desert gold-第6节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃On　the　square；　George；　I　don't　know　any　more　why　I'm　here　thanthan　you　know。〃

〃Well；　that　beats　me！〃　ejaculated　Thorne；　sitting　back　in　his　chair；　amaze　and　concern　in　his　expression。　　〃What　the　devil's　wrong？　Your　old　man's　got　too　much　money　for　you　ever　to　be　up　against　it。　Dick；　you　couldn't　have　gone　to　the　bad？〃

A　tide　of　emotion　surged　over　Gale。　　How　good　it　was　to　meet　a　friendsome　one　to　whom　to　talk！　　He　had　never　appreciated　his　loneliness　until　that　moment。

〃George；　how　I　ever　drifted　down　here　I　don't　know。　　I　didn't　exactly　quarrel　with　the　governor。　　Butdamn　it；　Dad　hurt　meshamed　me；　and　I　dug　out　for　the　West。　　It　was　this　way。　After　leaving　college　I　tried　to　please　him　by　tackling　one　thing　after　another　that　he　set　me　to　do。　　On　the　square；　I　had　no　head　for　business。　　I　made　a　mess　of　everything。　　The　governor　got　sore。　He　kept　ramming　the　harpoon　into　me　till　I　just　couldn't　stand　it。　What　little　ability　I　possessed　deserted　me　when　I　got　my　back　up；　and　there　you　are。　　Dad　and　I　had　a　rather　uncomfortable　half　hour。　When　I　quitwhen　I　told　him　straight　out　that　I　was　going　West　to　fare　for　myself；　why；　it　wouldn't　have　been　so　tough　if　he　hadn't　laughed　at　me。　　He　called　me　a　rich　man's　sonan　idle；　easy…going　spineless　swell。　　He　said　I　didn't　even　have　character　enough　to　be　out　and　out　bad。　　He　said　I　didn't　have　sense　enough　to　marry　one　of　the　nice　girls　in　my　sister's　crowd。　　He　said　I　couldn't　get　back　home　unless　I　sent　to　him　for　money。　　He　said　he　didn't　believe　I　could　fightcould　really　make　a　fight　for　anything　under　the　sun。　　Ohhehe　shot　it　into　me；　all　right。〃

Dick　dropped　his　head　upon　his　hands；　somewhat　ashamed　of　the　smarting　dimness　in　his　eyes。　　He　had　not　meant　to　say　so　much。　Yet　what　a　relief　to　let　out　that　long…congested　burden！

〃Fight！〃　cried　Thorne；　hotly。　　〃What's　ailing　him？　　Didn't　they　call　you　Biff　Gale　in　college？　　Dick；　you　were　one　of　the　best　men　Stagg　ever　developed。　　I　heard　him　say　sothat　you　were　the　fastest；　one…hundred…and…seventy…five…pound　man　he'd　ever　trained；　the　hardest　to　stop。〃

〃The　governor　didn't　count　football；〃　said　Dick。　　〃He　didn't　mean　that　kind　of　fight。　　When　I　left　home　I　don't　think　I　had　an　idea　what　was　wrong　with　me。　　But；　George；　I　think　I　know　now。　　I　was　a　rich　man's　sonspoiled；　dependent；　absolutely　ignorant　of　the　value　of　money。　　I　haven't　yet　discovered　any　earning　capacity　in　me。　　I　seem　to　be　unable　to　do　anything　with　my　hands。　　That's　the　trouble。　　But　I'm　at　the　end　of　my　tether　now。　　And　I'm　going　to　punch　cattle　or　be　a　miner；　or　do　some　real　stuntlike　joining　the　rebels。〃

〃Aha！　　I　thought　you'd　spring　that　last　one　on　me；〃　declared　Thorne；　wagging　his　head。　　〃Well；　you　just　forget　it。　　Say；　old　boy；　there's　something　doing　in　Mexico。　　The　United　States　in　general　doesn't　realize　it。　　But　across　that　line　there　are　crazy　revolutionists；　ill…paid　soldiers；　guerrilla　leaders；　raiders；　robbers；　outlaws；　bandits　galore；　starving　peons　by　the　thousand；　girls　and　women　in　terror。　　Mexico　is　like　some　of　her　volcanoesready　to　erupt　fire　and　hell！　　Don't　make　the　awful　mistake　of　joining　rebel　forces。　　Americans　are　hated　by　Mexicans　of　the　lower　class　the　fighting　class；　both　rebel　and　federal。　　Half　the　time　these　crazy　Greasers　are　on　one　side；　then　on　the　other。　If　you　didn't　starve　or　get　shot　in　ambush；　or　die　of　thirst；　some　Greaser　would　knife　you　in　the　back　for　you　belt　buckle　or　boots。　　There　are　a　good　many　Americans　with　the　rebels　eastward　toward　Agua；　Prieta　and　Juarez。　　Orozco　is　operating　in　Chihuahua；　and　I　guess　he　has　some　idea　of　warfare。　　But　this　Sonora；　a　mountainous　desert；　the　home　of　the　slave　and　the　Yaqui。　　There's　unorganized　revolt　everywhere。　　The　American　miners　and　ranchers；　those　who　could　get　away；　have　fled　across　into　the　States；　leaving　property。　　Those　who　couldn't　or　wouldn't　come　must　fight　for　their　lives；　are　fighting　now。〃

〃That's　bad；〃　said　Gale。　　〃It's　news　to　me。　　Why　doesn't　the　government　take　action；　do　something？〃

〃Afraid　of　international　complications。　　Don't　want　to　offend　the　Maderists；　or　be　criticized　by　jealous　foreign　nations。　　It's　a　delicate　situation；　Dick。　　The　Washington　officials　know　the　gravity　of　it；　you　can　bet。　　But　the　United　States　in　general　is　in　the　dark；　and　the　armywell；　you　ought　to　hear　the　inside　talk　back　at　San　Antonio。　　We're　patrolling　the　boundary　line。　　We're　making　a　grand　bluff。　　I　could　tell　you　of　a　dozen　instances　where　cavalry　should　have　pursued　raiders　on　the　other　side　of　the　line。　　But　we　won't　do　it。　　The　officers　are　a　grouchy　lot　these　days。　　You　see；　of　course；　what　significance　would　attach　to　United　States　cavalry　going　into　Mexican　territory。　　There　would　simply　be　hell。　　My　own　colonel　is　the　sorest　man　on　the　job。　　We're　all　sore。　　It's　like　sitting　on　a　powder　magazine。　　We　can't　keep　the　rebels　and　raiders　from　crossing　the　line。　　Yet　we　don't　fight。　　My　commission　expires　soon。　　I'll　be　discharged　in　three　months。　　You　can　bet　I'm　glad　for　more　reasons　than　I've　mentioned。〃

Thorne　was　evidently　laboring　under　strong；　suppressed　excitement。　His　face　showed　pale　under　the　tan；　and　his　eyes　gleamed　with　a　dark　fire。　Occasionally　his　delight　at　meeting；　talking　with　Gale；　dominated　the　other　emotions；　but　not　for　long。　　He　had　seated　himself　at　a　table　near　one　of　the　doorlike　windows　leading　into　the　street；　and　every　little　while　he　would　glance　sharply　out。　　Also　he　kept　consulting　his　watch。

These　details　gradually　grew　upon　Gale　as　Thorne　talked。　　〃George；　it　strikes　me　that　you're　upset；〃　said　Dick；　presently。　　〃I　seem　to　remember　you　as　a　cool…headed　fellow　whom　nothing　could　disturb。　Has　the　army　changed　you？〃

Thorne　laughed。　　It　was　a　laugh　with　a　strange；　high　note。　　It　was　recklessit　hinted　of　exaltation。　　He　rose　abruptly；　he　gave　the　water　money　to　go　for　drinks；　he　looked　into　the　saloon；　and　then　into　the　street。　　On　this　side　of　the　house　there　was　a　porch　opening　on　a　plaza　with　trees　and　shrubbery　and　branches。　　Thorne　peered　out　one　window；　then　another。　　His　actions　were　rapid。　　Returning　to　the　table；　he　put　his　hands　upon　it　and　leaned　over　to　look　closely　into　Gale's　face。

〃I'm　away　from　camp　without　leave；〃　he　said。

〃Isn't　that　a　serious　offense？〃　asked　Dick。

〃Serious？　　For　me；　if　I'm　discovered；　it　means　ruin。　　There　are　rebels　in　town。　　Any　moment　we　might　have　trouble。　　I　ought　to　be　ready　for　dutywithin　call。　　If　I'm　discovered　it　means　arrest。　That　means　delaythe　failure　of　my　plansruin。〃

Gale　was　silenced　by　his　friend's　intensity。　　Thorne　bent　over　closer　with　his　dark　eyes　searching　bright。

〃we　were　old　palsonce？〃

〃Surely；〃　replied　Dick。

〃What　would　you　say；　Dick　Gale；　if　I　told　you　that　you're　the　one　man　I'd　rather　have　had　come　along　than　any　other　at　this　crisis　of　my　life？〃

The　earnest　gaze；　the　passionate　voice　with　its　deep　tremor　drew　Dick　upright；　thrilling　and　eager；　conscious　of　strange；　unfamiliar　impetuosity。

〃Thorne；　I　should　say　I　was　glad　to　be　the　fellow；〃　replied　Dick。

Their　hands　locked　for　a　moment；　and　they　sat　down　again　with　heads　close　over　the　table。

〃Listen；〃　began　Thorne；　in　low；　swift　whisper；　〃a　few　days；　a　week　agoit　seems　like　a　year！I　was　of　some　assistance　to　refugees　fleeing　from　Mexico　into　the　States。　　They　were　all　women；　and　one　of　them　was　dressed　as　a　nun。　　Quite　by　accident　I　saw　her　face。　It　was　that　of　a　beautiful　girl。　　I　observed　she　kept　aloof　from　the　others。　　I　suspected　a　disguise；　and；　when　opportunity　afforded；　spoke　to　her；　offered　my　services。　　She　replied　to　my　poor　efforts　at　Spanish　in　fluent　English。　　She　had　fled　in　terror　from　her　home；　some　place　down　in　Sinaloa。　　Rebels　are　active　there。　　Her　father　was　captured　and　held　for　ransom。　　When　the　ransom　was　paid　the　rebels　killed　him。。　the　leader　of　these　rebels　was　a　bandit　named　Rojas。　　Long　before　the　revolution　began　he　had　been　feared　by　people　of　classloved　by　the　peons。　　Bandits　are　worshiped　by　the　peons。　All　of　the　famous　bandits　have　robbed　the　rich　and　given　to　the　poor。　Rojas　saw　the　daughter；　made　off　with　her。　　But　she　contrived　to　bribe　her　guards；　and　escaped　almost　immediately　before　any　harm　befell　her。　　She　hid　among　friends。　　Rojas　nearly　tore　down　the　town　in　his　efforts　to　find　her。　　Then　she　disguised　herself；　and　traveled　by　horseback；　stage；　and　train　to　Casita。

〃Her　story　fascinated　me；　and　that　one　fleeting　glimpse　I　had　of　her　face　I　couldn't　forget。　　She　had　no　friends　here；　no　money。　She　knew　Rojas　was　trailing　her。　　This　talk　I　had　with　her　was　at　the　railroad　station；　where　all　was　bustle　and　confusion。　　No　one　noticed　us；　so　I　thought。　　I　advised　her　to　remove　the　disguise　of　a　nun　before　she　left　the　waiting…room。　　And　I　got　a　boy　to　guide　her。　　But　he　fetched　her　to　his　house。　　I　had　promised　to　come　in　the　evening　to　talk　over　the　situation　with　her。

〃I　found　her；　Dick；　and　when　I　saw　herI　went　stark；　staring；　raving　mad　over　her。　　She　is　the　most　beautiful；　wonderful　girl　I　ever　saw。　Her　name　is　Mercedes　Castaneda；　and　she　belongs　to　one　of　the　old　wealthy　Spanish　families。　　She　has　lived　abroad　and　in　Havana。　　She　speaks　French　as　well　as　English。　　She　isbut　I　must　be　brief。

〃Dick；　think；　thin