options- 第16部分

But　Lee　and　I　established　camp。　　Across　the　river　were　a　dozen　little　　mountains　densely　covered　by　cedar…brakes；　but　not　one　shaped　like　a　　pack…saddle。　　That　did　not　deter　us。　　Appearances　are　deceptive。　　A　　pack…saddle；　like　beauty；　may　exist　only　in　the　eye　of　the　beholder。

I　and　the　grandson　of　the　treasure　examined　those　cedar…covered　hills　　with　the　care　of　a　lady　hunting　for　the　wicked　flea。　　We　explored　　every　side；　top；　circumference；　mean　elevation；　angle；　slope；　and　　concavity　of　every　one　for　two　miles　up　and　down　the　river。　　We　spent　　four　days　doing　so。　　Then　we　hitched　up　the　roan　and　the　dun；　and　　hauled　the　remains　of　the　coffee　and　bacon　the　one　hundred　and　forty…　nine　miles　back　to　Concho　City。

Lee　Rundle　chewed　much　tobacco　on　the　return　trip。　　I　was　busy　　driving；　because　I　was　in　a　hurry。

As　shortly　as　could　be　after　our　empty　return　Goodloe　Banks　and　I　　forgathered　in　the　back　room　of　Snyder's　saloon　to　play　dominoes　and　　fish　for　information。　　I　told　Goodloe　about　my　expedition　after　the　　buried　treasure。

〃If　I　could　have　found　that　three　hundred　thousand　dollars；〃　I　said　to　　him；　〃I　could　have　scoured　and　sifted　the　surface　of　the　earth　to　find　　May　Martha　Mangum。〃

〃She　is　meant　for　higher　things；〃　said　Goodloe。　　〃I　shall　find　her　　myself。　　But；　tell　me　how　you　went　about　discovering　the　spot　where　　this　unearthed　increment　was　imprudently　buried。〃

I　told　him　in　the　smallest　detail。　　I　showed　him　the　draughtsman's　　sketch　with　the　distances　marked　plainly　upon　it。

After　glancing　over　it　in　a　masterly　way；　he　leaned　back　in　his　chair　　and　bestowed　upon　me　an　explosion　of　sardonic；　superior；　collegiate　　laughter。

〃Well；　you　are　a　fool；　Jim；〃　he　said；　when　he　could　speak。

〃It's　your　play；〃　said　I；　patiently；　fingering　my　double…six。

〃Twenty；〃　said　Goodloe；　making　two　crosses　on　the　table　with　his　　chalk。

〃Why　am　I　a　fool？〃　I　asked。　　〃Buried　treasure　has　been　found　before　in　　many　places。〃

〃Because；〃　said　he；　〃in　calculating　the　point　on　the　river　where　your　　line　would　strike　you　neglected　to　allow　for　the　variation。　　The　　variation　there　would　be　nine　degrees　west。　　Let　me　have　your　pencil。〃

Goodloe　Banks　figured　rapidly　on　the　back　of　an　envelope。

〃The　distance；　from　north　to　south；　of　the　line　run　from　the　Spanish　　mission；〃　said　he；　〃is　exactly　twenty…two　miles。　　It　was　run　by　a　　pocket…compass；　according　to　your　story。　　Allowing　for　the　variation；　　the　point　on　the　Alamito　River　where　you　should　have　searched　for　your　　treasure　is　exactly　six　miles　and　nine　hundred　and　forty…five　varas　　farther　west　than　the　place　you　hit　upon。　　Oh；　what　a　fool　you　are；　　Jim！〃

〃What　is　this　variation　that　you　speak　of？〃　I　asked。　　〃I　thought　　figures　never　lied。〃

〃The　variation　of　the　magnetic　compass；〃　said　Goodloe；　〃from　the　true　　meridian。〃

He　smiled　in　his　superior　way；　and　then　I　saw　come　out　in　his　face　the　　singular；　eager；　consuming　cupidity　of　the　seeker　after　buried　　treasure。

〃Sometimes；〃　he　said　with　the　air　of　the　oracle；　〃these　old　traditions　　of　hidden　money　are　not　without　foundation。　　Suppose　you　let　me　look　　over　that　paper　describing　the　location。　　Perhaps　together　we　might〃

The　result　was　that　Goodloe　Banks　and　I；　rivals　in　love；　became　　companions　in　adventure。　　We　went　to　Chico　by　stage　from　Huntersburg；　　the　nearest　railroad　town。　　In　Chico　we　hired　a　team　drawing　a　covered　　spring…wagon　and　camping　paraphernalia。　　We　had　the　same　surveyor　run　　out　our　distance；　as　revised　by　Goodloe　and　his　variations；　and　then　　dismissed　him　and　sent　him　on　his　homeward　road。

It　was　night　when　we　arrived。　　I　fed　the　horses　and　made　a　fire　near　　the　bank　of　the　river　and　cooked　supper。　　Goodloe　would　have　helped；　　but　his　education　had　not　fitted　him　for　practical　things。

But　while　I　worked　he　cheered　me　with　the　expression　of　great　thoughts　　handed　down　from　the　dead　ones　of　old。　　He　quoted　some　translations　　from　the　Greek　at　much　length。

〃Anacreon；〃　he　explained。　　〃That　was　a　favorite　passage　with　Miss　　Mangumas　I　recited　it。〃

〃She　is　meant　for　higher　things；〃　said　I；　repeating　his　phrase。

〃Can　there　be　anything　higher；〃　asked　Goodloe；　〃than　to　dwell　in　the　　society　of　the　classics；　to　live　in　the　atmosphere　of　learning　and　　culture？　　You　have　often　decried　education。　　What　of　your　wasted　　efforts　through　your　ignorance　of　simple　mathematics？　　How　soon　would　　you　have　found　your　treasure　if　my　knowledge　had　not　shown　you　your　　error？〃

〃We'll　take　a　look　at　those　hills　across　the　river　first；〃　said　I；　　〃and　see　what　we　find。　　I　am　still　doubtful　about　variations。　　I　have　　been　brought　up　to　believe　that　the　needle　is　true　to　the　pole。〃

The　next　morning　was　a　bright　June　one。　　We　were　up　early　and　had　　breakfast。　　Goodloe　was　charmed。　　He　recitedKeats；　I　think　it　was；　　and　Kelly　or　Shelleywhile　I　broiled　the　bacon。　　We　were　getting　　ready　to　cross　the　river；　which　was　little　more　than　a　shallow　creek　　there；　and　explore　the　many　sharp…peaked　cedar…covered　hills　on　the　　other　side。

〃My　good　Ulysses；〃　said　Goodloe；　slapping　me　on　the　shoulder　while　I　　was　washing　the　tin　breakfast…plates；　〃let　me　see　the　enchanted　　document　once　more。　　I　believe　it　gives　directions　for　climbing　the　　hill　shaped　like　a　pack…saddle。　　I　never　saw　a　pack…saddle。　　What　is　　it　like；　Jim？〃

〃Score　one　against　culture；〃　said　I。　　〃I'll　know　it　when　I　see　it。〃

Goodloe　was　looking　at　old　Rundle's　document　when　he　ripped　out　a　most　　uncollegiate　swear…word。

〃Come　here；〃　he　said；　holding　the　paper　up　against　the　sunlight。　　　〃Look　at　that；〃　he　said；　laying　his　finger　against　it。

On　the　blue　papera　thing　I　had　never　noticed　beforeI　saw　stand　out　　in　white　letters　the　word　and　figures　：　〃Malvern；　1898。〃

〃What　about　it？〃　I　asked。

〃It's　the　water…mark；〃　said　Goodloe。　　〃The　paper　was　manufactured　in　　1898。　　The　writing　on　the　paper　is　dated　1863。　　This　is　a　palpable　　fraud。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　said　I。　　〃The　Rundles　are　pretty　reliable；　plain；　　uneducated　country　people。　　Maybe　the　paper　manufacturers　tried　to　　perpetrate　a　swindle。〃

And　then　Goodloe　Banks　went　as　wild　as　his　education　permitted。　　He　　dropped　the　glasses　off　his　nose　and　glared　at　me。

〃I've　often　told　you　you　were　a　fool；〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　let　　yourself　be　imposed　upon　by　a　clodhopper。　　And　you　have　imposed　upon　　me。〃

〃How；〃　I　asked；　〃have　I　imposed　upon　you　？〃

〃By　your　ignorance；〃　said　he。　　〃Twice　I　have　discovered　serious　flaws　　in　your　plans　that　a　common…school　education　should　have　enabled　you　　to　avoid。　　And；〃　he　continued；　〃I　have　been　put　to　expense　that　I　　could　ill　afford　in　pursuing　this　swindling　quest。　　I　am　done　with　　it。〃

I　rose　and　pointed　a　large　pewter　spoon　at　him；　fresh　from　the　dish…　water。

〃Goodloe　Banks；〃　I　said；　〃I　care　not　one　parboiled　navy　bean　for　your　　education。　　I　always　barely　tolerated　it　in　any　one；　and　I　despised　it　　in　you。　　What　has　your　learning　done　for　you？　　It　is　a　curse　to　　yourself　and　a　bore　to　your　friends。　　Away；〃　I　said〃away　with　your　　water…marks　and　variations！　　They　are　nothing　to　me。　　They　shall　not　　deflect　me　from　the　quest。〃

I　pointed　with　my　spoon　across　the　river　to　a　small　mountain　shaped　　like　a　pack…saddle。

〃I　am　going　to　search　that　mountain；〃　I　went　on；　〃for　the　treasure。　　　Decide　now　whether　you　are　in　it　or　not。　　If　you　wish　to　let　a　water…　mark　or　a　variation　shake　your　soul；　you　are　no　true　adventurer。　　　Decide。〃

A　white　cloud　of　dust　began　to　rise　far　down　the　river　road。　　It　was　　the　mail…wagon　from　Hesperus　to　Chico。　　Goodloe　flagged　it。

〃I　am　done　with　the　swindle；〃　said　he；　sourly。　　〃No　one　but　a　fool　　would　pay　any　attention　to　that　paper　now。　　Well；　you　always　were　a　　fool；　Jim。　　I　leave　you　to　your　fate。〃

He　gathered　his　personal　traps；　climbed　into　the　mail…wagon；　adjusted　　his　glasses　nervously；　and　flew　away　in　a　cloud　of　dust。

After　I　had　washed　the　dishes　and　staked　the　horses　on　new　grass；　I　　crossed　the　shallow　river　and　made　my　way　slowly　through　the　cedar…　brakes　up　to　the　top　of　the　hill　shaped　like　a　pack…saddle。

It　was　a　wonderful　June　day。　　Never　in　my　life　had　I　seen　so　many　　birds；　so　many　butter…flies；　dragon…flies；　grasshoppers；　and　such　　winged　and　stinged　beasts　of　the　air　and　fields。

I　investigated　the　hill　shaped　like　a　pack…saddle　from　base　to　summit。　　　I　found　an　absolute　absence　of　signs　relating　to　buried　treasure。　　　There　was　no　pile　of　stones；　no　ancient　blazes　on　the　trees；　none　of　　the　evidences　of　the　three　hundred　thousand　dollars；　as　set　forth　in　　the　document　of　old　man　Rundle。

I　came　down　the　hill　in　the　cool　of　the　afternoon。　　Suddenly；　out　of　　the　cedar…brake　I　stepped　into　a　beautiful　green　valley　where　a　　tributary　small　stream　ran　into　the　Alamito　River。

And　there　I　was　started　to　see　what　I　took　to　be　a　wild　man；　with　　unkempt　beard　and　ragged　hair；　pursuing　a　giant　butterfly　with　　brilliant　wings。

〃Perhaps　he　is　an　escaped　madman；〃　I　thought；　and　wondered　how　he　had　　strayed　so　far　from　seats　of　education　and　learning。

And　then　I　took　a　few　more　steps　and　saw　a　vine…covered　cottage　near　　the　small　stream。　　And　in　a　little　grassy　glade　I　saw　May　Martha　　Mangum　plucking　wild　flowers。

She　straightened　up　and　looked　at　me。　　For　the　first　time　since　I　knew　　her　I　saw　her　facewhich　was　the　color　of　the　white　keys　of　a　new　　pianoturn　pink。　　I　walked　toward　her　without　a　word。　　She　let　the　　gathered　flowers　trickle　slowly　from　her　hand　to　the　grass。

〃I　knew　you　would　come；　Jim；〃　she　said　clearly。　　〃Father　wouldn't　let　　me　write；　but　I　knew　you　would　come。

What　followed　you　may　guessthere　was　my　wagon　and　team　just　across　　the　river。


I've　often　wondered　what　good　too　much　education　is　to　a　man　if　he　　can't　use　it　for　himself。　　If　all　the　benefits　of　it　are　to　go　to　　others；　where　does　it　come　in？

For　May　Martha　Mangum　abides　with　me。　　There　is　an　eight…room　house　in　　a　live…oak　grove；　and　a　piano　with　an　automatic　player；　and　a　good　　start　toward　the　three　thousand　head　of　cattle　is　under　fence。

And　when　I　ride　home　at　night　my　pipe　and　slippers　are　put　away　in　　places　where　they　cannot　be　found。

But　who　cares　for　that？　Who　careswho　cares？




TO　HIM　WHO　WAITS



The　Hermit　of　the　Hudson　was　hustling　abo