arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第38章
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a child； she bound them and sewed them and nailed them to substances
particularly susceptible to their constricting power。 She choked the necks
of green gourds； she indented the tender bark of cottonwood shoots； she
expended an apparently exhaustless ingenuity on the fabrication of
mechanical devices whose principle answered to the pulling of the drying
rawhide。 And always along the adobe fence could be seen a long row of
potatoes bound in skin； some of them fresh and smooth and round； some
sweating in the agony of squeezing； some wrinkled and dry and little； the
last drops of life tortured out of them。 Senor Johnson laughed good…
humouredly at these toys； puzzled to explain their fascination for his wife。
〃They're sure an amusing enough contraption honey；〃 said he； 〃but
what makes you stand out there in the hot sun staring at them that way？
It's cooler on the porch。〃 〃I don't know；〃 said Estrella； helplessly；
turning her slow； vacant gaze on him。 Suddenly she shivered in a strong
physical revulsion。 〃I don't know！〃 she cried with passion。
After they had been married about a month Senor Johnson found it
necessary to drive into Willets。 〃How would you like to go； too； and
buy some duds？〃 he asked Estrella。 〃Oh！〃 she cried strangely。
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〃When？〃
〃Day after tomorrow。〃
The trip decided； her entire attitude changed。 The vacancy of her
gaze lifted； her movements quickened； she left off staring at the desert；
and her rawhide toys were neglected。 Before starting； Senor Johnson
gave her a check book。 He explained that there were no banks in Willets；
but that Goodrich； the storekeeper； would honour her signature。
〃Buy what you want to； honey；〃 said he。 〃Tear her wide open。 I'm
good for it。〃 〃How much can I draw？〃 she asked； smiling。 〃As
much as you want to；〃 he replied with emphasis。 〃Take care〃she
poised before him with the check book extended 〃I may drawI might
draw fifty thousand dollars。〃 〃Not out of Goodrich；〃 he grinned；
〃you'd bust the game。 But hold him up for the limit； anyway。〃 He
chuckled aloud； pleased at the rare； bird…like coquetry of the woman。
They drove to Willets。 It took them two days to go and two days to
return。 Estrella went through the town in a cyclone burst of enthusiasm；
saw everything； bought everything； exhausted everything in two hours。
Willets was not a large place。 On her return to the ranch she sat down at
once in the rocking…chair on the veranda。 Her hands fell into her lap。
She stared out over the desert。 Senor Johnson stole up behind her；
clumsy as a playful bear。 His eyes followed the direction of hers to
where a cloud shadow lay across the slope； heavy； palpable； untransparent；
like a blotch of ink。 〃Pretty； isn't it； honey？〃 said he。 〃Glad to get
back？〃 She smiled at him her vacant； slow smile。 〃Here's my
check book；〃 she said； 〃put it away for me。 I'm through with it。〃
〃I'll put it in my desk；〃 said he。 〃It's in the left…hand cubbyhole；〃 he called
from inside。 〃Very well；〃 she replied。 He stood in the doorway；
looking fondly at her unconscious shoulders and the pose of her blonde
head thrown back against the high rocking…chair。 〃That's the sort of a
woman； after all；〃 said Senor Johnson。 〃No blame fuss about her。〃
CHAPTER EIGHT THE ROUND…UP
This； as you well may gather； was in the summer routine。 Now the
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time of the great fall round…up drew near。 The home ranch began to
bustle in preparation。 All through Cochise County were short
mountain ranges set down； apparently at random； like a child's blocks。 In
and out between them flowed the broad； plain…like valleys。 On the
valleys were the various ranges； great or small； controlled by the different
individuals of the Cattlemen's Association。 During the year an
unimportant； but certain； shifting of stock took place。 A few cattle of
Senor Johnson's Lazy Y eluded the vigilance of his riders to drift over
through the Grant Pass and into the ranges of his neighbour； equally； many
of the neighbour's steers watered daily at Senor Johnson's troughs。 It was a
matter of courtesy to permit this； but one of the reasons for the fall round…
up was a redistribution to the proper ranges。 Each cattle…owner sent an
outfit to the scene of labour。 The combined outfits moved slowly from
one valley to another； cutting out the strays； branding the late calves；
collecting for the owner of that particular range all his stock； that he might
select his marketable beef。 In turn each cattleman was host to his
neighbours and their men。
This year it had been decided to begin the circle of the round…up at the
C 0 Bar； near the banks of the San Pedro。 Thence it would work
eastward； wandering slowly in north and south deviation； to include all the
country； until the final break…up would occur at the Lazy Y。 The Lazy
Y crew was to consist of four men； thirty riding horses； a 〃chuck wagon；〃
and cook。 These； helping others； and receiving help in turn； would
suffice； for in the round…up labour was pooled to a common end。 With
them would ride Jed Parker； to safeguard his master's interests。 For a
week the punchers； in their daily rides； gathered in the range ponies。
Senor Johnson owned fifty horses which he maintained at the home ranch
for every…day riding； two hundred broken saddle animals； allowed the
freedom of the range； except when special occasion demanded their use；
and perhaps half a thousand quite unbrokenbrood mares； stallions； young
horses； broncos； and the like。 At this time of year it was his habit to
corral all those saddlewise in order to select horses for the round…ups and
to replace the ranch animals。 The latter he turned loose for their turn at
the freedom of the range。
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The horses chosen； next the men turned their attention to outfit。 Each
had； of course； his saddle； spurs； and 〃rope。〃 Of the latter the chuck
wagon carried many extra。 That vehicle； furthermore； transported such
articles as the blankets； the tarpaulins under which to sleep； the running
irons for branding； the cooking layout； and the men's personal effects。
All was in readiness to move for the six weeks' circle； when a
complication arose。 Jed Parker； while nimbly escaping an irritated steer；
twisted the high heel of his boot on the corral fence。 He insisted the
injury amounted to nothing。 Senor Johnson however； disagreed。
〃It don't amount to nothing； Jed；〃 he pronounced； after manipulation；
〃but she might make a good able…bodied injury with a little coaxing。
Rest her a week and then you'll be all right。〃 〃Rest her； the devil！〃
growled Jed； 〃who's going to San Pedro？〃
〃I will； of course；〃 replied the Senor promptly。 〃Didje think we'd send
the Chink？〃 〃I was first cousin to a Yaqui jackass for sendin' young
Billy Ellis out。 He'll be back in a week。 He'd do。〃 〃So'd the
President；〃 the Senor pointed out； 〃I hear he's had some experience。〃
〃I hate to have you to go；〃 objected Jed。 〃There's the missis。〃 He shot a
glance sideways at his chief。 〃I guess she and I can stand it for a
week；〃 scoffed the latter。 〃Why； we are old married folks by now。
Besides； you can take care of her。〃 〃I'll try；〃 said Jed Parker； a little
grimly。
CHAPTER NINE THE LONG TRAIL
The round…up crew started early the next morning； just about sun…up。
Senor Johnson rode first； merely to keep out of the dust。 Then followed
Torn Rich； jogging along easily in the cow…puncher's 〃Spanish trot〃
whistling soothingly to quiet the horses； giving a lead to the band of saddle
animals strung out loosely behind him。 These moved on gracefully
and lightly in the manner of the unburdened plains horse； half decided to
follow Tom's guidance； half inclined to break to right or left。 Homer and
Jim Lester flanked them； also riding in a slouch of apparent laziness； but
every once in a while darting forward like bullets to turn back into the
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main herd certain individuals whom the early morning of the unwearied
day had inspired to make a dash for liberty。 The rear was brought up by
Jerky Jones； the fourth cow…puncher； and the four…mule chuck wagon； lost
in its own dust。
The sun mounted； the desert went silently through its changes。 Wind
devils raised straight； true columns of dust six； eight hundred； even a
thousand feet into the air。 The billows of dust from the horses and men
crept and crawled with them like a living creature。 Glorious colour；
magnificent distance； astonishing illusion； filled the world。 Senor
Johnson rode ahead； looking at these things。 The separation from his
