arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第14节
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and squatted on our heels as close to the fire as possible。 Men who came
too late borrowed the shovel； scooped up some coals； and so started little
fires of their own about which new groups formed。 While we
ate； the eastern sky lightened。 The mountains under the dawn looked like
silhouettes cut from slate…coloured paper； those in the west showed faintly
luminous。 Objects about us became dimly visible。 We could make out
the windmill； and the adobe of the ranch houses； and the corrals。 The
cowboys arose one by one； dropped their plates into the dishpan； and
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began to hunt out their ropes。 Everything was obscure and mysterious in
the faint grey light。 I watched Windy Bill near his tarpaulin。 He
stooped to throw over the canvas。 When he bent； it was before daylight；
when he straightened his back； daylight had come。 It was just like that；
as though someone had reached out his hand to turn on the illumination of
the world。 The eastern mountains were fragile； the plain was
ethereal； like a sea of liquid gases。 From the pasture we heard the
shoutings of the wranglers； and made out a cloud of dust。 In a moment
the first of the remuda came into view； trotting forward with the free grace
of the unburdened horse。 Others followed in procession： those near sharp
and well defined； those in the background more or less obscured by the
dust； now appearing plainly； now fading like ghosts。 The leader turned
unhesitatingly into the corral。 After him poured the stream of the
remudatwo hundred and fifty saddle horseswith an unceasing thunder
of hoofs。
Immediately the cook…camp was deserted。 The cowboys entered the
corral。 The horses began to circle around the edge of the enclosure as
around the circumference of a circus ring。 The men； grouped at the
centre； watched keenly； looking for the mounts they had already decided
on。 In no time each had recognised his choice； and； his loop trailing；
was walking toward that part of the revolving circumference where his
pony dodged。 Some few whirled the loop； but most cast it with a quick
flip。 It was really marvellous to observe the accuracy with which the
noose would fly； past a dozen tossing heads； and over a dozen backs； to
settle firmly about the neck of an animal perhaps in the very centre of the
group。 But again； if the first throw failed； it was interesting to see how
the selected pony would dodge； double back； twist； turn； and hide to
escape second cast。 And it was equally interesting to observe how his
companions would help him。
They seemed to realise that they were not wanted； and would push
themselves between the cowboy and his intended mount with the utmost
boldness。 In the thick dust that instantly arose； and with the bewildering
thunder of galloping； the flashing change of grouping； the rush of the
charging animals； recognition alone would seem almost impossible； yet in
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an incredibly short time each had his mount； and the others； under convoy
of the wranglers； were meekly wending their way out over the plain。
There； until time for a change of horses； they would graze in a loose and
scattered band； requiring scarcely any supervision。 Escape？ Bless you；
no； that thought was the last in their minds。 In the meantime the
saddles and bridles were adjusted。 Always in a cowboy's 〃string〃 of from
six to ten animals the boss assigns him two or three broncos to break in to
the cow business。 Therefore； each morning we could observe a half
dozen or so men gingerly leading wicked looking little animals out to the
sand 〃to take the pitch out of them。〃 One small black； belonging to a
cowboy called the Judge； used more than to fulfil expectations of a good
time。 〃Go to him； Judge！〃 someone would always remark。
〃If he ain't goin' to pitch； I ain't goin' to make him〃； the Judge would grin；
as he swung aboard。 The black would trot off quite calmly and in a
most matter of fact way； as though to shame all slanderers of his lamb…like
character。 Then； as the bystanders would turn away； he would utter a
squeal； throw down his head； and go at it。 He was a very hard bucker；
and made some really spectacular jumps； but the trick on which he based
his claims to originality consisted in standing on his hind legs at so
perilous an approach to the perpendicular that his rider would conclude he
was about to fall backwards； and then suddenly springing forward in a
series of stiff…legged bucks。 The first manoeuvre induced the rider to
loosen his seat in order to be ready to jump from under； and the second
threw him before he could regain his grip。 〃And they say a horse
don't think！〃 exclaimed an admirer。 But as these were broken
horsessave the mark！the show was all over after each had had his little
fling。 We mounted and rode away； just as the mountain peaks to the west
caught the rays of a sun we should not enjoy for a good half hour yet。
I had five horses in my string； and this morning rode 〃that C S horse；
Brown Jug。〃 Brown Jug was a powerful and well…built animal； about
fourteen two in height； and possessed of a vast enthusiasm for cow…work。
As the morning was frosty； he felt good。 At the gate of the water
corral we separated into two groups。 The smaller； under the direction of
Jed Parker； was to drive the mesquite in the wide flats。 The rest of us；
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under the command of Homer； the round…up captain； were to sweep the
country even as far as the base of the foothills near Mount Graham。
Accordingly we put our horses to the full gallop。 Mile after mile we
thundered along at a brisk rate of speed。 Sometimes we dodged in and
out among the mesquite bushes； alternately separating and coming
together again； sometimes we swept over grassy plains apparently of
illimitable extent； sometimes we skipped and hopped and buck…jumped
through and over little gullies； barrancas； and other sorts of malpaisbut
always without drawing rein。 The men rode easily； with no thought to
the way nor care for the footing。 The air came back sharp against our
faces。 The warm blood stirred by the rush flowed more rapidly。 We
experienced a delightful glow。 Of the morning cold only the very tips of
our fingers and the ends of our noses retained a remnant。 Already the sun
was shining low and level across the plains。 The shadows of the canons
modelled the hitherto flat surfaces of the mountains。
After a time we came to some low hills helmeted with the outcrop of a
rock escarpment。 Hitherto they had seemed a termination of Mount
Graham； but now； when we rode around them； we discovered them to be
separated from the range by a good five miles of sloping plain。 Later we
looked back and would have sworn them part of the Dos Cabesas system；
did we not know them to be at least eight miles' distant from that rocky
rampart。 It is always that way in Arizona。 Spaces develop of whose
existence you had not the slightest intimation。 Hidden in apparently
plane surfaces are valleys and prairies。 At one sweep of the eye you
embrace the entire area of an eastern State； but nevertheless the reality as
you explore it foot by foot proves to be infinitely more than the vision has
promised。 Beyond the hill we stopp
