rowdy of the cross l-第4章

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coaxing；　with　hypocritically　endearing　names；　such　as　〃Good　old　boy！〃　and
〃Steady　now；　Billy〃or　whatever　the　horse's　name　might　be。　Rowdy　chuckled
to　himself；　and　hoped　the　horse　saw　through　the　subterfuge。

Perhaps　the　horse　chuckled　also；　at　any　rate；　he　stood　quite　still；　equally
prepared　to　bounce　away　on　the　instant　or　to　don　the　mask　of　docility。
Bandy…legs　drew　nearer　and　nearer；　shaking　the　basin　briskly；　like　an　old
woman　sifting　meal。　The　horse　waited；　his　nostrils　quivering　hungrily　at　the
smell　of　the　oats；　and　with　an　occasional　low　nicker。

Bandy…legs　went　on　tiptoesor　as　nearly　as　he　could　in　the　snowthe　basin
at　arm's　length　before。　The　dainty；　flaring　nostrils　sniffed　tentatively；
dipped　into　the　basin；　and　snuffed　the　oats　about　luxuriouslytill　he　felt
a　stealthy　hand　seize　the　dangling　rope。　At　the　touch　he　snorted　protest；
and　was　off　and　away；　upsetting　Bandy…legs　and　the　basin　ignominiously　into
a　high…piled　drift。

Bandy…legs　sat　up；　scraped　the　snow　out　of　his　collar　and　his　ears；　and
swore。　It　was　then　that　Rowdy　appeared　like　an　angel　of　deliverance。

〃Want　that　horse　caught？〃　he　yelled　cheerfully。

Bandy…legs　lifted　up　his　voice　and　bellowed　things　I　should　not　like　to
repeat　verbatim。　But　Rowdy　gathered　that　the　man　emphatically　did　want　that
so…and…so…and…then…some　horse　caught；　and　that　it　couldn't　be　done　a　blessed
minute　too　soon。　Whereat　Rowdy　smiled　anew；　with　his　face　discreetly　turned
away　from　Bandy…legs；　and　took　down　his　rope　and　widened　the　loop。　Also；　he
turned　Chub　loose。

The　stallion　evidently　sensed　what　new　danger　threatened　his　stolen　freedom；
and　circled　the　yard　with　high；　springy　strides。　Rowdy　circled　after；　saw
his　chance；　swirled　the　loop　twice　over　his　head；　and　hazarded　a　long　throw。

Rowdy　knew　it　for　pure　good　luck　that　it　landed　right；　but　to　this　day
Bandy…legs　looks　upon　him　as　a　Wonder　with　a　ropeand　Bandy…legs　would
insist　upon　the　capital。

〃Where　shall　I　take　him？〃　Rowdy　asked；　coming　up　with　his　captive；　and　with
nothing　but　his　eyes　to　show　how　he　was　laughing　inwardly。

Bandy…legs　crawled　from　the　drift；　still　scraping　snow　from　inside　his
collar；　and　gave　many　directions　about　going　through　a　certain　gate　into
such…and…such　a　corral；　from　there　into　a　stable；　and　by　seeming　devious
ways　into　a　minutely　described　stall。

〃All　right；〃　said　Rowdy；　cutting　short　the　last　needless　details。　〃I　guess　I
can　find　the　trail；〃　and　started　off；　leading　the　stallion。　Bandy…legs
followed；　and　Chub；　observing　the　departure　of　Dixie；　ambled　faithfully　in
the　rear。

〃Much　obliged；〃　conceded　Bandy…legs；　when　the　stallion　was　safely　housed　and
tied　securely。　〃Where　yuh　headed　for；　young　man？〃

〃Right　here；〃　Rowdy　told　him　calmly；　loosening　Dixie's　cinch。　〃I'm　the
long…lost　top　hand　that　the　Cross　L's　been　watching　the　sky…line　for；　lo！
these　many　moons；　a…yearning　for　the　privilege　of　handing　me　forty　plunks
about　twice　as　fast　as　I've　got　'em　coming。　Where's　the　boss？〃

〃ErI'm　him；〃　confessed　Bandy…legs　meekly；　and　circled　the　two　dubiously。
〃I　guess　you've　heard　uh　Eagle　Creek　SmithI'm　him。　The　Cross　L　belongs　to
me。〃

Rowdy　let　out　an　explosive；　and　showed　a　row　of　nice　teeth。　〃Well；　I　ain't
hard　to　please；〃　he　added。　〃I　won't　kick　on　that；　I　guess。　I　like　your　looks
tolerable　well；　and　I'm　willing　to　take　yuh　on　for　a　boss。　If　yuh　do　your
part；　I　bet　we'll　get　along　fine。〃　His　tone　was　banteringly　patronizing
〃Anyway；　I'll　try　yuh　for　a　spell。　You　can　put　my　name　down　as　Rowdy
Vaughan；　lately　canned　from　the　Horseshoe　Bar。〃

〃What　for？〃　ventured　Bandy…legsrather；　Eagle　Creekstill　circling　Rowdy
dubiously。

〃What　for　was　I　canned？〃　repeated　Rowdy　easily。　〃Being　a　modest　youth；　I
hate　t'　tell　yuh。　But　the　old　man's　son　and　me；　we　disagreed；　and　one　of　his
eyes　swelled　some；　so　did　mine；　a　little。〃　He　stood　head　and　shoulders　above
Eagle　Creek；　and　he　smiled　down　upon　him　engagingly。　Eagle　Creek　capitulated
before　the　smile。

〃Well；　I　ain't　got　any　sonsthat　I　know　of；〃　he　grinned。　〃So　I　guess　yuh
can　consider　yourself　a　Cross　L　man　till　further　notice。〃

〃Why；　sure！〃　The　teeth　gleamed　again　briefly。　〃That's　what　I've　been　telling
you　right　along。　Where's　old　Wooden　Shoes？　He's　responsible　for　me　being
here。〃

〃Gone　to　Chinook。　He'll　be　back　in　a　day　or　two。〃　Eagle　Creek　shifted　his
feet　awkwardly。　〃Say〃he　glanced　uneasily　behind　him〃yuh　don't　want　t'
let　it　get　around　that　yuh　sort　of　hired　mesee？〃

〃Of　course　not；〃　Rowdy　assured　him。　〃I　was　only　joshing。　If　you　don't　want
me；　just　tell　me　to　hit　the　sod。〃

〃You　stay　right　where　you're　at！〃　commanded　Eagle　Creek　with　returned
confidence　in　himself　and　his　authority。　Of　a　truth；　this　self…assured；
straight…limbed　young　man　had　rather　dazed　him。　〃Take　your　bed　and　war…bag
up　to　the　bunk…house　and　make　yourself　t'　home　till　the　boys　get　back；
andsay；　where'd　yuh　git　that　pack…horse？〃

The　laugh　went　out　of　Rowdy's　tawny　eyes。　The　question　hit　a　spot　that　was
becoming　sore。　〃I　borrowed　him　this　morning　from　Mr。　Rodway；〃　he　said
evenly。　〃I'm　to　take　him　back　to…day。　I　stopped　there　last　night。〃

〃Oh！〃　Eagle　Creek　coughed　apologetically；　and　said　no　word；　while　Rowdy　led
Chub　back　to　the　cabin　which　he　had　pointed　out　as　the　bunk…house；　he　stood
by　while　Rowdy　loosened　the　pack　and　dragged　it　inside。

〃I　guess　you　can　get　located　here；〃　he　said。　〃I　ain't　workin'　more'n　three
or　four　men　just　now；　but　there's　quite　a　few　uh　the　boys　stopping　here；　the
Cross　L's　a　regular　hang…out　for　cow…punchers。　You're　a　little　early　for　the
season；　but　I'll　see　that　yuh　have　something　t'　dojust　t'　keep　yuh　out　uh
devilment。〃

Rowdy's　brows　unbent；　it　would　seem　that　Eagle　Creek　was　capable　of
〃joshing〃　also。　〃It's　up　t'　you；　old…timer；〃　he　retorted。　〃I'm　strong　and
willing；　and　don't　shy　at　anything　but　pitchforks。〃

Eagle　Creek　grinned。　〃This　ain't　no　blamed　cowhospital；〃　he　gave　as　a
parting　shot。　〃All　the　hay　that's　shoveled　on　this　ranch　needn't　hurt
nobody's　feelings。〃　With　that　he　shut　the　door；　and　left　Rowdy　to　acquaint
himself　with　his　new　home。



CHAPTER　4

Pink　as　〃Chappyrone。〃

Rowdy　was　sprawled　ungracefully　upon　somebody's　bunkhe　neither　knew　nor
cared　whoseand　he　was　snoring　unmelodiously；　and　not　dreaming　a　thing；　for
when　a　cow…puncher　has　nothing　in　particular　to　do；　he　sleeps　to　atone　for
the　weary　hours　when　he　must　be　very　wide…awake。　An　avalanche　descended　upon
his　unwarned　middle；　and　checked　the　rhythmic　ebb　and　flow　of　sound。　He
squawked　and　came　to　life　clawing　viciously。

〃I'd　like　t'　know　where　the　devil　yuh　come　from；〃　a　voice　remarked
plaintively　in　a　soft　treble。

Rowdy　opened　his　eyes　with　a　snap。　〃Pink！　by　all　that's　good　and　bad！　Get　up
off　my　diaphragm；　you　little　fiend。〃

Pink　absent…mindedly　kneaded　Rowdy's　stomach　with　his　knuckles；　and
immediately　found　himself　in　a　far　corner。　He　came　back；　dimpling
mischievously。　He　looked　much　more　an　angel　than　a　fiend；　for　all　his　Angora
chaps　and　flame…colored　scarf。

〃Your　bed　and　war…bag's　on　my　bunk；　you're　on　Smoky's；　and　Dixie's　makin'
himself　to　home　in　the　corral。　By　all　them　signs　and　tokens；　I　give　a
reckless　guess　you're　here　t'　stay　a　while。　That　right？〃　He　prodded　again　at
Rowdy's　ribs。

〃It　sure　is；　Pink。　And　if　I'd　known　you　was　holding　out　here；　I'd　'a'　come
sooner；　maybe。　You　sure　look　good　to　me；　you　darned　little　cuss！〃　Rowdy　sat
up　and　took　a　lightning　inventory　of　the　four　or　five　other　fellows　lounging
about。　He　must　have　slept　pretty　sound；　he　thought；　not　to　hear　them　come
in。

Pink　read　the　look；　and　bethought　him　of　the　necessary　introductions。　〃This
is　my　side…kicker　over　the　line　thatyou've　heard　about　till　you're　plumb
weary；　boys；〃　he　announced　musically。　〃His　name　is　Rowdy
Vaughanbronco…peeler；　crap　fiend；　and　all…round　bad　man。　He　ain't　a　safe
companion；　and　yuh　want　t'　sleep　with　your　six…guns　cuddled　under　your　right
ear；　and　never；　on　no　account；　show　him　your　backs。　He's　a　real　wolf；　he　is；
and　the　only　reason　I　live　t'　tell　the　tale　is　because　he　respects
m'　size。　Boys；　I'm　afraid　for　yuhbut　I　wish　yuh　well。〃

〃Pink；　you　need　killing；　and　I'm　tempted　to　live　up　to　my　rep；〃　grinned
Rowdy　indulgently。　〃Read　me　the　pedigree　of　your　friends。〃

〃Oh；　they　ain't　no　worsewhen　yuh　git　used　to　'em。　That　long…legged　jasper
with　the　far…away　look　in　his　eyes　is　the　Silent　Oneif　he　takes　a　notion
t'　you；　he'll　maybe　tell　yuh　the　name　his　mother　calls　him。　He　may　have　seen
better　days；　but　here's　hoping　he　won't　see　no　worse！　He　once　was　a
tenderfoot；　but　he's　convalescing。〃

The　Silent　One　nodded　carelessly；　but　with　a　quick；　measuring　glance　that
Rowdy　liked。

〃This　unshaved　savage　is　Smoky。　He's　harmless；　if　yuh　don't　mention
socialism　in　his　presence；　and　if　yuh　do；　he'll
down…with…the…trust…and…long…live…the…sons…uh…toil；　all　hours　uh　the　night；
and　keep　folks　awake。　Then　him　and　the　fellow　that　started　him　off　'll
likely　get　chapped　good　and　plenty。　Over　there's　Jim　Ellis　and　Bob　Nevin；
they've　both　turned　a　cow　or　two；　and　I've　seen　worse　specimens　running
around　looseplenty　of　'em。　That　man　hidin'　behind　the　grinyou　can　see
him　if　yuh　look　closeis　Sunny　Sam。　Yuh　needn't　take　no　notice　of　him；
unless　you're　a　mind　to。　He　won't　carehe's　dead　gentle。

〃Say；〃　he　broke　off；　〃how'd　you　happen　t'　stray　onto　this　range；　anyhow？　Yuh
used　t'　belong　t　the　Horseshoe　Bar　so　solid　the　assessor　always　t'　yuh　down
on　the　personal…property　list。〃

〃They　won't　pay　taxes　on　me　no　more；　son。〃　Rowdy's　eyes　dwelt　fondly　upon
Pink's　cupid…bow　mouth　and　dimples。　He　had　never　dreamed　of　finding　Pink
here；　though；　when　he　came　to　think　of　it　there　was　no　reason　why　he
shouldn't。

Pink　was　not　like　any　one　else。　He　was　slight　and　girlish　to　look　at。　But
you　mustn't　trust　appearances；　for　Pink　was　all　muscle　strung　on　steel　wire；
according　to　the　belief　of　those　who　tried　to　handle　him。　He　had　little
white　hands；　and　feet　that　looked　quite　comfortable　in　a　number　four　boot；
and　his　hair　was　a　tawny　gold　and　curled　in　distracting；　damp　rings　on　his
forehead。　His　eyes　were　blue　and　long…lashed　and　beautiful；　and　they　looked
at　the　world　with　baby　innocencewhereas　a　more　sophisticated
little　devil　never　jangled　spurs　at　his　heels。　He　was　everything　but
insipid；　and　men　liked　himunless　he　chose　to　dislike　them；　when　they
thought　of　him　with　grating　teeth。　To　find　him　bullying　the　Cross　L　boys
brought　a　warmth　to　Rowdy's　heart。

Pink　made　a　cigarette；　and　then　offered　Rowdy　his　tobacco…sack；　and　asked
questions　about　the　Cypress　Hills　country。　How　was　this　girl？and　was　that
one　married　yet？and　did　the　other　still　grieve　for　him？　As　a　matter　of
fact；　he　had　yet　to　see　the　girl　who　could　quicken　his　pulse　a　single　beat；
and　for　that　reason　it　sometimes　pleased　him　to　affect　susceptibility　beyond
that　of　other　men。

It　was　after　dinner　when　he　and　Rowdy　went　humming　down　to　the　stables；
gossiping　like　a　couple　of　old　women　over　a　back　fence。

〃I　see　you've　got　Conroy's　Chub　yet；〃　Pink　observed　carelessly。

〃Oh；　for　Heaven's　sake　let　up　on　that　cayuse！〃　Rowdy　cried　petulantly。　〃I
wish　I'd　never　got　sight　of　the　little　buzzard…head；　I've　had　him　crammed
down　my　throat　the　last　da