the mountains(山脉)-第37节
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dogs。 I sat with the old fellow one day for nearly an hour。 It was a
sociable visit； but economical of the English language。 He made one
remark； outside our initial greeting。 It was enough； for in terseness；
accuracy； and compression； I have never heard a better or more
comprehensive description of the arid countries。
〃Son；〃 said he； 〃in this country thar is more cows and less butter； more
rivers and less water； and you kin see farther and see less than in any other
country in the world。〃
Now this peculiar directness of phrase means but one thing；freedom
from the influence of convention。 The cowboy respects neither the
dictionary nor usage。 He employs his words in the manner that best suits
him； and arranges them in the sequence that best expresses his idea；
untrammeled by tradition。 It is a phase of the same lawlessness； the same
reliance on self； that makes for his taciturnity and watchfulness。
In essence； his dress is an adaptation to the necessities of his calling；
as a matter of fact； it is an elaboration on that。 The broad heavy felt hat
he has found by experience to be more effective in turning heat than a
lighter straw； he further runs to variety in the shape of the crown and in
the nature of the band。 He wears a silk handkerchief about his neck to
turn the sun and keep out the dust； but indulges in astonishing gaudiness of
color。 His gauntlets save his hands from the rope； he adds a fringe and a
silver star。 The heavy wide 〃chaps〃 of leather about his legs are
necessary to him when he is riding fast through brush； he indulges in such
frivolities as stamped leather； angora hair； and the like。 High heels to his
boots prevent his foot from slipping through his wide stirrup； and are
useful to dig into the ground when he is roping in the corral。 Even his
six…shooter is more a tool of his trade than a weapon of defense。 With it
he frightens cattle from the heavy brush； he slaughters old or diseased
steers； he 〃turns the herd〃 in a stampede or when rounding it in； and
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especially is it handy and loose to his hip in case his horse should fall and
commence to drag him。
So the details of his appearance spring from the practical； but in the
wearing of them and the using of them he shows again that fine disregard
for the way other people do it or think it。
Now in civilization you and I entertain a double respect for firearms
and the law。 Firearms are dangerous； and it is against the law to use them
promiscuously。 If we shoot them off in unexpected places； we first of all
alarm unduly our families and neighbors； and in due course attract the
notice of the police。 By the time we are grown up we look on shooting a
revolver as something to be accomplished after an especial trip for the
purpose。
But to the cowboy shooting a gun is merely what lighting a match
would be to us。 We take reasonable care not to scratch that match on the
wall nor to throw it where it will do harm。 Likewise the cowboy takes
reasonable care that his bullets do not land in some one's anatomy nor in
too expensive bric…a… brac。 Otherwise any time or place will do。
The picture comes to me of a bunk…house on an Arizona range。 The
time was evening。 A half…dozen cowboys were sprawled out on the beds
smoking； and three more were playing poker with the Chinese cook。 A
misguided rat darted out from under one of the beds and made for the
empty fireplace。 He finished his journey in smoke。 Then the four who
had shot slipped their guns back into their holsters and resumed their
cigarettes and drawling low…toned conversation。
On another occasion I stopped for noon at the Circle I ranch。 While
waiting for dinner； I lay on my back in the bunk…room and counted three
hundred and sixty…two bullet…holes in the ceiling。 They came to be there
because the festive cowboys used to while away the time while lying as I
was lying； waiting for supper； in shooting the flies that crawled about the
plaster。
This beautiful familiarity with the pistol as a parlor toy accounts in
great part for a cowboy's propensity to 〃shoot up the town〃 and his
indignation when arrested therefor。
The average cowboy is only a fair target…shot with the revolver。 But
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he is chain lightning at getting his gun off in a hurry。 There are
exceptions to this； however； especially among the older men。 Some can
handle the Colts 45 and its heavy recoil with almost uncanny accuracy。
I have seen individuals who could from their saddles nip lizards darting
across the road； and one who was able to perforate twice before it hit
the ground a tomato…can tossed into the air。 The cowboy is prejudiced
against the double…action gun； for some reason or other。 He
manipulates his single…action weapon fast enough； however。
His sense of humor takes the same unexpected slants； not because his
mental processes differ from those of other men； but because he is
unshackled by the subtle and unnoticed nothingnesses of precedent which
deflect our action toward the common uniformity of our neighbors。 It
must be confessed that his sense of humor possesses also a certain
robustness。
The J。 H。 outfit had been engaged for ten days in busting broncos。
This the Chinese cook； Sang； a newcomer in the territory； found vastly
amusing。 He liked to throw the ropes off the prostrate broncos； when all
was ready； to slap them on the flanks； to yell shrill Chinese yells； and to
dance in celestial delight when the terrified animal arose and scattered out
of there。 But one day the range men drove up a little bunch of full…grown
cattle that had been bought from a smaller owner。 It was necessary to
change the brands。 Therefore a little fire was built； the stamp…brand put
in to heat； and two of the men on horseback caught a cow by the horns and
one hind leg； and promptly upset her。 The old brand was obliterated； the
new one burnt in。 This irritated the cow。 Promptly the branding…men；
who were of course afoot； climbed to the top of the corral to be out of the
way。 At this moment； before the horsemen could flip loose their ropes；
Sang appeared。
〃Hol' on！〃 he babbled。 〃I take him off；〃 and he scrambled over the
fence and approached the cow。
Now cattle of any sort rush at the first object they see after getting to
their feet。 But whereas a steer makes a blind run and so can be avoided；
a cow keeps her eyes open。 Sang approached that wild… eyed cow； a
bland smile on his countenance。
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A dead silence fell。 Looking about at my companions' faces I could
not discern even in the depths of their eyes a single faint flicker of human
interest。
Sang loosened the rope from the hind leg； he threw it from the horns；
he slapped the cow with his hat； and uttered the shrill Chinese yell。 So
far all was according to programme。
The cow staggered to her feet； her eyes blazing fire。 She took one
good look； and then started for Sang。
What followed occurred with all the briskness of a tune from a circus
band。 Sang darted for the corral fence。 Now； three sides of the corral
were railed； and so climbable； but the fourth was a solid adobe wall。 Of
course Sang went for the wall。 There； finding his nails would not stick；
he fled down the length of it； his queue streaming； his eyes popping； his
talons curved toward an ideal of
