Two-Spot's funeral was a holiday by tacit consent, and Gunsight was the Mecca for the surrounding country. Fanning offered the hotel, but Dave's eyes grew red and he declared that the saloon had been Two-Spot's home and that he would be buried from it, even if the cap-and-ball had to cast the deciding votes. Slim rode to Juniper half an hour after he had heard the news and brought a minister back with him. Cimarron sent Larry Hallock to the ranch with the news, George[252] Hallock to the SV, and went down to notify the Triangle himself.
The day dawned clear and reasonably cool, and at an early hour the riders began to come in. The saloon was as clean as Dave, Johnny, and George could make it, and the rude box which had kept Dailey and Fanning up most of the night with hammer and saw, was covered by green boughs6 and a few wild flowers. As each newcomer rode up to the door he was quietly informed by Dave that the bar was closed and would remain so until after the funeral. There would be no instrumental music, for Arch Wiggins' offer to ride to the Double X for his fiddle7 was politely but firmly declined after he had been questioned about his repertoire8; Jerry's harmonica was overruled, and Reilly's accordion9 was declined for the same reason which had barred the violin.
When Margaret Arnold rode up alone with a huge bouquet10 of old-fashioned flowers, Gunsight became tremendously interested and there was a great amount of surreptitious grooming11 going on in out-of-the-way places. Lin Sherwood regretted that he had not been more neighborly, and that he had decided13 against his new boots, tight though they were. He accused himself of being a poor sort of a grown-up man not to risk a corn or two under such circumstances. He frowned down Slim's sheepish remark about seeing Miss Arnold home after the ceremony as being unwarranted and too forward; and he kept Slim in sight thereafter. Dailey cursed Big Tom's warning about selling supplies to the SV and was gloomy because of the handicap it put him[253] under, but it became him well in such an atmosphere and nearly gave him the place of chief mourner. Several of the rejected suitors formed a consolation14 circle and deeply reflected the sorrow expected at funerals, grumbling15 because the universal remedy for grief would not be obtainable until the return from the grave. There was a suggestion concerning a concerted rush on the bar, but the tender flower of hope was frostbitten by a glance at the cap-and-ball protruding16 from Dave's waist-band. The proprietor17 had no consideration for the sacredness of the occasion to hang around the walnut18 armed like a highwayman, and the amount of pugnacious19 confidence he exhaled20 and exuded21 was entirely22 out of place.
"He acts like a cow with its first calf," growled23 Sam Gardner.
"He acts like it was his funeral, which I'm sorry it ain't," snorted Pete Wiggins' young hopeful, still raw about the matter concerning his fiddle.
The minister walking around from the hotel was the signal for the groups to fall in behind him and file into the Palace. This sky pilot was a stalwart member of his cloth and acted as though saloons were not strangers to him. He looked about and nodded his appreciation24 of Dave's efforts and at once became the friend of every man there.
"Friends," he said, looking slowly around, "a good, friend of the deceased, and one who knew him well and who cherishes his memory with gratitude25 and affection, will sing. Miss Arnold, if you please."
Margaret, tears in her voice and eyes, arose and[254] began her favorite hymn26, her rich contralto voice playing upon the heartstrings of the rough men until they dared not look around. Cimarron coughed, and received Slim's elbow in his side with unnecessary force. Dave developed a sudden cold and reddened with self-consciousness, wishing he had chosen a seat in the rear of the room instead of standing28 at the end of the bar, which was an altogether too suggestive place for one in his line of business.
The singer's voice grew slowly lower and lower and it was only by exercising all her will-power that she managed to finish the last verse. Her own emotion and faith throbbed29 in the beautiful words and gave them a power which brought tears to nearly every eye. Finishing, she sank down in her chair and sobbed30 softly.
The minister, arising, looked over the room.
"'Nearer to Thee,'" he repeated softly, and then paused, and when he resumed, his voice struck through to the hearts of his hearers as a hand plucking the strings27 of a harp31. "'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' Two-Spot. The name was lowly, and with thoughtless cruelty was given to Henry Travers, who once was under foreman for Simon Verrier, the former owner of the SV ranch. We have no knowledge of the interval32 between the days of his responsibility and strength, and that cold winter evening when Margaret Arnold found him, weak from hunger and exposure, freezing in a snow-drift not far from her home. Of the man's weakness we will not speak, except in charity and to show that the character which won for him the confidence and[255] trust of old Simon persisted in spite of that weakness and blazed out gloriously, to win for him an honorable death. It would have been easy to betray the confidence of another, especially when he knew the ability of that other to protect himself. He could have saved his life by telling the truth, and I say to you that there are some untruths more glorious than those truths which mean danger, or perhaps death, to a friend. And if he had yielded to fear to save his life he would have found that life to be a thing without value. He would have lost to himself all that remained worth while. Two-Spot, weak with a weakness perhaps passed on to him by the thoughtless and vicious lives of those others who had preceded him, was, nevertheless, a man, and will live in your memories as a man, a man who at the threat of death, rallied the best within him and died to protect a fellow-man who had been kind to him. He was a lowly card, but even a two-spot has a value, as every man in this room can testify. A two-spot, at the right time and in the right combination, makes a winning hand; and I have it on the authority of two people here that he was given one spot too many. Hardly an ace12 of diamonds, but surely an ace of hearts, for in his breast beat a heart as true and sympathetic as that of any man in this room.
"There was not a thing coming to his knowledge which affected34 the welfare of a struggling, defenseless family on this range, that he did not tell them; and when I say that for a man of his age and weakness to walk nine miles to warn them, and nine miles back again, in any weather, at the only time he could do so[256] without being seen and arousing suspicion, required such a heart, and a fine quality of courage, I know that you all will agree with me. Many nights when the range was wrapped in sleep, Two-Spot made that journey. And I say that he was a man, and I pay him the respect which such a heart and courage merits. And no matter what his weaknesses were, no matter how unworthy you may have thought him to be, I say that this man whom you knew as Two-Spot was as good as any who sneered35 at him, as much a man in his last moment on earth as a material being as any man in this room! And I say that if we all, every one of us, can die as fearlessly and as honorably as this man died, we need not fear the Judgment36 Day. There may be some of you who do not give much thought to that Judgment Day, or to that Merciful Judge. There may be some of you who do not believe in God—but I say, that, no matter Who or What waits beyond the Open Door, He or It will deal gently with Henry Travers. And I say for those who do not believe in any divine faith, and say it aside from any viewpoint of religion, but purely37 as a question of ethics38, of effort and reward, of right living or wrong, that every man in this room can find something in the strength of this weak man, something in the way he faced death, that can be taken with profit to himself and serve as an inspiration. Under all his fleshly weakness, with all his yielding to a dominant39 craving40, there blazed the white flames of sympathy, affection, and loyalty41. And I cannot find this occasion to be one for sorrow, or for grief. Rather, I should say it is one for congratulation: Two-Spot, shorn of his weaknesses,[257] saved from jeers42 and cruelty and injustice43, and the misery44 coming with old age, which cannot but be tragic45 to such a one as he, found himself at the last moment, and died the man which circumstances would have refused to have let him live. Let us pray."
If his auditors46 had been impressed by his address, the prayer reached down and gripped their very heartstrings, stirring into groping life the vague fear and awe47 of the supernatural, by heritage firmly implanted in each consciousness. Death, with its mystery and threat, brought its awesome48 fear like a wave, with an impetus49 acquired from rolling down past generations, to minds prepared to quail50 before it in momentary51 surrender. From the distant and impersonal52, it suddenly loomed53 out of the fog of the mysterious unknown real, and made real by a mind trained to present truth as it is, and became close and personal. And at the conclusion of the gripping words, only the fresher, newer momentum54 of the carelessness and indifference55 of their every-day lives could offset56 the fear which spread like ripples57 over their superstitions58 and set their religious instincts a-quiver. But like concentric ripples, it grew weaker even as it reached farther out; yet the reacting ripples enduring for days, showing intermittently59 and intermittently arousing vague unrest in their minds.
He glanced at Margaret and walked quickly to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I would not attempt it, my dear. Two-Spot would not allow another hymn, at such a cost to you."
Dailey, Johnny, Dave, and Fanning moved slowly forward, feeling as they never had felt before, rever[258]ently and carefully picked up the box and led the out of the building and across the street to a grassy60 knoll61 not far from the road, where the warmth and brightness of the sun rested from dawn to dark. The ceremony at the grave over, they returned to Dave's, where they shook hands with a parson who had jolted62 their ideas regarding men of his calling.
"Friends," he protested, raising his hands at the coins in the hat held out to him, "this is too much. I cannot take so much for doing my duty. It is not reasonable."
"Parson," said Dave, a grin coming to his face, "we ain't had no gunplay today, but if you don't take that money, I can't promise that there won't be none. Some of us leather-backs has been eddicated today, an' they say eddication costs money. I reckon a parson livin' in such a hole of iniquity63 as Juniper can find use for our offerin's. If you can't take it for yoreself, take it for yore church—it'll help you to build one all th' quicker. An' I'm sayin' that we'll allus be glad to see you in Gunsight, as a parson or as a man. Shake."
Margaret came forward and thanked him, and turned to Dave.
"Did you know that he slept under your floor?" she asked. "He was always wondering if you did."
"Ma'am," smiled Dave, feeling to see if his tie had slipped, "I knowed it th' very first time he snored, which was th' second night he was here. An' I've had many a laugh at him th' way he wiggled out of little slips he made. He heard a lot under here, an' sometimes he let things out that made him dig frantic64 to[259] explain away. I reckon I'm goin' to be lonesome, 'specially33 this winter. Here comes Lin Sherwood—Miss Arnold, meet Mr. Sherwood, th' bashfullest man in this country. He don't mind a little thing like an extra eighteen miles in th' saddle—an' I'm admittin' that nobody will steal yore cayuse while he's along. Now that I've broke th' ice an' pushed him in where he was afraid to go hisself, I'll take th' parson around an' make him better acquainted with th' boys."
As they moved away, the minister noticed the restraint and restlessness visible around him and he turned a smiling face to the proprietor. "As soon as Miss Arnold leaves, open the bar. I'll take a cigar with the boys and then say good-by."
Dave stopped in his tracks, his jaw65 dropped, and then he beamed upon his clerical companion. "I'm repeatin' what I said about bein' glad to see you any time," he exclaimed, slapping the broadcloth shoulder. "Parson, I'm proud to know you! Put it there!"
Johnny, going over to say good-by to Margaret, and concealing66 to the best of his ability any sign of jealousy67, received a distinct shock and one which made him wrestle68 hard to keep his dignity.
"Oh, here's Mr. Nelson, now," smiled Margaret. "I just told Mr. Sherwood that he was too late; but perhaps he will beat you the next time. I think we would better be riding, for these men feel a restraint while I'm here; and I'm getting anxious about father. So if you will excuse me, Mr. Sherwood, I'll say good-by to the men and ride on."
Sherwood stood on his foot and did foolish things[260] to his hat, but was spared any further embarrassment69 by Johnny, who gripped his arm in a friendly way and escorted Margaret on her round of the room. And as the pair rode away Sherwood turned from the door, kicked Cimarron, and tramped to the bar.
The segundo stared after him. "Well, I'm cussed!" he muttered "So that's it, huh? Well, you'd 'a' done better if you'd 'a' kicked Nelson."
The minister having left, Dave became very busy, and Dailey found a pack of cards and dragged out a table. "Havin' been generous to th' church, now I aims to get back some of it," he remarked. "He is a fine man—an' what he said is true; an' if I can get four little two-spots I'll show you all an inspiration that's stem-windin'. One at a time; don't push!"
"Yo're shore hard-boiled," reproved Slim, slightly vexed70. "You ain't got enough reverence71 in yore saturated72 carcass to start a prairie dog out in life like he ought to go—an' G—d knows that ain't much."
"Which same I says is true as h—l," endorsed73 Cimarron, scowling74. "Let th' old mosshead herd75 by hisself. I'm goin' back an' pick up that round-up where we dropped it. We got to get that over with as soon as we can, for we'll be roundin' up for McCullough purty soon—an' he ought to be along next week."
Sherwood heard him and turned from the bar. "He ain't getting many from us," he said. "We'll send our own herd up th' trail next spring, an' take a gamble on gettin' more for 'em. I'm sayin' th' SV has got plenty of friends from now on, too. I'm ridin' home; who's comin' with me?"
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1
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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assertive
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| adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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7
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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repertoire
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| n.(准备好演出的)节目，保留剧目；(计算机的)指令表，指令系统， <美>(某个人的)全部技能；清单，指令表 | |
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accordion
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| n.手风琴；adj.可折叠的 | |
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bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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grooming
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| n. 修饰, 美容，（动物）梳理毛发 | |
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ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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walnut
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| n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色 | |
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pugnacious
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| adj.好斗的 | |
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exhaled
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| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
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exuded
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| v.缓慢流出，渗出，分泌出( exude的过去式和过去分词 )；流露出对（某物）的神态或感情 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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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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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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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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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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ethics
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| n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准 | |
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dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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42
jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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43
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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47
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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48
awesome
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| adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的 | |
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49
impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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50
quail
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| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
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51
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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52
impersonal
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| adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的 | |
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53
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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54
momentum
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| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
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55
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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56
offset
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| n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿 | |
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57
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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58
superstitions
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| 迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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intermittently
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| adv.间歇地；断断续续 | |
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60
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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61
knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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62
jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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64
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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65
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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66
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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67
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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68
wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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69
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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70
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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71
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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72
saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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73
endorsed
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| vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品 | |
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74
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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75
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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