rowdy of the cross l-第5章

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wish　I'd　never　got　sight　of　the　little　buzzard…head；　I've　had　him　crammed
down　my　throat　the　last　day　or　two　till　it's　getting　plumb　monotonous。　Pink；
that　cayuse　never　saw　Oregon。　He　was　raised　right　on　this　flat；　and　he
belongs　to　old　Rodway。　I've　got　to　lead　him　back　there　and　turn　him　over
to…day。〃

Pink　took　three　puffs　at　his　cigarette；　and　lifted　his　long　lashes　to
Rowdy's　gloom…filled　face。　〃Stole？〃　he　asked　briefly。

〃Stole；〃　Rowdy　repeated　disgustedly。　〃So　was　the　whole　blame'　bunch；　as　near
as　I　can　make　out。〃

〃We　might　'a'　knowed　it。　We　might　'a'　guessed　Harry　Conroy　wouldn't　have　a
straight　title　to　anything　if　he　could　make　it　crooked。　I　bet　he　never
finished　paying　back　that　money　yuh　lent　himout　uh　the　kindness　uh　your
heart。　Did　he？〃　Pink　leaned　against　the　corral　fence　and　kicked　meditatively
at　a　snow…covered　rock。

〃He　did　not；　m'　son。　Chub's　all　I　ever　got　out　uh　the　dealand　I　haven't
even　got　him。　I　borrowed　him　from　Rodway　to　pack　my　bed　overborrowed　the
blame'　little　runty　cayuse　that　cost　me　sixty…four　hard…earned　dollars；
that's　what　Harry　borrowed　of　me。　And　every　blame'　gazabo　on　the　flat　wanted
to　know　what　I　was　doing　with　him！〃

〃I　can　tell　yuh　where　t'　find　Conroy；　Rowdy。　He's　working　for　an　outfit　down
on　the　river。　I'd　sure　fix　him　for　this！　Yuh　got　plenty　of　evidence；　you　can
send　him　up　like　a　charm。　It　was　different　when　he　cut　your　latigo　strap　in
that　rough…riding　contest；　yuh　couldn't　prove　it　on　him。　But　thiswhy；　man；
it's　a　cinch！〃

〃I　haven't　lost　Harry　Conroy；　so　I　ain't　looking　for　him　just　now；〃　growled
Rowdy。　〃So　long　as　he　keeps　out　uh　reach；　I　won't　ask　no　more　of　him。

And；　Pink；　I　wish　you'd　keep　this　quietabout　him　having　Chub。　I　told
Rodway　I　couldn't　put　him　next　to　the　fellow　that　brought　that　bunch　across
the　line。　I　told　him　the　fellow　went　north　and　got　killed。　He　did　go
northfifty　miles　or　so；　and　he'd　ought　to　been　killed；　if　he　wasn't。　Let
it　go　that　way；　Pink。〃

Pink　looked　like　a　cherub…faced　child　when　he　has　been　told　there's　no　Santa
Claus。　〃Sure；　if　yuh　say　so；〃　he　stammered　dubiously。　He　eyed　Rowdy
reproachfully；　and　then　looked　away　to　the　horizon。　He　kicked　the　rock　out
of　place；　and　then　poked　it　painstakingly　back　with　his　toeand　from　the
look　of　him；　he　did　not　know　there　was　a　rock　there　at　all。

〃How'd　yuh　happen　to　run　across　Rodway？〃　he　asked　guilelessly。

〃I　stopped　there　last　night。　I　got　to　milling　around　in　that　storm；　and　ran
across　the　schoolma'am　that　boards　at　Rodway's；　She　was　plumb　lost；　too；　so
we　dubbed　around　together　for　a　while；　and　finally　got　inside　Rodway's
field。　Then　Chub　come　alive　and　piloted　us　to　the　house。　This　morning　Rodway
claimed　himsays　the　brand　has　been　worked　from　a　Roman　four。　Oh；　it's　all
straight　goods；〃　he　added　hastily。　〃Old　Eagle　Creek　here　knew　him；　too。〃

But　Pink　was　not　thinking　of　Chub。　He　hunched　his　chap…belt　higher　and　spat
viciously　into　the　snow。　〃I　knowed　it；〃　he　declared；　with　melancholy
triumph。　〃It's　school…ma'amitis　that's　gave　yuh　softening　uh　the　vitals；　and
not　no　Christian　charity　play。　How　comes　it　you're　took　that　way；　all
unbeknown　t'　your　friends？　Yuh　never　used　t'　bother　about　no　female　girls。
It's　a　cinch　you're　wise　that　she's　Harry's　sister；　and　I　admit　she's　a
swell　looker。　But　so's　he；　and　I　should　think；　Rowdy；　you'd　had　about　enough
uh　that　brand　uh　snake。〃

〃There's　nothing　so　snaky　about　her　that　I　could　see；〃　defended　Rowdy。　He
did　not　particularly　relish　having　his　own　mental　argument　against　Miss
Conroy　thrown　back　at　him　from　another。　〃She　seemed　to　be　all　right；　and　if
you'd　seen　how　plucky　she　was　in　that　blizzard〃

〃Well；　I　never　heard　anybody　stand　up　and　call　Harry　white…livered；　when　yuh
come　t'　that；〃　Pink　cut　in　tartly。　〃Anyway；　you're　a　blame　fool。　If　she　was
a　little　white…winged　angel；　yuh　wouldn't　stand　no　kind　uh　show；　and　I　tell
yuh　why。　She's　got　a　little　tin　god　that　she　says　prayers　to　regular。

That's　Harry。　And　wouldn't　he　be　the　fine　brother…in…law？　He　could　borrow
all　your　wages　off'n　yuh；　and　when　yuh　went　t'　make　a　pretty　ride；　he'd　up
and　cut　your　latigo；　and　give　yuh　a　fall。　And　he　could　work　stolen　horses
off　onto　yuhand　yuh　wouldn't　give　a　damn；　'cause　Jessie　wears　a　number　two
shoe〃

〃You　must　have　done　some　rimrock　riding　after　her　yourself！〃　jeered　Rowdy。

〃And　has　got　shiny　brown　eyes；　just　like　Harry's〃

〃They're　not！〃　laughed　Rowdy；　half…angrily。　〃If　you　say　that　again；　Pink；
I'll　stick　your　head　in　a　snow…bank。　Her　eyes　are　all　right。　They　sure　look
good　to　me。〃

〃You've　sure　got　'em；〃　mourned　Pink。　〃Yuh　need　t'　be　close…herded　by　your
friends；　and　that's　no　dream。　You　wait　till　toward　evening　before　yuh　take
that　horse　back。　I'm　going　along　t'　chappyrone　yuh；　Rowdy。　Yuh　ain't　safe
running　loose　any　more。〃

Rowdy　cursed　him　companionably　and　told　him　to　go　along；　if　he　wanted　to；
and　to　look　out　he　didn't　throw　up　his　own　hands；　and　Pink　grumbled　and
swore　and　did　go　along。　But　when　they　got　there；　Miss　Conroy　greeted　him
like　a　very　good　friend；　which　sent　Rowdy　sulky；　and　kept　him　so　all　the
evening。　It　seemed　to　him　that　Pink　was　playing　a　double　game；　and　when　they
started　home　he　told　him　so。

But　Pink　turned　in　his　saddle　and　smiled　so　that　his　dimples　showed　plainly
in　the　moonlight。　〃Chappyrones　that　set　in　a　corner　and　look　wise　are　the
rankest　kind　uh　fakes；〃　he　explained。　〃When　she　was　talking　to　me；　she　was
letting　you　alonesee？〃

Rowdy　accepted　the　explanation　silently；　and　stored　it　away　in　his　memory。
After　that；　by　riding　craftily；　and　by　threats；　and　by　much　vituperation；　he
managed　to　reach　Rodway's　unchapperoned　at　least　three　times　out　of
fivewhich　was　doing　remarkably　well；　when　one　considers　Pink。



CHAPTER　5

At　Home　at　Cross　L。

In　two　days　Rowdy　was　quite　at　home　with　the　Cross　L。　In　a　month　he　found
himself　transplanted　from　the　smoke…laden　air　of　the　bunk…house；　and　set　off
from　the　world　in　a　line　camp；　with　nothing　to　do　but　patrol　the　boggy　banks
of　Milk　River；　where　it　was　still　unfenced　and　unclaimed　by　small　farmers。
The　only　mitigation　of　his　exile；　so　far　as　he　could　see；　lay　in
the　fact　that　he　had　Pink　and　the　Silent　One　for　companions。

It　developed　that　when　he　would　speak　to　the　Silent　One；　he　must　say　Jim；　or
wait　long　for　a　reply。　Also；　the　Silent　One　was　not　always　silent；　and　he
was　quick　to　observe　the　weak　points　in　those　around　him；　and　keen　at
repartee。　When　it　pleased　him　so　to　do；　he　could　handle　the　English　language
in　a　way　that　was　perfectly　amazingand　not　always　intelligible　to　the
unschooled。　At　such　times　Pink　frankly　made　no　attempt　to　understand　him；
Rowdy；　having　been　hustled　through　grammar　school　and　two…thirds　through
high　school　before　he　ran　away　from　a　brand　new　stepmother；　rather　enjoyed
the　outbreaks　and　Pink's　consequent　disgust。

Not　one　of　them　loved　particularly　the　line　camp；　and　Rowdy　least　of　all；
since　it　put　an　extra　ten　miles　between　Miss　Conroy　and　himself。　Rowdy　had
got　to　that　point　where　his　mind　dwelt　much　upon　matters　domestic；　and　he
made　many　secret　calculations　on　the　cost　of　housekeeping　for　two。　More　than
that；　he　put　himself　upon　a　rigid　allowance　for　pocket…moneyan　allowance
barely　sufficient　to　keep　him　in　tobacco　and　papers。　All　this　without
consulting　Miss　Conroy's　wisheswhich　only　goes　to　show　that　Rowdy　Vaughan
was　a　born　optimist。

The　Silent　One　complained　that　he　could　not　keep　supplied　with
reading…matter；　and　Pink　bewailed　the　monotony　of　inaction。　For；　beyond
watching　the　river　to　keep　the　cattle　from　miring　in　the　mud　lately　released
from　frost　grip；　there　was　nothing　to　do。

According　to　the　calendar；　spring　was　well　upon　them；　and　the　prairies　would
soon　be　flaunting　new　dresses　of　green。　The　calendar；　however；　had　neglected
to　record　the　rainless　heat　of　the　summer　gone　before；　or　the　searing　winds
that　burned　the　grass　brown　as　it　grew；　or　the　winter　which　forgot　its　part
and　permitted　prairie…dogs　to　chip…chip…chip　above　ground　in　January；　when
they　should　be　sleeping　decently　in　their　cellar　homes。

Apart　from　the　brief　storm　which　Rowdy　had　brought　with　him；　there　had　been
no　snow　worth　considering。　Always　the　chill　winds　shaved　the　barren　land
from　the　north；　or　veered　unexpectedly；　and　blew　dry　warmth　from　the
southwest；　but　never　the　snow　for　which　the　land　yearned。　Wind；　and　bright
sunlight；　and　more　wind；　and　hypocritical；　drifting　clouds；　and　more　sun；
lean　cattle　walking；　walking；　up…hill　and　down　coulee；　nose　to　the　dry
ground；　snipping　the　stray　tufts　where　should　be　a　woolly　carpet　of　sweet；
ripened　grasses；　eating　wildrose　bushes　level　with　the　sod；　and　wishing
there　was　only　an　abundance　even　of　them；　drifting　uneasily　from　hilltop　to
farther　hilltop；　hunger…driven　and　gaunt；　where　should　be　sleek　content。
When　they　sought　to　continue　their　quest　beyond　the　river；　and　the　weaker
bogged　at　its　muddy　edge；　Rowdy　and　Pink　and　the　Silent　One　would　ride　out；
and　with　their　ropes　drag　them　back　ignominiously　to　solid　ground　and　the
very　doubtful　joy　of　living。

May　Day　found　the　grass…land　brown　and　lifeless；　with　a　chill　wind　blowing
over　it。　The　cattle　wandered　as　before　except　that　knock…kneed　little　calves
trailed　beside　their　lean　mothers　and　clamored　for　full　stomachs。

The　Cross　L　cattle　bore　the　brunt　of　the　range　famine；　because　Eagle　Creek
Smith　was　a　stockman　of　the　old　school。　His　cattle　must　live　on　the　open
range；　because　they　always　had　done　so。　Other　men　bought　or　leased　large
tracts　of　grass…land；　and　fenced　them　for　just　such　an　emergency；　but　not
he。　It　is　true　that　he　had　two　or　three　large　fields；　as　Miss　Conroy　had
told　Rowdy；　but　it　was　his　boast　that　all　the　hay　he　raised　was　eaten　by　his
saddlehorses；　and　that　all　the　fields　he　owned　were　used　solely　for　horse
pastures。　The　open　range　was　the　place　for　cattle　and　no　Cross　L　critter
ever　fed　inside　a　wire　fence。

Through　the　dry　summer　before；　when　other　men　read　the　ominous　signs　and
hurriedly　leased　pasture…land　and　cut　down　their　herds　to　what　the　fields
would　feed；　Eagle　Creek　went　calmly　on　as　he　had　done　always。　He　shipped
what　beef　was　fit　and　that；　of　a　truth；　was　not　much！and　settled　down
for　the　winter；　trusting　to　winter　snows　and　spring　rains　to　refill　the
long…dry　lakes　and　waterholes；　and　coat　the　levels　anew　with　grass。

But　the　winter　snows　had　failed　to　appear；　and　with　the　spring　came　no　rain。
〃April　showers〃　became　a　hideously　ironical　joke　at　nature's　expense。　Always
the　wind　blew；　and　sometimes　great　flocks　of　clouds　would　drift
superciliously　up　from　the　far　sky…line；　play　with　men's　hopes；　and　sail
disdainfully　on　to　some　more　favored　land。

It　is　all　very　well　for　a　man　to　cling　stubbornly　to　precedent；　but　if　he
clings　long　enough；　there　comes　a　time　when　to　cling　becomes　akin　to　crime。
Eagle　Creek　Smith　still　stubbornly　held　that　rangecattle　should　be　kept　to
the　range。　He　waited　until　May　was　fast　merging　to　June；　watching；　from
sheer　habit；　for　the　spring　transformation　of　brown　prairies　into　green。
When　it　did　not　come；　and　only　the　coulee　sides　and　bottoms　showed　green
among　the　brown；　he　accepted　ruefully　the　unusual　conditions　which　nature
had　t