options-第14章

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g　　person；　a　daughter；　or　some　such　technical　appendage；　who　looked　after　　his　comforts。

I　never　knew　scientists　could　rise　to　such　occasions。　　Old　Mangum　　orally　labelled　and　classified　Goodloe　and　myself　easily　among　the　　lowest　orders　of　the　vertebrates；　and　in　English；　too；　without　going　　any　further　into　Latin　than　the　simple　references　to　Orgetorix；　Rex　　Helvetiiwhich　is　as　far　as　I　ever　went；　myself。　　And　he　told　us　that　　if　he　ever　caught　us　around　his　house　again　he　would　add　us　to　his　　collection。

Goodloe　Banks　and　I　remained　away　five　days；　expecting　the　storm　to　　subside。　　When　we　dared　to　call　at　the　house　again　May　Martha　Mangum　　and　her　father　were　gone。　　Gone！　　The　house　they　had　rented　was　　closed。　　Their　little　store　of　goods　and　chattels　was　gone　also。

And　not　a　word　of　farewell　to　either　of　us　from　May　Marthanot　a　　white；　fluttering　note　pinned　to　the　hawthorn…bush；　not　a　chalk…mark　　on　the　gate…post　nor　a　post…card　in　the　post…office　to　give　us　a　clew。

For　two　months　Goodloe　Banks　and　Iseparatelytried　every　scheme　we　　could　think　of　to　track　the　runaways。　　We　used　our　friendship　and　　influence　with　the　ticket…agent；　with　livery…stable　men；　railroad　　conductors；　and　our　one　lone；　lorn　constable；　but　without　results。

Then　we　became　better　friends　and　worse　enemies　than　ever。　　We　　forgathered　in　the　back　room　of　Snyder's　saloon　every　afternoon　after　　work；　and　played　dominoes；　and　laid　conversational　traps　to　find　out　　from　each　other　if　anything　had　been　discovered。　　That　is　the　way　of　　rivals。

Now；　Goodloe　Banks　had　a　sarcastic　way　of　displaying　his　own　learning　　and　putting　me　in　the　class　that　was　reading　〃Poor　Jane　Ray；　her　bird　　is　dead；　she　cannot　play。〃　　Well；　I　rather　liked　Goodloe；　and　I　had　a　　contempt　for　his　college　learning；　and　I　was　always　regarded　as　good…　natured；　so　I　kept　my　temper。　　And　I　was　trying　to　find　out　if　he　knew　　anything　about　May　Martha；　so　I　endured　his　society。

In　talking　things　over　one　afternoon　he　said　to　me：

〃Suppose　you　do　find　her；　Ed；　whereby　would　you　profit？　　Miss　Mangum　　has　a　mind。　　Perhaps　it　is　yet　uncultured；　but　she　is　destined　for　　higher　things　than　you　could　give　her。　　I　have　talked　with　no　one　who　　seemed　to　appreciate　more　the　enchantment　of　the　ancient　poets　and　　writers　and　the　modern　cults　that　have　assimilated　and　expended　their　　philosophy　of　life。　　Don't　you　think　you　are　wasting　your　time　looking　　for　her？〃

〃My　idea；〃　said　I；　〃of　a　happy　home　is　an　eight…room　house　in　a　grove　　of　live…oaks　by　the　side　of　a　charco　on　a　Texas　prairie。　　A　piano；〃　I　　went　on；　〃with　an　automatic　player　in　the　sitting…room；　three　thousand　　head　of　cattle　under　fence　for　a　starter；　a　buckboard　and　ponies　　always　hitched　at　a　post　for　'the　missus　'and　May　Martha　Mangum　to　　spend　the　profits　of　the　ranch　as　she　pleases；　and　to　abide　with　me；　　and　put　my　slippers　and　pipe　away　every　day　in　places　where　they　　cannot　be　found　of　evenings。　　That；〃　said　I；　〃is　what　is　to　be；　and　a　　figa　dried；　Smyrna；　dago…stand　figfor　your　curriculums；　cults；　and　　philosophy。〃

〃She　is　meant　for　higher　things；〃　repeated　Goodloe　Banks。

〃Whatever　she　is　meant　for；〃　I　answered；　just　now　she　is　out　of　　pocket。　　And　I　shall　find　her　as　soon　as　I　can　without　aid　of　the　　colleges。〃

〃The　game　is　blocked；〃　said　Goodloe；　putting　down　a　domino　and　we　had　　the　beer。

Shortly　after　that　a　young　farmer　whom　I　knew　came　into　town　and　　brought　me　a　folded　blue　paper。　　He　said　his　grandfather　had　just　　died。　　I　concealed　a　tear；　and　he　went　on　to　say　that　the　old　man　had　　jealously　guarded　this　paper　for　twenty　years。　　He　left　it　to　his　　family　as　part　of　his　estate；　the　rest　of　which　consisted　of　two　mules　　and　a　hypotenuse　of　non…arable　land。

The　sheet　of　paper　was　of　the　old；　blue　kind　used　during　the　rebellion　　of　the　abolitionists　against　the　secessionists。　　It　was　dated　June　14；　　1863；　and　it　described　the　hiding…place　of　ten　burro…loads　of　gold　and　　silver　coin　valued　at　three　hundred　thousand　dollars。　　Old　Rundle　grandfather　of　his　grandson；　Samwas　given　the　information　by　a　　Spanish　priest　who　was　in　on　the　treasure…burying；　and　who　died　many　　years　beforeno；　afterwardin　old　Rundle's　house。　　Old　Rundle　wrote　　it　down　from　dictation。

〃Why　didn't　your　father　look　this　up？〃　I　asked　young　Rundle。

〃He　went　blind　before　he　could　do　so；〃　he　replied。

〃Why　didn't　you　hunt　for　it　yourself？〃　I　asked。

〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃I've　only　known　about　the　paper　for　ten　years。　　　First　there　was　the　spring　ploughin'　to　do；　and　then　choppin'　the　　weeds　out　of　the　corn；　and　then　come　takin'　fodder；　and　mighty　soon　　winter　was　on　us。　　It　seemed　to　run　along　that　way　year　after　year。〃

That　sounded　perfectly　reasonable　to　me；　so　I　took　it　up　with　young　　Lee　Rundle　at　once。

The　directions　on　the　paper　were　simple。　　The　whole　burro　cavalcade　　laden　with　the　treasure　started　from　an　old　Spanish　mission　in　Dolores　　County。　　They　travelled　due　south　by　the　compass　until　they　reached　　the　Alamito　River。　　They　forded　this；　and　buried　the　treasure　on　the　　top　of　a　little　mountain　shaped　like　a　pack…saddle　standing　in　a　row　　between　two　higher　ones。　　A　heap　of　stones　marked　the　place　of　the　　buried　treasure。　　All　the　party　except　the　Spanish　priest　were　killed　　by　Indians　a　few　days　later。　　The　secret　was　a　monopoly。　　It　looked　　good　to　me。

Lee　Rundle　suggested　that　we　rig　out　a　camping　outfit；　hire　a　surveyor　　to　run　out　the　line　from　the　Spanish　mission；　and　then　spend　the　three　　hundred　thousand　dollars　seeing　the　sights　in　Fort　Worth。　　But；　　without　being　highly　educated；　I　knew　a　way　to　save　time　and　expense。

We　went　to　the　State　land…office　and　had　a　practical；　what　they　call　a　　〃working；〃　sketch　made　of　all　the　surveys　of　land　from　the　old　mission　　to　the　Alamito　River。　　On　this　map　I　drew　a　line　due　southward　to　the　　river。　　The　length　of　lines　of　each　survey　and　section　of　land　was　　accurately　given　on　the　sketch。　　By　these　we　found　the　point　on　the　　river　and　had　a　〃connection〃　made　with　it　and　an　important；　well…　identified　corner　of　the　Los　Animos　five…league　surveya　grant　made　　by　King　Philip　of　Spain。

By　doing　this　we　did　not　need　to　have　the　line　run　out　by　a　surveyor。　　　It　was　a　great　saving　of　expense　and　time。

So；　Lee　Rundle　and　I　fitted　out　a　two…horse　wagon　team　with　all　the　　accessories；　and　drove　a　hundred　and　forty…nine　miles　to　Chico；　the　　nearest　town　to　the　point　we　wished　to　reach。　　There　we　picked　up　a　　deputy　county　surveyor。　　He　found　the　corner　of　the　Los　Animos　survey　　for　us；　ran　out　the　five　thousand　seven　hundred　and　twenty　varas　west　　that　our　sketch　called　for；　laid　a　stone　on　the　spot；　had　coffee　and　　bacon；　and　caught　the　mail…stage　back　to　Chico。

I　was　pretty　sure　we　would　get　that　three　hundred　thousand　dollars。　　　Lee　Rundle's　was　to　be　only　one…third；　because　I　was　paying　all　the　　expenses。　　With　that　two　hundred　thousand　dollars　I　knew　I　could　find　　May　Martha　Mangum　if　she　was　on　earth。　　And　with　it　I　could　flutter　　the　butterflies　in　old　man　Mangum's　dove…cot；　too。　　If　I　could　find　　that　treasure！

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