The ominous5 darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous. Harper's words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly6 willing to testify to the fact. Buck made up his mind to go home and went.
With him went Pincher Brady, alias7 Murphy, and the dozen riders. Murphy displayed no great grief for his defunct8 relative, but he was savagely9 disposed toward one Jack10 Robinson.
Once at the rangy, rather unkempt buildings which served the Running Dog as headquarters, Buck called Murphy into consultation11. He also summoned the newly promoted foreman, one "Sandy" Davitt, a sour individual marred13 by a cast in one eye.
"We've made a mess of things since this morning, y' understand," Buck said glumly14. "Murphy failed in town, and this here Robinson gent ran into a heap of luck headfirst. He's a flash gunman from somewhere, and Harper has put him in the bunk15 house."
"Old Jake has got his back up sudden," observed Sandy Davitt with a sneer16. "Hope you ain't lost any nerve lately, Buck? He sure handed you a mouthful to-night."
Buck swore under his breath. His thin, raw-boned features were etched with red.
"He pays for that," he responded. "You hear me tell it! They's two things to be done 'fore12 Murphy can foreclose on that mortgage. First, the greaser Cervantes has got to be 'tended to. Next, Jake Harper."
"Jake ain't what you'd exactly call a social favrite," said Davitt dryly. "Same time, Buck, he's considerable well known as an old boy and crippled up some. Public opinion ain't goin' to favor his sudden demise17, none whatever."
"Oh, that's all right," grunted18 Buck. "You and Slim and Doggy take some grub about to-morrow afternoon, and lay up the trail a ways. Jake will be ridin' over to the Lazy S to-morrow night or next morning. You boys rope him, fetch him over here, and we'll let him cool off a spell while we run that outfit19 of hisn off the range, savvy20?"
"That's good as she lays, Buck." Sandy Davitt looked relieved. "I thought you was goin' to remark that I might go wrastle with Cervantes, which same I ain't got no longin' for. Me, I got a wide sense of my limitations. Any gent what undertakes the greaser in sober earnest has got to be born real lucky, and I wasn't."
"You," said the foreman, grinning sourly. "Looks a whole lot like whoever wants the work done had ought to be able to handle some part of it his ownself, don't it?"
Buck was lounging in his chair as this veiled insinuation was uttered. Like a streak22 of light, he was up and in the air. Powerful as Sandy Davitt obviously was, he was taken by the throat and laid back across the table, gasping23 and strangled. Holding the man's lean throttle24 in one hand, Buck glared down at him.
"Some stuck up over sudden promotion25, ain't you, Sandy?" inquired Buck's voice. "Feelin' your oats a heap, eh? That's twice you got sassy—ain't goin' to be no third time, Sandy. Or is they?"
"N-no," gasped26 the half-choked man. Murphy looked on the scene with interest, his red features quite calm, a cigar between nis teeth. "Lemme up, Buck!"
Buck released his hold suddenly, and stepped back, smiling nastily.
"Sure. Git up, boy, and beat it. You can tell the others that Cervantes is my meat—quick meat, likewise. You and Slim and Doggy light out of here to-morrow, and if you miss bringin' in Jake Harper, I'll skin the three of you one-handed! Git!"
Sandy Davitt departed hurriedly.
"I see," observed Murphy, shifting the cigar in his mouth, "I see you ain't backward when it comes to action, Buck. What's the program?"
"You ride over to the Lazy S in the morning," Buck ordered, who was indeed suddenly displaying a new and alert manner. "Pull the mortgage stuff on Estella, polite but firm, savvy? I know about where Cervantes will be. When I'm done with him I'll drop along to the house and fire you off the premises27. Now set still till I get a drink."
Buck departed. Murphy glanced after him, then lighted his cigar thoughtfully.
"Humph!" he growled28. "I've heard biggity talk 'fore this, Mister Buck! If I knows you, which I'd ought to, you ain't ridin' up to that greaser and pullin' no gun on him—no, sir! If you git him, it'll be 'cause he ain't armed, maybe. Well, let her ride! All I want is to git another chance at that smart Aleck, Robinson, who recognized me for Pincher Brady, cuss him! He's run up a big day's score, and I aim to pay him. By Godfrey, I'd come close to givin' him an even break, I would!"
With this admirable sentiment, Mr. Murphy inspected his right hand, whose back was crossed by a big piece of sticking-plaster. He was not really injured—the bullet had only scraped his hand slightly. His black scowl29 was perhaps induced by memory of the fate which had overtaken Matt Brady that same day.
Buck was uneasy, and remained uneasy. He had gone to great lengths to stage his final play for the Shumway girl and ranch30, and saw himself verging31 on disaster. It was all due to that fool Robinson. He had met Murphy and had drawn32 him into Mike's place for conference. He had taken the snoring stranger for granted—and the stranger had wakened in sudden nightmare, according to the story told by Mike and by Murphy. What did it mean? Had Robinson overheard much of the talk? How had he chanced to recognize Murphy as Pincher Brady?—
The fellow had not gone to Laredo at all, but to Jake Harper's. That was suspicious. Where had Robinson come from? The south, beyond a doubt; but Buck was unable to discover anything about the man. Being thus uneasy, Buck issued stringent33 orders to his men, and regarded Robinson's fate as settled.
Upon the following morning, Mr. Murphy mounted and rode away from the Running Dog by his lonely. A little later Buck and two of his riders departed in company. Later still Sandy Davitt, Slim, and Doggy rode away together. The day was clear, brilliant, fairly warm.
Buck and his two men did not follow the road, but made their way by easy stages to the rolling and wooded section of the Running Dog which adjoined the fine water springs on the Shumway ranch. They knew about what they would find there; it had been the same story day after day since Matt Brady had undertaken to fence in the Shumway water.
Every morning Miguel Cervantes rode over that way and spent an hour cutting fence. If any of the Running Dog men showed up, Cervantes would smile and take all that was said and would allow himself to be ordered away. If they did not show up, he would finish cutting the fence and then depart. Later, Matt Brady would repair the fence.
By this mute and inglorious scheme of tactics, Cervantes caused the Running Dog some irritation34, avoided a row, and registered protest against high-handed work. It gained very little, but it was at least a protest. It was about all Cervantes had to do on the place, since the remnant of the Lazy S stock was safely rebranded and herded35 with the Running Dog cattle.
Upon this particular morning, Miguel Cervantes was busily cutting wires while his pony36 cropped the lush grass about the springs, when he observed a single horseman approaching from the hills. At the same time his pony lifted its head and whinnied—in another direction where nothing appeared. Cervantes was puzzled, but, centering his gaze on the rider, he recognized the figure of Jack Robinson. He ceased work, lolled against a fence post, and began to roll a cigarette. He looked up with a flashing smile as Robinson drew rein37.
"Buenos dias!" cried the rider gayly. "How goes it this morning, Miguel?"
"Well, se?or. I am glad to see you again."
"The gladness is all mine," said Robinson cheerfully. "If you knew how close I came not to seeing you again you'd get me. How is the se?orita?"
"Frying doughnuts." Cervantes chuckled38. His keen eyes darted39 over the other's figure. "You slept out last night, yes?"
"C'rect, sure's my name's Jack Robinson! Look rumpled40, do I? Oh, I've been taking a squint41 at the country, Mig. Need any help here?"
Cervantes gestured assent45, and watched the slender figure go riding off. Once more his pony lifted its head, cocking its ears toward another quarter. Cervantes glanced at the hills, saw nothing, and returned to his labor46.
The figure of Robinson rode out of sight. For a space Cervantes worked on, rolling up the wire with painstaking47 care. For the third time his pony looked up, and flung a whinny of greeting into the sunlight. Cervantes halted, straightened up, and surveyed the empty landscape with one hand over his eyes to shield them from the sun.
As he stood thus, motionless, a tiny puff48 of white spat49 out from a hillside to his right; a second puff became visible to his left. Two rolling reports followed. Cervantes, dropping his shielding hand, stood for an instant and then quietly fell on his face.
Jack Robinson meantime rode up to the old adobe50 house beneath wide cottonwoods that view the Shumway domain51 from its rounded knoll52, and dismounted. The house had been built Mexican style, even to the flat, stone-rolled adobe roof; it was cool and restful, with its vines and flowers.
Since no one came forth53 to greet him, Robinson unsaddled, took his horse to the corral to one side, and then tramped around the house to the rear. He turned the corner and paused.
Before him portly Se?ora Cervantes was pinning clothes to a line, while from the near-by doorway54 of the kitchen issued a voice that made Robinson turn a trifle red.
"I do hope he'll come soon!" was saying Estella Shumway. "I don't see why he went on to Harper's, when he must have known we were dying to see him. Well, that's the last of the batch55; I'd better bring them outside to cool."
The se?ora turned, beheld56 Robinson, and stood with open mouth. He made a gesture of silence, and stepped forward to the doorway. In this, a moment later, appeared a young lady who held a great platter of new-sugared doughnuts in both arms. As she came out, Robinson stepped forward and took the platter from her.
Something happened swiftly.
"Oh!" cried the girl, surprise and indignation in her voice. Her freed hand slapped Robinson's cheek smartly; then she stared at him with widening eyes and flushed cheeks. "Oh!" Her voice was suddenly different, vibrant57 with eager welcome. "Oh, it's you! My goodness, is that the way you show up?"
Holding the platter, Robinson surveyed her with twinkling eyes.
"That's sure the way to show up, isn't it?" he drawled. "I was afraid you might not give me the right kind of welcome, so I took it. Sort of forgot what I look like, since you and Jake were down in Pecos County last fall, haven't you? Who'd you think was kissing you, anyway?"
The girl's cheeks reddened again, then she broke into a glad laugh.
"If I'd known it was you," she cried, "why——"
Hastily Robinson set down the doughnuts and turned to the doorway—but Estella had changed her position and now stood outside, laughing at him.
"Too late!" she exclaimed, and then held out her hand. "Goodness, but I'm glad to see you. I knew from what Miguel said that——"
"You see, Stella," broke in Robinson, "there was a lot o' trouble down below. The sheriff had been killed and Sam Fisher was filling out the job; he'll prob'ly be elected anyhow. So Sam being sheriff, he couldn't get away, and sent me up instead."
Estella frowned sharply at him for a moment, studying his face. She was brown-haired, hazel-eyed, healthily brown of cheek and arm. Robinson returned her gaze innocently.
"I always did admire the way those tendrils of brown hair sort of break loose and curl down around your ears," he said, cocking his head to one side and surveying her with critical stare. "Yes, ma'am, I always did, sure's my name's Jack Robinson! I met Miguel back yonder, where he's powerful busy with some wire, and he allowed you would be glad to see me——"
"You met Miguel this morning?" repeated the girl.
"Yes. Stopped for a chat, then came on. I've been doing considerable running around since yesterday."
Se?ora Cervantes came up, and Robinson was introduced. Then, grabbing doughnuts in each, hand, Robinson followed Stella around to the wide veranda58 and with a sigh of relaxation59 settled down in a comfortable chair at her side.
"Sam was right worried over not hearing from you," he observed.
"Not hearing?" Estella regarded him with wide eyes. "Why, I wrote only two weeks ago—wrote a long letter and begged him to come up at once if he could! He knew all about the mortgage, and had promised to try and sell the ranch if he could——"
Robinson's eyes narrowed. "Who posted that letter for you?"
"I gave it to Mr. Buck to mail, as he was going to town."
"Oh! Well, I guess it got lost in the shuffle60 somewhere," said Robinson. "Anyhow, Sam hasn't heard from you in a month. Anyhow, he sold the ranch."
Robinson shook his head. "I dunno, ma'am. Sam, he made me promise not to say a word about it until he could get up here his ownself."
"Oh!" A trace of anger flamed in the girl's eyes. "I'd like to shake you——"
"I'd sure like to have you," Robinson said with a grin. "Go ahead, ma'am!"
Instead, Stella settled back in her chair and regarded him narrowly.
"What kind of a game are you playing, anyway?" she demanded.
"None whatever. Me, I'm a innercent pilgrim, a stranger, plumb62 peaceable," and his grin was more exasperating63 than ever. "As I remember it, Sam Fisher sold an option on the place, and the feller was coming up to look it over. He had your power of attorney to sell, but seemed like you had to consent to the deal."
"I had!" repeated the astonished girl. "Why, nothing of the sort! I wrote Sam that he had full power——"
"Sure, sure, but this was different. Seems like this feller wanted you to go with the ranch," averred64 Robinson innocently.
Stella looked at him a moment, then sprang to her feet. "What do you mean? How dare you! Oh, I wish I knew when you were serious! Who bought the place? Tell me!"
"Feller name of Robinson—Jack Robinson. Got any objections?"
They looked at each other for half a minute, a slow tide of color sweeping65 over the face of the girl. As she was about to speak, there came an interruption:
"Hello the house! Anybody home?"
Both turned. There, sitting upon his borrowed horse, was Mr. Murphy, whose approach had been unobserved. Robinson hastily dropped out of sight, concluding that he had been unseen.
"Oh, Lord!" he murmured. "Stella, bring in this gent quick; I'm going to slaughter66 him. Friend of mine, sure. Bring him in and give him a doughnut."
"Good morning," said the girl, somewhat perplexed67 at the whole affair. "Weren't you looking for me?"
"Lookin' for Miss Shumway, if you're her," returned Murphy. He dismounted and came forward toward the veranda. "My name's Murphy, ma'am. I done bought a mortgage over to Laredo City las' week, coverin' this place, and, bein', in the vicinity, thought I'd drop in and ask about it comin' due the first of the month."
The girl's face whitened a trifle. "The—mortgage?" she stammered68. "Why—why, I thought the bank held it——"
"Yes'm." Murphy took a paper from his pocket as he mounted the steps. "But I done bought her in. Maybe you'd like to look over this——"
He broke off suddenly, for his eyes had fallen upon Robinson. The latter grinned at him cheerfully.
"Step right up, Mr. Murphy; step right up. We're a whole lot glad to see you. Try a doughnut? Finest you ever seen, I'll bet."
Murphy looked paralyzed, and in this case looks did not lie.
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收听单词发音
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1
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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5
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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7
alias
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| n.化名；别名；adv.又名 | |
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8
defunct
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| adj.死亡的；已倒闭的 | |
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9
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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10
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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11
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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12
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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glumly
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| adv.忧郁地，闷闷不乐地；阴郁地 | |
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15
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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16
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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17
demise
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| n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让 | |
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18
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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savvy
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| v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的 | |
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21
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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23
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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verging
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| 接近，逼近（verge的现在分词形式） | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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herded
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| 群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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38
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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40
rumpled
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| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
squint
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| v. 使变斜视眼, 斜视, 眯眼看, 偏移, 窥视; n. 斜视, 斜孔小窗; adj. 斜视的, 斜的 | |
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42
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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44
vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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46
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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47
painstaking
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| adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的 | |
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48
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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49
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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50
adobe
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| n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司 | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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53
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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54
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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55
batch
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| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
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56
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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57
vibrant
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| adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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60
shuffle
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| n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走 | |
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61
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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62
plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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63
exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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64
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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65
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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66
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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67
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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68
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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