desert gold-第34节

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eautiful；　animated　face　long　enough　to　read　and　write　a　little　Spanish。　　Gale　and　Nell　sat　in　a　corner　watching　the　bright　fire。

There　came　a　low　knock　on　the　door。　　It　may　have　been　an　ordinary　knock；　for　it　did　not　disturb　the　women；　but　to　Belding　and　his　rangers　it　had　a　subtle　meaning。

〃Who's　that？〃　asked　Belding；　as　he　slowly　pushed　back　his　chair　and　looked　at　Ladd。

〃Yaqui；〃　replied　the　ranger。

〃Come　in；〃　called　Belding。

The　door　opened；　and　the　short；　square；　powerfully　built　Indian　entered。　　He　had　a　magnificent　head；　strangely　staring；　somber　black　eyes；　and　very　darkly　bronzed　face。　　He　carried　a　rifle　and　strode　with　impressive　dignity。

〃Yaqui；　what　do　you　want？〃　asked　Belding；　and　repeated　his　question　in　Spanish。

〃Senor　Dick；〃　replied　the　Indian。

Gale　jumped　up；　stifling　an　exclamation；　and　he　went　outdoors　with　Yaqui。　　He　felt　his　arm　gripped；　and　allowed　himself　to　be　led　away　without　asking　a　question。　　Yaqui's　presence　was　always　one　of　gloom；　and　now　his　stern　action　boded　catastrophe。　　Once　clear　of　trees　he　pointed　to　the　level　desert　across　the　river；　where　a　row　of　campfires　shone　bright　out　of　the　darkness。

〃Raiders！〃　ejaculated　Gale。

Then　he　cautioned　Yaqui　to　keep　sharp　lookout；　and；　hurriedly　returning　to　the　house；　he　called　the　men　out　and　told　them　there　were　rebels　or　raiders　camping　just　across　the　line。

Ladd　did　not　say　a　word。　　Belding；　with　an　oath；　slammed　down　his　cigar。

〃I　knew　it　was　too　good　to　last。。。。Dick；　you　and　Jim　stay　here　while　Laddy　and　I　look　around。〃

Dick　returned　to　the　sitting…room。　　The　women　were　nervous　and　not　to　be　deceived。　　So　Dick　merely　said　Yaqui　had　sighted　some　lights　off　in　the　desert；　and　they　probably　were　campfires。　　Belding　did　not　soon　return；　and　when　he　did　he　was　alone；　and；　saying　he　wanted　to　consult　with　the　men；　he　sent　Mrs。　Belding　and　the　girls　to　their　rooms。　　His　gloomy　anxiety　had　returned。

〃Laddy's　gone　over　to　scout　around　and　try　to　find　out　who　the　outfit　belongs　to　and　how　many　are　in　it；〃　said　Belding。

〃I　reckon　if　they're　raiders　with　bad　intentions　we　wouldn't　see　no　fires；〃　remarked　Jim；　calmly。

〃It　'd　be　useless；　I　suppose；　to　send　for　the　cavalry；〃　said　Gale。　〃Whatever's　coming　off　would　be　over　before　the　soldiers　could　be　notified；　let　alone　reach　here。〃

〃Hell；　fellows！　　I　don't　look　for　an　attack　on　Forlorn　River；〃　burst　out　Belding。　　〃I　can't　believe　that　possible。　　These　rebel…raiders　have　a　little　sense。　　They　wouldn't　spoil　their　game　by　pulling　U。　S。　soldiers　across　the　line　from　Yuma　to　El　Paso。　　But；　as　Jim　says；　if　they　wanted　to　steal　a　few　horses　or　cattle　they　wouldn't　build　fires。　　I'm　afraid　it's〃

Belding　hesitated　and　looked　with　grim　concern　at　the　cavalryman。

〃What？〃　queried　Thorne。

〃I'm　afraid　it's　Rojas。〃

Thorne　turned　pale　but　did　not　lose　his　nerve。

〃I　thought　of　that　at　once。　　If　true；　it'll　be　terrible　for　Mercedes　and　me。　　But　Rojas　will　never　get　his　hands　on　my　wife。　　If　I　can't　kill　him；　I'll　kill　her！。。。Belding；　this　is　tough　on　youthis　risk　we　put　upon　your　family。　I　regret〃

〃Cut　that　kind　of　talk；〃　replied　Belding；　bluntly。　　〃Well；　if　it　is　Rojas　he's　acting　damn　strange　for　a　raider。　　That's　what　worries　me。　　We　can't　do　anything　but　wait。　　With　Laddy　and　Yaqui　out　there　we　won't　be　surprised。　　Let's　take　the　best　possible　view　of　the　situation　until　we　know　more。　　That'll　not　likely　be　before　to…morrow。〃

The　women　of　the　house　might　have　gotten　some　sleep　that　night；　but　it　was　certain　the　men　did　not　get　any。　　Morning　broke　cold　and　gray；　the　19th　of　February。　　Breakfast　was　prepared　earlier　than　usual；　and　an　air　of　suppressed　waiting　excitement　pervaded　the　place。　　Otherwise　the　ordinary　details　of　the　morning's　work　continued　as　on　any　other　day。　　Ladd　came　in　hungry　and　cold；　and　said　the　Mexicans　were　not　breaking　camp。　　He　reported　a　good…sized　force　of　rebels；　and　was　taciturn　as　to　his　idea　of　forthcoming　events。

About　an　hour　after　sunrise　Yaqui　ran　in　with　the　information　that　part　of　the　rebels　were　crossing　the　river。

〃That　can't　mean　a　fight　yet；〃　declared　Belding。　　〃But　get　in　the　house；　boys；　and　make　ready　anyway。　　I'll　meet　them。〃

〃Drive　them　off　the　place　same　as　if　you　had　a　company　of　soldiers　backin'　you；〃　said　Ladd。　　〃Don't　give　them　an　inch。　　We're　in　bad；　and　the　bigger　bluff　we　put　up　the　more　likely　our　chance。〃

〃Belding；　you're　an　officer　of　the　United　States。　　Mexicans　are　much　impressed　by　show　of　authority。　　I've　seen　that　often　in　camp；〃　said　Thorne。

〃Oh；　I　know　the　white…livered　Greasers　better　than　any　of　you；　don't　mistake　me；〃　replied　Belding。　　He　was　pale　with　rage；　but　kept　command　over　himself。

The　rangers；　with　Yaqui　and　Thorne；　stationed　themselves　at　the　several　windows　of　the　sitting…room。　　Rifles　and　smaller　arms　and　boxes　of　shells　littered　the　tables　and　window　seats。　　No　small　force　of　besiegers　could　overcome　a　resistance　such　as　Belding　and　his　men　were　capable　of　making。

〃Here　they　come；　boys；〃　called　Gale；　from　his　window。

〃Rebel…raiders　I　should　say；　Laddy。〃

〃Shore。　　An'　a　fine　outfit　of　buzzards！〃

〃Reckon　there's　about　a　dozen　in　the　bunch；〃　observed　the　calm　Lash。　　〃Some　hosses　they're　ridin'。　　Where　'n　the　hell　do　they　get　such　hosses；　anyhow？〃

〃Shore；　Jim；　they　work　hard　an'　buy　'em　with　real　silver　pesos；〃　replied　Ladd；　sarcastically。

〃Do　any　of　you　see　Rojas？〃　whispered　Thorne。

〃Nix。　　No　dandy　bandit　in　that　outfit。〃

〃It's　too　far　to　see；〃　said　Gale。

The　horsemen　halted　at　the　corrals。　　They　were　orderly　and　showed　no　evidence　of　hostility。　　They　were；　however；　fully　armed。　　Belding　stalked　out　to　meet　them。　　Apparently　a　leader　wanted　to　parley　with　him；　but　Belding　would　hear　nothing。　　He　shook　his　head；　waved　his　arms；　stamped　to　and　fro；　and　his　loud；　angry　voice　could　be　heard　clear　back　at　the　house。　　Whereupon　the　detachment　of　rebels　retired　to　the　bank　of　the　river；　beyond　the　white　post　that　marked　the　boundary　line；　and　there　they　once　more　drew　rein。　　Belding　remained　by　the　corrals　watching　them；　evidently　still　in　threatening　mood。　Presently　a　single　rider　left　the　troop　and　trotted　his　horse　back　down　the　road。　　When　he　reached　the　corrals　he　was　seen　to　halt　and　pass　something　to　Belding。　　Then　he　galloped　away　to　join　his　comrades。

Belding　looked　at　whatever　it　was　he　held　in　his　hand；　shook　his　burley　head；　and　started　swiftly　for　the　house。　　He　came　striding　into　the　room　holding　a　piece　of　soiled　paper。

〃Can't　read　it　and　don't　know　as　I　want　to；〃　he　said；　savagely。

〃Beldin'；　shore　we'd　better　read　it；〃　replied　Ladd。　　〃What　we　want　is　a　line　on　them　Greasers。　　Whether　they're　Campo's　men　or　Salazar's；　or　just　a　wanderin'　bunch　of　rebelsor　Rojas's　bandits。　Sabe；　senor？〃

Not　one　of　the　men　was　able　to　translate　the　garbled　scrawl。

〃Shore　Mercedes　can　read　it；〃　said　Ladd。

Thorne　opened　a　door　and　called　her。　　She　came　into　the　room　followed　by　Nell　and　Mrs。　Belding。　　Evidently　all　three　divined　a　critical　situation。

〃My　dear；　we　want　you　to　read　what's　written　on　this　paper；〃　said　Thorne；　as　he　led　her　to　the　table。　　〃It　was　sent　in　by　rebels；　andand　we　fear　contains　bad　news　for　us。〃

Mercedes　gave　the　writing　one　swift　glance；　then　fainted　in　Thorne's　arms。　　He　carried　her　to　a　couch；　and　with　Nell　and　Mrs。　Belding　began　to　work　over　her。

Belding　looked　at　his　rangers。　　It　was　characteristic　of　the　man　that；　now　when　catastrophe　appeared　inevitable；　all　the　gloom　and　care　and　angry　agitation　passed　from　him。

〃Laddy；　it's　Rojas　all　right。　　How　many　men　has　he　out　there？〃

〃Mebbe　twenty。　　Not　more。〃

〃We　can　lick　twice　that　many　Greasers。〃

〃Shore。〃

Jim　Lash　removed　his　pipe　long　enough　to　speak。

〃I　reckon。　　But　it　ain't　sense　to　start　a　fight　when　mebbe　we　can　avoid　it。〃

〃What's　your　idea？〃

〃Let's　stave　the　Greaser　off　till　dark。　　Then　Laddy　an'　me　an'　Thorne　will　take　Mercedes　an'　hit　the　trail　for　Yuma。〃

〃Camino　del　Diablo！　　That　awful　trail　with　a　woman！　　Jim；　do　you　forget　how　many　hundreds　of　men　have　perished　on　the　Devil's　Road？〃

〃I　reckon　I　ain't　forgettin'　nothin'；〃　replied　Jim。　　〃The　waterholes　are　full　now。　　There's　grass；　an'　we　can　do　the　job　in　six　days。〃

〃It's　three　hundred　miles　to　Yuma。〃

〃Beldin'；　Jim's　idea　hits　me　pretty　reasonable；〃　interposed　Ladd。　〃Lord　knows　that's　about　the　only　chance　we've　got　except　fightin'。〃

〃But　suppose　we　do　stave　Rojas　off；　and　you　get　safely　away　with　Mercedes。　　Isn't　Rojas　going　to　find　it　out　quick？　　Then　what'll　he　try　to　do　to　us　who're　left　here？〃

〃I　reckon　he'd　find　out　by　daylight；〃　replied　Jim。　　〃But；　Tom；　he　ain't　agoin'　to　start　a　scrap　then。　　He'd　want　time　an'　hosses　an'　men　to　chase　us　out　on　the　trail。　　You　see；　I'm　figgerin'　on　the　crazy　Greaser　wantin'　the　girl。　　I　reckon　he'll　try　to　clean　up　here　to　get　her。　　But　he's　too　smart　to　fight　you　for　nothin'。　Rojas　may　be　nutty　about　women；　but　he's　afraid　of　the　U。　S。　Take　my　word　for　it　he'd　discover　the　trail　in　the　mornin'　an'　light　out　on　it。　　I　reckon　with　ten　hours'　start　we　could　travel　comfortable。〃

Belding　paced　up　and　down　the　room。　　Jim　and　Ladd　whispered　together。　　Gale　walked　to　the　window　and　looked　out　at　the　distant　group　of　band