arizona nights-第4部分
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chargin' off dry； but it was a long； long way to the Springs； and
mighty hot and dusty。 Texas Pete and his one lonesome water hole
shorely did a big business。
Late one afternoon me and Gentleman Tim was joggin' along above
Texas Pete's place。 It was a tur'ble hot dayyou had to prime
yourself to spitand we was just gettin' back from drivin' some
beef up to the troops at Fort Huachuca。 We was due to cross the
Emigrant Trailshe's wore in tur'ble deepyou can see the ruts
to…day。 When we topped the rise we see a little old outfit just
makin' out to drag along。
It was one little schooner all by herself； drug along by two poor
old cavallos that couldn't have pulled my hat off。 Their tongues
was out； and every once in a while they'd stick in a chuck…hole。
Then a man would get down and put his shoulder to the wheel； and
everybody'd take a heave； and up they'd come； all a…trembling and
weak。
Tim and I rode down just to take a look at the curiosity。
A thin…lookin' man was drivin'； all humped up。
〃Hullo； stranger；〃 says I； 〃ain't you 'fraid of Injins？〃
〃Yes；〃 says he。
〃Then why are you travellin' through an Injin country all alone？〃
〃Couldn't keep up；〃 says he。 〃Can I get water here？〃
〃I reckon；〃 I answers。
He drove up to the water trough there at Texas Pete's； me and
Gentleman Tim followin' along because our trail led that way。
But he hadn't more'n stopped before Texas Pete was out。
〃Cost you four bits to water them hosses；〃 says he。
The man looked up kind of bewildered。
〃I'm sorry；〃 says he； 〃I ain't got no four bits。 I got my roll
lifted off'n me。〃
〃No water； then；〃 growls Texas Pete back at him。
The man looked about him helpless。
〃How far is it to the next water？〃 he asks me。
〃Twenty mile；〃 I tells him。
〃My God！〃 he says； to himself…like。
Then he shrugged his shoulders very tired。
〃All right。 It's gettin' the cool of the evenin'； we'll make
it。〃 He turns into the inside of that old schooner。
〃Gi' me the cup； Sue。〃
A white…faced woman who looked mighty good to us alkalis opened
the flaps and gave out a tin cup； which the man pointed out to
fill。
〃How many of you is they？〃 asks Texas Pete。
〃Three；〃 replies the man； wondering。
〃Well； six bits； then；〃 says Texas Pete； 〃cash down。〃
At that the man straightens up a little。
〃I ain't askin' for no water for my stock；〃 says he； 〃but my wife
and baby has been out in this sun all day without a drop of
water。 Our cask slipped a hoop and bust just this side of Dos
Cabesas。 The poor kid is plumb dry。〃
〃Two bits a head；〃 says Texas Pete。
At that the woman comes out； a little bit of a baby in her arms。
The kid had fuzzy yellow hair； and its face was flushed red and
shiny。
〃Shorely you won't refuse a sick child a drink of water； sir；〃
says she。
But Texas Pete had some sort of a special grouch； I guess he was
just beginning to get his snowshoes off after a fight with his
own forty…rod。
〃What the hell are you…all doin' on the trail without no money at
all？〃 he growls； 〃and how do you expect to get along？ Such plumb
tenderfeet drive me weary。〃
〃Well；〃 says the man； still reasonable； 〃I ain't got no money；
but I'll give you six bits' worth of flour or trade or an'thin' I
got。〃
〃I don't run no truck…store；〃 snaps Texas Pete； and turns square
on his heel and goes back to his chair。
〃Got six bits about you？〃 whispers Gentleman Tim to me。
〃Not a red；〃 I answers。
Gentleman Tim turns to Texas Pete。
〃Let 'em have a drink； Pete。 I'll pay you next time I come
down。〃
〃Cash down；〃 growls Pete。
〃You're the meanest man I ever see；〃 observes Tim。 〃I wouldn't
speak to you if I met you in hell carryin' a lump of ice in your
hand。〃
〃You're the softest _I_ ever see；〃 sneers Pete。 〃Don't they have
any genooine Texans down your way？〃
〃Not enough to make it disagreeable；〃 says Tim。
〃That lets you out；〃 growls Pete； gettin' hostile and handlin' of
his rifle。
Which the man had been standin' there bewildered； the cup hangin'
from his finger。 At last； lookin' pretty desperate； he stooped
down to dig up a little of the wet from an overflow puddle lyin'
at his feet。 At the same time the hosses； left sort of to
themselves and bein' drier than a covered bridge； drug forward
and stuck their noses in the trough。
Gentleman Tim and me was sittin' there on our hosses； a little to
one side。 We saw Texas Pete jump up from his chair； take a quick
aim； and cut loose with his rifle。 It was plumb unexpected to
us。 We hadn't thought of any shootin'； and our six…shooters was
tied in； 'count of the jumpy country we'd been drivin' the steers
over。 But Gentleman Tim； who had unslung his rope； aimin' to
help the hosses out of the chuckhole； snatched her off the horn；
and with one of the prettiest twenty…foot flip throws I ever see
done he snaked old Texas Pete right out of his wicky…up； gun and
all。 The old renegade did his best to twist around for a shot at
us； but it was no go； and I never enjoyed hog…tying a critter
more in my life than I enjoyed hog…tying Texas Pete。 Then we
turned to see what damage had been done。
We were some relieved to find the family all right； but Texas
Pete had bored one of them poor old crow…bait hosses plumb
through the head。
〃It's lucky for you you don't get the old man；〃 says Gentleman
Tim very quiet and polite。
Which Gentleman Tim was an Irishman； and I'd been on the range
long enough with him to know that when he got quiet and polite it
was time to dodge behind something。
〃I hope； sir〃 says he to the stranger； 〃that you will give your
wife and baby a satisfying drink。 As for your hoss； pray do not
be under any apprehension。 Our friend； Mr。 Texas Pete； here； has
kindly consented to make good any deficiencies from his own
corral。〃
Tim could talk high； wide； and handsome when he set out to。
The man started to say something； but I managed to herd him to
one side。
〃Let him alone；〃 I whispers。 〃When he talks that way； he's mad；
and when he's mad； it's better to leave nature to supply the
lightnin' rods。〃
He seemed to sabe all right； so we built us a little fire and
started some grub； while Gentleman Tim walked up and down very
grand and fierce。
By and by he seemed to make up his mind。 He went over and untied
Texas Pete。
〃Stand up； you hound；〃 says he。 〃Now listen to me。 If you make
a break to get away； or if you refuse to do just as I tell you； I
won't shoot you； but I'll march you up country and see that
Geronimo gets you。〃
He sorted out a shovel and pick； made Texas Pete carry them right
along the trail a quarter； and started him to diggin' a hole。
Texas Pete started in hard enough； Tim sittin' over him on his
hoss； his six…shooter loose； and his rope free。 The man and I
stood by； not darin' to say a word。 After a minute or so Texas
Pete began to work slower and slower。 By and by he stopped。
〃Look here；〃 says he； 〃is this here thing my grave？〃
〃I am goin' to see that you give the gentleman's hoss decent
interment；〃 says Gentleman Tim very polite。
〃Bury a hoss！〃 growls Texas Pete。
But he didn't say any more。 Tim cocked his six…shooter。
〃Perhaps you'd better quit panting and sweat a little；〃 says he。
Texas Pete worked hard for a while； for Tim's quietness was
beginning to scare him up the worst way。 By and by he had got
down maybe four or five feet； and Tim got off his hoss。
〃I think that will do；〃 says he。
〃You may come out。 Billy； my son； cover him。 Now； Mr。 Texas
Pete；〃 he says； cold as steel； 〃there is the grave。 We will
place the hoss in it。 Then I intend to shoot you and put you in
with the hoss； and write you an epitaph that will be a comfort to
such travellers of the Trail as are honest； and a warnin' to
such as are not。 I'd as soon kill you now as an hour from now；
so you may make a break for it if you feel like it。〃
He stooped over to look into the hole。 I thought he looked an
extra long time； but when he raised his head his face had changed
complete。
〃March！〃 says he very brisk。
We all went back to the shack。 From the corral Tim took Texas
Pete's best team and hitched her to the old schooner。
〃There；〃 says he to the man。 〃Now you'd better hit the trail。
Take that whisky keg there for water。 Good…bye。〃
We sat there without sayin' a word for some time after the
schooner had pulled out。 Then Tim says； very abrupt：
〃I've changed my mind。〃
He got up。
〃Come on； Billy；〃 says he to me。 〃We'll just leave our friend
tied up。 I'll be back to…morrow to turn you loose。 In the
meantime it won't hurt you a bit to be a little uncomfortable；
and hungryand thirsty。〃
We rode off just about sundown； leavin' Texas Pete lashed tight。
Now all this knocked me hell…west and crooked； and I said so； but
I couldn't get a word out of Gentleman Tim。 All the answer I
could get was just little laughs。
We drawed into the ranch near midnight； but next mornin' Tim had
a long talk with the boss； and the result was that the whole
outfit was instructed to arm up with a pick or a shovel apiece；
and to get set for Texas Pete's。 We got there a little after
noon； turned the old boy outwithout firearmsand then began to
dig at a place Tim told us to； near that grave of Texas Pete's。
In three hours we had the finest water…hole developed you ever
want to see。 Then the boss stuck up a sign that said：
PUBLIC WATER…HOLE。 WATER； FREE。
〃Now you old skin；〃 says he to Texas Pete； 〃charge all you want
to on your own property。 But if I ever hear of your layin' cl
