arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第17节
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cattle…country fashion。 As soon as a man had stoked up for the
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afternoon he rode away。 Some finished before others； so across the plain
formed an endless procession of men returning to the herd； and of those
whom they replaced coming for their turn at the grub。 We found the
herd quiet。 Some were even lying down； chewing their cuds as
peacefully as any barnyard cows。 Most； however； stood ruminative； or
walked slowly to and fro in the confines allotted by the horsemen； so that
the herd looked from a distance like a brown carpet whose pattern was
constantly changinga dusty brown carpet in the process of being beaten。
I relieved one of the watchers； and settled myself for a wait。 At this
close inspection the different sorts of cattle showed more distinctly their
characteristics。 The cows and calves generally rested peacefully enough；
the calf often lying down while the mother stood guard over it。 Steers；
however； were more restless。 They walked ceaselessly； threading their
way in and out among the standing cattle； pausing in brutish amazement at
the edge of the herd； and turning back immediately to endless journeyings。
The bulls； excited by so much company forced on their accustomed
solitary habit； roared defiance at each other until the air fairly trembled。
Occasionally two would clash foreheads。 Then the powerful animals
would push and wrestle； trying for a chance to gore。 The decision of
supremacy was a question of but a few minutes； and a bloody topknot the
worst damage。 The defeated one side…stepped hastily and clumsily out of
reach； and then walked away。 Most of the time all we had to do
was to sit our horses and watch these things； to enjoy the warm bath of the
Arizona sun； and to converse with our next neighbours。 Once in a while
some enterprising cow； observing the opening between the men； would
start to walk out。 Others would fall in behind her until the movement
would become general。 Then one of us would swing his leg off the
pommel and jog his pony over to head them off。 They would return
peacefully enough。 But one black muley cow； with a calf as black
and muley as herself； was more persistent。 Time after time； with infinite
patience； she tried it again the moment my back was turned。 I tried
driving her far into the herd。 No use； she always returned。 Quirtings
and stones had no effect on her mild and steady persistence。 〃She's
a San Simon cow；〃 drawled my neighbour。 〃Everybody knows her。
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She's at every round…up； just naturally raisin' hell。〃 When the last
man had returned from chuck； Homer made the dispositions for the cut。
There were present probably thirty men from the home ranches round
about； and twenty representing owners at a distance； here to pick up the
strays inevitable to the season's drift。 The round…up captain appointed
two men to hold the cow…and…calf cut； and two more to hold the steer cut。
Several of us rode into the herd； while the remainder retained their
positions as sentinels to hold the main body of cattle in shape。
Little G and I rode slowly among the cattle looking everywhere。 The
animals moved sluggishly aside to give us passage； and closed in as
sluggishly behind us； so that we were always closely hemmed in wherever
we went。 Over the shifting sleek backs； through the eddying clouds of
dust； I could make out the figures of my companions moving slowly；
apparently aimlessly； here and there。 Our task for the moment was
to search out the unbranded J H calves。 Since in ranks so closely
crowded it would be physically impossible actually to see an animal's
branded flank； we depended entirely on the ear…marks。 Did you
ever notice how any animal； tame or wild； always points his ears
inquiringly in the direction of whatever interests or alarms him？ Those
ears are for the moment his most prominent feature。 So when a brand is
quite indistinguishable because； as now； of press of numbers； or； as in
winter； from extreme length of hair； the cropped ears tell plainly the tale of
ownership。 As every animal is so marked when branded； it follows that
an uncut pair of ears means that its owner has never felt the iron。
So； now we had to look first of all for calves with uncut ears。 After
discovering one； we had to ascertain his ownership by examining the ear…
marks of his mother； by whose side he was sure； in this alarming multitude；
to be clinging faithfully。 Calves were numerous； and J H cows
everywhere to be seen； so in somewhat less than ten seconds I had my eye
on a mother and son。 Immediately I turned Little G in their direction。
At the slap of my quirt against the stirrup； all the cows immediately about
me shrank suspiciously aside。 Little G stepped forward daintily； his
nostrils expanding； his ears working back and forth； trying to the best of
his ability to understand which animals I had selected。 The cow and her
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calf turned in toward the centre of the herd。 A touch of the reins guided
the pony。 At once he comprehended。 From that time on he needed no
further directions。
Cautiously； patiently； with great skill； he forced the cow through the
press toward the edge of the herd。 It had to be done very quietly； at a
foot pace； so as to alarm neither the objects of pursuit nor those
surrounding them。 When the cow turned back； Little G somehow
happened always in her way。 Before she knew it she was at the outer
edge of the herd。 There she found herself； with a group of three or four
companions； facing the open plain。 Instinctively she sought shelter。 I
felt Little G's muscles tighten beneath me。 The moment for action had
come。 Before the cow had a chance to dodge among her companions the
pony was upon her like a thunderbolt。 She broke in alarm； trying
desperately to avoid the rush。 There ensued an exciting contest of
dodgings； turnings；and doublings。 Wherever she turned Little G was
before her。 Some of his evolutions were marvellous。 All I had to do
was to sit my saddle； and apply just that final touch of judgment denied
even the wisest of the lower animals。 Time and again the turn was so
quick that the stirrup swept the ground。 At last the cow； convinced of the
uselessness of further effort to return； broke away on a long lumbering run
to the open plain。 She was stopped and held by the men detailed； and so
formed the nucleus of the new cut…herd。 Immediately Little G； his ears
working in conscious virtue； jog…trotted back into the herd； ready for
another。
After a dozen cows had been sent across to the cut…herd； the work
simplified。 Once a cow caught sight of this new band； she generally
made directly for it； head and tail up。 After the first short struggle to
force her from the herd； all I had to do was to start her in the proper
direction and keep her at it until her decision was fixed。 If she was too
soon left to her own devices； however； she was
