hr.thecarpetbaggers-第25节

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　Reeves　got　to　his　feet　angrily。　〃I　don't　give　a　damn；〃　he　snarled；　his　face　flushing。　〃I　ain't　no　damn　Injun　like　you。　I'm　cookin'　my　fish。〃
　He　scrambled　around；　gathering　twigs。　At　last；　he　had　enough　to　start　a　small　fixe。　His　hand　groped　in　his　pocket　for　matches。　He　found　one　and　scraped　it　on　a　log。　It　didn't　light。　Angrily　he　scraped　it　again。　He　stared　at　the　match。　〃They're　still　wet；〃　he　said。
　〃Yeah；〃　Max　answered；　still　chewing　stolidly　on　the　fish。　It　was　rubbery　and　oily　but　he　chewed　it　slowly；　swallowing　only　a　little　at　a　time。
　〃You　c'n　start　a　fire；〃　Reeves　snapped。
　Max　looked　up　at　him。　〃How？〃
　〃Injun　style；〃　Reeves　said；　〃rubbin'　two　sticks　together。〃
　Max　laughed。　〃It　won't　work。　The　wood's　too　damp。〃　He　picked　up　a　piece　of　the　fish　and　held　it　up　toward　Reeves。　〃Here；　eat　it。　It　ain't　so　bad　if　you　chew　it　slow。〃
　Reeves　took　the　fish　and　squatted　down　beside　Max；　then　began　to　chew　on　it。　After　a　moment；　he　spat　it　out。　〃I　can't　eat　it。〃　He　was　silent　for　a　moment；　his　arms　wrapped　around　himself。　〃It's　gettin'　damn　cold　out　here；〃　he　said；　shivering　slightly。
　Max　looked　at　him。　It　wasn't　that　cold。　Faint　beads　of　perspiration　stood　out　on　Reeves's　face　and　he　was　beginning　to　tremble。
　〃Lay　down；〃　Max　said。　〃I'll　cover　you　with　grass　…　that'll　keep　you　warm。〃
　Reeves　stretched　out　and　Max　bent　down　and　touched　his　face。　It　was　hot　with　fever。　Max　straightened　up　slowly　and　went　to　cut　some　more　grass。
　It　was　a　hell　of　a　time　for　Reeves　to　e　down　with　malaria。　Reluctantly　he　took　one　of　his　matches　from　its　oilskin　wrapping　and　lighted　a　fire。
　
　Reeves　continued　to　shake　spastically　beneath　the　blanket　of　swamp　grass　and　moan　through　his　chattering　teeth。　Max　glanced　up　at　the　sky。　The　night　was　almost　gone。　Unconsciously　he　sighed。　He　wondered　how　long　it　would　take　for　the　warden　to　catch　up　with　them　now。
　He　dozed；　swaying　slightly；　as　he　sat。　A　strange　sound　hit　his　subconscious　and　suddenly　he　was　awake。
　He　reached　for　his　fishing　spear　and　crouched　down。　The　sound　came　again。　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　large。　He　heard　the　sound　again；　closer　this　time。　His　legs　drew　up　beneath　him。　He　was　set　to　lunge　the　spear。　It　wasn't　much　but　it　was　the　only　weapon　he　had。
　Then　Mike　was　standing　there　casually；　his　rifle　crooked　in　his　arm。　〃You'　a　damn　fool；　boy；〃　he　said。　〃Shoulda　knowed　better'n　to　light　a　fire　out　here。〃
　Max　got　to　his　feet。　He　could　feel　fatigue　spread　over　him　now　that　it　was　over。　He　gestured　to　the　sick　man。　〃He　got　the　fever。〃
　Mike　walked　over　to　Reeves。　〃Sure　'nough；〃　he　said；　his　voice　marveling。　〃That　warden；　he　was　right。　He　figgered　Reeves　would　get　it　after　three　days　in　the　swamp。〃
　Mike　sat　down　next　to　the　fire　and　warmed　his　hands。　〃Man　but　that　fire　sure　do　feel　good；〃　he　said。　〃You　should'n'a　waited　aroun'。〃
　〃What　else　could　I　do？〃
　〃He　would'n'a　waited　if　it　was　you。〃
　〃But　it　wasn'　me；〃　Max　said。
　The　Negro　looked　down　at　the　ground。　〃Maybe　you　better　git　goin'　now；　boy。〃
　Max　stared　at　him。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Git　goin'；〃　Mike　said　harshly。
　〃But　the　rest　of　the　posse？〃
　〃They　won'　catch　up　fo'　a　couple　of　hours；〃　Mike　said。　〃They　be　satisfied　catchin'　Reeves。〃
　Max　stared　at　him；　then　looked　off　into　the　swamp。　After　a　moment；　he　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't　do　it；〃　he　said。
　〃You'　a　bigger　fool　than　I　thought；　boy；〃　Mike　said　heavily。　〃　'Twas　him；　he'd　be　off　in　the　swamp　now。〃
　〃We　busted　out　together；〃　Max　answered。　〃It's　only　fittin'　we　go　back　together。〃
　〃All　right；　boy；〃　Mike　said　in　a　resigned　voice。　He　got　to　his　feet。　〃Drown　that　fire。〃
　Max　kicked　the　fire　into　the　water；　where　it　sputtered　and　died。　He　glanced　back　and　saw　Mike　pick　up　Reeves　as　if　he　were　a　baby　and　sling　him　over　his　shoulder。　Max　started　back　into　the　swamp　toward　the　prison。
　〃Where　at　you　goin'；　boy？〃　Mike's　voice　came　from　behind　him。
　Max　turned　around　and　stared。
　Mike　pointed　in　the　opposite　direction。　〃The　end　o'　the　swamp　about　twenty…fi'　miles　that　way。〃
　Sudden　prehension　came　to　Max。　〃You　can't　do　it；　Mike。　You　ain't　even　officially　a　prisoner　no　more。〃
　The　big　man's　head　nodded。　〃You'　right；　boy。　I　ain't　a　prisoner。　That　means　I　kin　go　where　I　wants　an'　if　I　don't　want　to　go　back；　they　can't　say　nothin'　about　it。〃
　〃But　it's　different　if　they　catch　you　helpin'　me。〃
　〃If　they　catch　us；　they　catch　us；〃　Mike　said　simply。　〃Anyway；　I　don't　wanta　be　the　one　who　lays　the　snake　on　you。　I　can't　do　it。　You　see；　we's　really　frien's。〃
　
　Eight　days　later；　they　came　out　of　the　swamp。　They　stretched　out　on　the　hard；　dry　ground；　gasping　for　breath。　Max　raised　his　head。　Far　in　the　distance；　he　could　see　smoke　rising　on　the　horizon。
　〃There's　a　town　there；〃　he　said　excitedly；　scrambling　to　his　feet。　〃We'll　be　able　to　git　some　decent　grub。〃
　〃Not　so　fast；〃　Reeves　said；　pulling　him　down。　Reeves　was　still　yellow　from　the　fever　but　it　had　passed。　〃If　it's　a　town；　there's　a　general　store。　We'll　hit　it　tonight。　No　use　takin'　any　chances。　They　might　be　expectin'　us。〃
　Max　looked　over　at　Mike。　The　big　Negro　nodded。
　They　hit　the　store　at　two　in　the　morning。　When　they　came　out；　they　all　wore　fresh　clothing；　had　guns　tucked　in　their　belt　and　almost　eighteen　dollars　they　had　found　in　the　till。
　Max　wanted　to　steal　three　horses　from　the　livery　stable　and　ride　out。　〃Ain't　that　just　like　an　Injun？〃　Reeves　said　sarcastically。　〃They'll　trace　horses　faster'n　us。　We'll　keep　off　the　road　two　or　three　days；　then　we'll　worry　about　horses。〃
　Two　days　later；　they　had　their　horses。　Four　days　later；　they　knocked　off　a　bank　in　a　small　town　and　came　out　with　eighteen　hundred　dollars。　Ten　minutes　later；　they　were　on　their　way　to　Texas。
　
　13
　
　MAX　CAME　INTO　FORT　WORTH　TO　MEET　THE　TRAIN　that　was　to　bring　Jim　Reeves's　daughter　from　New　Orleans。　He　sat　in　the　barber　chair　and　stared　at　himself　in　the　mirror。　The　face　that　looked　back　was　no　longer　the　face　of　a　boy。　The　trim　black　beard　served　to　disguise　the　high　cheekbones。　He　no　longer　looked　like　an　Indian。
　Max　got　out　of　the　chair。　〃How　much　do　I　owe　you？〃
　〃Fifty　cents　for　the　haircut；　two　bits　for　the　beard　trim。〃
　Max　threw　him　a　silver　dollar。
　Mike　came　off　the　side　of　the　building　against　which　he　had　been　leaning　and　fell　into　step。　〃It's　about　time　fer　the　train　to　be　in'　in；〃　Max　said。　〃I　reckon　we　might　as　well　walk　down　to　the　station。〃
　Three　and　a　half　years　before；　they　had　e　into　Fort　Worth　one　night　with　seven　thousand　dollars　in　their　saddlebags。　Behind　them　they　had　left　two　empty　banks　and　two　dead　men。　But　they　had　been　lucky。　Not　one　of　them　had　been　identified　as　other　than　an　unknown　person。
　〃This　looks　like　a　good　town；〃　Max　had　said　enthusiastically。　〃I　counted　two　banks　in'　in。〃
　Reeves　had　looked　up　at　him　from　a　chair　in　the　cheap　hotel　room。　〃We're　through　with　that；〃　he　said。
　Max　stared　at　him。　〃Why？　They　look　like　setups。〃
　Reeves　shook　his　head。　〃That's　where　I　made　my　mistake　last　time。　I　didn't　know　when　to　quit。〃　He　stuck　a　cigarette　in　his　mouth。
　〃What　we　goin'　to　do；　then？〃　Max　asked。
　Reeves　lit　the　cigarette。　〃Look　aroun'　for　a　good　legitimate　business。　There's　lots　of　opportunity　out　here。　Land　is　cheap　and　Texas　is　growin'。〃
　Reeves　found　the　business　he　was　looking　for　in　a　little　town　sixty…five　miles　south　of　Fort　Worth。　A　saloon　and　gambling　hall。　In　less　than　two　years；　he　had　bee　the　most　important　man　in　town。　Then　he　started　a　bank　in　a　corner　of　the　gambling　house　and；　a　little　time　later；　began　to　acquire　land。　There　was　even　talk　of　electing　him　mayor。
　He　bought　a　small　ranch　outside　of　town；　fixed　up　the　house　and　moved　out　of　the　rooms　over　the　saloon。　A　little　while　after　that；　he　moved　the　bank　out　of　the　saloon；　which　Max　then　operated；　and　ensconced　it　in　a　small　building　on　the　main　street。　In　less　than　a　year；　people　began　to　forget　that　he　had　ever　owned　the　saloon　and　began　to　think　of　him　as　the　town　banker。　He　began　to　grow　quietly　rich。
　He　needed　but　one　thing　more　to　plete　his　guise　of　respectability。　A　family。　He　sent　discreet　inquiries　back　to　New　Orleans。　He　learned　that　his　wife　was　dead　and　his　daughter　was　living　with　her　mother's　relatives。　He　sent　her　a　telegram　and　received　one　in　return；　saying　that　she　would　arrive　at　Fort　Worth　on　the　fifth　of　March。
　Max　stood　looking　down　the　platform　at　the　disembarking　passengers。　〃You　know　what　she　looks　like？〃　Mike　asked。
　〃Just　what　Jim　tol'　me　and　it's　been　ten　years　since　he　saw　her。〃
　Little　by　little；　the　passengers　walked　away　until　the　only　one　left　was　a　young　woman；　surrounded　by　several　valises　and　a　small　trunk。　She　kept　looking　up　and　down　the　platform。　Mike　looked　at　Max　questioningly。　〃You　reckon　that　might　be　her？〃
　Max　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　They　walked　down　to　the　young　woman。　Max　took　off　his　Stetson。　〃Miss　Reeves？〃
　A　smile　of　relief　appeared　on　the　young　woman's　face。　〃I　declare；　I'm　glad　to　see　you；〃　she　said　warmly。　〃I　was　beginnin'　to　think　Daddy　never　received　my　telegram。〃
　Max　returned　her　smile。　〃I'm　Max　Sand；〃　he　said。　〃Your　father　sent　me　to　meet　you。〃
　A　fleeting　shadow　crossed　the　girl's　face。　〃I　half　expected　that；〃　she　said。　〃Daddy's　been　too　busy　to　e　home　for　ten　year