arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第39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！
… Page 118…
ARIZONA NIGHTS
Nature。 We buried her then； and went out back to recuperate。 There
we could gaze on the smilin' landscape； dotted by about four hundred
long…laigged chickens swoopin' here and there after grasshoppers。
〃We got to stop that；〃 says I。 〃We can't；〃 murmured Tusky； inspired。
〃We can't。 It's born in 'em； it's a primal instinct； like the love of a mother
for her young； and it can't be eradicated！ Them chickens is constructed
by a divine providence for the express purpose of chasin' grasshoppers；
jest as the beaver is made for buildin' dams； and the cow…puncher is made
for whisky and faro…games。 We can't keep 'em from it。 If we was to
shut 'em in a dark cellar； they'd flop after imaginary grasshoppers in their
dreams； and die emaciated in the midst of plenty。 Jimmy； we're up agin
the Cosmos； the oversoul〃 Oh； he had the medicine tongue； Tusky had；
and risin' on the wings of eloquence that way； he had me faded in ten
minutes。 In fifteen I was wedded solid to the notion that the bottom had
dropped out of the chicken business。 I think now that if we'd shut them
hens up； we might havestill； I don't know； they was a good deal in what
Tusky said。
〃Tuscarora Maxillary；〃 says I； 〃did you ever stop to entertain that
beautiful thought that if all the dumfoolishness possessed now by the
human race could be gathered together； and lined up alongside of us； the
first feller to come along would say to it 'Why； hello； Solomon！'〃 We
quit the notion of chickens for profit right then and there； but we couldn't
quit the place。 We hadn't much money； for one thing； and then we； kind
of liked loafin' around and raisin' a little garden truck； andoh； well； I
might as well say so； we had a notion about placers in the dry wash back
of the house you know how it is。 So we stayed on； and kept a…raisin'
these long…laigs for the fun of it。 I used to like to watch 'em projectin'
around； and I fed 'em twict a day about as usual。 So Tusky and I
lived alone there together； happy as ducks in Arizona。 About onc't in a
month somebody'd pike along the road。 She wasn't much of a road；
generally more chuckholes than bumps； though sometimes it was the other
way around。 Unless it happened to be a man horseback or maybe a
freighter without the fear of God in his soul； we didn't have no words with
them； they was too busy cussin' the highways and generally too mad for
118
… Page 119…
ARIZONA NIGHTS
social discourses。 One day early in the year； when the 'dobe mud
made ruts to add to the bumps； one of these automobeels went past。 It
was the first Tusky and me had seen in them parts； so we run out to view
her。 Owin' to the high spots on the road； she looked like one of these
movin' picters； as to blur and wobble； sounded like a cyclone mingled with
cuss…words； and smelt like hell on housecleanin' day。 〃Which them
folks don't seem to be enjoyin' of the scenery；〃 says I to Tusky。 〃Do you
reckon that there blue trail is smoke from the machine or remarks from the
inhabitants thereof？〃
Tusky raised his head and sniffed long and inquirin'。
〃It's langwidge；〃 says he。 〃Did you ever stop to think that all the words
in the dictionary stretched end to end would reach〃
But at that minute I catched sight of somethin' brass lyin' in the road。
It proved to be a curled…up sort of horn with a rubber bulb on the end。 I
squoze the bulb and jumped twenty foot over the remark she made。
〃Jarred off the machine；〃 says Tusky。 〃Oh； did it？〃 says I； my nerves
still wrong。 〃I thought maybe it had growed up from the soil like a
toadstool。〃
About this time we abolished the wire chicken corrals； because we
needed some of the wire。 Them long…laigs thereupon scattered all over
the flat searchin' out their prey。 When feed time come I had to screech
my lungs out gettin' of 'em in； and then sometimes they didn't all hear。 It
was plumb discouragin'； and I mighty nigh made up my mind to quit 'em；
but they had come to be sort of pets； and I hated to turn 'em down。 It
used to tickle Tusky almost to death to see me out there hollerin' away like
an old bull…frog。 He used to come out reg'lar； with his pipe lit； just to
enjoy me。 Finally I got mad and opened up on him。 〃Oh；〃 he
explains； 〃it just plumb amuses me to see the dumfool at his childish work。
Why don't you teach 'em to come to that brass horn； and save your voice？〃
〃Tusky；〃 says I； with feelin'； 〃sometimes you do seem to get a glimmer of
real sense。〃 Well； first off them chickens used to throw back…
sommersets over that horn。 You have no idee how slow chickens is to
learn things。 I could tell you things about chickenssay； this yere bluff
about roosters bein' gallant is all wrong。 I've watched 'em。 When one
119
… Page 120…
ARIZONA NIGHTS
finds a nice feed he gobbles it so fast that the pieces foller down his throat
like yearlin's through a hole in the fence。 It's only when he scratches up a
measly one…grain quick…lunch that he calls up the hens and stands noble
and self…sacrificin' to one side。 That ain't the point； which is； that after
two months I had them long…laigs so they'd drop everythin' and come kitin'
at the HONK…HONK of that horn。 It was a purty sight to see 'em； sailin'
in from all directions twenty foot at a stride。 I was proud of 'em； and
named 'em the Honk…honk Breed。 We didn't have no others； for by now
the coyotes and bob…cats had nailed the straight…breds。 There wasn't no
wild cat or coyote could catch one of my Honk…honks； no； sir！ We
made a little on our placerjust enough to keep interested。 Then the
supervisors decided to fix our road； and what's more； THEY DONE IT！
That's the only part in this yarn that's hard to believe； but； boys； you'll
have to take it on faith。 They ploughed her； and crowned her； and
scraped her； and rolled her； and when they moved on we had the fanciest
highway in the State of Californy。 That noonthe day they called her
a jobTusky and I sat smokin' our pipes as per usual； when way over the
foothills we seen a cloud of dust and faint to our cars was bore a whizzin'
sound。 The chickens was gathered under the cottonwood for the heat of
the day； but they didn't pay no attention。 Then faint； but clear； we heard
another of them brass horns： 〃Honk！ honk！〃 says it； and every one of
them chickens woke up； and stood at attention。 〃Honk！ honk！〃 it
hollered clearer and nearer。
Then over the hill come an automobeel； blowin' vigorous at every
jump。 〃My God！〃 I yells to Tusky； kickin' over my
