the call of the canyon-第20章
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〃I don't know what I am； but it's not cold；〃 replied Carley。
〃Wal； Miss Carley； I reckon you'll have to come again an' again before you get a comfortable feelin' here；〃 said Stanton。
It surprised Carley to see that this young Westerner had hit upon the truth。 He understood her。 Indeed she was uncomfortable。 She was oppressed； vaguely unhappy。 But why？ The thing therethe infinitude of open sand and rockwas beautiful； wonderful； even glorious。 She looked again。
Steep black…cindered slope； with its soft gray patches of grass； sheered down and down； and out in rolling slope to merge upon a cedar…dotted level。 Nothing moved below； but a red…tailed hawk sailed across her vision。 How still…how gray the desert floor as it reached away； losing its black dots； and gaining bronze spots of stone！ By plain and prairie it fell away； each inch of gray in her sight magnifying into its league…long roll； On and on； and down across dark lines that were steppes； and at last blocked and changed by the meandering green thread which was the verdure of a desert river。 Beyond stretched the white sand； where whirlwinds of dust sent aloft their funnel…shaped spouts； and it led up to the horizon…wide ribs and ridges of red and walls of yellow and mountains of black； to the dim mound of purple so ethereal and mystic against the deep…blue cloud…curtained band of sky。
And on the moment the sun was obscured and that world of colorful flame went out； as if a blaze had died。
Deprived of its fire； the desert seemed to retreat； to fade coldly and gloomily； to lose its great landmarks in dim obscurity。 Closer； around to the north； the canyon country yawned with innumerable gray jaws； ragged and hard； and the riven earth took on a different character。 It had no shadows。 It grew flat and； like the sea； seemed to mirror the vast gray cloud expanse。 The sublime vanished； but the desolate remained。 No warmthno movementno life！ Dead stone it was； cut into a million ruts by ruthless ages。 Carley felt that she was gazing down into chaos。
At this moment； as before； a hawk had crossed her vision； so now a raven sailed by； black as coal； uttering a hoarse croak。
〃Quoth the raven〃 murmured Carley； with a half…bitter laugh； as she turned away shuddering in spite of an effort of self…control。 〃Maybe he meant this wonderful and terrible West is never for such as I。 。 。 。 Come； let us go。〃
Carley rode all that afternoon in the rear of the caravan； gradually succumbing to the cold raw wind and the aches and pains to which she had subjected her flesh。 Nevertheless； she finished the day's journey； and； sorely as she needed Glenn's kindly hand； she got off her horse without aid。
Camp was made at the edge of the devastated timber zone that Carley had found so dispiriting。 A few melancholy pines were standing； and everywhere； as far as she could see southward； were blackened fallen trees and stumps。 It was a dreary scene。 The few cattle grazing on the bleached grass appeared as melancholy as the pines。 The sun shone fitfully at sunset； and then sank； leaving the land to twilight and shadows。
Once in a comfortable seat beside the camp fire； Carley had no further desire to move。 She was so far exhausted and weary that she could no longer appreciate the blessing of rest。 Appetite； too； failed her this meal time。 Darkness soon settled down。 The wind moaned through the pines。 She was indeed glad to crawl into bed； and not even the thought of skunks could keep her awake。
Morning； disclosed the fact that gray clouds had been blown away。 The sun shone bright upon a white…frosted land。 The air was still。 Carley labored at her task of rising； and brushing her hair； and pulling on her boots； and it appeared her former sufferings were as naught compared with the pangs of this morning。 How she hated the cold； the bleak； denuded forest land； the emptiness； the roughness； the crudeness！ If this sort of feeling grew any worse she thought she would hate Glenn。 Yet she was nonetheless set upon going on； and seeing the sheep…dip； and riding that fiendish mustang until the trip was ended。
Getting in the saddle and on the way this morning was an ordeal that made Carley actually sick。 Glenn and Flo both saw how it was with her； and they left her to herself。 Carley was grateful for this understanding。 It seemed to proclaim their respect。 She found further matter for satisfaction in the astonishing circumstance that after the first dreadful quarter of an hour in the saddle she began to feel easier。 And at the end of several hours of riding she was not suffering any particular pain； though she was weaker。
At length the cut…over land ended in a forest of straggling pines； through which the road wound southward； and eventually down into a wide shallow canyon。 Through the trees Carley saw a stream of water； open fields of green； log fences and cabins； and blue smoke。 She heard the chug of a gasoline engine and the baa…baa of sheep。 Glenn waited for her to catch up with him； and he said： 〃Carley； this is one of Hutter's sheep camps。 It's not aa very pleasant place。 You won't care to see the sheep…dip。 So I'm suggesting you wait here〃
〃Nothing doing； Glenn；〃 she interrupted。 〃I'm going to see what there is to see。〃
〃But； dearthe menthe way they handle sheepthey'llreally it's no sight for you；〃 he floundered。
〃Why not？〃 she inquired； eying him。
〃Because； Carleyyou know how you hate thethe seamy side of things。 And the stenchwhy； it'll make you sick！〃
〃Glenn； be on the level；〃 she said。 〃Suppose it does。 Wouldn't you think more of me if I could stand it？〃
〃Why； yes；〃 he replied； reluctantly； smiling at her； 〃I would。 But I wanted to spare you。 This trip has been hard。 I'm sure proud of you。 And； Carley you can overdo it。 Spunk is not everything。 You simply couldn't stand this。〃
〃Glenn； how little you know a woman！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Come along and show me your old sheep…dip。〃
They rode out of the woods into an open valley that might have been picturesque if it had not been despoiled by the work of man。 A log fence ran along the edge of open ground and a mud dam held back a pool of stagnant water； slimy and green。 As Carley rode on the baa…baa of sheep became so loud that she could scarcely hear Glenn talking。
Several log cabins； rough hewn and gray with age； stood down inside the inclosure； and beyond there were large corrals。 From the other side of these corrals came sounds of rough voices of men； a trampling of hoofs； heavy splashes； the beat of an engine； and the incessant baaing of the sheep。
At this point the members of Hutter's party dismounted and tied their horses to the top log of the fence。 When Carley essayed to get off Glenn tried to stop her； saying she could see well enough from there。 But Carley got down and followed Flo。 She heard Hutter call to Glenn： 〃Say； Ryan is short of men。 We'll lend a hand for a couple of hours。〃
Presently Carley reached Flo's side and the first corral that contained sheep。 They formed a compact woolly mass； rather white in color； with a tinge of pink。 When Flo climbed up on the fence the flock plunged as one animal and with a trampling roar ran to the far side of the corral。 Several old rams with wide curling horns faced around； and some of the ewes climbed up on the densely packed mass。 Carley rather enjoyed watching them。 She surely could not see anything amiss in this sight。
The next corral held a like number of sheep； and also several Mexicans who were evidently driving them into a narrow lane that led farther down。 Carley saw the heads of men above other corral fences； and there was also a thick yellowish smoke rising from somewhere。
〃Carley； are you game to see the dip？〃 asked Flo； with good nature that yet had a touch of taunt in it。
〃That's my middle name；〃 retorted Carley； flippantly。
Both Glenn and this girl seemed to be bent upon bringing out Carley's worst side； and they were succeeding。 Flo laughed。 The ready slang pleased her。
She led Carley along that log fence； through a huge open gate； and across a wide pen to another fence； which she scaled。 Carley followed her； not particularly overanxious to look ahead。 Some thick odor had begun to reach Carley's delicate nostrils。 Flo led down
