the trail of the white mule-第21部分

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forward　to　the　dip　of　the　front　fender　to　see　if　the　Ford　were
still　visible　to　Mack　Nolan。　　He　was　glad　to　find　that　by
crouching　and　sighting　across　the　fender　he　could　just　see　the
campfire　and　the　top　of　Nolan's　hat　beyond　it。　　The　man　need　only
lift　his　head　off　his　arm　to　see　that　the　Ford　was　standing　just
around　the　turn　of　the　draw。

〃The　corner　was　never　yet　so　tight　that　Casey　Ryan　couldn't　find
a　crack　somewhere　to　crawl　through；〃　he　told　himself
vaingloriously。　〃An'　I　hope　to　thunder　the　feller　sleeps　long　an'
sleeps　solid！〃

For　fifteen　minutes　the　mind　of　Casey　Ryan　was　at　ease。　　He　had
found　a　shovel　in　the　car；　placed　conveniently　at　the　side　where
it　could　be　used　for　just　such　an　emergency　as　this。　　For　fifteen
minutes　he　had　been　using　that　shovel　in　a　shelving　bank　of　loose
gravel　just　under　an　outcropping　of　rhyolite　a　rod　or　so　behind
the　car　and　well　out　of　sight　of　Nolan。

He　was　beginning　to　consider　his　excavation　almost　deep　enough　to
bury　two　ten…gallon　kegs　and　forty　bottles　of　whisky；　when　the
shadow　of　a　head　and　shoulders　fell　across　the　hole。　　Casey　did
not　lift　the　dirt　and　rocks　he　had　on　his　shovel。　　He　froze　to　a
tense　quiet；　goggling　at　the　shadow。

〃What　are　yuh　doing；　Casey？　　Trying　to　outdig　a　badger？〃　Mack
Nolan's　chuckle　was　friendliness　itself。

Casey's　head　snapped　around　so　that　he　could　cock　an　eye　up　at
Nolan。　He　grinned　mechanically。　　〃Naw。　　Picked　up　a　rich…lookin'
piece　uh　float。　Thought　I'd　just　see　if　it　didn't　mebby　come　from
this　ledge。〃

Mack　Nolan　stepped　forward　interestedly　and　looked　at　the　ledge。

〃Where's　the　piece　you　found？〃　he　very　naturally　inquired。　　〃The
formation　just　here　wouldn't　lead　me　to　expect　gold…bearing　rock；
but　of　course；　anything　is　possible　with　gold。　　Let's　have　a　look
at　the　specimen。〃

Casey　had　once　tried　to　bluff　a　stranger　with　two　deuces　and　a
pair　of　fives；　and　two　full　stacks　of　blue　chips　pushed　to　the
center　to　back　the　bluff。　　The　stranger　had　called　him；　with
three　queens　and　a　pair　of　jacks。　　Casey　felt　like　that　now。

He　had　laughed　over　his　loss　then；　and　he　grinned　now　and　reached
carelessly　to　the　bank　beside　him　as　if　he　fully　expected　to　lay
his　hand　on　the　specimen　of　gold…bearing　rock。　　He　went　so　far　as
to　utter　a　surprised　oath　when　he　failed　to　find　it。　　He　felt　in
his　pockets。　　He　went　forward　and　scanned　the　top　of　the　ledge
almost　convincingly。　　He　turned　and　stood　a…straddle；　his　hands
on　his　hips；　and　gazed　on　the　pile　of　dirt　he　had　thrown　out　of
the　hole。　　Last；　he　pushed　his　hat　back　so　that　with　the　next
movement　he　could　push　it　forward　again　over　his　eyebrow。

〃Now　if　that　there　lump　uh　high…grade　ain't　went　an'　slid　down
the　bank　an'　got　covered　up　with　the　muck！〃　he　exclaimed
disgustedly。　〃I'm　a　son　of　a　gun　if　Fate　ain't　playin'　agin'
Casey　Ryan　with　a　flock　uh　aces　under　its　vest！〃

Mack　Nolan　laughed；　and　Casey　slanted　a　look　his　way。　　〃Thought　I
left　you　takin；　a　nap；〃　he　said　brazenly。　　〃What's　the　matter？
Didn't　your　breakfast　set　good？〃

Mack　Nolan　laughed　again。　　It　was　evident　that　he　found　Casey
Ryan　very　amusing。

〃The　breakfast　was　fine；〃　he　replied　easily。　　〃A　couple　of
lizards　got　to　playing　tag　over　me。　　That　woke　me　up；　and　the　sun
was　so　hot　I　just　thought　I'd　come　down　and　crawl　into　the　car
and　go　to　sleep　there。　　Go　ahead　with　your　prospecting；　CaseyI
won't　bother　you。〃

Casey　went　on　with　his　digging；　but　his　heart　was　not　in　it。　With
every　laggard　shovelful　of　dirt；　he　glanced　over　his　shoulder
apprehensively；　watching　Mack　Nolan　crawl　into　the　back　of　the
car　and　settle　himself；　with　an　audible　sigh　of　satisfaction；　on
top　of　the　load。　　He　had　one　wild；　wicked　impulse　to　lengthen　the
hole　and　make　it　serve　as　a　grave　for　more　than　bootleg　whisky；
but　it　was　an　impulse　born　of　desperation；　and　it　died　almost
before　it　had　lived。



CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

Casey　left　his　digging　and　returned　to　the　Ford；　still　determined
to　carry　on　the　bluff　and　pretend　that　much　tinkering　was
necessary　before　he　could　travel　further。　　With　a　great　show　of
industry　he　rummaged　for　pliers　and　wrenches；　removed　the　hood
from　the　motor　and　squinted　down　at　the　little　engine。

By　that　time　Mack　Nolan　was　snoring　softly　in　deep　slumber。　Casey
listened　suspiciously；　knowing　too　well　how　misleading　a　snore
could　be。　　But　his　own　eyelids　were　growing　exceeding　heavy；　and
the　soporific　sound　acted　hypnotically　upon　his　sleep…hungry
brain。　He　caught　himself　yawning；　and　suddenly　threw　down　the
wrench。

〃Aw；　hell！〃　he　muttered　disgustedly；　and　went　and　crawled　under
the　back　of　the　car　where　it　was　shady。

The　sun　was　nearly　down　when　Casey　awoke　and　crawled　out。　　Mack
Nolan　was　still　curled　comfortably　in　the　car；　his　back　against
the　bed　roll。　　He　opened　his　eyes　and　yawned　when　Casey　leaned
and　looked　in　upon　him。

〃By　Jove；　that　was　a　fine　sleep　I　had；〃　he　announced　cheerfully；
lifting　himself　up　and　dangling　his　legs　outside　the　car。　〃Strike
anything　yet？〃

〃Naw。〃　　Casey's　grunt　was　eloquent　of　the　mood　he　was　in。

〃Get　the　car　fixed　all　right？〃　　Mack　Nolan's　cheerfulness　seemed
nothing　less　than　diabolical　to　Casey。

〃Naw。〃　Then　Casey　added　grimly；　〃I'm　stuck。　　I　dunno　what　ails
the　damned　thing。　　Have　to　send　to　Vegas　fer　new　parts；　I　guess。　
It's　only　three　miles　out　here　to　the　road。　　Mebby　you　better
hike　over　to　the　highway　an'　ketch　a　ride　with　somebody。　　I　might
send　in　for　a　timer　an'　some　things；　too。　　No　use　waitin'　fer　me；
Nolan　can't　　tell　how　long　I'll　be　held　up　here。〃

Mack　Nolan　climbed　out　of　the　car。　　Casey's　spirits　rose
instantly。　Nolan　came　forward　and　looked　down　at　the　engine　as
casually　as　he　would　glance　at　a　nickel　alarm　clock。

〃She　was　hitting　all　right　when　you　backed　down　here；〃　Nolan
remarked　easily。　　〃I'll　just　take　a　look　at　her　myself。　　Fords
are　cranky　sometimes。　　But　I've　assembled　too　many　of　them　in　the
factory　to　let　one　get　the　best　of　me　in　the　desert。〃

Casey　could　almost　hear　his　heart　when　it　slumped　down　into　his
boots。　But　he　wasn't　licked　yet。

〃Aw；　let　the　darned　thing　alone　till　we　eat；〃　he　said；　pushing
his　hat　forward　to　hurry　his　wits。

〃WellI　can　throw　a　Ford　together　in　the　dark；　if　necessary；〃
smiled　Mack　Nolan。　　〃Eat；　it　is；　if　you　want　it　that　way。　That
breakfast　I　put　away　seems　to　have　sharpened　my　appetite　for
supper。　　Tell　you　what；　Ryan。　　I'll　do　a　little　trouble…shooting
here　while　you　cook　supper。　　How'll　that　be？〃

That　wouldn't　be；　if　Casey　could　prevent　it。　　His　pale；
narrow…lidded　eyes　dwelt　upon　Nolan　unwinkingly。

〃Well；　mebby　I'm　kind　of　a　crank　about　my　car；〃　he　hedged；　with　a
praiseworthy　calmness。　　〃Fords　is　like　horses；　to　me。　I　drove
stage　all　m'　life　till　I　took　to　prospectin'an'　I　never　could
stand　around　and　let　anybody　else　monkey　with　my　teams。　　I　ain't
a　doubt　in　the　world；　Mr。　Nolan；　but　what　you　know　as　much　about
Fords　as　I　do。　　More；　mebby。　　But　Casey　Ryan's　got　'is　little
ways；　an'　he　can't　seem　to　ditch　'em。　　We'll　eat；　an'　then　mebby
we'll　look　'er　over　together。

〃At　the　same　time；〃　he　went　on　with　rising　courage；　〃I'm　liable
to　stick　around　here　for　awhile　an'　prospect　a　little。　　If　you
wanta　find　them　mules　an'　outfit；　don't　bank　too　strong　on　Casey
Ryan。　He's　liable　to　change　'is　mind　any　old　time。　　Day　or　night；
you　can't　tell　what　Casey　might　take　a　notion　to　do。　　That
there's　a　fact。　　You　can　ask　anybody　if　it　ain't。〃

Mack　Nolan　laughed　and　slapped　Casey　unexpectedly　on　the
shoulder。　〃You're　a　man　after　my　own　heart；　Casey　Ryan；〃　he
declared　enigmatically。　　〃I'll　stick　to　you　and　take　a　chance。　
Darn　the　mules！　Somebody　will　find　them　and　look　after　them　until
I　show　up。〃

Casey's　spirits；　as　he　admitted　to　himself；　were　rising　and
falling　like　the　hammer　of　a　pile　driver；　and　like　the　pile
driver；　the　hammer　was　driving　him　deeper　and　deeper　into
hopelessness。　　He　would　have　given　an　ear　to　know　for　certain
whether　Mack　Nolan　were　as　innocent　and　friendly　as　he　seemed。　
Until　he　did　know；　Casey　could　see　nothing　before　him　but　to　wait
his　chance　to　give　Nolan　the　slip。

Sitting　cross…legged　in　the　glow　of　the　campfire　after　supper；
with　a　huge　pattern　of　stars　drawn　over　the　purple　night　sky；
Casey　pulled　out　the　old　pipe　with　which　he　had　solaced　many　an
evening　and　stuffed　it　thoughtfully　with　tobacco。　　Across　the
campfire；　Mack　Nolan　sat　with　his　hat　tilted　down　over　his　eyes；
smoking　a　cigarette　and　seeming　at　peace　with　all　the　world。

Casey　hoped　that　Nolan　would　forget　about　fixing　the　Ford。　　He
hoped　that　Nolan　would　sleep　well　to…night。　　Casey　was　perfectly
willing　to　sacrifice　a　good　roll　of　bedding　and　the　cooking
outfit　for　the　privilege　of　traveling　alone。　　No　man；　he　told
himself　savagely；　could　ask　a　better　deal　than　he　was　prepared　to
give　Nolan。　　He　bent　to　reach　a　burning　twig　for　his　pipe；　and
found　Nolan　watching　him　steadily　from　under　his　hat　brim。

〃What　sort　of　looking　fellows　were　those；　Ryan；　that　left　a　load
of　booze　on　your　hands？〃　　Nolan　asked　casually　when　he　saw　that
he　was　observed。

Casey　burned　his　fingers　with　the　blazing　twig。　　〃Who　said
anything　about　any　fellers　leavin'　me　booze？〃　he　evaded　sharply。　
〃If　it's　a　drink　you're　hintin'　for；　you　won't　get　it。　　Casey
Ryan　ain't　no　booze　peddler；　an'　now's　as　good　a　time　as　any　to
let　that　soak　into　your　system。〃

Mack　Nolan's　gray　eyes　were　still　watching　Casey　with　a
steadfastness　that　was　disconcerting　to　a　man　in　Casey's　dilemma。

〃It　might　help　us　both　considerably；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃if　you
told　me　all　about　it。　　You　can't　cache　that　booze　you've　got　in
the　car　I　won't　let　you；　for　one　thing；　for　another；　that　would
be　merely　dodging　the　issue；　and　if　you'll　forgive　my　frankness；
dodging　doesn't　seem　to　be　quite　in　your　line。〃

Casey　puffed　hard　on　his　pipe。　　〃The　world's　gittin'　so　darned
full　uh　crooks；　a　man　can't　turn　around　now'days　without　bumpin'
into　a　few！〃　he　exploded　bitterly。　　〃What　kind　uh　hold…up　game
YOU　playin'；　Mr。　Nolan？　　If　that's　your　name；〃　he　added　fiercely。

Mack　Nolan　laughed　to　himself　and　rubbed　the　ash　from　his
cigarette　against　the　sole　of　his　shoe。　　〃Why；〃　he　answered
genially；　〃my　game　is　holding　up　boot