desert gold-第62节

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Belding　spoke　a　few　words；　and；　remembering　an　impression　he　had　wished　to　make　upon　Mr。　Gale；　he　made　them　strong。　　But　now　it　was　with　grim　humor　that　he　spoke。

〃Better　stop　that　boy；〃　he　concluded；　looking　at　Mr。　Gale。　　〃He'll　do　some　mischief。　　He's　wilder'n　hell。〃

〃Stop　him？　　Why；　assuredly；〃　replied　Mr。　Gale；　rising　with　nervous　haste。

Just　then　Dick　came　out　of　his　door。　　Belding　eyed　him　keenly。　　The　only　change　he　could　see　was　that　Dick　had　put　on　a　hat　and　a　pair　of　heavy　gloves。

〃Richard；　where　are　you　going？〃　asked　his　father。

〃I'm　going　over　here　to　see　a　man。〃

〃No。　　It　is　my　wish　that　you　remain。　　I　forbid　you　to　go；〃　said　Mr。　Gale；　with　a　hand　on　his　son's　shoulder。

Dick　put　Mr。　Gale　aside　gently；　respectfully；　yet　forcibly。　　The　old　man　gasped。

〃Dad；　I　haven't　gotten　over　my　bad　habit　of　disobeying　you。　　I'm　sorry。　　Don't　interfere　with　me　now。　　And　don't　follow　me。　　You　might　see　something　unpleasant。〃

〃But　my　son！　　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃I'm　going　to　beat　a　dog。〃

Mr。　Gale　looked　helplessly　from　this　strangely　calm　and　cold　son　to　the　restless　Belding。　　Then　Dick　strode　off　the　porch。

〃Hold　on！〃　　Ladd's　voice　would　have　stopped　almost　any　man。　　〃Dick；　you　wasn't　agoin'　without　me？〃

〃Yes；　I　was。　　But　I'm　thoughtless　just　now；　Laddy。〃

〃Shore　you　was。　　Wait　a　minute；　Dick。　　I'm　a　sick　man；　but　at　that　nobody　can　pull　any　stunts　round　here　without　me。〃

He　hobbled　along　the　porch　and　went　into　his　room。　　Jim　Lash　knocked　the　ashes　out　of　his　pipe；　and；　humming　his　dance　tune；　he　followed　Ladd。　　In　a　moment　the　rangers　appeared；　and　both　were　packing　guns。

Not　a　little　of　Belding's　grim　excitement　came　from　observation　of　Mr。　Gale。　　At　sight　of　the　rangers　with　their　guns　the　old　man　turned　white　and　began　to　tremble。

〃Better　stay　behind；〃　whispered　Belding。　　〃Dick's　going　to　beat　that　two…legged　dog；　and　the　rangers　get　excited　when　they're　packing　guns。〃

〃I　will　not　stay　behind；〃　replied　Mr。　Gale；　stoutly。　　〃I'll　see　this　affair　through。　　Belding；　I've　guessed　it。　　Richard　is　going　to　fight　the　Chases；　those　robbers　who　have　ruined　you。〃

〃Well；　I　can't　guarantee　any　fight　on　their　side；〃　returned　Belding；　dryly。　　〃But　maybe　there'll　be　Greasers　with　a　gun　or　two。〃

Belding　stalked　off　to　catch　up　with　Dick；　and　Mr。　Gale　came　trudging　behind　with　Thorne。

〃Where　will　we　find　these　Chases？〃　asked　Dick　of　Belding。

〃They've　got　a　place　down　the　road　adjoining　the　inn。　　They　call　it　their　club。　　At　this　hour　Radford　will　be　there　sure。　I　don't　know　about　the　old　man。　　But　his　office　is　now　just　across　the　way。〃

They　passed　several　houses；　turned　a　corner　into　the　main　street；　and　stopped　at　a　wide；　low　adobe　structure。　　A　number　of　saddled　horses　stood　haltered　to　posts。　　Mexicans　lolled　around　the　wide　doorway。

〃There's　Ben　Chase　now　over　on　the　corner；〃　said　Belding　to　Dick。　〃See；　the　tall　man　with　the　white　hair；　and　leather　band　on　his　hat。　　He　sees　us。　　He　knows　there's　something　up。　　He's　got　men　with　him。　　They'll　come　over。　　We're　after　the　young　buck；　and　sure　he'll　be　in　here。〃

They　entered。　　The　place　was　a　hall；　and　needed　only　a　bar　to　make　it　a　saloon。　　There　were　two　rickety　pool　tables。　　Evidently　Chase　had　fitted　up　this　amusement　room　for　his　laborers　as　well　as　for　the　use　of　his　engineers　and　assistants；　for　the　crowd　contained　both　Mexicans　and　Americans。　　A　large　table　near　a　window　was　surrounded　by　a　noisy；　smoking；　drinking　circle　of　card…players。

〃Point　out　this　Radford　Chase　to　me；〃　said　Gale。

〃There！　　The　big　fellow　with　the　red　face。　　His　eyes　stick　out　a　little。　　See！　　He's　dropped　his　cards　and　his　face　isn't　red　any　more。〃

Dick　strode　across　the　room。

Belding　grasped　Mr。　Gale　and　whispered　hoarsely：　〃Don't　miss　anything。　It　'll　be　great。　　Watch　Dick　and　watch　Laddy！　　If　there's　any　gun　play；　dodge　behind　me。〃

Belding　smiled　with　a　grim　pleasure　as　he　saw　Mr。　Gales'　face　turn　white。

Dick　halted　beside　the　table。　　His　heavy　boot　shot　up；　and　with　a　crash　the　table　split；　and　glasses；　cards；　chips　flew　everywhere。　As　they　rattled　down　and　the　chairs　of　the　dumfounded　players　began　to　slide　Dick　called　out：　〃My　name　is　Gale。　　I'm　looking　for　Mr。　Radford　Chase。〃

A　tall；　heavy…shouldered　fellow　rose；　boldly　enough；　even　swaggeringly；　and　glowered　at　Gale。

〃I'm　Radford　Chase；〃　he　said。　　His　voice　betrayed　the　boldness　of　his　action。



It　was　over　in　a　few　moments。　　The　tables　and　chairs　were　tumbled　into　a　heap；　one　of　the　pool　tables　had　been　shoved　aside；　a　lamp　lay　shattered；　with　oil　running　dark　upon　the　floor。　　Ladd　leaned　against　a　post　with　a　smoking　gun　in　his　hand。　　A　Mexican　crouched　close　to　the　wall　moaning　over　a　broken　arm。　　In　the　far　corner　upheld　by　comrades　another　wounded　Mexican　cried　out　in　pain。　　These　two　had　attempted　to　draw　weapons　upon　Gale；　and　Ladd　had　crippled　them。

In　the　center　of　the　room　lay　Radford　Chase；　a　limp；　torn；　hulking；　bloody　figure。　　He　was　not　seriously　injured。　　But　he　was　helpless；　a　miserable　beaten　wretch；　who　knew　his　condition　and　felt　the　eyes　upon　him。　　He　sobbed　and　moaned　and　howled。　　But　no　one　offered　to　help　him　to　his　feet。

Backed　against　the　door　of　the　hall　stood　Ben　Chase；　for　once　stripped　of　all　authority　and　confidence　and　courage。　　Gale　confronted　him；　and　now　Gale's　mien　was　in　striking　contrast　to　the　coolness　with　which　he　had　entered　the　place。　　Though　sweat　dripped　from　his　face；　it　was　as　white　as　chalk。　　Like　dark　flames　his　eyes　seemed　to　leap　and　dance　and　burn。　　His　lean　jaw　hung　down　and　quivered　with　passion。　　He　shook　a　huge　gloved　fist　in　Chase's　face。

〃Your　gray　hairs　save　you　this　time。　　But　keep　out　of　my　way！　　And　when　that　son　of　yours　comes　to；　tell　him　every　time　I　meet　him　I'll　add　some　more　to　what　he　got　to…day！〃



XIX

The　Secret　of　Forlorn　River



In　the　early　morning　Gale；　seeking　solitude　where　he　could　brood　over　his　trouble；　wandered　alone。　　It　was　not　easy　for　him　to　elude　the　Yaqui；　and　just　at　the　moment　when　he　had　cast　himself　down　in　a　secluded　shady　corner　the　Indian　appeared；　noiseless；　shadowy；　mysterious　as　always。

〃Malo；〃　he　said；　in　his　deep　voice。

〃Yes；　Yaqui；　it's　badvery　bad；〃　replied　Gale。

The　Indian　had　been　told　of　the　losses　sustained　by　Belding　and　his　rangers。

〃Gome！〃　said　Yaqui；　with　an　impressive　gesture　toward　the　lofty　lilac…colored　steps　of　No　Name　Mountains。

He　seemed　the　same　as　usual；　but　a　glance　on　Gale's　part；　a　moment's　attention；　made　him　conscious　of　the　old　strange　force　in　the　Yaqui。　〃Why　does　my　brother　want　me　to　climb　the　nameless　mountains　with　him？〃　asked　Gale。

〃Lluvia　d'oro；〃　replied　Yaqui；　and　he　made　motions　that　Gale　found　difficult　of　interpretation。

〃Shower　of　Gold；〃　translated　Gale。　　That　was　the　Yaqui's　name　for　Nell。　　What　did　he　mean　by　using　it　in　connection　with　a　climb　into　the　mountains？　　Were　his　motions　intended　to　convey　an　idea　of　a　shower　of　golden　blossoms　from　that　rare　and　beautiful　tree；　or　a　golden　rain？　　Gale's　listlessness　vanished　in　a　flash　of　thought。　The　Yaqui　meant　gold。　　Gold！　　He　meant　he　could　retrieve　the　fallen　fortunes　of　the　white　brother　who　had　saved　his　life　that　evil　day　at　the　Papago　Well。　　Gale　thrilled　as　he　gazed　piercingly　into　the　wonderful　eyes　of　this　Indian。　　Would　Yaqui　never　consider　his　debt　paid？

〃Gome？〃　repeat　the　Indian；　pointing　with　the　singular　directness　that　always　made　this　action　remarkable　in　him。

〃Yes；　Yaqui。〃

Gale　ran　to　his　room；　put　on　hobnailed　boots；　filled　a　canteen；　and　hurried　back　to　the　corral。　　Yaqui　awaited　him。　　The　Indian　carried　a　coiled　lasso　and　a　short　stout　stick。　　Without　a　word　he　led　the　way　down　the　lane；　turned　up　the　river　toward　the　mountains。　　None　of　Belding's　household　saw　their　departure。

What　had　once　been　only　a　narrow　mesquite…bordered　trail　was　now　a　well…trodden　road。　　A　deep　irrigation　ditch；　full　of　flowing　muddy　water；　ran　parallel　with　the　road。　　Gale　had　been　curious　about　the　operations　of　the　Chases；　but　bitterness　he　could　not　help　had　kept　him　from　going　out　to　see　the　work。　　He　was　not　surprised　to　find　that　the　engineers　who　had　contructed　the　ditches　and　dam　had　anticipated　him　in　every　particular。　　The　dammed…up　gulch　made　a　magnificent　reservoir；　and　Gale　could　not　look　upon　the　long　narrow　lake　without　a　feeling　of　gladness。　　The　dreaded　ano　seco　of　the　Mexicans　might　come　again　and　would　come；　but　never　to　the　inhabitants　of　Forlorn　River。　　That　stone…walled；　stone…floored　gulch　would　never　leak；　and　already　it　contained　water　enough　to　irrigate　the　whole　Altar　Valley　for　two　dry　seasons。

Yaqui　led　swiftly　along　the　lake　to　the　upper　end；　where　the　stream　roared　down　over　unscalable　walls。　　This　point　was　the　farthest　Gale　had　ever　penetrated　into　the　rough　foothills；　and　he　had　Belding's　word　for　it　that　no　white　man　had　ever　climbed　No　Name　Mountains　from　the　west。

But　a　white　man　was　not　an　Indian。　　The　former　might　have　stolen　the　range　and　valley　and　mountain；　even　the　desert；　but　his　possessions　would　ever　remain　mysteries。　　Gale　had　scarcely　faced　the　great　gray　ponderous　wall　of　cliff　before　the　old　strange　interest　in　the　Yaqui　seized　him　again。　　It　recalled　the　tie　that　existed