lla.thelonelymen-第5章

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　The　worst　of　it　was　I　was　almighty　short　of　money；　and　no　matter　what　a　man　sets　out　to　do；　it　seems　it　costs　him　something。　This　here　was　going　to　cost　money　as　well　as　sweat；　and　maybe　blood。
　All　I　had　to　my　name　was　about　two　hundred　saved…up　dollars；　the　most　I'd　had　in　months；　and　I'd　lost　my　saddle　back　yonder；　and　needed　a　horse。　We'd　e　into　Tucson　on　horses　just　borrowed　from　the　stage　outfit；　and　they'd　be　going　back　soon。
　So　I　needed　a　horse　and　an　outfit；　and　a　pack　horse　if　I　had　enough　to　handle　it。
　What　I　wanted　was　a　good　used　saddle；　and　there　was　a　reason。　I　was　of　no　mind　to　ride　into　Apache　country　with　a　squeaky　new　saddle。　Now；　any　saddle　will　squeak　a　mite；　and　it's　a　forting　sort　of　sound；　most　times；　but　when　there　are　Apaches　around　any　sound　more　than　your　breathing　is　liable　to　get　you　killed。
　I　needed　not　only　a　saddle；　but　also；　a　pair　of　saddlebags；　a　canteen；　a　poncho；　a　blanket；　a　spare　cartridge　belt　and　a　small　amount　of　grub。　I'd　have　to　live　off　the　country；　on　food　I　could　get　without　shooting。　From　the　time　I　crossed　the　border　I　was　going　to　have　to　move　like　a　ghost。
　Tampico　Rocca　was　in　the　Quartz　Rock　Saloon　when　I　came　in；　and　I　went　to　his　table　and　sat　down。　He　leaned　across　the　table。　〃John　J。；　he　rides　out　tonight。　There　is　trouble；　I　think。〃
　'Trouble？〃
　〃There　was　difficulty　in　Texas。　Battles　won　out。　Two　of　the　dead　man's　brothers　are　in　town；　with　some　friends。　Battles　wants　no　more　trouble。〃
　〃He's　broke；　isn't　he？〃　Me；　I　dug　down　in　my　jeans。　〃I'm　outfitting　for　Mexico；　but　I　can　let　him　have　twenty　dollars。〃
　Rocca　shook　his　head。　〃This　is　not　what　I　mean；　amigo。　He　will　meet　us　outside　of　town。　He　wished　me　to　tell　you　this　so　you　would　not　think　he　rode　off　alone。　We　are　ing　with　you；　se？or。〃
　〃Now；　you　see　here。　This　is　my　affair；　and　you　boys　got　no　call　to　ride　along。　It's　going　to　be　rough。〃
　Tampico　chuckled。　〃Amigo；　you　talk　to　Rocca；　not　to　some　pilgrim。　I　am　Rocca；　who　is　half　Apache　and　who　has　lived　with　them。　I　know　where　they　go。　I　know　how　they　live。　You　will　need　me；　amigo。〃
　Well；　I　just　sat　there；　finding　nothing　to　say。　Words　just　don't　e　easy　to　me；　and　at　such　times　I　find　myself　ing　up　empty。　So　I　just　looked　at　him　and　he　grinned　and　waved　for　another　beer。
　The　place　was　filling　up；　and　it　was　a　tough　place。　Nobody　ever　said　the　Quartz　Rock　was　gentle。　Over　at　the　Congress　Hall　Saloon　you'd　find　the　gentry。　You'd　find　the　solid　men；　the　good　men；　and　mixed　with　them　some　of　the　drifters；　but　the　Quartz　Rock　was　rough。　At　least　when　Foster　ran　it。
　You　drank　their　liquor　and　you　took　your　chances　at　the　games；　and　the　men　who　hung　out　there　were　hard　cases；　men　with　the　bark　on；　men　who　had　been　born　with　the　bark　on。　There　were　men　came　into　that　place　so　rough　they　wore　their　clothes　out　from　the　inside　first。　When　you　saw　a　man　walk　into　the　Quartz　Rock　wearing　a　six…shooter　or　a　bowie　knife　he　wasn't　wearing　it　for　show。
　We　were　finishing　our　second　beer　when　four　men　came　into　the　place。
　Rocca　sat　up　easily　and　moved　on　the　chair　to　keep　his　gun　hand　free。　This　was　beginning　to　shape　up　like　grief　of　some　kind；　and　I　was　in　no　mood　for　it。
　They　were　four　of　a　kind；　raw　and　ragged；　just　in　off　the　trail　and　they　looked　it。　Like　uncurried　wolves　they　bellied　up　to　the　bar；　and　when　they　had　had　a　drink；　they　looked　around。
　〃It　is　those　who　seek　for　John　J。；　amigo。　I　think　they　know　I　am　his　friend。〃
　They　crossed　the　room；　the　four　of　them；　and　every　man…jack　in　the　room　could　smell　the　trouble　they　brought　with　them。
　They　came　to　our　table　and　ranged　themselves　in　front　of　it。　All　of　them　were　armed；　and　they　wore　guns　as　if　they　knew　how　to　use　them。
　Me；　I　just　sort　of　shifted　one　foot。　The　other　foot　was　propped　up　on　a　chair's　edge；　resting　easy。
　〃You！〃　The　one　with　the　handle…bar　mustache　stabbed　a　finger　at　Rocca。　〃You；　greaser。　They　tell　me　you　are　a　friend　of　the　man　named　Battles。〃
　Rocca　was　like　a　coiled　snake。　He　looked　at　them；　and　he　smiled。　Now　no　Mex　likes　to　be　called　a　greaser。　Me；　I've　been　called　a　gringo　many　times　and　couldn't　see　that　it　left　any　scars；　but　some　folks　are　almighty　touchy；　and　Rocca　was　that　way　now。　Not　that　I　blamed　him。　It　is　all　very　easy　to　say　trouble　can　be　avoided；　but　these　men　were　not　going　to　be　avoided。　They　were　looking　for　trouble；　they　wanted　it。
　〃Si；　se？or。〃Rocca　said　gently；　〃I　am　honored　to　call　John　J。　Battles　my　friend。〃
　〃Then　I　guess　we'll　just　kill　you；　Mex；　seem'　as　how　we　can't　find　him。〃
　Well；　I　just　looked　up　at　the　man　and　I　said；　〃I'm　a　friend　of　his；　too；〃　and　I　said　it　sort　of　off…hand　as　if　it　didn't　matter　much；　but　they　knew　it　did。
　They　turned　their　eyes　on　me；　and　I　just　sat　there；　a　tall；　lonely　man　in　a　wore…out　buckskin　shirt　and　a　beat…up　hat。
　〃You　want　part　of　this？〃　Walrus…mustache　was　speaking　again。
　〃A　man　can　ride　many　a　long　mile　in　Texas；〃　I　said；　〃and　see　nothing　but　grass　and　sky。　There's　streams　down　there；　and　a　man　could　raise　some　cows。　Here　in　Arizona　there's　timber　country　with　fine；　beautiful　meadows　and　cold　mountain　streams　…　〃
　〃What're　you　talkin'　about？〃　Handle…bar　mustache　broke　in。　〃Are　you　crazy？〃
　〃I　was　just　thinking　a　man　would　have　to　be　an　awful　fool　to　throw　all　that　away　to　prove　how　mean　he　was。　I　mean　you　boys　got　a　choice。　You　walk　back　over　there　and　drink　your　liquor　and　ride　out　to　those　mountain　streams　where　the　tall　grass　grows。〃
　〃Or　…　？〃
　〃Or　you　stay　here；　and　tomorrow　you'll　be　pushin'　grass　from　the　under　side。〃
　They　stared　at　me。　They　were　trying　to　figure　whether　I　was　all　talk；　or　whether　I　was　tough。　Now；　I'm　a　patient　man。　Had　they　been　talking　to　Tyrel；　folks　would　have　been　laying　out　the　bodies　by　now。　Me；　I'm　not　backward　about　giving　a　man　a　chance。　Many　a　time　a　man　with　whiskey　in　him　is　apt　to　talk　too　much；　and　suddenly　realize　he　wished　he　was　somewhere　else。　I　was　giving　them　this　chance。　They　didn't　take　it。
　The　long…geared　man　with　the　handle…bar　mustache　looked　at　me　and　said；　〃I'm　Arch　Hadden；〃　as　if　he　expected　me　to　show　scare　at　the　name。
　〃Glad　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Hadden；〃　I　said　gently。　〃I'll　carve　the　slab　myself。〃
　He　kind　of　flushed　up；　and　I　could　see　he　was　off　his　step；　somehow。　He'd　e　walking　up　to　fight；　and　my　talk　had　put　him　off。　Also；　that　name　meant　nothing　to　me；　and　I　never　was　one　to　put　much　stock　in　reputatations；　anyway。
　Rocca　had　let　me　talk；　he　just　sat　quiet；　but　I'd　e　up　the　trail　from　Yuma　with　Tampico　Rocca；　and　knew　he　was　no　man　to　buy　trouble　with。　Arch　Hadden　had　lost　step；　and　he　tried　to　get　back　again。
　〃I　came　to　kill　this　greaser；　an'　I　aim　to　do　it。〃　Rocca　came　to　his　feet　in　one　smooth；　easy　movement。　〃Then　why　not　get　started？〃
　The　man　with　the　walrus　mustache　had　had　more　to　drink；　and　he　wasn't　being　bluffed。　He　went　for　his　gun；　and　I　straightened　my　leg　with　a　snap。　The　chair　slammed　into　his　legs　and　he　fell　against　Hadden；　and　I　shot　the　man　on　the　end　while　they　were　falling。　I　heard　another　gun　boom　and　then　Rocca　and　me　were　standing　there　looking　down　at　Hadden　and　his　brother；　one　of　them　in　a　half…crouch　but　off　balance；　the　other　on　one　knee。
　〃You　boys　brought　it　to　us；〃　I　said。　〃We　didn't　ask　for　it。　You　brought　it；　and　now　two　of　you　are　dead。〃
　They　hadn't　looked　at　their　panions　until　then；　and　when　they　did　I　saw　they　were　suddenly　cold　sober。
　〃Arch；〃　I　said；　〃you　may　be　a　tough　man　where　you　e　from；　but　you're　a　long　way　from　home。　You　take　my　advice　and　go　back。〃
　Rocca　was　holding　a　gun　on　them；　as　I　was。　He　reached　around　with　his　other　hand　and　picked　up　his　beer；　and　drank　it；　watching　them。
　Foster　was　standing　across　the　room；　his　back　to　the　bar。　〃Why　don't　you　boys　pack　it　up　before　the　law　gets　here？〃　he　suggested。　〃I　don't　want　any　more　shooting　in　here。　It's　bad　for　business。〃
　〃Sure；〃　I　said；　and　holstered　my　gun。　Deliberately　I　started　for　the　door。
　Tampico　Rocca　had　been　called　a　greaser；　so　he　took　his　time。　He　put　his　glass　down　gently　and　he　smiled　at　them。　〃Keep　your　guns；〃　he　said；　〃I　want　to　meet　you　again；　se？ores。〃
　Outside　in　the　street　we　ducked　into　an　alley　and　stood　listening　for　footsteps；　but　hearing　none；　we　walked　away。
　At　the　corral　we　stopped　and　leaned　on　the　bars；　and　Rocca　built　a　cigarette。　〃Gracias；　amigo；〃he　said。　And　then　he　added；　〃You　are　quick；　amigo。　You　are　very　quick。〃
　
　Chapter　4
　
　e　daybreak；　and　worry　was　upon　me。　It　was　a　real；　old…fashioned　attack　of　the　dismals。
　The　shooting　of　the　night　before　was　bad　enough；　although　I　never　gave　much　time　to　worry　over　those　who　came　asking　for　trouble。　When　a　man　packed　a　gun　he　was　supposed　to　give　some　thought　to　his　actions　and　his　manner　of　speech；　for　folks　weren't　much　inclined　to　set　back　and　let　a　body　run　over　them。
　It　was　that　youngster　who　was　worrying　me。　There　was　a　small　boy；　a　prisoner　of　the　Apaches；　or　maybe　already　killed　by　them。　And　he　was　my　blood　kin。
　Nobody　knew　better　than　me　the　distance　I'd　have　to　cover　and　the　way　I'd　have　to　live　for　the　next　month　or　more。　It　was　a　hard　country；　almost　empty　of　people；　scarce　of　food；　and　rare　of　water　that　was　fit　to　drink。　The　fact　that　Tampico　Rocca　was　ing　along　sort　of　made　it　better。　Two　men　can't　move　as　quiet　as　one；　except　when　one　of　them　is　Rocca。　But　his　ing　also　made　it　worse；　because　if　anything　happened　to　him　it　would　be　because　of　me。
　Now　the　first　thing　I　needed　was　a　horse；　and　I　could　find　none　for　sale。　Meantime　I　sort　of　sauntered　around　and　let　folks　know　I　needed　a　saddle；　and　finally　bought　a　beat…up　old　Spanish　single…rig　saddle　with　a　mochila；　or　housing；　to　throw　over　it；　and　oxbow　stirrups。　It　was　almighty　old；　but　in　good　shape；　and　a　lot　of　hard　use　had　worn　fort　into　it。　That　saddle　set　me　back　eighteen　dollars；　and　I　picked　up　some　old　saddlebags　for　three　dollars　more。　An　old　Army　canteen　cost　me　twenty…five　cents。　Little　by　little　I　put　an　outfit　together；　and　by　the　time　I'd　bought　a　spare　cartridge　belt；　a　bridle；　and　a　few　other　odds　and　ends　I'd　spent　more　than　fifty　dollars　of　what　little　I　had。　And　still　no　horse。　Whilst　I　went　around　the　town　of　Tucson　I　kept　a　careful　eye　open　for　Arch　and　Wolf　Madden。　It　turned　out　that　one　of　those　boys　shot　the　night　before　wasn't　dead。　He'd　been　hit　hard；　but　he　was　going　to　pull　through。　They　planted　the　other　one；　wrapped　in　his　blankets；　out　on　Boot　Hill。
　By　noontime　I　had　most　of　what　I　would　need；　but　was　still　shy　a　horse。　Dropping　in　at　the　Shoo…Fly　I　figured　to　have　myself　a　bite　of　grub；　and　maybe　I　could　find　somebody　with　a　horse　to　spare。
　So　I　shaved　myself　with　a　broken　triangle　of　glass　for　a　mirror；　stuck　in　the　fork　of　a　mesquite　tree；　while　Rocca　slept　with　his　head　on　his　saddle　close　by。　We　were　a　mite　out　of　town　among　some　rocks　and　mesquite；　and　we'd　been　there　a　while　when　I　heard　somebody　singing　〃Oh；　Bury　Me　Not　on　the　Lone　Prairie；〃　and　Rocca　pushed　his　hat　back　off　his　eyes。　〃Don't　shoot；〃　he　said；　grinning　at　me。　〃That's　John　J。〃
　And　it　was。　Battles　came　up　through　the　brush　and　looked　us　over；　and　we　told　him　what　the　score　was。
　〃Where's　Spanish？〃　he　wanted　to　know；　and　Rocca　told　him。
　〃He　found　himself　a　gal　down　yonder。　Her　name　is　Conchita；　and　if