the flying u ranch-第22部分

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left；〃　he　growled　regretfully。　〃I　wisht　we'd　thought　to　tell　the

boys　to　bring　them　rifles。　Say；　Slim；　you　crawl　onto　your　hoss

and　go　git　'em。　It　won't　take　more'n　a　minute。　There'll　likely　be

some　shells　in　the　magazines。〃



〃Go　on；　Slim；〃　urged　Weary　grimly。　〃We've　got　to　do　something。

They　can't　do　a　thing　like　this〃he　glanced　down　at　Happy　Jack…

〃and　get　away　with　it。〃



〃I　got　half　a　box　uh　shells　for　my　thirty…thirty；　I'll　bring

that。〃　Slim　turned　to　go；　stopped　short　and　stared　at　the　coulee

rim。　〃By　golly；　they're　comm'　over　here！〃　he　exclaimed。



Big　Medicine　glanced　up；　took　off　his　hat；　crumpled　it　for　a

pillow　and　eased　Happy　Jack　down　upon　it。　He　got　up　stiffly；

wiped　his　fingers　mechanically　upon　his　trouser　legs；　broke　his

gun　open　just　to　make　sure　that　it　was　indeed　empty；　put　it　back

and　picked　up　a　handful　of　rocks。



〃Let　'em　come；〃　he　said　viciously。　〃I　c'n　kill　every　damn'　one

with　m'　bare　hands！〃







CHAPTER　XV。　Oleson



〃Say；　ain't　that　Andy　and　Mig　following　along　behind？〃　Cal　asked

after　a　minute　of　watching　the　approach。　〃Sure；　it　is。　Now

what〃



〃They're　drivin'　'em；　by　cripes！〃　Big　Medicine；　under　the　stress

of　the　moment；　returned　to　his　usual　bellowing　tone。　〃Who's　that

tall；　lanky　feller　in　the　lead？　I　don't　call　to　mind　ever　seem

him　before。　Them　four　herders　I'd　know　a　mile　off。〃



〃That？〃　Weary　shaded　his　eyes　with　his　hat…brim；　against　the

slant　rays　of　the　westering　sun。　〃That's　Oleson；　Dunk's　partner。〃



〃His　mother'd　be　a…weepin'；〃　Big　Medicine　observed　bodefully；　〃if

she　knowed　what　was　due　to　happen　to　her　son　right　away　quick。

Must　be　him　that　done　the　shootin'。〃



They　came　on　steadily；　the　four　herders　and　Oleson　walking

reluctantly　ahead；　with　Andy　Green　and　the　Native　Son　riding

relentlessly　in　the　rear；　their　guns　held　unwaveringly　in　a　line

with　the　backs　of　their　captives。　Andy　was　carrying　a　rifle；

evidently　taken　from　one　of　the　menOleson；　they　judged　for　the

guilty　one。　Half　the　distance　was　covered　when　Andy　was　seen　to

turn　his　head　and　speak　briefly　with　the　Native　Son；　after　which

he　lunged　past　the　captives　and　galloped　up　to　the　waiting　group。

His　quick　eye　sought　first　the　face　of　Happy　Jack　in　anxious

questioning；　then；　miserably；　he　searched　the　faces　of　his

friends。



〃Good　Lord！〃　he　exclaimed　mechanically；　dismounted　and　bent　over

the　figure　on　the　ground。　For　a　long　minute　he　knelt　there；　he

laid　his　ear　close　to　Happy　Jack's　mouth；　took　off　his　glove　and

laid　his　hand　over　Happy's　heart；　reached　up；　twitched　off　his

neckerchief；　shook　out　the　creases　and　spread　it　reverently　over

Happy　Jack's　face。　He　stood　up　then　and　spoke　slowly；　his　eyes

fixed　upon　the　stumbling　approach　of　the　captives。



〃Pink　told　us　Happy　had　been　shot；　so　we　rode　around　and　come　up

behind　'em。　It　was　a　cinch。　Andsay；　boys；　we've　got　the　Dots　in

a　pocket。　They've　got　to　eat　outa　our　hands；　now。　So　don't　think

aboutour　own　feelings；　or　about〃　he　stopped　abruptly　and　let

a　downward　glance　finish　the　sentence。　〃We've　got　to　keep　our　own

hands　clean；　andnow　don't　let　your　fingers　get　the　itch；　Bud！〃

This；　because　of　certain　manifestations　of　a　murderous　intent　on

the　part　of　Big　Medicine。



〃Oh；　it's　all　right　to　talk；　if　yuh　feel　like　talking；〃　Big

Medicine　retorted　savagely。　〃I　don't。〃　He　made　a　catlike　spring

at　the　foremost　man；　who　happened　to　be　Oleson；　and　got　a

merciless　grip　with　his　fingers　on　his　throat；　snarling　like　a

predatory　animal　over　its　kill。　From　behind；　Andy；　with　Weary　to

help；　pulled　him　off。



〃I　didn't　mean　toto　kill　anybody；〃　gasped　Oleson；　pasty　white。

〃I　heard　a　lot　of　shooting；　and　so　I　ran　up　the　hilland　the

herders　came　running　toward　me；　and　I　thought　I　was　defending　my

property　and　men。　I　had　a　right　to　defend〃



〃Defend　hell！〃　Big　Medicine　writhed　in　the　restraining　grasp　of

those　who　held　him。　〃Look　at　that　there！　As　good　hearted　a　boy　as

ever　turned　a　cow！　Never　harmed　a　soul　in　'is　life。　Is　all　your

dirty；　stinkin'　sheep；　an'　all　your　lousy　herders；　worth　that

boy's　life？　Yuh　shot　'im　down　like　a　doglemme　go；　boys。〃　His

voice　was　husky。　〃Lemme　tromp　the　life　outa　him。〃



〃I　thought　you　were　killing　my　men；　or　I　neverI　never　meant

toto　kill〃　Oleson；　shaking　till　he　could　scarcely　stand；

broke　down　and　wept；　wept　pitiably；　hysterically；　as　men　of　a

certain　fiber　will　weep　when　black　tragedy　confronts　them　all

unawares。　He　cowered　miserably　before　the　Happy　Family；　his　face

hidden　behind　his　two　hands。



〃Boys；　I　want　to　say　a　word　or　two。　Come　over　here。〃　Andy's

voice；　quiet　as　ever；　contrasted　strangely　with　the　man's

sobbing。　He　led　them　back　a　few　pacesWeary；　Cal；　Big　Medicine

and　Slim；　and　spoke　hurriedly。　The　Native　Son　eyed　them　sidelong

from　his　horse；　but　he　was　careful　to　keep　Oleson　covered　with

his　gunand　the　herders　too；　although　they　were　unarmed。　Once　or

twice　he　glanced　at　that　long；　ungainly　figure　in　the　grass　with

the　handkerchief　of　Andy　Green　hiding　the　face　except　where　a

corner；　fluttering　in　the　faint　breeze　which　came　creeping　out　of

the　west；　lifted　now　and　then　and　gave　a　glimpse　of　sunbrowned

throat　and　a　quiet　chin　and　mouth。



〃Quit　that　blubbering；　Oleson；　and　listen　here。〃　Andys　voice

broke　relentlessly　upon　the　other's　woe。　〃All　these　boys　want　to

hang　yuh　without　any　red　tape；　far　as　I'm　concerned；　I'm　dead

willing。　But　we're　going　to　give　yuh　a　chance。　Your　partner；　as

we　told　yuh　coming　over；　we've　got　the　dead　immortal　cinch　on；

right　now。　Andwell　you　can　see　what　you're　up　against。　But

we'll　give　yuh　a　chance。　Have　you　got　any　family？〃



Oleson；　trying　to　pull　himself　together；　shook　his　head。



〃Well；　then；　you　can　get　rid　of　them　sheep；　can't　yuh？　Sell　'em；

ship　'em　outa　herewe　don't　give　a　darn　what　yuh　do；　only　so　yuh

get　'em　off　the　range。〃



〃Y…yes；　I'll　do　that。〃　Oleson's　consent　was　reluctant；　but　it　was

fairly　prompt。　〃I'll　get　rid　of　the　sheep；〃　he　said；　as　if　he　was

minded　to　clinch　the　promise。　〃I'll　do　it　at　once。〃



〃That's　nice。〃　Andy　spoke　with　grim　irony。　〃And　you'll　get　rid　of

the　ranch；　too。　You'll　sell　it　to　the　Flying　Ucheap。〃



〃But　my　partnerWhittaker　might　object〃



〃Look　here；　old…timer。　You'll　fix　that　part　up；　you'll　find　a　way

of　fixing　it。　Look　hereat　what　you're　up　against。〃　He　waited；

with　pointing　finger；　for　one　terrible　minute。　〃Will　you　sell　to

the　Flying　U？〃



〃Y…yes！〃　The　word　was　really　a　gulp。　He　tried　to　avoid　looking

where　Andy　pointed；　failed；　and　shuddered　at　what　he　saw。



〃I　thought　you　would。　We'll　get　that　in　writing。　And　we're　going

to　wait　just　exactly　twenty…four　hours　before　we　make　a　move。

It'll　take　some　fine　work；　but　we'll　do　it。　Our　boss；　here；　will

fix　up　the　business　end　with　you。　He'll　go　with　yuh　right　now；

and　stay　with　yuh　till　you　make　good。　And　the　first　crooked　move

you　make〃　Andy；　in　unconscious　imitation　of　the　Native　Son；

shrugged　a　shoulder　expressively　and　urged　Weary　by　a　glance　to

take　the　leadership。



〃Irish；　you　come　with　me。　The　rest　of　you　fellows　know　about　what

to　do。　Andy；　I　guess　you'll　have　to　ride　point　till　I　get　back。〃

Weary　hesitated；　looked　from　Happy　Jack　to　Oleson　and　the

herders；　and　back　to　the　sober　faces　of　his　fellows。　〃Do　what　you

can　for　him；　boysand　I　wish　one　of　you　would　ride　over；　after

Pink　gets　back；　andlet　me　know　how　things　stack　up；　will　you？〃



Incredible　as　was　the　situation　on　the　face　of　it；　nevertheless

it　was　extremely　matter…of…fact　in　the　handling；　which　is　the　way

sometimes　with　incredible　situations；　as　if；　since　we　know

instinctively　that　we　cannot　rise　unprepared　to　the　bigness　of

its　possibilities；　we　keep　our　feet　planted　steadfastly　on　the

ground　and　refuse　to　rise　at　all。　And　afterward；　perhaps；　we　look

back　and　wonder　how　it　all　came　about。



At　the　last　moment　Weary　turned　back　and　exchanged　guns　with　Andy

Green；　because　his　own　was　empty　and　he　realized　the　possible

need　of　oneor　at　least　the　need　of　having　the　sheep…men

perfectly　aware　that　he　had　one　ready　for　use。　The　Native　Son；

without　a　word　of　comment；　handed　his　own　silver…trimmed　weapon

over　to　Irish；　and　rolled　a　cigarette　deftly　with　one　hand　while

he　watched　them　ride　away。



〃Does　this　strike　anybody　else　as　being　pretty　raw？〃　he　inquired

calmly；　dismounting　among　them。　〃I'd　do　a　good　deal　for　the

outfit；　myself；　but　letting　that　man　get　offSay；　you　fellows　up

this　way　don't　think　killing　a　man　amounts　to　much；　do　you？〃　He

looked　from　one　to　the　other　with　a　queer；　contemptuous　hostility

in　his　eyes。



Andy　Green　took　a　forward　step　and　laid　a　hand　familiarly　on　his

rigid　shoulder。　〃Quit　it；　Mig。　We　would　do　a　lot　for　the　outfit；

that's　the　God's　truth。　And　I　played　the　game　right　up　to　the

hilt；　I　admit。　But　nobody's　killed。　I　told　Happy　to　play　dead。　By

gracious；　I　caught　him　just　in　the　nick　uh　time；　he'd　been

setting　up；　in　another　minute。〃　To　prove　it；　he　bent　and　twitched

the　handkerchief　from　the　face　of　Happy　Jack；　and　Happy　opened

his　eyes　and　made　shift　to　growl。



〃Yuh　purty　near…smothered　me　t'death；　darn　yuh。〃



〃Dios！〃　breathed　the　Native　Son；　for　once　since　they　knew　him

jolted　out　of　his　eternal　calm。　〃God；　but　I'm　glad！〃



〃I　guess　the　rest　of　us　ain't；〃　insinuated　Andy　softly；　and

lifted　his　hat　to　wipe　the　sweat　off　his　forehead。　〃I　will　say

that〃　After　all；　he　did　not。　Instead；　he　knelt　beside　Happy

Jack　and　painstakingly　adjusted　the　crumpled　hat　a　hair's　breadth

differently。



〃How　do　yuh　feel；　old…timer？〃　be　asked　with　a　very　thin　disguise

of　cheerfulness　upon　the　anxiety　of　his　tone。



〃Well；　I　could　feel　a　lotbetter；　without　hurtin'　nothin；〃　Happy

Jack　responded　somberly。　〃I　hope　you　fellersfeel　better；　now。

Yuh　got　'emtryin'　to　murderthe　hull　outfit；　jes'　like　Itold

yuh　they　would〃　Gunshot　wounds；　contrary　to　the　tales　of

certain　sentimentalists；　do　not