For an hour they rode along the trail, Billy and Bridge conversing3 upon various subjects, none of which touched upon the one uppermost in the mind of each. Miguel rode, silent and preoccupied4. The evening before he had whispered something to Bridge as he had crawled out of the darkness to lie close to the American, and during a brief moment that morning Bridge had found an opportunity to relay the Mexican's message to Billy Byrne.
The latter had but raised his eyebrows5 a trifle at the time, but later he smiled more than was usual with him. Something seemed to please him immensely.
Beside him at the head of the column rode Bridge and Miguel. Behind them trailed the six swarthy little troopers—the picked men upon whom Pesita could depend.
They had reached a point where the trail passes through a narrow dry arroyo7 which the waters of the rainy season had cut deep into the soft, powdery soil. Upon either bank grew cacti8 and mesquite, forming a sheltering screen behind which a regiment9 might have hidden. The place was ideal for an ambuscade.
“Here, Senor Capitan,” whispered Miguel, as they neared the entrance to the trap.
A low hill shut off from their view all but the head of the cut, and it also hid them from the sight of any possible enemy which might have been lurking10 in wait for them farther down the arroyo.
At Miguel's words Byrne wheeled his horse to the right away from the trail which led through the bottom of the waterway and around the base of the hill, or rather in that direction, for he had scarce deviated11 from the direct way before one of the troopers spurred to his side, calling out in Spanish that he was upon the wrong trail.
“Wot's this guy chewin' about?” asked Billy, turning to Miguel.
“He says you must keep to the arroyo, Senor Capitan,” explained the Mexican.
“Tell him to go back into his stall,” was Byrne's laconic12 rejoinder, as he pushed his mount forward to pass the brigand13.
The soldier was voluble in his objections. Again he reined15 in front of Billy, and by this time his five fellows had spurred forward to block the way.
“This is the wrong trail,” they cried. “Come this other way, Capitan. Pesita has so ordered it.”
Catching16 the drift of their remarks, Billy waved them to one side.
“I'm bossin' this picnic,” he announced. “Get out o' the way, an' be quick about it if you don't want to be hurted.”
Again he rode forward. Again the troopers interposed their mounts, and this time their leader cocked his carbine. His attitude was menacing. Billy was close to him. Their ponies17 were shoulder to shoulder, that of the bandit almost broadside of the trail.
Now Billy Byrne was more than passing well acquainted with many of the fundamental principles of sudden brawls18. It is safe to say that he had never heard of Van Bibber; but he knew, as well as Van Bibber knew, that it is well to hit first.
Without a word and without warning he struck, leaning forward with all the weight of his body behind his blow, and catching the man full beneath the chin he lifted him as neatly19 from his saddle as though a battering20 ram21 had struck him.
Simultaneously22 Bridge and Miguel drew revolvers from their shirts and as Billy wheeled his pony23 toward the remaining five they opened fire upon them.
The battle was short and sweet. One almost escaped but Miguel, who proved to be an excellent revolver shot, brought him down at a hundred yards. He then, with utter disregard for the rules of civilized24 warfare25, dispatched those who were not already dead.
“We must let none return to carry false tales to Pesita,” he explained.
Even Billy Byrne winced26 at the ruthlessness of the cold-blooded murders; but he realized the necessity which confronted them though he could not have brought himself to do the things which the Mexican did with such sang-froid and even evident enjoyment27.
“Now for the others!” cried Miguel, when he had assured himself that each of the six were really quite dead.
Spurring after him Billy and Bridge ran their horses over the rough ground at the base of the little hill, and then parallel to the arroyo for a matter of a hundred yards, where they espied28 two Indians, carbines in hand, standing29 in evident consternation30 because of the unexpected fusillade of shots which they had just heard and which they were unable to account for.
At the sight of the three the sharpshooters dropped behind cover and fired. Billy's horse stumbled at the first report, caught himself, reared high upon his hind6 legs and then toppled over, dead.
His rider, throwing himself to one side, scrambled31 to his feet and fired twice at the partially32 concealed33 men. Miguel and Bridge rode in rapidly to close quarters, firing as they came. One of the two men Pesita had sent to assassinate34 his “guests” dropped his gun, clutched at his breast, screamed, and sank back behind a clump35 of mesquite. The other turned and leaped over the edge of the bank into the arroyo, rolling and tumbling to the bottom in a cloud of dry dust.
As he rose to his feet and started on a run up the bed of the dry stream, dodging36 a zigzag37 course from one bit of scant38 cover to another Billy Byrne stepped to the edge of the washout and threw his carbine to his shoulder. His face was flushed, his eyes sparkled, a smile lighted his regular features.
“This is the life!” he cried, and pulled the trigger.
The man beneath him, running for his life like a frightened jackrabbit, sprawled39 forward upon his face, made a single effort to rise and then slumped40 limply down, forever.
Miguel and Bridge, dismounted now, came to Byrne's side. The Mexican was grinning broadly.
“The captain is one grand fighter,” he said. “How my dear general would admire such a man as the captain. Doubtless he would make him a colonel. Come with me Senor Capitan and your fortune is made.”
“Come where?” asked Billy Byrne.
“To the camp of the liberator41 of poor, bleeding Mexico—to General Francisco Villa42.”
“Nothin' doin',” said Billy. “I'm hooked up with this Pesita person now, an' I guess I'll stick. He's given me more of a run for my money in the last twenty-four hours than I've had since I parted from my dear old friend, the Lord of Yoka.”
“But Senor Capitan,” cried Miguel, “you do not mean to say that you are going back to Pesita! He will shoot you down with his own hand when he has learned what has happened here.”
“I guess not,” said Billy.
“You'd better go with Miguel, Billy,” urged Bridge. “Pesita will not forgive you this. You've cost him eight men today and he hasn't any more men than he needs at best. Besides you've made a monkey of him and unless I miss my guess you'll have to pay for it.”
“No,” said Billy, “I kind o' like this Pesita gent. I think I'll stick around with him for a while yet. Anyhow until I've had a chance to see his face after I've made my report to him. You guys run along now and make your get-away good, an' I'll beat it back to camp.”
He crossed to where the two horses of the slain43 marksmen were hidden, turned one of them loose and mounted the other.
“So long, boes!” he cried, and with a wave of his hand wheeled about and spurred back along the trail over which they had just come.
Miguel and Bridge watched him for a moment, then they, too, mounted and turned away in the opposite direction. Bridge recited no verse for the balance of that day. His heart lay heavy in his bosom44, for he missed Billy Byrne, and was fearful of the fate which awaited him at the camp of the bandit.
Billy, blithe45 as a lark46, rode gaily47 back along the trail to camp. He looked forward with unmixed delight to his coming interview with Pesita, and to the wild, half-savage48 life which association with the bandit promised. All his life had Billy Byrne fed upon excitement and adventure. As gangster49, thug, holdup man and second-story artist Billy had found food for his appetite within the dismal50, sooty streets of Chicago's great West Side, and then Fate had flung him upon the savage shore of Yoka to find other forms of adventure where the best that is in a strong man may be brought out in the stern battle for existence against primeval men and conditions. The West Side had developed only Billy's basest characteristics. He might have slipped back easily into the old ways had it not been for HER and the recollection of that which he had read in her eyes. Love had been there; but greater than that to hold a man into the straight and narrow path of decency51 and honor had been respect and admiration52. It had seemed incredible to Billy that a goddess should feel such things for him—for the same man her scornful lips once had branded as coward and mucker; yet he had read the truth aright, and since then Billy Byrne had done his best according to the light that had been given him to deserve the belief she had in him.
So far there had crept into his consciousness no disquieting53 doubts as to the consistency54 of his recent action in joining the force of a depredating Mexican outlaw55. Billy knew nothing of the political conditions of the republic. Had Pesita told him that he was president of Mexico, Billy could not have disputed the statement from any knowledge of facts which he possessed56. As a matter of fact about all Billy had ever known of Mexico was that it had some connection with an important place called Juarez where running meets were held.
To Billy Byrne, then, Pesita was a real general, and Billy, himself, a bona fide captain. He had entered an army which was at war with some other army. What they were warring about Billy knew not, nor did he care. There should be fighting and he loved that—that much he knew. The ethics57 of Pesita's warfare troubled him not. He had heard that some great American general had said: “War is hell.” Billy was willing to take his word for it, and accept anything which came in the guise58 of war as entirely59 proper and as it should be.
The afternoon was far gone when Billy drew rein14 in the camp of the outlaw band. Pesita with the bulk of his raiders was out upon some excursion to the north. Only half a dozen men lolled about, smoking or sleeping away the hot day. They looked at Billy in evident surprise when they saw him riding in alone; but they asked no questions and Billy offered no explanation—his report was for the ears of Pesita only.
The balance of the day Billy spent in acquiring further knowledge of Spanish by conversing with those of the men who remained awake, and asking innumerable questions. It was almost sundown when Pesita rode in. Two riderless horses were led by troopers in the rear of the little column and three men swayed painfully in their saddles and their clothing was stained with blood.
Evidently Pesita had met with resistance. There was much voluble chattering60 on the part of those who had remained behind in their endeavors to extract from their returning comrades the details of the day's enterprise. By piecing together the various scraps62 of conversation he could understand Billy discovered that Pesita had ridden far to demand tribute from a wealthy ranchero, only to find that word of his coming had preceded him and brought a large detachment of Villa's regulars who concealed themselves about the house and outbuildings until Pesita and his entire force were well within close range.
“We were lucky to get off as well as we did,” said an officer.
Billy grinned inwardly as he thought of the pleasant frame of mind in which Pesita might now be expected to receive the news that eight of his troopers had been killed and his two “guests” safely removed from the sphere of his hospitality.
And even as his mind dwelt delightedly upon the subject a ragged63 Indian carrying a carbine and with heavy silver spurs strapped64 to his bare feet approached and saluted65 him.
“General Pesita wishes Senor Capitan Byrne to report to him at once,” said the man.
“Sure Mike!” replied Billy, and made his way through the pandemonium66 of the camp toward the headquarters tent.
As he went he slipped his hand inside his shirt and loosened something which hung beneath his left arm.
“Li'l ol' ace-in-the-hole,” he murmured affectionately.
He found Pesita pacing back and forth67 before his tent—an energetic bundle of nerves which no amount of hard riding and fighting could tire or discourage.
As Billy approached Pesita shot a quick glance at his face, that he might read, perhaps, in his new officer's expression whether anger or suspicion had been aroused by the killing68 of his American friend, for Pesita never dreamed but that Bridge had been dead since mid-forenoon.
“Well,” said Pesita, smiling, “you left Senor Bridge and Miguel safely at their destination?”
“I couldn't take 'em all the way,” replied Billy, “cause I didn't have no more men to guard 'em with; but I seen 'em past the danger I guess an' well on their way.”
“You had no men?” questioned Pesita. “You had six troopers.”
“Oh, they was all croaked69 before we'd been gone two hours. You see it happens like this: We got as far as that dry arroyo just before the trail drops down into the valley, when up jumps a bunch of this here Villa's guys and commenced takin' pot shots at us.
“Seein' as how I was sent to guard Bridge an' Mig, I makes them dismount and hunt cover, and then me an' my men wades70 in and cleans up the bunch. They was only a few of them but they croaked the whole bloomin' six o' mine.
“I tell you it was some scrap61 while it lasted; but I saved your guests from gettin' hurted an' I know that that's what you sent me to do. It's too bad about the six men we lost but, leave it to me, we'll get even with that Villa guy yet. Just lead me to 'im.”
As he spoke71 Billy commenced scratching himself beneath the left arm, and then, as though to better reach the point of irritation72, he slipped his hand inside his shirt. If Pesita noticed the apparently73 innocent little act, or interpreted it correctly may or may not have been the fact. He stood looking straight into Byrne's eyes for a full minute. His face denoted neither baffled rage nor contemplated74 revenge. Presently a slow smile raised his heavy mustache and revealed his strong, white teeth.
“You have done well, Captain Byrne,” he said. “You are a man after my own heart,” and he extended his hand.
A half-hour later Billy walked slowly back to his own blankets, and to say that he was puzzled would scarce have described his mental state.
“I can't quite make that gink out,” he mused75. “Either he's a mighty76 good loser or else he's a deep one who'll wait a year to get me the way he wants to get me.”
And Pesita a few moments later was saying to Captain Rozales:
“I should have shot him if I could spare such a man; but it is seldom I find one with the courage and effrontery77 he possesses. Why think of it, Rozales, he kills eight of my men, and lets my prisoners escape, and then dares to come back and tell me about it when he might easily have gotten away. Villa would have made him an officer for this thing, and Miguel must have told him so. He found out in some way about your little plan and he turned the tables on us. We can use him, Rozales, but we must watch him. Also, my dear captain, watch his right hand and when he slips it into his shirt be careful that you do not draw on him—unless you happen to be behind him.”
Rozales was not inclined to take his chief's view of Byrne's value to them. He argued that the man was guilty of disloyalty and therefore a menace. What he thought, but did not advance as an argument, was of a different nature. Rozales was filled with rage to think that the newcomer had outwitted him, and beaten him at his own game, and he was jealous, too, of the man's ascendancy78 in the esteem79 of Pesita; but he hid his personal feelings beneath a cloak of seeming acquiescence80 in his chief's views, knowing that some day his time would come when he might rid himself of the danger of this obnoxious81 rival.
“And tomorrow,” continued Pesita, “I am sending him to Cuivaca. Villa has considerable funds in bank there, and this stranger can learn what I want to know about the size of the detachment holding the town, and the habits of the garrison82.”
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收听单词发音
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1
picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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2
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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3
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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arroyo
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| n.干涸的河床，小河 | |
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cacti
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| n.（复）仙人掌 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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10
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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deviated
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| v.偏离，越轨( deviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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laconic
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| adj.简洁的；精练的 | |
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brigand
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| n.土匪，强盗 | |
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14
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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15
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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16
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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brawls
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| 吵架，打架( brawl的名词复数 ) | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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20
battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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21
ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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24
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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31
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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32
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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34
assassinate
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| vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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37
zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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38
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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39
sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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40
slumped
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| 大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下] | |
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41
liberator
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| 解放者 | |
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42
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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43
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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44
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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45
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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46
lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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47
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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48
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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49
gangster
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| n.匪徒，歹徒，暴徒 | |
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50
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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51
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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52
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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53
disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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54
consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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55
outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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56
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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57
ethics
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| n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准 | |
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58
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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59
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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60
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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61
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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62
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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63
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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64
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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65
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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pandemonium
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| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
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67
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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68
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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69
croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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70
wades
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的第三人称单数 ) | |
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71
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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72
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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73
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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74
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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75
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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76
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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77
effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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78
ascendancy
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| n.统治权，支配力量 | |
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79
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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82
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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