desert gold- 第22部分

〃Well；　he'll　stay　right　here　in　Forlorn　River；　if　I　have　any　say；〃　replied　Belding。　　〃I'd　like　to　know　how　he'd　ever　get　that　Spanish　girl　out　of　the　country　now；　with　all　the　trails　overrun　by　rebels　and　raiders。　　It'd　be　hard　to　disguise　her。　　Say；　Dick；　maybe　we　can　get　Thorne　to　stay　here。　　You　know；　since　you've　discovered　the　possibility　of　a　big　water　supply；　I've　had　dreams　of　a　future　for　Forlorn　River。。。。If　only　this　war　was　over！

Dick；　that's　what　it　iswarscattered　war　along　the　northern　border　of　Mexico　from　gulf　to　gulf。　　What　if　it　isn't　our　war？　We're　on　the　fringe。　　No；　we　can't　develop　Forlorn　River　until　there's　peace。〃

The　discovery　that　Belding　alluded　to　was　one　that　might　very　well　lead　to　the　making　of　a　wonderful　and　agricultural　district　of　Altar　Valley。　　While　in　college　Dick　Gale　had　studied　engineering；　but　he　had　not　set　the　scientific　world　afire　with　his　brilliance。　　Nor　after　leaving　college　had　he　been　able　to　satisfy　his　father　that　he　could　hold　a　job。　　Nevertheless；　his　smattering　of　engineering　skill　bore　fruit　in　the　last　place　on　earth　where　anything　might　have　been　expected　of　itin　the　desert。　　Gale　had　always　wondered　about　the　source　of　Forlorn　River。　　No　white　man　or　Mexican；　or；　so　far　as　known；　no　Indian；　had　climbed　those　mighty　broken　steps　of　rock　called　No　Name　Mountains；　from　which　Forlorn　River　was　supposed　to　come。　　Gale　had　discovered　a　long；　narrow；　rock…bottomed　and　rock…walled　gulch　that　could　be　dammed　at　the　lower　end　by　the　dynamiting　of　leaning　cliffs　above。　　An　inexhaustible　supply　of　water　could　be　stored　there。　　Furthermore；　he　had　worked　out　an　irrigation　plan　to　bring　the　water　down　for　mining　uses；　and　to　make　a　paradise　out　of　that　part　of　Altar　Valley　which　lay　in　the　United　States。　　Belding　claimed　there　was　gold　in　the　arroyos；　gold　in　the　gulches；　not　in　quantities　to　make　a　prospector　rejoice；　but　enough　to　work　for。　　And　the　soil　on　the　higher　levels　of　Altar　Valley　needed　only　water　to　make　it　grow　anything　the　year　round。　　Gale；　too；　had　come　to　have　dreams　of　a　future　for　Forlorn　River。

On　the　afternoon　of　the　following　day　Ladd　unexpectedly　appeared　leading　a　lame　and　lathered　horse　into　the　yard。　　Belding　and　Gale；　who　were　at　work　at　the　forge；　looked　up　and　were　surprised　out　of　speech。　　The　legs　of　the　horse　were　raw　and　red；　and　he　seemed　about　to　drop。　　Ladd's　sombrero　was　missing；　he　wore　a　bloody　scarf　round　his　head；　sweat　and　blood　and　dust　had　formed　a　crust　on　his　face；　little　streams　of　powdery　dust　slid　from　him；　and　the　lower　half　of　his　scarred　chaps　were　full　of　broken　white　thorns。

〃Howdy；　boys；〃　he　drawled。　　〃I　shore　am　glad　to　see　you　all。〃

〃Where'n　hell's　your　hat？〃　　demanded　Belding；　furiously。　　It　was　a　ridiculous　greeting。　　But　Belding's　words　signified　little。　　The　dark　shade　of　worry　and　solicitude　crossing　his　face　told　more　than　his　black　amaze。

The　ranger　stopped　unbuckling　the　saddle　girths；　and；　looking　at　Belding；　broke　into　his　slow；　cool　laugh。

〃Tom；　you　recollect　that　whopper　of　a　saguaro　up　here　where　Carter's　trail　branches　off　the　main　trail　to　Casita？　　Well；　I　climbed　it　an'　left　my　hat　on　top　for　a　woodpecker's　nest。〃

〃You've　been　runningfighting？〃　queried　Belding；　as　if　Ladd　had　not　spoken　at　all。

〃I　reckon　it'll　dawn　on　you　after　a　while；〃　replied　Ladd；　slipping　the　saddle。

〃Laddy；　go　in　the　house　to　the　women；〃　said　Belding。　　〃I'll　tend　to　your　horse。〃

〃Shore；　Tom；　in　a　minute。　　I've　been　down　the　road。　　An'　I　found　hoss　tracks　an'　steer　tracks　goin'　across　the　line。　　But　I　seen　no　sign　of　raiders　till　this　mornin'。　　Slept　at　Carter's　last　night。　That　raid　the　other　day　cleaned　him　out。　　He's　shootin'　mad。　　Well；　this　mornin'　I　rode　plumb　into　a　bunch　of　Carter's　hosses；　runnin'　wild　for　home。　　Some　Greasers　were　tryin'　to　head　them　round　an'　chase　them　back　across　the　line。　　I　rode　in　between　an'　made　matters　embarrassin'。　　Carter's　hosses　got　away。　　Then　me　an'　the　Greasers　had　a　little　game　of　hide　an'　seek　in　the　cactus。　　I　was　on　the　wrong　side；　an'　had　to　break　through　their　line　to　head　toward　home。　　We　run　some。　　But　I　had　a　closer　call　than　I'm　stuck　on　havin'。〃

〃Laddy；　you　wouldn't　have　any　such　close　calls　if　you'd　ride　one　of　my　horses；〃　expostulated　Belding。　　〃This　broncho　of　yours　can　run；　and　Lord　knows　he's　game。　　But　you　want　a　big；　strong　horse；　Mexican　bred；　with　cactus　in　his　blood。　Take　one　of　the　bunchBull；　White　Woman；　Blanco　Jose。〃

〃I　had　a　big；　fast　horse　a　while　back；　but　I　lost　him；〃　said　Ladd。　〃This　bronch　ain't　so　bad。　　Shore　Bull　an'　that　white　devil　with　his　Greaser　namethey　could　run　down　my　bronch；　kill　him　in　a　mile　of　cactus。　　But；　somehow；　Tom；　I　can't　make　up　my　mind　to　take　one　of　them　grand　white　hosses。　　Shore　I　reckon　I'm　kinda　soft。　　An'　mebbe　I'd　better　take　one　before　the　raiders　clean　up　Forlorn　River。〃

Belding　cursed　low　and　deep　in　his　throat；　and　the　sound　resembled　muttering　thunder。　　The　shade　of　anxiety　on　his　face　changed　to　one　of　dark　gloom　and　passion。　　Next　to　his　wife　and　daughter　there　was　nothing　so　dear　to　him　as　those　white　horses。　　His　father　and　grandfatherall　his　progenitors　of　whom　he　had　tracehad　been　lovers　of　horses。　　It　was　in　Belding's　blood。

〃Laddy；　before　it's　too　late　can't　I　get　the　whites　away　from　the　border？〃

〃Mebbe　it　ain't　too　late；　but　where　can　we　take　them？？

〃To　San　Felipe？〃

〃No。　　We've　more　chance　to　hold　them　here。？

〃To　Casita　and　the　railroad？〃

〃Afraid　to　risk　gettin'　there。　　An'　the　town's　full　of　rebels　who　need　hosses。〃

〃Then　straight　north？〃

〃Shore　man；　you're　crazy。　　Ther's　no　water；　no　grass　for　a　hundred　miles。　　I'll　tell　you；　Tom；　the　safest　plan　would　be　to　take　the　white　bunch　south　into　Sonora；　into　some　wild　mountain　valley。　Keep　them　there　till　the　raiders　have　traveled　on　back　east。　　Pretty　soon　there　won't　be　any　rich　pickin'　left　for　these　Greasers。　　An'　then　they'll　ride　on　to　new　ranges。〃

〃Laddy；　I　don't　know　the　trails　into　Sonora。　　An'　I　can't　trust　a　Mexican　or　a　Papago。　　Between　you　and　me；　I'm　afraid　of　this　Indian　who　herds　for　me。〃

〃I　reckon　we'd　better　stick　here；　Tom。。。。Dick；　it's　some　good　to　see　you　again。　　But　you　seem　kinda　quiet。　　Shore　you　get　quieter　all　the　time。　　Did　you　see　any　sign　of　Jim　out　Sonoyta　way？〃

Then　Belding　led　the　lame　horse　toward　the　watering…trough；　while　the　two　rangers　went　toward　the　house；　Dick　was　telling　Ladd　about　the　affair　at　Papago　Well　when　they　turned　the　corner　under　the　porch。　　Nell　was　sitting　in　the　door。　　She　rose　with　a　little　scream　and　came　flying　toward　them。

〃Now　I'll　get　it；〃　whispered　Ladd。　　〃The　women'll　make　a　baby　of　me。　　An'　shore　I　can't　help　myself。〃

〃Oh；　Laddy；　you've　been　hurt！〃　cried　Nell；　as　with　white　cheeks　and　dilating　eyes　she　ran　to　him　and　caught　his　arm。

〃Nell；　I　only　run　a　thorn　in　my　ear。〃

〃Oh；　Laddy；　don't　lie！　　You've　lied　before。　　I　know　you're　hurt。　Come　in　to　mother。〃

〃Shore；　Nell；　it's　only　a　scratch。　　My　bronch　throwed　me。〃

〃Laddy；　no　horse　every　threw　you。〃　　The　girl's　words　and　accusing　eyes　only　hurried　the　ranger　on　to　further　duplicity。

〃Mebbe　I　got　it　when　I　was　ridin'　hard　under　a　mesquite；　an'　a　sharp　snag〃

〃You've　been　shot！。。。Mama；　here's　Laddy；　and　he's　been　shot！。。。。Oh；　these　dreadful　days　we're　having！　　I　can't　bear　them！　　Forlorn　River　used　to　be　so　safe　and　quiet。　　Nothing　happened。　　But　now！　　Jim　comes　home　with　a　bloody　hole　in　himthen　Dickthen　Laddy！。。。。Oh；　I'm　afraid　some　day　they'll　never　come　home。〃



The　morning　was　bright；　still；　and　clear　as　crystal。　　The　heat　waves　had　not　yet　begun　to　rise　from　the　desert。

A　soft　gray；　white；　and　green　tint　perfectly　blended　lay　like　a　mantle　over　mesquite　and　sand　and　cactus。　　The　canyons　of　distant　mountain　showed　deep　and　full　of　lilac　haze。

Nell　sat　perched　high　upon　the　topmost　bar　of　the　corral　gate。　　Dick　leaned　beside　her；　now　with　his　eyes　on　her　face；　now　gazing　out　into　the　alfalfa　field　where　Belding's　thoroughbreds　grazed　and　pranced　and　romped　and　whistled。　　Nell　watched　the　horses。　　She　loved　them；　never　tired　of　watching　them。　　But　her　gaze　was　too　consciously　averted　from　the　yearning　eyes　that　tried　to　meet　hers　to　be　altogether　natural。

A　great　fenced　field　of　dark　velvety　green　alfalfa　furnished　a　rich　background　for　the　drove　of　about　twenty　white　horses。　　Even　without　the　horses　the　field　would　have　presented　a　striking　contrast　to　the　surrounding　hot；　glaring　blaze　of　rock　and　sand。　　Belding　had　bred　a　hundred　or　more　horses　from　the　original　stock　he　had　brought　up　from　Durango。　　His　particular　interest　was　in　the　almost　unblemished　whites；　and　these　he　had　given　especial　care。　　He　made　a　good　deal　of　money　selling　this　strain　to　friends　among　the　ranchers　back　in　Texas。　　No　mercenary　consideration；　however；　could　have　made　him　part　with　the　great；　rangy　white　horses　he　had　gotten　from　the　Durango　breeder。　　He　called　them　Blanco　Diablo　（White　Devil）；　Blanco　Sol　（White　Sun）；　Blanca　Reina　（White　Queen）；　Blanca　Mujer　（White　Woman）；　and　El　Gran　Toro　Blanco　（The　Big　White　Bull）。　Belding　had　been　laughed　at　by　ranchers　for　preserving　the　sentimental　Durango　names；　and　he　had　been　unmercifully　ridiculed　by　cowboys。　　The　the　names　had　never　been　changed。

Blanco　Diablo　was　the　only　horse　in　the　field　that　was　not　free　to　roam　and　graze　where　he　listed。　　A　stake　and　a　halter　held　him　to　one　corner；　where　he　was　severely　let　alone　by　the　other　horses。　He　did　not　like　this　isolation。　　Blanco　Diablo　was　not　happy　unless　he　was　running；　or　fighting　a　rival。　　Of　the　two　he　would　rather　fight。　If　anything　white　could　resemble　a　devil；　this　horse　surely　did。　　He　had　nothing　beautiful　about　him；　yet　he　drew　the　gaze　and　held　it。　　The　look　of　him　suggested　discontent；　anger；　revolt；　viciousness。　　When　he　was　not　grazing　or　prancing；　he　held　his　long；　lean　head　level；　pointing　his　nose　and　showing　his　teeth。　　Belding's　favorite　was　almost　all　the　world　to　him；　and　he　swore　Diablo　could　stand　more　heat　and　thirst　and　cactus　than　any　other　horse　he　owned；　and　could　run　down　and　kill　any　horse　in　the　Southwest。　　The　fact　that　Ladd　did　not　agree　with　Belding　on　these　salient　points　was　a　great　disappointment；　and　also　a　perpetual　source　for　argument。　　Ladd　and　Lash