lla.thelonelymen-第2章

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　Jerking　a　cartridge　belt　from　one　of　the　dead　ones　I　looped　it　around　my　middle；　still　keeping　an　eye　on　the　living　one。　Then　I　picked　up　my　bowie　knife　from　the　ground　and；　leaning　over　to　the　living　one　I　wiped　off　the　blood　on　him；　then　stuck　the　knife　into　the　scabbard。
　One　by　one　I　collected　their　rifles　and　emptied　the　shells；　then　threw　them　wide。
　〃You're　too　good　a　fightin'　man　to　kill；〃　I　told　him。　〃You're　on　your　own。〃
　I　walked　down　to　where　my　canteen　lay　and　picked　it　up。　Sure　enough；　there　was　maybe　a　cup　of　water　that　had　not　drained　out；　and　I　drank　it；　watching　the　rim　of　the　hollow　all　the　while。
　By　now　it　was　ing　on　to　sundown　and　there　were　other　Indians　about。　I　took　one　more　look　into　the　hollow　and　that　one　was　still　lying　there；　although　he'd　tried　to　move。　I　could　see　a　big　rock　back　of　his　neck　that　maybe　he'd　hit　across　when　he　fell。
　Taking　a　careful　look　around；　I　went　down　into　the　shallow　gully　left　by　the　run…off　water　and　started　away。
　About　that　time　I　found　myself　going　lame。　My　hip　and　leg　were　mighty　sore；　and　when　I　looked　down　to　size　the　situation　up　I　saw　that　a　bullet　had　hit　my　cartridge　belt；　fusing　two　of　my　。44's　together；　and　a　fragment　had　gone　up　and　hit　my　side；　just　a　scratch；　but　it　was　bloody。　That　bullet　that　hit　my　belt　where　it　crossed　the　hip　had　bruised　me　mighty　bad；　by　the　feel　of　it。
　Shadows　were　creeping　out　from　the　rocks；　and　of　a　sudden　it　was　cool　and　dark。
　A　voice　spoke　out。　〃You　want　to　live　long　in　this　country　you　better　get　shut　of　them　spurs。〃
　It　was　Spanish　Murphy。　He　came　up　from　behind　some　brush　with　Rocca　and　John　J。　Battles。　Taylor　was　dead。
　Murphy　had　lost　the　lobe　of　his　left　ear；　and　Rocca　had　been　burned　a　couple　of　times；　but　no　more。
　〃You　get　any？〃　Battles　asked。　〃Four；〃　I　said；　knowing　that　was　more　Apaches　than　many　an　Indian　fighter　got　in　a　lifetime。　〃Three；　and　a　possible；〃　I　corrected。　And　then　I　added；　〃They　got　Billy。〃
　〃We'd　best　light　out；〃　Spanish　suggested；　and　we　walked　single　file　to　where　their　horses　were。　They　had　two　horses；　so　we　figured　to　switch　off　and　on。
　Spanish　was　tall　as　me；　but　twenty　pounds　lighter　than　my　one…ninety。　He　was　a　reading　man；　always　a…reading。　Books；　newspapers；　even　the　labels　on　tin　cans　。。。　anything　and　everything。
　We　set　out　then。　After　a　while　I　rode　Tampico　Rocca's　horse　and　he　walked。　By　daybreak　both　horses　were　tired　out　and　so　were　we；　but　we　had　sixteen　miles　behind　us　and　a　stage　station　down　on　the　flat　before　us。　We　were　still　several　hundred　yards　off　when　a　man　walked　from　the　door　with　a　rifle　in　his　hands；　and　we　were　almighty　sure　there　was　another　one　behind　a　window　from　the　way　he　kept　out　of　line　with　it。
　When　we　came　up　to　the　yard　he　looked　at　Murphy；　then　at　the　rest　of　us；　and　back　at　Murphy。　〃Hello；　Spanish。　What　was　it？　Apaches？〃
　〃Have　you　got　a　couple　of　horses？〃　I　asked　him。　〃I'll　buy　or　borrow。〃
　〃e　on　inside。〃
　It　was　cool　and　still。　Me；　I　dropped　into　the　first　chair　I　saw　and　put　my　Winchester　on　the　table。
　A　second　man　left　the　window　where　he　had　been　keeping　watch　and；　carrying　his　rifle；　he　went　back　toward　the　kitchen；　where　he　began　rattling　pots　and　pans。　The　first　man　went　over　to　a　table　and　carried　the　wooden　bucket　and　the　gourd　dipper　to　us。　〃I'd　go　easy；　there　at　first；〃　he　suggested。　And　that　we　did。　The　station　tender　leaned　on　the　bar。　〃Haven't　seen　you　in　years；　Spanish。　Figured　they'd　have　stretched　your　neck　before　now。〃
　〃Give　'em　time；〃　John　J。　Battles　said。　Setting　there　in　the　chair；　taking　occasional　swallows　of　cool　water　from　the　bucket；　I　began　to　feel　myself　getting　back　to　normal。
　Spanish；　he　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　looked　over　his　cup　at　the　station　tender。　〃Case；　how　long　you　been　with　the　pany？〃
　〃Two　。。。　maybe　two　and　a　half　years。　My　wife　left　me。　Said　this　western　country　was　no　place　for　a　woman。　She　went　back　to　her　folks　in　Boston。　I　send　her　money；　time　to　time。　Afraid　if　I　don't　she'll　e　back　on　me。〃
　〃Ain't　never　married；　myself；〃　Spanish　said。　He　looked　over　at　me。　〃How　about　you；　Tell？〃
　For　a　moment　there　I　hadn't　anything　to　say。　I　kept　thinking　of　Ange；　the　last　times　I　saw　her；　and　of　the　first　times；　high　in　those　Colorado　mountains。
　〃My　wife　is　dead；〃　I　told　him。　〃She　was　a　rarely　fine　girl　。。。　rarely　fine。〃
　〃Tough；〃　Spanish　said。　〃You；　Rocca？〃
　〃No；　se？or。　I　am　not　a　married　man。　There　was　a　girl　。。。　but　that　is　far　away　and　long　ago；　amigos。　Her　father　had　many　cows；　many　horses　。。。　me；　I　had　nothing。　And　I　was　an　Indio　。。。　my　mother　was　an　Apache；〃　he　added。
　My　eyes　were　on　the　floor；　tracing　the　cracks　in　the　rough　boards；　often　scrubbed。　My　hungry　flesh　was　soaking　up　the　lost　moisture　and　I　felt　sleepy　and　quiet；　liking　the　square　of　sunlight　that　lay　inside　the　door；　even　the　drone　of　the　flies　。。。　I　was　alive。
　The　blood　of　Apaches　was　still　on　my　hands。　There　had　been　no　water　in　which　to　wash　until　now；　but　soon　I　would　。。。　soon。
　The　room　was　like　many　of　its　kind；　differing　only　in　the　plank　floor。　Most　floors　were　of　stamped　earth。　There　were　several　rough　board　tables；　some　chairs　and　benches。　The　room　was　low…raftered；　the　walls　were　of　adobe；　the　roof　of　poles　and　earth。　I　could　smell　bacon　frying　in　the　kitchen；　and　coffee。
　Spanish　Murphy　hitched　around　in　his　chair。　'Tell；　we　make　a　team；　the　four　of　us；　why　don't　we　stick　together？〃
　The　man　came　in　from　the　kitchen　with　tin　plates　and　a　frying　pan　filled　with　bacon。　He　dumped　the　plates　on　the　table；　then　forked　bacon　onto　them。　He　went　out　and　returned　with　the　coffeepot　and　a　plate　of　tortillas。　Still　another　trip　and　he　brought　a　big　bowl　of　frijoles　…　those　big　Mexican　brown　beans　…　and　a　dried…apple　pie　cut　into　four　pieces。
　〃We'll　need　a　couple　of　horses；〃　I　said；　looking　around　at　Case。
　〃You'll　get　'em；〃　Case　replied。　〃I　think　the　p'ny　would　like　to　get　them　to　a　safer　place。　We've　been　expectin'　an　attack　almost　any　time。〃
　He　gestured　toward　the　bacon。　〃You　got　to　thank　Pete　Kitchen　for　the　bacon。　He　raises　hogs　down　to　his　place；　calls　'em　his　'Pache　pincushions；　they're　so　shot　full　of　arrows。〃
　John　J。　Battles；　a　solid　chunk　of　a　man；　glanced　across　the　table　at　me。　〃Sackett　。。。　that's　a　familiar　name。〃
　〃I'm　familiar；〃　I　agreed；　〃once　you　know　me。〃　It　wasn't　in　me　to　get　him　paring　notes；　figuring　out　who　I　was。　Once　he　did；　he'd　bring　up　the　fight　in　the　Mogollon　country；　and　how　Ange　was　murdered。　It　was　something　I　was　wishful　of　forgetting。
　〃I　still　figure；〃　Spanish　said；　〃that　we'd　make　a　team。〃
　〃If　you　want　to　risk　hanging。〃　John　J。　Battles　grinned　at　us。　〃You　all　heard　what　Case　said。〃
　〃Me；〃　Rocca　said；　〃I　wasn't　going　nowhere；　anyhow。〃
　〃Later；〃　I　said；　〃it　will　have　to　be　later。　I've　got　a　trip　to　take。〃
　They　looked　at　me；　all　of　them。　〃My　brother's　kid。　I　hear　tell　he's　been　taken　by　the　Apaches。　I've　got　to　go　into　the　Sierra　Madres　after　him。〃
　They　thought　I　was　crazy；　and　I　was　thinking　so　myself。　Rocca　was　the　first：　one　to　speak。　〃Alone？　Se？or；　an　army　could　not　do　it。　That　is　the　Apache　hideout　where　no　white　man　goes。〃
　〃It's　got　to　be　done；〃　I　said。
　Case；　he　just　looked　at　me。　〃You're　crazy。　You're　scrambled　in　the　head。〃
　〃He's　just　a　little　boy；〃　I　said；　〃and　he's　alone　down　yonder。　I　think　he　will　be　expectin'　somebody　to　e　for　him。〃
　
　Chapter　2
　
　Laura　Sackett　was　a　strikingly　pretty　young　woman；　blonde　and　fragile。　Among　the　dark；　sultry　beauties　of　Spanish　descent　she　seemed　a　pale；　delicate　flower；　aloof；　serene；　untouchable。
　To　the　young　Army　officers　in　the　Tucson　vicinity；　Laura　Sackett　was　utterly　fascinating；　and　this　feeling　was　not　dulled　by　the　knowledge　that　she　was　a　married　woman。　Her　husband；　it　was　known；　was　Congressman　Orrin　Sackett；　who　was　in　Washington；　D。C。　Apparently　they　had　separated。
　But　nobody　seemed　to　know　just　what　the　status　of　the　marriage　was；　and　Laura　offered　no　ment；　nor　did　she　respond　to　hints。
　Her　conduct　was　irreproachable；　her　manner　ladylike；　her　voice　was　soft　and　pleasant。　The　more　discerning　did　notice　that　her　mouth　was　a　little　too　tight；　her　eyes　shadowed　with　hardness；　but　these　characteristics　were　usually　lost　in　the　quiet　smiles　that　hovered　about　her　lips。
　Nobody　in　Tucson　had　ever　known　Jonathan　Pritts；　Laura's　father；　and　none　of　them　had　been　present　in　the　vicinity　of　Mora　during　the　land…grant　fighting。
　Jonathan　Pritts　was　now　dead。　A　narrow；　bigoted　man；　tight…fisted　and　arrogant；　he　had　been　idolized　by　his　daughter　and　only　child；　and　with　his　death　her　hatred　for　the　Sacketts　had　bee　a　fierce；　burning　urge　to　destroy。
　She　had　seen　her　father　driven　from　Mora；　his　dream　of　empire　shattered；　his　hired　gunmen　killed　or　imprisoned。　A　vain；　petty；　and　self…important　man；　he　had　impressed　upon　his　daughter　that　he　was　all　the　things　he　assumed　he　was；　and　to　her　all　other　men　were　but　shadows　before　the　reality　of　her　father。
　Until　he　had　e　west；　they　had　lived　together　in　genteel　poverty。　His　schemes　for　riches　had　failed　one　by　one；　and　with　each　failure　his　rancor　and　bitterness　grew。　Each　failure；　he　was　positive；　had　e　not　from　any　mistake　on　his　part；　but　always　from　the　envy　or　hatred　of　others。
　Laura　Pritts　had　married　Orrin　Sackett　with　one　thought　in　mind　…　to　further　her　father's　schemes。　Orrin；　big；　handsome；　and　genial；　and　fresh　from　the　Tennessee　hills；　had　never　seen　a　girl　like　Laura。　She　seemed　everything　he　had　ever　dreamed　of。　Tyrel　had　seen　through　her　at　once；　and　through　her　father　as　well；　but　Orrin　would　not　listen。　He　was　seeing　what　he　wished　to　see　…　a　great　lady；　a　princess　almost　…　graceful；　alluring；　a　girl　of　character　and　refinement。　But　in　the　end　he　saw　her；　and　her　father；　for　what　they　were；　and　he　had　left　her。　And　now　Laura　Pritts　Sackett　was　returning；　without　a　plan；　without　anything　but　the　desire　to　destroy　those　who　had　destroyed　her　father。
　As　if　by　magic；　on　the　stage　to　Tucson；　the　pieces　began　to　fall　into　place。　At　the　first　stage　stop　east　of　Yuma　she　overheard　the　driver　talking　to　the　station　tender。
　〃Saw　him　in　Yuma；〃　the　driver　was　saying。　〃I'd　have　known　him　anywhere。　Those　Sackett　boys　all　look　alike。〃
　〃Sackett？　The　gunfighter？〃
　〃They're　all　good　with　their　guns。　This　one　is　Tell　Sackett。　He's　been　out　California　way。〃
　The　idea　came　to　her　that　night。　She　had　been　trying　to　think　of　some　way　to　hurt　the　Sacketts；　to　get　even　with　them。　Now　here　was　Tell　Sackett；　the　older　brother；　the　one　she　had　never　met。　It　was　unlikely　that　he　knew　of　her　difficulties　with　Orrin。　The　Sacketts　wrote　few　letters；　and　from　what　she　remembered　Orrin　had　not　seen　his　brother　in　years。　Of　course；　he　might　have　seen　him　since　she　left；　but　there　was　a　chance；　and　she　resolved　to　take　it。
　The　means　was　supplied　to　her　also　by　way　of　a　conversation　overheard。　She　had　heard　many　such　conversations　without　thinking　of　how　they　might　be　used。　The　men　were　talking　of　the　Apaches；　of　some　children　stolen　by　them；　perhaps　killed。　〃Two　of　them　were　Dan　Creed's　boys。　I　don't　know　who　the　other　one　was。〃
　The　young　Army　lieutenant　on　the　stage　had　made　tentative　efforts　at　a　conversation　with　Laura；　all　of　which　she　had　studiously　avoided。　At　his　next　attempt　she　surprised　him　by