rowdy of the cross l-第3节

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have　come　any　farther　〃

〃You　forgot　the　blanket；〃　Rowdy　reminded　wickedly。　〃I　think　a　lot　of　that
Navajo。〃

〃You　insisted　upon　my　taking　it；〃　she　retorted；　and　took　refuge　in　silence。

For　a　long　hour　they　plodded　blindly。　Rowdy　beat　his　hands　often　about　his
body　to　start　the　blood；　and　meditated　yearnigly　upon　hot　coffee　and　the
things　he　liked　best　to　eat。　Also；　a　good　long　pull　at　a　flask　wouldn't　be
had；　either；　he　thought。　And　he　hoped　this　little　schoolma'am　knew　where　she
was　goingtruth　to　tell；　he　doubted　it。

After　a　while；　it　seemed　that　Miss　Conroy　doubted　it　also。　She　took　to
leaning　forward　and　straining　her　eyes　to　see　through　the　gray　wall　before。

〃There　should　be　a　gate　here；〃　she　said　dubiously；　at　last。

〃It　seems　to　me；〃　Rowdy　ventured　mildly；　〃if　there　were　a　gate；　it　would
have　some　kind　of　a　fence　hitched　to　it；　wouldn't　it？〃

Miss　Conroy　was　in　no　mood　for　facetiousness；　and　refused　to　answer　his
question。　〃I　surely　can't　have　made　a　mistake；〃　she　observed　uneasily。

〃It　would　be　a　wonder　if　you　didn't；　such　a　night　as　this；〃　he　consoled。　〃I
wouldn't　bank　on　traveling　straight　myself；　even　if　I　knew　the
countrywhich　I　don't。　And　I've　been　in　more　blizzards　than　I'm　years　old。〃

〃Rodway's　place　can't　be　far　away；〃　she　said；　brightening。　〃It　may　be
farther　to　the　east；　shall　we　try　that　wayif　you　know　which　is　east？〃

〃Sure；　we'll　try。　It's　all　we　can　do。　My　packhorse　is　about　all　in；　from　the
way　he　hangs　back；　if　we　don't　strike　something　pretty　soon　I'll　have　to
turn　him　loose。〃

〃Oh；　don't　do　that；〃　she　begged。　〃It　would　be　too　cruel。　We're　sure　to　reach
Rodway's　very　soon。〃

More　plodding　through　drifts　high　and　drifts　low；　more　leaning　from　saddles
to　search　anxiously　for　trace　of　something　besides　snow　and　wind　and　biting
cold。　Then；　far　to　the　right；　a　yellow　eye　glowed　briefly　when　the　storm
paused　to　take　breath。　Miss　Conroy　gave　a　glad　little　cry　and　turned　Badger
sharply。

〃Did　you　see？　It　was　the　light　from　a　window。　We　were　going　the　wrong　way。
I'm　sure　that　is　Rodway's。〃

Rowdy　thanked　the　Lord　and　followed　her。　They　came　up　against　a　fence；　found
a　gate；　and　passed　through。　While　they　hurried　toward　it；　the　light　winked
welcome；　as　they　drew　near；　some　one　stirred　the　fire　and　sent　sparks　and
rose…hued　smoke　rushing　up　into　the　smother　of　snow。　Rowdy　watched　them
wistfully；　and　wondered　if　there　would　be　supper；　and　strong；　hot　coffee。　He
lifted　Miss　Conroy　out　of　the　saddle；　carried　her　two　long　strides；　and
deposited　her　upon　the　door…step；　rapped　imperatively；　and　when　a　voice
replied；　lifted　the　latch　and　pushed　her　in　before　him。

For　a　minute　they　stood　blinking；　just　within　the　door。　The　change　from
numbing　cold　and　darkness　to　the　light　of　the　overheated　room　was
stupefying。

Then　Miss　Conroy　went　over　and　held　her　little；　gloved　hands　to　the　heat　of
the　stove；　but　she　did　not　take　the　chair　which　some　one　pushed　toward　her。
She　stood；　the　blanket　shrouding　her　face　and　her　slim　young　figure；　and
looked　about　her　curiously。　It　was　not　Rodway's　house；　after　all。　She
thought　she　knew　what　place　it　wasthe　shack　where　Rodway's　hay…balers
bached。

From　the　first；　Rowdy　did　not　like　the　look　of　thingsthough　for　himself　it
did　not　matter；　he　was　used　to　such　scenes。　It　was　the　presence　of　the　girl
which　made　him　uncomfortable。　He　unbuttoned　his　coat　that　the　warmth　might
reach　his　chilled　body；　and　frowned。

Four　men　sat　around　a　small；　dirty　table；　evidently　the　arrivals　had
interrupted　an　exciting　game　of　seven…up。　A　glance　told　Rowdy；　even　if　his
nose　had　not；　that　the　four　round；　ribbed　bottles　had　not　been　nearly
emptied　without　effect。

〃Have　one　on　the　house；〃　the　man　nearest　him　cried；　and　shoved　a　bottle
toward　him。

Involuntarily　Rowdy　reached　for　it。　Now　that　he　was　inside；　he　realized　all
at　once　how　weary　he　was；　and　cold　and　hungry。　Each　abused　muscle　and　nerve
seemed　to　have　a　distinct　grievance　against　him。　His　fingers　closed　around
the　bottle　before　he　remembered　and　dropped　it。　He　looked　up；　hoping　Miss
Conroy　had　not　observed　the　action；　met　her　wide；　questioning　eyes；　and　the
blood　flew　guiltily　to　his　cheeks。

〃Thanks；　boysnot　any　for　me；〃　he　said；　and　apologized　to　Miss　Conroy　with
his　eyes。

The　man　rose　and　confronted　him　unsteadily。　〃Dat's　a　hell　off　a　way！　You　too
proud　for　drink　weeth　us？　You　drink；　now！　By　Gar；　I　make　you　drink！〃

Rowdy's　eyelids　drooped；　which　was　a　bad　sign　for　those　who　knew　him。
〃You're　forgetting　there's　a　lady　present；〃　he　reminded　warningly。

The　man　turned　a　brief；　contemptuous　glance　toward　the　stove。　〃You　got　the
damn'　queer　way　to　talk。　I　don't　call　no　squaw　no　lady。　You　drink　queeck；
now！〃

〃Aw；　shut　up；　Frenchy；〃　the　man　at　his　elbow　abjured　him。　〃He　don't　have　to
drink　if　he　don't　want　to。〃

〃You　keep　the　face　close；〃　the　other　retorted　majestically；　and　cursed　loud
and　long　and　incoherently。

Rowdy　drew　back　his　arm；　with　a　fist　that　meant　trouble　for　somebody；　but
there　were　others　before　him　who　pinned　the　importunate　host　to　the　table；
where　he　squirmed　unavailingly。

Rowdy　buttoned　up　his　coat　the　while　he　eyed　the　group　disgustedly。　〃I　guess
we'll　drift；〃　he　remarked。　〃You　don't　look　good　to　me；　and　that's　no　dream。〃

〃Aw；　stay　and　warm　up；〃　the　fourth　man　expostulated。　〃Yuh　don't　need　t'　mind
Le　Febre；　he's　drunk。'

But　Rowdy　opened　the　door　decisively；　and　Miss　Conroy；　her　cheeks　like　two
storm…buffeted　poppies；　followed　him　out　with　dignityalbeit　trailing　a
yard　of　red…and…yellow　Navajo　blanket　behind　her。　Rowdy　lifted　her　into　the
saddle；　tucked　her　feet　carefully　under　the　blanket；　and　said　never　a　word。

〃Mr。　Vaughan；〃　she　began　hesitatingly；　〃this　is　too　bad；　you　need　not　have
left。　II　wasn't　afraid。〃

〃I　know　you　weren't；〃　conceded　Rowdy。　〃But　it　was　a　hard　formationfor　a
woman。　Are　there　any　more　places　on　this　flat　marked　Unavailable？〃

Miss　Conroy　replied　misanthropically　that　if　there　were　they　would　be　sure
to　find　them。

They　took　up　their　weary　wanderings　again；　while　the　yellow　eye　of　the
window　winked　after　them。　They　missed　Rodway's　by　a　scant　hundred　yards；　and
didn't　know　it；　because　the　side　of　the　house　next　them　had　no　lighted
windows。　They　traveled　in　a　wide；　half　circle；　and　thought　that　they　were
leaving　a　straight　trail　behind　them。　More　than　once　Rowdy　was　urged　by　his
aching　arm　to　drop　the　lead…rope　and　leave　Chub　to　shift　by　himself；　but
habit　was　strong　and　his　heart　was　soft。　Then　he　felt　an　odd　twitching　at
the　lead…rope；　as　if　Chub　were　minded　to　rebel　against　their　leadership。
Rowdy　yanked　him　into　remembrance　of　his　duty；　and　wondered。　Bill　Brown's
question　came　insistently　to　mind；　he　wondered　the　more。

Two　minutes　and　the　lead…rope　was　sawing　against　the　small　of　his　back
again。　Rowdy　turned　Dixie's　head；　and　spoke　for　the　first　time　in　an　hour。

〃My　packhorse　seems　to　have　an　idea　about　where　he　wants　to　go；〃　he　said。　〃I
guess　we　might　as　well　follow　him　as　anybody；　he　ain't　often　taken　with　a
rush　of　brains　to　the　head。　And　we　can't　be　any　worse　lost　than　we　are　now；
can　we？〃

Miss　Conroy　said　no　dispiritedly；　and　they　swung　about　and　followed　Chub's
leadership　apathetically。　It　took　Chub　just　five　minutes　to　demonstrate　that
he　knew　what　he　was　about。　When　he　stopped；　it　was　with　his　nose　against　a
corral　gate；　not　content　with　that；　he　whinnied；　and　a　new；　exultant　note
was　in　the　sound。　A　deep…voiced　dog　bayed　loudly；　and　a　shrill　yelp　cut　in
and　clamored　for　recognition。

Miss　Conroy　gasped。　〃It's　Lion　and　Skeesicks。　We're　at　Rodway's；　Mr。
Vaughan。〃

Rowdy；　for　the　second　time；　thanked　the　Lord。　But　when　he　was　stripping　the
pack　off　Chub's　back；　ten　minutes　later；　he　was　thinking　many　things　he
would　not　have　cared　to　say　aloud。　It　might　be　all　right；　but　it　sure　was
strange；　he　told　himself；　that　Chub　belonged　here　at　Rodway's　when　Harry
Conroy　claimed　that　he　was　an　Oregon　horse。　Rowdy　had　thought　his　account
against　Harry　Conroy　long　enough；　but　it　looked　now　as　though　another　item
must　be　added　to　the　list。　He　went　in　and　ate　his　supper　thoughtfully；　and
when　he　got　into　bed　he　did　not　fall　asleep　within　two　minutes；　as　he　might
be　expected　to　do。　His　last　conscious　thought　was　not　of　stolen　horses；
however。　It　was：　〃And　she's　Harry　Conroy's　sister！　Now；　what　do　you　think　of
that？　But　all　the　same；　she's　sure　a　nice　little　schoolma'am。〃



CHAPTER　3

Rowdy　Hires　a　New　Boss。

Next　morning；　after　breakfast；　Mr。　Rodway　followed　Vaughan　out　to　the
stable；　and　repeated　Bill　Brown's　question。

〃I'd　like　to　know　where　yuh　got　this　horse；〃　he　began；　with　an　apologetic
sort　of　determination　in　his　tone。　〃He　happens　to　belong　to　me。　He　was　run
off　with　a　bunch　three　years　ago；　and　this　is　the　first　trace　anybody　has
ever　got　of　'em。　I　see　the　brand's　been　worked。　It　was　a　Roman　fourthat's
my　brand；　now　it　looks　like　a　map　of　Texas；　but　I'd　swear　to　the
horseraised　him　from　a　colt。〃

Rowdy　had　expected　something　of　the　sort；　and　he　knew　quite　well　what　he　was
going　to　do；　he　had　settled　that　the　night　before；　with　the　memory　of　Miss
Conroy's　eyes　fresh　in　his　mind。

〃I　got　him　in　a　deal　across　the　line；〃　he