After passing the marble ca?on and negotiating the stretch of bad land where volcanic3 ash sifted4 into the air and obsidian5 glittered under foot, Murray steered6 the flivver down into the basin where all road was lost, where the loose sifting7 sands were blazing with the heat of an inferno8, and where the car bogged9 down into the bottomless dust. Sandy deflated10 the tires, and when this would no longer serve, utilized11 the chicken-wire to run out of holes; by some miracle of desert sense, he managed to hold the right direction, although the rude map furnished them by Piute was useless to Murray.
It was nearly evening when they arrived at the spot dignified13 by the name of Morongo Valley, and the westering sun transmuted14 the sterile15 scene into one of glorious radiance and scarlet16-tinged hues17. All around stretched the peaks of the Dead Mountains, not clothed with the glorious forests of New Mexico, but with their naked eminences18 now gleaming in blue and scarlet fires of sunset, their valleys long streamers of darker purples, their bald slopes a yellow golden glory.
The valley itself was a box ca?on, a small one, the upper end a solid mass of greenery. There was water here—a tiny trickle19, that had been brought from the hillside to vivify the upper flat, and had given its precious life to all the higher slopes, before it lost itself in the farther sands.
The road, better preserved here, led them to the shack20 of Hassayamp. It was scarce worthy21 the name of shack—a rough erection of boards and scraps22 of tin, designed only to afford shelter from the elements. Sandy, standing24 beside the car and scrutinizing25 the hill-slopes, pointed26 upward.
"That's the mine, I'm thinkin'—that contraption o' timbers halfway27 up. It seems to have caved in. We're not interested in that, however; ruby28 silver is what'll make us sit up! Time for that in the morning."
Murray viewed the interior of the shack, and declared for sleeping in the open air.
They were up and about by sunrise. Murray was cool and rather sardonic29 in regard to the whole affair, but Mackintavers was cheerful and blithe30 as any boy of a prospector31 on his first search for earth-gold. The sight of that glittering silver ore, that wondrous32 ruby silver ore whose arsenic33 had ruined many a man and whose silver content had made thousands rich, was like a tonic34 in the blood of Sandy.
By evening they had gone over the ridge35 wherein lay the unfortunate Hassayamp, and had found no ruby silver vein36. They had struck gold in promising37 lodes, but gold was naught38 before the ruby silver—if they found it. Sandy continued cheerful, and Murray was coolly complacent39, doing as Mackintavers bade him but frankly40 without hope of success.
With the following morning, they took picks and labored41 valiantly42 until shortly before noon. Then Murray descried43 a little group of figures breaking its way toward them—not from the direction of Two Palms, but from the north, from the desert of the Colorado. The group resolved itself into two plodding44, patient burros and the nondescript outline of a desert rat. The latter greeted them as they met him at the shack.
"Howdy, pilgrims! Seen your smoke this mornin', and sinct I was headin' in for town anyhow, I come this way. My land, but you're in style, ain't ye! Autobile an' all—say, is that a real autobile? I seen one oncet, las' time I was over to Eldorado—but sho! Here I be, forgettin' all decency45! My name's George Beam, gents, though most folks address me as Sagebrush."
"Glad to meet you," said Sandy cordially, completing the introductions, "and ye better sit in with us for a snack, old-timer. Any luck?"
"Ain't kickin' none," said Sagebrush, combing the sand from his wealth of sodden46 gray whiskers. His eyes followed Murray. "Say, is them real bakin' powder biscuits ye got? Well, I never! They look real good, too, for them kind; I allus had a notion folks ought to study sour-dough more back in the settlements, but mebbe there's somethin' to bakin' powder——"
Sagebrush drifted along garrulously47, glad of a chance to talk. Presently, when the coffee had been finished and pipes were lighted, he gazed around and grew personal.
"This here is a good place," he observed, "if it's quartz48 you're after, gents. If it don't intrude49 none, what ye lookin' for?"
"This," he answered laconically51. "Know it?"
Sagebrush took the samples, inspected them, and then began to grin widely.
"Ruby silver!" he ejaculated. "Ye don't mean to say—my gosh! Pilgrims, I'm right pained to hear tell o' this, but——"
"Ye didn't allow them samples come from here, did ye?"
"Understood so," returned Sandy, frowning. "What d'ye mean, huh?"
Sagebrush grinned again. "Why," he said, hefting the samples, "las' time I seen these here spec'mens, they was reposin' on the desk o' Piute Tomkins, back to Two Palms. Piute brung 'em home from Tonopah three year ago, and was right proud of 'em, too. I reckon that there no-account Deadoak pirated 'em from him and passed 'em off on you. Deadoak is right smart, some ways——"
"Stung, Sandy!" he cried, sitting up. "Hurray! The bad man of New Mexico stung by a simple Arizona native—whoop! The biter got bit—oh, Sandy, Sandy! And look at the big blisters55 on my perfectly56 good hands——"
Sagebrush gazed after him with sober mirth.
"Too bad ye got took in," he observed. "But I'm right glad ye take it calm, pilgrim. If ye didn't get bit too deep, ye got a fine place right here. Me, I like to git farther away from settlements—too many folks around spoil the desert. But if ye like this here oasis59, she ain't bad. Say, if you're a doctor, wisht ye'd look at that there Jenny burro o' mine. She ain't been right peart for two-three days; kind o' down on her feed. Ye might light right on what she needed——"
Murray assented60 and strolled over to the burro in the train of Sagebrush. The whimsical irony61 of it struck him full; Douglas Murray, peer of the finest surgeons in the land, giving advice upon a sick burro! But he gave the advice, and grinned as he watched the aged12 desert rat shuffle62 off down the valley with his animals.
Sagebrush wended his way down the valley in patient tolerance63 of sun and sand. But of a sudden he wakened to the startling fact that his name was being called; amazedly, he peered up at the hillsides, shaded his eyes with his hand, and descried the figure of Deadoak Stevens approaching, carefully leading one of Piute's cayuses down the rocky descent.
An hour afterward64, Deadoak was riding up to the shack in the valley, with a fine appearance of just finishing the end of a toilsome journey. A meeting with Sagebrush had afforded him a plan of campaign. He observed Murray sitting before the shack cleaning a revolver, and dismounted with a cheerful greeting; his cheerful expression vanished quickly, however, when Murray pointed the revolver at him and rose, blazing with wrath65.
"So you've come to the scene of your crime, Deadoak! Put those hands up—that's right! And stand still—don't back away; you've nowhere to back."
"The matter?" repeated Murray. "You know! You've defrauded67 honest men, and now you're going to settle up. If you've any last words to say, say 'em quick! My finger's trembling on the trigger. Tonight you'll be reposing69 under that tree; we're here alone, Deadoak Stevens, and you shall perish at the hands of the man whom you——"
"Say!" he croaked72. "I—I—honest, now, I come out here to square things up! I heard that Mac was lookin' for ruby silver—them samples was a mistake! Piute said he'd put 'em in with Hassayamp's stuff one time. I rid here to——"
"Yep, that's right, Doc! I didn't go to defraud68 nobody! If you ain't satisfied with the deal, I'll take back the prop'ty and no hard feelin's—that's what I rid out here to say, if ye give me a chance. Ding my dogs, I ain't no gunman. P'int that thing another way!"
Murray obeyed.
"You don't mean that you'll take back the property? At the price we paid?"
"Certain!" assented Deadoak, fervently74 virtuous75 and hugely relieved. "Give ye a profit, if ye feel bad. Why, Doc, we wouldn't go to pirootin' no pilgrims—future denizens76 o' this here great an' glorious Two Palms! We wouldn't have ye feel that we was anythin' but honest an' simple natives, welcomin' you to our midst. We'll go to 'most any length to make things good. If we'd knowed that Mac was attracted by them ruby silver samples—which same I didn't know—we'd have run down the thing then an' there——"
"Hold on," interjected Murray. "Here's Mackintavers now."
Sandy had descried the arrival of the visitor from afar, and was now hastening toward the cabin. It was a rare thing, an unknown thing, for Sandy Mackintavers to meet any man who had successfully bilked him; he arrived upon the spot somewhat out of breath, and gazed upon Deadoak more in sorrow than in wrath.
Deadoak, however, hastened to avoid any trouble by apprising77 Sandy of the reason which he avowed78 had caused his visit.
"And now," he added, screwing up his leathery countenance79 into sanctimonious80 lines, "I stand ready to do the right thing, gents. I'm offerin', this bein' on behalf o' me and Piute together, what ye paid for the prop'ty and five hundred to boot."
"What about your mortgage?" queried Sandy shrewdly.
"Include that in the takin' back if ye like. All I want is to do the right thing."
"All right," said Sandy. "Murray, let me speak with ye to one side."
Deadoak sat down and rolled a cigarette. Taking Murray's arm, Sandy mopped his face and walked out of earshot, then he paused. As he met Murray's puzzled gaze, an earnest look crept into his heavy features.
"Ye'll leave this matter to me?" he queried. "In other words, will you be willing to let me gamble for the good o' the firm?"
Murray smiled quizzically. "Go as far as you like, Sandy! I'll back your play."
"And if we go broke on it, no hard feelings?"
Murray laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't be a fool! We're men and not children. Play your own game!"
Sandy looked vastly relieved, then strode back to Deadoak.
"Well, now, your proposition is good," he said cordially, even genially81. "I'm proud to meet a man like you, Deadoak Stevens! We thought you and Mr. Tomkins had trimmed us, and were inclined to be sore about it—now that we've found the mistake, we apologize."
"Then you take me up?" queried Deadoak eagerly.
"No."
"Wh—what! Ye said no?"
"Of course!" returned Sandy warmly, taking no heed82 of the thunderstruck look which had clouded Deadoak's staggered features. "Would we take advantage of ye that way? Not us! We're not that sort! We don't whine83, Deadoak; we're not kids. We'll keep what we got, and make the best of it!"
"You—d'ye mean——" he choked, then continued feebly. "Have ye found somethin'?"
"Maybe, we have!" Sandy beamed upon him. "Just between ourselves, friend, I'll tell ye that we have. So—ye see?" His wink85 was significant.
"I see," agreed Deadoak mournfully.
"'Twill make ye rejoice, no doubt," pursued Sandy, "to know that our luck was good. We appreciate your disinterested——"
"Won't ye wait till mornin', anyhow?" queried Sandy with concern.
"Nope, thanks."
Dejectedly, hopelessly, Deadoak stumbled to his cayuse, pulled himself aboard, waved a limp hand, and rode down the valley. He was slumped87 in the saddle like a man who sees no hope in the future.
"Cheerful?"
Sandy faced his friend and made a wide gesture.
"Murray," he said earnestly, "I'm playin' a hunch90. Why should that fellow come here and make us an offer? I don't know—but there was something behind it. We've got something that somebody wants. And I've a notion who that somebody is."
"Oh!" Murray gave him a keen glance. "Then you really found something?"
Sandy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Come with me and I'll show you."
Murray accompanied him past the shack, up toward the head of the canyon91. Sandy led the way to one side, where a high rocky wall formed a solid background. Before this was a stretch of sand, perfectly level, a hundred feet wide; this was enclosed on either hand by a low growth of manzanita, whose grotesque92, wine-red limbs curled eerily93 in the sunlight.
"Look there," said Sandy, pointing.
On either side of this little clearing, a stake had been thrust into the sand. About the head of either stake, had been bound a scrap23 of red paper. One scrap had been torn away by the wind. On the scrap which fluttered from the other stake, was a flaring94 black Chinese ideograph.
"Aiblins, now," said Sandy, while Murray examined the paper, "that looks like a chink laundry-man's mark, eh? And ye said that the chink, Tom Lee, had been out here and was comin' home when ye treated his leg. What did he put those stakes in for?"
"I'll bite," said Murray, gazing at the scene with a frown of perplexity. "What?"
"Blamed if I know," returned Sandy.
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1
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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2
meteorite
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| n.陨石；流星 | |
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volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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4
sifted
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| v.筛( sift的过去式和过去分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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obsidian
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| n.黑曜石 | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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7
sifting
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| n.筛，过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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inferno
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| n.火海；地狱般的场所 | |
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bogged
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| adj.陷于泥沼的v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的过去式和过去分词 )；妨碍，阻碍 | |
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10
deflated
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| adj. 灰心丧气的 | |
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utilized
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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14
transmuted
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| v.使变形，使变质，把…变成…( transmute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sterile
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| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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eminences
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| 卓越( eminence的名词复数 )； 著名； 高地； 山丘 | |
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trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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24
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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scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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28
ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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prospector
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| n.探矿者 | |
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32
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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arsenic
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| n.砒霜，砷；adj.砷的 | |
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tonic
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| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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46
sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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garrulously
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quartz
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| n.石英 | |
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49
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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50
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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laconically
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| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
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52
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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53
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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54
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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55
blisters
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| n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡 | |
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56
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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57
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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58
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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59
oasis
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| n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方 | |
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60
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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62
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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63
tolerance
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| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
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64
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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65
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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66
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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67
defrauded
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| v.诈取，骗取( defraud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
defraud
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| vt.欺骗，欺诈 | |
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69
reposing
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的现在分词 ) | |
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70
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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71
sagged
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| 下垂的 | |
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72
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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73
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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74
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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75
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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denizens
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| n.居民，住户( denizen的名词复数 ) | |
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apprising
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的现在分词 )；评价 | |
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avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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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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sanctimonious
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| adj.假装神圣的，假装虔诚的，假装诚实的 | |
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genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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whine
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| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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futility
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| n.无用 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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elucidate
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| v.阐明，说明 | |
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hunch
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| n.预感，直觉 | |
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canyon
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| n.峡谷，溪谷 | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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eerily
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| adv.引起神秘感或害怕地 | |
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flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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