　found　a　trampled　spot　where　the　raiders　had　left　their　horses。　From　this　point　a　deeply　defined　narrow　trail　led　across　the　dry　river　bed。

Belding　asked　the　Yaqui　where　the　raiders　would　head　for　in　the　Sonora　Desert。　　For　answer　the　Indian　followed　the　trail　across　the　streem　of　sand；　through　willows　and　mesquite；　up　to　the　level　of　rock　and　cactus。　　At　this　point　he　halted。　　A　sand…filled；　almost　obliterated　trail　led　off　to　the　left；　and　evidently　went　round　to　the　east　of　No　Name　Mountains。　　To　the　right　stretched　the　road　toward　Papago　Well　and　the　Sonoyta　Oasis。　　The　trail　of　the　raiders　took　a　southeasterly　course　over　untrodden　desert。　The　Yaqui　spoke　in　his　own　tongue；　then　in　Spanish。

〃Think　he　means　slow　march；〃　said　Belding。　　〃Laddy；　from　the　looks　of　that　trail　the　Greasers　are　having　trouble　with　the　horses。〃

〃Tom；　shore　a　boy　could　see　that；〃　replied　Laddy　〃Ask　Yaqui　to　tell　us　where　the　raiders　are　headin'；　an'　if　there's　water。〃

It　was　wonderful　to　see　the　Yaqui　point。　　His　dark　hand　stretched；　he　sighted　over　his　stretched　finger　at　a　low　white　escarpment　in　the　distance。　　Then　with　a　stick　he　traced　a　line　in　the　sand；　and　then　at　the　end　of　that　another　line　at　right　angles。　　He　made　crosses　and　marks　and　holes；　and　as　he　drew　the　rude　map　he　talked　in　Yaqui；　in　Spanish；　with　a　word　here　and　there　in　English。　Belding　translated　as　best　he　could。　　The　raiders　were　heading　southeast　toward　the　railroad　that　ran　from　Nogales　down　into　Sonora。　　It　was　four　days'　travel；　bad　trail；　good　sure　waterhole　one　day　out；　then　water　not　sure　for　two　days。　　Raiders　traveling　slow；　bothered　by　too　many　horses；　not　looking　for　pursuit；　were　never　pursued；　could　be　headed　and　ambushed　that　night　at　the　first　waterhole；　a　natural　trap　in　a　valley。

The　men　returned　to　the　ranch。　　The　rangers　ate　and　drank　while　making　hurried　preparations　for　travel。　　Blanco　Sol　and　the　cowboys'　horses　were　fed；　watered；　and　saddled。　　Ladd　again　refused　to　ride　one　of　Belding's　whites。　　He　was　quick　and　cold。

〃Get　me　a　long…range　rifle　an'　lots　of　shells。　　Rustle　now；〃　he　said。

〃Laddy；　you　don't　want　to　be　weighted　down？〃　protested　Belding。

〃Shore　I　want　a　gun　that'll　outshoot　the　dinky　little　carbines　an'　muskets　used　by　the　rebels。　　Trot　one　out　an'　be　quick。〃

〃I've　got　a　。405；　a　long…barreled　heavy　rifle　that'll　shoot　a　mile。　I　use　it　for　mountain　sheep。　　But　Laddy；　it'll　break　that　bronch's　back。〃

〃His　back　won't　break　so　easy。。。。Dick；　take　plenty　of　shells　for　your　Remington。　　An'　don't　forget　your　field　glass。〃

In　less　than　an　hour　after　the　time　of　the　raid　the　three　rangers；　heavily　armed　and　superbly　mounted　on　fresh　horses；　rode　out　on　the　trail。　　As　Gale　turned　to　look　back　from　the