lla.thelonelymen-第24章

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n　a　desert　shower；　one　of　those　sudden　rains　that　sometimes　deluge　only　a　small　area　and　then　vanish。　This　one　had　left　water　standing　in　the　bottoms　of　the　washes　and　in　hollows　atop　the　rocks。　It　had　filled　the　desert　tanks；　so　we　watered　the　horses。
　My　eyes　felt　like　hot　lumps　in　my　skull；　and　they　seemed　to　move　with　incredible　slowness　when　I　turned　to　look　around。　My　fingers　felt　stiff；　and　I　worked　them　and　tried　to　loosen　them　up。　My　mouth　was　dry；　and　after　I'd　drunk　it　was　dry　again　in　a　few　minutes。
　All　of　a　sudden　I　was　dead　tired　again。　All　the　days　of　driving　ahead；　running；　fighting；　and　worrying　a　way　out　were　beginning　to　catch　up　with　me。　But　we　started　on。
　The　horses　plodded　ahead；　dazed　with　weariness。　Several　times　I　found　myself　dozing　in　the　saddle；　each　time　I'd　wake　up　with　a　start　of　fear；　and　look　all　around。　My　mind　seemed　to　be　in　a　state　of　despair。　Spanish　was　dead　。。。　Tampico　Rocca　was　dead　。。。　where　was　John　J。？
　It　would　soon　be　dark；　and　if　we　expected　to　make　the　border　we　had　to　find　a　place　to　stop　for　rest。　If　it　had　to　be；　we　ourselves　could　keep　going；　but　not　the　horses；　and　without　them　our　chances　were　gone。　〃Do　you　think　they're　following　us？〃　Dorset　asked。　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　answered；　and　said　no　more。　The　sun　disappeared　and　shadows　gathered　in　the　folded　hills。　The　shadows　lifted　questioning　fingers；　stark　against　the　yellow　sky。　The　quail　began　to　talk　across　the　silences；　the　wind　stirred；　rustling　the　dry　leaves　on　the　parched　brush。　Our　horses'　hoofs　whispered　in　the　sand。
　A　lone　coyote　showed　for　an　instant；　then　like　a　shadow　was　gone；　leaving　no　more　sign　than　an　Apache。　A　few　stars　began　to　appear　。。。　one　bright　one　was　low　in　the　sky；　and　held　steady。　Time　to　time　I　looked　at　it；　and　finally　I　said；　〃That　there's　a　light。　A　fire；　maybe。〃　Dorset　turned　her　head　to　look。　〃It's　not　an　Indian　fire；〃　she　said。
　We　drew　up；　and　I　turned；　standing　in　my　stirrups　to　look　back。
　〃It　might　be　the　Haddens；〃　I　said。　She　glanced　at　me。　〃After　you　finished　with　them？　What　you　didn't　get；　the　Apaches　got。　You　took　two　of　them；　I'd　swear。　Maybe　three。〃
　Well；　maybe。　I　wasn't　making　any　claims。　I　never　was　one　to　file　notches　on　a　gun　。。。　a　tinhorn　trick。
　〃Shall　we　try　for　it？〃　I　said。　〃It's　closer　than　the　border。　And　the　border　never　meant　anything　to　an　Apache　except　that　south　of　it　he　was　free　of　the　American　troops。〃
　〃We　can　scout　it；〃　Dorset　answered。　She　swung　her　pony　and　headed　toward　the　fire。
　The　yellow　sky　faded　into　gray　and　velvety　dark。　Even　before　we　came　up　to　it；　I　could　see　it　was　an　Army　fire　。。。　it　looked　big　because　there　were　three　of　them　in　line。　It　was　a　Cavalry　troop　of　maybe　forty　men。　We　pulled　up　and　I　hailed　the　camp。
　〃Howdy；　there。　Is　it　all　right　to　e　in？　There's　a　woman　and　a　child　with　me。〃　Silence　。。。
　It　was　a　long　moment；　and　I　guess　somebody　was　trying　to　make　us　out　with　field　glasses；　though　now　there　was　not　much　light。
　〃All　right；〃　came　the　answer。　〃Ride　in。　Ride　carefully。〃
　I　knew　that　voice。　It　was　Captain　Lewiston。　Lieutenant　Jack　Davis　stood　beside　him。
　Lewiston　looked　from　me　to　Dorset　Binny。　He　tipped　his　hat　〃How　do　you　do；　ma'am。　We　have　been　worried　for　you。〃
　〃I'm　all　right。　Thanks　to　Mr。　Sackett。〃
　〃Did　you　e　upon　any　other　youngsters；　Cap'n？〃　I　asked。　〃Harry　Brook　and　the　Creed　youngsters？〃
　〃They're　here；　and　they're　safe。　That's　why　we　waited　for　you。〃
　We　walked　our　horses　into　camp　and　swung　down。　I　staggered　when　I　hit　ground；　and　Lewiston　was　beside　me。　〃Here；　man；　you'd　better　sit　down。〃
　〃Got　to　care　for　my　horse。　You　take　the　lady　and　the　child；　Cap'n；　I　…　〃
　〃No。〃　Lewiston's　tone　was　suddenly　stern。　He　turned。　〃Corporal；　take　this　man's　horse。　See　that　it　is　cared　for　just　as　mine　is。　The　others　also。〃
　He　turned　back　to　me。　〃Sackett；　I　regret　to　inform　you　that　you　are　under　arrest。〃
　Me；　I　just　looked　at　him。　〃For　crossing　the　border？　Cap'n；　Laura　Sackett　told　me　her　son　had　been　taken　by　the　Apaches。〃
　〃She　has　no　son！〃　Davis　spoke　sharply。　〃Sackett；　that's　a　damned　…　〃
　Lewiston's　voice　cracked　like　a　whip。　〃Lieutenant！〃
　Davis　stopped；　his　face　flushed。　〃I　tell　you；　Captain；　this　man　is　…　〃
　〃Silence！　Lieutenant　Davis；　I　suggest　you　inspect　the　guard。　Whatever　needs　to　be　said　to　Mr。　Sackett；　I　will　say。〃
　Davis　turned　on　his　heel　and　stalked　away。　〃Forgive　him；　Sackett。　He's　young　and　I'm　afraid　he's　smitten　by　Laura　Sackett。　He　is　very　proud；　and　he　feels　he　must　defend　her　honor。〃
　〃Let　him　defend　it；　Cap'n；　but　keep　him　away　from　me。　Him　being　new　to　the　country　I　might　not　shoot　him；　but　I　am　afraid　if　he　said　what　he　started　to　say　he'd　be　shy　a　good　many　teeth。〃
　〃There　will　be　no　fighting。　You　seem　to　have　forgotten；　Sackett。　You　are　under　arrest。〃
　Well；　I　just　walked　over　to　the　fire　and　sat　down。　Then　I　dug　into　my　gear　which　had　been　dropped　there　and　got　out　my　cup。　Reaching　for　the　pot；　I　poured　coffee。
　〃All　right；　Cap'n；〃　I　said；　〃you　tell　me　about　it。　Why　are　you　arresting　me？〃
　〃You　are　under　arrest　for　murder。　You　are　under　arrest　for　the　murder　of　Billy　Higgins。〃
　〃Higgins？〃
　〃We　found　his　body　out　on　the　Yuma　road。　He　had　been　shot　in　the　head。〃
　〃Among　other　things；〃　I　said；　〃the　Apaches　wounded　him；　and　then　they　shot　him　full　of　splinters。〃　〃But　you　killed　him。〃
　〃That's　right；　I　did。〃　Carefully；　with　several　men　standing　about；　I　told　him　what　had　happened　that　day。　Some　of　it　I'd　told　him　before；　back　in　the　Shoo…Fly　when　he　told　me　about　Kahtenny。
　〃He　begged　me　to　shoot　him。　Under　the　same　situation　I'd　have　done　the　same；　more　than　likely。〃
　〃Perhaps。〃　Lewiston　looked　hard　at　me。　〃Sackett；　is　it　not　true　that　your　family　feuded　for　years　with　a　family　named　Higgins？　That　you　hunted　each　other　and　killed　each　other　on　sight？〃
　〃That　was　over　years　ago；〃　I　said。　〃Anyway；　I　ain't　been　back　in　that　country　since　the　war。　As　for　this　Higgins；　I　never　gave　it　no　thought。　It's　been　a　good　while　since　I've　had　any　cause　to　think　of　it。〃
　〃Nevertheless；　Billy　Higgins　is　dead；　killed　by　your　bullet。　I　have　to　warn　you；　Sackett；　the　story　is　out；　and　there's　considerable　feeling　in　Tucson。　Higgins　had　friends　there。〃
　〃But　I　tell　you；　I　…　〃
　〃Don't　tell　me。　Tell　the　jury。〃　He　walked　away　from　me；　and　I　sat　there　by　the　fire；　a…staring　into　it。　I'd　run　a　long　way。　I'd　fought　some　hard　fights。　I'd　stood　off　the　Apaches　and　the　Haddens；　and　now　here　I　was；　arrested　for　a　crime　that　was　no　crime；　but　a　crime　they　could　hang　me　for。
　And　there　was　only　one　person　in　Tucson　likely　to　know　about　that　old　Higgins…Sackett　feud。
　Laura　Sackett　。。。
　
　Chapter　18
　
　You　can　take　it　from　me　that　no　jail　cell　is　a　place　for　a　mountain　boy。　I　was　raised　up　where　folks　looked　to　the　hills；　only　up　where　we　came　from　you　hadn't　chance　to　look　much　higher；　we　were　that　near　the　top　of　the　ridge。
　This　cell　they　put　me　into　had　one　small　window；　too　small　for　me　to　crawl　out　of；　and　a　door　that　was　as　barred　as　could　be。　When　I　heard　that　door　clang　shut　I　wasn't　at　all　happy。　Only　thing　I　knew；　I　was　going　to　catch　up　on　my　sleep；　and　at　least　I　could　eat。　And　right　about　that　time　I　was　hungry　enough　to　eat　an　old　saddle；　stirrups　and　all。
　Captain　Lewiston　was　my　first　visitor。　He　came　early　in　the　morning；　and　brought　a　chair　into　the　cell　with　him。　He　also　brought　the　pany　clerk。
　〃Sackett；〃　he　began；　〃I　want　you　to　give　me　the　whole　story；　in　your　own　words。　I　want　to　help　you　if　I　can。　Right　now　the　people　are　divided。　Some　want　to　hang　you　for　killing　Billy　Higgins；　and　some　want　to　give　you　a　medal　for　saving　those　youngsters。〃
　So　I　gave　it　to　him。　How　the　bunch　of　us；　unknown　to　each　other　until　then；　had　banded　together　to　ride　to　Tucson。
　The　story　of　our　fight　with　Kahtenny's　Apaches　I　repeated　for　him；　as　I'd　told　him　the　whole　story　before；　except　the　part　about　me　killing　Billy　Higgins；　which　I　didn't　like　to　think　on。　Then　I　told　him　about　my　meeting　with　Laura　Sackett；　and　her　story　of　the　lost　boy。
　〃This　much　I　have　learned　since　your　departure；〃　Lewiston　said。　〃Laura　Sackett　was　divorced　from　your　brother；　and　your　brothers　and　her　father　had　been　deadly　enemies。〃
　〃If　I　ever　heard　of　that；　I'd　forgotten。　We　Sacketts　were　never　much　on　talking　of　troubles　when　we　were　together。　It　never　does　any　good　to　go　worrying　your　thoughts　about　things　gone　by。〃
　〃I　approached　her　last　night　about　your　story；〃　Captain　Lewiston　said。　〃She　denies　ever　mentioning　a　child　to　you；　or　giving　you　any　cause　to　ride　into　Mexico。〃
　I　just　looked　at　him。　It　was　no　use　to　say　she　was　lying；　although　she　surely　was。
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　she　says　you　ran　away　to　Mexico　for　fear　somebody　would　discover　you　had　taken　advantage　of　an　Apache　attack　to　kill　Higgins。〃
　〃Those　boys　I　was　with　knew　better。　Why　else　would　they　e　with　me？〃
　〃I　am　afraid　that　won't　help　you　at　all。　I　believe　you　told　me　that　they　are　dead。〃
　〃I　buried　Rocca　with　my　own　hands。　Spanish　Murphy　was　finished　off　by　the　Haddens。　By　their　own　say…so。　John　J。。。。　well；　I　guess　he　never　made　it　that　far。〃
　〃You　have　no　witnesses　then？〃
　〃No；　sir。　Nary　a　one。　You　see；　Cap'n；　none　of　those　men　saw　it　anyway。　When　I　shot　Billy　Higgins　there　was　just　him　and　me。　Nobody　was　close　enough　to　hear　what　was　said。〃
　Well；　we　talked　a　while；　and　he　asked　a　sight　of　questions；　but　after　that　neither　of　us　had　much　hope。　That　feud　was　ten　years　out　of　my　mind　when　I　met　those　men　in　Yuma；　and　the　name　Higgins　meant　nothing　at　all　to　me。
　So　here　I　was　in　jail；　and　Laura　Sackett；　who'd　been　the　cause　of　the　deaths　of　at　least　three　good　men；　was　walking　free。
　After　the　captain　left　I　sat　on　my　cot　and　stared　at　the　blank　wall；　trying　to　see　my　way　clear；　but　nothing　came　to　me；　so　finally；　tired　as　I　still　was；　I　rolled　over　on　the　cot　and　went　to　sleep。
　When　I　opened　my　eyes　again　it　was　nigh　on　to　sundown　and　the　jailer　was　at　the　door。　〃Lady　to　see　you；〃　he　said。
　〃All　right。〃　I　got　up；　staggering　with　sleep　and　trying　to　get　my　bearings。　This　would　be　Dorset；　I　figured。　Only　it　wasn't。　It　was　the　last　person　in　the　world　I　expected　…　Laura　Sackett。
　She　turned　to　the　jailer。　〃May　I　talk　with　my　brother…in…law　alone？〃
　When　the　jailer　had　gone；　she　turned　those　big　blue　eyes　on　me。
　〃I　never　expected　you　to　get　back；〃　she　told　me　coolly；　〃but　I　am　glad　you　did。　Now　I　can　see　you　hang；　with　my　own　eyes。〃
　〃Now　that　isn't　what　you'd　call　neighborly；〃　I　said；　determined　not　to　let　her　get　any　more　satisfaction　than　I　could　help。
　〃I　only　wish　Orrin　could　be　here　to　see　you　hang；〃　she　said；　staring　at　me。　〃And　Tyrel　。。。　I　hated　him　the　most。〃
　〃Maybe　that's　because　you　couldn't　fool　him；〃　I　said。　〃But　ma'am；　do　you　really　want　to　see　me　hang　that　much？　I　never　did　you　any　harm。　Never　even　saw　you　until　I　came　up　the　trail　from　Yuma。〃
　〃I　want　to　see　you　hang；　and　I　will。　I　only　wish　I　could　see　Orrin's　face　when　he　gets　the　news。〃
　〃Maybe　you　will　see　him；〃　I　said。　〃Orrin's　a　right　good　lawyer。　If　he　can　be　free　of　his　duties　that　long；　I'll　maybe　get　him　to　defend　me　in　court。〃
　She　did　not　like　that。　Orrin　was　a　mighty　impressive　figure　of　a　man；　and　he　could　talk。　He　had　the　Welsh　gift　for　talking；　and　she　knew　how　persua