lahoma(拉霍马)-第11章
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no light work； and when his tools and material were in the cove； the
digging of the dugout was protracted because of the closeness of water to
the surface。 At last he succeeded in excavating the cellar at a spot within a
few yards of the mountain； without penetrating moistened sand。 He
leveled down the walls till he had a chamber about twelve feet square。
Over this he placed the wagon…tongue； converting it into the ridge…pole；
which he set upon forks cut from the near…by cedars。 Having trimmed
branches of the trees in the grove； he laid them as close together as
possible； slanting from the ridge…pole to the ground； and over these laid
the bushy cedar branches。 This substantial roof he next covered with dirt；
heaping it up till no glimpse of wood was visible tinder the hard…packed
dome。 The end of the dugout was closed up in the same way except for a
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hole near the top fitted closely to the stovepipe and packed with mud。
Of the sideboards he fashioned a rude frame； then a door to stand in it；
fitted into grooves that it might be pushed and held into place without
hinges。 〃Of course I got to take down my door every time I comes in or
out；〃 remarked Willock； regarding his structure with much complacency；
〃but they's nothing else to do； and I got to be occupied。〃
When he had transported the stove to the cove； he set it up with a
tingle of expectant pleasure。 It was to be his day of housewarming； not
because the weather had grown cold； but that he might celebrate。
〃This here；〃 he said； 〃is to be a red…letter day； a day plumb up in X； Y
and Z。 I got to take my gun and forage for some game； then I'll dress my
fresh meat and have a cooking。 I'll bring over some grub to keep it
company。 Let's seethis is plum…day； ain't it？〃 He stood meditating；
stroking his wild whiskers with a grimy hand。 〃Oh； Lord； yes； I believe it
IS plum…day！ 'Well； they ain't nothing the way you would have made it
yourself；' says Brick； 'not even though it's you as made it。' This here is
plum…day； and that there can of plums will shore be opened。 And having
my first fire gives me a chance to open up my sack of flour； won't I hold
carnival！ What I feels sorry about myself is knowing how I'm going to feel
after I've et all them victuals。 I believe I'll take a bath； too； in that pool
over yonder in the grove。 Ain't I ever going to use that there soap？。。。 But I
don't say as I will。 Don't seem wuth while。 They ain't nobody to see me；
and I feels clean insides。 As I takes it； you do your washing for them as
neighbors with you。 If I had a neighbor！just a dog； a little yaller dogor
some chickens to crow and cackle〃
He broke off； to lean despondently on his gun。 He remained thus
motionless for a long time； his earth…stained garments； unkempt hair； hard
dark hands and gloomy eye marking him as the only object in the bright
sunshine standing forth unresponsive to nature's smile。
He started into life with a shrug of his powerful shoulders。 〃It's just
like you； Brick； to spoil a festibul…day with your low idees！ Why don't you
keep them idees for a rainy day？ Just lay up them regrets and hankerings
for the first rainy day； and then be of a piece with the heavens and earth。 'If
you can't stay cheerful while the sun's shining；' says Brick； 'God's wasting
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a mighty nice big sun on YOU！'〃
Thus admonishing himself； and striving desperately for contentment；
he strode forth from the only exit of the cove； and skirted the southern
wall of the range； looking for game。 It was late in the afternoon when he
returned with the best portions of a deer swung over his shoulder。 By this
time he was desperately hungry； and the prospect of the first venison since
his exile stirred his pulses； and gave to the bright scene a cheerful beauty it
had not before worn to his homesick heart。 He trudged up to the narrow
door of the dugout which was closed； just as he had left it； and having
carried a noble haunch of venison to the pool to be washed； he descended
the dirt steps and set the door to one side。 Without at first understanding
why； he became instantly aware that some one had been there during his
absence。
Of course； as soon as his eyes could penetrate the semi…gloom
sufficiently to distinguish small objects； he saw the proof； but even before
that； the air seemed tingling with some strange personality。 He stood like a
statue； gazing fixedly。 His alert eyes； always on guard； had assured him
that the cove was deserted… …there was no use to look behind him。
Whoever had been there must have scaled the mountain； and had either
crossed to the plain on the north； or was hiding behind the rocks。 What
held his eyes to the stove was a heap of tobacco； and a clay pipe beside it。
Among the stores removed from the wagon； tobacco had been found in
generous quantity； but during the month now elapsed； bad been sadly
reduced。 Willock； however； was not pleased to find the new supply； on the
contrary his emotions were confused and alarmed。 Had the tobacco been
ten times as much； it could not have solaced him for the knowledge that
the dugout had been visited。
After a few minutes of immobility； he entered； placed the meat on a
box； and departed softly； closing the door behind him。 Casting
apprehensive glances along the mountainside； he stole toward it； and made
his way up the gully； completely hidden by the straggling line of trees and
underbrush； till he stood on the summit。 He approached each ridge with
extreme caution； as if about to storm the barricade of an enemy； thus he
traveled over the range without coming on the traces of his mysterious
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visitor。 Not pausing at the crevice； he went on to the outer northern ridge
of the range； and lying flat among some high rocks； looked down。
He counted seventeen men near the spot from which he had removed
the wagon。 Fifteen were on horseback and two riderless horses explained
the presence of the two on foot。 All of them had drawn up in a circle about
the heap of stones that covered the woman's burial…place。 Of the seventeen；
sixteen were Indians； painted and adorned for the war…path。 The remaining
man； he who stood at the heap of stones beside the chief； was a white man；
and at the first glance； Willock recognized him； he was the dead woman's
husband； Henry Gledware。
Brick's mind was perplexed with vain questionings： Was it Gledware
who had visited his dugout； or the Indians？ Did the pipe and tobacco
indicate a peace…offering？ What was the relationship between Gledware
and these Indians？ Was he their prisoner； and were they about to burn him
upon the heap of stones？ He did not seem alarmed。 Had he made friends
with the chief by promising to conduct him to the deserted wagon？ If so；
what would they think in regard to the wagon's disappearance？ Had the
dugout persuaded
