arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第21章
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desperately to stop the drift of the cattle down wind。 We did
everything in our power to stop them； but in vain。 Slickers waved； quirts
slapped against leather； six…shooters flashed； but still the cattle； heads
lowered； advanced with slow and sullen persistence that would not be
stemmed。 If we held our ground； they divided around us。 Step by step
we were forced to give waythe thin line of nervously plunging horses
sprayed before the dense mass of the cattle。
〃No； they won't stampede；〃 shouted Charley to my question。
〃There's cows and calves in them。 If they was just steers or grown critters；
they might。〃 The sensations of those few moments were very vivid
the blinding beat of the storm in my face； the unbroken front of horned
heads bearing down on me； resistless as fate； the long slant of rain with the
sun shining in the distance beyond it。 Abruptly the downpour ceased。
We shook our hats free of water； and drove the herd back to the cutting
grounds again。 But now the surface of the ground was slippery； and
the rapid manoeuvring of horses had become a matter precarious in the
extreme。 Time and again the ponies fairly sat on their haunches and slid
when negotiating a sudden stop； while quick turns meant the rapid
scramblings that only a cow…horse could accomplish。 Nevertheless the
work went forward unchecked。 The men of the other outfits cut their
cattle into the stray…herd。 The latter was by now of considerable size； for
this was the third week of the round…up。 Finally everyone expressed
himself as satisfied。 The largely diminished main herd was now started
forward by means of shrill cowboy cries and beating of quirts。 The cattle
were only too eager to go。 From my position on a little rise above the
stray…herd I could see the leaders breaking into a run； their heads thrown
forward as they snuffed their freedom。 On the mesa side the sentinel
riders quietly withdrew。 From the rear and flanks the horsemen closed in。
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ARIZONA NIGHTS
The cattle poured out in a steady stream through the opening thus left on
the mesa side。 The fringe of cowboys followed； urging them on。
Abruptly the cavalcade turned and came loping back。 The cattle continued
ahead on a trot； gradually spreading abroad over the landscape； losing
their integrity as a herd。 Some of the slower or hungrier dropped out and
began to graze。 Certain of the more wary disappeared to right or left。
Now； after the day's work was practically over； we had our first accident。
The horse ridden by a young fellow from Dos Cabesas slipped； fell； and
rolled quite over his rider。 At once the animal lunged to his feet； only to
he immediately seized by the nearest rider。 But the Dos Cabesas man lay
still； his arms and legs spread abroad； his head doubled sideways in a
horribly suggestive manner。 We hopped off。 Two men straightened him
out； while two more looked carefully over the indications on the ground。
〃All right；〃 sang out one of them； 〃the horn didn't catch him。〃 He
pointed to the indentation left by the pommel。 Indeed five minutes
brought the man to his senses。 He complained of a very twisted back。
Homer set one of the men in after the bed…wagon； by means of which the
sufferer was shortly transported to camp。 By the end of the week he was
again in the saddle。 How men escape from this common accident with
injuries so slight has always puzzled me。 The horse rolls completely
over his rider； and yet it seems to be the rarest thing in the world for the
latter to be either killed or permanently injured。 Now each man
had the privilege of looking through the J H cuts to see if by chance steers
of his own had been included in them。 When all had expressed
themselves as satisfied； the various bands were started to the corrals。
From a slight eminence where I had paused to enjoy the evening I looked
down on the scene。 The three herds； separated by generous distance one
from the other； crawled leisurely along； the riders； their hats thrust back；
lolled in their saddles； shouting conversation to each other； relaxing after
the day's work； through the clouds strong shafts of light belittled the living
creatures； threw into proportion the vastness of the desert。
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ARIZONA NIGHTS
CHAPTER SEVEN A CORNER IN
HORSES
It was dark night。 The stay…herd bellowed frantically from one of the
big corrals； the cow…and…calf…herd from a second。 Already the remuda；
driven in from the open plains； scattered about the thousand acres of
pasture。 Away from the conveniences of fence and corral； men would
have had to patrol all night。 Now； however； everyone was gathered about
the camp fire。 Probably forty cowboys were in the group；
representing all types； from old John； who had been in the business forty
years； and had punched from the Rio Grande to the Pacific； to the Kid；
who would have given his chance of salvation if he could have been taken
for ten years older than he was。 At the moment Jed Parker was holding
forth to his friend Johnny Stone in reference to another old crony who had
that evening joined the round…up。 〃Johnny；〃 inquired Jed with
elaborate gravity； and entirely ignoring the presence of the subject of
conversation； 〃what is that thing just beyond the fire； and where did it
come from？〃 Johnny Stone squinted to make sure。
〃That？〃 he replied。 〃Oh； this evenin' the dogs see something run
down a hole； and they dug it out； and that's what they got。〃
The newcomer grinned。
〃The trouble with you fellows；〃 he proffered 〃is that you're so plumb
alkalied you don't know the real thing when you see it。〃
〃That's right；〃 supplemented Windy Bill drily。 〃HE come from New
York。〃 〃No！〃 cried Jed。 〃You don't say so？ Did he come in one box
or in two？〃 Under cover of the laugh； the newcomer made a raid on
the dutch ovens and pails。 Having filled his plate； he squatted on his
heels and fell to his belated meal。 He was a tall； slab…sided individual；
with a lean； leathery face； a sweeping white moustache； and a grave and
sardonic eye。 His leather chaps were plain and worn； and his hat had
been fashioned by time and wear into much individuality。 I was not
surprised to hear him nicknamed Sacatone Bill。
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〃Just ask him how he got that game foot；〃 suggested Johnny Stone to
me in an undertone； so； of course； I did not。 Later someone told me that
the lameness resulted from his refusal of an urgent invitation to r
