desert gold-第42节

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is　companions。　　From　time　to　time　the　rangers　looked　inquiringly　at　Gale。　　The　field　glass；　however；　like　the　naked　sight；　could　not　catch　the　slightest　moving　object　out　there　upon　the　lava。　　A　long　hour　of　slow；　mounting　suspense　wore　on。

〃Shore　it's　all　goin'　to　be　as　queer　as　the　Yaqui；〃　said　Ladd。

Indeed；　the　strange　mien；　the　silent　action；　the　somber　character　of　the　Indian　had　not　been　without　effect　upon　the　minds　of　the　men。　　Then　the　weird；　desolate；　tragic　scene　added　to　the　vague　sense　of　mystery。　　And　now　the　disappearance　of　Rojas's　band；　the　long　wait　in　the　silence；　the　boding　certainty　of　invisible　foes　crawling；　circling　closer　and　closer；　lent　to　the　situation　a　final　touch　that　made　it　unreal。

〃I'm　reckonin'　there's　a　mind　behind　them　Greasers；〃　replied　Jim。　〃Or　mebbe　we　ain't　done　Rojas　credit。。。If　somethin'　would　only　come　off！〃

That　Lash；　the　coolest；　most　provokingly　nonchalant　of　men　in　times　of　peril；　should　begin　to　show　a　nervous　strain　was　all　the　more　indicative　of　a　suble　pervading　unreality。

〃Boys；　look　sharp！〃　suddenly　called　Lash。　　〃Low　down　to　the　left　mebbe　three　hundred　yards。　　See；　along　by　them　seams　of　lava　behind　the　choyas。　　First　off　I　thought　it　was　a　sheep。　　But　it's　the　Yaqui！。。。Crawlin'　swift　as　a　lizard！　　Can't　you　see　him？〃

It　was　a　full　moment　before　Jim's　companions　could　locate　the　Indian。　　Flat　as　a　snake　Yaqui　wound　himself　along　with　incredible　rapidity。　　His　advance　was　all　the　more　remarkable　for　the　fact　that　he　appeared　to　pass　directly　under　the　dreaded　choyas。　　Sometimes　he　paused　to　lift　his　head　and　look。　　He　was　directly　in　line　with　a　huge　whorl　of　lava　that　rose　higher　than　any　point　on　the　slope。　This　spur　was　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　position　of　the　rangers。

〃Shore　he's　headin'　for　that　high　place；〃　　said　Ladd。　　〃He's　goin'　slow　now。　　There；　he's　stopped　behind　some　choyas。　　He's　gettin'　upno；　he's　kneelin'。。。。Now　what　the　hell！〃

〃Laddy；　take　a　peek　at　the　side　of　that　lava　ridge；〃　sharply　called　Jim。　　〃I　guess　mebbe　somethin'　ain't　comin'　off。　　See！　　There's　Rojas　an'　his　outfit　climbin'。　　Don't　make　out　no　hosses。。。。Dick；　use　your　glass　an'　tell　us　what's　doin'。　　I'll　watch　Yaqui　an'　tell　you　what　his　move　means。〃

Clearly　and　distinctly；　almost　as　if　he　could　have　touched　them；　Gale　had　Rojas　and　his　followers　in　sight。　　They　were　toiling　up　the　rough　lava　on　foot。　　They　were　heavily　armed。　　Spurs；　chaps；　jackets；　scarfs　were　not　in　evidence。　　Gale　saw　the　lean；　swarthy　faces；　the　black；　straggly　hair；　the　ragged；　soiled　garments　which　had　once　been　white。

〃They're　almost　up　now；〃　Gale　was　saying。　　〃There！　　They　halt　on　top。　　I　see　Rojas。　　He　looks　wild。　　By！　fellows；　an　Indian！　。。。It's　a　Papago。　　Belding's　old　herder！。。。The　Indian　points　this　waythen　down。　　He's　showing　Rojas　the　lay　of　the　trail。〃

〃Boys；　Yaqui's　in　range　of　that　bunch；〃　said　Jim；　swiftly。　　〃He's　raisin'　his　rifle　slowLord；　how　slow　he　is！。。。He's　covered　some　one。　　Which　one　I　can't　say。　　But　I　think　he'll　pick　Rojas。〃

〃The　Yaqui　can　shoot。　　He'll　pick　Rojas；〃　added　Gale；　grimly。

〃Rojasyesyes！〃　cried　Thorne；　in　passion　of　suspense。

〃Not　on　your　life！〃　　Ladd's　voice　cut　in　with　scorn。　　〃Gentlemen；　you　can　gamble　Yaqui　'll　kill　the　Papago。　　That　traitor　Indian　knows　these　sheep　haunts。　　He's　tellin'　Rojas〃

A　sharp　rifle　shot　rang　out。

〃Laddy's　right；〃　called　Gale。　　〃The　Papago's　hithis　arm　fallsThere；　he　tumbles！〃

More　shots　rang　out。　　Yaqui　was　seen　standing　erect　firing　rapidly　at　the　darting　Mexicans。　　For　all　Gale　could　make　out　no　second　bullet　took　effect。　　Rojas　and　his　men　vanished　behind　the　bulge　of　lava。　　Then　Yaqui　deliberately　backed　away　from　his　postion。　He　made　no　effort　to　run　or　hide。　　Evidently　he　watched　cautiously　for　signs　of　pursuers　in　the　ruts　and　behind　the　choyas。　　Presently　he　turned　and　came　straight　toward　the　position　of　the　rangers；　sheered　off　perhaps　a　hundred　paces　below　it；　and　disappeared　in　a　crevice。　　Plainly　his　intention　was　to　draw　pursuers　within　rifle　shot。

〃Shore；　Jim；　you　had　your　wish。　　Somethin'　come　off；〃　said　Ladd。　〃An'　I'm　sayin'　thank　God　for　the　Yaqui！　　That　Papago　'd　have　ruined　us。　　Even　so；　mebbe　he's　told　Rojas　more'n　enough　to　make　us　sweat　blood。〃

〃He　had　a　chance　to　kill　Rojas；〃　cried　out　the　drawn…faced；　passionate　Thorne。　　〃He　didn't　take　it！。。。He　didn't　take　it！〃

Only　Ladd　appeared　to　be　able　to　answer　the　cavalryman's　poignant　cry。

〃Listen；　son；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　rang。　　〃We…all　know　how　you　feel。　　An'　if　I'd　had　that　one　shot　never　in　the　world　could　I　have　picked　the　Papago　guide。　　I'd　have　had　to　kill　Rojas。　　That's　the　white　man　of　it。　　But　Yaqui　was　right。　　Only　an　Indian　could　have　done　it。　　You　can　gamble　the　Papago　alive　meant　slim　chance　for　us。　　Because　he'd　led　straight　to　where　Mercedes　is　hidden；　an'　then　we'd　have　left　cover　to　fight　it　out。。。When　you　come　to　think　of　the　Yaqui's　hate　for　Greasers；　when　you　just　seen　him　pass　up　a　shot　at　onewell；　I　don't　know　how　to　say　what　I　mean；　but　damn　me；　my　som…brer…ro　is　off　to　the　Indian！〃

〃I　reckon　so；　an'　I　reckon　the　ball's　opened；〃　rejoined　Lash；　and　now　that　former　nervous　impatience　so　unnatural　to　him　was　as　if　it　had　never　been。　　He　was　smilingly　cool；　and　his　voice　had　almost　a　caressing　note。　　He　tapped　the　breech　of　his　Winchester　with　a　sinewy　brown　hand；　and　he　did　not　appear　to　be　addressing　any　one　in　particular。　　〃Yaqui's　opened　the　ball。　　Look　up　your　pardners　there；　gents；　an'　get　ready　to　dance。〃

Another　wait　set　in　them；　and　judging　by　the　more　direct　rays　of　the　sun　and　a　receding　of　the　little　shadows　cast　by　the　choyas；　Gale　was　of　the　opinion　that　it　was　a　long　wait。　　But　it　seemed　short。　The　four　men　were　lying　under　the　bank　of　a　half　circular　hole　in　the　lava。　　It　was　notched　and　cracked；　and　its　rim　was　fringed　by　choyas。　　It　sloped　down　and　opened　to　an　unobstructed　view　of　the　crater。　　Gale　had　the　upper　position；　fartherest　to　the　right；　and　therefore　was　best　shielded　from　possible　fire　from　the　higher　ridges　of　the　rim；　some　three　hundred　yards　distant。　　Jim　came　next；　well　hidden　in　a　crack。　　The　positions　of　Thorne　and　Ladd　were　most　exposed。　　They　kept　sharp　lookout　over　the　uneven　rampart　of　their　hiding…place。

The　sun　passed　the　zenith；　began　to　slope　westward；　and　to　grow　hotter　as　it　sloped。　　The　men　waited　and　waited。　　Gale　saw　no　impatience　even　in　Thorne。　　The　sultry　air　seemed　to　be　laden　with　some　burden　or　quality　that　was　at　once　composed　of　heat；　menace；　color；　and　silence。　　Even　the　light　glancing　up　from　the　lava　seemed　red　and　the　silence　had　substance。　　Sometimes　Gale　felt　that　it　was　unbearable。　　Yet　he　made　no　effort　to　break　it。

Suddenly　this　dead　stillness　was　rent　by　a　shot；　clear　and　stinging；　close　at　hand。　　It　was　from　a　rifle；　not　a　carbine。　　With　startling　quickness　a　cry　followeda　cry　that　pierced　Galeit　was　so　thin；　so　high…keyed；　so　different　from　all　other　cries。　　It　was　the　involuntary　human　shriek　at　death。

〃Yaqui's　called　out　another　pardner；〃　said　Jim　Lash；　laconically。

Carbines　began　to　crack。　　The　reports　were　quick；　light；　like　sharp　spats　without　any　ring。　　Gale　peered　from　behind　the　edge　of　his　covert。　　Above　the　ragged　wave　of　lava　floated　faint　whitish　clouds；　all　that　was　visible　of　smokeless　powder。　　Then　Gale　made　out　round　spots；　dark　against　the　background　of　red；　and　in　front　of　them　leaped　out　small　tongues　of　fire。　　Ladd's　。405　began　to　〃spang〃　with　its　beautiful　sound　of　power。　　Thorne　was　firing；　somewhat　wildly　Gale　thought。　　Then　Jim　Lash　pushed　his　Winchester　over　the　rim　under　a　choya；　and　between　shots　Gale　could　hear　him　singing：　〃Turn　the　lady；　turnturn　the　lady；　turn！。。。Alaman　left！。。。Swing　your　pardners！。。。Forward　an'　back！。。。Turn　the　lady；　turn！〃　　Gale　got　into　the　fight　himself；　not　so　sure　that　he　hit　any　of　the　round；　bobbing　objects　he　aimed　at；　but　growing　sure　of　himself　as　action　liberated　something　forced　and　congested　within　his　breast。

Then　over　the　position　of　the　rangers　came　a　hail　of　steel　bullets。　Those　that　struck　the　lava　hissed　away　into　the　crater；　those　that　came　biting　through　the　choyas　made　a　sound　which　resembled　a　sharp　ripping　of　silk。　　Bits　of　cactus　stung　Gale's　face；　and　he　dreaded　the　flying　thorns　more　than　he　did　the　flying　bullets。

〃Hold　on；　boys；〃　called　Ladd；　as　he　crouched　down　to　reload　his　rifle。　　〃Save　your　shells。　　The　greasers　are　spreadin'　on　us；　some　goin'　down　below　Yaqui；　others　movin'　up　for　that　high　ridge。　　When　they　get　up　there　I'm　damned　if　it　won't　be　hot　for　us。　　There　ain't　room　for　all　of　us　to　hide　here。〃

Ladd　raised　himself　to　peep　over　the　rim。　　Shots　were　now　scattering；　and　all　appeared　to　come　from　below。　　Emboldened　by　this　he　rose　higher。　　A　shot　from　in　front；　a　rip　of　bullet　through　the　choya；　a　spat　of　something　hitting　Ladd's　face；　a　steel　missle　hissing　onwardthese　inseparably　blended　sounds　were　all　registered　by　Gale's　sensitive　ear。

With　a　curse　Ladd　tumbled　down　into　the　hole。　　His　face　showed　a　great　gray　blotch；　and　starting　blood。　　Gale　felt　a　sickening　assurance　of　desperate　injury　to　the　ranger。　　He　ran　to　him　calling：　〃Laddy！　　Laddy！〃

〃Shore　I　an't　plugged。　　It's　a　damn　choya　burr。　　The　bullet　knocked　it　in