rowdy of the cross l-第4部分

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eyes　and　a　pretty　little　foot！

He　had　half　a　mind　to　go　back　and　tell　Rodway　all　he　knew　about　those
horses；　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time；　anyway；　till　Harry　Conroy　overshot　the
mark　and　got　what　was　coming　to　him。　He　sure　didn't　owe　Harry　anything；　that
he　had　need　to　shield　him　like　he　had　done。　Still；　Rodway　would　wonder　why
he　hadn't　told　it　at　first；　and　that　little　girl　believed　in　Harry；　and　said
he　was　〃splendid！〃　Humph！　He　wondered　if　she　really　meant　that。　If　she
did

He　squared　his　back　to　the　houseand　the　memory　of　Miss　Conroy's　eyesand
plodded　across　the　field　to　the　gate。　Now　the　sun　was　shining；　and　there　was
no　possibility　of　getting　lost。　The　way　to　the　Cross　L　lay　straight　and
plain　before　him。

Rowdy　rode　leisurely　up　over　the　crest　of　a　ridge　beyond　which　lay　the　home
ranch　of　the　Cross　L。　Whether　it　was　henceforth　to　be　his　home　he　had　yet　to
discoverthough　there　was　reason　for　hoping　that　it　would　be。　Even　so
venturesome　a　man　as　Rowdy　Vaughan　would　scarce　ride　a　long　hundred　miles
through　unpeopled　prairie；　in　the　tricky　month　of　March；　without　some　reason
for　expecting　a　welcome　at　the　end　of　his　journey。　In　this　case；　a　previous
acquaintance　with　〃Wooden　Shoes〃　Mielke；　foreman　of　the　Cross　L；　was　Rowdy's
trump…card。　Wooden　Shoes；　whenever　chance　had　brought　them　together　in　the
last　two　or　three　years；　was　ever　urging　Rowdy　to　come　over　and　unroll　his
soogans　in　the　Cross　L　bed…tent；　and　promising　the　best　string　in　the　outfit
to　ridebesides　other　things　alluring　to　a　cow…puncher。　So　that；　when　his
relations　with　the　Horseshoe　Bar　became　strained；　Rowdy　remembered　his
friend　of　the　Cross　L　and　the　promises；　and　had　drifted　south。

Just　now　he　hoped　that　Wooden　Shoes　would　be　home　to　greet　him；　and　his　eyes
searched　wishfully　the　huddle　of　low…eaved　cabins　and　the　assortment　of
sheds　and　corrals　for　the　bulky　form　of　the　foreman。　But　no　one　seemed　to　be
aboutexcept　a　bigbodied；　bandy…legged　individual；　who　appeared　to　be
playfully　chasing　a　big；　bright　bay　stallion　inside　the　large　enclosure
where　stood　the　cabins。

Rowdy　watched　them　impersonally；　a　glance　proved　that　the　man　was　not　Wooden
Shoes；　and　so　he　was　not　particularly　interested　in　him　or　his　doings。　It
did　occur　to　him；　however；　that　if　the　fellow　wanted　to　catch　that　brute；　he
ought　to　have　sense　enough　to　get　a　horse。　No　one　but　a　plumb　idiot　would
mill　around　in　that　snow　afoot。　He　jogged　down　the　slope　at　a　shuffling
trot；　grinning　tolerantly　at　the　pantomime　below。

He　of　the　bandy…legs　stopped；　evidently　out　of　breath；　the　stallion　stopped
also；　snorting　defiance。　Rowdy　heard　him　plainly；　even　at　that　distance。　The
horse　arched　his　neck　and　watched　the　man　warily；　ready　to　be　off　at　the
first　symptom　of　hostilitiesand　Rowdy　observed　that　a　short　rope　hung　from
his　halter；　swaying　as　he　moved。

Bandy…legs　seemed　to　have　an　idea；　he　turned　and　scuttled　to　the　nearest
cabin；　returning　with　what　seemed　a　basin　of　oats；　for　he　shook　it
enticingly　and　edged　cautiously　toward　the　horse。　Rowdy　could　imagine　him
coaxing；　with　hypocritically　endearing　names；　such　as　〃Good　old　boy！〃　and
〃Steady　now；　Billy〃or　whatever　the　horse's　name　might　be。　Rowdy　chuckled
to　himself；　and　hoped　the　horse　saw　through　the　subterfuge。

Perhaps　the　horse　chuckled　also；　at　any　rate；　he　stood　quite　still；　equally
prepared　to　bounce　away　on　the　instant　or　to　don　the　mask　of　docility。
Bandy…legs　drew　nearer　and　nearer；　shaking　the　basin　briskly；　like　an　old
woman　sifting　meal。　The　horse　waited；　his　nostrils　quivering　hungrily　at　the
smell　of　the　oats；　and　with　an　occasional　low　nicker。

Bandy…legs　went　on　tiptoesor　as　nearly　as　he　could　in　the　snowthe　basin
at　arm's　length　before。　The　dainty；　flaring　nostrils　sniffed　tentatively；
dipped　into　the　basin；　and　snuffed　the　oats　about　luxuriouslytill　he　felt
a　stealthy　hand　seize　the　dangling　rope。　At　the　touch　he　snorted　protest；
and　was　off　and　away；　upsetting　Bandy…legs　and　the　basin　ignominiously　into
a　high…piled　drift。

Bandy…legs　sat　up；　scraped　the　snow　out　of　his　collar　and　his　ears；　and
swore。　It　was　then　that　Rowdy　appeared　like　an　angel　of　deliverance。

〃Want　that　horse　caught？〃　he　yelled　cheerfully。

Bandy…legs　lifted　up　his　voice　and　bellowed　things　I　should　not　like　to
repeat　verbatim。　But　Rowdy　gathered　that　the　man　emphatically　did　want　that
so…and…so…and…then…some　horse　caught；　and　that　it　couldn't　be　done　a　blessed
minute　too　soon。　Whereat　Rowdy　smiled　anew；　with　his　face　discreetly　turned
away　from　Bandy…legs；　and　took　down　his　rope　and　widened　the　loop。　Also；　he
turned　Chub　loose。

The　stallion　evidently　sensed　what　new　danger　threatened　his　stolen　freedom；
and　circled　the　yard　with　high；　springy　strides。　Rowdy　circled　after；　saw
his　chance；　swirled　the　loop　twice　over　his　head；　and　hazarded　a　long　throw。

Rowdy　knew　it　for　pure　good　luck　that　it　landed　right；　but　to　this　day
Bandy…legs　looks　upon　him　as　a　Wonder　with　a　ropeand　Bandy…legs　would
insist　upon　the　capital。

〃Where　shall　I　take　him？〃　Rowdy　asked；　coming　up　with　his　captive；　and　with
nothing　but　his　eyes　to　show　how　he　was　laughing　inwardly。

Bandy…legs　crawled　from　the　drift；　still　scraping　snow　from　inside　his
collar；　and　gave　many　directions　about　going　through　a　certain　gate　into
such…and…such　a　corral；　from　there　into　a　stable；　and　by　seeming　devious
ways　into　a　minutely　described　stall。

〃All　right；〃　said　Rowdy；　cutting　short　the　last　needless　details。　〃I　guess　I
can　find　the　trail；〃　and　started　off；　leading　the　stallion。　Bandy…legs
followed；　and　Chub；　observing　the　departure　of　Dixie；　ambled　faithfully　in
the　rear。

〃Much　obliged；〃　conceded　Bandy…legs；　when　the　stallion　was　safely　housed　and
tied　securely。　〃Where　yuh　headed　for；　young　man？〃

〃Right　here；〃　Rowdy　told　him　calmly；　loosening　Dixie's　cinch。　〃I'm　the
long…lost　top　hand　that　the　Cross　L's　been　watching　the　sky…line　for；　lo！
these　many　moons；　a…yearning　for　the　privilege　of　handing　me　forty　plunks
about　twice　as　fast　as　I've　got　'em　coming。　Where's　the　boss？〃

〃ErI'm　him；〃　confessed　Bandy…legs　meekly；　and　circled　the　two　dubiously。
〃I　guess　you've　heard　uh　Eagle　Creek　SmithI'm　him。　The　Cross　L　belongs　to
me。〃

Rowdy　let　out　an　explosive；　and　showed　a　row　of　nice　teeth。　〃Well；　I　ain't
hard　to　please；〃　he　added。　〃I　won't　kick　on　that；　I　guess。　I　like　your　looks
tolerable　well；　and　I'm　willing　to　take　yuh　on　for　a　boss。　If　yuh　do　your
part；　I　bet　we'll　get　along　fine。〃　His　tone　was　banteringly　patronizing
〃Anyway；　I'll　try　yuh　for　a　spell。　You　can　put　my　name　down　as　Rowdy
Vaughan；　lately　canned　from　the　Horseshoe　Bar。〃

〃What　for？〃　ventured　Bandy…legsrather；　Eagle　Creekstill　circling　Rowdy
dubiously。

〃What　for　was　I　canned？〃　repeated　Rowdy　easily。　〃Being　a　modest　youth；　I
hate　t'　tell　yuh。　But　the　old　man's　son　and　me；　we　disagreed；　and　one　of　his
eyes　swelled　some；　so　did　mine；　a　little。〃　He　stood　head　and　shoulders　above
Eagle　Creek；　and　he　smiled　down　upon　him　engagingly。　Eagle　Creek　capitulated
before　the　smile。

〃Well；　I　ain't　got　any　sonsthat　I　know　of；〃　he　grinned。　〃So　I　guess　yuh
can　consider　yourself　a　Cross　L　man　till　further　notice。〃

〃Why；　sure！〃　The　teeth　gleamed　again　briefly。　〃That's　what　I've　been　telling
you　right　along。　Where's　old　Wooden　Shoes？　He's　responsible　for　me　being
here。〃

〃Gone　to　Chinook。　He'll　be　back　in　a　day　or　two。〃　Eagle　Creek　shifted　his
feet　awkwardly。　〃Say〃he　glanced　uneasily　behind　him〃yuh　don't　want　t'
let　it　get　around　that　yuh　sort　of　hired　mesee？〃

〃Of　course　not；〃　Rowdy　assured　him。　〃I　was　only　joshing。　If　you　don't　want
me；　just　tell　me　to　hit　the　sod。〃

〃You　stay　right　where　you're　at！〃　commanded　Eagle　Creek　with　returned
confidence　in　himself　and　his　authority。　Of　a　truth；　this　self…assured；
straight…limbed　young　man　had　rather　dazed　him。　〃Take　your　bed　and　war…bag
up　to　the　bunk…house　and　make　yourself　t'　home　till　the　boys　get　back；
andsay；　where'd　yuh　git　that　pack…horse？〃

The　laugh　went　out　of　Rowdy's　tawny　eyes。　The　question　hit　a　spot　that　was
becoming　sore。　〃I　borrowed　him　this　morning　from　Mr。　Rodway；〃　he　said
evenly。　〃I'm　to　take　him　back　to…day。　I　stopped　there　last　night。〃

〃Oh！〃　Eagle　Creek　coughed　apologetically；　and　said　no　word；　while　Rowdy　led
Chub　back　to　the　cabin　which　he　had　pointed　out　as　the　bunk…house；　he　stood
by　while　Rowdy　loosened　the　pack　and　dragged　it　inside。

〃I　guess　you　can　get　located　here；〃　he　said。　〃I　ain't　workin'　more'n　three
or　four　men　just　now；　but　there's　quite　a　few　uh　the　boys　stopping　here；　the
Cross　L's　a　regular　hang…out　for　cow…punchers。　You're　a　little　early　for　the
season；　but　I'll　see　that　yuh　have　something　t'　dojust　t'　keep　yuh　out　uh
devilment。〃

Rowdy's　brows　unbent；　it　would　seem　that　Eagle　Creek　was　capable　of
〃joshing〃　also。　〃It's　up　t'　you；　old…timer；〃　he　retorted。　〃I'm　strong　and
willing；　and　don't　shy　at　anything　but　pitchforks。〃

Eagle　Creek　grinned。　〃This　ain't　no　blamed　cowhospital；〃　he　gave　as　a
parting　shot。　〃All　the　hay　that's　shoveled　on　this　ranch　needn't　hurt
nobody's　feelings。〃　With　that　he　shut　the　door；　and　left　Rowdy　to　acquaint
himself　with　his　new　home。



CHAPTER　4

Pink　as　〃Chappyrone。〃

Rowdy　was　sprawled　ungracefully　upon　somebody's　bunkhe　neither　knew　nor
cared　whoseand　he　was　snoring　unmelodiously；　and　not　dreaming　a　thing；　for
when　a　cow…puncher　has　nothing　in　particular　to　do；　he　sleeps　to　atone　for
the　weary　hours　when　he　must　be　very　wide…awake。　An　avalanche　descended　upon
his　unwarned　middle；　and　checked　the　rhythmic　ebb　and　flow　of　sound。　He
squawked　and　came　to　life　clawing　viciously。

〃I'd　like　t'　know　where　the　devil　yuh　come　from；〃　a　voice　remarked
plaintively　in　a　soft　treble。

Rowdy　opened　his　eyes　with　a　snap。　〃Pink！　by　all　that's　good　and　bad！　Get　up
off　my　diaphragm；　you　little　fiend。〃

Pink　absent…mindedly　kneaded　Rowdy's　stomach　with　his　knuckles；　and
immediately　found　himself　in　a　far　corner。　He　came　back；　dimpling
mischievously。　He　looked　much　more　an　angel　than　a　fiend；　for　all　his　Angora
chaps　and　flame…colored　scarf。

〃Your　bed　and　war…bag's　on　my　bunk；　you're　on　Smoky's；　and　Dixie's　makin'
himself　to　home　in　the　corral。　By　all　them　signs　and　tokens；