desert gold-第43节

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lling：　〃Laddy！　　Laddy！〃

〃Shore　I　an't　plugged。　　It's　a　damn　choya　burr。　　The　bullet　knocked　it　in　my　face。　　Pull　it　out！〃

The　oval；　long…spiked　cone　was　firmly　imbedded　in　Ladd's　cheek。　Blood　streamed　down　his　face　and　neck。　　Carefully；　yet　with　no　thought　of　pain　to　himself；　Gale　Tried　to　pull　the　cactus　joint　away。　　It　was　as　firm　as　if　it　had　been　nailed　there。　　That　was　the　damnable　feature　of　the　barbed　thorns：　　once　set；　they　held　on　as　that　strange　plant　held　to　its　desert　life。　　Ladd　began　to　writhe；　and　sweat　mingled　with　the　blood　on　his　face。　　He　cursed　and　raved；　and　his　movements　made　it　almost　impossible　for　Gale　to　do　anything。

〃Put　your　knife…blade　under　an'　tear　it　out！〃　shouted　Ladd；　hoarsely。

Thus　ordered；　Gale　slipped　a　long　blade　in　between　the　imbedded　thorns；　and　with　a　powerful　jerk　literally　tore　the　choya　out　of　Ladd's　quivering　flesh。　　Then；　where　the　ranger's　face　was　not　red　and　raw；　it　certainly　was　white。

A　volley　of　shots　from　a　different　angle　was　followed　by　the　quick　ring　of　steel　bullets　striking　the　lava　all　around　Gale。　His　first　idea；　as　he　heard　the　projectiles　sing　and　hum　and　whine　away　into　the　air；　was　that　they　were　coming　from　above　him。　　He　looked　up　to　see　a　number　of　low；　white　and　dark　knobs　upon　the　high　point　of　lava。　　They　had　not　been　there　before。　　Then　he　saw　little；　pale；　leaping　tongues　of　fire。　　As　he　dodged　down　he　distinctly　heard　a　bullet　strike　Ladd。　　At　the　same　instant　he　seemed　to　hear　Thorne　cry　out　and　fall；　and　Lash's　boots　scrape　rapidly　away。　　Ladd　fell　backward　still　holding　the　。405。　　Gale　dragged　him　into　the　shelter　of　his　own　positoin；　and　dreading　to　look　at　him；　took　up　the　heavy　weapon。　　It　was　with　a　kind　of　savage　strength　that　he　gripped　the　rifle；　and　it　was　with　a　cold　and　deadly　intent　that　he　aimed　and　fired。　　The　first　Greaser　huddled　low；　let　his　carbine　go　clattering　down；　and　then　crawled　behind　the　rim。　　The　second　　and　third　jerked　back。　　The　fourth　seemed　to　flop　up　over　the　crest　of　lava。　　A　dark　arm　reached　for　him；　clutched　his　leg；　tried　to　drag　him　up。　　It　was　in　vain。　Wildly　grasping　at　the　air　the　bandit　fell；　slid　down　a　steep　shelf；　rolled　over　the　rim；　to　go　hurtling　down　out　of　sight。

Fingering　the　hot　rifle　with　close…pressed　hands；　Gale　watched　the　sky　line　along　the　high　point　of　lava。　　It　remained　unbroken。　As　his　passion　left　him　he　feared　to　look　back　at　his　companions；　and　the　cold　chill　returned　to　his　breast。

〃ShoreI'm　damn　gladthem　Greasers　ain't　usin'　soft…nose　bullets；〃　drawled　a　calm　voice。

Swift　as　lightning　Gale　whirled。

〃Laddy！　　I　thought　you　were　done　for；〃　cried　Gale；　with　a　break　in　his　voice。

〃I　ain't　a…mindin'　the　bullet　much。　　But　that　choya　joint　took　my　nerve；　an'　you　can　gamble　on　it。　　Dick；　this　hole's　pretty　high　up；　ain't　it？〃

The　ranger's　blouse　was　open　at　the　neck；　and　on　his　right　shoulder　under　the　collar　bone　was　a　small　hole　just　beginning　to　bleed。

〃Sure　it's　high；　Laddy；〃　replied　Gale；　gladly。　　〃Went　clear　through；　clean　as　a　whistle！〃

He　tore　a　handkerchief　into　two　parts；　made　wads；　and　pressing　them　close　over　the　wounds　he　bound　them　there　with　Ladd's　scarf。

〃Shore　it's　funny　how　a　bullet　can　floor　a　man　an'　then　not　do　any　damage；〃　said　Ladd。　　〃I　felt　a　zip　of　wind　an'　somethin'　like　a　pat　on　my　chest　an'　down　I　went。　　Well；　so　much　for　the　small　caliber　with　their　steel　bullets。　　Supposin'　I'd　connected　with　a　。405！〃

〃Laddy；　II'm　afraid　Thorne's　done　for；〃　whispered　Gale。　　〃He's　lying　over　there　in　that　crack。　　I　can　see　part　of　him。　　He　doesn't　move。〃

〃I　was　wonderin'　if　I'd　have　to　tell　you　that。　　Dick；　he　went　down　hard　hit；　fallin'；　you　know；　limp　an'　soggy。　　It　was　a　moral　cinch　one　of　us　would　get　it　in　this　fight；　but　God！　　I'm　sorry　Thorne　had　to　be　the　man。〃

〃Laddy；　maybe　he's　not　dead；〃　replied　Gale。　　He　called　aloud　to　his　friend。　　There　was　no　answer。

Ladd　got　up；　and；　after　peering　keenly　at　the　height　of　lava；　he　strode　swiftly　across　the　space。　　It　was　only　a　dozen　steps　to　the　crack　in　the　lava　whereThorne　had　fallen　head　first。　　Ladd　bent　over；　went　to　his　knees；　so　that　Gale　saw　only　his　head。　　Then　he　appeared　rising　with　arms　round　the　cavalryman。　　He　dragged　him　across　the　hole　to　the　sheltered　corner　that　alone　afforded　protection。　　He　had　scarcely　reached　it　when　a　carbine　cracked　and　a　bullet　struck　the　flinty　lava；　striking　sparks；　then　singing　away　into　the　air。

Thorne　was　either　dead　or　unconscious；　and　Gale；　with　a　contracting　throat　and　numb　heart；　decided　for　the　former。　　Not　so　Ladd；　who　probed　the　bloody　gash　on　Thorne's　temple；　and　then　felt　his　breast。

〃He's　alive　an'　not　bad　hurt。　　That　bullet　hit　him　glancin'。　　Shore　them　steel　bullets　are　some　lucky　for　us。　　Dick；　you　needn't　look　so　glum。　I　tell　you　he　ain't　bad　hurt。　　I　felt　his　skull　with　my　finger。　There's　no　hole　in　it。　　Wash　him　off　an'　tie　　Wow！　did　you　get　the　wind　of　that　one？　　An'　mebbe　it　didn't　sing　off　the　lava！。。。　Dick；　look　after　Thorne　now　while　I〃

The　completion　of　his　speech　was　the　stirring　ring　of　the　。405；　and　then　he　uttered　a　laugh　that　was　unpleasant。

〃Shore；　greaser；　there's　a　man's　size　bullet　for　you。　　No　slim；　sharp…pointed；　steel…jacket　nail！　　I'm　takin'　it　on　me　to　believe　you're　appreciatin'　of　the　。405；　seein'　as　you　don't　make　no　fuss。〃

It　was　indeed　a　joy　to　Gale　to　find　that　Thorne　had　not　received　a　wound　necessarily　fatal；　though　it　was　serious　enough。　　Gale　bathed　and　bound　it；　and　laid　the　cavalryman　against　the　slant　of　the　bank；　his　head　high　to　lessen　the　probability　of　bleeding。

As　Gale　straightened　up　Ladd　muttered　low　and　deep；　and　swung　the　heavy　rifle　around　to　the　left。　　Far　along　the　slope　a　figure　moved。　　Ladd　began　to　work　the　lever　of　the　Winchester　and　to　shoot。　　At　every　shot　the　heavy　firearm　sprang　up；　and　the　recoil　made　Ladd's　shoulder　give　back。　　Gale　saw　the　bullets　strike　the　lava　behind；　beside；　before　the　fleeing　Mexican；　sending　up　dull　puffs　of　dust。　　On　the　sixth　shot　he　plunged　down　out　of　sight；　either　hit　or　frightened　into　seeking　cover。

〃Dick；　mebbe　there's　one　or　two　left　above；　but　we　needn't　figure　much　on　it；〃　said　Ladd；　as；　loading　the　rifle；　he　jerked　his　fingers　quickly　from　the　hot　breech。　　〃Listen！　　Jim　an'　Yaqui　are　hittin'　it　up　lively　down　below。　　I'll　sneak　down　there。　　You　stay　here　an'　keep　about　half　an　eye　peeled　up　yonder；　an'　keep　the　rest　my　way。〃

Ladd　crossed　the　hole；　climbed　down　into　the　deep　crack　where　Thorne　had　fallen；　and　then　went　stooping　along　with　only　his　head　above　the　level。　　Presently　he　disappeared。　　Gale；　having　little　to　fear　from　the　high　ridge；　directed　most　of　his　attention　toward　the　point　beyond　which　Ladd　had　gone。　　The　firing　had　become　desultory；　and　the　light　carbine　shots　outnumbered　the　sharp　rifle　shots　five　to　one。　　Gale　made　a　note　of　the　fact　that　for　some　little　time　he　had　not　heard　the　unmistakable　report　of　Jim　Lash's　automatic。　Then　ensued　a　long　interval　in　which　the　desert　silence　seemed　to　recover　its　grip。　　The　。405　ripped　it　asunderspangspang　spang。　　Gale　fancied　he　heard　yells。　　There　were　a　few　pattering　shots　still　farther　down　the　trail。　　Gale　had　an　uneasy　conviction　that　Rojas　and　some　of　his　band　might　go　straight　to　the　waterhole。　It　would　be　hard　to　dislodge　even　a　few　men　from　that　retreat。

There　seemed　a　lull　in　the　battle。　　Gale　ventured　to　stand　high；　and　screened　behind　choyas；　he　swept　the　three…quarter　circle　of　lava　with　his　glass。　　In　the　distance　he　saw　horses；　but　no　riders。　Below　him；　down　the　slope　along　the　crater　rim　and　the　trail；　the　lava　was　bare　of　all　except　tufts　of　choya。　　Gale　gathered　assurance。　　It　looked　as　if　the　day　was　favoring　his　side。　　Then　Thorne；　coming　partly　to　consciousness；　engaged　Gale's　care。　　The　cavalryman　stirred　and　moaned；　called　for　water；　and　then　for　Mercedes。　　Gale　held　him　back　with　a　strong　hand；　and　presently　he　was　once　more　quiet。

For　the　first　time　in　hours；　as　it　seemed；　Gale　took　note　of　the　physical　aspect　of　his　surroundings。　　He　began　to　look　upon　them　without　keen　gaze　strained　for　crouching　form；　or　bobbing　head；　or　spouting　carbine。　　Either　Gale's　sense　of　color　and　proportion　had　become　deranged　during　the　fight；　or　the　encompassing　air　and　the　desert　had　changed。　　Even　the　sun　had　changed。　　It　seemed　lowering；　oval　in　shape；　magenta　in　hue；　and　it　had　a　surface　that　gleamed　like　oil　on　water。　　Its　red　rays　shone　through　red　haze。　Distances　that　had　formerly　ben　clearly　outlined　were　now　dim；　obscured。　　The　yawning　chasm　was　not　the　same。　　It　circled　wider；　redder；　deeper。　　It　was　a　weird；　ghastly　mouth　of　hell。　　Gale　stood　fascinated；　unable　to　tell　how　much　he　saw　was　real；　how　much　exaggeration　of　overwrought　emotions。　　There　was　no　beauty　here；　but　an　unparalleled　grandeur；　a　sublime　scene　of　devastation　and　desolation　which　might　have　had　its　counterpart　upon　the　burned…out　moon。　　The　mood　that　gripped　Gale　now　added　to　its　somber　portent　an　unshakable　foreboding　of　calamity。

He　wrestled　with　the　spell　as　if　it　were　a　physical　foe。　　Reason　and　intelligence　had　their　voices　in　his　mind；　but　the　moment　was　not　one　wherein　these　things　could　wholly　control。　　He　felt　life　strong　withing　his　breast；　yet　there；　a　step