arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第28节
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on the question。 We talked it over； and looked at it from all points； but
we couldn't dodge the truth： the chart was wrong。
Then we explored several of the nearest gullies； but without finding
anything but loose stones baked hot in the sun。 By now it was getting
towards sundown； so we built us a fire of mesquite on the beach； made us
supper； and boiled a pot of beans。 We talked it over。 The water was
about gone。 〃That's what we've got to find first；〃 said Simpson； 〃no
question of it。 It's God knows how far to the next water； and we don't
know how long it will take us to get there in that little boat。 If we run our
water entirely out before we start； we're going to be in trouble。 We'll
have a good look to…morrow； and if we don't find her； we'll run down to
Mollyhay＇4＇ and get a few extra casks。〃
＇4＇ Mulege … I retain the Old Timer's pronunciation。
〃Perhaps that map is wrong about the treasure； too；〃 suggested
Denton。 〃I thought of that；〃 said Handy Solomon； 〃but then； thinks
I to myself； this old rip probably don't make no long stay herejust dodges
in and out like； between tides； to bury his loot。 He would need no water
at the time； but he might when he came back； so he marked the water on
his map。 But he wasn't noways particular AND exact； being in a hurry。
But you can kiss the Book to it that he didn't make no such mistakes about
the swag。〃 〃I believe you're right；〃 said I。 When we came to turn
in； Anderson suggested that he should sleep aboard the boat。 But Billy
Simpson； in mind perhaps of the hundred ounces in the compass…box；
insisted that he'd just as soon as not。 After a little objection Handy
Solomon gave in； but I thought he seemed sour about it。 We built a good
fire； and in about ten seconds were asleep。 Now； usually I sleep like
a log； and did this time until about midnight。 Then all at once I came
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broad awake and sitting up in my blankets。 Nothing had happenedI
wasn't even dreamingbut there I was as alert and clear as though it were
broad noon。 By the light of the fire I saw Handy Solomon sitting；
and at his side our five rifles gathered。 I must have made some
noise； for he turned quietly toward me； saw I was awake； and nodded。
The moonlight was sparkling on the hard stony landscape； and a thin
dampness came out from the sea。 After a minute Anderson threw
on another stick of wood； yawned； and stood up。
〃It's wet；〃 said he； 〃I've been fixing the guns。〃 He showed me
how he was inserting a little patch of felt between the hammer and the
nipple； a scheme of his own for keeping damp from the powder。 Then he
rolled up in his blanket。 At the time it all seemed quite naturalI suppose
my mind wasn't fully awake； for all my head felt so clear。 Afterwards I
realised what a ridiculous bluff he was making： for of course the cap
already on the nipple was plenty to keep out the damp。 I fully believe he
intended to kill us as we lay。 Only my sudden awakening spoiled his
plan。 I had absolutely no idea of this at the time； however。 Not the
slightest suspicion entered my head。 In view of that fact； I have since
believed in guardian angels。 For my next move； which at the time
seemed to me absolutely aimless； was to change my blankets from one
side of the fire to the other。 And that brought me alongside the five rifles。
Owing to this fact； I am now convinced； we awoke safe at daylight；
cooked breakfast； and laid the plan for the day。 Anderson directed us。 I
was to climb over the ridge before us and search in the ravine on the other
side。 Schwartz was to explore up the beach to the left； and Denton to the
right。 Anderson said he would wait for Billy Simpson； who had overslept
in the darkness of the cubbyhole； and who was now paddling ashore。
The two of them would push inland to the west until a high hill would give
them a chance to look around for greenery。 We started at once；
before the sun would be hot。 The hill I had to climb was steep and
covered with chollas； so I didn't get along very fast。 When I was about
half way to the top I heard a shot from the beach。 I looked back。
Anderson was in the small boat； rowing rapidly out to the vessel。 Denton
was running up the beach from one direction and Schwartz from the other。
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I slid and slipped down the bluff； getting pretty well stuck up with the
cholla spines。
At the beach we found Billy Simpson lying on his ace； shot through
the back。 We turned him over； but he was apparently dead。 Anderson
had hoisted the sail； had cut loose from the anchor； and was sailing away。
Denton stood up straight and tall； looking。 Then he pulled his belt in a
hole； grabbed my arm； and started to run up the long curve of the beach。
Behind us came Schwartz。 We ran near a mile； and then fell among some
tules in an inlet at the farther point。 〃What is it？〃 I gasped。 〃Our
only chanceto get him said Denton。 〃He's got to go around this point…
…big windperhaps his mast will bustthen he'll come ashore〃 He
opened and shut his big brown hands。 So there we two fools lay； like
panthers in the tules； taking our only one…in…a…million chance to lay hands
on Anderson。 Any sailor could have told us that the mast wouldn't break；
but we had winded Schwartz a quarter of a mile back。 And so we waited；
our eyes fixed on the boat's sail； grudging her every inch； just burning to
fix things to suit us a little better。 And naturally she made the point in
what I now know was only a fresh breeze； squared away； and dropped
down before the wind toward Guaymas。 We walked back slowly to
our camp； swallowing the copper taste of too hard a run。 Schwartz we
picked up from a boulder； just recovering。 We were all of us crazy mad。
Schwartz half wept； and blamed and cussed。 Denton glowered away in
silence。 I ground my feet into the sand in a help less sort of anger； not
only at the man himself； but also at the whole way things had turned out。
I don't believe the least notion of our predicament had come to any of us。
All we knew yet was that we had been done up； and we were hostile about
it。 But at camp we found something to occupy us for the moment。
Poor Billy was not dead； as we had supposed； but very weak and sick； and
a hole square through him。 When we returned he was conscious； but that
was about all。 His eyes were shut； and he was moaning。 I tore open his
shirt to stanch the blood。 He felt my hand and opened his eyes。 They
were glazed； and I don't think he saw me。 〃Water； water！〃 he cried。
At that we others saw all at once where we stood。 I remember I rose to
my feet and found myself staring straight into Tom Denton's eyes。 We
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looked at each other that way for I guess it was a full minute。 Then Tom
shook his head。 〃Water； water！〃 begged poor Billy。 Tom
leaned over him。 〃My God； Billy； there ain't any water！〃 said he。
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN BURIED
TREASURE
The Old Timer's voice broke a little。 We had leisure to notice that
even the drip from the eaves had ceased。 A faint； diffused light
vouchsafed
