He was utterly2 confounded; and, instead of obeying the order to “climb down,” he looked toward his guide, whose blank expression of countenance3 showed that he understood the matter no better than his employer did.
“You heard me, pard,” continued the ranchman, seeing that Oscar did not move. “You had better be a-tumbling, for I can’t hold on to this barker much longer.”
This implied that the ranchman was about to shoot; and Oscar, now beginning to realize the danger of his situation, sprang out of the wagon4 with such haste that he missed his footing as he stepped upon the wheel, and fell headlong to the ground.
174He scrambled5 to his feet as quickly as he could, his movement being greatly accelerated by the report of the gun, which, however, was not pointed6 toward himself.
As quick as Oscar was, the guide was quicker. Without saying a word Big Thompson swung himself from his pony7, and, dashing forward, seized the gun; and it was during the short but desperate struggle that ensued that the piece was discharged.
The ranchman fought furiously to retain possession of the weapon, but it was quickly torn from his grasp, and then the two men backed off and looked at each other.
“Now, Ike Barker!” exclaimed the guide, who was the first to speak, “what’s the meanin’ of sich actions as them, an’ what did ye do it fur, I axes ye?”
“I’ll talk to you after a while,” was the ranchman’s reply. “That’s my mule8, and I am going to have him!”
“Sho!” exclaimed the guide, whose face relaxed on the instant.
After a little reflection he stepped up and 175handed back the gun he had taken from the ranchman.
This action satisfied Oscar that Big Thompson began to understand the matter, and considered that there was no longer any cause for apprehension9. Indeed, Oscar began to understand the matter himself.
He was suspected of being a thief; but that did not trouble him, for he knew that he could easily prove his innocence10. But, if the mule was a stolen animal, he would have to give him up to his lawful11 owner and purchase another. The very thought was discouraging.
His departure for the foot-hills would be delayed, and it would take two hundred dollars to buy another team. He had already drawn12 heavily on his reserve fund; and, if there were many more unexpected drafts made upon it, the expedition would have to be abandoned for want of means to make it successful.
“Now, young man,” continued the ranchman, “where did you get that mule?”
“Wal, if that’s what ye wanted to know, why couldn’t ye have axed the question without 176pintin’ yer we’pon around so loose an’ reckless?” exclaimed Big Thompson.
“I bought him at the fort,” replied the boy. “The major found him at Julesburg, and it was by his advice that I made the purchase. I paid cash for him, and in the presence of two witnesses.”
“What sort of a looking fellow was it who sold him to you?” asked the ranchman, who had walked up and taken the mule by the head, as if to show that he intended to hold fast to his property, now that he had found it again.
“I thought he was a respectable looking man,” replied Oscar. “He wore a red shirt, coarse trousers and boots——”
“I don’t care anything about his trousers and boots,” exclaimed the ranchman impatiently. “How did he look in the face? That’s what I want to know.”
Oscar described the man as well as he could; and, when he had finished, Ike Barker, as he had been called, shook his head, and remarked that, although he was acquainted with almost everybody in that part of the country, he did 177not know any man who answered Oscar’s description.
“But there is one thing I do know,” said he, turning to the guide—“that mule and that wagon belong to me. They were stolen early last summer by that miserable13 Lish, the Wolfer—you know him, Thompson—and when I——What’s the matter with you, young man?”
“Nothing,” answered Oscar, with more earnestness than the occasion seemed to require.
“Then what did you say ‘Ah!’ for?” asked the ranchman.
Oscar hesitated. He did not know what reply to make to this question. The truth was the exclamation14 that attracted the notice of the ranchman had been called forth15 by a variety of conflicting emotions.
Lish, the Wolfer, was the chosen companion and friend of his brother Tom. He was suspected by the commandant of the fort of having been engaged in something during the previous summer that rendered him liable to arrest; and no doubt the stealing of the mule 178and wagon was the “affair” to which the colonel referred.
If that was the case, Tom could have had no hand in the matter, for it was only recently that he had fallen in with the Wolfer.
Oscar knew now what Tom was suspected of; and he knew, too, that he was innocent. That was a great relief to him. But he knew, also, that his brother was the willing associate of a thief who was in danger of being apprehended16 or shot at any minute; and the knowledge of the fact weighed heavily on his mind.
What would his mother say if she knew it?
If he gave a truthful17 answer to the ranchman’s question, he would be obliged to explain all this, and that was something he would not have done for the world.
However, he knew that he must make some reply, so he gathered his wits as quickly as he could, and said:
“I will answer your question by asking another. If you knew who it was that stole your mule, why were you in such haste to get the drop on me?”
179Oscar had picked up this expression since he came on the plains.
“When I first came up here you said you had been looking for me,” continued Oscar. “How did you know that your mule was in my possession?”
“I didn’t know that he was in your possession. I only knew that he was coming, and that he would be here to-night.”
“Who told you?”
“Nobody told me. I found it out in this way.”
As the ranchman said this, he advanced and handed Oscar a piece of soiled paper, on which was written something that almost knocked him over.
He had never dreamed that he could have an enemy in that country, where he was so little known; but here was the plainest evidence to the contrary.
The note ran as follows:
180Mr. Barker:
The mule I stole from you last summer will be along this way to-morrow afternoon. He will be driven by a young tenderfoot, who will claim to have purchased him from someone at the post; but don’t you believe him. He stole him, as I did. Be on the watch.
“Now,” continued the ranchman, after Oscar had finished reading the note, and his words found an echo in the heart of the young taxidermist, who backed up against the wagon-wheel and gazed fixedly19 at the paper he held in his hand, “there’s something that isn’t exactly square about this business. The language made use of in that communication is as correct as any I could use myself, and I have had some schooling20; in fact, I spent four years in William and Mary College. I am acquainted with Lish, the Wolfer—that is, I know as much about him as any white man does, for he used to herd21 for me—and if I had a sheep on my ranch1 as ignorant as he is I’d make mutton of him at once. Lish never wrote that note. He has somehow managed to pick up a partner who knows a thing or two, and he is the one who did the writing.”
Oscar knew that very well. He recognized 181the bold, free hand as soon as he put his eyes upon the note. It was his brother’s.
“I wouldn’t be willin’ to give much fur that feller’s ketch,” remarked Big Thompson. “Lish is mighty22 keerless when it comes to the dividin’.”
“I thought at first it was a trick of some kind,” continued the ranchman, whose tone seemed to grow kindlier the longer he talked to the now discouraged young hunter; “but when I saw the mule I knew it wasn’t. I am sorry I dropped on you so suddenly, for I really believe you bought the mule.”
“Indeed I did, sir,” answered Oscar, trying to choke down a big lump that seemed to be rising in his throat. “As I told you, I paid the money for him in the presence of witnesses.”
“Have you done anything to make an enemy of Lish?”
“I never exchanged a word with him.”
“Nor his partner, either?”
“I have never injured his partner in any way.”
“Well, I can’t understand the matter at 182all,” said the ranchman. “Lish had some object in sending me that note, but what it was I don’t know. But I do know that the mule is mine, and that I must have him if I have to fight for him.”
These words were uttered in a quiet but decided23 tone, and Oscar knew that the ranchman meant all he said.
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1
ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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2
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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4
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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5
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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6
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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7
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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8
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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9
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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10
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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11
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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12
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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13
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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14
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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15
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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16
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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17
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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18
parlance
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| n.说法；语调 | |
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19
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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20
schooling
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| n.教育；正规学校教育 | |
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21
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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22
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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