arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第31章
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with grub for a month。 Each of us had his own weapons； of course。 In
addition we put in picks and shovels； and a small cask of water。 Handy
Solomon said that would be enough； as there was water marked down on
his chart。 We told the gang that we were going trading。 At the end
of the week we started； and were out four days。 There wasn't much room；
what with the supplies and the baggage； for the five of us。 We had to curl
up 'most anywheres to sleep。 And it certainly seemed to me that we were
in lots of danger。 The waves were much bigger than she was； and
splashed on us considerable； but Schwartz and Anderson didn't seem to
mind。 They laughed at us。 Anderson sang that song of his； and
Schwartz told us of the placers he had worked。 He and Simpson had
made a pretty good clean…up； just enough to make them want to get rich。
The first day out Simpson showed us a belt with about an hundred ounces
of dust。 This he got tired of wearing； so he kept it in a compass…box；
which was empty。 At the end of the four days we turned in at a deep
bay and came to anchor。 The country was the usual propositionvery
light…brown； brittle…looking mountains； about two thousand feet high； lots
of sage and cactus； a pebbly beach； and not a sign of anything fresh and
green。 But Denton and I were mighty glad to see any sort of land。
Besides； our keg of water was pretty low； and it was getting about time to
discover the spring the chart spoke of。 So we piled our camp stuff in the
small boat and rowed ashore。
Anderson led the way confidently enough up a dry arroyo； whose sides
were clay and conglomerate。 But； though we followed it to the end； we
could find no indications that it was anything more than a wash for rain
floods。 〃That's main queer；〃 muttered Anderson； and returned to the
beach。 There he spread out the chartthe first look at it we'd had
and set to studying it。
It was a careful piece of work done in India ink； pretty old； to judge by
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the look of it； and with all sorts of pictures of mountains and dolphins and
ships and anchors around the edge。 There was our bay； all right。 Two
crosses were marked on the land partone labelled 〃oro〃 and the other
〃agua。〃 〃Now there's the high cliff；〃 says Anderson； following it out；
〃and there's the round hill with the boulderand if them bearings don't
point due for that ravine； the devil's a preacher。〃 We tried it again；
with the same result。 A second inspection of the map brought us no light
on the question。 We talked it over； and looked at it from all points； but
we couldn't dodge the truth： the chart was wrong。
Then we explored several of the nearest gullies； but without finding
anything but loose stones baked hot in the sun。 By now it was getting
towards sundown； so we built us a fire of mesquite on the beach； made us
supper； and boiled a pot of beans。 We talked it over。 The water was
about gone。 〃That's what we've got to find first；〃 said Simpson； 〃no
question of it。 It's God knows how far to the next water； and we don't
know how long it will take us to get there in that little boat。 If we run our
water entirely out before we start； we're going to be in trouble。 We'll
have a good look to…morrow； and if we don't find her； we'll run down to
Mollyhay＇4＇ and get a few extra casks。〃
＇4＇ Mulege … I retain the Old Timer's pronunciation。
〃Perhaps that map is wrong about the treasure； too；〃 suggested
Denton。 〃I thought of that；〃 said Handy Solomon； 〃but then； thinks
I to myself； this old rip probably don't make no long stay herejust dodges
in and out like； between tides； to bury his loot。 He would need no water
at the time； but he might when he came back； so he marked the water on
his map。 But he wasn't noways particular AND exact； being in a hurry。
But you can kiss the Book to it that he didn't make no such mistakes about
the swag。〃 〃I believe you're right；〃 said I。 When we came to turn
in； Anderson suggested that he should sleep aboard the boat。 But Billy
Simpson； in mind perhaps of the hundred ounces in the compass…box；
insisted that he'd just as soon as not。 After a little objection Handy
Solomon gave in； but I thought he seemed sour about it。 We built a good
fire； and in about ten seconds were asleep。 Now； usually I sleep like
a log； and did this time until about midnight。 Then all at once I came
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broad awake and sitting up in my blankets。 Nothing had happenedI
wasn't even dreamingbut there I was as alert and clear as though it were
broad noon。 By the light of the fire I saw Handy Solomon sitting；
and at his side our five rifles gathered。 I must have made some
noise； for he turned quietly toward me； saw I was awake； and nodded。
The moonlight was sparkling on the hard stony landscape； and a thin
dampness came out from the sea。 After a minute Anderson threw
on another stick of wood； yawned； and stood up。
〃It's wet；〃 said he； 〃I've been fixing the guns。〃 He showed me
how he was inserting a little patch of felt between the hammer and the
nipple； a scheme of his own for keeping damp from the powder。 Then he
rolled up in his blanket。 At the time it all seemed quite naturalI suppose
my mind wasn't fully awake； for all my head felt so clear。 Afterwards I
realised what a ridiculous bluff he was making： for of course the cap
already on the nipple was plenty to keep out the damp。 I fully believe he
intended to kill us as we lay。 Only my sudden awakening spoiled his
plan。 I had absolutely no idea of this at the time； however。 Not the
slightest suspicion entered my head。 In view of that fact； I have since
believed in guardian angels。 For my next move； which at the time
seemed to me absolutely aimless； was to change my blankets from one
side of the fire to the other。 And that brought me alongside the five rifles。
Owing to this fact； I am now convinced； we awoke safe at daylight；
cooked breakfast； and laid the plan for the day。 Anderson directed us。 I
was to climb over the ridge before us and search in the ravine on the other
side。 Schwartz was to explore up the beach to the left； and Denton to the
right。 Anderson said he would wait for Billy Simpson； who had overslept
in the darkness of the cubbyhole； and who was now paddling ashore。
The two of them would push inland to the west until a high hill would give
them a chance to look around for greenery。 We started at once；
before the sun would be hot。 The hill I had
