the heritage of the sioux-第14部分

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the　heaviness　that　was　in　her　chest。　It　seemed　to　her　that　some　bad　spirit　was

driving　her　forth　an　exile。　She　could　not　understand。　last　night　she　had　been

glad　at　the　thought　of　going；　and　if　the　thought　of　leaving　Wagalexa　Conka　so

treacherously　had　hurt　like　a　knife…thrust；　still；　she　had　sworn　willingly

enough　that　she　would　go。



The　horse　was　there；　saddled　and　tied　in　a　tumble…down　shed　just　as　Ramon　had

promised　that　it　would　be。　Annie…Many…Ponies　did　not　mount　and　ride　on

immediately；　however。　It　was　still　early　in　the　forenoon；　and　she　was　not　so

eager　in　reality　as　she　had　been　in　anticipation。　She　sat　down　beside　the　well

and　stared　somberly　away　to　the　mountains；　and　wondered　why　she　was　go　sad

when　she　should　be　happy。　She　twisted　the　ring　with　the　big　red　stone　round

and　round　her　finger；　but　she　got　no　pleasure　from　the　crimson　glow　of　it。　The

stone　looked　to　her　now　like　a　great；　frozen　drop　of　blood。　She　wondered

grimly　whose　blood　it　was；　and　stared　at　it　strangely　before　her　eyes　went

again　worshipfully　to　the　mountains　which　she　loved　and　which　she　must　leave

and　perhaps　never　see　again　as　they　looked　from　there；　and　from　the　ranch。



She　must　ride　and　ride　until　she　was　around　on　the　other　side　of　that　last　one

that　had　the　funny；　pointed　cone　top　like　a　big　stone　tepee。　On　the　other　side

was　Ramon；　and　the　priest；　and　the　strange　new　life　of　which　she　was　beginning

to　feel　afraid。　There　would　be　no　more　riding　up　to　camera；　laughing　or

sighing　or　frowning　as　Wagalexa　Conka　commanded　her　to　do。　There　would　be　no

more　shy　greetings　of　the　slim　young　woman　in　riding　skirtthe　friendship

scenes　and　the　black…browed　anger；　while　Pete　Lowry　turned　the　camera　and　Luck

stood　beside　him　telling　her　just　what　she　must　do；　and　smiling　at　her　when

she　did　it　well。



There　would　be　Ramon；　and　the　priest　and　the　wide　ring　of　shiny　gold　…what

more？　The　mountains；　all　pink　and　violet　and　smiling　green　and　soft　gray　…the

mountains　hid　the　new　life　from　her。　And　she　must　ride　around　that　last；

sharp…pointed　one；　and　come　into　the　new　life　that　was　on　the　other　sideand

what　if　it　should　be　bitter？　What　if　Ramon's　love　did　not　live　beyond　the　wide

ring　of　shiny　gold？　She　had　seen　it　so；　with　other　men　and　other　maids。



No　matter。　She　had　sworn　the　oath　that　she　would　go。　But　first；　there　at　the

old　well　where　Ramon　had　taught　her　the　Spanish　love　words；　there　where　she

had　listened　shyly　and　happily　to　his　voice　that　was　so　soft　and　so　steeped　in

love；　Annie…Many…Ponies　stood　up　with　her　face　to　the　mountains　and　sorrow　in

her　eyes；　and　chanted　again　the　wailing；　Omaha　mourning…song。　And　just　behind

her　the　little　black　dog；　that　had　followed　close　to　her　heels　all　the　way；

sat　upon　his　haunches　and　pointed　his　nose　to　the　sky　and　howled。



For　a　long　time　she　wailed。　Then　to　the　mountains　that　she　loved　she　made　the

sign　of　peace…and…farewell；　and　turned　herself　stoically　to　the　keeping　of　her

oath。　Her　bundle　that　was　so　big　and　heavy　she　placed　in　the　saddle　and

fastened　with　the　saddle…string　and　with　the　red　sash　that　had　bound　it　across

her　chest　and　shoulders。　Then；　as　her　great　grandmother　had　plodded　across　the

bleak　plains　of　the　Dakotas　at　her　master's　behest；　Annie…Many…Ponies　took　the

bridle　reins　and　led　the　horse　out　of　the　ruin；　and　started　upon　her　plodding；

patient　journey　to　what　lay　beyond　the　mountains。　Behind　her　the　black　horse

walked　with　drooping　head；　half　asleep　in　the　warm　sunlight。　At　the　heels　of

the　horse　followed　the　little　black　dog。







CHAPTER　IX。　RIDERS　IN　THE　BACKGROUND



Luck；　as　explained　elsewhere；　was　sweating　and　swearing　at　the　heat　in　Bear

Canon。　The　sun　had　crept　around　so　that　it　shone　full　into　a　certain

bowlder…strewn　defile；　and　up　this　sunbaked　gash　old　Applehead　was　toiling；

leading　the　scrawniest　burro　which　Luck　had　been　able　to　find　in　the　country。

The　burro　was　packed　with　a　prospector's　outfit　startlingly　real　in　its

pathetic　meagerness。　Old　Applehead　was　picking　his　way　among　rocks　so　hot　that

he　could　hardly　bear　to　lay　his　bare　hand　upon　them；　tough　as　that　hand　was

with　years　of　exposure　to　heat　and　cold　alike。　Beads　of　perspiration　were

standing　on　his　face；　which　was　a　deep；　apoplectic　crimson；　and　little

trickles　of　sweat　were　dropping　off　his　lower　jaw。



He　was　muttering　as　he　climbed；　but　the　camera　fortunately　failed　to　record

the　language　that　he　used。　Now　and　then　he　turned　and　yanked　savagely　　at　the

lead　rope；　whereupon　the　burro　would　sit　down　upon　its　haunches　and　allow

Applehead　to　stretch　its　neck　as　far　as　bone　and　tough　hide　and　tougher　sinew

would　permit　Someone　among　the　group　roosting　in　the　shade　across　the　defile

and　well　out　of　camera　range　would　laugh；　and　Luck；　standing　on　a　ledge　just

behind　and　above　the　camera；　would　shout　directions　or　criticism　of　the

〃business。〃



〃Come　on　back；　Applehead；〃　Luck　yelled　when　the　〃prospectorp〃　had　turned　a

corner　of　rock　and　disappeared　from　sight　of　the　camera。　〃We'll　do　that　scene

over　once　more　before　the　sun　gets　too　far　around。〃



〃Do　it　over；　will　ye？〃　Applehead　snarled　as　he　came　toiling　obediently　back

down　the　gulch。　〃Well；　now；　I　ain't　so　danged　shore　about　that　there　doin'

over'nless　yuh　want　to　wait　and　do　it　after　sundown。　Ain't　nobody　but　a

danged　fool　It　would　go　trailin'　up　that　there　gulch　this　kinda'　day。　Them

rocks　up　there　is　hot　enough　to　brile　a　lizardnow；　I'm　tellin'　ye！〃



Luck　covered　a　smile　with　his　moist　palm。　He　could　not　afford　to　be　merciful

at　the　expense　of　good　〃picture…stuff；〃　however；　so　he　called　down　grimly：



〃Now　you're　just　about　fagged　enough　for　that　close…up　I　want　of　you；

Applehead。　You　went　up　that　gulch　a　shade　too　brisk　for　a　fellow　that's　all　in

from　traveling；　and　starved　into　the　bargain。　Come　back　down　here　by　this　sand

bank；　and　start　up　towards　camera。　Back　up　a　little；　Pete；　so　you　can　'pam'

his　approach。　I　want　to　get　him　pulling　his　burro　up　past　that　banksabe？　And

the　close…up　of　his　face　with　all　those　sweat…streaks　will　prove　how　far　he's

comeand　then　I　want　the　detail　of　that　burro　and　his　pack　which　you'll　get

as　they　go　by。　You　see　what　I　mean。　Let's　see。　Will　it　swing　you　too　far　into

the　sun；　Pete；　if　you　pick　him　up　down　there　in　that　dry　channel？〃



〃Not　if　you　let　me　make　it　right　away；〃　Pete　replied　after　a　squint　or　two

through　the　viewfinder。　〃Sun's　getting　pretty　far　over〃



〃Ought　to　leave　a　feller　time　to　git　his　wind；〃　Applehead　complained；　looking

up　at　Luck　with　eyes　bloodshot　from　the　heat。　〃I　calc'late　mebby　you　think

it's　FUN　to　drag　that　there　burro　up　over　them　rocks？〃



〃Sure；　it　isn't　fun。　We　didn't　come　out　here　for　fun。　Go　down　and　wait　behind

that　bank；　and　come　out　into　the　channel　when　I　give　the　word。　I　want　you

coming　up　all…in；　just　as　you　look　right　now。　Sorry；　but　I　can't　let　you　wait

to　cool　off；　Applehead。〃



〃Well　now；〃　Applehead　began　with　shortwinded　sarcasm；　〃I'm　s'posed　to　be　outa

grub。　Why　didn't　yuh　up　In'　starve　me　fer　a　week　or　two；　so'st　I'd　be　gaunted

up　realistic？　Why　didn't　yuh　break　a　laig　fer　me；　sos't　I　kin　show　some

five…cent　bunch　in　a　pitcher…show　how　bad　I'm　off？　Danged　if　I　ain't　jest

about　gettin'　my　hide　full　uh　this　here　danged　fool　REELISM　you're　hollerin'

fur　all　the　time。　'F　you　send　me　down　there　to　come　haulin'　that　there　burro

back　up　here　so's　the　camery　kin　watch　me　sweat　'n'　puff　my　danged　daylights

outbefore　I　git　a　drink　uh　water；　I'll　murder　ye　in　cold　blood；　now　I'm

tellin'　ye！〃



〃You　go　on　down　there　and　shut　up！〃　Luck　yelled　inexorably。　〃You　can　drink　a

barrel　when　I'm　through　with　this　sceneand　not　before。　Get　that？　My　Lord！　If

you　can't　lead　a　burro　a　hundred　yards　without　setting　down　and　fanning

yourself　to　sleep；　you　must　be　losing　your　grip　for　fair。　I'll　stake　you　to　a

rocking…chair　and　let　you　do　old　grandpa　parts；　if　you　aren't　able　to〃



〃Dang　you；　Luck；　if　you　wasn't　such　a　little　runt　I'd　come　up　there　and　jest

about　lick　the　pants　off　you！　Talk　that　way　to　ME；　will　ye？　I'll　have　ye　know

I　kin　lead　burros　with　you　or　any　other　dang　man；　heat　er　no　heat　Ef　yuh　ain't

got　no　more　heart'n　to　AST　it　of　me；　I'll　haul　this　here　burro　up　'n'　down

this　dang　gulch　till　there　ain't　nothin'　left　of　'im　but　the　lead…rope；　and

the　rocks　is　all　wore　down　to　cobble…stone！　Ole　grandpa　parts；　hey？　You'll

swaller　them　words　when　I　git　to　ye；　young　fellerand　you'll　swaller　'em

mighty　dang　quick；　now　I'm　tellin'　ye！〃



He　went　off　down　the　gulch　to　the　sand　bank。　The　Happy　Family；　sprawled　at

ease　in　the　shade；　took　cigarettes　from　their　lips　that　they　might　chortle

their　amusement　at　the　two。　Like　father　and　son　were　Applehead　and　Luck；　but

their　bickerings　certainly　would　never　lead　one　to　suspect　their　affection。



〃Get　that　darned　burro　outa　sight；　will　you？　Luck　bawled　impatiently　when

Applehead　paused　to　send　a　murderous　glance　back　toward　camera。　〃What's　the

matteryuh　PARALYZED　down　there？　Haul　him　in　behind　that　bank！　The　moon'll　be

up　before　you　get　turned　around；　at　that　rate！〃



〃You　shet　yore　haid！〃　Applehead　retorted　at　the　full　capacity　of　his　lungs　and

with　an　absolute　disregard　for　Luck's　position　as　director　of　the　company。

〃Who's　leadin'　this　here　burroyou　er　me？　Fer　two　cents　I'd　come　back　and

knock　the　tar　outa　you；　Luck！　Stand　up　there　on　a　rock　and　flop　your　wings　and

crow　like　a　danged　banty　rooster'n'　I　was　leadin'　burros　'fore　you　was　born！

I'd　like　to　know　who　yuh　think　you　BE？〃



Pete　Lowry；　standing　feet…apart　and　imperturbably　focussing　the　camera　while

the　two　yelled　insults　at　each　other；　looked　up　at　Luck。



〃Riders　in　the　background；〃　he　announced　laconically；　and　returned　to　his

squinting　and　fussing。　〃Maybe　you　can　make　'em　hear　with　the　megaphone；〃　he

hinted；　looking　again　at　Luck。　〃They're　riding　straight　up　the　canon；　in　the

middle　distance。　They'll　register　in　the　scene；　if　you　can't　turn　'em。〃