arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第24章
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〃And the fool had to get drunk and give it away！〃
The excitement was just started； but it didn't last long。 The crowd got
the same notion at the same time； and it just melted。 Me and Dutchy was
left alone。 I went home。 Pretty soon a fellow named Jimmy Tack
come around a little out of breath。
〃Say； you know that buckskin you bought off'n me？〃 says he； 〃I want
to buy him back。〃
〃Oh； you do；〃 says I。
〃Yes；〃 says he。 〃I've got to leave town for a couple of days； and I got
to have somethin' to pack。〃
〃Wait and I'll see；〃 says I。
Outside the door I met another fellow。
〃Look here；〃 he stops me with。 〃How about that bay mare I sold you？
Can you call that sale off？ I got to leave town for a day or two and〃
〃Wait；〃 says I。 〃I'll see。〃 By the gate was another hurryin' up。
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〃Oh； yes；〃 says I when he opens his mouth。 〃I know all your troubles。
You have to leave town for a couple of days； and you want back that lizard
you sold me。 Well； wait。〃
After that I had to quit the main street and dodge back of the hog ranch。
They was all headed my way。 I was as popular as a snake in a
prohibition town。 I hit Dutchy's by the back door。
〃Do you want to sell hosses？〃 I asks。 〃Everyone in town wants to buy。〃
Dutchy looked hurt。 〃I wanted to keep them for the valley market；〃
says he； 〃butHow much did you give Jimmy Tack for his buckskin？〃
〃Twenty；〃 says I。 〃Well； let him have it for eighty；〃 says Dutchy； 〃and
the others in proportion。〃 I lay back and breathed hard。 〃Sell
them all； but the one best hoss；〃 says he〃no； the TWO best。〃 〃Holy
smoke！〃 says I； gettin' my breath。 〃If you mean that； Dutchy； you lend me
another gun and give me a drink。〃 He done so； and I went back home
to where the whole camp of Cyanide was waitin'。 I got up and made
them a speech and told them I'd sell them hosses all right； and to come
back。 Then I got an Injin boy to help； and we rustled over the remuda
and held them in a blind canon。 Then I called up these miners one at a
time； and made bargains with them。 Roar！ Well； you could hear them
at Denver； they tell me； and the weather reports said； 〃Thunder in the
mountains。〃 But it was cash on delivery； and they all paid up。 They had
seen that white quartz with the gold stickin' into it； and that's the same as a
dose of loco to miner gents。 Why didn't I take a hoss and start first？
I did think of itfor about one second。 I wouldn't stay in that country
then for a million dollars a minute。 I was plumb sick and loathin' it； and
just waitin' to make high jumps back to Arizona。 So I wasn't aimin' to
join this stampede； and didn't have no vivid emotions。 They got to
fightin' on which should get the first hoss； so I bent my gun on them and
made them draw lots。 They roared some more； but done so； and as fast
as each one handed over his dust or dinero he made a rush for his cabin；
piled on his saddle and pack； and pulled his freight on a cloud of dust。 It
was sure a grand stampede； and I enjoyed it no limit。
So by sundown I was alone with the Injin。 Those two hundred head
brought in about twenty thousand dollars。 It was heavy； but I could carry
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it。 I was about alone in the landscape； and there were the two best hosses
I had saved out for Dutchy。 I was sure some tempted。 But I had enough
to get home on anyway； and I never yet drank behind the bar； even if I
might hold up the saloon from the floor。 So I grieved some inside that I
was so tur'ble conscientious； shouldered the sacks； and went down to find
Dutchy。 I met him headed his way； and carryin' of a sheet of paper。
〃Here's your dinero；〃 says I； dumpin' the four big sacks on the ground。
He stooped over and hefted them。 Then he passed one over to me。
〃What's that for？〃 I asks。 〃For you；〃 says he。 〃My commission
ain't that much；〃 I objects。
〃You've earned it；〃 says he； 〃and you might have skipped with the
whole wad。〃 〃How did you know I wouldn't？〃 I asks。
〃Well；〃 says he； and I noted that jag of his had flew。 〃You see； I was
behind that rock up there； and I had you covered。〃
I saw； and I began to feel better about bein' so tur'ble conscientious。
We walked a little ways without sayin' nothin'。 〃But ain't you
goin' to join the game？〃 I asks。
〃Guess not；〃 says he； jinglin' of his gold。 〃I'm satisfied。〃 〃But if
you don't get a wiggle on you； you are sure goin' to get left on those gold
claims；〃 says I。 〃There ain't no gold claims；〃 says he。 〃But
Henry Smith〃 I cries。 〃There ain't no Henry Smith；〃 says he。
I let that soak in about six inches。 〃But there's a Buck Canon；〃 I
pleads。 〃Please say there's a Buck Canon。〃 〃Oh； yes； there's a Buck
Canon；〃 he allows。 〃Nice limestone formationmake good hard water。〃
〃Well； you're a marvel；〃 says I。
We walked n together down to Dutchy's saloon。
We stopped outside。
〃Now；〃 says he； 〃I'm goin' to take one of those hosses and go
somewheres else。 Maybe you'd better do likewise on the other。〃
〃You bet I will；〃 says I。
He turned around and taked up the paper he was carryin'。 It was a
sign。 It read：
THE DUTCH HAS RUSTLED
〃Nice sentiment；〃 says I。 〃It will be appreciated when the crowd
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comes back from that little pasear into Buck Canon。 But why not tack
her up where the trail hits the camp？ Why on this particular door？〃
〃Well；〃 said Dutchy； squintin' at the sign sideways； 〃you see I sold this
place day before yesterdayto Mike O'Toole。〃
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CHAPTER EIGHT THE CORRAL
BRANDING
All that night we slept like sticks of wood。 No dreams visited us； but
in accordance with the immemorial habit of those who live outwhether
in the woods； on the plains； among the mountains； or at seaonce during
the night each of us rose on his elbow； looked about him； and dropped
back to sleep。 If there had been a fire to replenish； that would have been
the moment to do so； if the wind had been changing and the seas rising；
that would have been the time to cast an eye aloft for indications； to feel
whether the anchor cable was holding； if the pack…horses had straggled
from the alpine meadows under the snows； this would have been the
occasion for intent listening for the faintly tinkling hell so that next day
one would k
