desert gold-第35节

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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　bandits；　and　then　turned　his　gaze　to　rest　upon　Mercedes。　She　was　conscious　now；　and　her　eyes　seemed　all　the　larger　and　blacker　for　the　whiteness　of　her　face。　　Thorne　held　her　hands；　and　the　other　women　were　trying　to　still　her　tremblings。

No　one　but　Gale　saw　the　Yaqui　in　the　background　looking　down　upon　the　Spanish　girl。　　All　of　Yaqui's　looks　were　strange；　but　this　singularly　so。　　Gale　marked　it；　and　felt　he　would　never　forget。　Mercedes's　beauty　had　never　before　struck　him　as　being　so　exquisite；　so　alluring　as　now　when　she　lay　stricken。　　Gale　wondered　if　the　Indian　was　affected　by　her　loveliness；　her　helplessness；　or　her　terror。　　Yaqui　had　seen　Mercedes　only　a　few　times；　and　upon　each　of　these　he　had　appeared　to　be　fascinated。　　Could　the　strange　Indian；　because　his　hate　for　Mexicans　was　so　great；　be　gloating　over　her　misery？　　Something　about　Yaquia　noble　austerity　of　countenancemade　Gale　feel　his　suspicion　unjust。

Presently　Belding　called　his　rangers　to　him；　and　then　Thorne。

〃Listen　to　this；〃　he　said；　earnestly。　　〃I'll　go　out　and　have　a　talk　with　Rojas。　　I'll　try　to　reason　with　him；　tell　him　to　think　a　long　time　before　he　sheds　blood　on　Uncle　Sam's　soil。　　That　he's　now　after　an　American's　wife！　　I'll　not　commit　myself；　nor　will　I　refuse　outright　to　consider　his　demands；　nor　will　I　show　the　least　fear　of　him。　　I'll　play　for　time。　　If　my　bluff　goes　through。。。well　and　good。。。。After　dark　the　four　of　you；　Laddy；　Jim；　Dick；　and　Thorne；　will　take　Mercedes　and　my　best　white　horses；　and；　with　Yaqui　as　guide；　circle　round　through　Altar　Valley　to　the　trail；　and　head　for　Yuma。。。。Wait　now；　Laddy。　　Let　me　finish。　　I　want　you　to　take　the　white　horses　for　two　reasonsto　save　them　and　to　save　you。　Savvy？　　If　Rojas　should　follow　on　my　horses　he'd　be　likely　to　catch　you。　　Also；　you　can　pack　a　great　deal　more　than　on　the　bronchs。　　Also；　the　big　horses　can　travel　faster　and　farther　on　little　grass　and　water。　　I　want　you　to　take　the　Indian；　because　in　a　case　of　this　kind　he'll　be　a　godsend。　　If　you　get　headed　or　lost　or　have　to　circle　off　the　trail；　think　what　it　'd　mean　to　have　Yaqui　with　you。　　He　knows　Sonora　as　no　Greaser　knows　it。　　He　could　hide　you；　find　water　and　grass；　when　you　would　absolutely　believe　it　impossible。　　The　Indian　is　loyal。　　He　has　his　debt　to　pay；　and　he'll　pay　it；　don't　mistake　me。　　When　you're　gone　I'll　hide　Nell　so　Rojas　won't　see　her　if　he　searches　the　place。　　Then　I　think　I　could　sit　down　and　wait　without　any　particular　worry。〃

The　rangers　approved　of　Belding's　plan；　and　Thorne　choked　in　his　effort　to　express　his　gratitude。

〃All　right；　we'll　chance　it；〃　concluded　Belding。　　〃I'll　go　out　now　and　call　Rojas　and　his　outfit　over。。。Say；　it　might　be　as　well　for　me　to　know　just　what　he　said　in　that　paper。〃

Thorne　went　to　the　side　of　his　wife。

〃Mercedes；　we've　planned　to　outwit　Rojas。　　Will　you　tell　us　just　what　he　wrote？〃

The　girl　sat　up；　her　eyes　dilating；　and　with　her　hands　clasping　Thorne's。　　She　said：

〃Rojas　sworeby　his　saints　and　his　virginthat　if　I　wasn't　givento　himin　twenty…four　hourshe　would　set　fire　to　the　villagekill　the　mencarry　off　the　womenhang　the　children　on　cactus　thorns！〃

A　moment's　silence　followed　her　last　halting　whisper。

〃By　his　saints　an'　his　virgin！〃　echoed　Ladd。　　He　laugheda　cold；　cutting；　deadly　laughsignificant　and　terrible。

Then　the　Yaqui　uttered　a　singular　cry。　　Gale　had　heard　this　once　before；　and　now　he　remembered　it　was　at　the　Papago　Well。

〃Look　at　the　Indian；〃　whispered　Belding；　hoarsely。　　〃Damn　if　I　don't　believe　he　understood　every　word　Mercedes　said。　　And；　gentlemen；　don't　mistake　me；　if　he　ever　gets　near　Senor　Rojas　there'll　be　some　gory　Aztec　knife　work。〃

Yaqui　had　moved　close　to　Mercedes；　and　stood　beside　her　as　she　leaned　against　her　husband。　　She　seemed　impelled　to　meet　the　Indian's　gaze；　and　evidently　it　was　so　powerful　or　hypnotic　that　it　wrought　irresistibly　upon　her。　　But　she　must　have　seen　or　divined　what　was　beyond　the　others；　for　she　offered　him　her　trembling　hand。　　Yaqui　took　it　and　laid　it　against　his　body　in　a　strange　motion；　and　bowed　his　head。　　Then　he　stepped　back　into　the　shadow　of　the　room。

Belding　went　outdoors　while　the　rangers　took　up　their　former　position　at　the　west　window。　　Each　had　his　own　somber　thoughts；　Gale　imagined；　and　knew　his　own　were　dark　enough。　　A　slow　fire　crept　along　his　veins。　　He　saw　Belding　halt　at　the　corrals　and　wave　his　hand。　　Then　the　rebels　mounted　and　came　briskly　up　the　road；　this　time　to　rein　in　abreast。

Wherever　Rojas　had　kept　himself　upon　the　former　advance　was　not　clear；　but　he　certainly　was　prominently　in　sight　now。　　He　made　a　gaudy；　almost　a　dashing　figure。　　Gale　did　not　recognize　the　white　sombrero；　the　crimson　scarf；　the　velvet　jacket；　nor　any　feature　of　the　dandy's　costume；　but　their　general　effect；　the　whole　ensemble；　recalled　vividly　to　mind　his　first　sight　of　the　bandit。　　Rojas　dismounted　and　seemed　to　be　listening。　　He　betrayed　none　of　the　excitement　Gale　had　seen　in　him　that　night　at　the　Del　Sol。　Evidently　this　composure　struck　Ladd　and　Lash　as　unusual　in　a　Mexican　supposed　to　be　laboring　under　stress　of　feeling。　　Belding　made　gestures；　vehemently　bobbed　his　big　head；　appeared　to　talk　with　his　body　as　much　as　with　his　tongue。　　Then　Rojas　was　seen　to　reply；　and　after　that　it　was　clear　that　the　talk　became　painful　and　difficult。　　It　ended　finally　in　what　appeared　to　be　mutual　understanding。　　Rojas　mounted　and　rode　away　with　his　men；　while　Belding　came　tramping　back　to　the　house。

As　he　entered　the　door　his　eyes　were　shining；　his　big　hands　were　clenched；　and　he　was　breathing　audibly。

〃You　can　rope　me　if　I'm　not　locoed！〃　he　burst　out。　　〃I　went　out　to　conciliate　a　red…handed　little　murderer；　and　damn　me　if　I　didn't　meet　aawell；　I've　not　suitable　name　handy。　　I　started　my　bluff　and　got　along　pretty　well；　but　I　forgot　to　mention　that　Mercedes　was　Thorne's　wife。　　And　what　do　you　think？　　Rojas　swore　he　loved　Mercedes　swore　he'd　marry　her　right　here　in　Forlorn　Riverswore　he　would　give　up　robbing　and　killing　people；　and　take　her　away　from　Mexico。　　He　has　goldjewels。　　He　swore　if　he　didn't　get　her　nothing　mattered。　　He'd　die　anyway　without　her。。。。And　here's　the　strange　thing。　　I　believe　him！　　He　was　cold　as　ice；　and　all　hell　inside。　　Never　saw　a　Greaser　like　him。　　Well；　I　pretended　to　be　greatly　impressed。　　We　got　to　talking　friendly；　I　suppose；　though　I　didn't　understand　half　he　said；　and　I　imagine　he　gathered　less　what　I　said。　　Anyway；　without　my　asking　he　said　for　me　to　think　it　over　for　a　day　and　then　we'd　talk　again。〃

〃Shore　we're　born　lucky！〃　ejaculated　Ladd。

〃I　reckon　Rojas'll　be　smart　enough　to　string　his　outfit　across　the　few　trails　leadin'　out　of　Forlorn　River；〃　remarked　Jim。

〃That　needn't　worry　us。　　All　we　want　is　dark　to　come；〃　replied　Belding。　　〃Yaqui　will　slip　through。　　If　we　thank　any　lucky　stars　let　it　be　for　the　Indian。。。。Now；　boys；　put　on　your　thinking　caps。　You'll　take　eight　horses；　the　pick　of　my　bunch。　　You　must　pack　all　that's　needed　for　a　possible　long　trip。　　Mind；　Yaqui　may　lead　you　down　into　some　wild　Sonora　valley　and　give　Rojas　the　slip。　You　may　get　to　Yuma　in　six　days；　and　maybe　in　six　weeks。　　Yet　you've　got　to　pack　lighta　small　pack　in　saddleslarger　ones　on　the　two　free　horses。　　You　may　have　a　big　fight。　　Laddy；　take　the　。405。　　Dick　will　pack　his　Remington。　　All　of　you　go　gunned　heavy。　　But　the　main　thing　is　a　pack　that　'll　be　light　enough　for　swift　travel；　yet　one　that　'll　keep　you　from　starving　on　the　desert。〃

The　rest　of　that　day　passed　swiftly。　　Dick　had　scarcely　a　word　with　Nell；　and　all　the　time；　as　he　chose　and　deliberated　and　worked　over　his　little　pack；　there　was　a　dull　pain　in　his　heart。

The　sun　set；　twilight　fell；　then　night　closed　down　fortunately　a　night　slightly　overcast。　　Gale　saw　the　white　horses　pass　his　door　like　silent　ghosts。　　Even　Blanco　Diablo　made　no　sound；　and　that　fact　was　indeed　a　tribute　to　the　Yaqui。　　Gale　went　out　to　put　his　saddle　on　Blanco　Sol。　　The　horse　rubbed　a　soft　nose　against　his　shoulder。　　Then　Gale　returned　to　the　sitting…room。　There　was　nothing　more　to　do　but　wait　and　say　good…by。　　Mercedes　came　clad　in　leather　chaps　and　coat；　a　slim　stripling　of　a　cowboy；　her　dark　eyes　flashing。　　Her　beauty　could　not　be　hidden；　and　now　hope　and　courage　had　fired　her　blood。

Gale　drew　Nell　off　into　the　shadow　of　the　room。　　She　was　trembling；　and　as　she　leaned　toward　him　she　was　very　different　from　the　coy　girl　who　had　so　long　held　him　aloof。　　He　took　her　into　his　arms。

〃Dearest；　I'm　goingsonn。。。。And　maybe　I'll　never〃

〃Dick；　dodon't　say　it；〃　sobbed　Nell；　with　her　head　on　his　breast。

〃I　might　never　come　back；〃　he　went　on；　steadily。　　〃I　love　youI've　loved　you　ever　since　the　first　moment　I　saw　you。　　Do　you　care　for　mea　little？〃

〃Dear　Dickde…dear　Dick；　my　heart　is　breaking；〃　faltered　Nell；　as　she　clung　to　him。

〃It　might　be　breaking　for　Mercedesfor　Laddy　and　Jim。　　I　want　to　hear　something　for　myself。　　Something　to　have　on　long　marchesround　lonely　campfires。　　Something　to　keep　my　spirit　alive。　　Oh；　Nell；　you　can't　imagine　that　silence　out　therethat　terrible　world　of　sand　and　stone！。。。Do　you　l