the mountains(山脉)-第6部分
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occasional stubborn fits when you could beat him to a pulp without
persuading him。 He was one of the type already mentioned that knows
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but two or three kinds of feed。 As time went on he became thinner and
thinner。 The other horses prospered； but Tunemah failed。 He actually
did not know enough to take care of himself； and could not learn。 Finally；
when about two months out； we traded him at a cow…camp for a little
buckskin called Monache。
So much for the saddle…horses。 The pack…animals were four。
A study of Dinkey's character and an experience of her characteristics
always left me with mingled feelings。 At times I was inclined to think
her perfection： at other times thirty cents would have been esteemed by me
as a liberal offer for her。 To enumerate her good points： she was an
excellent weight… carrier； took good care of her pack that it never scraped
nor bumped； knew all about trails； the possibilities of short cuts； the best
way of easing herself downhill； kept fat and healthy in districts where
grew next to no feed at all； was past…mistress in the picking of routes
through a trailless country。 Her endurance was marvelous； her
intelligence equally so。 In fact too great intelligence perhaps accounted
for most of her defects。 She thought too much for herself； she made up
opinions about people； she speculated on just how far each member of the
party； man or beast； would stand imposition； and tried conclusions with
each to test the accuracy of her speculations； she obstinately insisted on
her own way in going up and down hill；a way well enough for Dinkey；
perhaps； but hazardous to the other less skillful animals who naturally
would follow her lead。 If she did condescend to do things according to
your ideas； it was with a mental reservation。 You caught her sardonic eye
fixed on you contemptuously。 You felt at once that she knew another
method； a much better method； with which yours compared most
unfavorably。 〃I'd like to kick you in the stomach；〃 Wes used to say； 〃you
know too much for a horse！〃
If one of the horses bucked under the pack； Dinkey deliberately tried
to stampede the othersand generally succeeded。 She invariably led
them off whenever she could escape her picket…rope。 In case of trouble
of any sort； instead of standing still sensibly； she pretended to be subject to
wild…eyed panics。 It was all pretense； for when you DID yield to
temptation and light into her with the toe of your boot； she subsided into
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common sense。 The spirit of malevolent mischief was hers。
Her performances when she was being packed were ridiculously
histrionic。 As soon as the saddle was cinched； she spread her legs apart；
bracing them firmly as though about to receive the weight of an iron safe。
Then as each article of the pack was thrown across her back； she flinched
and uttered the most heart…rending groans。 We used sometimes to amuse
ourselves by adding merely an empty sack； or other article quite without
weight。 The groans and tremblings of the braced legs were quite as
pitiful as though we had piled on a sack of flour。 Dinkey； I had forgotten
to state； was a white horse； and belonged to Wes。
Jenny also was white and belonged to Wes。 Her chief characteristic
was her devotion to Dinkey。 She worshiped Dinkey； and seconded her
enthusiastically。 Without near the originality of Dinkey； she was yet a
very good and sure pack…horse。 The deceiving part about Jenny was her
eye。 It was baleful with the spirit of evil；snaky and black； and with
green sideways gleams in it。 Catching the flash of it； you would forever
after avoid getting in range of her heels or teeth。 But it was all a delusion。
Jenny's disposition was mild and harmless。
The third member of the pack…outfit we bought at an auction sale in
rather a peculiar manner。 About sixty head of Arizona horses of the C。 A。
Bar outfit were being sold。 Toward the close of the afternoon they
brought out a well…built stocky buckskin of first…rate appearance except
that his left flank was ornamented with five different brands。 The
auctioneer called attention to him。
〃Here is a first…rate all…round horse；〃 said he。 〃He is sound； will ride；
work； or pack； perfectly broken； mild； and gentle。 He would make a
first…rate family horse； for he has a kind disposition。〃
The official rider put a saddle on him to give him a demonstrating turn
around the track。 Then that mild； gentle； perfectly broken family horse
of kind disposition gave about as pretty an exhibition of barbed…wire
bucking as you would want to see。 Even the auctioneer had to join in the
wild shriek of delight that went up from the crowd。 He could not get a
bid； and I bought the animal in later very cheaply。
As I had suspected； the trouble turned out to be merely exuberance or
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nervousness before a crowd。 He bucked once with me under the saddle；
and twice subsequently under a pack；that was all。 Buckshot was the
best pack…horse we had。 Bar an occasional saunter into the brush when
he got tired of the trail； we had no fault to find with him。 He carried a
heavy pack； was as sure…footed as Bullet； as sagacious on the trail as
Dinkey； and he always attended strictly to his own business。 Moreover
he knew that business thoroughly； knew what should be expected of him；
accomplished it well and quietly。 His disposition was dignified but
lovable。 As long as you treated him well； he was as gentle as you could
ask。 But once let Buckshot get it into his head that he was being imposed
on； or once let him see that your temper had betrayed you into striking him
when he thought he did not deserve it； and he cut loose vigorously and
emphatically with his heels。 He declined to be abused。
There remains but Lily。 I don't know just how to do justice to Lily
the 〃Lily maid。〃 We named her that because she looked it。 Her color
was a pure white； her eye was virginal and silly； her long bang strayed in
wanton carelessness across her face and eyes； her expression was foolish；
and her legs were long and rangy。 She had the general appearance of an
overgrown school…girl too big for short dresses and too young for long
gowns；a school…girl named Flossie； or Mamie； or Lily。 So we named
her that。
At first hers was the attitude of the timid and shrinking tenderfoot。
She stood in awe of her companions； she appreciated her lack of
experience。 Humbly she took the rear； slavishly she copied the other
horses； closely she clung to camp。 Then in a few weeks； like most
tenderfeet； she came to think that her short experience had taught her
everything there was to know。 She put on airs。 She became too cocky
and conceited for words。
Everything she did was exaggerated； overdone。 She assumed her
pack with an air that plainly said； 〃Just see what a good horse am I！〃 She
started out three seconds before the others in a manner intended to shame
their procrastinating ways。 Invariably she was the last to rest； and the
first to start on again。 She climbed over…vigorously； with the manner of
conscious rectitude。 〃Acts like she was trying to get her wages raised；〃
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said Wes。 In this manner she wore herself down。 If permitted she
would have climbed until winded； and then would probably have fallen off
somewhere for lack of strength。 Where the other horses watched the
movements of those ahead； in order that when a halt for rest was called
they might stop at an easy place on the trail； Lily would climb on until
jammed against the animal immediately preceding her。 Thus often she
found herself forced to cling desperately to extremely bad footing until the
others were ready to proceed。 Altogether she was a precious nuisance；
that acted busily but without thinking。
Two virtues she did possess。 She was a glutton for work； and she
could fall far and hard without injuring herself。 This was lucky； for she
was always falling。 Several times we went down to her fully expecting
