roads of destiny-第21节

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〃It　was　Kearnybut　changed。　I　stopped　and　shook　one　of　his　hands；　which　still　clung　to　a　bag　of　garlic　and　red　peppers。

〃'How　is　the　luck；　old　/companero/？'　I　asked　him。　I　had　not　the　heart　to　tell　him　the　truth　about　his　star。

〃'Well；'　said　he；　'I　am　married；　as　you　may　guess。'

〃'Francis！'　called　the　big　lady；　in　deep　tones；　'are　you　going　to　stop　in　the　street　talking　all　day？'

〃'I　am　coming；　Phoebe　dear；'　said　Kearny；　hastening　after　her。〃

Captain　Malone　ceased　again。

〃After　all；　do　you　believe　in　luck？〃　I　asked。

〃Do　you？〃　answered　the　captain；　with　his　ambiguous　smile　shaded　by　the　brim　of　his　soft　straw　hat。



VIII

A　DOUBLE…DYED　DECEIVER

The　trouble　began　in　Laredo。　It　was　the　Llano　Kid's　fault；　for　he　should　have　confined　his　habit　of　manslaughter　to　Mexicans。　But　the　Kid　was　past　twenty；　and　to　have　only　Mexicans　to　one's　credit　at　twenty　is　to　blush　unseen　on　the　Rio　Grande　border。

It　happened　in　old　Justo　Valdos's　gambling　house。　There　was　a　poker　game　at　which　sat　players　who　were　not　all　friends；　as　happens　often　where　men　ride　in　from　afar　to　shoot　Folly　as　she　gallops。　There　was　a　row　over　so　small　a　matter　as　a　pair　of　queens；　and　when　the　smoke　had　cleared　away　it　was　found　that　the　Kid　had　committed　an　indiscretion；　and　his　adversary　had　been　guilty　of　a　blunder。　For；　the　unfortunate　combatant；　instead　of　being　a　Greaser；　was　a　high…blooded　youth　from　the　cow　ranches；　of　about　the　Kid's　own　age　and　possessed　of　friends　and　champions。　His　blunder　in　missing　the　Kid's　right　ear　only　a　sixteenth　of　an　inch　when　he　pulled　his　gun　did　not　lessen　the　indiscretion　of　the　better　marksman。

The　Kid；　not　being　equipped　with　a　retinue；　nor　bountifully　supplied　with　personal　admirers　and　supporterson　account　of　a　rather　umbrageous　reputation；　even　for　the　borderconsidered　it　not　incompatible　with　his　indispensable　gameness　to　perform　that　judicious　tractional　act　known　as　〃pulling　his　freight。〃

Quickly　the　avengers　gathered　and　sought　him。　Three　of　them　overtook　him　within　a　rod　of　the　station。　The　Kid　turned　and　showed　his　teeth　in　that　brilliant　but　mirthless　smile　that　usually　preceded　his　deeds　of　insolence　and　violence；　and　his　pursuers　fell　back　without　making　it　necessary　for　him　even　to　reach　for　his　weapon。

But　in　this　affair　the　Kid　had　not　felt　the　grim　thirst　for　encounter　that　usually　urged　him　on　to　battle。　It　had　been　a　purely　chance　row；　born　of　the　cards　and　certain　epithets　impossible　for　a　gentleman　to　brook　that　had　passed　between　the　two。　The　Kid　had　rather　liked　the　slim；　haughty；　brown…faced　young　chap　whom　his　bullet　had　cut　off　in　the　first　pride　of　manhood。　And　now　he　wanted　no　more　blood。　He　wanted　to　get　away　and　have　a　good　long　sleep　somewhere　in　the　sun　on　the　mesquit　grass　with　his　handkerchief　over　his　face。　Even　a　Mexican　might　have　crossed　his　path　in　safety　while　he　was　in　this　mood。

The　Kid　openly　boarded　the　north…bound　passenger　train　that　departed　five　minutes　later。　But　at　Webb；　a　few　miles　out；　where　it　was　flagged　to　take　on　a　traveller；　he　abandoned　that　manner　of　escape。　There　were　telegraph　stations　ahead；　and　the　Kid　looked　askance　at　electricity　and　steam。　Saddle　and　spur　were　his　rocks　of　safety。

The　man　whom　he　had　shot　was　a　stranger　to　him。　But　the　Kid　knew　that　he　was　of　the　Coralitos　outfit　from　Hidalgo；　and　that　the　punchers　from　that　ranch　were　more　relentless　and　vengeful　than　Kentucky　feudists　when　wrong　or　harm　was　done　to　one　of　them。　So；　with　the　wisdom　that　has　characterized　many　great　farmers；　the　Kid　decided　to　pile　up　as　many　leagues　as　possible　of　chaparral　and　pear　between　himself　and　the　retaliation　of　the　Coralitos　bunch。

Near　the　station　was　a　store；　and　near　the　store；　scattered　among　the　mesquits　and　elms；　stood　the　saddled　horses　of　the　customers。　Most　of　them　waited；　half　asleep；　with　sagging　limbs　and　drooping　heads。　But　one；　a　long…legged　roan　with　a　curved　neck；　snorted　and　pawed　the　turf。　Him　the　Kid　mounted；　gripped　with　his　knees；　and　slapped　gently　with　the　owner's　own　quirt。

If　the　slaying　of　the　temerarious　card…player　had　cast　a　cloud　over　the　Kid's　standing　as　a　good　and　true　citizen；　this　last　act　of　his　veiled　his　figure　in　the　darkest　shadows　of　disrepute。　On　the　Rio　Grande　border　if　you　take　a　man's　life　you　sometimes　take　trash；　but　if　you　take　his　horse；　you　take　a　thing　the　loss　of　which　renders　him　poor；　indeed；　and　which　enriches　you　notif　you　are　caught。　For　the　Kid　there　was　no　turning　back　now。

With　the　springing　roan　under　him　he　felt　little　care　or　uneasiness。　After　a　five…mile　gallop　he　drew　it　in　to　the　plainsman's　jogging　trot；　and　rode　northeastward　toward　the　Nueces　River　bottoms。　He　knew　the　country　wellits　most　tortuous　and　obscure　trails　through　the　great　wilderness　of　brush　and　pear；　and　its　camps　and　lonesome　ranches　where　one　might　find　safe　entertainment。　Always　he　bore　to　the　east；　for　the　Kid　had　never　seen　the　ocean；　and　he　had　a　fancy　to　lay　his　hand　upon　the　mane　of　the　great　Gulf；　the　gamesome　colt　of　the　greater　waters。

So　after　three　days　he　stood　on　the　shore　at　Corpus　Christi；　and　looked　out　across　the　gentle　ripples　of　a　quiet　sea。

Captain　Boone；　of　the　schooner　/Flyaway/；　stood　near　his　skiff；　which　one　of　his　crew　was　guarding　in　the　surf。　When　ready　to　sail　he　had　discovered　that　one　of　the　necessaries　of　life；　in　the　parallelogrammatic　shape　of　plug　tobacco；　had　been　forgotten。　A　sailor　had　been　dispatched　for　the　missing　cargo。　Meanwhile　the　captain　paced　the　sands；　chewing　profanely　at　his　pocket　store。

A　slim；　wiry　youth　in　high…heeled　boots　came　down　to　the　water's　edge。　His　face　was　boyish；　but　with　a　premature　severity　that　hinted　at　a　man's　experience。　His　complexion　was　naturally　dark；　and　the　sun　and　wind　of　an　outdoor　life　had　burned　it　to　a　coffee　brown。　His　hair　was　as　black　and　straight　as　an　Indian's；　his　face　had　not　yet　upturned　to　the　humiliation　of　a　razor；　his　eyes　were　a　cold　and　steady　blue。　He　carried　his　left　arm　somewhat　away　from　his　body；　for　pearl…handled　。45s　are　frowned　upon　by　town　marshals；　and　are　a　little　bulky　when　placed　in　the　left　armhole　of　one's　vest。　He　looked　beyond　Captain　Boone　at　the　gulf　with　the　impersonal　and　expressionless　dignity　of　a　Chinese　emperor。

〃Thinkin'　of　buyin'　that'ar　gulf；　buddy？〃　asked　the　captain；　made　sarcastic　by　his　narrow　escape　from　a　tobaccoless　voyage。

〃Why；　no；〃　said　the　Kid　gently；　〃I　reckon　not。　I　never　saw　it　before。　I　was　just　looking　at　it。　Not　thinking　of　selling　it；　are　you？〃

〃Not　this　trip；〃　said　the　captain。　〃I'll　send　it　to　you　C。O。D。　when　I　get　back　to　Buenas　Tierras。　Here　comes　that　capstanfooted　lubber　with　the　chewin'。　I　ought　to've　weighed　anchor　an　hour　ago。〃

〃Is　that　your　ship　out　there？〃　asked　the　Kid。

〃Why；　yes；〃　answered　the　captain；　〃if　you　want　to　call　a　schooner　a　ship；　and　I　don't　mind　lyin'。　But　you　better　say　Miller　and　Gonzales；　owners；　and　ordinary　plain；　Billy…be…damned　old　Samuel　K。　Boone；　skipper。〃

〃Where　are　you　going　to？〃　asked　the　refugee。

〃Buenas　Tierras；　coast　of　South　AmericaI　forgot　what　they　called　the　country　the　last　time　I　was　there。　Cargolumber；　corrugated　iron；　and　machetes。〃

〃What　kind　of　a　country　is　it？〃　asked　the　Kid〃hot　or　cold？〃

〃Warmish；　buddy；〃　said　the　captain。　〃But　a　regular　Paradise　Lost　for　elegance　of　scenery　and　be…yooty　of　geography。　Ye're　wakened　every　morning　by　the　sweet　singin'　of　red　birds　with　seven　purple　tails；　and　the　sighin'　of　breezes　in　the　posies　and　roses。　And　the　inhabitants　never　work；　for　they　can　reach　out　and　pick　steamer　baskets　of　the　choicest　hothouse　fruit　without　gettin'　out　of　bed。　And　there's　no　Sunday　and　no　ice　and　no　rent　and　no　troubles　and　no　use　and　no　nothin'。　It's　a　great　country　for　a　man　to　go　to　sleep　with；　and　wait　for　somethin'　to　turn　up。　The　bananys　and　oranges　and　hurricanes　and　pineapples　that　ye　eat　comes　from　there。〃

〃That　sounds　to　me！〃　said　the　Kid；　at　last　betraying　interest。　〃What'll　the　expressage　be　to　take　me　out　there　with　you？〃

〃Twenty…four　dollars；〃　said　Captain　Boone；　〃grub　and　transportation。　Second　cabin。　I　haven't　got　a　first　cabin。〃

〃You've　got　my　company；〃　said　the　Kid；　pulling　out　a　buckskin　bag。

With　three　hundred　dollars　he　had　gone　to　Laredo　for　his　regular　〃blowout。〃　The　duel　in　Valdos's　had　cut　short　his　season　of　hilarity；　but　it　had　left　him　with　nearly　200　for　aid　in　the　flight　that　it　had　made　necessary。

〃All　right；　buddy；〃　said　the　captain。　〃I　hope　your　ma　won't　blame　me　for　this　little　childish　escapade　of　yours。〃　He　beckoned　to　one　of　the　boat's　crew。　〃Let　Sanchez　lift　you　out　to　the　skiff　so　you　won't　get　your　feet　wet。〃

*　*　*　*　*

Thacker；　the　United　States　consul　at　Buenas　Tierras；　was　not　yet　drunk。　It　was　only　eleven　o'clock；　and　he　never　arrived　at　his　desired　state　of　beatitudea　state　wherein　he　sang　ancient　maudlin　vaudeville　songs　and　pelted　his　screaming　parrot　with　banana　peelsuntil　the　middle　of　the　afternoon。　So；　when　he　looked　up　from　his　hammock　at　the　sound　of　a　slight　cough；　and　saw　the　Kid　standing　in　the　door　of　the　consulate；　he　was　still　in　a　condition　to　extend　the　hospitality　and　courtesy　due　from　the　representative　of　a　great　nation。　〃Don't　disturb　yourself；〃　said　the　Kid；