on the frontier-第26部分

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remember；　boys；　the　night　we　put　up　that　little　sell　on　him　and

made　him　believe　we'd　struck　it　rich　in　the　bank　of　the　creek；　and

got　him　so　conceited；　he　wanted　to　go　off　and　settle　all　our　debts

at　once？〃



〃And　how　I　came　bustin'　into　the　cabin　with　a　pan　full　of　iron

pyrites　and　black　sand；〃　chuckled　Union　Mills；　continuing　the

reminiscences；　〃and　how　them　big　gray　eyes　of　his　nearly　bulged　out

of　his　head。　　Well；　it's　some　satisfaction　to　know　we　did　our　duty

by　the　young　fellow　even　in　those　little　things。〃　　He　turned　for

confirmation　of　their　general　disinterestedness　to　the　Right　Bower；

but　he　was　already　striding　away；　uneasily　conscious　of　the　lazy

following　of　the　Left　Bower；　like　a　laggard　conscience　at　his　back。

This　movement　again　threw　Union　Mills　and　the　Judge　into　feeble

complicity　in　the　rear；　as　the　procession　slowly　straggled　homeward

from　the　creek。



Night　had　fallen。　　Their　way　lay　through　the　shadow　of　Lone　Star

Mountain；　deepened　here　and　there　by　the　slight；　bosky　ridges　that；

starting　from　its　base；　crept　across　the　plain　like　vast　roots　of

its　swelling　trunk。　　The　shadows　were　growing　blacker　as　the　moon

began　to　assert　itself　over　the　rest　of　the　valley；　when　the　Right

Bower　halted　suddenly　on　one　of　these　ridges。　　The　Left　Bower

lounged　up　to　him；　and　stopped　also；　while　the　two　others　came　up

and　completed　the　group。



〃There's　no　light　in　the　shanty；〃　said　the　Right　Bower　in　a　low

voice；　half　to　himself　and；　half　in　answer　to　their　inquiring

attitude。　　The　men　followed　the　direction　of　his　finger。　　In　the

distance　the　black　outline　of　the　Lone　Star　cabin　stood　out

distinctly　in　the　illumined　space。　　There　was　the　blank；　sightless；

external　glitter　of　moonlight　on　its　two　windows　that　seemed　to

reflect　its　dim　vacancy；　empty　alike　of　light；　and　warmth；　and

motion。



〃That's　sing'lar；〃　said　the　Judge　in　an　awed　whisper。



The　Left　Bower；　by　simply　altering　the　position　of　his　hands　in　his

trousers'　pockets；　managed　to　suggest　that　he　knew　perfectly　the

meaning　of　it；　had　always　known　it；　but　that　being　now；　so　to

speak；　in　the　hands　of　Fate；　he　was　callous　to　it。　　This　much；　at

least；　the　elder　brother　read　in　his　attitude。　　But　anxiety　at　that

moment　was　the　controlling　impulse　of　the　Right　Bower；　as　a　certain

superstitious　remorse　was　the　instinct　of　the　two　others；　and

without　heeding　the　cynic；　the　three　started　at　a　rapid　pace　for

the　cabin。



They　reached　it　silently；　as　the　moon；　now　riding　high　in　the

heavens；　seemed　to　touch　it　with　the　tender　grace　and　hushed　repose

of　a　tomb。　　It　was　with　something　of　this　feeling　that　the　Right

Bower　softly　pushed　open　the　door；　it　was　with　something　of　this

dread　that　the　two　others　lingered　on　the　threshold；　until　the

Right　Bower；　after　vainly　trying　to　stir　the　dead　embers　on　the

hearth　into　life　with　his　foot；　struck　a　match　and　lit　their

solitary　candle。　　Its　flickering　light　revealed　the　familiar

interior　unchanged　in　aught　but　one　thing。　　The　bunk　that　the　Old

Man　had　occupied　was　stripped　of　its　blankets；　the　few　cheap

ornaments　and　photographs　were　gone；　the　rude　poverty　of　the　bare

boards　and　scant　pallet　looked　up　at　them　unrelieved　by　the　bright

face　and　gracious　youth　that　had　once　made　them　tolerable。　　In　the

grim　irony　of　that　exposure；　their　own　penury　was　doubly　conscious。

The　little　knapsack；　the　teacup　and　coffee…pot　that　had　hung　near

his　bed；　were　gone　also。　　The　most　indignant　protest；　the　most

pathetic　of　the　letters　he　had　composed　and　rejected；　whose　torn

fragments　still　littered　the　floor；　could　never　have　spoken　with

the　eloquence　of　this　empty　space！　　The　men　exchanged　no　words：　the

solitude　of　the　cabin；　instead　of　drawing　them　together；　seemed　to

isolate　each　one　in　selfish　distrust　of　the　others。　　Even　the

unthinking　garrulity　of　Union　Mills　and　the　Judge　was　checked。　　A

moment　later；　when　the　Left　Bower　entered　the　cabin；　his　presence

was　scarcely　noticed。



The　silence　was　broken　by　a　joyous　exclamation　from　the　Judge。　　He

had　discovered　the　Old　Man's　rifle　in　the　corner；　where　it　had　been

at　first　overlooked。　　〃He　ain't　gone　yet；　gentlemenfor　yer's　his

rifle；〃　he　broke　in；　with　a　feverish　return　of　volubility；　and　a

high　excited　falsetto。　　〃He　wouldn't　have　left　this　behind。　　No！　　I

knowed　it　from　the　first。　　He's　just　outside　a　bit；　foraging　for

wood　and　water。　　No；　sir！　　Coming　along　here　I　said　to　Union　Mills

didn't　I？'Bet　your　life　the　Old　Man's　not　far　off；　even　if　he

ain't　in　the　cabin。'　　Why；　the　moment　I　stepped　foot〃



〃And　I　said　coming　along；〃　interrupted　Union　Mills；　with　equally

reviving　mendacity；　'Like　as　not　he's　hangin'　round　yer　and　lyin'

low　just　to　give　us　a　surprise。'　　He！　ho！〃



〃He's　gone　for　good；　and　he　left　that　rifle　here　on　purpose；〃　said

the　Left　Bower　in　a　low　voice；　taking　the　weapon　almost　tenderly　in

his　hands。



〃Drop　it；　then！〃　said　the　Right　Bower。　　The　voice　was　that　of　his

brother；　but　suddenly　changed　with　passion。　　The　two　other　partners

instinctively　drew　back　in　alarm。



〃I'll　not　leave　it　here　for　the　first　comer；〃　said　the　Left　Bower；

calmly；　〃because　we've　been　fools　and　he　too。　　It's　too　good　a

weapon　for　that。〃



〃Drop　it；　I　say！〃　said　the　Right　Bower；　with　a　savage　stride

towards　him。



The　younger　brother　brought　the　rifle　to　a　half　charge　with　a　white

face　but　a　steady　eye。



〃Stop　where　you　are！〃　he　said　collectedly。　　〃Don't　row　with　ME；

because　you　haven't　either　the　grit　to　stick　to　your　ideas　or　the

heart　to　confess　them　wrong。　　We've　followed　your　lead；　andhere

we　are！　　The　camp's　broken　upthe　Old　Man's　goneand　we're　going。

And　as　for　the　dd　rifle〃



〃Drop　it；　do　you　hear！〃　shouted　the　Right　Bower；　clinging　to　that

one　idea　with　the　blind　pertinacity　of　rage　and　a　losing　cause。

〃Drop　it！〃



The　Left　Bower　drew　back；　but　his　brother　had　seized　the　barrel

with　both　hands。　　There　was　a　momentary　struggle；　a　flash　through

the　half…lighted　cabin；　and　a　shattering　report。　　The　two　men　fell

back　from　each　other；　the　rifle　dropped　on　the　floor　between　them。



The　whole　thing　was　over　so　quickly　that　the　other　two　partners　had

not　had　time　to　obey　their　common　impulse　to　separate　them；　and

consequently　even　now　could　scarcely　understand　what　had　passed。

It　was　over　so　quickly　that　the　two　actors　themselves　walked　back

to　their　places；　scarcely　realizing　their　own　act。



A　dead　silence　followed。　　The　Judge　and　Union　Mills　looked　at　each

other　in　dazed　astonishment；　and　then　nervously　set　about　their

former　habits；　apparently　in　that　fatuous　belief　common　to　such

natures；　that　they　were　ignoring　a　painful　situation。　　The　Judge

drew　the　barrel　towards　him；　picked　up　the　cards；　and　began

mechanically　to　〃make　a　patience；〃　on　which　Union　Mills　gazed　with

ostentatious　interest；　but　with　eyes　furtively　conscious　of　the

rigid　figure　of　the　Right　Bower　by　the　chimney　and　the　abstracted

face　of　the　Left　Bower　at　the　door。　　Ten　minutes　had　passed　in　this

occupation；　the　Judge　and　Union　Mills　conversing　in　the　furtive

whispers　of　children　unavoidably　but　fascinatedly　present　at　a

family　quarrel；　when　a　light　step　was　heard　upon　the　crackling

brushwood　outside；　and　the　bright　panting　face　of　the　Old　Man

appeared　upon　the　threshold。　　There　was　a　shout　of　joy；　in　another

moment　he　was　half…buried　in　the　bosom　of　the　Right　Bower's　shirt；

half…dragged　into　the　lap　of　the　Judge；　upsetting　the　barrel；　and

completely　encompassed　by　the　Left　Bower　and　Union　Mills。　　With　the

enthusiastic　utterance　of　his　name　the　spell　was　broken。



Happily　unconscious　of　the　previous　excitement　that　had　provoked

this　spontaneous　unanimity　of　greeting；　the　Old　Man；　equally

relieved；　at　once　broke　into　a　feverish　announcement　of　his

discovery。　　He　painted　the　details；　with；　I　fear；　a　slight

exaggeration　of　coloring；　due　partly　to　his　own　excitement；　and

partly　to　justify　their　own。　　But　he　was　strangely　conscious　that

these　bankrupt　men　appeared　less　elated　with　their　personal　interest

in　their　stroke　of　fortune　than　with　his　own　success。　　〃I　told　you

he'd　do　it；〃　said　the　Judge；　with　a　reckless　unscrupulousness　of

statement　that　carried　everybody　with　it；　〃look　at　him！　the　game

little　pup。〃　　〃Oh　no！　he　ain't　the　right　breed；　is　he？〃　echoed　Union

Mills　with　arch　irony；　while　the　Right　and　Left　Bower；　grasping

either　hand；　pressed　a　proud　but　silent　greeting　that　was　half　new

to　him；　but　wholly　delicious。　　It　was　not　without　difficulty　that　he

could　at　last　prevail　upon　them　to　return　with　him　to　the　scene　of

his　discovery；　or　even　then　restrain　them　from　attempting　to　carry

him　thither　on　their　shoulders　on　the　plea　of　his　previous　prolonged

exertions。　　Once　only　there　was　a　momentary　embarrassment。　　〃Then

you　fired　that　shot　to　bring　me　back？〃　said　the　Old　Man；　gratefully。

In　the　awkward　silence　that　followed；　the　hands　of　the　two　brothers

sought　and　grasped　each　other；　penitently。　　〃Yes；〃　interposed　the

Judge；　with　delicate　tact；　〃ye　see　the　Right　and　Left　Bower　almost

quarreled　to　see　which　should　be　the　first　to　fire　for　ye。　　I

disremember　which　did〃〃I　never　touched　the　trigger；〃　said　the　Left

Bower；　hastily。　　With　a　hurried　backward　kick；　the　Judge　resumed；

〃It　went　off　sorter　spontaneous。〃



The　difference　in　the　sentiment　of　the　procession　that　once　more

issued　from　the　Lone　Star　cabin　did　not　fail　to　show　itself　in　each

individual　partner　according　to　his　temperament。　　The　subtle　tact

of　Union　Mills；　however；　in　expressing　an　awakened　respect　for

their　fortunate　partner　by　addressing　him；　as　if　unconsciously；　as

〃Mr。　Ford〃　was　at　first　discomposing；　but　even　this　was　forgotten

in　their　breathless　excitement　as　they　neared　the　base　of　the

mountain。　　When　they　had　crossed　the　creek　the　Right　Bower　stopped

reflectively。



〃You　say　you　heard　the　slide　come　down　before　you　left　the　cabin？〃

he　said；　turning　t