arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第25章
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That is all the rest we did get。 I don't know how fast we went； I'd got
beyond that。 We must have crawled along mighty slow； though； after our
first strength gave out。 The way I used to do was to collect myself with
an effort； look around for my bearings； pick out a landmark a little
distance off； and forget everything but it。 Then I'd plod along； knowing
nothing but the sand and shale and slope under my feet； until I'd reached
that landmark。 Then I'd clear my mind and pick out another。 But I
couldn't shut out the figure of Schwartz that way。 He used to walk along
just ahead of my shoulder。 His face was all twisted up； but I remember
thinking at the time it looked more as if he was worried in his mind than
like bodily suffering。 The weight of the gold in his clothes bent his
shoulders over。 As we went on the country gradually got to be more
mountainous； and； as we were steadily growing weaker； it did seem things
were piling up on us。 The eighth day we ran out of the fishhook cactus；
and； being on a high promontory； were out of touch with the sea。 For the
first time my tongue began to swell a little。 The cactus had kept me from
that before。 Denton must have been in the same fix； for he looked at me
and raised one eyebrow kind of humorous。 Schwartz was having a
good deal of difficulty to navigate。 I will say for him that he had done
well； but now I could see that his strength was going on him in spite of
himself。 He knew it； all right； for when we rested that day he took all the
gold coins and spread them in a row； and counted them； and put them back
in his pocket； and then all of a sudden snatched out two handfuls and
threw them as far as he could。 〃Too heavy；〃 he muttered； but that was
all he could bring himself to throw away。 All that night we wandered
high in the air。 I guess we tried to keep a general direction； but I don't
know。 Anyway； along late； but before moonriseshe was now on the
waneI came to； and found myself looking over the edge of a twenty…foot
drop。 Right below me I made out a faint glimmer of white earth in the
starlight。 Somehow it reminded me of a little trail I used to know under a
big rock back in Texas。 〃Here's a trail；〃 I thought； more than half loco；
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〃I'll follow it！〃 At least that's what half of me thought。 The other
half was sensible； and knew better； but it seemed to be kind of standing to
one side； a little scornful； watching the performance。 So I slid and
slipped down to the strip of white earth； and； sure enough； it was a trail。
At that the loco half of me gave the sensible part the laugh。 I followed
the path twenty feet and came to a dark hollow under the rock； and in it a
round pool of water about a foot across。 They say a man kills himself
drinking too much； after starving for water。 That may be； but it didn't kill
me； and I sucked up all I could hold。 Perhaps the fishhook cactus had
helped。 Well； sir； it was surprising how that drink brought me around。
A minute before I'd been on the edge of going plumb loco； and here I was
as clear…headed as a lawyer。 I hunted up Denton and Schwartz。
They drank； themselves full； too。 Then we rested。 It was mighty hard
to leave that spring Oh； we had to do it。 We'd have starved sure；
there。 The trail was a game trail； but that did us no good； for we had no
weapons。
How we did wish for the coffeepot； so we could take some away。 We
filled our hats； and carried them about three hours； before the water
began to soak through。 Then we had to drink it in order to save it。
The country fairly stood up on end。 We had to climb separate little
hills so as to avoid rolling rocks down on each other。 It took it out of us。
About this time we began to see mountain sheep。 They would come right
up to the edges of the small cliffs to look at us。 We threw stones at them；
hoping to hit one in the forehead； but of course without any results。
The good effects of the water lasted us about a day。 Then we began to
see things again。 Off and on I could see water plain as could be in every
hollow； and game of all kinds standing around and looking at me。 I knew
these were all fakes。 By making an effort I could swing things around to
where they belonged。 I used to do that every once in a while； just to be
sure we weren't doubling back； and to look out for real water。 But most
of the time it didn't seem to be worth while。 I just let all these visions
riot around and have a good time inside me or outside me； whichever it
was。 I knew I could get rid of them any minute。 Most of the time； if I
was in any doubt； it was easier to throw a stone to see if the animals were
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real or not。 The real ones ran away。 We began to see bands of wild
horses in the uplands。 One day both Denton and I plainly saw one with
saddle marks on him。 If only one of us had seen him； it wouldn't have
counted much； but we both made him out。 This encouraged us
wonderfully； though I don't see why it should have。 We had topped the
high country； too； and had started down the other side of the mountains
that ran out on the promontory。 Denton and I were still navigating
without any thought of giving up； but Schwartz was getting in bad shape。
I'd hate to pack twenty pounds over that country even with rest； food； and
water。 He was toting it on nothing。 We told him so； and he came to see
it； but he never could persuade himself to get rid of the gold all at once。
Instead he threw away the pieces one by one。 Each sacrifice seemed to
nerve him up for another heat。 I can shut my eyes and see it nowthe
wide； glaring； yellow country； the pasteboard mountains； we three
dragging along； and the fierce sunshine flashing from the doubloons as
one by one they went spinning through the air。
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN； THE
CHEWED SUGAR CANE
〃I'd like to have trailed you fellows；〃 sighed a voice from the corner。
〃Would you！〃 said Colorado Rogers grimly。
It was five days to the next water。 But they were worse than the
eight days before。 We were lucky； however； for at the spring we
discovered in a deep wash near the coast； was the dried…up skull of a horse。
It had been there a long time； but a few shreds of dried flesh still clung to
it。 It was the only thing that could be described as food that had passed
our lips since breakfast thirteen days before。 In that time we had crossed
the mountain chain； and had come again to the sea。 The Lord was good
to us。 He sent us the water； and the horse's skull； and the smooth hard
beach； without breaks or the necessity of climbing hills。 And we needed
it； oh； I promise you； we needed it！
I doubt if any of us could have kept the direction except by such an
obvious and continuous landmark as the sea to our left。 It hardly seemed
worth while to focus my mind； but I did it occasionally just by way of
testing myself。 Schwartz still threw away his gold coins； and once； in
one of my rare intervals of looking about me； I saw Denton picking them
up。 This surprised me mildly； but I was too tired to be very curious。
Only now； when I saw Schwartz's arm sweep out in what had become a
mechanical movement； I always took pains to look； and always I saw
Denton search for the coin。 Sometimes he found it； and sometimes he
did not。 The figures of my companions and the yellow…brown tide
sand under my feet； and a consciousness of the blue and white sea to my
left； are all I remember； except when we had to pull ourselves together for
the purpose of cutting fishhook cactus。 I kept going； and I knew I had a
good reason for doing so； but it seemed too much of an effort to recall
what that reason was。 Schwartz threw away a gold piece as another
man would take a stimulant。 Gradually； without really thinking about it；
I came to see this； and then went on to sabe why Denton picked up the
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coins； and a great admiration for Denton's cleverness seeped through me
like water through the sand。 He was saving the coins to keep Schwartz
going。 When the last coin went； Schwartz would give out。 It all sounds
queer now； but it seemed all right thenand it WAS all right； too。 So
we walked on the beach； losing entire track of time。 And after a long
interval I came to myself to see Schwartz lying on the sand； and Denton
standing over him。 Of course we'd all been falling down a lot； but
always before we'd got up again。 〃He's give out；〃 croaked Denton。
His voice sounded as if it was miles away； which surprised me； but； when
I answered； mine sounded miles away； too； which surprised me still more。
Denton pulled out a handful of gold coins。 〃This will buy him some
more walk；〃 said he gravely； 〃but not much。〃 I nodded。 It seemed
all right； this new； strange purchasing power of goldit WAS all right； by
God； and as real as buying bricks 〃I'll go on；〃 said Denton； 〃and
send back help。 You come after。〃
〃To Mollyhay！〃 said I。 This far I reckon we'd hung onto ourselves
