arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第12章
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scattered band； requiring scarcely any supervision。 Escape？ Bless you；
no； that thought was the last in their minds。 In the meantime the
saddles and bridles were adjusted。 Always in a cowboy's 〃string〃 of from
six to ten animals the boss assigns him two or three broncos to break in to
the cow business。 Therefore； each morning we could observe a half
dozen or so men gingerly leading wicked looking little animals out to the
sand 〃to take the pitch out of them。〃 One small black； belonging to a
cowboy called the Judge； used more than to fulfil expectations of a good
time。 〃Go to him； Judge！〃 someone would always remark。
〃If he ain't goin' to pitch； I ain't goin' to make him〃； the Judge would grin；
as he swung aboard。 The black would trot off quite calmly and in a
most matter of fact way； as though to shame all slanderers of his lamb…like
character。 Then； as the bystanders would turn away； he would utter a
squeal； throw down his head； and go at it。 He was a very hard bucker；
and made some really spectacular jumps； but the trick on which he based
his claims to originality consisted in standing on his hind legs at so
perilous an approach to the perpendicular that his rider would conclude he
was about to fall backwards； and then suddenly springing forward in a
series of stiff…legged bucks。 The first manoeuvre induced the rider to
loosen his seat in order to be ready to jump from under； and the second
threw him before he could regain his grip。 〃And they say a horse
don't think！〃 exclaimed an admirer。 But as these were broken
horsessave the mark！the show was all over after each had had his little
fling。 We mounted and rode away； just as the mountain peaks to the west
caught the rays of a sun we should not enjoy for a good half hour yet。
I had five horses in my string； and this morning rode 〃that C S horse；
Brown Jug。〃 Brown Jug was a powerful and well…built animal； about
fourteen two in height； and possessed of a vast enthusiasm for cow…work。
As the morning was frosty； he felt good。 At the gate of the water
corral we separated into two groups。 The smaller； under the direction of
Jed Parker； was to drive the mesquite in the wide flats。 The rest of us；
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under the command of Homer； the round…up captain； were to sweep the
country even as far as the base of the foothills near Mount Graham。
Accordingly we put our horses to the full gallop。 Mile after mile we
thundered along at a brisk rate of speed。 Sometimes we dodged in and
out among the mesquite bushes； alternately separating and coming
together again； sometimes we swept over grassy plains apparently of
illimitable extent； sometimes we skipped and hopped and buck…jumped
through and over little gullies； barrancas； and other sorts of malpaisbut
always without drawing rein。 The men rode easily； with no thought to
the way nor care for the footing。 The air came back sharp against our
faces。 The warm blood stirred by the rush flowed more rapidly。 We
experienced a delightful glow。 Of the morning cold only the very tips of
our fingers and the ends of our noses retained a remnant。 Already the sun
was shining low and level across the plains。 The shadows of the canons
modelled the hitherto flat surfaces of the mountains。
After a time we came to some low hills helmeted with the outcrop of a
rock escarpment。 Hitherto they had seemed a termination of Mount
Graham； but now； when we rode around them； we discovered them to be
separated from the range by a good five miles of sloping plain。 Later we
looked back and would have sworn them part of the Dos Cabesas system；
did we not know them to be at least eight miles' distant from that rocky
rampart。 It is always that way in Arizona。 Spaces develop of whose
existence you had not the slightest intimation。 Hidden in apparently
plane surfaces are valleys and prairies。 At one sweep of the eye you
embrace the entire area of an eastern State； but nevertheless the reality as
you explore it foot by foot proves to be infinitely more than the vision has
promised。 Beyond the hill we stopped。 Here our party divided
again； half to the right and half to the left。 We had ridden； up to this time；
directly away from camp； now we rode a circumference of which
headquarters was the centre。 The country was pleasantly rolling and
covered with grass。 Here and there were clumps of soapweed。 Far in a
remote distance lay a slender dark line across the plain。 This we knew to
be mesquite； and once entered； we knew it； too； would seem to spread out
vastly。 And then this grassy slope； on which we now rode； would show
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merely as an insignificant streak of yellow。 It is also like that in Arizona。
I have ridden in succession through grass land； brush land； flower land；
desert。 Each in turn seemed entirely to fill the space of the plains
between the mountains。 From time to time Homer halted us and
detached a man。 The business of the latter was then to ride directly back
to camp； driving all cattle before him。 Each was in sight of his right…
and left…hand neighbour。 Thus was constructed a drag…net whose meshes
contracted as home was neared。 I was detached； when of our party
only the Cattleman and Homer remained。 They would take the outside。
This was the post of honour； and required the hardest riding； for as soon as
the cattle should realise the fact of their pursuit； they would attempt to
〃break〃 past the end and up the valley。 Brown Jug and I congratulated
ourselves on an exciting morning in prospect。 Now； wild cattle
know perfectly well what a drive means； and they do not intend to get into
a round…up if they can help it。 Were it not for the two facts； that they are
afraid of a mounted man； and cannot run quite so fast as a horse； I do not
know how the cattle business would be conducted。 As soon as a band of
them caught sight of any one of us； they curled their tails and away they
went at a long； easy lope that a domestic cow would stare at in wonder。
This was all very well； in fact we yelled and shrieked and otherwise
uttered cow…calls to keep them going； to 〃get the cattle started；〃 as they
say。 But pretty soon a little band of the many scurrying away before our
thin line； began to bear farther and farther to the east。 When in their
judgment they should have gained an opening； they would turn directly
back and make a dash for liberty。 Accordingly the nearest cowboy
clapped spurs to his horse and pursued them。 It was a pretty race。
The cattle ran easily enough； with long； springy jumps that carried them
over the ground faster than appearances would lead one to believe。 The
cow…pony； his nose stretched out； his ears slanted； his eyes snapping with
joy of the chase； flew fairly 〃belly to earth。〃 The rider sat slightly
forward； with the cowboy's loose seat。 A whirl of dust； strangely
insignificant against the immensity of a desert morning； rose from the
flying group。 Now they disappeared in a ravine； only to scramble out
again the next instant； pace undiminished。 The rider merely rose slightly
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and threw up his elbows to relieve the jar of the rough gully。 At first the
cattle seemed to hold their； own； but soon the horse began to gain。 In a
short time he had come abreast of the leading animal。
The latter stopped short with a snort； dodged back； and set out at right
angles to his former course。 From a dead run the pony came to a stand in
two fierce plunges； doubled like a shot； and was off on the other tack。 An
unaccustomed rider would here have lost his seat。 The second dash was
short。 With a final shake of the head； the steers turned to the proper
course in the direction of the ranch。 The pony dropped unconcernedly to
the shuffling jog of habitual progression。
Far away stretched the arc of our cordon。 The most distant rider
was a speck； and the cattle ahead of him were like maggots endowed with
a smooth； swift onward motion。 As yet the herd had not taken form； it
was still too widely scattered。 Its units； in the shape of small bunches；
momently grew in numbers。 The distant plains were crawling and alive
with minute creatures making toward a common tiny centre。
Immediately in our front the cattle at first behaved very well。 Then far
down the long gentle slope I saw a break for the upper valley。 The
manikin that represented Homer at once became even smaller as it
departed in pursuit。 The Cattleman moved down to cover Homer's
territory until he should returnand I in turn edged farther to the right。
Then another break from another bunch。 The Cattleman rode at top
speed to head it。 Before long he disappeared in the distant mesquite。 I
found myself in sole charge of a front three miles long。
The
