desert gold- 第54部分

difference　to　him。　　What　hurt　him　was　the　pain　mother　and　daughter　had　suffered；　were　suffering　still。　　Somehow　he　must　put　an　end　to　that　pain。

He　found　the　Yaqui　curled　up　in　a　corner　of　the　barn　in　as　deep　a　sleep　as　that　of　the　rangers。　　Looking　down　at　him；　Belding　felt　again　the　rush　of　curious　thrilling　eagerness　to　learn　all　that　had　happened　since　the　dark　night　when　Yaqui　had　led　the　white　horses　away　into　the　desert。　　Belding　curbed　his　impatience　and　set　to　work　upon　tasks　he　had　long　neglected。　Presently　he　was　interrupted　by　Mr。　Gale；　who　came　out；　beside　himself　with　happiness　and　excitement。　　He　flung　a　hundred　questions　at　Belding　and　never　gave　him　time　to　answer　one；　even　if　that　had　been　possible。　　Finally；　when　Mr。　Gale　lost　his　breath；　Belding　got　a　word　in。　　〃See　here；　Mr。　Gale；　you　know　as　much　as　I　know。　Dick's　back。　　They're　all　backa　hard　lot；　starved；　burned；　torn　to　pieces；　worked　out　to　the　limit　I　never　saw　in　desert　travelers；　but　they're　alivealive　and　well；　man！　　Just　wait。　　Just　gamble　I　won't　sleep　or　eat　till　I　hear　that　story。　　But　they've　got　to　sleep　and　eat。〃

Belding　gathered　with　growing　amusement　that　besides　the　joy；　excitement；　anxiety；　impatience　expressed　by　Mr。　Gale　there　was　something　else　which　Belding　took　for　pride。　　It　pleased　him。　　Looking　back；　he　remembered　some　of　the　things　Dick　had　confessed　his　father　thought　of　him。　　Belding's　sympathy　had　always　been　with　the　boy。　　But　he　had　learned　to　like　the　old　man；　to　find　him　kind　and　wise；　and　to　think　that　perhaps　college　and　business　had　not　brought　out　the　best　in　Richard　Gale。　　The　West　had　done　that；　however；　as　it　had　for　many　a　wild　youngster；　and　Belding　resolved　to　have　a　little　fun　at　the　expense　of　Mr。　Gale。　　So　he　began　by　making　a　few　remarks　that　appeared　to　rob　Dick's　father　of　both　speech　and　breath。

〃And　don't　mistake　me；〃　concluded　Belding；　〃just　keep　out　of　earshot　when　Laddy　tells　us　the　story　of　that　desert　trip；　unless　you're　hankering　to　have　your　hair　turn　pure　white　and　stand　curled　on　end　and　freeze　that　way。〃



About　the　middle　of　the　forenoon　on　the　following　day　the　rangers　hobbled　out　of　the　kitchen　to　the　porch。


〃I'm　a　sick　man；　I　tell　you；〃　Ladd　was　complaining；　〃an'　I　gotta　be　fed。　　Soup！　　Beef　tea！　　That　ain't　so　much　as　wind　to　me。　　I　want　about　a　barrel　of　bread　an'　butter；　an'　a　whole　platter　of　mashed　potatoes　with　gravy　an'　green　stuffall　kinds　of　green　stuffan'　a　whole　big　apple　pie。　　Give　me　everythin'　an'　anythin'　to　eat　but　meat。　　Shore　I　never；　never　want　to　taste　meat　again；　an'　sight　of　a　piece　of　sheep　meat　would　jest　about　finish　me。。。。Jim；　you　used　to　be　a　human　bein'　that　stood　up　for　Charlie　Ladd。〃

〃Laddy；　I'm　lined　up　beside　you　with　both　guns；〃　replied　Jim；　plaintively。　　〃Hungry？　　Say；　the　smell　of　breakfast　in　that　kitchen　made　my　mouth　water　so　I　near　choked　to　death。　　I　reckon　we're　gettin'　most　onhuman　treatment。〃

〃But　I'm　a　sick　man；〃　protested　Ladd；　〃an'　I'm　agoin'　to　fall　over　in　a　minute　if　somebody　doesn't　feed　me。　　Nell；　you　used　to　be　fond　of　me。〃

〃Oh；　Laddy；　I　am　yet；〃　replied　Nell。

〃Shore　I　don't　believe　it。　　Any　girl　with　a　tender　heart　just　couldn't　let　a　man　starve　under　her　eyes。。。Look　at　Dick；　there。　I'll　bet　he's　had　something　to　eat；　mebbe　potatoes　an'　gravy；　an'　pie　an'〃

〃Laddy；　Dick　has　had　no　more　than　I　gave　youin　deed；　not　nearly　so　much。〃

〃Shore　he's　had　a　lot　of　kisses　then；　for　he　hasn't　hollered　onct　about　this　treatment。〃

〃Perhaps　he　has；〃　said　Nell；　with　a　blush；　〃and　if　you　think　thatthey　would　help　you　to　be　reasonable　I　mightI'll〃

〃Well；　powerful　fond　as　I　am　of　you；　just　now　kisses　'll　have　to　run　second　to　bread　an'　butter。〃

〃Oh；　Laddy；　what　a　gallant　speech！〃　laughed　Nell。　　〃I'm　sorry；　but　I've　Dad's　orders。〃

〃Laddy；〃　interrupted　Belding；　〃you've　got　to　be　broke　in　gradually　to　eating。　　Now　you　know　that。　　You'd　be　the　severest　kind　of　a　boss　if　you　had　some　starved　beggars　on　your　hands。〃

〃But　I'm　sickI'm　dyin'；〃　howled　Ladd。

〃You　were　never　sick　in　your　life；　and　if　all　the　bullet　holes　I　see　in　you　couldn't　kill　you；　why；　you　never　will　die。〃

〃Can　I　smoke？〃　queried　Ladd；　with　sudden　animation。　　〃My　Gawd；　I　used　to　smoke。　　Shore　I've　forgot。　　Nell；　if　you　want　to　be　reinstated　in　my　gallery　of　angels；　just　find　me　a　pipe　an'　tobacco。〃

〃I've　hung　onto　my　pipe；〃　said　Jim；　thoughtfully。　　〃I　reckon　I　had　it　empty　in　my　mouth　for　seven　years　or　so；　wasn't　it；　Laddy？　　A　long　time！　　I　can　see　the　red　lava　an'　the　red　haze；　an'　the　red　twilight　creepin'　up。　　It　was　hot　an'　some　lonely。　　Then　the　wind；　and　always　that　awful　silence！　　An'　always　Yaqui　watchin'　the　west；　an'　Laddy　with　his　checkers；　an'　Mercedes　burnin'　up；　wastin'　away　to　nothin'　but　eyes！　　It's　all　thereI'll　never　get　rid〃

〃Chop　that　kind　of　talk；〃　interrupted　Belding；　bluntly。　　Tell　us　where　Yaqui　took　youwhat　happened　to　Rojaswhy　you　seemed　lost　for　so　long。〃

〃I　reckon　Laddy　can　tell　all　that　best；　but　when　it　comes　to　Rojas's　finish　I'll　tell　what　I　seen；　an'　so'll　Dick　an'　Thorne。　　Laddy　missed　Rojas's　finish。　　Bar　none；　that　was　the〃

〃I'm　a　sick　man；　but　I　can　talk；〃　put　in　Ladd；　〃an'　shore　I　don't　want　the　whole　story　exaggerated　none　by　Jim。〃

Ladd　filled　the　pipe　Nell　brought；　puffed　ecstatically　at　it；　and　settled　himself　upon　the　bench　for　a　long　talk。　　Nell　glanced　appealingly　at　Dick；　who　tried　to　slip　away。　　Mercedes　did　go；　and　was　followed　by　Thorne。　　Mr。　Gale　brought　chairs；　and　in　subdued　excitement　called　his　wife　and　daughter。　　Belding　leaned　forward；　rendered　all　the　more　eager　by　Dick's　reluctance　to　stay；　the　memory　of　the　quick　tragic　change　in　the　expression　of　Mercedes's　beautiful　eyes；　by　the　strange　gloomy　cast　stealing　over　Ladd's　face。

The　ranger　talked　for　two　hourstalked　till　his　voice　weakened　to　a　husky　whisper。　　At　the　conclusion　of　his　story　there　was　an　impressive　silence。　　Then　Elsie　Gale　stood　up；　and　with　her　hand　on　Dick's　shoulder；　her　eyes　bright　and　warm　as　sunlight；　she　showed　the　rangers　what　a　woman　thought　of　them　and　of　the　Yaqui。　Nell　clung　to　Dick；　weeping　silently。　　Mrs。　Gale　was　overcome；　and　Mr。　Gale；　very　white　and　quiet；　helped　her　up　to　her　room。

〃The　Indian！　the　Indian！〃　burst　out　Belding；　his　voice　deep　and　rolling。　　〃What　did　I　tell　you？　　Didn't　I　say　he'd　be　a　godsend？　Remember　what　I　said　about　Yaqui　and　some　gory　Aztec　knifework？　So　he　cut　Rojas　loose　from　that　awful　crater　wall；　foot　by　foot；　finger　by　finger；　slow　and　terrible？　　And　Rojas　didn't　hang　long　on　the　choya　thorns？　　Thank　the　Lord　for　that！。。。Laddy；　no　story　of　Camino　del　Diablo　can　hold　a　candle　to　yours。　　The　flight　and　the　fight　were　jobs　for　men。　　But　living　through　this　long　hot　summer　and　coming　outthat's　a　miracle。　　Only　the　Yaqui　could　have　done　it。　　The　Yaqui！　　The　Yaqui！〃

〃Shore。　　Charlie　Ladd　looks　up　at　an　Indian　these　days。　　But　Beldin'；　as　for　the　comin'　out；　don't　forget　the　hosses。　　Without　grand　old　Sol　an'　Diablo；　who　I　don't　hate　no　more；　an'　the　other　Blancos；　we'd　never　have　got　here。　　Yaqui　an'　the　hosses；　that's　my　story！〃



Early　in　the　afternoon　of　the　next　day　Belding　encountered　Dick　at　the　water　barrel。

〃Belding；　this　is　river　water；　and　muddy　at　that；〃　said　Dick。　〃Lord　knows　I'm　not　kicking。　　But　I've　dreamed　some　of　our　cool　running　spring；　and　I　want　a　drink　from　it。〃

〃Never　again；　son。　　The　spring's　gone；　faded；　sunk；　dry　as　dust。〃

〃Dry！〃　　Gale　slowly　straightened。　　〃We've　had　rains。　　The　river's　full。　　The　spring　ought　to　be　overflowing。　　What's　wrong？　　Why　is　it　dry？〃

〃Dick；　seeing　you're　interested；　I　may　as　well　tell　you　that　a　big　charge　of　nitroglycerin　choked　my　spring。〃

〃Nitroglycerin？〃　echoed　Gale。　　Then　he　gave　a　quick　start。　　〃My　mind's　been　on　home；　Nell；　my　family。　　But　all　the　same　I　felt　something　was　wrong　here　with　the　ranch；　with　you；　with　Nell。。。Belding；　that　ditch　there　is　dry。　　The　roses　are　dead。　The　little　green　in　that　grass　has　come　with　the　rains。　　What's　happened？　　The　ranch's　run　down。　　Now　I　look　around　I　see　a　change。〃

〃Some　change；　yes；〃　replied　Belding；　bitterly。　　〃Listen；　son。〃

Briefly；　but　not　the　less　forcibly　for　that；　Belding　related　his　story　of　the　operations　of　the　Chases。

Astonishment　appeared　to　be　Gale's　first　feeling。　〃Our　water　gone；　our　claims　gone；　our　plans　forestalled！　　Why；　Belding；　it's　unbelievable。　　Forlorn　River　with　promoters；　business；　railroad；　bank；　and　what　not！〃

Suddenly　he　became　fiery　and　suspicious。　　〃These　Chasesdid　they　do　all　this　on　the　level？〃

〃Barefaced　robbery！　　Worse　than　a　Greaser　holdup；〃　replied　Belding；　grimly。

〃You　say　the　law　upheld　them？〃

〃Sure。　　Why；　Ben　Chase　has　a　pull　as　strong　as　Diablo's　on　a　down　grade。　　Dick；　we're　jobbed；　outfigured；　beat；　tricked；　and　we　can't　do　a　thing。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　sorry；　Belding；　most　of　all　for　Laddy；〃　said　Gale；　feelingly。　　〃He's　all　in。　　He'll　never　ride　again。　　He　wanted　to　settle　down　here　on　the　farm　he　thought　he　owned；　grow　grass　and　raise　horses；　and　take　it　easy。　　Oh；　but　it's　tough！　　Say；　he　doesn't　know　it　yet。　　He　was　just　telling　me　he'd　like　to　go　out　and　look　the　farm　over。　　Who's　going　to　tell　him？　　What's　he　going　to　do　when　he　finds　out　about　this　deal？〃

〃Son；　that's　make　me　think　some；〃　replied　Belding；　with　keen　eyes　fast　upon　the　young　man。　　〃And　I　was　kind　of　wondering　how　you'd　take　it。〃

〃I？　　Well；　I'll　call　on　the　Chases。　　Look　here；　Belding；

I'd　better　do　some　forestalling　myself。　　If　Laddy　gets　started　now　there'll　be　blood　spilled。　　He's　not　just　right　in　his　mind　yet。　　He　talks　in　his　sleep　sometimes　about　how　Yaqui　finished　Rojas。　　If　it's　left　to　himhe'll　kill　these　men。　　But　if　I　take　it　up〃

〃You're　talking　sense；　Dick。　　Only　here；　I'm　not　so　sure　of　you。　And　there's　more　to　tell。　　Son；　you've　Nell　to　think　of　and　your　mother。〃

Belding's　ranger　gave　him　a　long　and　searching　glance。

〃You　can　be　sure　of　me；〃　he　said。

〃All　right；　then；　listen；〃　began　Belding。　　With　deep　voice　that　had　many　a　beak　and　tremor　he　told　Gale　how　Nell　had　been　hounded　by　Radford　Chase；　how　her　mother　had　been　driven　by　Ben　Chasethe　whole　sad　story。

〃So　that's　the　trouble！　　Poor　little　girl！〃　murmured　Gale；　brokenly。　〃I　felt　something　was　wrong。　　Nell　wasn't　natural；　like　her　old