lla.thelonelymen-第6章

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　〃Where's　Spanish？〃　he　wanted　to　know；　and　Rocca　told　him。
　〃He　found　himself　a　gal　down　yonder。　Her　name　is　Conchita；　and　if　she　gets　mad　at　him　the　Apaches　will　be　a　relief。　But　don't　you　worry　none　about　Spanish。　When　the　time　es　he'll　fork　his　saddle　and　e　with　us。〃
　When　I'd　shaved　we　talked　things　over　a　mite　and　Rocca　headed　for　Mexican　town　to　roust　out　Spanish　Murphy；　whilst　Battles　went　back　into　the　brush　to　keep　out　of　sight。　Somehow　or　other；　neither　of　us　thought　to　tell　him　about　the　Hadden　outfit。
　The　Shoo…Fly　was　crowded　when　I　came　in；　but　I　tamed　some　heads。　I　don't　know　if　it　was　the　gun　battle　the　night　before　or　the　whiskey　I'd　used　for　shave　lotion；　but　they　looked　me　over　some。　I'd　been　sort　of　sidestepping　the　marshal；　not　wanting　to　be　ordered　out　of　town　yet；　and　not　wanting　trouble；　if　he　was　so　inclined。　When　it　came　to　eating；　I　was　always　a　good　feeder　and　always　ready　to　set　up　and　partake。　Likely　this　would　be　the　last　woman…cooked　food　I'd　have　for　a　while；　and　even　any　hot　meals　I'd　cook　myself　would　be　almighty　scarce　on　that　trek　down　into　Sonora　and　over　into　Chihuahua。　When　a　man　is　fighting　shy　of　Apaches　he　doesn't　go　around　sending　up　smoke。
　Sitting　there　in　the　Shoo…Fly；　which　was　not　exactly　elegant；　though　the　best　there　was　around；　a　body　might　have　an　idea　folks　would　step　aside　for　a　body　who'd　killed　his　man　in　a　gun　battle。　No　such　thing。
　Right　there　in　that　room　there　were　men　like　William　S。　Oury；　who　had　fought　through　the　Texas　war　for　independence；　had　been　a　Texas　Ranger；　and　had　engaged　in　many　a　bloody　duel　with　Apaches　and　border　characters。　Most　of　the　men　sitting　around　in　their　broadcloth　suits　were　men　who　had　engaged　in　their　share　of　Indian　fights；　or　wars　of　one　kind　or　another。　And　they　were　good　citizens　…　lawyers；　mining　men；　storekeepers　and　the　like。
　No　sooner　had　I　begun　to　eat　than　the　door　opened　and　Laura　came　in。　She　was　in　white；　and　she　looked　pale　and　frail。　She　wore　the　kind　of　gloves　with　no　fingers　in　them　that　made　no　sense　to　me。　And　she　carried　a　parasol；　as　most　women　did。
　She　stood　a　moment；　letting　her　eyes　grow　accustomed　to　the　glare；　and　then　crossed　to　my　table。　I　got　up　and　seated　her；　then　sat　down。
　Folks　turned　to　look　at　her；　they　were　almighty　curious；　her　being　such　a　pretty　woman　and　all；　and　not　many　of　them　knowing　we　were　kin。
　〃Tell；〃　she　said；　〃I　heard　you　were　looking　for　a　horse。　Is　that　true？〃
　〃Yes；　ma'am；　it　is。　Mine　was　killed　out　yonder。　I've　got　to　find　a　saddle　horse　and　at　least　one　pack　horse。　Seems　Apache　raids　have　cut　down　the　supply；　and　the　Army　has　been　buying　saddle　stock；　too。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me？　I　can　get　you　some　horses。　In　fact；　I　have　just　the　horse　for　you。〃
　〃It　would　help；〃　I　admitted。　〃I've　got　my　outfit　together。〃
　She　took　the　coffee　Mrs。　Wallen　brought　to　the　table；　and　then　said；　〃I　hear　you　had　some　trouble。〃
　〃It　wasn't　my　trouble。　They　were　hunting　a　man　I　know；　and　when　they　couldn't　find　him　they　chose　me　…　that　is；　me　and　Rocca；　one　of　the　men　I　rode　to　town　with。〃
　She　said　no　more　about　it；　and　I　wasn't　anxious　to　talk　of　it。　We　talked　a　while　about　the　trip；　and　then　she　told　me　where　to　go　to　see　the　horses。　〃The　one　I　want　you　to　ride；〃　she　suggested；　〃is　the　big　black　with　the　diamond　blaze　on　his　hip。〃
　Now；　one　horse　I　was　not　hunting　was　a　big　black　with　a　diamond　on　his　hip。　Any　kind　of　horse　would　help；　but　a　black　horse　was　almost　as　bad　as　a　white　one　in　that　country。　What　I　preferred　was　a　roan；　a　buckskin；　or　a　dun　or　grulla。　I　wanted　a　horse　whose　color　would　fade　into　the　country；　not　one　that　would　stand　out　like　a　red　nose　at　a　teetotal　picnic。　Of　course；　there　were　patches　of　black　rock；　shadows；　and　the　like；　and　a　black　horse　was　some　better　than　a　white　one　which　would　catch　the　sun　and　could　be　seen　for　miles。　However；　this　was　no　time　to　argue。
　〃All　right；〃　I　said；　and　then　I　added；　〃If　we　get　the　horses　I　can　leave　tomorrow。〃
　She　talked　of　Tucson　and　its　disforts；　and　how　she　wished　to　be　back　in　Santa　Fe　…　or　in　Washington；　she　added。
　〃I　like　Washington；〃　I　said。
　She　seemed　surprised；　and　said；　〃You　have　been　there？〃
　〃Yes；　ma'am。　I　was　in　the　Army　of　the　Potomac　for　a　while。　I　was　around　Washington　quite　a　bit。〃
　That　was　a　long　time　ago；　and　I'd　been　a　boy　then；　freshly　joined　up　with　the　Union　army。
　When　she　was　gone　I　lingered　over　coffee；　thinking　out　that　trail　to　the　south；　trying　to　foresee　the　problems　that　might　arise。　It　wasn't　in　me　to　go　into　things　blind；　and　there　was　a　whole　lot　about　this　that　made　me　kind　of　uneasy；　but　there　was　nothing　I　could　pin　down。
　Mrs。　Wallen　came　over。　〃Are　you　related　to　Laura　Sackett？〃
　〃She's　my　sister…in…law。〃
　〃I　wondered　。。。　your　names　being　the　same；　and　all。〃　She　still　hesitated；　then　sat　down　opposite　me。　〃We　don't　see　many　women　traveling　alone　in　this　country。〃
　〃Her　father　died　。。。　out　in　California；〃　I　said。　〃He　was　all　alone　out　there；　and　nobody　to　see　to　him。　Orrin　…　he's　my　brother　…　had　to　stay　in　Washington。〃
　She　sat　there　a　while　without　saying　any　more；　and　then　got　up　and　left。　I　couldn't　figure　out　why　she　sat　down　to　talk　to　me。　It　seemed　as　if　she　was　going　to　tell　me　something　…　maybe　something　about　the　Army　or　the　Apaches。
　The　black　horse　was　a　good　one；　all　right。　And　that　diamond…shaped　blaze　on　his　hip　and　one　white　stocking　was　all　that　kept　him　from　being　solid　black。　He　was　a　whole　lot　more　horse　than　I　expected　to　find。　The　two　pack　horses　were　nondescript　mustangs；　but　they　looked　tough。
　They　were　in　a　barn　back　of　an　adobe；　and　the　man　who　had　the　care　of　them　squatted　on　his　heels　and　watched　me　studying　the　horses。
　〃You're　takin'　a　lot　of　care；　mister；〃　he　said　sourly；　〃when　you　got　no　choice。〃
　He　spat　out　the　straw　he'd　been　chewing。　〃Take　'em　or　leave　'em。　I　got　no　more　time　to　spare。　The　lady　paid　for　'em。　All　you　got　to　do　is　saddle　up　and　ride。〃
　He　didn't　like　me　and　I　didn't　like　him；　so　I　taken　the　horses　and　got　away。　I　rode　them　back　into　the　brush　where　Rocca　was　waiting　and　where　my　gear　was　cached。
　Rocca　had　rustled　a　horse　from　somewhere　in　Mex　town；　so　we　were　ready　to　go。
　〃You　got　anything　holdin'　you？〃　I　asked　him。
　〃Not　so's　you'd　notice。　Spanish　is　out　in　the　brush　with　John　J。　They'll　meet　us　south　of　here。〃
　So　we　mounted　up　and　rode　out　of　there；　paying　no　mind　to　anything　else。　Down　country　about　four　miles　Spanish　rode　up　to　us；　and　then　John　J。　Battles　followed。
　〃You　boys　are　taking　a　wild　chance；〃　I　said。　〃You　got　no　stake　in　this。〃
　〃Shut　up；〃　Spanish　said。　〃You　save　your　breath　to　cool　your　porridge。〃
　〃I　never　been　to　the　Sierra　Madres；〃　John　J。　said。　〃Any　place　I　ain't　been　I　got　to　see。〃
　We　put　up　some　dust　and　headed　south；　with　me　riding　up　front。　The　trail　was　used　。。。　there　was　always　some　riding　down　toward　Kitchen's　ranch。
　You　might　think　that　on　a　traveled　trail　you'd　be　safe；　but　there　was　nowhere　in　this　corner　of　Arizona　where　a　body　was　safe；　one　moment　to　the　next。　Pete　Kitchen　had　men　on　watch　all　hours　of　the　day；　and　everybody　went　armed；　expecting　trouble；　so　after　a　while　the　Apaches　kind　of　fought　shy　of　the　Kitchen　outfit。
　There's　been　a　lot　of　talk　of　the　rights　and　wrongs　of　the　Indian　wars；　and　there　was　wrong　on　both　sides。　There　were　mighty　few　Indians　holding　down　land　in　this　country　when　the　white　man　came；　and　most　of　them　never　held　to　any　one　spot。　They　just　drifted　from　place　to　place；　living　off　the　wild　game　and　the　plants。　The　white　men　came　hunting　living　space；　and　a　place　for　a　home。　Instead　of　roaming　as　the　Indians　had　done；　they　settled　down　to　farm　the　land　and　build　houses。
　Some　of　the　white　men　wanted　to　live　in　peace　with　the　red　man；　and　some　of　the　red　men　wanted　to　live　in　peace；　too；　but　some　on　both　sides　didn't　want　anything　of　the　kind。　The　young　bucks　wanted　to　take　scalps　and　steal　horses　because　that　made　them　big　men　with　the　squaws；　and　it　was　often　easier　to　take　them　from　white　men　than　from　other　Indians；　as　they　had　always　done。　And　whenever　the　wise　old　Indians　and　the　wiser　and　kinder　of　the　white　men　wanted　to　make　peace；　there　was　always　some　drunken　white　man　or　wild…haired　Indian　ready　to　make　trouble。
　When　an　Indian　made　war　he　made　war　on　women　and　children　as　well　as　on　men；　and　even　the　friendly　white　men　found　it　hard　to　be　friendly　when　they　came　home　and　found　their　cabins　burned；　their　women　and　children　killed。　On　the　other　hand；　the　politically　appointed　Indian　agents　and　the　white　men　who　wanted　Indian　land　or　horses　would　rob；　cheat；　and　murder　Indians。
　It　was　no　one…sided　argument；　and　I　knew　it。　But　now　the　Apaches　had　stolen　some　children　and　taken　them　into　Mexico；　and　we　were　going　after　them。
　We　rode　through　the　last　of　the　afternoon　and　into　the　cool　of　the　evening。　We　camped　that　night　in　some　ruins；　half　sheltered　by　adobe　walls；　and　at　daybreak　we　rode　out。
　On　the　second　night　we　stayed　at　Pete　Kitchen's　ranch。
　
　Chapter　5
　
　We　rode　south　for　a　few　miles　after　leaving　Pete　Kitchen's　place；　then　turned　off　the　main　trail　toward　the　east。　Now；　a　man　who　leaves　a　trail　in　the　desert　had　best　know　exactly　where　he　is　going；　for　his　life　is　at　stake。
　Travel　in　the　desert　cannot　be　haphazard。　Every　step　a　man　takes　in　desert　country　has　to　be　taken　with　water　in　mind。　He　is　either　heading　for　water；　or　figuring　how　far　he　will　be　from　it　if　he　gets　off　the　trail。　The　margin　of　safety　is　narrow。
　All　of　us　had　been　south　of　the　border；　but　it　was　Tampico　Rocca　who　knew　most　about　it；　with　me　ing　second；　I　suppose。　Like　everybody　else；　we　had　to　depend　on　waterholes；　and　no　matter　what　route　we　chose；　sooner　or　later　we　had　to　wind　up　at　those　watering　places。　This　was　just　as　true　for　the　Apaches。
　The　desert　has　known　waterholes；　but　it　also　has　other　waterholes　not　generally　known；　usually　of　limited　capacity　and　usually　difficult　to　find。　Birds　and　animals　know　of　those　places；　and　so　do　the　Apaches　in　most　cases。　If　you　did　not　know　of　them　you　had　to　know　how　to　find　them；　and　that　was　something　that　did　not　e　easy。
　A　man　living　in　wild　country　has　to　be　aware　of　everything　around　him。　He　has　to　keep　his　eyes　looking；　his　ears　listening；　his　every　sense　alert。　And　that　doesn't　mean　because　of　Apaches；　but　because　of　the　desert　itself。　You　can't　fight　the　desert　。。。　you　have　to　ride　with　it。
　The　desert　is　not　all　hot　sun　and　sand；　there's　the　rocks　too。　Miles　of　them　sometimes；　scattered　over　the　desert　floor；　great　heaps　of　them　now　and　again；　or　those　great　broken　ridges　of　dull　red　or　black　rock　like　the　broken　spines　of　huge　animals。　They　shove　up　through　the　sand；　and　the　sand　is　trying　hard　to　bury　them　again。
　In　much　of　the　southwestern　desert　there's　even　a　lot　of　green；　although　the　playas；　or　dry　lake　beds；　are　dead　white。　Some　of　the　desert　plants　hold　back　until　there's　a　rain；　then　they　leaf　out　suddenly　and　blossom　quickly；　to　take　advantage　of　that　water。　But　much　of　the　greenness　of　desert　plants　doesn't　mean　that　rain　has　fallen；　for　many　of　the　plants　have　stored　water　in　their　pulpy　tissues　to　save　against　drought；　others　have　developed　hard…surfaced　leaves　that　reflect　sunlight　and　give　off　no　moisture　to　the　su