desert gold-第8节

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She　uttered　an　inarticulate　cry；　the　poignant　terror　of　which　shook　Gale's　nerve；　and　swayed　as　if　she　would　faint。　　Thorne　caught　her；　and　in　husky　voice　importuned　her　to　bear　up。

〃My　darling！　　For　God's　sake　don't　faintdon't　go　to　pieces！　We'd　be　lost！　　We've　got　a　chance。　　We'll　think　of　something。　　Be　strong！　　Fight！〃

It　was　plain　to　Gale　that　Thorne　was　distracted。　　He　scarcely　knew　what　he　was　saying。　　Please　and　shaking；　he　clasped　Mercedes　to　him。　Her　terror　had　struck　him　helpless。　　It　was　so　intenseit　was　so　full　of　horrible　certainty　of　what　fate　awaited　her。

She　cried　out　in　Spanish；　beseeching　him；　and　as　he　shook　his　head；　she　changed　to　English：

〃Senor；　my　lover；　I　will　be　strongI　will　fightI　will　obey。　But　swear　by　my　Virgin；　if　need　be　to　save　me　from　Rojasyou　will　kill　me！〃

〃Mercedes！　　Yes；　I'll　swear；〃　he　replied　hoarsely。　　〃I　knowI'd　rather　have　you　dead　than　But　don't　give　up。　　Rojas　can't　be　sure　of　you；　or　he　wouldn't　wait。　　He's　in　there。　　He's　got　his　men　thereall　around　us。　　But　he　hesitates。　　A　beast　like　Rojas　doesn't　stand　idle　for　nothing。　　I　tell　you　we've　a　chance。　　Dick；　here；　will　think　of　something。　　We'll　slip　away。　　Then　he'll　take　you　somewhere。　　Onlyspeak　to　himshow　him　you　won't　weaken。　Mercedes；　this　is　more　than　love　and　happiness　for　us。　　It's　life　or　death。〃

She　became　quiet；　and　slowly　recovered　control　of　herself。

Suddenly　she　wheeled　to　face　Gale　with　proud　dark　eyes；　tragic　sweetness　of　appeal；　and　exquisite　grace。

〃Senor；　you　are　an　American。　　You　cannot　know　the　Spanish　bloodthe　peon　bandit's　hate　and　cruelty。　　I　wish　to　die　before　Rojas's　hand　touches　me。　　If　he　takes　me　alive；　then　the　hour；　the　little　day　that　my　life　lasts　afterward　will　be　torturedtorture　of　hell。　If　I　live　two　days　his　brutal　men　will　have　me。　　If　I　live　three；　the　dogs　of　his　camp。。。Senor；　have　you　a　sister　whom　you　love？　Help　Senor　Thorne　to　save　me。　　He　is　a　soldier。　　He　is　bound。　He　must　not　betray　his　honor；　his　duty；　for　me。。。。Ah；　you　two　splendid　Americansso　big；　so　strong；　so　fierce！　　What　is　that　little　black　half…breed　slave　Rojas　to　such　men？　　Rojas　is　a　coward。　Now；　let　me　waste　no　more　precious　time。　　I　am　ready。　　I　will　be　brave。〃

She　came　close　to　Gale；　holding　out　her　white　hands；　a　woman　all　fire　and　soul　and　passion。　　to　Gale　she　was　wonderful。　　His　heart　leaped。　　As　he　bent　over　her　hands　and　kissed　them　he　seemed　to　feel　himself　renewed；　remade。

〃Senorita；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　happy　to　be　your　servant。　　I　can　conceive　of　no　greater　pleasure　than　giving　the　service　you　require。〃

〃And　what　is　that？〃　inquired　Thorne；　hurriedly。

〃That　of　incapacitating　Senor　Rojas　for　to…night；　and　perhaps　several　nights　to　come；〃　replied　Gale。

〃Dick；　what　will　you　do？〃　asked　Thorne；　now　in　alarm。

〃I'll　make　a　row　in　that　saloon；〃　returned　Dick；　bluntly。　　〃I'll　start　something。　　I'll　rush　Rojas　and　his　crowd。　　I'll〃

〃Lord；　no；　you　mustn't；　Dickyou'll　be　knifed！〃　cried　Thorne。　He　was　in　distress；　yet　his　eyes　were　shining。

〃I'll　take　a　chance。　　Maybe　I　can　surprise　that　slow　Greaser　bunch　and　get　away　before　they　know　what's　happened。。。。You　be　ready　watching　at　the　window。　　When　the　row　starts　those　fellows　out　there　in　the　plaza　will　run　into　the　saloon。　　Then　you　slip　out；　go　straight　through　the　plaza　down　the　street。　　It's　a　dark　street；　I　remember。　　I'll　catch　up　with　you　before　you　get　far。〃

Thorne　gasped；　but　did　not　say　a　word。　　Mercedes　leaned　against　him；　her　white　hands　now　at　her　breast；　her　great　eyes　watching　Gale　as　he　went　out。

In　the　corridor　Gale　stopped　long　enough　to　pull　on　a　pair　of　heavy　gloves；　to　muss　his　hair；　and　disarrange　his　collar。　　Then　he　stepped　into　the　restaurant；　went　through；　and　halted　in　the　door　leading　into　the　saloon。　　His　five　feet　eleven　inches　and　one　hundred　and　eighty　pounds　were　more　noticeable　there；　and　it　was　part　of　his　plan　to　attract　attention　to　himself。　　No　one；　however；　appeared　to　notice　him。　　The　pool…players　were　noisily　intent　on　their　game；　the　same　crowd　of　motley…robed　Mexicans　hung　over　the　reeking　bar。　Gale's　roving　glance　soon　fixed　upon　the　man　he　took　to　be　Rojas。　He　recognized　the　huge；　high…peaked；　black　sombrero　with　its　ornamented　band。　　The　Mexican's　face　was　turned　aside。　　He　was　in　earnest；　excited　colloquy　with　a　dozen　or　more　comrades；　most　of　whom　were　sitting　round　a　table。　　They　were　listening；　talking；　drinking。　　The　fact　that　they　wore　cartridge　belts　crossed　over　their　breasts　satisfied　that　these　were　the　rebels。　　He　had　noted　the　belts　of　the　Mexicans　outside；　who　were　apparently　guards。　　A　waiter　brought　more　drinks　to　this　group　at　the　table；　and　this　caused　the　leader　to　turn　so　Gale　could　see　his　face。　　It　was　indeed　the　sinister；　sneering　face　of　the　bandit　Rojas。　　Gale　gazed　at　the　man　with　curiosity。　　He　was　under　medium　height；　and　striking　in　appearance　only　because　of　his　dandified　dress　and　evil　visage。　He　wore　a　lace　scarf；　a　tight；　bright…buttoned　jacket；　a　buckskin　vest　embroidered　in　red；　a　sash　and　belt　joined　by　an　enormous　silver　clasp。　　Gale　saw　again　the　pearl…handled　gun　swinging　at　the　bandit's　hip。　　Jewels　flashed　in　his　scarf。　　There　were　gold　rings　in　his　ears　and　diamonds　on　his　fingers。

Gale　became　conscious　of　an　inward　fire　that　threatened　to　overrun　his　coolness。　　Other　emotions　harried　his　self…control。　　It　seemed　as　if　sight　of　the　man　liberated　or　created　a　devil　in　Gale。　　And　at　the　bottom　of　his　feelings　there　seemed　to　be　a　wonder　at　himself；　a　strange　satisfaction　for　the　something　that　had　come　to　him。

He　stepped　out　of　the　doorway；　down　the　couple　of　steps　to　the　floor　of　the　saloon；　and　he　staggered　a　little；　simulating　drunkenness。　He　fell　over　the　pool　tables；　jostled　Mexicans　at　the　bar；　laughed　like　a　maudlin　fool；　and；　with　his　hat　slouched　down；　crowded　here　and　there。　　Presently　his　eye　caught　sight　of　the　group　of　cowboys　whom　he　had　before　noticed　with　such　interest。

They　were　still　in　a　corner　somewhat　isolated。　　With　fertile　mind　working；　Gale　lurched　over　to　them。　　He　remembered　his　many　unsuccessful　attempts　to　get　acquainted　with　cowboys。　　If　he　were　to　get　any　help　from　these　silent　aloof　rangers　it　must　be　by　striking　fire　from　them　in　one　swift　stroke。　　Planting　himself　squarely　before　the　two　tall　cowboys　who　were　standing；　he　looked　straight　into　their　lean；　bronzed　faces。　　He　spared　a　full　moment　for　that　keen　cool　gaze　before　he　spoke。

〃I'm　not　drunk。　　I'm　throwing　a　bluff；　and　I　mean　to　start　a　rough　house。　　I'm　going　to　rush　that　damned　bandit　Rojas。　　It's　to　save　a　girlto　give　her　lover；　who　is　my　friend；　a　chance　to　escape　with　her。　When　I　start　a　row　my　friend　will　try　to　slip　out　with　her。　　Every　door　and　window　is　watched。　　I've　got　to　raise　hell　to　draw　the　guards　in。。。。　Well；　you're　my　countrymen。　　We're　in　Mexico。　　A　beautiful　girl's　honor　and　life　are　at　stake。　　Now；　gentlemen；　watch　me！〃

One　cowboy's　eyes　narrowed；　blinking　a　little；　and　his　lean　jaw　dropped；　the　other's　hard　face　rippled　with　a　fleeting　smile。

Gale　backed　away；　and　his　pulse　leaped　when　he　saw　the　two　cowboys；　as　if　with　one　purpose；　slowly　stride　after　him。　　Then　Gale　swerved；　staggering　along；　brushed　against　the　tables；　kicked　over　the　empty　chairs。　　He　passed　Rojas　and　his　gang；　and　out　of　the　tail　of　his　eye　saw　that　the　bandit　was　watching　him；　waving　his　hands　and　talking　fiercely。　　The　hum　of　the　many　voices　grew　louder；　and　when　Dick　lurched　against　a　table；　overturning　it　and　spilling　glasses　into　the　laps　of　several　Mexicans；　there　arose　a　shrill　cry。　He　had　succeeded　in　attracting　attention；　almost　every　face　turned　his　way。　　One　of　the　insulted　men；　a　little　tawny　fellow；　leaped　up　to　confront　Gale；　and　in　a　frenzy　screamed　a　volley　of　Spanish；　of　which　Gale　distinguished　〃Gringo！〃　　The　Mexican　stamped　and　made　a　threatening　move　with　his　right　hand。　　Dick　swung　his　leg　and　with　a　swift　side　kick　knocked　the　fellows　feet　from　under　him；　whirling　him　down　with　a　thud。

The　action　was　performed　so　suddenly；　so　adroitly；　it　made　the　Mexican　such　a　weakling；　so　like　a　tumbled　tenpin；　that　the　shrill　jabbering　hushed。　　Gale　knew　this　to　be　the　significant　moment。

Wheeling；　he　rushed　at　Rojas。　　It　was　his　old　line…breaking　plunge。　Neither　Rojas　nor　his　men　had　time　to　move。　　The　black…skinned　bandit's　face　turned　a　dirty　white；　his　jaw　dropped；　he　would　have　shrieked　if　Gale　had　not　hit　him。　　The　blow　swept　him　backward　against　his　men。　　Then　Gale's　heavy　body；　swiftly　following　with　the　momentum　of　that　rush；　struck　the　little　group　of　rebels。　　They　went　down　with　table　and　chairs　in　a　sliding　crash。

Gale　carried　by　his　plunge；　went　with　them。　　Like　a　cat　he　landed　on　top。　　As　he　rose　his　powerful　hands　fastened　on　Rojas。　　He　jerked　the　little　bandit　off　the　tangled　pile　of　struggling；　yelling　men；　and；　swinging　him　with　terrific　force；　let　go　his　hold。　　Rojas　slid　along　the　floor；　knocking　over　tables　and　chairs。　Gale　bounded　back；　dragged　Rojas　up；　handling　him　as　if　he　were　a　limp　sack。

A　shot　rang　out　above　the　yells。　　Gale　heard　the　jingle　of　breaking　glass。　　The　room　darkened　perceptibly。　　He　flashed　a　glance　backward。　The　two　cowboys　were　between　him　and　the　crowd　of　frantic　rebels。　One　cowboy　held　t