arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第22节
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whole wad。〃 〃How did you know I wouldn't？〃 I asks。
〃Well；〃 says he； and I noted that jag of his had flew。 〃You see； I was
behind that rock up there； and I had you covered。〃
I saw； and I began to feel better about bein' so tur'ble conscientious。
We walked a little ways without sayin' nothin'。 〃But ain't you
goin' to join the game？〃 I asks。
〃Guess not；〃 says he； jinglin' of his gold。 〃I'm satisfied。〃 〃But if
you don't get a wiggle on you； you are sure goin' to get left on those gold
claims；〃 says I。 〃There ain't no gold claims；〃 says he。 〃But
Henry Smith〃 I cries。 〃There ain't no Henry Smith；〃 says he。
I let that soak in about six inches。 〃But there's a Buck Canon；〃 I
pleads。 〃Please say there's a Buck Canon。〃 〃Oh； yes； there's a Buck
Canon；〃 he allows。 〃Nice limestone formationmake good hard water。〃
〃Well； you're a marvel；〃 says I。
We walked n together down to Dutchy's saloon。
We stopped outside。
〃Now；〃 says he； 〃I'm goin' to take one of those hosses and go
somewheres else。 Maybe you'd better do likewise on the other。〃
〃You bet I will；〃 says I。
He turned around and taked up the paper he was carryin'。 It was a
sign。 It read：
THE DUTCH HAS RUSTLED
〃Nice sentiment；〃 says I。 〃It will be appreciated when the crowd
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comes back from that little pasear into Buck Canon。 But why not tack
her up where the trail hits the camp？ Why on this particular door？〃
〃Well；〃 said Dutchy； squintin' at the sign sideways； 〃you see I sold this
place day before yesterdayto Mike O'Toole。〃
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CHAPTER EIGHT THE CORRAL
BRANDING
All that night we slept like sticks of wood。 No dreams visited us； but
in accordance with the immemorial habit of those who live outwhether
in the woods； on the plains； among the mountains； or at seaonce during
the night each of us rose on his elbow； looked about him； and dropped
back to sleep。 If there had been a fire to replenish； that would have been
the moment to do so； if the wind had been changing and the seas rising；
that would have been the time to cast an eye aloft for indications； to feel
whether the anchor cable was holding； if the pack…horses had straggled
from the alpine meadows under the snows； this would have been the
occasion for intent listening for the faintly tinkling hell so that next day
one would know in which direction to look。 But since there existed for
us no responsibility； we each reported dutifully at the roll…call of habit； and
dropped back into our blankets with a grateful sigh。
I remember the moon sailing a good gait among apparently stationary
cloudlets； I recall a deep； black shadow lying before distant silvery
mountains； I glanced over the stark； motionless canvases； each of which
concealed a man； the air trembled with the bellowing of cattle in the
corrals。
Seemingly but a moment later the cook's howl brought me to
consciousness again。 A clear； licking little fire danced in the blackness。
Before it moved silhouettes of men already eating。
I piled out and joined the group。 Homer was busy distributing his
men for the day。 Three were to care for the remuda； five were to move
the stray…herd from the corrals to good feed； three branding crews were
told to brand the calves we had collected in the cut of the afternoon before。
That took up about half the men。 The rest were to make a short drive in
the salt grass。 I joined the Cattleman； and together we made our way
afoot to the branding pen。 We were the only ones who did go afoot；
however； although the corrals were not more than two hundred yards'
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distant。 When we arrived we found the string of ponies standing around
outside。 Between the upright bars of greasewood we could see the cattle；
and near the opposite side the men building a fire next the fence。 We
pushed open the wide gate and entered。 The three ropers sat their horses；
idly swinging the loops of their ropes back and forth。 Three others
brought wood and arranged it craftily in such manner as to get best
draught for heatin；a good branding fire is most decidedly a work of art。
One stood waiting for them to finish； a sheaf of long JH stamping irons in
his hand。 All the rest squatted on their heels along the fence； smoking
cigarettes ad chatting together。 The first rays of the sun slanted across in
one great sweep from the remote mountains。 In ten minutes Charley
pronounced the irons ready。 Homer； Wooden； and old California John
rode in among the cattle。 The rest of the men arose and stretched their
legs and advanced。 The Cattleman and I climbed to the top bar of the
gate； where we roosted； he with his tally…book on his knee。
Each rider swung his rope above his head with one hand； keeping the
broad loop open by a skilful turn of the wrist at the end of each revolution。
In a moment Homer leaned forward and threw。 As the loop settled； he
jerked sharply upward； exactly as one would strike to hook a big fish。
This tightened the loop and prevented it from slipping off。 Immediately；
and without waiting to ascertain the result of the manoeuvre； the horse
turned and began methodically； without undue haste； to walk toward the
branding fire。 Homer wrapped the rope twice or thrice about the horn；
and sat over in one stirrup to avoid the tightened line and to preserve the
balance。 Nobody paid any attention to the calf。 The critter had been
caught by the two hind legs。 As the rope tightened； he was suddenly
upset； and before he could realise that something disagreeable was
happening； he was sliding majestically along on his belly。 Behind him
followed his anxious mother； her head swinging from side to side。
Near the fire the horse stopped。 The two 〃bull…doggers〃 immediately
pounced upon the victim。 It was promptly flopped over on its right side。
One knelt on its head and twisted back its foreleg in a sort of hammer…lock；
the other seized one hind foot； pressed his boot heel against the other hind
leg close to the body； and sat down behind the animal。 Thus the calf
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was unable to struggle。 When once you have had the wind knocked out
of you； or a rib or two broken； you cease to think this unnecessarily rough。
Then one or the other threw off the rope。 Homer rode away； coiling the
rope as he went。 〃Hot iron！〃 yelled one of the bull…doggers。
〃Marker！〃 yelled the other。 Immediately two men ran forward。 The
brander pressed the iron smoothly against the flank。 A smoke and the
smell of scorching hair arose。 Perhaps the calf blatted a little as the heat
scorched。 In a brief moment it was over。 The brand showed cherry；
which is the proper colour to indicate due peeling and a successful mark。
In the meantime the marker was engaged in his work。 First； with a sharp
knife he cut off slanting the upper quarter of one ear。 Then he nicked out
a swallow…tail in the other。 The pieces he thrust into his pocket in order
that at the completion of the work he could thus check the Cattleman's
tally…board as to the number of calves branded。＇3＇ The bull…dogger let go。
The calf sprang up； was appropriated and sm
