down the mother lode-第15节

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ns。

〃The　unconquerable　battling　jackass　who　has　whipped　two　bulls　down　at　Sonora；　and　caused　a　mountain　lion　to　turn　tail。　Step　up；　gents。　Only　a　dollar　to　get　inside　the　ropes；〃　and　Webfoot　Watson　waved　a　well…kept　hand　toward　the　arena。　It　was　a　pine…staked　palisade；　bound　around　the　top　with　rawhide　thongs。　At　one　end；　the　〃champion　donk〃　was　tethered；　and　at　the　other　the　〃fiercest　grizzly〃　was　confined　in　a　stout　cage　of　solid　planks。

〃Step　in；　gents！　There　are　logs　and　stumps　to　stand　on。　The　show　will　begin　immediately。　We　are　now　loosing　the　lion…eating　jack。　He　…　〃

〃Hey！〃　roared　Swipe…eye　Weller；　pointing　to　the　laden　trees　outside　the　enclosure；　〃ef　you　think　I'm　agoin'　to　pay　a　dollar　for　this　here　show　jest　because　I　ain't　no　tree…climbin'　animal；　you're　pickin'　out　the　wrong　customer。　They　coughs　up　a　screamer　apiece；　or　this　act　don't　begin　actin'。　That's　final！〃

Nothing　loath；　Webfoot　claimed　the　penalty　from　the　crowd　perched　in　the　trees；　in　some　instances　not　without　the　aid　of　his　six…shooter；　and　the　jack　was　then　turned　loose　in　the　palisade。

〃He's　eatin'　grass；〃　piped　up　old　Grease…top　Jamie。　〃Say；　I　can　see　twenty　jackasses　eatin'；　down　to　the　boardin'　house　at　Blue　Tent　any　day；　an'　I　don't　have　to　pay　no　dollar；　neither。　Turn　out　ye'r　baar！〃

〃Hi！　Here　he　comes！　Eat　'im　up；　jack！　Why；　that　ain't　no　grizzly。　Sufferin'　stars；　he's　only　a　little　scared　cinnamon。〃

〃He's　goin'　after　mister…old…donk；　though。〃

〃Ye…aw。　Lookin'　fer　protection。　Hey；　look　at　the　donk　landin'　kicks　on　'is　ribs。　Ride　'im　baar！　Claw　'im　up！　Give　'im　…　〃　but　the　little　cinnamon　bear　reached　the　fence　in　three　jumps；　scaled　it；　and　took　to　the　grease…wood　thickets　in　record　time　in　spite　of　the　yells　and　bullets　of　the　disgruntled　spectators。

Webfoot　had　made　even　better　time　than　the　bear；　and　only　the　placid　jack　remained　as　a　memento　of　the　occasion。　He　was　taken　at　the　head　of　a　long　procession　of　miners　and　made　the　occasion　for　a　call　upon　the　whole　round　of　fandango　houses；　and　dispensaries　of　liquid　rowdyism　in　the　camp。

〃Partners；　aren't　you　getting　somewhat　rough　with　the　little　fellow？〃　asked　a　young　man　in　unimpeachable　black　broadcloth。

〃Why；　it's　Anthony　Barstow！　Look　at　the　purple　raiment！　Man；　you　must　have　struck　pay　dirt。〃

〃Yes；　thank　you；　my　claim　has　turned　out　to　be　a　rich　one。　What　will　you　take　for　the　donk？〃

〃Help　yourself。　He's　a　maverick。　What's　that？　Dog　fight？　Sic　'im；　Rover！〃　and　the　fickle　and　drink…befuddled　mob　hurried　off　down　the　street　to　the　newest　excitement。

Anthony　took　half　an　apple　from　his　pocket。　〃I　was　saving　it　for　tomorrow；　but　do　you　think　you　could　manage　it；　Little　Pard？〃　The　long　ears　lifted　at　once；　and　the　soft　hairy　muzzle　took　the　delicacy　daintily　out　of　his　fingers。　Anthony　petted　him　and　sauntered　on；　into　the　best　of　the　gambling　halls。　He　seated　himself　at　a　table　presided　over　by　a　woman　dealer。

〃Monsieur；　it　is　not　permitted　zat　ze　gamblair　shall　play；〃　she　told　him　courteously；　with　a　flash　of　very　beautiful　white　teeth。

〃Ho！　Ho！　Barstow；〃　roared　Copper…down　Hicks。　〃That's　one　on　you！　The　madam；　here；　sees　your　brand　new　togs　and　thinks　you　tickle　the　green　cloth　for　a　livin'。〃

〃It　is　monsieur's　toilette　zat　'ave　cause　ze　mistake。　I　have　now　better　observe　he's　face。　He　is　welcome。〃

〃Don't　think　your　friend　can　sit　in；　though；〃　observed　Champer…down；　grinning　broadly。

Anthony　turned。　The　donkey　had　followed　him　in；　and　was　standing　just　behind　his　chair；　head　hanging；　ears　lopping；　lethargic　patience　showing　in　every　contour　of　his　shaggy　body。

〃I　have　consorted　with　many　of　his　kind；〃　said　Anthony；　smiling；　〃and　I　prefer　his　frank　sincerity；　his　bravery　under　stress；　his　worldly　poise；　his　calm　exterior；　which　does　conceal　the　fiery　depths　of　his　nature；　in　fact；　all　his　so…called　animal　attributes　I　prefer；　to　the　more　sophisticated　allure　of　his　human　gender。〃　Anthony　laid　a　strong　hand　on　the　little　beast's　shoulder；　while　the　French　woman　regarded　him　curiously　out　of　long　black　eyes。

〃There；　take　that；　you　good　for　nothing　cur；〃　and　a　man　kicked　a　dog　in　through　the　door；　to　lie　in　a　twisted；　bloody　heap　upon　the　floor。

〃What　do　you　mean；　you　brute！〃　called　Anthony；　springing　upon　the　miner；　who　immediately　closed　with　him。　Mignon　screamed；　and　ran　to　stop　them。

〃Monsieur；　for　why　you　do　　…　？〃

〃Aw；　he　got　licked。　I　lost　money　on　him。〃

〃Yes；　and　you　haven't　paid　me；　neither。　You　shell　out；　you　Buckeye　Pete！〃　spoke　up　a　tall　Kentuckian；　with　a　mastiff　on　a　leash。

〃It　wasn't　a　fair　fight；　Spotty　Collins；〃　whined　Buckeye。

〃It　was　…　it　was；　so！〃　called　a　chorus　of　voices。

〃I'll　buy　your　dog；〃　said　Anthony。　〃That　will　pay　your　debts。〃　Anthony　handed　the　money　to　Collins；　picked　up　the　half　dead　dog；　and；　holding　him　against　his　immaculate　new　frilled　shirt；　he　strode　away　toward　his　claim　over　the　mountain。　The　jack；　whose　attitude　had　hair；〃　never　changed　〃by　so　much　as　the　waving　of　a　suddenly　raised　an　alert　head　and　as　his　benefactor　vanished；　he　ambled　quickly　after　him。

Pete　sought　to　stop　him　at　the　door　and　in　one　lightning　and　concerted　movement；　he　bit　and　struck　and　kicked；　scattering　the　crowd　in　all　directions。　When　the　men　watching　Anthony　down　the　street；　burst　into　laughter　at　the　bizarre　procession；　the　French　girl　silenced　them　with　fierce；　hissing　syllables。。

〃Heh！　Dude　Anthony；　beloved　of　the　b　…　〃

〃Zose　words　you　shall　not　call　la　petite　hound　an'　me。　Even　name　of　a　dog　is　for　such　as　you　too　good　to　be　call'。　Monsieur；　we　take　pleasaire　in　your　departure　from　hence。〃

〃Go　on；　please　the　lady；　Buckeye。　There's　no　other　jackass　to　keep　you　here　any　longer。〃

And　Buckeye　departed　in　a　perfect　indigo　haze　of　profanity。

*　*　*　*　*

〃Mignon；　have　you　heard　the　news？〃

〃Non；　Monsieur；　I　'ave　sleep　all　ze　day。〃

〃Spotty　Collins　was　found　in　Blue　Ravine　this　morning；　robbed　and　murdered。　You　see；　he　had　a　lot　of　money　on　him　from　the　dog　fight。〃

〃But　ze　beeg　hound？〃

〃He　was　shot；　too。〃

〃Ze　murderer；　zey　'ave　caught？〃

〃Not　yet。　They　say　the　sheriff's　on　his　trail；　though。　He　just　got　back　from　Sacramento　and　he　went　right　out。　By　jinks；　he's　coming　now！　An'　he's　got　'im！〃

〃Mon　Dieu！　It　is　Monsieur　Ant'ony！〃

〃No！〃

〃Oui！　Heem；　my　woman's　heart　knows　well。〃

〃By　jinks；　you　must　be　right！　There's　the　fightin'　jack　followin'　the　horses。　Dude　Anthony　of　all　people！〃

〃It　is　not　true！　It　cannot　be！〃

〃Think　I've　got　my　man；　boys。　His　clothes　are　covered　with　blood　and　the　money　was　in　his　cabin。〃

〃I　have　just　made　a　strike　in　my　claim。　That　is　my　own　money。〃

〃Yes；　of　course；　but　the　court　thinks　you　oughtn't　to　keep　it　too　long！〃

〃The　'court'　is　in　his　cups。　He's　sittin'　over　there　in　the　plaza　with　his　back　against　the　flag　pole；　an'　he　won't　budge。　You　listen　…　。

〃Judge；　can　I　see　you　to　your　room　for　a　few　hours'　sleep？〃

〃What　for？〃　asked　the　judge；　eyeing　the　questioner　solemnly。　〃Is　there　anything　in　the　statutes　of　the　State　of　California　which　forbids　my　pre…empting　this　small　space　on　the　highway？　Is　there　any　reason；　if　I　am　so　inclined；　that　I　should　not　teach　my　fellow…citizens　the　great　moral　lesson　of　the　overthrow　and　debasement　of　genius　by　the　demon　rum？　Am　I　not　better　employed　than　if　in　a　stifling；　tobacco…perfumed　courtroom；　beating　law　into　the　thick　skull　of　a　lawyer；　who　doesn't　know　Blackstone　from　white　quartz？　But；　if　you　have　four　bits　on　you；　and　should　ask　me　to　join　you　…　Ah；　you　have？〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　sheriff　to　Anthony；　after　they　had　vanished　into　a　near　bar；　〃I'll　have　to　put　you　in　the　jug　till　court　convenes。〃

*　*　*　*　*

Buckeye　Pete　was　celebrating。　He　seemed　to　be　suddenly　flush　with　〃dust〃　and　was　dispensing　drinks　with　a　liberality　which　soon　brought　him　a　numerous　following。　By　midnight　it　was　a　well…mellowed　assemblage。

〃Mignon；　how　long　have　you　been　dealin'？〃

〃About　tree；　four　mont'；　Monsieur。〃

〃I　don't　mean　here。　I　mean　altogether。〃

〃About　six　ye…ar；　Monsieur。〃

〃You　must　be　well　off　by　this　time。　An'　they　say　that　you've　earned　it　all　workin'；　and　that　you're　straight。　Say；　I'll　marry　you；　if　you　say　the　word　…　〃

〃You　say；　they　say；　too　much；　Monsieur。〃

〃Here！　Don't　you　go　givin'　me　no　orders；　you　French　crinoline　fluff！〃

〃I　ordair　no　man；　an'　no　man　is　ordair　me！〃　She　stared　him　down　with　her　glittering；　black　eyes；　and　returned　to　her　dealing。　Pete　strolled　out；　followed　by　his　satellites。　When　the　noises　in　the　street　grew　louder　it　caused　no　particular　comment。　It　was　the　usual　thing。　But　when　a　crowd　burst　into　the　Royal　Flush；　Mignon　sprang　to　her　feet　with　a　cry　of　anguish。

〃Dealt　me　a　raw　deal；　didn't　yeh；　you　smart　Frenchie？〃　gloated　Buckeye　Pete。　〃Well；　look　at　your　man。　Take　a　good　look；　an'　don't　miss　the　necktie　he's　wearin'。　Pretty　li'l　rope　choker　we　got　for　Dandy　Anthony。　Ain't　no　man　can　go　killin'　an'　get　away　with　it；　while　I'm　here；〃　looking　around　for　applause。

〃Name　of　a　pig！〃　hissed　Mignon。　〃You　…　you　would。〃

〃Sure'　we　would！　Right　out　on　the　lynchin'　tree。〃　She　turned　and　dashed　for　the　rear。　〃Ze　sheriff！　He　must　come　toute　suite！〃

〃Min；〃　whispered　Soft…soap　Joe；　the　bartender；　〃he　left　two　hours　ago　on　a　new　case；　otherwise