desert gold-第57节

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In　a　few　days；　it　seemed；　Altar　Valley　was　a　bright　and　green　expanse；　where　dust　clouds　did　not　rise。　　Forlorn　River　ran；　a　slow；　heavy；　turgid　torrent。　　Belding　never　saw　the　river　in　flood　that　it　did　not　give　him　joy；　yet　now；　desert　man　as　he　was；　he　suffered　a　regret　when　he　thought　of　the　great　Chase　reservoir　full　and　overflowing。　　The　dull　thunder　of　the　spillway　was　not　pleasant。　　It　was　the　first　time　in　his　life　that　the　sound　of　falling　water　jarred　upon　him。

Belding　noticed　workmen　once　more　engaged　in　the　fields　bounding　his　land。　　The　Chases　had　extended　a　main　irrigation　ditch　down　to　Belding's　farm；　skipped　the　width　of　his　ground；　then　had　gone　on　down　through　Altar　Valley。　　They　had　exerted　every　influence　to　obtain　right　to　connect　these　ditches　by　digging　through　his　land；　but　Belding　had　remained　obdurate。　　He　refused　to　have　any　dealings　with　them。　　It　was　therefore　with　some　curiosity　and　suspicion　that　he　was　a　gang　of　Mexicans　once　more　at　work　upon　these　ditches。

At　daylight　next　morning　a　tremendous　blast　almost　threw　Belding　out　of　his　bed。　　It　cracked　the　adobe　walls　of　his　house　and　broke　windows　and　sent　pans　and　crockery　to　the　floor　with　a　crash。　Belding's　idea　was　that　the　store　of　dynamite　kept　by　the　Chases　for　blasting　had　blown　up。　　Hurriedly　getting　into　his　clothes；　he　went　to　Nell's　room　to　reassure　her；　and；　telling　her　to　have　a　thought　for　their　guests；　he　went　out　to　see　what　had　happened。

The　villagers　were　pretty　badly　frightened。　　Many　of　the　poorly　constructed　adobe　huts　had　crumbled　almost　into　dust。　　A　great　yellow　cloud；　like　smoke；　hung　over　the　river。　　This　appeared　to　be　at　the　upper　end　of　Belding's　plot；　and　close　to　the　river。　When　he　reached　his　fence　the　smoke　and　dust　were　so　thick　he　could　scarcely　breathe；　and　for　a　little　while　he　was　unable　to　see　what　had　happened。　　Presently　he　made　out　a　huge　hole　in　the　sand　just　abut　where　the　irrigation　ditch　had　stopped　near　his　line。　　For　some　reason　or　other；　not　clear　to　Belding；　the　Mexicans　had　set　off　an　extraordinarily　heavy　blast　at　that　point。

Belding　pondered。　　He　did　not　now　for　a　moment　consider　an　accidental　discharge　of　dynamite。　　But　why　had　this　blast　been　set　off？　　The　loose　sandy　soil　had　yielded　readily　to　shovel；　there　were　no　rocks；　as　far　as　construction　of　a　ditch　was　concerned　such　a　blast　would　have　odne　more　harm　than　good。

Slowly；　with　reluctant　feet；　Belding　walked　toward　a　green　hollow；　where　in　a　cluster　of　willows　lay　the　never…failing　spring　that　his　horses　loved　so　well；　and；　indeed；　which　he　loved　no　less。　He　was　actually　afraid　to　part　the　drooping　willows　to　enter　the　little　cool；　shady　path　that　led　to　the　spring。　　Then；　suddenly　seized　by　suspense；　he　ran　the　rest　of　the　way。

He　was　just　in　time　to　see　the　last　of　the　water。　　It　seemed　to　sink　as　in　quicksand。　　The　shape　of　the　hole　had　changed。　　The　tremendous　force　of　the　blast　in　the　adjoining　field　had　obstructed　or　diverted　the　underground　stream　of　water。

Belding's　never…failing　spring　had　been　ruined。　　What　had　made　this　little　plot　of　ground　green　and　sweet　and　fragrant　was　now　no　more。　　Belding's　first　feeling　was　for　the　pity　of　it。　　The　pale　Ajo　lilies　would　bloom　no　more　under　those　willows。　　The　willows　themselves　would　soon　wither　and　die。　　He　thought　how　many　times　in　the　middle　of　hot　summer　nights　he　had　come　down　to　the　spring　to　drink。　　Never　again！

Suddenly　he　thought　of　Blanco　Diablo。　　How　the　great　white　thoroughbred　had　loved　this　spring！　　Belding　straightened　up　and　looked　with　tear…blurred　eyes　out　over　the　waste　of　desert　to　the　west。　　Never　a　day　passed　that　he　had　not　thought　of　the　splendid　horse；　but　this　moment；　with　its　significant　memory；　was　doubly　keen；　and　there　came　a　dull　pang　in　his　breast。

〃Diablo　will　never　drink　here　again！〃　muttered　Belding。

The　loss　of　Blanco　Diablo；　though　admitted　and　mourned　by　Belding；　had　never　seemed　quite　real　until　this　moment。

The　pall　of　dust　drifting　over　him；　the　din　of　the　falling　water　up　at　the　dam；　diverted　Belding's　mind　to　the　Chases。　　All　at　once　he　was　in　the　harsh　grip　of　a　cold　certainty。　　The　blast　had　been　set　off　intentionally　to　ruin　his　spring。　　What　a　hellish　trick！　　No　Westerner；　no　Indian　or　Mexican；　no　desert　man　could　have　been　guilty　of　such　a　crime。　　To　ruin　a　beautiful；　clear；　cool；　never…failing　stream　of　water　in　the　desert！

It　was　then　that　Belding's　worry　and　indecision　and　brooding　were　as　if　they　had　never　existed。　　As　he　strode　swiftly　back　to　the　house；　his　head；　which　had　long　been　bent　thoughtfully　and　sadly；　was　held　erect。　　He　went　directly　to　his　room；　and　with　an　air　that　was　now　final　he　buckled　on　his　gun　belt。　　He　looked　the　gun　over　and　tried　the　action。　　He　squared　himself　and　walked　a　little　more　erect。　　Some　long…lost　individuality　had　returned　to　Belding。

〃Let's　see；〃　he　was　saying。　　〃I　can　get　Carter　to　send　the　horses　I've　left　back　to　Waco　to　my　brother。　　I'll　make　Nell　take　what　money　there　is　and　go　hunt　up　her　mother。　　The　Gales　are　ready　to　goto…day；　if　I　say　the　word。　　Nell　can　travel　with　them　part　way　East。　　That's　your　game；　Tom　Belding；　don't　mistake　me。〃

As　he　went　out　he　encountered　Mr。　Gale　coming　up　the　walk。　　The　long　sojourn　at　Forlorn　River；　despite　the　fact　that　it　had　been　laden　with　a　suspense　which　was　gradually　changing　to　a　sad　certainty；　had　been　of　great　benefit　to　Dick's　father。　　The　dry　air；　the　heat；　and　the　quiet　had　made　him；　if　not　entirely　a　well　man；　certainly　stronger　than　he　had　been　in　many　years。

〃Belding；　what　was　that　terrible　roar？〃　asked　Mr。　Gale。　　〃We　were　badly　frightened　until　Miss　Nell　came　to　us。　　We　feared　it　was　an　earthquake。〃

〃Well；　I'll　tell　you；　Mr。　Gale；　we've　had　some　quakes　here；　but　none　of　them　could　hold　a　candle　to　this　jar　we　just　had。〃

Then　Belding　explained　what　had　caused　the　explosion；　and　why　it　had　been　set　off　so　close　to　his　property。

〃It's　an　outrage；　sir；　an　unspeakable　outrage；〃　declared　Mr。　Gale；　hotly。　　〃Such　a　thing　would　not　be　tolerated　in　the　East。　　Mr。　Belding；　I'm　amazed　at　your　attitude　in　the　face　of　all　this　trickery。〃

〃You　seethere　was　mother　and　Nell；〃　began　Belding；　as　if　apologizing。　He　dropped　his　head　a　little　and　made　marks　in　the　sand　with　the　toe　of　his　boot。　　〃Mr。　Gale；　I've　been　sort　of　half　hitched；　as　Laddy　used　to　say。　　I'm　planning　to　have　a　little　more　elbow　room　round　this　ranch。　　I'm　going　to　send　Nell　East　to　her　mother。　　Then　I'll　　See　here；　Mr。　Gale；　would　you　mind　having　Nell　with　you　part　way　when　you　go　home？〃

〃We'd　all　be　delighted　to　have　her　go　all　the　way　and　make　us　a　visit；〃　replied　Mr。　Gale。

〃That's　fine。　　And　you'll　be　going　soon？　　Don't　take　that　as　if　I　wanted　to〃　Belding　paused；　for　the　truth　was　that　he　did　want　to　hurry　them　off。

〃We　would　have　been　gone　before　this；　but　for　you；〃　said　Mr。　Gale。　〃Long　ago　we　gave　up　hope　ofof　Richard　ever　returning。　　And　I　believe；　now　we're　sure　he　was　lost；　that　we'd　do　well　to　go　home　at　once。　　You　wished　us　to　remain　until　the　heat　was　brokentill　the　rains　came　to　make　traveling　easier　for　us。　　Now　I　see　no　need　for　further　delay。　　My　stay　here　has　greatly　benefited　my　health。　　I　shall　never　forget　your　hospitality。　　This　Western　trip　would　have　made　me　a　new　man　ifonlyRichard〃

〃Sure。　　I　understand；〃　said　Belding；　gruffly。　　〃Let's　go　in　and　tell　the　women　to　pack　up。〃

Nell　was　busy　with　the　servants　preparing　breakfast。　　Belding　took　her　into　the　sitting…room　while　Mr。　Gale　called　his　wife　and　daughter。

〃My　girl；　I've　some　news　for　you；〃　began　Belding。　　〃Mr。　Gale　is　leaving　to…day　with　his　family。　　I'm　going　to　send　you　with　thempart　way；　anyhow。　　You're　invited　to　visit　them。　　I　think　that　'd　be　great　for　youhelp　you　to　forget。　　But　the　main　thing　isyou're　going　East　to　join　mother。〃

Nell　gazed　at　him；　white…faced；　without　uttering　a　word。

〃You　see；　Nell；　I'm　about　done　in　Forlorn　River；〃　went　on　Belding。　〃That　blast　this　morning　sank　my　spring。　　There's　no　water　now。　It　was　the　last　straw。　　So　we'll　shake　the　dust　of　Forlorn　River。　I'll　come　on　a　little　laterthat's　all。〃

〃Dad；　you're　packing　your　gun！〃　exclaimed　Nell；　suddenly　pointing　with　a　trembling　finger。　　She　ran　to　him；　and　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　Belding　put　her　away　from　him。　　His　movements　had　lost　the　old　slow　gentleness。

〃Why；　so　I　am；〃　replied　Belding；　coolly；　as　his　hand　moved　down　to　the　sheath　swinging　at　his　hip。　　〃Nell；　I'm　that　absent…minded　these　days！〃

〃Dad！〃　she　cried。

〃That'll　do　from　you；〃　he　replied；　in　a　voice　he　had　never　used　to　her。　　〃Get　breakfast　now；　then　pack　to　leave　Forlorn　River。〃

〃Leave　Forlorn　River！〃　whispered　Nell；　with　a　thin　white　hand　stealing　up　to　her　breast。　　How　changed　the　girl　was！　　Belding　reproached　himself　for　his　hardness；　but　did　not　speak　his　thought　aloud。　　Nell　was　fading　here；　just　as　Mercedes　had　faded　before　the　coming　of　Thorne。

Nell　turned　away　to　the　west　window　and　looked　out　across　the　desert　toward　the　dim　blue　peaks　in　the　distance。　Belding　watched　her；　likewise　the　Gales；　and　no　one　spoke。　There　ensued　a　long　silence。　　Belding　felt　a　lump　rise　in　his　throat。　　Nell　laid　her　arm　against　the　window　frame；　but　gradually　it　dropped；　and　she　was　leaning　w