roughing it-第8章

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　　　　　　ruins　of　Jericho；　he　burst　forth　with　something　like　this：

　　　　　　〃Jack；　do　you　see　that　range　of　mountains　over　yonder　that　bounds
　　　　　　the　Jordan　valley？　　The　mountains　of　Moab；　Jack！　　Think　of　it；　my
　　　　　　boythe　actual　mountains　of　Moabrenowned　in　Scripture　history！
　　　　　　We　are　actually　standing　face　to　face　with　those　illustrious　crags
　　　　　　and　peaksand　for　all　we　know〃　＇dropping　his　voice　impressively＇；
　　　　　　〃our　eyes　may　be　resting　at　this　very　moment　upon　the　spot　WHERE
　　　　　　LIES　THE　MYSTERIOUS　GRAVE　OF　MOSES！　　Think　of　it；　Jack！〃

　　　　　　〃Moses　who？〃　　（falling　inflection）。

　　　　　　〃Moses　who！　　Jack；　you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourselfyou　ought　to
　　　　　　be　ashamed　of　such　criminal　ignorance。　　Why；　Moses；　the　great　guide；
　　　　　　soldier；　poet；　lawgiver　of　ancient　Israel！　　Jack；　from　this　spot
　　　　　　where　we　stand；　to　Egypt；　stretches　a　fearful　desert　three　hundred
　　　　　　miles　in　extentand　across　that　desert　that　wonderful　man　brought
　　　　　　the　children　of　Israel！guiding　them　with　unfailing　sagacity　for
　　　　　　forty　years　over　the　sandy　desolation　and　among　the　obstructing
　　　　　　rocks　and　hills；　and　landed　them　at　last；　safe　and　sound；　within
　　　　　　sight　of　this　very　spot；　and　where　we　now　stand　they　entered　the
　　　　　　Promised　Land　with　anthems　of　rejoicing！　　It　was　a　wonderful；
　　　　　　wonderful　thing　to　do；　Jack！　　Think　of　it！〃

　　　　　　〃Forty　years？　　Only　three　hundred　miles？　　Humph！　　Ben　Holliday　would
　　　　　　have　fetched　them　through　in　thirty…six　hours！〃

The　boy　meant　no　harm。　　He　did　not　know　that　he　had　said　anything　that
was　wrong　or　irreverent。　　And　so　no　one　scolded　him　or　felt　offended　with
himand　nobody　could　but　some　ungenerous　spirit　incapable　of　excusing
the　heedless　blunders　of　a　boy。

At　noon　on　the　fifth　day　out；　we　arrived　at　the　〃Crossing　of　the　South
Platte；〃　alias　〃Julesburg；〃　alias　〃Overland　City；〃　four　hundred　and
seventy　miles　from　St。　Josephthe　strangest；　quaintest；　funniest
frontier　town　that　our　untraveled　eyes　had　ever　stared　at　and　been
astonished　with。




CHAPTER　VII。

It　did　seem　strange　enough　to　see　a　town　again　after　what　appeared　to　us
such　a　long　acquaintance　with　deep；　still；　almost　lifeless　and　houseless
solitude！　　We　tumbled　out　into　the　busy　street　feeling　like　meteoric
people　crumbled　off　the　corner　of　some　other　world；　and　wakened　up
suddenly　in　this。　　For　an　hour　we　took　as　much　interest　in　Overland　City
as　if　we　had　never　seen　a　town　before。　　The　reason　we　had　an　hour　to
spare　was　because　we　had　to　change　our　stage　（for　a　less　sumptuous
affair；　called　a　〃mud…wagon〃）　and　transfer　our　freight　of　mails。

Presently　we　got　under　way　again。　　We　came　to　the　shallow；　yellow；　muddy
South　Platte；　with　its　low　banks　and　its　scattering　flat　sand…bars　and
pigmy　islandsa　melancholy　stream　straggling　through　the　centre　of　the
enormous　flat　plain；　and　only　saved　from　being　impossible　to　find　with
the　naked　eye　by　its　sentinel　rank　of　scattering　trees　standing　on　either
bank。　　The　Platte　was　〃up；〃　they　saidwhich　made　me　wish　I　could　see　it
when　it　was　down；　if　it　could　look　any　sicker　and　sorrier。　　They　said　it
was　a　dangerous　stream　to　cross；　now；　because　its　quicksands　were　liable
to　swallow　up　horses；　coach　and　passengers　if　an　attempt　was　made　to　ford
it。　　But　the　mails　had　to　go；　and　we　made　the　attempt。　　Once　or　twice　in
midstream　the　wheels　sunk　into　the　yielding　sands　so　threateningly　that
we　half　believed　we　had　dreaded　and　avoided　the　sea　all　our　lives　to　be
shipwrecked　in　a　〃mud…wagon〃　in　the　middle　of　a　desert　at　last。　　But　we
dragged　through　and　sped　away　toward　the　setting　sun。

Next　morning；　just　before　dawn；　when　about　five　hundred　and　fifty　miles
from　St。　Joseph；　our　mud…wagon　broke　down。　　We　were　to　be　delayed　five　or
six　hours；　and　therefore　we　took　horses；　by　invitation；　and　joined　a
party　who　were　just　starting　on　a　buffalo　hunt。　　It　was　noble　sport
galloping　over　the　plain　in　the　dewy　freshness　of　the　morning；　but　our
part　of　the　hunt　ended　in　disaster　and　disgrace；　for　a　wounded　buffalo
bull　chased　the　passenger　Bemis　nearly　two　miles；　and　then　he　forsook　his
horse　and　took　to　a　lone　tree。　　He　was　very　sullen　about　the　matter　for
some　twenty…four　hours；　but　at　last　he　began　to　soften　little　by　little；
and　finally　he　said：

〃Well；　it　was　not　funny；　and　there　was　no　sense　in　those　gawks　making
themselves　so　facetious　over　it。　　I　tell　you　I　was　angry　in　earnest　for
awhile。　　I　should　have　shot　that　long　gangly　lubber　they　called　Hank；　if
I　could　have　done　it　without　crippling　six　or　seven　other　peoplebut　of
course　I　couldn't；　the　old　'Allen's'　so　confounded　comprehensive。　　I　wish
those　loafers　had　been　up　in　the　tree；　they　wouldn't　have　wanted　to　laugh
so。　　If　I　had　had　a　horse　worth　a　centbut　no；　the　minute　he　saw　that
buffalo　bull　wheel　on　him　and　give　a　bellow；　he　raised　straight　up　in　the
air　and　stood　on　his　heels。　　The　saddle　began　to　slip；　and　I　took　him
round　the　neck　and　laid　close　to　him；　and　began　to　pray。　　Then　he　came
down　and　stood　up　on　the　other　end　awhile；　and　the　bull　actually　stopped
pawing　sand　and　bellowing　to　contemplate　the　inhuman　spectacle。

Then　the　bull　made　a　pass　at　him　and　uttered　a　bellow　that　sounded
perfectly　frightful；　it　was　so　close　to　me；　and　that　seemed　to　literally
prostrate　my　horse's　reason；　and　make　a　raving　distracted　maniac　of　him；
and　I　wish　I　may　die　if　he　didn't　stand　on　his　head　for　a　quarter　of　a
minute　and　shed　tears。　　He　was　absolutely　out　of　his　mindhe　was；　as
sure　as　truth　itself；　and　he　really　didn't　know　what　he　was　doing。　　Then
the　bull　came　charging　at　us；　and　my　horse　dropped　down　on　all　fours　and
took　a　fresh　startand　then　for　the　next　ten　minutes　he　would　actually
throw　one　hand…spring　after　another　so　fast　that　the　bull　began　to　get
unsettled；　too；　and　didn't　know　where　to　start　inand　so　he　stood　there
sneezing；　and　shovelling　dust　over　his　back；　and　bellowing　every　now　and
then；　and　thinking　he　had　got　a　fifteen…hundred　dollar　circus　horse　for
breakfast；　certain。　　Well；　I　was　first　out　on　his　neckthe　horse's；　not
the　bull'sand　then　underneath；　and　next　on　his　rump；　and　sometimes　head
up；　and　sometimes　heelsbut　I　tell　you　it　seemed　solemn　and　awful　to　be
ripping　and　tearing　and　carrying　on　so　in　the　presence　of　death；　as　you
might　say。　　Pretty　soon　the　bull　made　a　snatch　for　us　and　brought　away
some　of　my　horse's　tail　（I　suppose；　but　do　not　know；　being　pretty　busy　at
the　time）；　but　something　made　him　hungry　for　solitude　and　suggested　to
him　to　get　up　and　hunt　for　it。

And　then　you　ought　to　have　seen　that　spider　legged　old　skeleton　go！　and
you　ought　to　have　seen　the　bull　cut　out　after　him；　toohead　down；　tongue
out；　tail　up；　bellowing　like　everything；　and　actually　mowing　down　the
weeds；　and　tearing　up　the　earth；　and　boosting　up　the　sand　like　a
whirlwind！　　By　George；　it　was　a　hot　race！　　I　and　the　saddle　were　back　on
the　rump；　and　I　had　the　bridle　in　my　teeth　and　holding　on　to　the　pommel
with　both　hands。　　First　we　left　the　dogs　behind；　then　we　passed　a　jackass
rabbit；　then　we　overtook　a　cayote；　and　were　gaining　on　an　antelope　when
the　rotten　girth　let　go　and　threw　me　about　thirty　yards　off　to　the　left；
and　as　the　saddle　went　down　over　the　horse's　rump　he　gave　it　a　lift　with
his　heels　that　sent　it　more　than　four　hundred　yards　up　in　the　air；　I　wish
I　may　die　in　a　minute　if　he　didn't。　　I　fell　at　the　foot　of　the　only
solitary　tree　there　was　in　nine　counties　adjacent　（as　any　creature　could
see　with　the　naked　eye）；　and　the　next　second　I　had　hold　of　the　bark　with
four　sets　of　nails　and　my　teeth；　and　the　next　second　after　that　I　was
astraddle　of　the　main　limb　and　blaspheming　my　luck　in　a　way　that　made　my
breath　smell　of　brimstone。　　I　had　the　bull；　now；　if　he　did　not　think　of
one　thing。　　But　that　one　thing　I　dreaded。　　I　dreaded　it　very　seriously。
There　was　a　possibility　that　the　bull　might　not　think　of　it；　but　there
were　greater　chances　that　he　would。　　I　made　up　my　mind　what　I　would　do　in
case　he　did。　　It　was　a　little　over　forty　feet　to　the　ground　from　where　I
sat。　　I　cautiously　unwound　the　lariat　from　the　pommel　of　my　saddle〃

〃Your　saddle？　　Did　you　take　your　saddle　up　in　the　tree　with　you？〃

〃Take　it　up　in　the　tree　with　me？　　Why；　how　you　talk。　　Of　course　I　didn't。
No　man　could　do　that。　　It　fell　in　the　tree　when　it　came　down。〃

〃Ohexactly。〃

〃Certainly。　　I　unwound　the　lariat；　and　fastened　one　end　of　it　to　the
limb。　　It　was　the　very　best　green　raw…hide；　and　capable　of　sustaining
tons。　　I　made　a　slip…noose　in　the　other　end；　and　then　hung　it　down　to　see
the　length。　　It　reached　down　twenty…two　feethalf　way　to　the　ground。
I　then　loaded　every　barrel　of　the　Allen　with　a　double　charge。　　I　felt
satisfied。　　I　said　to　myself；　if　he　never　thinks　of　that　one　thing　that　I
dread；　all　rightbut　if　he　does；　all　right　anyhowI　am　fixed　for　him。
But　don't　you　know　that　the　very　thing　a　man　dreads　is　the　thing　that
always　happens？　　Indeed　it　is　so。　　I　watched　the　bull；　now；　with　anxiety
anxiety　which　no　one　can　conceive　of　who　has　not　been　in　such　a
situation　and　felt　that　at　any　moment　death　might　come。　　Presently　a
thought　came　into　the　bull's　eye。　　I　knew　it！　said　Iif　my　nerve　fails
now；　I　am　lost。　　Sure　enough；　it　was　just　as　I　had　dreaded；　he　started　in
to　climb　the　tree〃

〃What；　the　bull？〃

〃Of　coursewho　else？〃

〃But　a　bull　can't　climb　a　tree。〃

〃He　can't；　can't　he？　　Since　you　know　so　much　about　it；　did　you　ever　see　a
bull　try？〃

〃No！　　I　never　dreamt　of　such　a　thing。〃

〃Well；　then；　what　is　the　use　of　your　talking　that　way；　then？　　Because　you
never　saw　a　thing　done；　is　that　any　reason　why　it　can't　be　done？〃

〃Well；　all　rightgo　on。　　What　did　you　do？〃

〃The　bull　started　up；　and　got　along　well　for　about　ten　feet；　then　slipped
and　slid　back。　　I　breathed　easier。　　He　tried　it　againgot　up　a　little
higherslipped　again。　　But　he　came　at　it　once　more；　and　this　time　he　was
careful。　　He　got　gradually　higher　and　higher；　and　my　spirits　went　down
more　and　more。　　Up　he　camean　inch　at　a　timewith　his　eyes　hot；　and　his
tongue　hanging　out。　　Higher　and　higherhitched　his　foot　over　the　stump
of　a　limb；　and　looked　up；　as　much　as　to　say；　'You　are　my　meat；　friend。'
Up　againhigher　and　higher；　and　getting　more　excited　the　closer　he　got。
He　was　within　ten　feet　of　me！　　I　took　a　long　breath；and　then　said　I；
'It　is　now　or　never。'　　I　had　the　coil　of　the　lariat　all　ready；　I　paid　it
out　slowly；　till　it　hung　right　over　his　head；　all　of　a　sudden　I　let　go　of
the　slack；　and　the　slipnoose　fell　fairly　round　his　neck！　　Quicker　than
lightning　I　out　with　the　Allen　and　let　him　have　it　in　the　face。　　It　was
an　awful　roar；　and　must　have　scared　the　bull　out　of　his　senses。　　When　the
smoke　cleared　away；　there　he　was；　dangling　in　the　air；　twenty　foot　from
the　ground；　and　going　out　of　one　convulsion　into　another　faster　than　you
could　count！　　I　didn't　stop　to　count；　anyhowI　shinned　down　the　tree　and
shot　for　home。〃

〃Bemis；　is　all　that　true；　just　as　you　have　stated　it？〃

〃I　wish　I　may　rot　in　my　tracks　and　die　the　death　of　a　dog　if　it　isn't。〃

〃Well；　we　can't　refuse　to　believe　it；　and　we　don't。　　But　if　there　were
some　proofs〃

〃Proofs！　　Did　I　bring　back　my　lariat？〃

〃No。〃

〃Did　I　bring　back　my　horse？〃

〃No。〃