the last of the plainsmen-第27节
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sheep。
My state after supper was one of huge enjoyment and with intense interest I awaited Frank's first spar for an opening。 It came presently； in a lull of the conversation。
〃Saw a big rattler run under the cabin to…day；〃 he said； as if he were speaking of one of Old Baldy's shoes。 〃I tried to get a whack at him； but he oozed away too quick。〃
〃Shore I seen him often；〃 put in Jim。 Good； old； honest Jim； led away by his trickster comrade！ It was very plain。 So I was to be frightened by snakes。
〃These old canyon beds are ideal dens for rattle snakes；〃 chimed in my scientific California friend。 〃I have found several dens； but did not molest them as this is a particularly dangerous time of the year to meddle with the reptiles。 Quite likely there's a den under the cabin。〃
While he made this remarkable statement； he had the grace to hide his face in a huge puff of smoke。 He； too； was in the plot。 I waited for Jones to come out with some ridiculous theory or fact concerning the particular species of snake； but as he did not speak； I concluded they had wisely left him out of the secret。 After mentally debating a moment； I decided； as it was a very harmless joke； to help Frank into the fulfillment of his enjoyment。
〃Rattlesnakes！〃 I exclaimed。 〃Heavens！ I'd die if I heard one； let alone seeing it。 A big rattler jumped at me one day； and I've never recovered from the shock。〃
Plainly； Frank was delighted to hear of my antipathy and my unfortunate experience； and he proceeded to expatiate on the viciousness of rattlesnakes； particularly those of Arizona。 If I had believed the succeeding stories； emanating from the fertile brains of those three fellows； I should have made certain that Arizona canyons were Brazilian jungles。 Frank's parting shot； sent in a mellow； kind voice； was the best point in the whole trick。 〃Now； I'd be nervous if I had a sleepin' bag like yours； because it's just the place for a rattler to ooze into。〃
In the confusion and dim light of bedtime I contrived to throw the end of my lasso over the horn of a saddle hanging on the wall； with the intention of augmenting the noise I soon expected to create； and I placed my automatic rifle and 。38 S。 and W。 Special within easy reach of my hand。 Then I crawled into my bag and composed myself to listen。 Frank soon began to snore； so brazenly； so fictitiously； that I wondered at the man's absorbed intensity in his joke； and I was at great pains to smother in my breast a violent burst of riotous merriment。 Jones's snores； however； were real enough； and this made me enjoy the situation all the more； because if he did not show a mild surprise when the catastrophe fell； I would greatly miss my guess。 I knew the three wily conspirators were wide…awake。 Suddenly I felt a movement in the straw under me and a faint rustling。 It was so soft； so sinuous； that if I had not known it was the lasso； I would assuredly have been frightened。 I gave a little jump； such as one will make quickly in bed。 Then the coil ran out from under the straw。 How subtly suggestive of a snake！ I made a slight outcry； a big jump； paused a moment for effectiveness in which time Frank forgot to snorethen let out a tremendous yell； grabbed my guns； sent twelve thundering shots through the roof and pulled my lasso。
Crash！ the saddle came down； to be followed by sounds not on Frank's programme and certainly not calculated upon by me。 But they were all the more effective。 I gathered that Lawson； who was not in the secret； and who was a nightmare sort of sleeper anyway； had knocked over Jim's table； with its array of pots and pans and then； unfortunately for Jones had kicked that innocent person in the stomach。
As I lay there in my bag； the very happiest fellow in the wide world； the sound of my mirth was as the buzz of the wings of a fly to the mighty storm。 Roar on roar filled the cabin。
When the three hypocrites recovered sufficiently from the startling climax to calm Lawson； who swore the cabin had been attacked by Indians； when Jones stopped roaring long enough to hear it was only a harmless snake that had caused the trouble； we hushed to repose once morenot； however； without hearing some trenchant remarks from the boiling Colonel anent fun and fools； and the indubitable fact that there was not a rattlesnake on Buckskin Mountain。
Long after this explosion had died away； I heard； or rather felt； a mysterious shudder or tremor of the cabin； and I knew that Frank and Jim were shaking with silent laughter。 On my own score； I determined to find if Jones； in his strange make…up； had any sense of humor； or interest in life； or feeling； or love that did not center and hinge on four…footed beasts。 In view of the rude awakening from what； no doubt； were pleasant dreams of wonderful white and green animals； combining the intelligence of man and strength of brutesa new species creditable to his geniusI was perhaps unjust in my conviction as to his lack of humor。 And as to the other question； whether or not he had any real human feeling for the creatures built in his own image； that was decided very soon and unexpectedly。
The following morning； as soon as Lawson got in with the horses； we packed and started。 Rather sorry was I to bid good…by to Oak Spring。 Taking the back trail of the Stewarts； we walked the horses all day up a slowly narrowing； ascending canyon。 The hounds crossed coyote and deer trails continually； but made no break。 Sounder looked up as if to say he associated painful reminiscences with certain kinds of tracks。 At the head of the canyon we reached timber at about the time dusk gathered； and we located for the night。 Being once again nearly nine thousand feet high； we found the air bitterly cold； making a blazing fire most acceptable。
In the haste to get supper we all took a hand； and some one threw upon our tarpaulin tablecloth a tin cup of butter mixed with carbolic acida concoction Jones had used to bathe the sore feet of the dogs。 Of course I got hold of this； spread a generous portion on my hot biscuit； placed some red…hot beans on that； and began to eat like a hungry hunter。 At first I thought I was only burned。 Then I recognized the taste and burn of the acid and knew something was wrong。 Picking up the tin； I examined it； smelled the pungent odor and felt a queer numb sense of fear。 This lasted only for a moment； as I well knew the use and power of the acid； and had not swallowed enough to hurt me。 I was about to make known my mistake in a matter…of…fact way； when it flashed over me the accident could be made to serve a turn。
〃Jones！〃 I cried hoarsely。 〃What's in this butter？〃
〃Lord！ you haven't eaten any of that。 Why； I put carbolic acid in it。〃
〃OhohohI'm poisoned！ I ate nearly all of it！ OhI'm burning up！ I'm dying！〃 With that I began to moan and rock to and fro and hold my stomach。
Consternation preceded shock。 But in the excitement of the moment； Wallacewho； though badly scared； retained his wits made for me with a can of condensed milk。 He threw me back with no gentle hand； and was squeezing the life out of me to make me open my mouth； when I gave him a jab in his side。 I imagined his surprise； as this peculiar reception of his first…aid…to…the…injured made him hold off to take a look at me； and in this interval I contrived to whisper to him： 〃Joke！ Joke！ you idiot！ I'm only shamming。 I want to see if I can scare Jones and get even with Frank。 Help me out！ Cry！ Get tragic！〃
From that moment I shall always believe that the stage lost a great tragedian in Wallace。 With a magnificent gesture he threw the can of condensed milk at Jones； who was so stunned he did not try to dodge。 〃Thoughtless man！ Murderer！ it's too late！〃 cried Wallace； laying me back across his knees。 〃It's too late。 His teeth are locked。 He's far gone。 Poor boy！ poor boy！ Who's to tell his mother？〃
I could see from under my hat…brim that the solemn； hollow voice had penetrated the cold exterior of the plainsman。 He could not speak； he clasped and unclasped his big hands in helpless fashion。 Frank was as white as a sheet。 This was simply delightful to me。 But the expression of miserable； impotent distress on old Jim's sun…browned face was more than I could stand； and I could no longer keep up the deception。 Just as Wallace cried out to Jones to prayI wished then I had not weakened so soonI got up and walked to the fire。
〃Jim； I'll have another biscuit； please。〃
His under jaw dropped； then he nervously shoveled biscuits at me。 Jones grabbed my hand and cried out with a voice that was new to me： 〃You can eat？ You're better？ You'll get over it？〃
〃Sure。 Why； carbolic acid never phases me。 I've often used it for rattlesnake bites。 I did not tell you； but that rattler at the cabin last night actually bit me； and I used carbolic to cure the poison。〃
Frank mumbled something about horses； and faded into the gloom。 As for Jones； he looked at me rather incredulously； and the absolute； almost childish gladness he manifested because I had been snatched from the grave； made me regret my deceit； and satisfied me forever on one score。
On awakening in the morning I found frost half an inch thick covered my sleeping…bag； whitened the ground； and made the beautiful silver spruce trees s
