Green River, which had been the excuse for Carston's ranch2, was in low spirits this sizzling summer afternoon. Throughout the long day the alkali plains had crackled under the withering5 sun, until the entire place lay covered with a heavy powder of dust. Even the straggling scrub-oak and green sage-brush seemed to be only nature's imitation of asbestos, so persistently6 were they radiating the heat of the past week. The adobe7 stable glared at the low adobe dwelling8 opposite. Neither gave evidence of any life within. A decrepit9 wagon10 with its tongue lolling out lay like a tired dog before the stable; beside it was heaped the dusty double harness with its primitive11 mending of rope and buckskin, while near the house a disordered hummock13 of pack-saddles and camp outfits15 further increased the disorder12 of the place. An unsteady bench, holding a tin basin, a dipper, and a bucket of water, and a solitary16 towel on a nail near by, were the sole tributes to civilization.
Big Bill, whose eyes were accustomed to the place, seemed indifferent to the unspeakable desolation of the ranch. He sat on a log that lay before the door of the hut and was used for social intercourse17 or wood-splitting. He was intent on braiding strands19 of buckskin, the ends of which were held by little Hal, who had grown into a winsome20 little lad and was the pet of all the men and his father's constant companion.
Across the river, towards the west, the same desolation met the eye. Even the sage-brush and scrub-oak seemed to have abandoned life in despair, and the Bad Lands stretched lifeless to the foot-hills of the snow-capped Uinta peaks. Even more poignant21 than the cruel ugliness of the place was the feeling that the great gaunt bird of failure brooded over the entire ranch.
As Bill clumsily twisted the braid the child eagerly watched him.
"Is it for me, sure, Bill?" he asked, as he slid close to the big fellow.
"Yes, old man," Bill answered, as he stooped to pat the dark head. "This is going to be for you, and there ain't any old cow-puncher can beat Bill making a quirt. No, sirree."
While he talked lightly to the child his mind was busy with unpleasant thoughts. The boys were about to strike for their money. Their wages had been overdue23 for some time, and the boss, finally driven to the wall by disease among the cattle, had been unable to satisfy them. So far there had been no outbreak, but Bill expected it every moment.
For days Jim had hardly spoken. That there was some important decision about to be made by him, Bill guessed. He sat and played with the child, but in reality this was only a ruse25 by which he might keep close to the place and await developments. From down the road he could hear the men coming and calling to him, but he gave no sign. He went on knotting the strands, and steadied little Hal's hands when the child grew tired of holding the quirt.
Shorty was the first to arrive, carrying his Mexican saddle and lariat26. On his diminutive27 face was stamped an aggressive pugnacity28. He was followed by Andy; Grouchy29 slouched in last, whittling30 at a piece of wood. As Bill surveyed them he knew that they had been talking things over and had arrived at some conclusion. They had been good workers in their time with him, and he knew even now, at heart, that they were not bad, but that life had tried them severely31 with its failures and disappointments. He waited for them to speak. There was a moment's silence, then Shorty, as he flung himself down on the bench, said:
"Say, Bill, I s'pose you know the boys is gettin' nervous 'bout22 their money, don't you?"
Bill just looked up, and then went on with his work as he answered, "To-morrow's pay-day." He would not anticipate them in their rebellion; he would make it hard for them to declare themselves.
"That's what," Shorty went on.
"Well, it's time to get nervous day after to-morrow." And still Bill braided the leather.
"They're goin' to make trouble if they don't git it." Shorty acted as spokesman. Grouchy and Andy only nodded their heads in approval of their leader's words.
Bill stopped his work as he picked Hal up in his arms. "Are they?" he said. "Well, I reckon Jim Carston and me can handle that bunch." He spoke24 as though the others were not present.
"Maybe you kin1; maybe you kin," Shorty retorted, as he flung the saddle against the walls of the cabin.
"Und say, Bill—und say—to-morrow's pay-day." Andy's voice trembled as he spoke. He was a gentle-mannered German, and the sight of Hal was not a good incentive32 for him to fight against the boss.
Hal began to listen and to look from one to the other. Bill noticed the child's look of inquiry33 and set him on the ground.
"Son, you run in and help your mother with the milking." He slapped his hands together as though a great joy were in store for the child, who laughed with glee as he hurried across to the stable.
The men waited for Bill to say something, but he only stood twisting a straw about in his mouth and pulling his hat-brim.
Again Andy's courage rose and he walked close to Bill. "To-morrow's pay-day, Bill—eh?"
"Is it? Do tell! Ain't you a discoverer! Say, Andy, you're neglectin' the north pole a little."
This time it was Grouchy who answered, "Well, I want mine," and he viciously dug his knife into the hitching-post.
Bill looked from one to the other. Surely they would be reasonable; he would try them.
"Boys, it's seven years since the boss bought this ranch, and he's had an up-hill fight. Every one's done him. He bought when cattle was higher than they've ever been since, and you know what last winter did for us; but he 'ain't ever hollered, and the top wages he paid you at the start he's been a-payin' you ever since."
"Oh, what's the use!" Shorty interrupted. "The money is owed us. The only question is, do we git it?"
Backed up by Shorty, Grouchy began again, "Well, I want mine."
Only gentle Andy was silent. He could hear little Hal laughing as he played in the cow-shed.
Bill dropped his persuasive34 tone as he wheeled around on the men and in a sudden blaze said:
"Well, you know Carston and you know me. If you're lookin' for trouble, we won't see you go away disappointed." He squared his shoulders as he spoke. "Oh, shucks!" He looked at the boys again. "It's no use," he began, more good-naturedly. "It's the business that's no good. Nothin' in it. The packers has got us skinned to death. They pay us what they like for cattle, and charge the public what they like for beef. Hell!" he grunted35, as he turned on his heel. "I'm goin' into the ministry36."
This time Grouchy's "Well, I want mine" was extremely faint.
Before the others could speak again Bill quickly called, "Here's the boss now," and signalled the men to be silent.
They were touched by Jim's haggard face. They had not seen the boss for several days; he had been busy with accounts, Bill had told them. They began shuffling37 their feet as though about to leave. Each one thought perhaps it would be as well to wait until the next day. Shorty signalled them to come on, but Jim stopped them.
"Boys, I hear you're getting anxious about your pay. I don't blame you. My affairs are in a bad way, but I don't expect any one to share my bad luck. You've earned your money. I'll see that you get it."
As Jim spoke he drew from his pocket several small boxes and from his belt an old wallet. "I have some useless old trinkets here that have been knocking around in my trunk for years. If you will take them to town, where people wear such things, you will get enough for them to wipe out my account and something to boot for long service and good-will." Andy's sniffles were the only answer that followed. Jim turned to him, "Andy—"
But Andy refused the package. "Und say, boss. Und say, I ain't kickin'. Und say, I can trust you."
Jim only tossed the box into his hands. "Shorty," he said, as he slapped the wallet across the little fellow's shoulder.
"Oh, I'd rather not," Shorty shamefacedly answered. "Gee38, but this is tough work," he muttered to himself.
Jim smiled. "You must take it, please. The man who refuses throws suspicion on the value of my junk. You won't do that, I'm sure." And the wallet slid into Shorty's hand.
"Grouchy, you can have my repeating rifle," he added. "And now, good-night. I'll see you to-morrow for the last time."
So this was to be the end of their association with the boss. Would he try to shoulder the work of the place without them? A second's reflection told them that this would be impossible. It was to be really the end of Carston's ranch. The three men stood staring at Jim. Bill, at the back of the hut, as he heard the words, sank down on a rough bench. This was what had come of the days of silence on Jim's part; in each man's heart there was an unspeakable emotion at the dissolution of their companionship.
Suddenly down the road they heard the clatter39 of horses. Then the whoop-la of a crowd of men, and a stentorian40 voice called:
"Hello, any one to home at Carston's ranch?"
Shorty and Andy hurried to meet the new-comers. It was Bud Hardy41, the Sheriff, with a posse of men. In they rushed, swarming42 all over the place, and carrying with them the smell of alkali and the heat of the plains. Dripping with perspiration43, stained and worn with their travel, they seemed like part of the desert, so covered were they with a heavy caking of dust. One felt the parched44 fever of their thirst as they stood asking hospitality of the ranch. Jim advanced to meet them.
"Hello, folks," Bud called, as the men of the ranch welcomed his men. Then he came towards Jim, who shook hands with him.
"Why, how are you, Sheriff?"
Since the day at Maverick45, when the Sheriff had tried to arrest him, Jim had often seen Bud. He was never sure of the honesty of the man's intentions, ne and Big Bill had often discussed Bud's unfitness for the power he held in the place, but he gave no sign of this in his greeting.
Bud's great frame towered above the others. He seemed more effusive46 and excited than the occasion warranted, and Big Bill's brows rose questioningly as he saw the demonstrative way in which he greeted Jim.
"Howdy, Mr. Carston—howdy? Knowin' the hospitality of this here outfit14, we most killed ourselves to git here, to say nothin' of the horses. We left them leanin' up against the corral, the worst done up cayuses." Then directly in appeal to Jim, he said, "We simply got to stay here to-night, Mr. Carston."
With a cordial gesture of invitation, Jim said, "You and the boys are welcome, Sheriff, and what we lack in grub and accommodations we'll hope to make up to you in good-will."
As Jim spoke, Bud quickly glanced in triumph at Clarke, a prominent worker in his posse. The pale face of Clarke gave back a glance of comprehension as he lowered his white-lashed eyelids47 over his bulging48 eyes. All this was observed by Bill, who sauntered towards the Sheriff as Bud answered Jim.
"What's good enough for you all is good enough for us, you bet," and he wrung49 Jim's hand again. "Why, hello!" he finished, as he saw Bill and turned to greet him.
"Any news?" Bill laconically50 asked, as he studied Bud and his men.
"Nothin' of any consequence," said Bud. "We just had a little fracas51 down at the agency. Total result, one Injin killed."
A shout of approval rose from the boys, but Clarke broke in with another guffaw52. "And the joke of it is, Bud killed the wrong man."
"But nothin' to it. All in a day's work," Bud laughingly explained.
"You look tired, Sheriff," Jim said. "The boys will take you to their quarters. Shorty, you and the others make the Sheriff and his people feel at home."
There was a murmur53 of approval. "Come on," said Shorty, and the men started for their quarters. Shorty, who loved bossing an affair almost better than teasing, swept them all on before him. Then he linked his arm through Bud's.
"Say, Bud, I'll bet you a saddle to a shoe-string you never roped the man who killed Cash Hawkins at Maverick."
Clarke, who seemed deliberately54 to keep near Bud, gave an involuntary look of surprise at the Sheriff, but the flash of anger on Bud's blowsed, crimson55 face quickly cowed him.
"Oh," Bud said, lightly, "that was years and years ago, Shorty," and with his arm about him he followed the men towards their quarters.
Clarke lingered to cast a furtive56 glance at the hut and stables, but only for a moment, for he quickly realized that Bill was intently watching him.
Jim turned to go to the house—then paused. He could see Bill against the hitching-post tearing a straw into wisps that fluttered and fell lifeless to the ground. There was not enough breeze to carry even a strand18 away. He must speak to Bill, but how could he express anything of the desolation he felt at this parting of their ways.
"Bill," he began, in a low voice—and Bill, who divined the words that were about to follow, made no answer; he only held tighter to the post. He could hardly see the boss; a blur57 swept before his eyes. He made no effort to move; he felt he could not.
"Bill," said Jim again, as he came to him, "you must get out and look for another job." Jim clinched58 his hands tight as he added, "I'll be sorry to lose you, old man."
"I know you will," Bill huskily answered, as he kept his eyes lowered to the ground. Then, almost in a growl59, he questioned, "And what are you going to do, boss?"
The despair of a broken man's life answered Bill as Jim said, in a level, flat tone, "Sell out—move on—begin all over again—somewhere." Then with the indomitable will that was ever a part of him, he added, more hopefully, "There must be a place for me somewhere." Mastering himself, he added, as he took Bill's knotted hand in his, "I won't offer to pay you, Bill."
And Bill, who knew by this fineness of perception on Jim's part why he loved the boss, answered, "You better not," and wrung Jim's hand in both of his.
"Not now," Jim said, with the old hope again rising to encourage him, that later he might be able to help Bill. "In my life I've had one friend and only one." He laid his hands on Bill's shoulders and looked straight in his eyes.
But Bill could not stand the strain of it any longer. "You make me tired," he gulped60, and Jim smiled.
"Why did you pay those cayotes three or four times what you owe 'em?" Bill scolded, gruffly, but kindly61. "It's wicked, Jim. You're a sentimental62 fool."
As though bestowing63 a final benediction64, Jim answered, "And you're another—God bless you," and then dropped on to the log and seemed to forget Bill and all about him.
Bill stood a moment, then tiptoed away while Jim sat watching the afternoon shadows beginning to creep up towards the hut.
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1
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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dictating
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的现在分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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5
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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adobe
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| n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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decrepit
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| adj.衰老的，破旧的 | |
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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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11
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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hummock
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| n.小丘 | |
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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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15
outfits
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| n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 )；一套服装；集体；组织v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 ) | |
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16
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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18
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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19
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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20
winsome
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| n.迷人的，漂亮的 | |
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21
poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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23
overdue
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| adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的 | |
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24
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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25
ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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lariat
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| n.系绳，套索；v.用套索套捕 | |
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diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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28
pugnacity
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| n.好斗，好战 | |
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29
grouchy
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| adj.好抱怨的；愠怒的 | |
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30
whittling
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| v.切，削（木头），使逐渐变小( whittle的现在分词 ) | |
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31
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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incentive
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| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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35
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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36
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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37
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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38
gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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39
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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40
stentorian
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| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
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41
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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42
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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43
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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44
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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45
maverick
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| adj.特立独行的；不遵守传统的；n.持异议者，自行其是者 | |
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46
effusive
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| adj.热情洋溢的；感情(过多)流露的 | |
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47
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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48
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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49
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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50
laconically
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| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
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51
fracas
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| n.打架；吵闹 | |
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52
guffaw
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| n.哄笑；突然的大笑 | |
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53
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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54
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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55
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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56
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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57
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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58
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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59
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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60
gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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61
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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62
sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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63
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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64
benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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