The Valley Outfit12 was resting. Ned Pullar was oiling-up and cleaning his engine during the dinner interim13. Every bit of brass14 about her was gleaming gold while the friction15 surfaces shone clean like new silver. The "Old Lady" had established a personal reputation in the Valley as a "mighty16 good engine," and her engineer was justly proud of her. To Ned she had become a living thing. Mounting on the footboard he grasped the throttle17. During the pounding grind of the past month he had formed the habit of communing with this thing of power that he controlled with so masterful a hand. As his eyes read gauge18 and water-glass with satisfaction he spoke19 to the engine, addressing her not by word of mouth but with the voice of his reflection.
"Just a couple of days more and we'll ease up on you, old girl. You've been a game old Pal20 and you'll not throw me down now."
The Old Lady made violent protest at even the hint of such infidelity by throwing a hissing21 cloud of steam from her exhaust. Ned smiled, gripping the throttle with a fond clutch.
"Same old ready bird!" said he. "Eager to get at it, are you? Just five minutes, Old Lady, and we'll set you purring again."
With the flames roaring through her flues the thing of steel waited restively22 for the thing of will that held her levers in sinewy23 grasp.
At the separator the men resting for a few minutes upon the straw were looking up into the face of Andy Bissett, the separator man, listening to him as he worked away with wire prod24 and oil can.
"I tell you, lads, we are up against a stiffer proposition than any of you fellows think. Ned's out for blood. He doesn't care a whiff for that wager Butte holds. But he's got to win it."
"Hold on, Andy!" cried Lawrie, the big feeder. "You've got me up in the air. I thought the Valley Outfit was after McClure's long green."
"So they be," agreed Dad Blackford belligerently25. "And Ned, 'e's a-goin' to get hit."
But Andy shook his head.
"You don't get me," said he, pausing in his work. "And I can't explain for I'm as much at sea as the rest of you. But we've got to win this little bet. If we put it over McClure it will only be by a thousand or two. Ned says he won't push the Outfit any harder, but I've taken the liberty to put on the squeeze play for a couple of days. Grant's putting on two extra stook wagons26 and a couple of men. Here they come now. We're going to slam through a couple of thousand above the regular. If Grant can bung this old fanning mill I don't know it."
The men leaped to their feet, for the extra wagons had rattled28 up. There was a fresh determination in every face. They had been working at high pressure for the long run, but they were right on their toes in the face of the challenge. Each man went to his place addressing himself to the struggle in the workmanlike fashion of the Valley Outfit. Jean Benoit, the little French bagger, plucked the tankman's sleeve as the group broke up.
"What Ned hole on hees cheek?" questioned the Frenchman excitedly.
Easy Murphy looked at him a moment deeply puzzled. Suddenly light broke.
"Begobs, 'tis the tongue in his chake yer dappy about. Why, sez you, does not the sly divil be afthur-r showin' the hand uv him? Shure Ned's not wearin' his heart on his lapel, me frind from Montmorenci."
Jean searched the Irishman's face as it went through the contortion29 of an excessively wise and secretive wink30.
"Mon Gar!" exclaimed the confused fellow. "De boss wan31 woodhead! Why he de debble not squeal32? Eef we know, den10 lak wan blankety busy bee we work de whole gang. Eef we not know, Ned he ged him on de neck."
"You're right, Jean!" was the emphatic33 pronouncement. "And yit Ned wull not be afthurr tellin' his saycrits till the gintle lugs34 uv the Valley Gang. Can't ye see whut's eggin' him on? 'Tis not the wee wager. 'Tis a man." Tapping the Frenchman wisely on the breast he whispered tragically35, "The boss is thrailin' a varmit be the cognomin uv Robbie McClure and he'll be afthurr gittin' his man dead or aloive. Put that intill the poipe uv ye and smoke ut, not forgettin' till wur-rk like —— in the manetoime. Farewell!"
Jean did not understand quite all but he turned to the bagger with fierce resolution. As he knocked the filling bag with his knee he caught sight of McClure's smoke through the cloud of dust enveloping36 him. His dark eyes shone.
"We lick heem! We lick heem!" was his low soliloquy. Then he added joyously37 as he gave the bag a vicious jab, "Ha! Eet will be good!"
The thought energized38 him mightily39. Deftly40 settling the bag and closing it he seized it adroitly41 and by united force of arms, knees and back hurled42 it up into the wagon27, remarking ferociously43:
"So we give McClure the beeg fall. We give him beeg scare too, eh? And mebbe leetle licking also."
Smiling gleefully he settled to the grind.
Easy Murphy was absorbed in a brown study as he climbed up on his water tank and started his horses over the stubble. Suddenly he came out of the maze44 of his cogitations and called fiercely at his horses.
"Arrah, me beauties, shake the legs uv ye or I'll be afthurr pokin' yer rumps wid me number tins."
The horses took the hint and broke into a lumbering45 trot46. They were making a trip to the water-hole and at the moment were passing through a field of oats into which they would soon be hauling the Outfit. As he drove through the wire gate out into the road-allowance he saw a buckboard pull up at the fence some distance away. The sole occupant dropped out of the vehicle and passing through the strands47 of wire walked for a considerable distance into the stocks. Pausing for a moment the stranger knelt down beside a stock, then rising walked on to another, where he knelt again. His actions excited a keen curiosity in his observer.
"Begobs, me hearty48!" exclaimed Easy. "Ye're not pickin' pansies in an oat-field. Nathur are ye adorin' the Almighty49, for ye're almighty loike Snoopy Bill Baird, head foozler of McClure's bums50. I'll hail yuh, Bill, till I find out yer tack1."
He was about to yell when he checked himself, muttering:
"Howld yer jaw51, ye owld fool."
The other had noticed his approach and loitered a few minutes shelling the grain, interested evidently in the yield. This matter duly settled, he climbed back through the fence and re?ntering the buckboard drove slowly along toward the tank. It was Snoopy Bill all right. As they drew abreast52 Easy pulled up his horses. A roguish twinkle played in his eyes as he said:
"'Tis a foine day wur-r havin', Bill. A pleasant day indade for pluckin' swate bokays."
"Great day! Great day! Murphy!" was the jocular reply,
"Bin53 pickin' pansies the day," continued Easy na?vely, curious to discover what he could.
Snoopy Bill looked at him sharply. But no guile54 could he discover in the face grinning down at him.
"No such luck, Murphy," said he casually55. "I was taking a squint56 at the yield. Pretty durn good, eh?"
"And it's the yield ye're afthurr meddlin' with and not the swate and gowlden daisies. I saw yuh pokin' around among the stooks as I pulled through the gate."
The smile on Snoopy Bill's face ceased to deepen while the whole man became suddenly alert. Easy Murphy caught the change.
"Ye're Snoopy Bill, shure enough," blurted57 he. "And I'll lay ye a tin-spot ye were up to no godly devowshuns kneeling in the muck by the stooks. Ye're not prominint for religion, are ye, Snoopy?"
Snoopy Bill's tone was galling58 to Easy's inflammable spirit as he replied imperturbably59:
"Leaving the matter of the 'swate daisies' aside, Murphy. I was praying for you, honest. I was putting in a lick for the Valley Gang asking the good Lord to have a look to Pullar's Outfit when we clean them up."
Easy's jaw set, a sign that an ultimatum60 was imminent61.
"Ye blatherin' spalpeen!" he cried, his hands opening and shutting convulsively. "I'll be afthurr spilin' yer sassy mug if ye open it agin."
Snoopy Bill opened his "mug" with commendable62 lack of hesitation63. An impudent64 drawl pointedly65 accentuated66 did not tend to reduce Easy's evident irritation67.
"Talking about mugs, Murphy," said he confidentially68, "it seems to me we have some curious and fine large samples hereabouts gopping wide open for free inspection69."
The sardonic70 grin that accompanied the casual observation touched off a whole magazine of high explosive. Easy's mouth was a generously ample specimen71 and his posture72 of attention was to sit with it ajar. The amplitude73 of that particular area of his facial map was a source of constant regret. Hence the remark rankled74.
"Ye've said it!" was his angry utterance75 as he threw down the lines. With a leap he was off the tank. They dropped to the road together, but Snoopy Bill having a shorter descent recovered first and rushing at his antagonist76 swung swiftly and struck, planting a powerful blow on the chest, hurling77 the other against the tank. He followed quickly for the head with his other hand but Easy's native wit acted with surprising speed and he ducked. Snoopy Bill's closed fist rapped on the hard surface of the tank, skinning the knuckles78.
"Thry agin!" yelled the Irishman mockingly, with a vicious thrust into his enemy's ribs79. The blow staggered his opponent. Swiftly he followed it with a jolting80 up-cut, yelling again, "Take wan yersilf and be hanged!"
The blow made Snoopy Bill's head bob back and he dropped to his knees. Easy stood over him furiously triumphant81. Stooping he called into the other's ear:
"Git busy at yer devowshuns, me hearty. Put in a wur-rd for McClure and his divils."
With a weak smile Snoopy Bill staggered to his feet.
"You are a hard hitter, Murphy," said he dazedly82.
Picking his late antagonist up bodily Easy bundled him into his buckboard and slapping the horse smartly on the hip83 sent him off at a trot. Placing his hands to his mouth the tankman shouted:
"If ye want anny more forgitmenots come back the morrow, the garden's full."
With this parting shot he climbed up on his tank and resumed his trip to the water-hole.
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1
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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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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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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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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inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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divulged
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| v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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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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interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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15
friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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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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gauge
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| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
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19
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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pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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21
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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restively
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| adv.倔强地，难以驾御地 | |
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sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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24
prod
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| vt.戳，刺；刺激，激励 | |
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belligerently
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26
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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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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28
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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contortion
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| n.扭弯，扭歪，曲解 | |
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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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31
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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32
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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33
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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lugs
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| 钎柄 | |
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35
tragically
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| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
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36
enveloping
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
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37
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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38
energized
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| v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电 | |
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39
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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40
deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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42
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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ferociously
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| 野蛮地，残忍地 | |
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44
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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46
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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47
strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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48
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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49
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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50
bums
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| n. 游荡者，流浪汉，懒鬼，闹饮，屁股 adj. 没有价值的，不灵光的，不合理的 vt. 令人失望，乞讨 vi. 混日子，以乞讨为生 | |
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51
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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52
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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53
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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54
guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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55
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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56
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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57
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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galling
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| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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imperturbably
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| adv.泰然地，镇静地，平静地 | |
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60
ultimatum
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| n.最后通牒 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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62
commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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accentuated
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| v.重读( accentuate的过去式和过去分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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69
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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amplitude
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| n.广大；充足；振幅 | |
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rankled
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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77
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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78
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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79
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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80
jolting
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| adj.令人震惊的 | |
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81
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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82
dazedly
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| 头昏眼花地，眼花缭乱地，茫然地 | |
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83
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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