The sawmill lay on the direct trail to the back country. Every man headed for the big mountains by way of Sycamore Flats passed fairly through the settlement itself. So every cattleman out after provisions or stock salt, followed by his docile1 string of pack mules2, paused to swap3 news and gossip with whoever happened for the moment to have leisure for such an exchange.
The variety poured through this funnel4 of the mountains comprised all classes. Professional prospectors5 with their burros, ready alike for the desert or the most inaccessible6 crags, were followed by a troupe7 of college boys afoot leading one or two old mares as baggage transportation. The business-like, semi-military outfits8 of geological survey parties, the worn but substantial hunters' equipments, the marvellous and oftentimes ridiculous luxury affected9 by the wealthy camper, the makeshifts of the poorer ranchmen of the valley, out with their entire families and the farm stock for a "real good fish," all these were of never-failing interest to Bob. In fact, he soon discovered that the one absorbing topic--outside of bears, of course--was the discussion, the comparison and the appraising10 of the various items of camping equipment. He also found each man amusingly partisan11 for his own. There were schools advocating--heatedly--the merits respectively of the single or double cinch, of the Dutch oven or the reflector, of rawhide12 or canvas kyacks, of sleeping bags or blankets. Each man had invented some little kink of his own without which he could not possibly exist. Some of these kinks were very handy and deserved universal adoption13, such as a small rubber tube with a flattened14 brass15 nozzle with which to encourage reluctant fires. Others expressed an individual idiosyncrasy only; as in the case of the man who carried clothes hooks to screw into the trees. A man's method of packing was also closely watched. Each had his own favourite hitch16. The strong preponderance seemed to be in favour of the Diamond, both single and double, but many proved strongly addicted17 to the Lone18 Packer, or the Basco, or the Miners', or the Square, or even the generally despised Squaw, and would stoutly19 defend their choices, and give reasons therefore. Bob sometimes amused himself practising these hitches20 in miniature by means of a string, a bent21 nail, and two folded handkerchiefs as packs. After many trials, and many lapses22 of memory, he succeeded on all but the Double Diamond. Although apparently23 he followed every move, the result was never that beautiful all-over tightening24 at the last pull. He reluctantly concluded that on this point he must have instruction.
Although rarely a day went by during the whole season that one or more parties did not pass through, or camp over night at the Meadow Lake, it was a fact that, after passing Baldy, these hundreds could scatter25 so far through the labyrinth26 of the Sierras that in a whole summer's journeying they were extremely unlikely to see each other--or indeed any one else, save when they stumbled on one of the established cow camps. The vastness of the California mountains cannot be conveyed to one who has not travelled them. Men have all summer pastured illegally thousands of head of sheep undiscovered, in spite of the fact that rangers27 and soldiers were out looking for them. One may journey diligently28 throughout the season, and cover but one corner of the three great maps that depict29 about one-half of them. If one wills he can, to all intents and purposes, become sole and undisputed master of kingdoms in extent. He can occupy beautiful valleys miles long, guarded by cliffs rising thousands of feet, threaded by fish-haunted streams, spangled with fair, flower-grown lawns, cool with groves30 of trees, neck high in rich feed. Unless by sheer chance, no one will disturb his solitude31. Of course he must work for his kingdom. He must press on past the easy travel, past the wide cattle country of the middle elevations32, into the splintered, frowning granite33 and snow, over the shoulders of the mighty34 peaks of the High Sierras. Nevertheless, the reward is sure for the hardy35 voyager.
Most men, however, elect to spend their time in the easier middle ground. There the elevations run up to nine or ten thousand feet; the trails are fairly well defined and travelled; the streams are full of fish; meadows are in every moist pocket; the great box canons and peaks of the spur ranges offer the grandeur36 of real mountain scenery.
From these men, as they ended their journeys on the way out, came tales and rumours37. There was no doubt whatever that the country had too many cattle in it. That was brought home to each and every man by the scarcity38 of horse feed on meadows where usually an abundance for everybody was to be expected. The cattle were thin and restless. It was unsafe to leave a camp unprotected; the half-wild animals trampled39 everything into the ground. The cattlemen, of whatever camp, appeared sullen40 and suspicious of every comer.
"It's mighty close to a cattle war," said one old lean and leathery individual to Bob; "I know, for I been thar. Used to run cows in Montana. I hear everywhar talk about Wright's cattle dyin' in mighty funny ways. I know that's so, for I seen a slather of dead cows myself. Some of 'em fall off cliffs; some seem to have broke their legs. Some bogged41 down. Some look like to have just laid down and died."
"Well, if they're weak from loss of feed, isn't that natural?" asked Bob.
"Wall," said the old cowman, "in the first place, they're pore, but they ain't by no means weak. But the strange part is that these yere accidents always happens to Wright's cattle."
He laughed and added:
"The carcasses is always so chawed up by b'ar and coyote--or at least that's what they _say_ done it--that you can't sw'ar as to how they _did_ come to die. But I heard one funny thing. It was over at the Pollock boys' camp. Shelby, Wright's straw boss, come ridin' in pretty mad, and made a talk about how it's mighty cur'ous only Wright's cattle is dyin'.
"'It shorely looks like the country is unhealthy for plains cattle,' says George Pollock; 'ours is brought up in the hills.'
"'Well,' says Shelby, 'if I ever comes on one of these accidents a-happenin', I'll shore make some one hard to catch!'
"'Some one's likely one of these times to make you almighty42 _easy_ to catch!' says George.
"Now," concluded the old cattleman, "folks don't make them bluffs43 for the sake of talkin' at a mark--not in this country."
Nevertheless, in spite of that prediction, the summer passed without any personal clash. The cattle came out from the mountains rather earlier than usual, gaunt, wiry, active. They were in fine shape, as far as health was concerned; but absolutely unfit, as they then stood, for beef. The Simeon Wright herds44 were first, thousands of them, in charge of many cowboys and dogs. The punchers were a reckless, joyous45 crew, skylarking in anticipation46 of the towns of the plains. They kissed their hands and waved their hats at all women, old and young, in the mill settlement; they played pranks47 on each other; they charged here and there on their wiry ponies48, whirling to right and left, 'turning on a ten-cent piece,' throwing their animals from full speed to a stand, indulging in the cowboys' spectacular 'flash riding' for the sheer joy of it. The leading cattle, eager with that strange instinct that, even early in the fall, calls all ruminants from good mountain feed to the brown lower country, pressed forward, their necks outstretched, their eyes fixed49 on some distant vision. Their calls blended into an organ note. Occasionally they broke into a little trot50. At such times the dogs ran forward, yelping51, to turn them back into their appointed way. At an especially bad break to right or left one or more of the men would dash to the aid of the dogs, riding with a splendid recklessness through the timber, over fallen trees, ditches, rocks, boulders52 and precipitous hills. The dust rose chokingly. At the rear of the long procession plodded53 the old, the infirm, the cripples and the young calves54. Three or four men rode compactly behind this rear guard, urging it to keep up. Their means of persuasion55 were varied56. Quirts, ropes, rattles57 made of tin cans and pebbles58, strong language were all used in turn and simultaneously59. Long after the multitude had passed, the vast and composite voice of it reechoed through the forest; the dust eddied60 and swirled61 among the trees.
The mountain men's cattle, on the other hand, came out sullenly62, in herds of a few hundred head. There was more barking of dogs; more scurrying63 to and fro of mounted men, for small bands are more difficult to drive than large ones. There were no songs, no boisterous64 high spirits, no flash riding. In contrast to the plains cowboys, even the herders' appearance was poor. They wore blue jeans overalls65, short jeans jumpers, hats floppy66 and all but disintegrated67 by age and exposure to the elements. Wright's men, being nothing but cowboys, without other profession, ties or interests, gave more attention to details of professional equipment. Their wide hats were straight of brim and generally encircled by a leather or hair or snakeskin band; their shirts were loose; they wore handkerchiefs around their necks, and oiled leather "chaps" on their legs. Their distinguishing and especial mark, however, was their boots. These were made of soft leather, were elaborately stitched or embroidered68 in patterns, possessed69 exaggeratedly wide and long straps70 like a spaniel's ears, and were mounted on thin soles and very high heels. They were footwear such as no mountain man, nor indeed any man who might ever be required to go a mile afoot, would think of wearing. The little herds trudged71 down the mountains. While the plainsmen anticipated easy duty, the pleasures of the town, fenced cattle growing fat on alfalfa raised during the summer by irrigation, these sober-faced mountaineers looked forward to a winter range much depleted72, a market closed against such wiry, active animals as they herded73, and an impossibility of rounding into shape for sale any but a few old cows.
"If it wasn't for this new shake-up," said Jim Pollock, "I'd shore be gettin' discouraged. But if they keep out Simeon Wright's cattle this spring, we'll be all right. It's cost us money, though."
"A man with a wife and child can't afford to lose money," said George Pollock.
Jim laughed.
"You and your new kid!" he mocked. "No, I suppose he can't. Neither can a man with a wife and six children. But I reckon we'll be all right as long as there's a place to crawl under when it rains."
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1
docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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swap
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| n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易 | |
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funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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prospectors
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| n.勘探者，探矿者( prospector的名词复数 ) | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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troupe
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| n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团 | |
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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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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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appraising
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| v.估价( appraise的现在分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
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partisan
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| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
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rawhide
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| n.生牛皮 | |
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adoption
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| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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addicted
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| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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hitches
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| 暂时的困难或问题( hitch的名词复数 )； 意外障碍； 急拉； 绳套 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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lapses
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| n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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rangers
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| 护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员 | |
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diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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depict
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| vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述 | |
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groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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elevations
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| （水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升 | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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scarcity
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| n.缺乏，不足，萧条 | |
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trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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bogged
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| adj.陷于泥沼的v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的过去式和过去分词 )；妨碍，阻碍 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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bluffs
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| 恐吓( bluff的名词复数 )； 悬崖； 峭壁 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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pranks
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| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
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ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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50
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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51
yelping
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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52
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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53
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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54
calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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55
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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rattles
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| （使）发出格格的响声， （使）作嘎嘎声( rattle的第三人称单数 )； 喋喋不休地说话； 迅速而嘎嘎作响地移动，堕下或走动； 使紧张，使恐惧 | |
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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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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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eddied
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| 起漩涡，旋转( eddy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry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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overalls
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| n.（复）工装裤；长罩衣 | |
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floppy
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| adj.松软的，衰弱的 | |
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disintegrated
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| v.（使）破裂[分裂，粉碎]，（使）崩溃( disintegrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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71
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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depleted
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| adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词 | |
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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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