arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
found myself in sole charge of a front three miles long。
The nearest cattle were some distance ahead； and trotting along at a
good gait。 As they had not yet discovered the chance left open by
unforeseen circumstance； I descended and took in on my cinch while yet
there was time。 Even as I mounted； an impatient movement on the part
of experienced Brown Jug told me that the cattle had seen their
opportunity。 I gathered the reins and spoke to the horse。 He
needed no further direction； but set off at a wide angle； nicely calculated；
to intercept the truants。 Brown Jug was a powerful beast。 The spring
of his leap was as whalebone。 The yellow earth began to stream past like
water。 Always the pace increased with a growing thunder of hoofs。 It
52
… Page 53…
ARIZONA NIGHTS
seemed that nothing could turn us from the straight line； nothing check the
headlong momentum of our rush。 My eyes filled with tears from the
wind of our going。 Saddle strings streamed behind。 Brown Jug's mane
whipped my bridle band。 Dimly I was conscious of soapweed； sacatone；
mesquite； as we passed them。 They were abreast and gone before I could
think of them or how they were to be dodged。 Two antelope bounded
away to the left； birds rose hastily from the grasses。 A sudden chirk；
chirk； chirk； rose all about me。 We were in the very centre of a prairie…
dog town； but before I could formulate in my mind the probabilities of
holes and broken legs； the chirk； chirk； chirking had fallen astern。 Brown
Jug had skipped and dodged successfully。
We were approaching the cattle。 They ran stubbornly and well；
evidently unwilling to be turned until the latest possible moment。 A great
rage at their obstinacy took possession of us both。 A broad shallow wash
crossed our way； but we plunged through its rocks and boulders recklessly；
angered at even the slight delay they necessitated。 The hardland on the
other side we greeted with joy。 Brown Jug extended himself with a snort。
Suddenly a jar seemed to shake my very head loose。 I found myself
staring over the horse's head directly down into a deep and precipitous
gully； the edge of which was so cunningly concealed by the grasses as to
have remained invisible to my blurred vision。 Brown Jug； however； had
caught sight of it at the last instant； and had executed one of the
wonderful stops possible only to a cow…pony。 But already the cattle
had discovered a passage above； and were scrambling down and across。
Brown Jug and I； at more sober pace； slid off the almost perpendicular
bank； and out the other side。 A moment later we had headed them。
They whirled； and without the necessity of any suggestion on my part
Brown Jug turned after them； and so quickly that my stirrup actually
brushed the ground。
After that we were masters。 We chased the cattle far enough to start
them well in the proper direction； and then pulled down to a walk in order
to get a breath of air。 But now we noticed another band； back on the
ground over which we had just come； doubling through in the direction of
Mount Graham。 A hard run set them to rights。 We turned。 More had
53
… Page 54…
ARIZONA NIGHTS
poured out from the hills。 Bands were crossing everywhere； ahead and
behind。 Brown Jug and I went to work。 Being an indivisible unit；
we could chase only one bunch at a time； and； while we were after one； a
half dozen others would be taking advantage of our preoccupation。 We
could not hold our own。 Each run after an escaping bunch had to be on a
longer diagonal。 Gradually we were forced back； and back； and back；
but still we managed to hold the line unbroken。 Never shall I forget the
dash and clatter of that morning。 Neither Brown Jug nor I thought for a
moment of sparing horseflesh； nor of picking a route。 We made the
shortest line； and paid little attention to anything that stood in the way。 A
very fever of resistance possessed us。 It was like beating against a head
wind； or fighting fire； or combating in any other of the great forces of
nature。 We were quite alone。 The Cattleman and Homer had vanished。
To our left the men were fully occupied in marshalling the compact brown
herds that had gradually massedfor these antagonists of mine were
merely outlying remnants。 I suppose Brown Jug must have run
nearly twenty miles with only one check。 Then we chased a cow some
distance and into the dry bed of a stream； where she whirled on us
savagely。 By luck her horn hit only the leather of my saddle skirts； so we
left her； for when a cow has sense enough to 〃get on the peck；〃 there is no
driving her farther。 We gained nothing； and had to give ground； but we
succeeded in holding a semblance of order； so that the cattle did not break
and scatter far and wide。 The sun had by now well risen； and was
beginning to shine hot。 Brown Jug still ran gamely and displayed as
much interest as ever； but he was evidently tiring。 We were both glad to
see Homer's grey showing in the fringe of mesquite。 Together we
soon succeeded in throwing the cows into the main herd。 And； strangely
enough； as soon as they had joined a compact band of their fellows； their
wildness left them and； convoyed by outsiders； they set themselves to
plodding energetically toward the home ranch。 As my horse was
somewhat winded； I joined the 〃drag〃 at the rear。 Here by course of
natural sifting soon accumulated all the lazy； gentle； and sickly cows； and
the small calves。 The difficulty now was to prevent them from lagging
and dropping out。 To that end we indulged in a great variety of the
54
… Page 55…
ARIZONA NIGHTS
picturesque cow…calls peculiar to the cowboy。 One found an old tin can
which by the aid of a few pebbles he converted into a very effective rattle。
The dust rose in clouds and eddied in the sun。 We slouched easily in our
saddles。 The cowboys compared notes as to the brands they had seen。
Our ponies shuffled along； resting； but always ready for a dash in chase of
an occasional bull calf or yearling with independent ideas of its own。
Thus we passed over the country； down the long gentle slope to the 〃sink〃
of the valley； whence another long gentle slope ran to the base of the other
ranges。 At greater or lesser distances we caught the dust； and made out
dimly the masses of the other herds collected by our companions； and by
the party under Jed Parker。 They went forward toward the common
centre； with a slow ruminative movement； and the dust they raised went
with them。 Little by little they grew plainer to us； and the home
ranch； hitherto merely a brown shimmer in the distance； began to take on
definition as the group of buildings； windmills；and corrals we knew。
Miniature horsemen could be seen galloping forward to the open white
plain where the herd would be held。 Then the mesquite enveloped us；
and we knew little more； save the anxiety lest we overlook laggards in the
brush； until we came out on the edge of that same white plain。 Here
were more cattle； thousands of them； and billows of dust； and a great
bellowing； and slim； mounted figures riding and shouting ahead of the
herd。 Soon they succeeded in turning the leaders back。 These threw
into confusion those that followed。 In a few moments the cattle had
stopped。 A cordon of horsemen sat at equal distances holding them in。
〃Pretty good haul；〃 said the man next to me； 〃a good five thousand head。〃
55
… Page 56…
ARIZONA NIGHTS
CHAPTER SIX CUTTING OUT
It was somewhere near noon by the time we had bunched and held the
herd of some four or five thousand head in the smooth； wide flat； free from
bushes and dog holes。 Each sat at ease on his horse facing the cattle；
watching lazily the clouds of dust and the shifting beasts； but ready at any
instant to turn back the restless or independent individuals that might
break for liberty。 Out of the haze came Homer； the round…up captain；
on an easy lope。 As he passed successively the sentries he delivered to
each a low command； but without slacking pace。 Some of those spoken
to wheeled their horses and rode away。 The others settled themselves in
their saddles and began to roll cigarettes。
〃Change horses； get something to eat；〃 said he to me； so I swung after
the file traveling at a canter over the low swells beyond the plain。
The remuda had been driven by its leaders to a corner of the pasture's
wire fence； and there held。 As each man arrived he dismounted； threw
off his saddle； and turned his animal loose。 Then he flipped a loop in his
rope and disappeared in the eddying herd。 The discarded horse； with
many grunts； indulged in a satisfying roll； shook himself vigorously； and
walked slowly away。 His labour was over for the day； and he knew it；
and took not the slightest trouble to get out of the way of the men with the
swinging ropes。 Not so the fresh horses；
