arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第30章
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range rights adjusted； his cattle increased to thousands； grazing the area of
a principality。 Now； all the energy and fire of his frontiersman's nature he
had turned to wiping out the third uncertainty of an uncertain business。
He found it a task of some magnitude。 For Senor Buck Johnson lived
just north of that terra incognita filled with the mystery of a double chance
of death from man or the flaming desert known as the Mexican border。
There； by natural gravitation； gathered all the desperate characters of three
States and two republics。 He who rode into it took good care that no one
should ride behind him； lived warily； slept light； and breathed deep when
once he had again sighted the familiar peaks of Cochise's Stronghold。
No one professed knowledge of those who dwelt therein。 They moved；
mysterious as the desert illusions that compassed them about。 As you
rode； the ranges of mountains visibly changed form； the monstrous； snaky；
sea…like growths of the cactus clutched at your stirrup； mock lakes
sparkled and dissolved in the middle distance； the sun beat hot and
merciless； the powdered dry alkali beat hotly and mercilessly backand
strange； grim men； swarthy； bearded； heavily armed； with red…rimmed
unshifting eyes； rode silently out of the mists of illusion to look on you
steadily； and then to ride silently back into the desert haze。 They might
be only the herders of the gaunt cattle； or again they might belong to the
Lost Legion that peopled the country。 All you could know was that of
the men who entered in； but few returned。 Directly north of this
unknown land you encountered parallel fences running across the country。
They enclosed nothing； but offered a check to the cattle drifting toward the
clutch of the renegades； and an obstacle to swift； dashing forays。 Of
cattle…rustling there are various forms。 The boldest consists quite simply
of running off a bunch of stock； hustling it over the Mexican line； and
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there selling it to some of the big Sonora ranch owners。 Generally this
sort means war。 Also are there subtler means； grading in skill from the
re…branding through a wet blanket； through the crafty refashioning of a
brand to the various methods of separating the cow from her unbranded
calf。 In the course of his task Senor Buck Johnson would have to do with
them all； but at present he existed in a state of warfare； fighting an enemy
who stole as the Indians used to steal。
Already be had fought two pitched battles and had won them both。
His cattle increased； and he became rich。 Nevertheless he knew that
constantly his resources were being drained。 Time and again he and his
new Texas foreman； Jed Parker； had followed the trail of a stampeded
bunch of twenty or thirty； followed them on down through the Soda
Springs Valley to the cut drift fences； there to abandon them。 For； as yet；
an armed force would be needed to penetrate the borderland。 Once he
and his men bad experienced the glory of a night pursuit。 Then； at the
drift fences； he had fought one of his battles。 But it was impossible
adequately to patrol all parts of a range bigger than some Eastern States。
Buck Johnson did his best； but it was like stepping with sand the
innumerable little leaks of a dam。 Did his riders watch toward the
Chiricahuas； then a score of beef steers disappeared from Grant's Pass
forty miles away。 Pursuit here meant leaving cattle unguarded there。 It
was useless； and the Senor soon perceived that sooner or later he must
strike in offence。 For this purpose he began slowly to strengthen the
forces of his riders。 Men were coming in from Texas。 They were good
men； addicted to the grass…rope； the double cinch； and the ox…bow stirrup。
Senor Johnson wanted men who could shoot； and he got them。 〃Jed；〃
said Senor Johnson to his foreman； 〃the next son of a gun that rustles any
of our cows is sure loading himself full of trouble。 We'll hit his trail and
will stay with it； and we'll reach his cattle…rustling conscience with a
rope。〃
So it came about that a little army crossed the drift fences and entered
the border country。 Two days later it came out； and mighty pleased to be
able to do so。 The rope had not been used。 The reason for the
defeat was quite simple。 The thief had run his cattle through the lava
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beds where the trail at once became difficult to follow。 This delayed the
pursuing party； they ran out of water； and； as there was among them not
one man well enough acquainted with the country to know where to find
more； they had to return。
〃No use； Buck；〃 said Jed。 〃We'd any of us come in on a gun play； but
we can't buck the desert。 We'll have to get someone who knows the
country。〃 〃That's all rightbut where？〃 queried Johnson。
〃There's Pereza；〃 suggested Parker。 〃It's the only town down near that
country。〃 〃Might get someone there；〃 agreed the Senor。 Next day
he rode away in search of a guide。 The third evening he was back again；
much discouraged。
〃The country's no good；〃 he explained。 〃The regular inhabitants 're a
set of Mexican bums and old soaks。 The cowmen's all from north and
don't know nothing more than we do。 I found lots who claimed to know
that country； but when I told 'em what I wanted they shied like a colt。 I
couldn't hire'em； for no money； to go down in that country。 They ain't got
the nerve。 I took two days to her； too； and rode out to a ranch where they
said a man lived who knew all about it down there。 Nary riffle。 Man
looked all right； but his tail went down like the rest when I told him what
we wanted。 Seemed plumb scairt to death。 Says he lives too close to
the gang。 Says they'd wipe him out sure if he done it。 Seemed plumb
SCAIRT。〃 Buck Johnson grinned。 〃I told him so and he got hosstyle
right off。 Didn't seem no ways scairt of me。 I don't know what's the
matter with that outfit down there。 They're plumb terrorised。〃
That night a bunch of steers was stolen from the very corrals of the
home ranch。 The home ranch was far north； near Fort Sherman itself；
and so had always been considered immune from attack。 Consequently
these steers were very fine ones。 For the first time Buck Johnson lost
his head and his dignity。 He ordered the horses。 〃I'm going to follow
that into Sonora；〃 he shouted to Jed Parker。 〃This thing's got to
stop！〃
〃You can't make her； Buck；〃 objected the foreman。 〃You'll get held up
by the desert； and； if that don't finish you； they'll tangle you up in all those
little mountains down there； and ambush you； and massacre you。 You
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know it damn well。〃
〃I don't give a 〃 exploded Senor Johnson； 〃if they do。 No man can
slap my face and not get a run for it。〃 Jed Parker communed with
himself。
〃Senor；〃 said he； at last；〃it's no good； you can't do it。 You got to have
a guide。 You wait three days and I'll get you one。〃
〃You can't do it；〃 insisted the Senor。 〃I tried every man in the district。〃
〃Will you wait three days？〃 repeated the foreman。 Johnson
pulled loose his latigo。 His first anger had cooled。 〃All right；〃 he
agreed； 〃and you can say for me that I'll pay five thousand dollars in gold
and give all the men and horses he needs to the man who has the nerve to
get back that bunch of cattle； and bring in the man who rustled them。 I'll
sure make this a test case。〃 So Jed Parker set out to discover his man
with nerve。
CHAPTER TWO THE MAN WITH NERVE
At about ten o'clock of the Fourth of July a rider topped the summit of
the last swell of land； and loped his animal down into the single street of
Pereza。 The buildings on either side were flat…roofed and coated with
plaster。 Over the sidewalks extended wooden awnings； beneath which
opened very wide doors into the coolness of saloons。 Each of these
places ran a bar； and also games of roulette； faro； craps； and stud poker。
Even this early in the morning every game was patronised。
The day was already hot with the dry； breathless； but exhilarating； beat
of the desert。 A throng of men idling at the edge of the sidewalks；
jostling up and down their centre； or eddying into the places of amusement；
acknowledged the power of summer by loosening their collars； carrying
their coats on their arms。 They were as yet busily engaged in recognising
acquaintances。 Later they would drink freely and gamble； and perhaps
fight。 Toward all but those whom they recognised they preserved an
attitude of potential suspicion； for here were gathered the 〃bad men〃 of the
border countries。 A certain jealousy or touchy egotism lest the other man
be considered quicker on the trigger； bolder； more aggressive than himself；
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kept each strung to tension。 An occasional shot attracted little notice。
Men
