roads of destiny-第25节
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country drained by the Rio Bravo would have cared thus to invade alone the camp of Bud King。 But this fell bird swooped fearlessly upon them and demanded to be fed。
Hospitality in the prairie country is not limited。 Even if your enemy pass your way you must feed him before you shoot him。 You must empty your larder into him before you empty your lead。 So the stranger of undeclared intentions was set down to a mighty feast。
A talkative bird he was； full of most marvellous loud tales and exploits； and speaking a language at times obscure but never colourless。 He was a new sensation to Bud King's men； who rarely encountered new types。 They hung； delighted； upon his vainglorious boasting； the spicy strangeness of his lingo； his contemptuous familiarity with life； the world； and remote places； and the extravagant frankness with which he conveyed his sentiments。
To their guest the band of outlaws seemed to be nothing more than a congregation of country bumpkins whom he was 〃stringing for grub〃 just as he would have told his stories at the back door of a farmhouse to wheedle a meal。 And； indeed； his ignorance was not without excuse； for the 〃bad man〃 of the Southwest does not run to extremes。 Those brigands might justly have been taken for a little party of peaceable rustics assembled for a fish…fry or pecan gathering。 Gentle of manner； slouching of gait； soft…voiced； unpicturesquely clothed； not one of them presented to the eye any witness of the desperate records they had earned。
For two days the glittering stranger within the camp was feasted。 Then； by common consent； he was invited to become a member of the band。 He consented； presenting for enrollment the prodigious name of 〃Captain Montressor。〃 This name was immediately overruled by the band； and 〃Piggy〃 substituted as a compliment to the awful and insatiate appetite of its owner。
Thus did the Texas border receive the most spectacular brigand that ever rode its chaparral。
For the next three months Bud King conducted business as usual； escaping encounters with law officers and being content with reasonable profits。 The band ran off some very good companies of horses from the ranges； and a few bunches of fine cattle which they got safely across the Rio Grande and disposed of to fair advantage。 Often the band would ride into the little villages and Mexican settlements； terrorizing the inhabitants and plundering for the provisions and ammunition they needed。 It was during these bloodless raids that Piggy's ferocious aspect and frightful voice gained him a renown more widespread and glorious than those other gentle…voiced and sad…faced desperadoes could have acquired in a lifetime。
The Mexicans； most apt in nomenclature； first called him The Black Eagle； and used to frighten the babes by threatening them with tales of the dreadful robber who carried off little children in his great beak。 Soon the name extended； and Black Eagle； the Terror of the Border； became a recognized factor in exaggerated newspaper reports and ranch gossip。
The country from the Nueces to the Rio Grande was a wild but fertile stretch； given over to the sheep and cattle ranches。 Range was free； the inhabitants were few； the law was mainly a letter； and the pirates met with little opposition until the flaunting and garish Piggy gave the band undue advertisement。 Then McKinney's ranger company headed for those precincts； and Bud King knew that it meant grim and sudden war or else temporary retirement。 Regarding the risk to be unnecessary； he drew off his band to an almost inaccessible spot on the bank of the Frio。 Wherefore； as has been said； dissatisfaction arose among the members； and impeachment proceedings against Bud were premeditated； with Black Eagle in high favour for the succession。 Bud King was not unaware of the sentiment； and he called aside Cactus Taylor； his trusted lieutenant； to discuss it。
〃If the boys；〃 said Bud； 〃ain't satisfied with me； I'm willing to step out。 They're buckin' against my way of handlin' 'em。 And 'specially because I concludes to hit the brush while Sam Kinney is ridin' the line。 I saves 'em from bein' shot or sent up on a state contract； and they up and says I'm no good。〃
〃It ain't so much that；〃 explained Cactus； 〃as it is they're plum locoed about Piggy。 They want them whiskers and that nose of his to split the wind at the head of the column。〃
〃There's somethin' mighty seldom about Piggy；〃 declared Bud； musingly。 〃I never yet see anything on the hoof that he exactly grades up with。 He can shore holler a plenty and he straddles a hoss from where you laid the chunk。 But he ain't never been smoked yet。 You know； Cactus； we ain't had a row since he's been with us。 Piggy's all right for skearin' the greaser kids and layin' waste a cross…roads store。 I reckon he's the finest canned oyster buccaneer and cheese pirate that ever was； but how's his appetite for fightin'？ I've knowed some citizens you'd think was starvin' for trouble get a bad case of dyspepsy the first dose of lead they had to take。〃
〃He talks all spraddled out；〃 said Cactus； 〃'bout the rookuses he's been in。 He claims to have saw the elephant and hearn the owl。〃
〃I know；〃 replied Bud； using the cowpuncher's expressive phrase of skepticism； 〃but it sounds to me！〃
This conversation was held one night in camp while the other members of the bandeight in numberwere sprawling around the fire； lingering over their supper。 When Bud and Cactus ceased talking they heard Piggy's formidable voice holding forth to the others as usual while he was engaged in checking； though never satisfying； his ravening appetite。
〃Wat's de use；〃 he was saying； 〃of chasin' little red cowses and hosses 'round for t'ousands of miles？ Dere ain't nuttin' in it。 Gallopin' t'rough dese bushes and briers； and gettin' a t'irst dat a brewery couldn't put out； and missin' meals！ Say！ You know what I'd do if I was main finger of dis bunch？ I'd stick up a train。 I'd blow de express car and make hard dollars where you guys get wind。 Youse makes me tired。 Dis sook…cow kind of cheap sport gives me a pain。〃
Later on； a deputation waited on Bud。 They stood on one leg； chewed mesquit twigs and circumlocuted； for they hated to hurt his feelings。 Bud foresaw their business； and made it easy for them。 Bigger risks and larger profits was what they wanted。
The suggestion of Piggy's about holding up a train had fired their imagination and increased their admiration for the dash and boldness of the instigator。 They were such simple； artless； and custom…bound bush…rangers that they had never before thought of extending their habits beyond the running off of live…stock and the shooting of such of their acquaintances as ventured to interfere。
Bud acted 〃on the level；〃 agreeing to take a subordinate place in the gang until Black Eagle should have been given a trial as leader。
After a great deal of consultation； studying of time…tables； and discussion of the country's topography； the time and place for carrying out their new enterprise was decided upon。 At that time there was a feedstuff famine in Mexico and a cattle famine in certain parts of the United States； and there was a brisk international trade。 Much money was being shipped along the railroads that connected the two republics。 It was agreed that the most promising place for the contemplated robbery was at Espina； a little station on the I。 and G。N。； about forty miles north of Laredo。 The train stopped there one minute； the country around was wild and unsettled； the station consisted of but one house in which the agent lived。
Black Eagle's band set out； riding by night。 Arriving in the vicinity of Espina they rested their horses all day in a thicket a few miles distant。
The train was due at Espina at 10。30 P。M。 They could rob the train and be well over the Mexican border with their booty by daylight the next morning。
To do Black Eagle justice； he exhibited no signs of flinching from the responsible honours that had been conferred upon him。
He assigned his men to their respective posts with discretion； and coached them carefully as to their duties。 On each side of the track four of the band were to lie concealed in the chaparral。 Gotch…Ear Rodgers was to stick up the station agent。 Bronco Charlie was to remain with the horses； holding them in readiness。 At a spot where it was calculated the engine would be when the train stopped； Bud King was to lie hidden on one side； and Black Eagle himself on the other。 The two would get the drop on the engineer and fireman； force them to descend and proceed to the rear。 Then the express car would be looted； and the escape made。 No one was to move until Black Eagle gave the signal by firing his revolver。 The plan was perfect。
At ten minutes to train time every man was at his post； effectually concealed by the thick chaparral that grew almost to the rails。 The night was dark and lowering； with a fine drizzle falling from the flying gulf clouds。 Black Eagle crouched behind a bush within five yards of the track。 Two six…shooters were belted around him。 Occasionally he drew a large black bottle from his pocket and raised it to his mouth。
A star appeared far down the track which soon waxed into the headlight of the approaching
