“Strubell,” said Herbert, who with Nick was riding beside the Texan, the other being at the rear with the pack animals, “do you expect to find any use for that lasso?”
“You mean the lariat3,” replied the cowboy, looking down at the rope coiled at his saddle; “can’t say, but Baker4 and I make it a rule to go prepared for business. We may[88] strike a job in New Mexico, after taking a look at the ranch5 for Mr. Lord.”
“But you could get them there.”
“Of course, but I’ve used this for years, just as Baker has his, and we are so accustomed to them that we prefer to take them with us, just as you will soon grow to prefer your pony6 and your Winchester above all others.”
“When is the harvest time, as you may call it, for cattle?” asked Nick, who was always on the lookout7 for a chance to increase his store of knowledge.
“The spring; that’s when the big herds8 are put up for the drive, and that’s the season too, when the yearly round-up takes place.”
“What’s that for?”
“To apportion9 the unmarked calves10 and yearlings among the owners of stock on the range, so they can be branded.”
“I should think there would be a confusion of brands.”
“No; that can never happen, for the law requires the brand to be recorded in the county clerk’s office. It is generally the[89] initials of the owner’s name, with perhaps some device to help distinguish it. The county clerk sees to it that no two are the same. But,” added the Texan, “the law compels every cattle owner to record also with the county clerk the ear-marks, crops, half-crops, upper and under bits, upper and under slopes, splits, swallow-forks, and jingle-bobs. When all this is done, the ranchman can identify his property as easily as you could pick out your own father in a crowd.”
“Suppose a lot of branded cattle are sold?” asked Nick.
“That seller is compelled to counterbrand them, and in case they are driven from the State, the buyer is obliged to road-brand them with a device different from his regular brand, and must record it in every county through which he passes.”
“I should think some of the cattle would become pretty well covered with brands.”
“So they do; after a few shiftings about, I have seen them so thickly branded that there seemed no place for anything new in that line. It doesn’t require many transfers to do this[90] when the burned letters, as I have seen them, are nearly a foot long.”
“How is the branding done?”
“When convenient, the animal is driven between two parallel lines of fencing, called a chute, bars being placed before and behind him. He is then helpless, and the operator does the work at his leisure. But fences (except the wire kind that the big owners are stretching across the country) are scarce, and we generally have to go to the help of the brander.”
“How do you manage it?”
“Easily enough; slip about eight feet of the end of the lariat through the ring, and, putting a loop at the other end, over the pommel of the saddle, I gather the coils into my bridle12 hand, holding the noose13 in my right, and start my pony on a gallop. The animal that I want breaks into a run. I quickly get near enough to drop the noose over its head or fore11 feet, and the pony wheels the other way and braces14 himself for the shock that he knows is coming and which throws the animal to the ground. The minute he goes down,[91] the branders seize him by the head and tail, and the hot iron does its work.”
“The operation must be painful,” suggested Herbert.
“Well,” replied Strubell, “I suppose the animal doesn’t enjoy it overmuch, but it isn’t so bad as many think, for the brander must take great care not to burn through the skin into the flesh.”
“What harm would be done by that?”
“The brand would be blotched, and a good many dishonest people would find an excuse for getting their brands mixed; but that isn’t the worst trouble,” added the cowboy, “for after the branding comes the blow-fly, which is the pest of Texas.”
“What is his style of working?”
“He deposits his eggs under the raw sore, and, before long, thousands of screw worms are eating their way toward the vitals of the animal.”
“What is done to check them?”
“We have different remedies, which only half do their work, but the best that I know of is cresylic ointment15. In order to apply it,[92] however, the animal must be roped and sometimes thrown down.”
“It looks as if the cowboy has more work than play in his business,” said Nick, with a laugh.
Strubell turned and stared at him a moment, as if pitying his ignorance.
“If you have any doubt about it, just try it for six months or a year. We spend most of our time in the saddle from daylight till dark. When on the trail, our diet is bacon, bread, and coffee, and not overmuch of that. I have gone twenty hours without a mouthful, for the simple reason that I hadn’t the time to ride to the cook wagon16 to get it. When one pony gave out, I jumped on another and rode him like a house afire.”
“What was the cause for such hard work?”
“Chiefly stampedes, which set the animals wild. When following the Old Cattle Trail, northward17 through Texas and Kansas, I have had five thousand cattle scattered18 to every point of the compass by a thunder-storm, despite all we could do to keep them together. Sometimes they become crazy for water, start bellowing19 on a full run, and crowd into the[93] first stream so fast that a hundred or two are drowned; then, when the night is still and no air stirring, nor the slightest cause, so far as you can see, exists for alarm, something will set them off again. The only explanation that I could ever think of was that the animals are troubled now and then with bad dreams, and by their cavorting20 frighten the others out of their wits.”
“They must be guarded carefully at night?”
“Certainly; our men are divided into three reliefs, which makes it a little harder than we have it now. When the stampede breaks out, the riders have no let up night or day till the cattle are brought together again. Then, too, the Kiowas or Comanches may take it into their heads to try a little cattle speculation21. They are all fine horsemen and rifle-shots, and a half dozen of the scamps can make things as lively on a dark night as a nest of hornets. However, we like it for all that,” said the Texan, “because it’s the only business we know; but these big cattle owners, that are fencing in most of Texas with their barbed wire, will soon take it away from us.”
[94]
At this juncture22, Lattin touched his pony with his spur, and placed him alongside the others.
“I wish,” said he, “that you would p’int that machine of yours off there to the east, and let us know what you make of it.”
His outstretched arm showed the direction named, and his friends naturally turned their attention toward that point of the compass. They were on the plain, where the grass grew plentifully23, the hilly portions being in sight several miles to their left.
Before the field glass was called into use, all saw, seemingly in the very rim24 of the horizon, several horsemen moving apparently25 over a course parallel with their own, since Lattin said they had been in sight for nearly an hour, and were neither more nor less distinct than when first observed.
The glasses were passed from one to the other, and the parties were closely studied. The instruments were of great help, giving to our friends a knowledge which otherwise they could not have obtained.
All agreed that there were three horsemen,[95] and that one, possibly two, were white men. The third might have belonged to the same race, but, for some cause, the Texans declared that he was a half-breed, known as Jim-John, one of the worst rogues26 in the Southwest.
“If you know him,” said Nick, “you ought to know the others.”
“So I do,” quietly replied Strubell; “one is Bell Rickard, that you introduced to us last night. They’re a bad lot, and we’re bound to have trouble with them before morning.”
Little did the sagacious Texan suspect the startling manner in which his words were to be verified.
[96]
CHAPTER XI.
STRANGE PROCEEDINGS27.
THE elder Texan turned to the boys and said:
“I must ask you to excuse Baker and me for a few minutes, while we discuss a little private business.”
It was a singular request, but Nick and Herbert nodded their heads. Striking their ponies28 into a quick gallop, the cowboys rode a hundred yards or so in advance, before bringing their animals down to a walk. The gait of the youths was the same.
The remark made by Strubell concerning Rickard, caused Herbert to ask what it meant. Nick told him the story, adding:
“They are talking now about him and the others: look at them!”
The Texans were certainly discussing some subject with great earnestness. Inasmuch as they kept glancing to the eastward29, gesticulating[97] and often pointing in that direction, there was little doubt that Nick was right in his surmise30 as to the theme of their conversation.
“I wonder what it can be,” said Herbert, after watching the couple, who modulated31 their voices so that not a word could be recognized; “it seems strange that they should treat the horse thief as a friend, when they know him to be an enemy.”
“Well, I have been trying to figure it out; I supposed they would make it clear to me, but though I heard them speak about it to each other this morning, they took care not to give me a word in the way of explanation. I shall not ask them, though I was never more curious to learn anything in all my life.”
“It can’t be that Strubell and Lattin are on friendly terms with Rickard?” suggested Herbert.
“I might think so, after what we have just seen, though it seems cruel to suspect them of anything like that. Mr. Lord has known them for years, and says two more honest men never lived.”
[98]
“You are brighter than I am, Nick; what is your theory?”
“Well, it is clear that Strubell and Lattin had the choice of shooting down Rickard when I drove him into camp, or of letting him go. They knew it was of no use to ask a pledge of him in payment for their kindness, for he wouldn’t regard any promise as binding32; so, not willing to treat him as he deserved, perhaps they took the fellow for what he was, and then let him go.”
“You may be right, but the explanation doesn’t amount to much, and doesn’t satisfy me.”
“Nor me either. I would like to hear yours.”
“I haven’t any. They are hard at it now!”
The Texans were talking more excitedly than ever, but did not forget to keep their voices so low that no stray word reached the ears of the puzzled youths.
The conference, however, speedily reached its conclusion. Their talking ceased, and, bringing their horses to a standstill, they[99] waited for the boys and the pack horses to join them.
The faces of Strubell and Lattin showed signs of the stirring conversation, but, as the boys anticipated, they were silent as to the theme.
“We must make a change in our course,” said the elder, who immediately turned the head of his pony to the westward33, in the direction of the hills among which they had spent the previous night. It was near noon, and the major part of the day was gone, when they reached the rougher section where the Texans said the camp was to be made.
They showed their usual good judgment34 in the selection of a favorable site, for it was near another running stream, larger than the previous one, though the current was roiled35 and lukewarm. They might count themselves fortunate, however, that they were able to find water at all; for thirst has caused the death of untold36 thousands of cattle on the vast plains of Texas, and brought great suffering to those who have ventured not alone upon the Llano Estacado, but in other localities where moisture is almost unknown.
[100]
The pack horses were unloaded, saddles and bridles37 removed, and the ponies allowed to crop the scanty38 grass. It was too early for the regular evening meal, but considerable fuel was gathered; and, much sooner than there seemed to be any need for it, a fire was started, the smoke from which rose vertically39, and was of so dark a color that it must have been visible for a long distance across the plain.
During all this time the three horsemen in the eastern horizon were not forgotten. The glasses were often turned thither40, and there could be no doubt that Rickard and his companions were keeping our friends in sight. Evidently they were determined41 that they should not be lost.
The use of spy glasses has never been common among the cowmen, who are generally gifted with such keen eyesight that they scorn everything in the nature of artificial help. Counting upon this fact, it was not unlikely that Rickard believed that, by hovering42 on the line of invisibility, he would escape attention, or at least suspicion, on the part of the[101] Texans. Had he known of the field glasses, he must have made an important change in his programme.
The fact that our friends were without a particle of food did not cause them concern. They were not likely to suffer from starvation, for, beside the stray cattle that they were warranted in using in an emergency (always holding themselves ready to reimburse43 the owner when it could be done), there were antelope44 and other animals to be found among the hills.
But Lattin stated that, unless some kind of game would be accommodating enough to come forward and offer itself as a sacrifice to their needs, they would content themselves with a good cup of coffee around, making up for the light meal when morning should come.
When the sun sank behind the hills, Rickard and his party became invisible to the naked eye. The supposition might have been that they had withdrawn45 and would be seen no more, but for the story told by the field glasses. Under their power it was discovered that the scamps had dismounted near a small[102] arroya or natural depression, and compelled their animals to lie down. Seating themselves at the same time on the grass, they filled too small an angle for the unassisted eye to note them across the intervening space.
Strubell turned to Lattin and spoke46:
“Bell’s cunning, but he does not dream about the spy glasses.”
“We’re bound to hear from him before morning,” replied Lattin.
They did not mean that their words should be overheard, but Nick caught them all, though he affected47 ignorance.
The next sentences were meant for the youths.
“Hadn’t we better move over the trail into the hills, Ard?” asked the younger Texan, as though the idea had just come to him.
“Why should we do that?” inquired the other, as if in surprise.
“Well, you know of that spring where we’ve camped many a time, and once had the brush with half a hundred Comanches. There are more rocks and bowlders there, and everything is a blamed sight better for a fight than it is here.”
[103]
“Now, Baker, you aint so foolish as to think Bell and the others mean to disturb us?” asked Strubell, apparently forgetting the words uttered by himself only a few minutes before.
“Well, maybe not, but you know as well as me that it won’t do to trust him further than you can see him.”
“I tell you, Baker, what will be better,” spoke up Strubell, like a man with a new and brilliant idea; “we’ll send the boys ahead to the spring with the pack horses, while we wait here and find out just what Bell is up to.”
“That is a good plan,” added Lattin heartily48; “let’s do it.”
The Texans now turned to Nick and Herbert, as though they did not suspect they had caught any of the conversation.
“Boys, we want to watch Bell and the others for a while, and have made up our minds to let you ride some distance over the trail, while we stay here and watch. I have proposed it, and Baker agrees that the plan is a good one. You have no objections?”
It occurred to Nick to ask in what way it was likely to improve their eyesight and the[104] power of the glasses, by sending him and Herbert off. Surely their presence or absence could not operate one way or the other. The proposition was not very profound or bright, but, keeping back his thoughts, he promptly49 answered:
“Herbert and I are always ready to do cheerfully whatever you decide is best for us.”
“Thanks!—spoken like a man. Now, you see the trail just beyond,” added Strubell, pointing to a faintly marked path; “it has been used since the days of old Moses Austin and Sam Houston, and is so plain that you can’t miss it. It leads into the hills for a quarter of a mile, and then turns north through a sort of valley. A little more than half a mile further, and you will come upon one of the prettiest springs of water in Texas. There’s where you will unsaddle and make camp for to-night.”
“When will you join us?”
“We hope to do so in the course of a few hours, but don’t be alarmed if you see nothing of us before morning.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
uneven
|
|
| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
gallop
|
|
| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
lariat
|
|
| n.系绳，套索；v.用套索套捕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
baker
|
|
| n.面包师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
ranch
|
|
| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
pony
|
|
| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
lookout
|
|
| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
herds
|
|
| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
apportion
|
|
| vt.（按比例或计划）分配 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
calves
|
|
| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
fore
|
|
| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
bridle
|
|
| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
noose
|
|
| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
braces
|
|
| n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
ointment
|
|
| n.药膏，油膏，软膏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
wagon
|
|
| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
northward
|
|
| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
bellowing
|
|
| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
cavorting
|
|
| v.跳跃( cavort的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
speculation
|
|
| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
juncture
|
|
| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
plentifully
|
|
| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
rim
|
|
| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
rogues
|
|
| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
ponies
|
|
| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
eastward
|
|
| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
surmise
|
|
| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
modulated
|
|
| 已调整[制]的，被调的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
binding
|
|
| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
roiled
|
|
| v.搅混（液体）( roil的过去式和过去分词 )；使烦恼；使不安；使生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
untold
|
|
| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
bridles
|
|
| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
scanty
|
|
| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
vertically
|
|
| adv.垂直地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
hovering
|
|
| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
reimburse
|
|
| v.补偿，付还 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
antelope
|
|
| n.羚羊；羚羊皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
withdrawn
|
|
| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |