the flying u ranch-第21章

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yuh　they　would〃　Gunshot　wounds；　contrary　to　the　tales　of

certain　sentimentalists；　do　not　appreciably　sweeten；　or　even

change；　a　man's　disposition。　Happy　Jack　with　a　bullet　hole

through　one　side　of　him　was　still　Happy　Jack。



〃Aw；　quit　your　beefin'；〃　Big　Medicine　advised　gruffly。　〃A　feller

with　a　hole　in　his　lung　yuh　could　throw　a　calf　through　sideways

ain't　got　no　business　statin'　his　views　on　nothin'；　by　cripes！〃



〃Aw　gwan。　I　thought　you　saidit　didn't　amount　t'　nothin'；〃　Happy

reminded　him；　anxiety　stealing　into　his　face。



〃Well；　it　don't。　May　lay　yuh　up　a　day　or　two；　wouldn't　be

su'prised　if　yuh　had　to　stay　on　the　bed…ground　two　or　three

meals。　But　look　at　Slim；　here。　Shot　through　the　legshattered　a

bone；　by　cripes！las'　night；　only；　and　here　he's　makin'　a　hand

and　ridin'　and　cussin'　same　as　any　of　us　t'day。　We　ain't　goin'　to

let　yuh　grouch　around；　that's　all。　We　claim　we　got　a　vacation

comm'　to　us；　you're　shot　up；　now；　and　that's　fun　enough　for　one

man；　without　throwin'　it　into　the　whole　bunch。　Why；　a　little　nick

like　that　ain't　nothin'；　nothin'　a…tall。　Why；　I've　been　shot

right　through　here；　by　cripes〃Big　Medicine　laid　an　impressive

finger…tip　on　the　top　button　of　his　trousers〃and　it　come　out

back　here〃he　whirled　and　showed　his　thumb　against　the　small　of

his　back〃and　I　never　laid　off　but　that　day　and　part　uh　the

next。　I　was　sore；〃　he　admitted；　goggling　Happy　Jack　earnestly；

〃but　I　kep'　a…goin'。　I　was　right　in　fall　roundup；　an'　I　had　to。　A

man　can't　lay　down　an'　cry；　by　cripes；　jes'　because　he　gets

pinked　a　little〃



〃Aw；　that's　jest　becauseit　ain't　you。　I　betche　you'd　lay　'em

downjest　like　other　folks；　if　yuh　got　shotthrough　the　lungs。

That　ain't　nojoke；　lemme　tell　yuh！〃　Happy　Jack　was　beginning　to

show　considerable　spirit　for　a　wounded　man。　So　much　spirit　that

Andy　Green；　who　had　seen　men　stricken　down　with　various　ills；

read　fever　signs　in　the　countenance　and　in　the　voice　of　Happy；

and　led　Big　Medicine　somewhat　peremptorily　out　of　ear…shot。



〃Ain't　you　got　any　sense？〃　he　inquired　with　fine　candor。　〃What　do

you　want　to　throw　it　into　him　like　that；　for？　You　may　not　think

so；　but　he's　pretty　bad　offif　you　ask　me。〃



Big　Medicine's　pale　eyes　turned　commiseratingly　toward　Happy

Jack。　〃I　know　he　is；　I　ain't　no　fool。　I　was　jest　tryin'　to　cheer

'im　up　a　little。　He　was　beginnin'　to　look　like　he　was　gittin'

scared　about　it；　I　reckon　maybe　I　made　a　break；　sayin'　what　I　did

about　it；　so　I　jest　wanted　to　take　the　cuss　off。　Honest　to

gran'ma〃



〃If　you　know　anything　at　all　about　such　things；　you　must　know

what　fever　means　in　such　a　case。　And；　recollect；　it's　going　to　be

quite　a　while　before　a　doctor　can　get　here。〃



〃Oh；　I'll　be　careful。　Maybe　I　did　throw　it　purty　strong；　I　won't；

no　more。〃　Big　Medicine　s　meekness　was　not　the　least　amazing

incident　of　the　day。　He　was　a　big…hearted　soul　under　his　bellow

and　bluff；　and　his　sympathy　for　Happy　Jack　struck　deep。　He　went

back　walking　on　his　toes；　and　he　stood　so　that　his　sturdy　body

shaded　Happy　Jack's　face　from　the　sun；　and　he　did　not　open　his

mouth　for　another　word　until　Irish　and　Jack　Bates　came　rattling

up　with　the　spring　wagon　hurriedly　transformed　with　mattress；

pillows　and　blankets　into　an　ambulance。



They　had　been　thoughtful　to　a　degree。　They　brought　with　them　a

jug　of　water　and　a　tin　cup；　and　they　gave　Happy　Jack　a　long；

cooling　drink　of　it　and　bathed　his　face　before　they　lifted　him

into　the　wagon。　And　of　all　the　hands　that　ministered　to　his

needs；　the　hands　of　Big　Medicine　were　the　eagerest　and　gentlest；

and　his　voice　was　the　most　vibrant　with　sympathy；　which　was

saying　a　good　deal。







CHAPTER　XVI。　The　End　of　the　Dots



Slim　may　not　have　been　more　curious　than　his　fellows；　but　he　was

perhaps　more　single…hearted　in　his　loyalty　to　the　outfit。　To　him

the　shooting　of　Happy　Jack；　once　he　felt　assured　that　the　wound

was　not　necessarily　fatal；　became　of　secondary　importance。　It　was

all　in　behalf　of　the　Flying　U；　and　if　the　bullet　which　laid　Happy

Jack　upon　the　ground　was　also　the　means　of　driving　the　hated　Dots

from　that　neighborhood；　he　felt；　in　his　slow；　phlegmatic　way；

that　it　wasn't　such　a　catastrophe　as　some　of　the　others　seemed　to

think。　Of　course；　he　wouldn't　want　Happy　to　die；　but　he　didn't

believe；　after　all；　that　Happy　was　going　to　do　anything　like

that。　Old　Patsy　knew　a　lot　about　sickness　and　wounds。　（Who　can

cook　for　a　cattle　outfit；　for　twenty　years　and　more；　and　not　know

a　good　deal　of　hurts？）　Old　Patsy　had　looked　Happy　over　carefully；

and　had　given　a　grin　and　a　snort。



〃Py　cosh；　dot　vos　lucky　for　you；　alreatty；〃　he　had　pronounced。

〃So　you　don't　git　plood…poisonings；　mit　fever；　you　be　all　right

pretty　soon。　You　go　to　shleep；　yet。　If　fix　you　oop　till　der

dochtor　he　cooms。　I　seen　fellers　shot　plumb　through　der　middle

off　dem；　und　git　yell。　You　ain't　shot　so　bad。　You　go　to　shleep。〃



So；　his　immediate　fears　relieved；　Slim's　slow　mind　had　swung　back

to　the　Dots；　and　to　Oleson；　whom　Weary　was　even　now　assisting　to

keep　his　promise　（Slim　grinned　widely　to　himself　when　he　thought

of　the　abject　fear　which　Oleson　had　displayed　because　of　the

murder　he　thought　he　had　done；　while　Happy　Jack　obediently

〃played　dead〃）。　And　of　Dunk；　whom　Slim　had　hated　most　abominably

of　old；　Dunk；　a　criminal　found　out；　Dunk；　a　prisoner　right　there

on　the　very　ranch　he　had　thought　to　despoil；　Dunk；　at　that　very

moment　locked　in　the　blacksmith　shop。　Perhape　it　was　not

curiosity　alone　which　sent　him　down　there；　perhaps　it　was　partly

a　desire　to　look　upon　Dunk　humbledhe　who　had　trodden　so

arrogantly　upon　the　necks　of　those　below　him；　so　arrogantly　that

even　Slim；　the　slow…witted　one；　had　many　a　time　trembled　with

anger　at　his　tone。



Slim　walked　slowly；　as　was　his　wont；　with　deadly　directness；　as

was　his　nature。　The　blacksmith　shop　was　silent；　closedas　grimly

noncommittal　as　a　vault。　You　might　guess　whatever　you　pleased

about　its　inmate；　it　was　like　trying　to　imagine　the　emotions

pictured　upon　the　face　behind　a　smooth；　black　mask。　Slim　stopped

before　the　closed　door　and　listened。　The　rusty；　iron　hasp

attracted　his　slow　gaze；　at　first　puzzling　him　a　little；　making

him　vaguely　aware　that　something　about　it　did　not　quite　harmonize

with　his　mental　attitude　toward　it。　It　took　him　a　full　minute　to

realize　that　he　had　expected　to　find　the　door　locked；　and　that

the　hasp　hung　downward　uselessly；　just　as　it　hung　every　day　in

the　year。



He　remembered　then　that　Andy　had　spoken　of　chaining　Dunk　to　the

anvil。　That　would　make　it　unnecessary　to　lock　the　door；　of

course。　Slim　seized　the　hanging　strip　of　iron；　gave　it　a　jerk　and

bathed　all　the　dingy　interior　with　a　soft；　sunset　glow。　Cobwebs

quivered　at　the　inrush　of　the　breeze；　and　glistened　like　threads

of　fine　gold。　The　forge　remained　a　dark　blot　in　the　corner。　A　new

chisel；　lying　upon　the　earthen　floor；　became　a　bar　of　yellow

light。



Slim's　eyes　went　to　the　anvil　and　clung　there　in　a　widening

stare。　His　hands；　white　and　soft　when　his　gloves　were　off；　drew

up　convulsively　into　fighting　fists；　and　as　he　stood　looking；　the

cords　swelled　and　stood　out　upon　his　thick　neck。　For　years　he　had

hated　Dunk　Whittaker



The　Happy　Family；　with　rare　good　sense；　had　not　hesitated　to　turn

the　white　house　into　an　impromptu　hospital。　They　knew　that　if　the

Little　Doctor　and　Chip　and　the　Old　Man　had　been　at　home　Happy

Jack　would　have　been　taken　unquestioningly　into　the　guest

chamberwhich　was　a　square；　three…windowed　room　off　the　big

livingroom。　More　than　one　of　them　had　occupied　it　upon　occasion。

They　took　Happy　Jack　up　there　and　put　him　to　bed　quite　as　a

matter…of…course；　and　when　he　was　asleep　they　lingered　upon　the

wide；　front　porch；　the　hammock　of　the　Little　Doctor　squeaked

under　the　weight　of　Andy　Green；　and　the　wide…armed　chairs

received　the　weary　forms　of　divers　young　cowpunchers　who　did　not

give　a　thought　to　the　intrusion；　but　were　thankful　for　the

comfort。　Andy　was　swinging　luxuriously　and　drawing　the　last　few

puffs　from　a　cigarette　when　Slim；　purple　and　puffing　audibly；

appeared　portentously　before　him。



〃I　thought　you　said　you　was　goin'　to　lock　Dunk　up　in　the

blacksmith　shop；〃　he　launched　accusingly　at　Andy。



〃We　did；〃　averred　that　young　man；　pushing　his　toe　against　the

railing　to　accelerate　the　voluptuous　motion　of　the　hammock。



〃He　ain't　there。　He's　broke　loose。　The　chainby　golly；　yuh　went

an'　used　that　chain　that　was　broke　an'　jest　barely　hangin'

together！　His　horse　ain't　anywheres　around；　either。　You　fellers

make　me　sick。　Lollin'　around　here　an'　not　paying　no　attention；　by

gollyhe's　liable　to　be　ten　mile　from　here　by　this　time！〃　When

Slim　stopped；　his　jaw　quivered　like　a　dish　of　disturbed　jelly；

and　I　wish　I　could　give　you　his　tone；　choppy；　every　sentence　an

accusation　that　should　have　made　those　fellows　wince。



Irish；　Big　Medicine　and　Jack　Bates　had　sprung　guiltily　to　their

feet　and　started　down　the　steps。　The　drawling　voice　of　the　Native

Son　stopped　them；　ten　feet　from　the　porch。



〃Twelve；　or　fifteen；　I　should　make　it。　That　horse　of　his　looked

to　me　like　a　drifter。〃



〃Wellare　yuh　goin'　t'　set　there　on　your　haunches　an'　let　him

GO？〃　Slim；　by　the　look　of　him；　was　ripe　for　murder。



〃You　want　to　look　out；　or　you'll　get　apoplexy　sure；〃　Andy

soothed；　giving　himself　another　luxurious　push　and　pulling　the

last；　little　whiff　from　his　cigarette　before　he　threw　away　the

stub。　〃Fat　men　can't　afford　to　get　as　excited　as　skinny　ones

can。〃



〃Aw；　say！　Where　did　you　put　him；　Andy？〃　asked　Big　Medicine；　his

first　flurry　subsiding　before　the　absolute　calm　of　those　two　on

the　porch。



〃In　the　blacksmith　shop；〃　said　Andy；　with　a　slurring　accent　on

the　first　word　that　made　the　whole　sentence　perfectly　maddening。

〃Ah；　come　on　back　here　and　sit　down。　I　guess　we　better　tell　'em

the　how　of　it。　Huh；　Mig？〃



Miguel　cast　a　slow；　humorous　glance　over　the　four。　〃Ye…es

they'll　have　us　treed　in　about　two　minutes　if　we　don't；〃　he

assented。　〃Go　ahead。〃



〃Well；〃　Andy　lifted　his　head　and　shoulders　that　he　might　readjust

a　pillow　to　his　liking；　〃we　wanted　him　to　make　a　getaway。　Fact

is；　if　he　hadn't；　we'd　have　beenstrictly　up　against　it。　Right！

If　he　hadn'thow　about　it；　Mig？　I　guess　we'd　have　been　to　the

Little　Rockies　ourselves。〃



〃You've　got　a　sweet　little　voice；〃　Irish　cut　in　savagely；　〃but

we're　tired。　We'd　rather　hear　yuh　say　something！〃



〃Ohall　right。　Well；　Mig　and　I　just　ribbed　up　a　josh　on　Dunk。

I'd　read　somewhere　about　the　same　kinda　deal；　so　it　ain't

original；　I　don't　lay　any　claim　to　the　idea　at　all；　we　just

borrowed　it。　You　see；　it's　like　this：　We　figured　that　a　man　as

mean　as　this　Dunk　person　most　likely　had　stepped　over　the　line；

somewhere。　So　we　just　took　a　gambling　chance；　and　let　him　do　the

rest。　You　see；　we　never　saw　him　before　in　our　lives。　All　that

identification　stunt　of　ours　was　just　a　bl