down the mother lode-第18章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　the　wicked　teeth；　and　hoofs；　and　kicks　which　had　conquered　wild　Texas　bulls；　caused　the　mountain　lion　to　cringe　in　his　lair；　and　the　invincible　grizzly　to　flee　across　the　Sierras？〃

At　any　rate；　the　little　donkey　was　everywhere　at　once；　biting；　striking；　kicking；　squealing；　with　the　venom　and　speed　and　precision　of　a　rattlesnake；　while　Mignon　railed；　unmindful　of　Anthony's　protests。

〃Ze　blood　on　hees　clothes！　Bah！　You　'ave　all　see　'ow　he　is　carry　home　la　petite　so…hurt　dog。　Oui！　ze　dog　of　Monsieur　Pete。　Who　is　know　where　Monsieur　Collins　is　go　for　new　dog　fight？　Monsieur　Pete！　Who　has　anger　at　Monsieur　Ant'ony　for　because　I；　Mignon；　'ave　look　once　again　at　Monsieur；　who　is　so　kind　to　all　who　I　ave　pain？　Monsieur　Pete！　Who　is　insult　good　girl？　That's　me。　Monsieur　Pete！　Who　is　spend　much　money　tonight；　who　yesterday　was　br…r…oke？　Monsieur　Pete！　Who；　zen；　should　you　swing　on　ze　rope？〃

She　waited。　There　was　absolute　silence　save　for　the　crackle　of　the　flaming　pine…pitch　torches。

〃Ver'　well；'　'in　a　low　voice。　〃I；　me；　Mignon；　shall　answer。〃　Again　she　paused。　A　long　way　down　the　canyon　she　heard　horses　galloping　on　the　hard　road。　〃Monsieur　Pete！〃　she　screamed；　at　the　top　of　her　voice。

The　mob　struggled　forward；　yelling。

〃Ver'　well！〃　she　cried；　snatching　a　silver…mounted　pistol　out　of　her　bosom。　〃Come　on！　Ze　jackass；　he　is　ke…e…ll　five！　I；　Mignon；　I　ke…e…ll　five！　Ten　shall　go　to　le　diable　before　mon　brave　shall　hang！〃

They　hesitated；　those　in　front　pressing　back　from　the　certain　death　which　awaited　them。　Mignon　set　her　arms　akimbo；　the　gun　gleaming　at　her　hip；　and　taunted　them　in　contemptuous　French。

The　horsemen　had　reached　the　camp　and　soon　thundered　into　view。　〃What's　this　going　on；　anyway？〃　demanded　the　sheriff；　angrily。　〃Anthony　Barstow　is　innocent。　These　men　can　prove　that　they　spent　the　night　at　Barstow's　cabin。　When　I　learned　the　truth；　I　came　straight　back。　Buckeye　Pete；　you　throw　up　your　hands！　You're　wanted　for　the　murder　of　Spotty　Collins。〃

Mignon　tore　the　noose　from　Anthony's　neck；　laughing　and　crying　in　true　French　abandon。

〃Anthony；　you're　snared　in　another　kind　of　noose；〃　laughed　the　sheriff。　〃I　know　you're　need　in'　your　arms；　but　that　rip…snortin'　little　jack　won't　let　me　get　near　enough　to　cut　your　bonds。〃

〃By　Salsifer！〃　he　said；　later　on；　〃I'll　have　to　swear　that　fighting　jack　in　as　a　deputy　sheriff；　and　set　him　to　watchin'　road　agents　confined　in　the　jail。　Well；　goodnight；　all。　Pete's　locked　up　safe　and　sound。〃

An　hour　later　a　sober　band　of　grim　spectres　returned　to　the　jail；　overpowered　the　guard；　and；　for　the　second　time　that　night；　took　out　grisly　fruit　to　hang　on　the　lynching　tree。　There　were　no　pine　knots　and　no　attempts　at　conversation　till　the　leader　asked：　〃Buckeye　Pete；　have　you　anything　to　say　before　you　join　your　Maker？〃

〃Ain't　no　use　prayin'　for　yourself；〃　spoke　up　another　voice。　〃Better　pray　for　the　soul　of　the　man　you　sent　to　Purgatory；　and　for　the　well…bein'　of　the　other　innocent　man　you　tried　to　destroy。〃

〃What's　that？〃

〃It's　that　fightin'　jack；　prowlin'　'round。〃

〃Let　'im　prowl！　Now；　then；　boys；　are　you　ready？　Then　pull！〃　and；　as　the　old　judge　always　told　in　conclusion；　〃they　say；　as　the　men　gave　a　mighty　heave　on　the　rope　the　donkey　ran　forward　and　kicked　the　barrel　from　under　the　doomed　man's　feet！〃








End