arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第18节
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soon left to her own devices； however； she was likely to return。 An old
cowman knows to a second just the proper moment to abandon her。
Sometimes； in spite of our best efforts a cow succeeded in circling us
and plunging into the main herd。 The temptation was then strong to
plunge in also； and to drive her out by main force； but the temptation had
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to be resisted。 A dash into the thick of it might break the whole band。
At once； of his own accord； Little G dropped to his fast； shuffling walk；
and again we addressed ourselves to the task of pushing her gently to the
edge。 This was all comparatively simplealmost any pony is fast
enough for the calf cutbut now Homer gave orders for the steer cut to
begin； and steers are rapid and resourceful and full of natural cussedness。
Little G and I were relieved by Windy Bill； and betook ourselves to the
outside of the herd。 Here we had leisure to observe the effects that
up to this moment we had ourselves been producing。 The herd； restless
by reason of the horsemen threading it； shifted； gave ground； expanded；
and contracted； so that its shape and size were always changing in the
constant area guarded by the sentinel cowboys。 Dust arose from these
movements； clouds of it； to eddy and swirl； thicken and dissipate in the
currents of air。 Now it concealed all but the nearest dimly…outlined
animals； again it parted in rifts through which mistily we discerned the
riders moving in and out of the fog； again it lifted high and thin； so that we
saw in clarity the whole herd and the outriders and the mesas far away。
As the afternoon waned； long shafts of sun slanted through this dust。 It
played on men and beasts magically； expanding them to the dimensions of
strange genii； appearing and effacing themselves in the billows of vapour
from some enchanted bottle。 We on the outside found our sinecure
of hot noon…tide filched from us by the cooler hours。 The cattle； wearied
of standing； and perhaps somewhat hungry and thirsty； grew more and
more impatient。 We rode continually back and forth； turning the slow
movement in on itself。 Occasionally some particularly enterprising cow
would conclude that one or another of the cut…herds would suit her better
than this mill of turmoil。 She would start confidently out； head and tail
up； find herself chased back； get stubborn on the question； and lead her
pursuer a long； hard run before she would return to her companions。
Once in a while one would even have to be roped and dragged back。 For
know； before something happens to you； that you can chase a cow safely
only until she gets hot and winded。 Then she stands her ground and gets
emphatically 〃on the peck。〃
I remember very well when I first discovered this。 It was after I had
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had considerable cow work； too。 I thought of cows as I had always seen
themafraid of a horseman； easy to turn with the pony； and willing to be
chased as far as necessary to the work。 Nobody told me anything
different。 One day we were making a drive in an exceedingly broken
country。 I was bringing in a small bunch I had discovered in a pocket of
the hills； but was excessively annoyed by one old cow that insisted on
breaking back。 In the wisdom of further experience； I now conclude that
she probably had a calf in the brush。 Finally she got away entirely。
After starting the bunch well ahead； I went after her。 Well； the cow
and I ran nearly side by side for as much as half a mile at top speed。 She
declined to be headed。 Finally she fell down and was so entirely winded
that she could not get up。 〃Now； old girl； I've got you！〃 said I； and set
myself to urging her to her feet。 The pony acted somewhat
astonished； and suspicious of the job。 Therein he knew a lot more than I
did。 But I insisted； and； like a good pony； he obeyed。 I yelled at the
cow； and slapped my bat； and used my quirt。 When she had quite
recovered her wind； she got slowly to her feetand charged me in a most
determined manner。 Now； a bull； or a steer； is not difficult to dodge。
He lowers his head； shuts his eyes； and comes in on one straight rush。
But a cow looks to see what she is doing； her eyes are open every minute；
and it overjoys her to take a side hook at you even when you succeed in
eluding her direct charge。 The pony I was riding did his best； but
even then could not avoid a sharp prod that would have ripped him up had
not my leather bastos intervened。 Then we retired to a distance in order
to plan further； but we did not succeed in inducing that cow to revise her
ideas； so at last we left her。 When； in some chagrin； I mentioned to the
round…up captain the fact that I had skipped one animal； he merely laughed。
〃Why； kid；〃 said he； 〃you can't do nothin' with a cow that gets on the prod
that away 'thout you ropes her； and what could you do with her out there if
you DID rope her？〃
So I learned one thing more about cows。 After the steer cut had
been finished； the men representing the neighbouring ranges looked
through the herd for strays of their brands。 These were thrown into the
stray…herd； which had been brought up from the bottom lands to receive
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the new accessions。 Work was pushed rapidly； as the afternoon was
nearly gone。 In fact； so absorbed were we that until it was almost
upon us we did not notice a heavy thunder…shower that arose in the region
of the Dragoon Mountains； and swept rapidly across the zenith。 Before
we knew it the rain had begun。 In ten seconds it had increased to a
deluge； and in twenty we were all to leeward of the herd striving
desperately to stop the drift of the cattle down wind。 We did
everything in our power to stop them； but in vain。 Slickers waved； quirts
slapped against leather； six…shooters flashed； but still the cattle； heads
lowered； advanced with slow and sullen persistence that would not be
stemmed。 If we held our ground； they divided around us。 Step by step
we were forced to give waythe thin line of nervously plunging horses
sprayed before the dense mass of the cattle。
〃No； they won't stampede；〃 shouted Charley to my question。
〃There's cows and calves in them。 If they was just steers or grown critters；
they might。〃 The sensations of those few moments were very vivid
the blinding beat of the storm in my face； the unbroken front of horned
heads bearing down on me； resistless as fate； the long slant of rain with the
sun shining in the distance beyond it。 Abruptly the downpour ceased。
We shook our hats free of water； and drove the herd back to the cutting
grounds again。 But now the surface of the ground was slippery； and
the rapid manoeuvring of horses had become a matter precarious in the
extreme。 Time and again the ponies fairly sat on their haunches and slid
when negotiating a sudden stop； while quick turns meant the rapid
scramblings that only a cow…horse could accomplish。 Nevertheless the
work went forward unchecked。 The men of the other outfits cut their
cattle into the stray…herd。 The latter was by now of considerable size； for
this was the third week of the round…up。 Finally everyone expressed
himself as satisfied。 The largely diminished main herd was now started
forward by means of shrill cowboy cries and beating of quirts。 The cattle
w
