Reaching Gunsight, they caused quite some commotion8, and fired into the air to give zest9 to the occasion. Dave mopped his beaded brow several times before his share in the festivities slackened, and Two-Spot, burning with a fever of curiosity, shuffled10 from the chuck wagon being loaded in front of Dailey's to the saloon, asking shrewd questions and making pertinent11 observations.
"An' why th' waggin?" he asked Slim.
"To put Juniper in," answered that cheerful disciple12 of George Washington. "We reckoned we'd like to have a town closer to th' ranch13, an' Gunsight ain't good enough."
Two-Spot wandered around and put the question to Cimarron.
The segundo regarded him with level gaze. "It's[208] for th' widder's mite," he answered. "We're on th' rustle14, which ain't to be told."
"Huh!" snorted Two-Spot, "you might be aimin' for some widder, at that; but I'm sayin' that if she sees you first, you'll need more'n eight men an' a waggin to take her away from her home an' fambly. What are you aimin' to rustle?"
"Every cow on a certain ranch between here an' Juniper," whispered Cimarron, looking stealthily around.
"Then don't you waste no time hangin' around here," warned Two-Spot, also looking stealthily around. "Big Tom's gettin' up early these mornin's, I bets."
Cimarron gravely shook his head, whereat Two-Spot remarked carelessly, apropos15 of nothing, "Smitty has left th' range for good. He had two holes in his hat, th' upper hole like a coffeepot with th' lid back. He rode his own hoss, an' was goin' strong when he passed here. But nobody was chasin' him, then."
"Hey, fellers!" shouted the segundo, joyously16, "Smitty has follered Squint17, with a couple of gun-shot wounds in his Mex. hat!"
Laughter and cheerful remarks greeted the news, and Dave had to verify it.
"Bar H: mark two!" cried Norris. "Bring 'em up, you ropers—th' irons are hot!"
Two-Soot, despairing of gaining any real information in Dave's, shuffled out and went to Dailey's where Art French was putting the last of the provisions on the wagon.
"Hello French!" greeted Two-Spot, putting a foot[209] on the spokes18 of a wheel. "Where are you fellers headin' for?"
"Up th' Juniper trail," answered Art. "Want to come along? Have you got th' nerve to take a chance with somebody else's cattle?"
Two-Spot looked at him intently. "What are you aimin' to do with 'em?" he asked.
"What do folks usually do with cows that don't belong to 'em?" countered Art.
"Holy mavericks19!" muttered Two-Spot. "These here ijuts ain't carin' a whole lot who knows about it! What you got th' waggin for? Aimin' to squat20 out there an' steal 'em as fast as they grows up?"
"That's for th' hides of them that gets killed. We're goin' to round up every hoof21, clean and prompt."
"You didn't stop at th' Doc's on yore way up, did you?" asked Two-Spot, paying no attention to the noise made by several men who had mounted and were riding toward the wagon at a walk.
"Why?"
"Oh, nothin', only I reckon'd mebby you'd got some of them little white pills he shoots into hisself."
"Can you keep a tally22?" asked Art, carelessly.
"I can; but I won't."
Art waved a hand at him. "He can tally; but he won't."
Three ropes dropped over the surprised ex-tally man and were drawn23 not unpleasantly tight. He thought it might be a joke, so he grinned; it would not do to let anyone think he took it seriously, because it might cause them to take it that way. "Takes three men on[210] hosses to rope me," he jeered24, chuckling25. "Better get th' rest of th' gang before I gets rough an' boisterous26."
"Can you set a horse?" asked Slim.
"I shore can't," regretted Two-Spot. "It's one of th' sorrers of my life."
"Then we'll have to tie him on," said Wood. "Chuck us out a couple of hobbles, Art."
"I can ride any hoss you can," boasted Two-Spot. "I was bustin' 'em before you was borned."
"Then we'll hobble th' hoss," laughed Wiggins.
"Loosen 'em up; I hears Dave a-callin'!" exclaimed Two-Spot, suspiciously eager to answer duty's call.
"Where you aimin' to have him swing?" demanded Art. "Squint has got to be revenged."
"Th' first tree," growled27 Slim. "We gives you one chance to save yoreself an' help rid this range of law-breakers. Who got Squint?"
"You go to h—l!" blazed Two-Spot as the ropes tightened28. "Take 'em off me!"
"Who got Squint?" repeated Slim, threateningly.
"If I tells, will you let me out of these cussed ropes?" asked the shivering victim.
"We will!"
"Smitty got him," chuckled29 the captive. "Ask him if you don't believe me. Take 'em off, now!" As soon as he was freed he danced away, wary30 and anxious, and bumped into Cimarron, whose muscular arms held him as in a vice31. "Now, what's th' matter?" blazed Two-Spot, wriggling32 in vain. "What you reckon yo're goin' to do?"
"We need a tally man on this rustlin' expedition,"[211] said Cimarron, "an' we like yore looks. Bring up a cayuse, an' he can go bareback; either that or ride with Art."
"I'm ridin' with Art if I goes, which I ain't aimin' to!" snorted Two-Spot. "I can't count up to more'n ten," he protested.
"You won't have to count at all," Cimarron assured him. "All you got to do is make little pencil marks like a picket33 fence on a piece of paper, or drop a pebble34 in yore hat for every cow. You can drop pebbles35, can't you?"
"Not very good," deprecated Two-Spot. "I'm too oncertain."
"Well, when yo're oncertain," chuckled Slim, "yore chuck will be oncertain. Th' oncertainer you are, th' less you'll eat."
Cimarron picked Two-Spot up and put him in the wagon, whereupon Slim and Wood rode up close to it, ropes in hand. "There ain't nothin' oncertain about Slim's ropin', or Wood's, neither," warned Cimarron. "You better stay right in that waggin." He turned to go to his horse. "Come on, boys! We're startin' now!"
Dave went to a window to see them off, caught sight of Two-Spot's appealing face in the wagon, and hastened to the door and out toward the vehicle.
"Hi!" shrilled36 Larry, his rope darting37 from his hand.
"Hi! Hi! Hi!" yelled the others, their ropes going to the mark.
"What'n h—l!" shouted Dave, struggling, and[212] glaring around. He was the center from which four rope radii38 pointed39 to the cardinal40 points of the compass. "Leggo me! Loosen 'em up, you coyotes! Loosen up!"
"Does Two-Spot go with us?" asked Larry.
"Can we borrow him for a few days, to keep tally for us on th' SV, Mr. Green?" politely inquired Bud, tightening41 the rope.
"You can; an' go to blazes, for all I cares!" snorted Dave. He loosened the ropes and lost no time in getting back to his window. "Cuss 'em! All right; take him!" he yelled at the noisy cavalcade42. "But if anythin' happens to him, you'll settle with Dave Green! You hear me?"
They did not.
Margaret, responding to her brother's exited summons, went to the door and her hands flew to her breast. A wagon, loaded with packages, pulled up at the dilapidated corral and eight rough-looking men, driving a herd5 of horses, stopped near it. One of them kept on at a walk and approached her. Removing his sombrero, he pulled up and bowed.
"Ma'am," he said, slowly and kindly43, a smile wreathing his weather-beaten face, from which genial44 gray eyes twinkled at her; "Ma'am, we have come out to round up for you. We understand that this ranch ain't been combed for three years—an' it shore is time it was. I saw a wire fence north of th' trail: how far does it run?"
"Why, why—I didn't know—we were not expect[213]ing any round-up. Isn't there some mistake?" she faltered45.
"I don't reckon there is, Ma'am," Cimarron assured her. "Mr. Nelson was tellin' us about th' SV, an' we all reckoned it was time there was a round-up run over here. You ought to know how many cows you got; an' mebby there's some as should be branded."
"I hardly know what to say—how to thank you," Margaret replied. "Won't you come in and speak to father? He doesn't want to leave his bed for a few days more."
"Shore, Ma'am," said Cimarron, dismounting and throwing the reins46 over the head of his horse, and following her into the house.
"Father, this is Mr.—Mr.—?" she looked at Cimarron inquiringly.
"Quantrell—Cimarron Quantrell," he smiled. "I was born on th' banks of th' Cimarron when they wasn't exactly safe for bein' born on, but our fambly was lucky."
"This is my father, Mr. Quantrell," smiled Margaret. "I'll leave you men to talk by yourselves. If you want me, please call."
"Arnold," said Cimarron, with simple directness, "we've come out here, nine of us, from th' Double X, to round up for you. Nelson said you hadn't held none in three years, an' we reckoned it was time we was payin' you a neighborly call. When you get an outfit47 of yore own some day you can give us a hand. By helpin' each other we'll both be helpin' ourselves. How far does that wire fence run, up north of th' house?"
[214]
"Mr. Quantrell, I don't know how to thank you," replied Arnold "I was growing to think there were no human beings in this country, but I'm beginning to change my mind. Even Doctor Reed has had a change of heart."
"Don't you bank on th' Doc changin' his ideas," warned Cimarron. "He come out here because he was made to come. He shore was plain kidnapped that night."
"You amaze me! Surely you are mistaken. Who would force him to come here?"
"That ain't known," answered Cimarron, "but everybody knows he was forced, all right. Th' fool says so, hisself."
"This is astonishing!"
"How long did you say that wire was?"
"Oh, yes; I forgot It's nearly a mile; why?"
"I'm aimin' to hold a herd ag'in' it; it'll save men. Now, we're aimin' to start on th' west end first, before anybody knows what's up," and the segundo sketched48 the operations as he had planned them. Leaving as soon as he could, he was crossing the kitchen when Margaret stopped him.
"You told father about Doctor Reed coming against his will?" she asked.
"Why, yes, Ma'am; did I trample49 on anythin'?"
"It doesn't matter—only I hoped to keep that from him. It pleased him so to think the hostility50 was dying out."
"Ma'am, I'm shore sorry, but I didn't know that. An' it's all right, too, for th' hostility is dying out."
[215]
"It's perfectly51 all right. Where do you expect to cook; and what are you doing with Two-Spot?"
"We aim to cook on th' range, Ma'am; an' Two-Spot is goin' to be our tally man. He was plumb52 tickled53 at th' chance to help."
"Can't you cook here? Or, better yet, can't I cook for you? I would like to do something."
"Well, at first we'll not be near enough to th' house for th' boys to have time to ride in for meals," Cimarron replied. "You see, as we move over th' range, our cook moves with us, which saves time. Mebby when 'we work close at hand you can cook a meal for us—but I'm sayin' that you don't know what yo're tryin' to get into. I'll be leavin' now, Ma'am. If you hears anythin', or sees anythin' that you don't understand, don't you worry none. I'm goin' out to start th' boys. Good afternoon. Ma'am."
She watched him join the riders and saw them, with chuck wagon and horse herd, drive down toward Green Valley, noisy with cheerful laughter and shouted jests. They passed around a hill and became lost to her sight, and soon the voices could be heard no more.
"Margaret!" came an excited, impatient call from the front room.
"Yes, Father; I'm coming," she answered, turning and entering the house.
"It begins to look like people are getting friendly," he exclaimed, smiles playing on his drawn face. "Perhaps things will change, and we can make the ranch a success!"
"'Luck always turns,'" she smiled.
[216]
"Are you getting to believe in luck?" he demanded.
"'I do; when somebody's behind it pushing hard,'" she replied, turning her face away.
"Are you crying my dear?" he exclaimed, but she had left the room.
While events were moving smoothly54 and swiftly on the SV, a new freight wagon rumbled55 north over the Highbank-Gunsight trail; and about the time that a circle of tired but happy punchers sat around a roaring fire on the west end of the SV ranch, the great wagon rolled around the corner of the hotel in Gunsight and the weary driver got down stiffly to put up and attend to his four-horse team. After becoming acquainted with George, and eating a hasty supper in the hotel, Jerry Wheatley went around to Dave's to make the acquaintance of that person and whoever else might be in the saloon, and to tell about Wolf Forbes and his trip to Highbank. He found the place quiet, but he left it full of hysterical56 laughter, wet eyes, sore sides, and some hiccups57. And before he had gone to sleep, Dave's patrons were emulating58 some of the substantial citizens of Highbank in the avidity with which they sought strength from Dave's merchandise. An occasional burst of uproarious laughter brought the freighter back from the shadowy boundaries of sleep and set his bed shaking as he silently joined in. Realizing that Wolf's miseries59 were going to do more for him in the matter of getting acquainted along the way than a dozen ordinary trips up the trail would accomplish, he smiled contentedly60 and fell asleep.
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1
hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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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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4
wranglers
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| n.争执人( wrangler的名词复数 )；在争吵的人；（尤指放马的）牧人；牛仔 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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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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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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10
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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pertinent
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| adj.恰当的；贴切的；中肯的；有关的；相干的 | |
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12
disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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13
ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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apropos
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| adv.恰好地；adj.恰当的；关于 | |
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16
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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17
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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18
spokes
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| n.（车轮的）辐条( spoke的名词复数 )；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 | |
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19
mavericks
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| 未烙印的牲畜( maverick的名词复数 )； 标新立异的人，不合常规的人 | |
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20
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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21
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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23
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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24
jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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27
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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28
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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32
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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33
picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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36
shrilled
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| （声音）尖锐的，刺耳的，高频率的( shrill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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radii
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| n.半径；半径（距离）( radius的名词复数 )；用半径度量的圆形面积；半径范围；桡骨 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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40
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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41
tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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42
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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43
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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45
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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46
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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47
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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48
sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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49
trample
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| vt.踩，践踏；无视，伤害，侵犯 | |
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50
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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51
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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52
plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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53
tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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54
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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55
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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56
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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57
hiccups
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| n.嗝( hiccup的名词复数 )；连续地打嗝；暂时性的小问题；短暂的停顿v.嗝( hiccup的第三人称单数 )；连续地打嗝；暂时性的小问题；短暂的停顿 | |
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58
emulating
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| v.与…竞争( emulate的现在分词 )；努力赶上；计算机程序等仿真；模仿 | |
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59
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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